PRICELESS!

We decided to take a road trip to visit with friends in Baltimore....I have known the hubby...for some 50 years or so....we were in grammar school together and grew up in the same neighborhood!
And when he married....Some 39 years ago I became friends with his wife....SO very DEAR FRIENDS....We have not been able to get together for the last couple years...with what has been going on here...and things going on there....So we got into the new Kia...(to break it in!) A 6 hour drive...playing 60's music all the way....singing and laughing....arriving safely and having a wonderful time....so many laughs....so many moments shared....IT WAS FABULOUS! They listen...they care...I listen ..I care....their children are my children...there grandchildren are my grandchildren....Life is SO GOOD when we are all together....It was a wonderful time...bringing me back to my roots...bringing me back to my importance....bringing me back to what I need to focus on....
Friends that do that for you...are very very dear friends indeed! PRICELESS!

The good and the sad...

We have not been to the Oncologist office in several months....that is the GOOD....Seeing the Doctor we love and the nursing staff that is always so friendly....that is the GOOD...Finding out that the chemo treatment will be held off til the teeth are complete....that is the GOOD...
Finding out that some of the people we met and held close to our hearts have lost their good fight with cancer...that is the SAD...

Counting Blessings...

It seems that everyday I hear of someone else who has been diagnosed with cancer....every day it affects someone and their love ones...We are never alone in our struggle to understand and accept what this disease does to our loved ones...and to us....
But what we can do is count our blessings....count every day that we have together...count the number of times that we laugh in a day...count the sun coming up every morning and the moon rising every night....count the number of times we say the words I LOVE YOU...count the moments that bring a smile to our faces...count the love....that we give and we get.
Today....I am counting my blessings!

Ready to Go....

Here is the Guardian Angel box that I am donating to the Breast Cancer Coalition of Rochester for their fund raiser....Usually I donate a much larger item...but this year is a bit different for me!
I have been making these boxes since 2000....I started by giving one to a friend who needed a little TLC....I now send them randomly (smaller versions) to those who touch my heart in one way or another....The box has elements inside with wishes that go along with them...(.there is a bird ...a bell...a star...and a shell....) Seeing as I have met the deadline of the 28th...I believe that I will start the large flower pot also....(the bird on this box was painted on 140 weight paper and then cut out and 3-D onto the box...something I have not done before)
Being part of a community fund raiser does my heart good....focusing on helping others....Have you done that lately? Give a little time...give a little art...give a little heart....it feels SO good!
All went well at the Doctors (all of them yesterday) they decided to hold off on any more teeth extraction after taking out the stitches...letting this area heal a little better....And to find out the game plan for the chemo as both cannot be done at the same time.....So Monday we will know more....
I am in the cooking and happy mode!! I am throwing a BELATED birthday party for myself with friends and family gathering on Sunday...(actually it is just a good excuse to make delicious Sangeria!!) And celebrate the beginning of fall (or the end of summer!)
Wishing all a wonderful weekend....surrounded by those you love....and those who love you!

All good on the home front...

Everything seems to be falling in place the last few days....My mother is going to the surgeon who replaced her hip and knee to see about the problem she is now having with what we call her "good knee" and my niece is taking on that role....Michael has 3 Doctors appointments tomorrow...but that is OK....gives me time to work....We believe that the chemo is starting again on Monday...will know more tomorrow or Monday I guess....and I have been elbow deep in a fund raiser donation for the breast cancer coalition of Rochester....I donate a piece of art every year....this year I did not think I would do it....but alas....I HAD TO!! Just plain makes me feel good to do so....so the 11th hour deadline looms before me...and I have almost finished one donation and have decided to do 2!!
What the heck I love the pressure! LOL.....I will post pictures of them when completed....A large Guardian Angel box and a Large flower pot...(which I am hoping I can still get a local grower and old school mate to donate a large mum to) ...
So all is good on the home front....Hope all is well with all of you!

Days off...or not!

Michael is healing much better this time with the removal of only a couple teeth....so well that they are going to remove a few more on Thursday...giving us a few days off....which is good because I have a plate full....My mother fell and hurt her knee and so she needs to be attended to...I have to go and meet the little loves teacher so I can pick him up from school on Thursdays....and I am elbow deep in deadlines! Along of course with the "normal" things that need to be done every day...I was thinking yesterday that this nursing profession that I have been forced into might of been my calling after all!! (LOL) Seems I am not so bad of a caregiver!
I received word that I will be published in a national magazine for my journals....I am so excited but now have to write a huge article about journaling and how it can be helpful....(the price of fame! LOL)
We have 3 Doctors appointments on Thursday....luckily they are all in the same building....So it will be a long day! I'll bring my book and start writing my article...
Fall is really here in upstate NY.....the leaves are turning....the air is getting cooler....and the geese are flying overhead!
Wishing all a day full of observing all that is around them!

Getting better all the time...

I am starting to feel better....and actually took an outing to a local Art show yesterday....The day was sunny but just the right temperature! And I got to run into many of my local Artist friends who spur me on to make more art....write more articles...do more things! FOR ME! LOL....
I feel as if I have been in a resting mode lately....but now with a deadline or two looming in front of me I guess I best get on the stick as they say! Fall is in the air....and we are now one year into this journey....not knowing exactly where it is going still... I proceed with caution...Life has a funny way of continuing on despite some swirling and twirling...We fall...we get up....we twirl...we swirl...we laugh...we cry....We do the best we can with each given day. As I approach the anniversary of this year and all that has gone on....I wonder about some choices I have made...Right or wrong...I am aware today that trying to go back and redo some things just doesn't make sense....it just causes more and more questions to come up....
So I embrace this beautiful fall day....thankful that the sun is shining....the birds are singing...and life continues on...
And being a Hallmark day (Grandparents Day) I get to have a day with the little love....life just can't get better than that....

OH NO!

Seems I have the FLU! How in the world did that happen?!
Laying low...sleeping alot....drinking plenty of fluids!

ONLY 2 ...

Only 2 teeth were pulled today....Which is a nice change of pace...but I do get to place my gloved hand (plastic ones that were provided) along with dental hygiene instructions inside someone elses mouth for the next three days to pop out a plastic stint that was made and then use a special rinse to clean the area....Now doesn't that sound like SO MUCH FUN!! LOL.... So I am now learning why I did not become a dental hygienist!! Hopefully however this will be a much easier way to go then the last time....They did not change his meds and he seems to be clotting much better this time around. We will go back to the Dentist tomorrow and Friday to have things taken care of there in the morning....and then on to more teeth next week....All has to be done by the 21st so that it does not interfer with the chemo treatment. I will say, that I seem to be handling this a great deal better than the shots! Or maybe I'm just getting use to all this medical stuff that I have to do...HUMMMMM.....interesting!!

Birthday Gift!

On September 3rd I picked up my brand new Kia Sportage for my Birthday Gift!! Black Cherry in color....BEAUTIFUL! And what a wonderful surprise! Drove it right out of the show room in a painless 3 hours! And I also had a wonderful R and R....now I am feeling good...rested...refreshed and loved....Tomorrow starts a new week for all the medical stuff and I am ready!! I will keep everyone updated....
While I sit here filled with happiness for what I have....please keep all those who have things going on in their lives close to your heart....especially bring some positive thoughts to Pat and her son Dan and their family....Pat has done a great deal here for me....and I know that all your positive thoughts here have helped me....so please place them in a very special place right now...
Sending warm September thoughts to all....

Happy Birthday!

Happy Birthday....To all the Virgo's!!! I am taking some R and R for my Birthday.....The bottom teeth start next week....
Have a safe and wonderful Labor Day!

Just a glimpse!

Here is a glimpse of my garden.....Before there were Arborvitae that flanked both sides of the window....and a huge burning bush that covered the window.....NOW.....flowers and color ONLY!
and of course ME!!
Off to the Dentist again today....things are on the upswing with that....This is a busy month with eye Doctors....Dentists....Oncologists....
I am celebrating my 58th Birthday on Friday!!! Rapidly approaching 60!!! What happened to the girl in the Senior picture????? When and how did I get so old????!!!! LOL.....
Well...at least on a good day I feel like I am 25!!

Recovering....

That's ME...first on the left along with fellow classmates....we are all older!! LOL....But still very much the same in a great many ways....Great fun had by all!
Back to normal now!! Off to the Dentist today and Wednesday!