It's amazing what happens when a person is first diagnosed with cancer. At first, it's all you think about. It is in your face like a banner, and you can't see over it, around it, or thru it, and you just know you will never feel happiness or laughter again. Then they decide the best way to treat you. Now, I would really get that, or maybe should say I would have a happier attitude about it if I knew all the torture they can think of would save my life. But they tell me they cannot save my life, just prolong it. well, I guess that beats a blank, but you do not know how I wish, hope and pray they could save my life. Since I've had my last chemo, I am feeling better and better every day. Many times I feel so good, I forget I have terminal cancer. The drs are going to do a scan in a few weeks. If the scan shows I'm cancer free, then we move toward 10 brain radiations. If the scan shows cancer, we start all over again. I don't like either of these choices, can I have door number 3? So I hang on to God. I just hang on. I am grateful for each day. I am thankful that Riley likes to cuddle, and Brystol makes me laugh out loud every time I look at her picture posing with her seashell. I cannot die yet, I may miss something. Call me in denial, but just what if I don't go? What if I just don't die? Maybe I just won't accept that and do what I want. Something to think about...wonder what God would think about that?

1st annual Bettge cousins reunion

I, like most people, have 2 sides to my family. There is my mothers side, the Edgemons, the normal ones, then there is the Bettge side, the, well, not so normal side. On a fluke, this weekend, most on the Bettge cousins got together for the 1st annual Bettge cousins reunion at my house. If you grew up Bettge, here is what we were taught by our parents. First of all, love God. That's it, He comes first. The second thing we were taught, was to love each other. Really love each other. The third thing we were taught was to forgive one another for...whatever. It didn't matter. Jesus said forgive, so we just do it. And lastly, we were taught to laugh. Really laugh. Until your sides and stomach hurt, or you wet yourself, whichever came first. We do not talk bad about one another because not only is it not nice, but there is nothing bad to say about the others. We are a stick together family. When one is hurting, we all hurt. So, this weekend, most of the Bettges met at my house. My aunt Jean Edgemon was to also come over on Sat to help me with pictures. When she called me Sat, I purposely didn't tell her the house was filled with crazy Bettges. I was afraid she wouldn't come. So here she comes, so unsuspecting and trusting. It wasn't long until not only was she an "honorary" Bettge cousin ( she has the coffee cup to prove it), but she was acting as crazy as the rest of us. Linda and Buddy, thank you for the Easter egg hunt in Aug, and the sundaes on Sunday. Yum, yum. Your Cajun corn soup was to die for, no , I, the cancer patient, don't mean that, but it was sure good. I cannot begin to tell you the craziness that went on in my house the last 2 days, but I can tell you the Bettges that have gone to heaven before us, looked down from heaven, and were proud. Proud of us carrying on tradition. I will say, I have not laughed like this in years. Really. If it is true that laughter and happiness cure cancer, then I am cured! I love the Lord for putting me with this crazy family. I am grateful he gave us the parents he did that taught us to love Him and each other. I am grateful to have been taught to forgive and not to talk bad behind someones back. And aunt jean, I am grateful, you are now officially a Bettge. I love my family. All of them. Thank you all for making me laugh so hard that not only do my sides and stomach still hurt, but I wet myself. Oh, don't judge me, you did too!