I'm a Mutant

Y'all probably didn't know that, did ya?  The problem is that I don't have special powers.  My mutation is of my MSH6 gene and is called Lynch Syndrome.  Who knew that all our genes are cataloged?  Here's how my daughter, Katie, describes our mutation (she's a mutant too and has a degree in biology so she knows what she's talking about):  


"Lynch Syndrome is a genetic mutation that is in every one of my cell’s DNA.  As DNA copies itself, a “spellchecker “goes behind it to ensure that the code was copied correctly.  If it is not correct, then it will initiate a process to fix the damaged code.  Lynch Syndrome causes that spellchecker to malfunction, so that if my DNA has a mistake during copying, that mistake will not be corrected in the new cell.  This change in the code increases my risk for certain types of cancers.  The specific spellchecker protein affected in my case is MsH6."


Yeah, we were pretty freaked out when we found out we had this a couple of years ago.  My aunt started the ball rolling when she tested positively for it.   My dad then tested positive too.  That meant my chances were 50/50 for having it, so I optimistically assumed I wouldn't. I debated getting tested, but figured I would rather know.  Do I need to have a colonoscopy every year or every 7-10 years like everybody else?  I preferred the option with the least frequency and being optimistic, I figured I probably didn't inherit the offensive gene.  Wrong!  Ugh.  The worst thing was knowing that I may have passed my mutation on to my kids.  And I did.  At least once anyway.


But we got over the freak-out stage, and now we're down to the business of just getting screenings done more frequently than the average population:  like getting a colonoscopy every year.  Not fun, but definitely not the worst thing in the world.  If you don't want to hear anything more about colons, you better stop reading now.   Katie and I like to do this as a Mother/Daughter event.  We prepare the appropriate solutions, tap our glasses together, say "Cheers", and it's down the hatch!  This year, just to make it all worthwhile, the doc even found two polyps for me (non-cancerous)-- and removed them of course.


Today's sermon at church was about having thankful hearts.  The main scripture passage used was the one from Luke about the 10 lepers that were healed and how only one turned around and ran back to thank Jesus... for healing him from the dreaded disease of leprosy!  Too often I forget to thank Him too, for all kinds of things.  But right now, right here, I will.    Thank You God for genetic tests so I know how to take care of myself.  Thank You that my dad is 88 even though he's a mutant too.  Thank You for doctors and nurses and anesthesiologists and technicians and volunteers.  Thank You for all they are able to see and do and treat.  Thank You that my daughter doesn't blame me for passing on a bad gene to her.  Thank You that the polyps I didn't even know I had are gone now.


I usually post pictures with my blogs, but I just can't think of any appropriate ones for this post other than this:

The Mutants

P.S.  If you have a huge family history of a particular disease, like my family has for cancer, talk to your doctor.  Maybe there's a genetic test you could get to know how best to take care of yourself.  Knowledge is power.


P.P.S.  I now have a tattoo!  The doctor tattooed the inside of my colon to mark where one of the polyps was.  Now I'm cool.

Teux Deux... all done

I'm afraid this is starting out to be a blog about nothing.  We'll see what happens.  I've had a blogging dry spell. I have a couple of drafts that I've started and discarded out of busyness or inability to bring something together.  Writing is like that though.  If you have a dry spell, you just have to start writing something and ideas will come.

You want to know what I've been doing lately?  Wayne was in Africa for two weeks.  He had an awesome trip by the way... lots of work, but two excellent pastors conferences with a total of about 600 pastors attending!  Each pastor got a set of Bibles and reference books to use in their ministries.  Imagine the impact on so many African congregations!  But, I wasn't in Africa.  I was home with my humongous to-do list.  (or Teux Deux list as per my current online list-keeper at TeuxDeux.com).

 This is Bekah's prom dress.  It would fit her perfectly if she were size nothing and six feet tall.  She is size nothing, but she's not six feet tall.  I am too cheap to pay someone to hem it.  So, I decide to take the fate of this dress into my own hands.  See that ruffle sloping down the front?  The chiffon hem around the bottom?  Well, it also has not one, but two layer of lining fabric underneath.

This is my desk in its usual shape.  I am a neat and organized person.  Except when it comes to my desk.  And it's been worse since we moved.  I don't have a system down yet.  You see, this antique desk was made before the invention of file folders and file drawers.  Pigeon holes just don't cut it.

These plants all need to come out of their pots and somehow get in the ground.

There are five sets of blinds here.  They need to be hung up because when it gets warm our house turns into a giant oven.  We need to control some solar energy.

And I can't remember what else was on my to do list.  But these are some of what I wanted to get done while Wayne was in Africa.  Apparently I like to set unrealistic deadlines for myself.  I also needed to go out to lunch and/or dinner with various people, shop for a wedding gown, watch the 5-hour version of Jane Eyre and watch various Doris Day movies.  Priorities, you know!

But with a little help, a lot got done!  Here are some results:

More nurseries visited (yeah, six to be exact).  Plants planted.

Thanks to my daughters for "digging in" when I grew weary.

5 blinds are hung, thanks to Katie's help and an electric drill.

