"The Faith Club"

A little over a year ago I was walking through the bookstore and saw this book:



Intrigued, I bought it and quickly read it and loved it! A couple of weeks ago the three authors of "The Faith Club" came to Omaha! They spoke at Temple Israel where a friend is the Rabbi. He knew I was on a journey to get closer to God and to better understand Christianity and The Bible, so he actually invited me to come to listen to the authors AND stay and have lunch with them. It was absolutely amazing!

These three women, from New York, got together shortly after 9-11 so that they could write a children's book that would help their children understand the connections between their three religions, Christianity, Judaism and Islam. They haven't written the children's book yet, but they did write a book that follows their personal journeys to a better understanding of each other's faiths as well as their own.

It's an amazing story and it was an amazing day.

Thanks for reading.
Annette

Oh, I almost forgot!! The Pulmonary Hypertension Association has launched a YouTube Channel that includes Video Journeys that were taped at the PHA conference in Houston this last summer! I just happen to be one of the people that they taped. So, I guess you could say that I'm a YouTube star!! Yes, you may have my autograph and no, I won't charge you!

Thanks, again, for reading!

Thanks for the sympathy!

I'm feeling better! I was able to go to school yesterday and I even made it to bible study this morning! I need to go mix and go to bed. I'll write more tomorrow. Thanks to all of you.

Thanks for reading.
Annete

I feel like crap and I'm looking for sympathy!

Yes, you read that correctly! My dear, sweet husband had a bad cold all weekend. He was miserable! I've felt just fine until late this afternoon. I took a nap (which I've had to do every day since we left for California...)and woke feeling achy, cold and have a bit of an upset stomach. I had to call and say I wasn't going to my Monday night bible study. I'm hoping, praying and keeping my fingers crossed that I'm better in the morning because tomorrow is my "school day" and the weather is going to cooperate!

So, I appreciate any sympathy you'd like to send my way.

Thanks for reading.
Annette

California Dreaming......

Rod and I were invited to spend Valentine's Day weekend in Palm Springs, California with our friends Alan and Carol. They have a nice place that they escape to when the Nebraska winter gets...well...like a Nebraska winter! We were scheduled to fly out on Friday afternoon (the 13th...yes, Friday the 13th!). In the morning the snowflakes started flying! By mid-afternoon we had about 10 inches of snow at the house! I thought for sure that the trip was cancelled. But, we were able to "get out of town" with a little over an hour delay! Yahoo!!



We visited with our friends through Sunday. On Saturday, Valentine's Day, the 4 of us had an absolutely delicious dinner at Spencers.

We spent Sunday sleeping and enjoying the nice Palm Springs weather. We also had a very special lunch with Alan and Carol and our friends that we met on our trip to the Mediterranean in October, 2007.

I'm so disappointed with my pictures! This is the best one and it's missing Mark, Art, Bobby and Elaine! But it is a nice picture of Rosie (myself and Rod) and Barbara!

On Monday, we went north to Watsonville to visit Rod's Aunt Emma and Uncle Danny. Even though it rained and rained and rained, we still had a fantastic visit! Hopefully we can get them to Nebraska for Nick and Kara's wedding.




We returned home on Tuesday. We were shocked to see that most of the snow had melted and our friends who took care of Asa and Haver had survived! Thank you Dan and Tammy!

I'm afraid that my traveling days (at least by plane) are over. I was so tired while I was in California and it took me several days of resting back home to get "caught up." I'm a little bummed about this realization. But, it is the nature of the beast and I've been luckier than most. I've gone to such amazing places and had such amazing experiences. But, you never know. I'm not giving up, I'm just taking a rest.

Speaking of PH, my dear, dear phriend Cindy C. (she lives in Omaha) has taken a bad turn. The doctor told her on Friday that it's time to look into a double lung/heart transplant. I know that she would appreciate prayers.

Thanks for reading.
Annette

Hello! I'm here! Sorry if I worried anyone!

