Shannon here: A different kind of post today. When I sent my reminder e-mail out to my authors for this month, I learned that Linda Rondeau if battling cancer. With her permission, I copied a recent post from her blog. All comments for this post will go in a drawing for a copy of Linda’s book, The Other Side of Darkness. I’m asking readers to pray for Linda and leave her an encouraging comment. Deadline for giveaway: Nov 3rd, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Linda:
Oct 14, 2012
Chemo + 11
And unto man he said, Behold the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. (Job 28:28 KJV).
Been a wild ride since my last posting. But then there’s nothing new in life being a wild ride for me. I figure that I don’t know what normal is. I think in truth normal is what we have become accustomed to as life happens. But then that normal is redefined, ever changing and ever expanding.
October 9 found me sick again and I went into the hospital on the tenth. No Bible. No computer. No inside info except me and God. And that is enough sometimes. More than enough. He always fills in the blank spaces.
It occurred to me that I had sinned. What? Yes.
When the doctor gave me a list of things that might possibly go wrong, I started cherry picking with God. Oh…please not that, God. I can endure some of these things, even losing my hair, but some of these others are so disgusting and well….very unromantic.
Cancer is not romantic illness at all.
I guess God decided he wanted me to feel more of some of the others who experience these symptoms. So far I’m had vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, fever, infection, mouth sores. Then this morning I wrote. But “I’m not losing my hair.”
Until I took my shower and was confronted with the fact that even this will not escape me.
But it’s still good. I know that the next cocktail will contain helpers so I don’t go through so much of this again. And after the doctor visit on Tuesday, I go get a wig.
Today I read Job 28.
In the throes of his discord and doubts, Job knew that Wisdom begins in seeking God.
And so I shall continue to seek Him, to thank Him, and to beg forgiveness for my selfishness.
Today I am up, able to nourishment, concentrate a little better, but will still have to wait to leap buildings in a single bound.
Today is good enough for God is in it.
About Linda: A native of Central New York, Linda Rondeau met and married Steve Rondeau, her best friend in life, and managed a career in human services before tackling professional writing. After thirty-four years of marriage, they have relocated to Jacksonville, Florida, leaving rural America to live in a city of one million.
While writing is her greatest passion, the more favorable temperatures of Florida allow her to follow another great passion–golf.
Linda is the wife of one patient man, the mother of three, and the grandmother of nine.
An award winning author, Linda is multipublished. Linda’s first title, The Other Side of Darkness, released Fall 2012, won the 2012 Selah Award for best first novel. Her first book in her Sci-Fi, futuristic series, America II, written under L.W. Rondeau released summer of 2012.
About the book — It Really is a Wonderful Life: Midville newcomer and Iraq War widow, Dorie Fitzgerald, despises the frigid Adirondack wasteland that has now become her home. After twenty failed job interviews, she questions the wisdom of moving to be near her parents. Desperate to belong, she joins the local Community Theater, in production for It’s a Wonderful Life.
Jamey Sullivan has put his professional life on hold in order to run the family business and to help his ailing father. He signs on for Midville’s production of It’s a Wonderful Life, although he hopes to receive a Broadway casting call any day now.
When these two meet, they are instantly attracted to one another. However, ambition, demanding children, and a romantic rival threaten to squash their growing love for one another.
It Really is a Wonderful Life is set in the beautiful Adirondack mountains, a perfect backdrop for romantic conflict.
Purchase Link: http://www.amazon.com/Really-Wonderful-Life-Linda-Rondeau/dp/1938499433/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1351220617&sr=1-2&keywords=Linda+Rondeau+books
Come back Oct 29th for Darlene Franklin!
Previous Post
Sharon Srock – Excerpt – Part 2 of 2
Sharon Srock – Excerpt – Part 2 of 2
Linda Rondeau says
thanks for having me today
angela chesnut says
would be blessed to win.
Danita Hayes says
Mrs. Linda….I’ve been in your shoes. Busy family, busy church, busy career. Then breast cancer hit. First fright and dismay, then “I can’t handle this, here God, you take it!”. Losing the hair, being sick and weak and all around chemo brain (it does get better). Since then my family and I have received so many blessings from the experience. Meeting wonderful people who have “been there, done that”. The encouragement and prayers of perfect strangers is amazing. Our church family was absolutely awesome through the whole thing and since. Just give it to God lady and He’ll take care of the rest. We are now captaining a Relay for Life Team so we can pass on the blessings.
We love Shannon and her family, they are the pride and joy of our community.
Take care and if you ever want to talk about it, shoot me an email.
Shannon Taylor Vannatter says
Hey Linda, I’m thrilled to have you.
Danita, I was hoping Linda would get some comments from people who’ve been there, done that. So glad you saw the post and commented. I think our community is proud of you too.
Linda Robinson says
Linda, I went through those things you are now going through, except it wasn’t me with the breast cancer. Tammy was my best friend in Florida, who had been my next-door-neighbor when I lived there. There were three of us close friends. Nancy from Atlanta, Tammy and I often went on a “ladies’ retreat”– a week-long shopping trip to Hilton Head, or Atlanta, or they came to my home in Alabama. My husband and I were in Florida visiting Tammy and her husband when she got the phone call about the “iffy” mammogram. After she was diagnosed and began undergoing chemo, Nancy and I alternated spending one week a month in Florida with her. We cooked her favorite foods to entice her sometimes less than adequate appetite and spent hours laughing and talking. Like you, she was a devout Christian and had such strength and a wonderful outlook on her situation. She was an inspiration to me beyond adequate words throughout the entire process. Because of her marvelous sense of humor and hilarious comments, we laughed when she lost her hair, got her first wig (which I cut and styled for her), and rejoiced with her when her hair grew back. Toward the end of chemo as her health improved, Nancy and I coordinated to spend the same week with her, so the three of us could be together as we had done so many times before. God is good. I read your Journal updates every time Steve posts one, and I pray for you daily! May God bless you.
Linda Rondeau says
Thank you all for your encouragement and the been there done that posts. Cancer impacts one out of every three people. So I know I’m not alone in this experience. God has been so good. And the recovery has begun! Blood count is almost back to normal and I’m producing my own cells again. Doc is keeping close watch on blood counts and I’ll have another pre-emptive immuno shot. I”m very blessed with excellent physicians throughout this process. Thanks again for your prayers. Every time I look at the title of my newest book, I feel God’s tug reminding me how wonderful and precious life is.
stvannatter says
I have a winner! Danita Hayes won the drawing for Linda’s book. I really appreciate Linda for being here with us and I’ll continue to pray for her health. Thanks to everyone else for stopping by and encouraging Linda.