Happy Easter all..I want to start this morning by explaining what today means to me... Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, so we too might walk in newness of life.--Romans 6:4....this is so powerful to me... when I think about the fact that he died so that I could walk in newness.. hmmm it seems that the only words I can think of is THANK YOU.. Thank you Jesus!
I hope you all had a great week. I had a good week. It was busy and all too stressful at times, but made it through and getting ready to start another. Lots of what I and many others call "stinking thinking" this week. Not sure why though. Strange how the mind can play tricks on you...if you let it. when I feel my stinking thinking taking over I try very hard to pray pray pray.. I pray that I keep the good thoughts first and foremost in my mind and throw out the rest.. well maybe not throw them out as I try to learn from every thought good or bad, but maybe push the bad to the back of my mind and dwell on the so many wonderful things in my life. Last week I talked a lot about survivors of cancer and this week I wanted to tell you about the caregivers in my life...amazing caregivers.. those that probably don't even realize what they do for me on a daily basis... It's tough to think of all the caregivers in my life without wanting to mention them all by name, but If I did I would be here until next Sunday so instead of mentioning names as I am sure I would forget a name or two and would never want to hurt anyone I will just call you "caregivers" and hope that you know that it is you I speak about...When I went to my therapist for the first time I had to fill out a questionnaire and it asked me what were some of the things I fear.. and it came to me that I really feared the silent effects that my cancer might have on those closest to me. The effects that they either don't talk about with me or just keep hidden inside for other reasons.. now my caregivers have mentioned more than once the good that it has brought into their lives, but what about the bad stuff... what about the things that go through their hearts and minds when they are alone???? I wonder about these things and know.. deep inside... that the "caregiver" has a heavy burden to bare.. Not only are they there relentlessly to take care of the many physical needs a cancer patient has, but they are there emotionally as well..always putting on the happy face...always offering sweet, kind words...always lifting our spirits when we can't seem to lift ourselves.... but who is there to lift them? who carries their burdens for just a little while so they too can recharge???? I can only imagine how lost a caregiver gets sometimes sitting in the shadow of cancer ... I wish as a cancer survivor I could help other survivors and those still fighting with what we as survivors could do to lift or encourage or help our caregivers. I wish I had some miracle words or actions that would or could show our caregivers that what they do and say means so much more than they know... that their silent thoughts and sadness is felt and known... that their hard work and efforts never go unnoticed... I now know as a survivor how important the "caregiver" is in our struggle to beat the cancer and live with it's effects. I truly believe that if not for the caregivers in our life the survival rate would fall tremendously..I know that personally if not for the caregivers in my life...I could have never made it through.. so today I want to thank you..I want to thank you for putting your life on hold to take care of me..for putting on that happy face when all you really want to do is cry..for lifting me up and carring me through when it hurts to even walk...for kneeling and praying when all you want to do is lay down and rest your weary head....for all those things and so much more I thank you...I thank you with all that I am ... and pray that you the caregiver knows that because of you not only am I now a survivor, but now I am a caregiver....one that has been inspired by you and the silent effects you bare... I feel that the only true way to show a caregiver what they mean to you is to be one yourself.. be that caregiver that means so much to ones survival... be the caregiver that everyone needs.. not just to those fighting cancer, but to those fighting the every day trials of life... that's what I intend to do... I want the caregivers in my life to know that what they have given and continue to give was, nor will be in vein... I will take what you have given and share it with others.. I too will be a caregiver that you can be proud of... that is my thanks to you... for all that you are and all that you do ... I LOVE YOU!!!!! I hope everyone has a great Easter and a wonderful week!!!!!!
Sunday, April 24, 2011
Sunday, April 17, 2011
Relay for Life
Good Morning All
Where to start?? It's been a while since my last blog and I have so much to catch you up on.. I left off last time with my trip to North Georgia and just let me say once more.. how amazing our "Girls Gone Gray" weekend was.. it was just what the doctor ordered. Lots of rest, relaxation, spiritual uplifting and tons of laughs..laughing truly is so good for the soul. Came back from Georgia and got back into the routine of our daily life. My friend Donna's daughter Rose had a baby girl on March 14th so up to the hospital I went to see her on the 16th. Had a great visit and really enjoy holding such a little one again. My friend Donna walked me out and right before we could walk out the door I stepped onto a very wet floor and down I went. Fell to my knees and then on to my buttocks. The fall hurt and was sore, but pretty embarrassed by this point so had them put me in a wheel chair and wheel me to a much dryer surface then got up and left. Well don't ya know two days later my wrist was throbbing so once again in the middle of the night I head up to the hospital and sure enough..I broke my wrist trying to brace my fall. After a few hours in the ER and a makeshift cast from fingers to elbow I left the hospital and went on home. By the the time I reached the house the pain in my wrist was worse than ever and that was after I had a taken a pain pill (which I do not like to take). Soooo back up to the hospital I went. Come to find out they had wrapped the cast too tight so they cut it off and wrapped another much looser this time.. Thank you Jesus... Went to my family doc on Monday the 21st just to get a referral ($30.00) and then off to the orthopedic surgeon on Wednesday the 23rd. I have to tell you by this point my spirit was all but gone...I had just gotten to a place where I was feeling so much better and felt really good about the way I looked and then boom...now I was looking at wearing a cast for goodness knows how long and/or maybe even surgery..... I prayed about it a lot and almost called my therapist a time or two as It just seemed I couldn't take much more... I did however realize that this could be so much worse and after all..... this storm too was so much smaller than my God... so off to the orthopedic surgeon we went. I hoped for the best, but feared the worst. Doc took a look at my hand and then the xrays and said okay.. we got a chip off the wrist just floating around in there so let's put a thumb spike on it for 4 weeks and see how it looks from there. