Service Information

Geneva’s Life Celebration Service

Location: Owasso First Assembly of God
9341 N 129th East Avenue Owasso, OK 74055
Date: Saturday, November 22, 2008
Time: 2:00 P.M.
Theme: Pretty in Pink (Requesting that everyone wears pink if possible)

In Lieu of Flower, Geneva has asked that donations be made on her behalf to one of the following organizations that were dear to her heart:
1.) Thunder Media Ministries
2.) Lakeside Fellowship
3.) Convoy of Hope

If attending celebration service, there will be envelopes and a drop off point available. (Please make all checks payable to one of the organizations listed above / Memo line: In memory of Geneva Johnson)

If mailing: Please mail donations (all checks made payable to one of the organizations listed above / memo line: In memory of Geneva Johnson) to:
Lakeside Fellowship
PO Box 111
Oologah, OK 74053

Description of above organizations:
1.) Thunder Media Ministries - Is a Christian non-profit organization devoted to sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with children and families around the world. Thunder Media Ministries produces evangelistic events featuring Robert T Schlipp as Bibleman. In 2009 Thunder Media Ministries will provide Bibles to terminally ill children in honor of Geneva Johnson. For more information please visit www.thundermedia.org. Our address is: Thunder Media Ministries, PO Box 1213, Ozark, MO 65721.
2.) Lakeside Fellowship – Is a non-profit organization & Geneva’s home church where she served on the board. Lakeside has a food pantry that provides food to local individuals/families that are in need. The primary purpose of Lakeside’s Food Pantry is to provide hope and encouragement in families in our area. All donations will go directly into Lakeside’s Food Mission. Our mailing address is: PO Box 111 Oologah, OK 74053.
3.) Convoy of Hope - Convoy of Hope mobilizes resources, and trains churches and other groups to conduct community outreaches, respond to disasters, and direct other compassion initiatives in the United States and around the world. Convoy of Hope is a 501 ( c ) (3) nonprofit organization.
Address: Convoy of Hope
330 S. Patterson Ave
Springfield, MO 65802

Before I Go

Hello All.This is Denetta, G's sister. I know that G planned to write a blog message to all of you before she went to see Heaven, but she never felt quite good enough to do it. So, I on her behalf...thinking I know pretty much what she would say...(though we all know I can not presume to speak for G) would like to write to you on her behalf. She is right here with me, so...here we go: (by the way, I know already that if I do not write this in G style, she'd pinch me hard, so...

Hey everyone...bet you thought this message was to tell you I'm a gonner! Nope, not quite yet, still breathing, though hardly. I must say that I am quite peaceful at the moment...could be meds, or death, or family, or HEY, I am going to be in heaven soon...unless God raises me from the dead. I do think that even if He does that, I'd still be in heaven for a second. I wonder if Lazerous was like, "Hey, I like it up here...what do you think you're doing sending me back???!!!" Anyways, I have been through a journey, as we all go through. Many of you have shared it with me. Praying for me, laughing with me, listening to me, looking at my pictures, reading my blogs, watching me thow up, shopping with me, taking me to the hospital etc... (I must say, I am so a size 6 or less right now). I always said that I would probably have to be skin and bones to be a size 6...I was right! Too cold to finally go buy that bikini now! Isn't that just the way it would go!

To my friends and family: I would like to say, without being cheesy that I love you. You are all special people and have meant very much in my life. I do love people, well most people, (I mean I love everyone because God said, just some are more...lets just say "different" than others)...Anyways, back to you...I am thankful for the wonderful time I have had with all of you. I would like to tell you that though I wish I had more time to be a friend, aunt, sister, daughter...I will still be all those things, just from a different place. Remember that life is a blink of an eye to God...I'm just going a bit ahead to see Him. Jealous? I will not be in pain, I will probably be skinny, and I will be able to sing with the angels, what a wonderful thing. I would ask that you all love Jesus with all of your heart until your dying day. God is good and faithful. Though we do not know why things happen the way they do, I trust him more than ever, and believe that He is in charge of this world. Continue to let Him be in charge of yours, for He is good, and loving, and peaceful, and a comforter, and a friend. I know I will be missed...I mean, really, if you think about it...who couldn't miss me! So go ahead and miss me, but don't grieve long for me. I am joyful. I know how soon we will meet, and I will be waiting with long slender skinny arms wide open (did I mention long and slender...and skinny?...to soon give you a hug and show you around the place I will soon be in. I mean think about it...I get to go meet God, face to face, is there any greater thing? Heaven is our real home, and I will see you soon! All of my love to you, and many many blessings in your time left here! I am very blessed to have known you, and will continue to love you.

