Retirement Celebration. & Dad Update 12/15/2016

Tomorrow will be Mom's last day at Brenham ISD after 28 years of service. It's crazy to think this chapter of her life is ending, and she is now turning the page to a new chapter- one filled with many unknowns, but lots of time for friends & family. 

The last three years of work for Mom has been challenging. She's struggled through some really difficult days, each of which she managed through with a smile on her face and an unbelievable perspective on it all. Her positive attitude and outlook has never ceased to amaze me. 

When I think back on Mom's 28 years of service, there is really one main phrase that comes to mind when describing her management style, one thing she constantly tells me when I struggle with a career decision:

"There are three priorities in life you need to remember, and they go in this order exactly. Your faith is first, your family is second, and then it's your career. If you consider the priority of each of those, you'll never make a wrong choice."

That's how she managed her office the last 28 years, and that's how she has managed our house (especially) in these last three years. It's a true testament to the type of manager she is, and most importantly, the type of person she is.

She ends these last 28 years with many friends she has met through her job as Child Nutrition Director at BISD. Friends that have laughed and celebrated through the good, and friends that have been there to love her and cry with her through the bad. She has been so incredibly blessed. 

I joke that Mom and Dad may have survived cancer these last three years, but can they survive being with one another each day, all day long? And it's truly a joke because, if anything, they will thrive being with one another each day. 

Everyone has commented on how great Dad is looking- and I couldn't agree more. If you just looked at him, you'd never know the fight he's put up these last three years. He's a pretty amazing fighter, and most importantly, a pretty amazing dad. 

So after 28 years of waking up early, barely eating a lunch, and working late- Mom gets to set her own schedule. She can wake up at 7 am, or sleep until 10 am. She can make a sandwich for lunch or meet friends downtown. She can work on her own to do list until 8 pm, or stop at 3 pm. Her schedule is just that, HER schedule. And I know both her and Dad are thrilled. 

We have no idea what Dad's next MRI will show, as we were told that 7-9 months post surgery the tumor would return- and here we are 38 months later with no recurrence. After being given just 14 months to live, I think it's safe to say God has another plan for Dad. I know he's using him in ways that I couldn't have ever imagined- and all because of cancer. If you look hard enough, you truly can see the good in it all. 

Tomorrow at 5 pm, I'll be celebrating with Mom as she ends her chapter at Brenham ISD. We will probably have a glass of wine, or two...ok maybe three. We will talk about her favorite things about Brenham ISD, we will laugh (Mom will probably cry a bit), and then we will look to the future at all the wonderful things that are still left in this lifetime. We know from experience these things will involve laughter and tears, trials and triumphs, but most importantly amazing friends and family each step of the way. 

Congrats Mom on 28 amazing years at Brenham ISD!

Christmas Time At The Glenz Household. Dad Update 12/8/2016

On Tuesday we had a follow up appointment with Dr. Fleener and discussed our upcoming MRI. Dad has currently been off all treatments since August- he's thrilled to be done with the IV treatment Avastin, and even more thrilled to be off of chemotherapy. Three years of such intense treatment can really take a toll on your body. 

It's been 38 months since we learned of Dad's cancer, and it's been 38 months where we learned a lot about ourselves, a lot about our faith, and even more so about the support system we have in this battle. Y'all, we are so incredibly blessed. 

And the holidays are always such a wonderful time to remind ourselves of how blessed we are to have Dad still with us- how amazing it is that he's truly beaten the odds! I looked back and saw that just two years ago I posted the following quote, and after our most recent trip to see Dr. Fleener, it's all still so incredibly true: 

"Part of winning the battle against cancer is hope, faith, determination, strength and keeping positive. The other part of winning the battle is a great medical team on your side. I learned early on that statistics are just numbers, and I'm more than a number. I'm a strong human being with inner strength and an iron-clad determination to fight to win. Statistics don't tell you about the human behind the fighter who possesses the will and strength to fight, win and overcome."

Dad has this unbelievable amount of hope, faith, determination and strength- and what he lacks in staying positive on some of his most difficult days, Mom more than makes up. These two are an incredible team, two people that I'm so very proud to call my parents- they have looked fear, anxiety and stress right in the eyes, and have fought back with everything they have. Statistics in Dad's cancer clearly didn't take into account these two individuals in this battle. We were given 14 months. And here we are 38 months later. I think it's safe to say Mom & Dad's hope, faith, determination and strength had a lot to do with it- along with a lot of prayers and the good Lord on our side. 

And the other part of our battle- a great medical team. I can't say enough wonderful things about each person at the Cancer Clinic in Bryan. After each visit Dr. Fleener gives Dad a hug and says "I love you." In a place that COULD be so incredibly cold and depressing- I honestly don't wish ANYONE a visit to an Oncologist office- the Cancer Clinic is FAR from that. I've been there at least once a month since Dad's diagnosis, and I've always been greeted with a smile, a hug, and a question "How's Larry doing?". They know us by name- we have no patient number that I'm aware of- and they answer each of my questions (no matter how dumb they may be!). We are blessed to have found such amazing people to care for my Dad. 

On Tuesday we left with wishing each of the staff, nurses and doctors a Merry Christmas, and the words "See y'all in 2017!"

We have another MRI at the end of the month, but until then we are planning to focus not on the results and the scan-anxiety associated with it all- no, instead we are going to focus on celebrating the true meaning of the season. We plan to spend time with friends & family, celebrate the two little ones (soon to be THREE!) experiencing the JOY of Christmas, and soak up as much time as we can with Dad. 

I know all too well the statistics associated with Dad's cancer, but I also know all too well the absolute grace God has given us these last three years. We've been given more time than we ever thought we would have, and for that I am so incredibly grateful. 

Wishing you all a wonderful Christmas season and a Happy New Year!