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Hello, Reader.

Sorry for the delay in publishing this week's newsletter, but yesterday was consumed with pre-op exams and office visits with my breast doctor and (never dreamed I'd be saying this) my plastic surgeon in preparation for a lumpectomy and lymph node excision tomorrow. (🙏 Continued prayers much appreciated!)

And since that pending procedure is top of mind right now, I'm letting all my swirling emotions --together with the truths I keep preaching to myself -- form the basis for this week's link list. Hope you'll find these resources helpful, no matter what circumstances you presently find yourself in!

Free resources for you this week:

• ​Be Anxious for Nothing Bookmarks - these pretty printable bookmarks are a great reminder
• ​A Prayer for the Sick - I'd love you to use this printable prayer guide to intercede for me!
• ​Fully Persuaded Coloring Page - features the 2 Timothy 1:12 (also words to a favorite hymn)
• ​Printable Medicine Tracker - I've never needed this in the past, but looks like I may soon!
• ​Sleep in Peace Coloring Page - God intends for us to rest and watches over us when we do

What I'm reading this week:

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A friend recommended The Truth about Cancer to me, and I found it very thorough. It starts with the history of cancer and its various treatments, the standardization of pharmacological medical schools, and the subsequent closures of many alternative schools. The author's perspective was different than any I've read before, though parts of it resonated (especially in this post-COVID age). Many of the anti-cancer treatments described in the book are backed by rigorous studies (though the research wasn't necessarily done in the US). Others seem a bit hokey, new-age-y, or overly-reliant on anecdotal evidence. Overall, this is a good reference book, especially for those interested in doing what they can to avoid developing cancer in the first place. If you've already gotten a diagnosis, please read prayerfully and with all due discernment, and discuss what you learn with your physician.

What we're eating this week:

We've been feasting on one my children's most frequently requested recipes this week: chickenless tortilla soup. If you must have meat, go ahead and add it in, but this soup is plenty tasty and filling without it. Serve over tortilla chips with a squeeze of lime juice and some fresh avocado slices. It's so yummy!

On the podcast this week:

Loving Life at Home: Episode 74 ​STANDING ON THE TRUTH​ My youngest daughter and I just got home from the fun-filled mother-daughter retreat our homeschool co-op sponsors every January. The theme of this year’s retreat was “Standing in the Truth,” so today I'm sharing my notes from a talk I gave to the attendees. ​ Listen Now

Progress on last week's goals:

I made mixed progress on last week's to-do list. I ✅ attended that mother/daughter retreat with my youngest, ✅ walked 5 (but ❌ not 7) of the miles I'd planned, and ✅ cleared out ⅔ ((but ❌ not all) the messages in my inbox.

But I was thwarted in accomplishing the rest of my goals by ➡️ delayed ingredients, ➡️ lack of motivation, and ➡️ pressing medical appointments, so those are being bumped to this week. We'll see if I have energy after surgery to attend to some of these mundane tasks.

Personal goals for this week:

• have surgery (please pray for clear margins & minimal lymph node involvement)
• visit with older kids who are coming into town
• reduce inbox to 10 messages or fewer
• clear off closet desk
• make more Winkie's Tonic
• mend Isaac's bluejeans
• fix 1 broken necklace plus 3 bracelets
• appliqué purses for 2 more granddaughters
• record podcast
• attend dinner for local ministry
• write two personal letters
• walk 3 miles

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