See you soon in the big H!

(Heaven, not the other one!)

Love, G

Non Post Post

This post is a non-post...because I don't have anything to post. My days do have some varience, but not enough really post about. And the stories I do have to tell are too long and exhausting to even think about attempting to write them up. that was long.

I haven't been taking pictures...so no cute pictures of the kiddos.

So basically, I'll attempt to do better, but promise nothing!!!

Love,

G

My Dinner...

Ok guys, I know you've just been a'dyin to know. OK, so you haven't been a'dyin about it, but please, don't you think I deserve a little poetic licsence? Alright, so I don't deserve it, but I'm gonna take it just the same if that's ok with you. Hold on...let me think...I guess it doesn't matter if it's ok with you or not because I've already said it and I'm not really sure about that whole edit thing, so I guess we will all just have to live with it. Now on with the story...

I ate real food yesterday and didn't through up!!! This is an amazing happening. I've been on Ensure, Jamba Juices, & Sonic Grape Slushes for about 3 1/2 or 4 weeks now. Those were they only things that I could eat and keep down. Well, ok, occasionally I haven't kept those things down either, but we have much better statistics with the liquid items.

So yesterday I had a bowl of chicken noodle soup for lunch. To be completely honest, I did puree it in the Vita-Mix first, but I ate/drank it and it stayed down.

Then later I ate half of a grilled cheese sandwich. (Now with this one, my mother & I checked the time and had to decide if it would actually break my fast or not. We decided not, & I ate.) The grilled cheese stayed down as well!!

If you add in my Ensure for breakfast and 1/2 a grape slush, I had 14 Weight Watcher Points OR roughly 800 calories, which is pretty good for me!!!

Hoping to break the 1000 calorie mark soon with real food,

G

Look What I Found

The other Monday (ok, let's be real, say 3 1/2 weeks ago on a Monday) I opened my purse and found this Did you see it? Look closer... Yep, right there beside my ID badge. It is what you think it is... Sophi-G's Binky.

Apparently she wanted to keep it safe at church on a Sunday evening, so she just dropped it in my purse for safe-keeping.

Love,
G

*****************************************************************

I know I haven't been posting as much lately, but the past few weeks have been over the top as far as exhaustion goes. I will try to be more dilligent in the future, don't get over excited. I love you guys!

My Library, Part Deux

This is the entrance to my library...Atorville Merchantile

This is the opposite side of the entrance...generally called the exit =)

This is our fireplace - above it hangs a print pointilism of OK history, including the Trail of Tears, Will Rogers, the state seal, etc.

And this is the comfy sofa I often use when reading to my Kindergartners. That is a bookwork laying along the length of the sofa. It should be careful, because my windows don't have any pane so that dear may turn omivore sometime and put a hurt on 'da bookworm'.

Please excuse the box on the sofa - it contains a flatscreen monitor that is in the process of being married to his wife CPU tower.

Love,
G

My Library

I have had several requests from my favorite aunt to see a picture of my library. Translation ~ "several requests" was my mom said to & "favorite aunt" which ever one I'm talking to at that moment, except for the real favorite aunt & she knows who she is...and we leave it unspoken so as to not bother her sisters (she has four one of which is my mother) and my cousins since I'm her favorite niece.

