Bro. Buddy’s Journey of Healing

Journal,

Sorry for the inconvenience. Nathan explained our situation with my blog. Until we get the normal blog up I’ll be posting on this temporary journal. Hopefully it won’t be long.

Don’t want to overload things so I’ll do a bit of skimming as an up date. Actually it is now 7 p.m. Been out of pocket all day with my 3rd chemo treatment.

Anyway, let me back up a bit. 

Tuesday the 23rd was a bit of a weepy day for us kids. It was mama’s birthday. I called Bertie, Julia and Thomas to see about meeting Betty and me at the cemetery. (Campbell Creek.) Bonnie was working. (We met around 3 p.m.)

We had a wonderful time sharing memories. Walked to where many of our family are laid to rest. As the genealogy ’suspect’ I was able to share some history with the girls. It was such an enjoyable visit. I love my sisters with all my heart.

I do have an interesting story I’ve like to share. As Betty and I passed near Boyce, I remembered something that happened back in ‘67 or ‘68. There was a large pond behind a person’s home near Boyce. I secured permission to fish in it.

For some reason I had to step into the pond and to my surprise the bottom was full of ‘very large’ freshwater clams. At the time me and Betty were working at Fort Polk. I asked the owner if it would be all right to gather the clams. He said, sure.

So I brought several Guam soldiers from Fort Polk to harvest the clams. Would you believe that we filled up two seabags?  (The clams were near the size of salt water oysters.) Now a seabag is not one of those hand carried duffle bags. It is bag that you have to carry on your shoulder. (We used them in the Navy to transport all our belongings.)

Just thought I’d pass that on. To this day I’ve never seen anything like it. I left the clams with the Guam soldiers. Wasn’t in clams at the time. (Course all that changed.)

9:30 Wednesday morning my granddaughter Jade came by for a visit. She was so excited. Got her driver’s license. (Jade is 16 and pretty as a flower.) I enjoyed listening to this young lady. She is so open in sharing with me. Guess she loves her old grandpa a lot.

10 – 11:50 a.m. My good friend John Rabo came by for a visit. He is one of our Wednesday morning prayer-breadfast ministers. Had a wonderful time. John pastors the Pineville Nazarene Church.

1:30 p.m. Appointment with Lane Fletcher to meet with our board of directors. Lane is coming on staff as Assistant Director of our School for Christian Workers.  He will be my right hand man.

6:30 p.m. Wednesday evening service. Great as always. Nathan continues with his teachings from Proverbs. This time his subject was on ‘Happiness from the Book of Proverbs.’

It was so cute during greeting time. Olivia and Elizabeth (Hazmark) got in front of the camera and did the ’secret’ Christian Challenge hand shake that I taught them. Sorry, it’s a secret. 

Nathan worked on the blog until 2 a.m. He is so tired. When it comes to computer issues, Nathan is not one to give up.

Ok, that’s enough about yesterday. Now for today.

Today was my 3rd chemo. It is an all day event. But it really isn’t bad. I always take a good study book. Get to catch up a bit of my reading. Betty is there and she brings some of her catch-up things.

The doctor said I was really doing great. The tumors continue to melt away. I’ve had none of the effects that often come with chemo. Just have to be careful about overdoing things.

8:30 a.m. Keith King came by to check on me. He passed me twice in the waiting room. I had a cap on. When he looked at me, he thought, ‘That can”t be Brother Buddy. That guy is too young.’ (And every one said, ‘Hallelujah!)

When I heard him say he was looking for Lawrence Martin, I jumped up. We had a good hug and a good laugh. Keith is such a swell person. It comes with his family.

3:30 Nathan came by to check on me. He and his mom and me always have a great visit. Among other things, our visit always takes in up-to-date on things at Christian Challenge.

Finally made it home around 5 p.m. Stopped by WalMart to pick up one of my very special prescriptions. Would you believe that the six pills I had to have normally cost $356. Because of my Medicare Part II, we only had to pay $58. (Believe that last number is correct.)

After we made it home I had the most precious call from my ‘couz’ from Oregan. Twyla was concerned about me. (Over the blog’s disappearance.) Had a wonderful conversation and Betty got to say her hello’s with Twy.

Twyla is coming to visit with us after I get past my treatments. That is a treat to look forward to. Betty and I fell in love with her and Ross on our vacation up north. (Don’t worry Twyla, I have a special prayer in place for Tim Tanner.)

Another call back-to-back. I returned Tony’s call from California. (Tony is my step-brother through Julia’s dad Ross Figueroa.) It is always a treat to talk with Tony. He has a real heart towards the Lord. It it times like this that I wish I could be closer to him so I could provide some hand’s on Bible understanding. We will see. The Lord has all things under control.

7 p.m. Got a call from Andre. O boy. O boy. O boy. Sorry, can’t help my excitement. Andre and Judy are coming over tomorrow evening with ‘crawfish’ and a good movie. You can believe that Betty and I will eat light all day tomorrow.

Ain’t nothing in the world like fresh crawfiish.

Sorry, no one else is invited. Besides that, you would not want to interfere with a poor old preacher and his need for privacy while devouring crawfish.  Now would ye?

It’s 8 o’clock. I need to sign off and try to catch up on a few other things.

Much love coming your way.

Blessings,

Buddy