4th of July

Happy 4th of July
Proud to be an American.

CARDS

My Mom has been getting chemo two weeks on and a week off for the last year and a half.
She was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in October of 2011.

I never saw someone who faced with such news, has been nothing but positive.
I think her attitude of not giving up helps her to beat the odds.

When she arrives at the Chemo center all the nurses call her Aunt Terry and come to greet her.  I think she actually likes going to there.  There was the fear of the first treatment or two, fear of the unknown. She goes with positive feelings of this treatment will hold the cancer.  (it has)

When the patients go there they are spending hours if not the day.  I know it gets boring.  We gave them an Ipad to take with them so my dad can play games and she can play scrabble to pass the time.
I was thinking of things to do to help the other patients pass the time so I put out there to some crafty friends an offer to make some cards, blank inside.  I am going to take in a basket so while people are waiting for their treatment they can send notes or thank you cards.  Something to help pass the time.
I will put stamps on all the envelopes and they can even mail them right from hospital and not have to worry about getting to the post office for stamps or to mail it.

I am so excited by the response I have had with friends willing to help make cards to donate to the chemo center.

I will get started on mine this afternoon.  Pictures to come.....

Snow

The February 8th snowfall

We did not get much snow.  Friends in New England are getting a lot of snow and wind.

The storm called Nemo.

I was looking forward to at least 3 inches for some good photo op's

DO MORE OR DO LESS

HERE IS LAST YEARS ~ DO MORE DO LESS LIST

here is how I did with that in 2012-

  Less                   More    

Late work hours    Home at dinner time 

Better but still need some work on this one

Stress            Relaxation techniques 

Still have stress but did much better with relaxing 

Wishing            Planning and doing

Successful on this one

TV                     Reading 

FAIL            

Processed              Natural

FAIL

Blackberry               Ipod

Still attached to blackberry but Ipad more (not sure that was a good thing)

Judging              Understanding

That was up and down but made effort

HERE IS 2013 ~ DO MORE DO LESS LIST

• Make effort to leave work at work and have more balance
• Each week do 1 thing out of my comfort zone
• Take at least 1picture a week and post it
• Write down in journal when I see inspiration so I can pull to it when needed.
• Read at least 1 book in a 2 month span.
• Exercise at home on treadmill and classes at Y.
• Watch what I eat and hopefully drop a few pounds

To be continued...  :)

This is my theme for 2013

DO IT !

I shared this with my team today in our team meeting.  I have a great team and I am sure they will just  "DO IT"

HAPPY NEW YEAR

When I reflect on 2012 (after all this is what we do on New Years Eve right?)
This year had many challenges for me.

• Trying to face the reality of my Mom having stage 4 lung cancer is probably top of that list of challenges.

I think I have come to terms with it as much as I can.  I find myself looking at her and see such amazing strength for a women of 83.

She goes to Chemo on Thursday for 2 weeks and then she has a week off.

She had several trips to the hospital this year when her white count and red count dropped or when she actually dropped (Had a few pass out falls)

Even a stay in ICU did not keep her down.  

I have such an admiration for the nurses in the hospital as well as all the staff at the Oncologist office and especially her Dr. and ALL the Chemo nurses.

I am not sure what 2013 will bring for my Mom but I do know her strength has helped me so much in this last year to dig deep down and find my own faith and strength.

• Trying to keep my cool during this election year.

I have never felt so torn apart as a Country.  I think social media, as much as I enjoy it brought out the worst in people during the election.

I am tired of the US vs THEM attitudes

I learned the hard way about Facebook Baters- you know, those who post as if to have a conversation or discussion about the election only to find out they post for you to agree with them ONLY and use facebook as their platform for dividing people rather than bringing people together.

The good thing that came out of that for me - taking advantage of facebook blocking :)

Lets say it is great to live in a country where we have FREEDOM and we have the CHOICE to vote for the person WE think will do the best job.  Regardless of who wins the goal should be to back them and hope for the best since after all it is the country WE live in.

• Seeing senseless shootings / deaths

It is heartbreaking to think innocent children are dead and courageous teachers and staff because of someone who was so mentally unstable.

What should have been a fun night at the movies ended in tragedy, again because of someone who was mentally sick.

Can't even count all the nights I put on the news to see shooting here or there or an adult or child was caught in the crossfire.

• My own struggle with panic attacks to the point of keeping me home and missing time with family or friends

I am so happy to see light at the end of the tunnel.  I have been able to get out and enjoy my life again.  I can be with friends and go to dinner or away and have FUN.

I am so grateful for the friends and family who have helped me, encouraged me and shown more patience then I ever would or could have expected.  They did not give up on me.

The kids have been so encouraging and of course Mark who has been the best friend and husband I could ask for.

• Faith

I feel like I am at a stage where I am peaceful.  I surrender I am not in control of everything and I have to let go and trust.  (this was a tuff one for me)

I am work in progress but I will make conscious effort to make sure I am the best I can be.

Bottom line of my reflection today

There may be a lot of bad out there but there sure is a lot of good out there too.

We can choose to focus on the bad and be a part of the problem or we can choose to be a part of the good and focus on the pay it forward attitude.

I will work each day to focus on the good in this world and all the good I have in my life.

My 2013 resolutions????

ummm still working on them :)