Anyway, this is the circulation desk that we (Moe, Joni, Nancy, Tracy, Me & did I forget anyone) art-if-icated.
Let me just say that while the desk is gorgeous, it was the most incredibly difficult 'little project' I have ever done. In fact, when I had to add it to my inventory with a 'valuation' we used a $50 an hour plus materials formula and the cost ended up around $10,000 - and that weren't mostly materials folks.

This is the browsing area also known as my collection also known as the books and stuff...




This is the classroom where I teach my world-class-library-of-the-world-lessons.



And of course this is my office, where I plan those world-class-library-of-the-world-lessons
with a close up of the desk where the magic really happens...


I did forget to take a picture of the entrance which looks like a old-time general store. Because, in case you didn't notice, I have a western theme going on. And that there is my library folks.

Love,
G

Cancer, Pain, Blah, Blah, Blah

The last few days I have been having some pain & stuff. When I went to the Dr. yesterday it seems that I have also been running a temp now and again. He immediately sent me to the treatment room and I had two bags of IV antibiotics. Then to the hospital to have my drain attached to an external bag. Then this morning I went in and had the drain changed.

I already feel a ton better. I am getting ready to go to bed and sleep off the rest of the sedation. Apparently my drain was almost completely blocked, so the change should help clear up most (if not all) of my systems. YEAH!!!

This caused 2 sad things occurred though - First, I missed getting to see Rob T, Anay, Abigail & Zachary last night while they were in town doing a premiere. Second, I missed the first day of school with first day clothes and first day hair styles and first day smiles.

I know this is short, but I'm about to fall asleep at the computer.

Love You Guys!
G

Home Remedies, Anyone?

On one of the blogs I read, the blogger wrote that she had heard that if you apply one-half cup of Miracle Whip to your hair once a week it works great as a conditioner.

I've never tried the mayo trick. But I do wash my hair with a tablespoon of baking soda once a week. (I don't actually use this brand, but this brand has a prettier box than the off-brand-store-brand-60 cent a box brand I use.)

Anyway, I use it as a scrub between my shampoo and conditioner once every week or two. It does a wonderful job of stripping build-up from product. This tip was orignally a suggestion from my stylist, Jesse, as an economical way to deal with the mammoth amounts of product I use. I've used it pretty religiously for years now...well, except during that whole bald period, when I would have used it if I had had hair to use it on.

So what about you? Do you use any 'ole wive tail' home remedies? Which ones? Or which ones have you heard of and wondered if anyone has ever tried it? Really, I want to know.


G

Sophi-G, Not Football

This post was originally going to be about football practice and helmets and stinky boys. Brenden even took a short video of the actual event for me to share. But, in downloading the pictures I saw this...
and then I came across this and this
then there was this one too

Then there was this

So I guess I'll talk about football someother time, like maybe never, or tomorrow, or Saturday. Hmmm, I guess it will depend if someone else's incredibly cute face ends up in the same folder as stinky, sweaty, nine-year-old boys and football pads.

Love,
G

A Trip Down Memoory Lane

My Dad's favorite place to sleep...

My Favorite Sweatshirt...

My Sister hanging out in one of the extra hospital beds...

Jordan & I eating homemade jello ice-pops...

Laughing as Elli played 'pretty-pretty princess...

Cox South ER Trip #1...

Trip #2 to Cox South ER...

Time to Admit me as a Regular guest...

Schedule a few procedures and facials...


I had some fun company...the cutie is Amy...


Check out Sophi-G's ow-ie (notice the blue ice pack on her back)...

The night I got home from St. Francis...

It's Time To Fast

Since May, the Lord has been leading me to begin a time of fast and prayer for my healing. Many of you know that Tony (my BIL & Pastor) and I have had numerous conversations regarding this. We want to make sure that if this is how God leads us then the giving, fasting, and praying is done with a sincere heart and attitude. We also want to make sure that anything we do will give Glory only to God, so that God is Honored, not me, a church, a doctor, a person or a building…just Christ the Almighty Savior.

Many of you have asked, “if you fast or pray please let me know, because I would love to blah, blah, blah.” I am going to share with you how the Lord is leading me. But I need to be extremely clear on the following items. I apologize if you find my language uncomfortable.

