Martha

Martha News and Mother’s Day

May 4, 2011 By teresak 2 Comments

For those of you who don’t know my cousin Martha and her story here is a condensed version:

Martha-I had breast cancer 16 years ago and then again 13 years ago, and have been very blessed. Recently masses were found in my liver. They have determined that it is metastatic breast cancer. I know that God is in charge and His will will be done, but I do request your prayers.

She’s been taking chemo and today she got some good news:

The cancer is shrinking! The main tumor has shrunk 52% from the January tests! All the other spots are the same or decreased. My heart is strong so he wants me to do 3 more treatments and then come back. They will monitor my heart much closer from here on out, but he said as long as it is working and my heart is good, he wants to keep going! Originally he said a max of 8 of these treatments, but evidently my heart is strong and the results are really good, so why mess with a good thing? He said my weight loss (23 pounds). Is due to my lack of appetite from the chemo and not the cancer. We are very happy and thankful to God for answering all our prayers. Send up prayers of thanksgiving!

I love Martha so much and want her to have a happy and blessed Mother’s Day. I am so thankful for the good news about her cancer, but I know she dreads having more chemo. Hang tough, Martha. We love you very much!

Last chance to enter a mom you know in NanaHood’s Mother of the Year Contest

A friend of mine wrote to tell me that she hinted to her teenage daughter about the contest.”I thought if I mentioned it several times she would take the hint and enter me,” my friend said. “But it didn’t work. She told me if I thought it sounded so good I should enter her grandmother!

Contest entries end tonight. Get yours in by 10:00 p.m. Eastern time for a chance to win. Then watch NanaHood the next few days to read about the moms who were nominated. Voting starts Sunday morning and will last until Monday night at 6 pm when we announce the winner of the quilt.

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: cancer, Martha, quilt

Giving Thanks for Martha

November 16, 2010 By teresak 13 Comments

I am the oldest of ten grandchildren on my father’s side of the family. The second oldest is my cousin, Martha. She is only a little over three months younger than I am. Over the years we have shared secrets, written letters, and spent the night together giggling at foolish things the way most little girls do.

Together we learned how to drive grandpa’s jeep and managed to crash into the barn without getting hurt. We also had an accident in my dad’s dune buggy that involved us flying through a field and getting weeds in our face and hair. She was my first college room mate and she came home with me every weekend except one. The first weekend she didn’t come home with me, she met Glenn, and they have been together ever since.

I was in her wedding and she was in mine. When I go to the beach I always go close enough to her house so that she can come visit and we can take long walks…and even after 54 years we are still sharing secrets.

She has always been the perfect example of the virtuous woman, even as a teenager. I’m ashamed to admit it but there were times I resented her goodness. I felt I could never measure up. She likes to remind me of the time when we were teenagers and she swept the carport for my mother. Mom was bragging on her and I was jealous (and lazy) and got mad at Martha for being so good! What a snot I was. Even though I didn’t deserve it, mom and Martha loved me anyway. I apologized to mom many times for being such a bird brain during my teen years. I don’t think I ever did apologize to Martha, so I am now. Sorry, cuz, you didn’t deserve such a dud college room mate. Forgive me.

This Wednesday Martha will be going to Texas to begin treatment for breast cancer. She’s fought it twice before and each time God has seen her through. I am confident that He will this time as well. But I can’t let her go to Texas without telling her one more time how much I love her. Where ever she goes a piece of my heart goes with her. She is more than just my cousin. She is my soul sister, my confidante, my friend. She is one of the most important people in my life and I am so very proud of her and all that she stands for.

She's a an awesome mother to her girls and nana to her grandchildren.

Martha with Brittany on her wedding day.

Posing in our NanaHood shirts

And it’s not just me that thinks she’s awesome.

Martha's church family.

Today I’m giving thanks for Martha. You are one Very Important Person, dear Martha, and so very loved! We are praying for your trip to Texas and for your health (and asking all NanaHood readers to pray too). May the good Lord bless you and keep you in His care.

Filed Under: Featured Tagged With: beach, breast cancer, Martha, prayers, Texas

Martha and Madi make gift cards

September 30, 2009 By teresak 1 Comment

A few weeks ago my cousin Martha decided to share one of her favorite hobbies with her granddaughter Madi, making cards. Let’s see what happens when she teaches Madi how to do it.

First she gets out all her “cool stuff.” Notice the newspapers beneath the “cool stuff.” I’m sure you can guess why those are there.

Here’s Martha teaching Madi the ropes!

“Here are some pictures of Madi and I making cards using rubber stamps. I made sets to give as gifts and Madi made a mess… but we had fun!” says Nana Martha.

“For me, crafts are something I can do to relax and not feel guilty because I have a product when I am finished,” said Martha. ” I decided to make sets of cards for some of my friends at work, and my granddaughter Madi (who is almost 3) came over and of course she wanted to “help”. She did surprisingly well… very careful and patient (better than me at times!). I made cards and Madi stamped paper. I find that I am much more patient with my grandchildren than I was with my own girls… sorry Mandy, Kiera, and Brittany!”

Thanks Martha and Madi for sharing your project.

One more thing before I go…

This week I was feeling pretty good about not eating so many sweets. I absolutely love desserts and can never seem to get enough of them. My sweet husband knows that my absolute favorite is cheesecake. Last night he came home with….

a whole cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory!

I would like to be able to tell you that I can resist temptation, that I won’t touch the cake and I’ll leave it for my boys to eat, but I don’t want to lie.

Perhaps it’s time I looked under my bed…

I think I remember how to use these, but I’m not sure. They’ve been under my bed collecting dust for a few months. Come to think of it, I think the last time I got them out was after I ate a huge piece of cheesecake. Oh well, I have very few vices. Anyone want to come over and eat a slice with me?

I just got back in from work and wanted to share a picture of a friend of mine.

This is Kaye, eating lunch at her consignment store, Everything Under the Sun (great place for bargains!) I walked in and she was eating lunch, but it was the WAY she was eating that tickled my funny bone. Oh to be so relaxed! Way to go Kaye, you rock!