Saturday, November 27, 2010

What Do You Do?


What do you do when one of your longtime and closest friends is diagnosed with Leukemia? I can tell you what I did. I cried. I got mad. Then I cried some more. I know it sounds silly, but that is what I did and I did a LOT of it and repeated the cycle several times.

I knew she was not feeling well, but when she went in to the hospital ER I thought it was cellulitis in her legs causing all the problems. Then she messaged me, saying her bloodwork was off and they were admitting her. Her white count was significantly elevated, leading me to think she had a very bad infection in her legs.

Then I got a text from her.
It was two words staring back at me from my phone screen.

It's leukemia.

I was shocked. How does this happen? She is healthy, strong, 35, a wife, a mother to two kids, a friend to many. She is active in our church and works full time. She just lost her mom to cancer 2 months ago. Her husband got hurt and was out of work for months, and she lost her job as well. They were both blessed with new jobs and were getting back on track with everything when BAM!

It's leukemia.

So now she is in the hospital, facing a month of intensive, continuous chemo treatments. Her world is upside down, and so is the world of so many who love her and are affected by this, only in a different way. I feel so helpless, and so angry. I like to compartmentalize things and sort them out into where they go, sort of a mental filing system. That is how I deal with things. This has no place to go. This has no compartment or file. It is so much emotion and so many questions all rolled up into two words.

It's leukemia.

And it really, really sucks.

Tuesday, November 23, 2010

Thankful!

This time of year, we hear a lot about being thankful and counting our blessings. Today I am composing......

Things I am thankful for......possibly updated as time goes on :)

  • my salvation through Jesus Christ
  • my faith in God
  • my husband
  • my daughter
  • my extended family
  • my church
  • my friends
  • my husband's job
  • my health
  • my car-no car payment
  • my mentor at Church (Love you Joye!)
  • our pets
  • that my Mom is feeling better after her hospitalization
  • my comfy bed
  • Facebook-I have found so many long lost friends and family
  • warm clothes
  • plenty of food
  • my daughter's fabulous school, her teachers and staff
  • my volunteer position at the school
  • Cracker Barrel therapy session with my best friend Brenda :)
  • my scrapbooking, and the sense of accomplishment and the creative outlet it gives me
  • flannel pajama pants that I steal from my hubby--oh so comfy and toasty
I am sure this list could go on forever, but this is what is on my mind right now. What are you most thankful for? Start making a lost....you may be surprised what comes to mind.

Sunday, November 14, 2010

Really?

Last Thursday my husband, daughter and I went to the mall. My darling, thoughtful husband pulled up to the door and let me out, allowing me the opportunity to go into AC Moore and browse a few moments by myself while he and the girl child parked the car and hung out in the arcade. (Sweet bliss, I tell ya. Sweet bliss. Just me and my craft supplies.....ahhhhhh.........)

As I walked towards the store, I realized something. Since I was on the upper level of the mall, I could see the top spindles of the castle/winter wonderland/Santa picture taking/highly overpiced extortion area for all parents of small children on the lower level.

Wanna know a secret? I began silently complaining about the mall having decorations up so early. I mean my goodness, it is only.......wait........could it be???????

MID NOVEMBER!!!!!!!!!!!

Holy smokes, where did the time go? Wasn't it just 100 degrees? Is Thanksgiving really so close upon us? Yes Virginia, they were setting up for Santa just a few yards away....and yes, it really is the time for it.

Thanksgiving is just 10 days away.

I simply can't believe it. Are you prepared for the holidays that are so fast approaching?

I better start making my list and getting ready to cook!

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Awakening 11/9/10 IWC Grand Opening week

Our church is having it's grand opening this week, and Marissa is so excited to finally be part of the Interpretive Dance Team, The Awakening.
The video is kind of dark in places, but she is on the right hand side, black shirt, second row. She is behind the young lady with the white shirt and the wide black belt.
WORSHIP AND ENJOY!

Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Things I Love, Right At This Moment


As a woman, I have the right and authority to change my mind on any given subject at any moment. This does not always gel well with my husband, however, it is the nature of the beast within me. I am woman. I am fickle.

However, at this given moment, there are several things in my life that I am really hyped-up-jacked-up-crazy- happy about. Inspired by the fabulous Jamie D., I am sharing them with you today. Now aren't you glad I got inspired to actually write something? Yes folks, the nail biting stress is over, I am BAAAACK! :)

Things I love as of this moment on 11/3/2010 in NO PARTICULAR ORDER!
1. Honey Nut Cheerios (Dry, no milk!)
This may be more than a like, it may be an obsession. I find myself happily munching on a bowl whenever I sit down at the computer or at my scrap table. I love the combination of sweet and salty, and that they are not messy and do not drop little crumbs or leave grease on my hands like chips or popcorn. Factor in the probable fiber content and reasonable calorie per serving, and you see why I am diggin' this as a snack. Think I'm nuts? Try it. Pretty soon you will be gobbling them by the handful like popcorn, with out the mess. My best friend Brenda eats them dry too, but she dips them in peanut butter. Sounds good to me, but messy and too time consuming. She actually makes little stacks of two cheerios with the peanut butter between them. Way too labor intensive. If I wanted to eat them that way, I would have to stir them into a big glob of peanut butter in a bowl and eat them with a spoon (which defeats the whole hand to mouth snack thing).

2. The Weather
Since the weather here is often labeled as bipolar, this in indeed an as-of-this-moment like. This morning it was around 50 degrees, with high today around 68. But this weekend? Oh yeah baby. Lows in the upper 30's and highs just over 60. Bring on fall! Us big girls like the cooler temps :) However, give it a few days, and we will probably be back into the upper 80s. Typical. Just when you think of breaking out a sweater, you will need your shorts again.

3. My Church
Have I mentioned my church lately? LOL-if you follow me on Facebook you know I never seem to shut up about it.  But guess what? I LOVE MY CHURCH! It is the first place that I have ever felt like I truly belong. The people there are very real. There is no back biting or dissension. It is peaceful, happy, and the truth of God is taught. The staff works very hard to deliver the Word of God and a whole heap of love to every single person.

4.My Family
Mom and PaPa are doing well, my sister's last procedure to help with her back pain went great, my nieces are happy and secure in their young adult lives, my husband is strong, helathy and working his hiney off, and my daughter is about at happy as she has ever been. She is growing, (2 inches in one year so far) doing well in school, secure in her friendships, happy on her dance team at church, and secure in who she is in Christ. My inlaws are doing well too.

5.My Cats
Loudmouth is doing really well. Her new food with the arthritis medicine in it is really helping. She is walking better and her coat is fuller. She looks happier and her eyes look brighter. Julio is Julio. Crazy, funny and lovable. Yesterday he was walking on the top of the door to the porch, balance beam style. NUT! Lil Bit is her sweet self. She is getting a lot more snuggly now since the weather cooled off :)

6. Scrapbooking.
Yep, I am slowly getting back into it. Yesterday I spent part of the day working with my good friend April and actually finished a page. (We also nearly finished off a large bag of M and M's.) I have another page almost done. Since I lost my mojo a while back, this feels good to get back into it. I wil post pics soon.

7. Halloween Is Over
Not to be a party pooper, but I do not like Halloween. Never have. However, the gate is now open on Thanksgiving planning, followed closely by CHRISTMAS which I really, really love!

8. Hot Tea.
Just about any kind. Add sugar or honey and lemon and I am feeling good all the way down to my toes. Can't make myself drink it in the summer, but as soon as there is a hint of cool in the air, oh yeah baby, it's on.....the kettle that is :)

So there you have it. I know your day, or perhaps even your week is complete now. You know where I stand.
HAPPY FALL!