Number 1 - If you do not feel spiritually lead by God to participate in this fast, THEN DON’T. I know you might mean well, but if your purpose by participating is to encourage me, please, please don’t. We fast for both corporate and private reasons, but I do not want anyone fasting for my encouragement. I only want people to participate in this time of ‘give, fast, pray’ who are being lead in that direction by God Almighty specifically for the manifestation of my healing. If you are feeling lead to be supportive then please continue to pray in the way that you have been…for my complete physical healing but not as a part of this fast. If God has not lead you to fast at this time, this might be an opportunity for you to study scriptural fasting – both Old & New Testaments. If you are interested in fasting materials, check with your pastor or local Christian Book Store.

Number 2 - When you pray, please pray for the complete physical restoration of my body where my manifested healing will be made known explicitly. If you don’t feel you have that type of faith, then please don’t pray. One of the scriptures I believe that God has given me during this time is found in Mark 5 and Jesus says "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace and be healed of your affliction." (NASB). I believe that I have already been healed of this cancer and this waiting time is the ‘proofing’. I am simply waiting for the healing that God has given me to be made manifested physically.

So with all the caveats…here is our “Give, Fast, Pray” Beginning on Sunday

We will be fasting our evening/supper meal every night. We are doing this because we know that Jesus fasted because He knew that there were some supernatural things that could only be released through denying our body what it wants. Once we begin to show more control over our private lives then it becomes easier for God to see what the real desires of our hearts are. (Jentenzen Franklin) When we make a mistake, we will simply, repent, go back to where we were and begin again.

We will spend time specifically praying for things during this time of “Give, Fast, Pray." The first thing we will pray for is Unity in the Body of Christ. This is an area that the church has been struggling with around the world. It doesn’t matter your denomination, it matters your desire to serve Christ first, recognize and support the other Followers of Christ rather than competing against one another. The second portion of prayer will be dedicated to the complete restoration and healing of the physical body I now have…that includes a brand new gallbladder. (And just as an aside, when I was having that procedure done on Wed I asked the Dr if my gallbladder was there yet. He told me it had been surgically removed. I told the Dr. I knew that, but since I was praying for a new one I just thought he might check while I was in the CT machine.)

Even though I’ve added some restrictions with some of the participation, I would love for every one who feels able to pray, to pray these two prayers each day…

1. The first thing we will pray for is Unity in the Body of Christ. This is an area that the church has been struggling with around the world. It doesn’t matter your denomination, it matters your desire to serve Christ first, recognize and support the other Followers of Christ rather than competing against one another.

2. The second portion of prayer will be dedicated to the complete restoration and healing of the physical body I now have…that includes a brand new gallbladder.

Blessings!
G (& the Poor BIL)

PS We are not teaching a class, setting up rules for others to follow, or are volunteering to spear-head a fasting accountability group. We are going to 'give, fast, pray' in the way we just outlined to the best of our ability in Christ for as long as we feel led. So that might mean 8 weeks, 4 months, or whatever. We are not putting an end date on God, rather we are letting Him know that we plan to follow His lead until He tells us otherwise. If you feel lead to do this, or something similar, please check out your 'rules' with God, not us. Does that make sense???

My Boyfriends' Are Back

Aaghh, Sigh, Gentley exhale. These are my two favorite boyfriends in the world and both dorks came home from church camp this afternoon. It has been so very sad with them gone, but I have been excited for them as well. This was both of the dorkable's first church camp. They both had an absolute blast and I can't wait to hear more stories. I have promised them that they can each have their own entry here (with or without pictures) whenever they are ready. So when they are ready, you will get a nice jumble of thoughts about zip lines, bigfoots, ping pong games and things of that nature. But until then
just one more pic!

Love,
G

I'm Home!!!!

I got home just a little bit ago. I've been trying to go through the phone tree and let people know. If you haven't received a call from me please know that it's me. Well, ok, it might be you, but it probably isn't. I was trying to remember time differences and work schedules and it just got all muddled together with doctors coming and going, pharmacy stops (for my 'just in case I need it tonight' medicines) and a riff-raff of things. I'm just impressed that I sort of remembered that one of you was teaching pool aerobics tonight and one of you had twins that might need a nap this afternoon, and some of you had kids at church camp this week...Go G!!!!