The dress is hemmed!  I decided to do it by hand rather than try to get my 30-year-old sewing machine to work on chiffon.  I'm not going to show the girl in the dress, because it's not prom day yet.

A wedding dress was bought (not the prom daughter, the engaged daughter).  It wasn't this one.  You think I'm going to post those pictures??  I think not.

My work is done.  I'm just kidding.  The desk improved for a day, then reverted back to its usual state.  And of course the teux deux list keeps expanding.  But... for now I am satisfied.

And here's how Wayne was spending his time while I was doing all this:

 Now that's some awesome kind of work!!!

Gird Up Your Loins, Girl! Part 2

I sure hope you read yesterday's post.  If not, go back and read it before this one.  In our household lately, we have been admonishing family members to "gird up their loins"-- meaning to strengthen their nerve to do something they dread.  This expression popped out my mouth the other day without even thinking about where it came from.  I knew it was Biblical, so I looked it up on old faithful BibleGateway.com, my favorite go-to online concordance.  Of course, I selected the King James Version, because I couldn't imagine my usual Today's New International Version to be using such words as "gird" and "loins."

But, let's detour for a moment.  What does "gird" mean?  Well, let's proceed to Dictionary.com to find out.   Gird:
1.  to put a belt, girdle, etc, around (the waist or hips)
2.  to bind or secure with or as if with a belt: to gird on one's armour
3.  to surround, encircle
4.  to prepare (oneself) for action (esp in the phrase gird up one's loins)

Ah ha!  I love it when I use a strange expression and it's actually correct! 

Now, what are loins, hm?  Back to the dictionary.  "Loins:  the parts of the body between the hips and the lower ribs, especially regarded as the seat of physical strength and generative power."

Also idiom:  "gird up one's loins, to prepare oneself for something requiring readiness, strength, or endurance:  He girded his loins to face his competitor."  So, apparently when you gird up your loins, you are wrapping a belt or sash around your waist.

I do admit that I have omitted some alternate definitions of loins which are not pertinent to our current discussion.  Just keepin' it clean here, folks.

Speaking of the Bible, lets get back to that.  I was shocked to find that people were girding themselves all through the Old and New Testaments!  And they were girding themselves with all kinds of things and for all kinds of purposes.  They girded on swords, sackcloth, strength, joy, gladness, righteousness, gold, leather and a towel.  Yes, Jesus Himself girded on a towel before he washed the feet of his disciples.

Here are just a few of the myriad Biblical references to girding.  All the scriptures are taken from the King James Version.  Alternate wording from the NIV is provided in some cases.  The Square Pink Marshmallows Bible Commentary follows each entry.

And thus shall ye eat it; with your loins girded, your shoes on your feet, and your staff in your hand; and ye shall eat it in haste: it is the LORD's passover.  Ex. 12:11

(with your cloak tucked into your belt—NIV)

 1.  Make sure your loins are always firmly girded in case you need to make a quick get-away.

And Joab's garment that he had put on was girded unto him, and upon it a girdle with a sword fastened upon his loins in the sheath thereof; and as he went forth it fell out.  2 Sam 20:8

 2.  When you gird up your loins with a sword, please gird carefully.  How embarrassing to have your sword fall off! 

For thou hast girded me with strength to battle: them that rose up against me hast thou subdued under me.  2 Sam. 22:40

 3.  Don't worry if your own girding doesn't seem like enough:  God Himself will gird you with strength.

And the hand of the LORD was on Elijah; and he girded up his loins, and ran before Ahab to the entrance of Jezreel.  1 Kings 18:46

(…tucking his cloak into his belt…--NIV)

 4.  Again, always gird up your loins before you run, or you might trip over your cloak.  Very important.

Gird up now thy loins like a man; for I will demand of thee, and answer thou me.  Job 38:3 & 40:7

(brace yourself like a man—NIV)

5.  Men, don't be wimpy.  Gird up your loins!

She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms.  Prov. 31:17

(She sets about her work vigorously…--NIV)

 6.  Women, don't be wimpy.  Gird up your loins!  If it was good enough for the Proverbs 31 woman, it's good enough for us!

She maketh fine linen, and selleth it; and delivereth girdles unto the merchant.

7.  Yep, the Proverbs 31 woman even MADE girdles for other people to gird up their loins.  So make sure all your family and friends are properly girt, my friends.

They shall have linen bonnets upon their heads, and shall have linen breeches upon their loins; they shall not gird themselves with any thing that causeth sweat.  Ezekiel 44:18

8.  Only gird up your loins with natural fibers.

Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;  1 Peter 1:13

(with minds that are alert and sober—NIV)

9.  Bet you didn't know that your mind has loins.  Well now you do, so you better gird them up too!

Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;  Psalm 30:11

 10.  Last, but not least, why not gird yourself with joy.

I'm stopping with ten, but please... feel free to gird up your loins and delve into this subject for yourself.  

Speaking of girding up loins, I'm still sitting here totally ungirded in my jammies.  This phrase still sounds rather scandalous in spite of all the above explanation... but anyway... I'm going to go gird up my loins with jeans and a belt so I will be ready for anything.