It's Christmas Eve, everybody! Time to get the presents under the tree and make sure that the main PRESENT is in your hearts!

Today is going to be a busy one! Liz and Dan just went to the airport to pick up Rosie and Ron who are flying in from Brooklyn. Rick and I will head off to the doctor in about an hour to find out what our next step is for my surgery. The MRI showed another growth, so we are trusting in the Lord's hand of guidance for what the road looks like ahead. We always know that His hand is the best one to hold and will ALWAYS take us where we need to be.

Prayers are needed for Rick's mom who is non-responsive after her heart and breathing stopped on Monday night. She is in ICU on a respirator, so we have been spending our time at the hospital these past few days (in between my doctors and working and shopping and cooking). God knows all these things, and He also will not give us more than we can handle. So we are praying for peace this Christmas in all our lives.

Peace to you all - and a bundle of great joy to everyone as we walk on the trail of life! It's always filled with surprises - but not to the One who paved the way ahead of us. MERRY CHRISTMAS!

So - this is quite a crazy Christmas season for me!

Thanksgiving was eventful, to say the least, so I should have expected nothing less than an out-of-the-ordinary Christmas adventure, right? Let's backtrack to the week before Thanksgiving.

I had a mammogram. They asked me to come back for more images. ok. nothing new - been down that road before over the past fifteen years. The Monday before Thanksgiving, Rick called me at work to tell me he was having chest pains and having trouble breathing.... zip off to the hospital (thanks to Dan and Andrew and Eric) and after many tests, pokes, prods, and an overnight stay - he is sent home with no solid diagnosis - except to say - No heart attack. Good news. The day he came home, I went back for mammogram #2. Not so good news: they found something "suspicious" and need to biopsy. ok. again - been there, done that.

Wednesday the kids came home. GREAT DAY!!!!

Thanksgiving : We ate, played ping pong, ate ate ate ate turkey turkey turkey. "stuffing" is always appro-po for Thanksgiving, isn't it? As Liz proceeds to get ready to drive grandma home, she trips - goes flying into the door and smashes up the right side of her beautiful face! Big egg on the eye - bigger knot on the cheek. Grandma proceeds to have palpitations - well, you know, it's like "The Christmas Story" only Lundy-style. Lizzy ends up with ice packs on the face - Grandma goes home.

Friday begins.

Letter from the IRS (2nd one) - not allowing our church contributions. sigh.

Phone call from the insurance company regarding Daniel's auto accident 3 weeks prior - not encouraging news. Let's leave it at that.

Saturday begins.

We take Liz to the walk-in clinic and they x-ray her cheek - not fractured. Great news. Christian and Jamie go home - with Jake the dog. We miss them.

Sunday - Liz and Nolan head out to go home and the car breaks down. We take it to the car shop (on Sunday!) and loan them Rick's Pacifica to drive up to Orlando. By the time they get to Kissimmee, they get rear-ended and the car that hit them gets stuck under their bumper. The bumper has to get broken off and it takes the exhaust with it. Now it has to get towed to Altamonte Springs so that they can both get to their homes and go to work on Monday.

Monday - two cars in the shop, two accidents to work out, Rick goes to Omaha for two weeks.

Wednesday - my biopsy. Turns into a four hour ordeal, with two biopsies done.

Thursday - I go to the accountant to call the IRS. More faxes and paperwork. Grandma has chest pains - I drive her to get medical help - she's ok. Liz's car comes back .

Saturday - Liz's car breaks down again.

Monday - the doctor tells me I have breast cancer.

It is now Thursday - December 11. I've got to tell you - I've had adventures before, but this time, it's a little more adventurous! Tomorrow I go to the surgeon to see what the road looks like over the next month. Rick will be flying home a day early so that he can come with me to the doctor and walk through this with me. You know what, though. I've had Someone walking me through this before it even began. He has begun every journey with me, because He created the road the journey takes place on! If I didn't have faith in Jesus Christ and know that the Word of God is true, I don't know how I could even take one step out of bed in the morning! "Begin where we will, God is there first." That's something that is worth remembering. God is Wonderful Counselor (He knows everything!), Mighty God (He will fight our battles), Everlasting Father (He loves us and cares for us), Prince of Peace (He has given me peace).

So - is this a crazy Christmas season? Absolutely.

Does that mean I have to go crazy? Absolutely not!

It means that God has given me an opportunity to walk through a place I've never been before - and that He will give me the chance to walk humbly with Him. This is going to be a Happy Trail, because the bottom line to loving God is trusting in the One Who loves me more.

Watch how the footprints lead to JOY.