Now for the run down. I had a procedure (called something like a sensory nerve overload) today where they blocked the nerves from sensing pain. It is suppose to be similar to the old-fashioned pregnancy blocks. (Something like a saddle-block or some such horse-y sounding name.) But the nerve damage is, hopefully, permanent...or semi-permanent. This will allow me to not have to use medication like I have been over the past two weeks. It will also allow me to work and drive without being compromised in any way...ok, hold on to the snorting, coughing, and chuckling. I know you can, big deep breath - in through the nose - out through the mouth. Anyway, I should be back to my great ole self soon.

I am planning on taking it easy as school gets started where and when I can just to make sure I don't overdo or overtax myself. For those of you who don't work with me, you should know that this will be harder for me to do than for anyone to ask it of me. I really enjoy/love/infatuated/have the best job in the world and get so wrapped up in it that I tend to maybe/slightly/tend to/do more than I probably should. But all of you should know by now that that is what I tend to do with the things I love so much...over-do. It doesn't much matter what it is - Austin, Brenden, Sophi - School - Worship - Sticks - all of it - if I'm in love with it, I'm way extremely committed to it. So I will be learning a little bit more about setting boundaries in my work - home - church - friends - life over the next few months. Won't that be fun for me!! or Won't that be fun for me?? or Please, please God, let this be fun for me.

I haven't been treating my cancer over the last two weeks because the priority has been trying to identify what has caused me all of this intense (and trust me if the thesaurus could find more words I would use them) pain. We've been ruling out drug combinations and things. So in the last 2 weeks my cancer counts have gone up (FYI - not good). I will begin my cancer treatment again tomorrow in combination with the pain stuff and hopefully we will have a knock out winner.

Tomorrow some time, I plan on sharing my personal victory plan through my blog. This is one that I have been praying about and I will share with you exactly what I (& my poor volunteer brother-in-law) will be doing over the next couple of months. This is the one I alluded to before that you can participate in in what ever way you feel that God might be leading you. Trust me, it isn't for for everyone, yet there is something everyone who wants to can proactively do if they chose.

I love all of you and am so excited for the prayers that I know are said daily on my behalf.

Sorry about the sans pictures - hopefully, by the weekend I will be back to sharing the cute stuff!!!

Love & Blessings to you all!

G

Hospital Visit - Day 12 ish??

Hey Guys! Thanks so much for all of your love, words of encouragement and compassion.

Tomorrow, I will be having a minor procedure that will help to block the pain receptors. This will help bring my pain level underneath the control of God's Power and Spirit. Just in case you might wonder...God has always had control, but I do believe that His Will and Power are perfect and while His perfect plan is often beyond me (Go ahead and snicker Marc, I know you want to)I do recognisize that His P&P are still there awaitin our recognition of it. Just an FYI, it happens tomorrow.

Now, many of you have commented on my unique language and word choice. It can most simply be described as: laptop keyboard, too long nails, & a cracker shoved underneath my keyboard. Now, I have no idea how the cracker ended up where it did (equal kudoos could be given to a princess-complex 18- month old
or a warrior wanna-be-7 year old, but I don't want to ascrible that placement just yet). What I do want you to know is that it makes typing TOUGH!!!

If all goes well, I will be hopefully be headed home tomorrow (or to my sisters anyway, who knows?) and back to work on Thursday.

I will probably not post again until Friday or Saturday...so if you don't see anything, don't worry!!

I love you!

G

Hospital Visit - Day #324

Well jell-girls and Guys, Guys, Guys!! Life is... What shall we call it....hmmmm....ummm. I don't know. I'm fresh out of words, you pick a word.

If you are short on some words I will throw some out at you like... Gorgeous, beautiful, tall sexy and skinny "both before and after the Y" (cough, cough). Intelligent

Okay--okay--lets get real. How about obnoxious, prissy-dork, stubborn, and well, come on - you can figure out the rest by your self. I have mostly smart friends. 'Cause I'm just like that that way.