Rod and took a short trip over last weekend. We got back Tuesday night. I'll post more later, with pictures. I just have to say that I'm pretty sure that my traveling days are over.
crap

thanks for reading.
annete

I went to school today!

I worked with quite a few first graders and had a blast! We worked on identifying nouns and adjectives. They were absolutely adorable and, with the exception of a few, worked really hard.

OK, now watch out****WHINE ALERT!!! WHINE ALERT!!!

My PH doctor, who is wonderful, has been trying to help me get some pain relief with some different meds. My pain is primarily from side effects of the Flolan medicine. That pain is joint and muscle pain, somewhat similar to a really bad case of the flu. I also have some chest wall pain related to the PH. So, here's the whine. The new pain meds are significantly less helpful than the old ones. Supposedly that's odd since these new med are suppose to be significantly stronger than the old ones. I'm going to see my PH doctor tomorrow. I think he'll come to the same conclusion that Rod did...that I'm just strange and I might as well use the old meds since they were working better.

Yup, that's me...strange...

Thanks for reading.
Annette

Ask me, "What's new Annette?"

WHAT'S NEW ANNETTE?



CAN YOU TELL?
This is Nick and his girlfriend, Kara. Oh, I'm sorry, that's not correct. This is Nick and his FIANCE', Kara!!



He asked her on Friday night! Kara also found out on Friday that she got into medical school! It's been quite the wonderful weekend!

Thanks for reading!!
Annette

I didn't make it to my PH doc appointment today....

I woke up with the "mother of all" headaches. I was not going to put myself behind the wheel with my head and eyes hurting so much. It really feels like some kind of sinus thing. I'm feeling a bit better tonight. My line is still behaving itself, no leaking at all. So, waiting to see my doctor next Wednesday is no big deal.

Not much else is going on. I just thought I'd let you know that I'm going next week to see my PH doc.

Thanks for checking in.
Annette

If you attended our 3rd Annual Phenomenal Hope for a Cure Fundraiser...

You most certainly remember the inspirational Col. Carl Hicks. He spoke about the importance of awareness and remaining hopeful. He also told us about his daughter Meaghan's battle with pulmonary hypertension. He shared with us her struggles over the years and her successful heart-lung transplant she received in February, 2007.


Col. Hicks is second from the left.
Sadly, Meaghan passed away this weekend. I have no idea what happened. I'm trying to contact someone at the Pulmonary Hypertension Association. What I do know is that this man and his family put their very private and painful battle out there for the world to see so that they could raise awareness and help others with PH. Now they are having to grieve in public. And, in true Col. Hick's fashion, here is what he said to the PHA staff:

*********

"For fifteen years she amazed and inspired us with her will to live, her courage, spirit, energy and her sense of style and humor. Meaghan never gave up, she never quit. We can never give up, we can never quit in this fight against PH. It is my honor and duty to be in this fight with each of you. "

*******

The world and, our small part of it, seems to be filled with sadness, pain, concern and even despair right now. I am praying for so many and asking for so many prayers for so many people... I'm frustrated seeing all of this....I just don't know what to do....

Actually, I DIDN'T know what to do until I prayed to God, asking Him what I should/could be doing. He told me that the best thing I could do for Col. Hicks, Meaghan, his family and for all of the others in our small part of the world is to pray....

pray for strength for those who are ill...
pray for peace for those who are struggling...
pray for calm for those who are scared...

and

pray that they all know they are loved. Thank you for listening, God.
And, thank you all for reading.

So far, so good!!

I have not had any more problems with my line. It must have been a bad connection from the tubing used to attach the cassette of Flolan to the central line. I go in for my regular check-up with my PH doctor on Wednesday. I suppose if he has any residual concerns about the line we'll discuss if we need to do anything. But, I highly doubt that we'll do a thing. It seems to all be a bad isolated incident. Thank you for your prayers. Thank you God!

Your smile for the day:




Rod and his 125 pound lap dog. (Haver)



Thanks again and thank for reading.

Annette