On the Amy scale we have had two episodes in the pissy range or beyond! (beyond, beyond, beyond) and the rest of the day has met or exceeded general expectations.


The highlight of my day was lunch with Miss Sophie G. She ate all my strawberries and I ate all of the chicken. And no it wasn't strawberry chicken, it was Hawaiian chicken with strawberries on the side.

The boys left for camp today, woohoo-who I think or maybe not. I'm not sure I'll let you know Friday when they come back how much I really did miss them.

Love ya Bunches!
G

Cancer Update

Ok...today has been both a goose and a ghander kinda day, iffin' ya know what "ai jamean."

There has been some terrible pajaihs and some normal types of one as well. Of course, it goes witout saying that pain, with or without an objective scoring system, is a prjorative realative system.

Gotsta Go!

Love,

g

Amy's Tet

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Love,
G

Hospital Visit - Day 8, 12 hours

After I posted last night, I have had three seperate extreme episodes of pain. We are talking incredibly-extremely-way past the point of pissy pain. However, interspersed were some ok times as well.

I just wanted to hop on and quickly leave you guys a message to let you know how much I appreciate and covet your prayers, love and freinship.

In a few days I will be giving you some information on how you can help me if you would like. It doesn't take any money, just a true faith in Our Lord Jesus Christ, a belief in divine miracles, and a 10 minute per day real commitment in prayer. I will lay out all of the steps for those of you who are interested and a way that you will be able to respond if you would like to partcipate.

Love you Bunches!
G

St. Francis - Day Four, Hospital Visit - 7 Days 2 Hours

Hello, Friends, Neighbors and Strangers! This picture was taken of me an hour or so ago here at St Francis.

I am doing fairly well. Dr. Kellar is not looking to release me today or tomorrow even though on the Amy scale I am between an "__X__ ok & a __X__ kinda good" & the pain scale is a 4-5. He is wanting to get the pain issue much lower before I report back to work on Thursday...because trust me, I will be reporting to work on Thursday. We're just trying to avoid another trip to the ER.

The problem last Friday was that the pain level got out of control. So off to the Cox South Er Amy & I went This snap shot was taken at the end of ER visit 1, when the pain was gone & I looked at Amy and said, "I should have brought my camera." Hence, both of our phones came out.

We went home (she & Marc's) around 10:00 pm ate watermelon, took some medicine and was going to get some rest and come back home (mine) on Saturday am. Hah, hah. Like I told Marilyn later, John Steinbeck may have had the filthiest mouth on the planet, but he had one Spiritual concept aptly put..."the best laid plans of mice and men." Loosely translated, if you want to see God laugh, tell him your plans.

ER trip 2 to Cox took place around 5:30 Saturday morning. This visit changed to Hospital Admission #1 later Saturday morning and my sister & BIL came up. Here's my cute lil' sister posing in my Hospital Room

It took until Tues morning to get my pain stabilized. I was discharged, my BIL drove back to SPFD to follow us back to Tulsa. We went straight to St. Francis where Dr. Kellar (who should be nominated as the world's greatest oncologist had my orders waiting at the admitting desk. So three hours after I was discharged from Cox I was admitted to St Francis and was sitting in my private room connected to my new pain pump.

Since, Thursday my pain level has been fairly consistent below 5 with just a few forays at 6 or above. I really thought that Keller would have discharged me, but it seems that even though I feel my pain is tolerable, he wants it under more control. I will be here at least another night and possibly Saturday as well.

I have had several tests, met with a pain management RN (she is working with my med list and some other things), a gastrointerologist, a dietitian, and a neurologist. These guys are working with Dr. K to develop a pain management plan that I feel will be manageable for me at work and they feel comfortable with the actual pain level.

Believe it or not I think we will be there by Monday afternoon and I will be ready to work part of Wednesday, so that I will be ready to start my contract on Thursday.

Love You Guys!
G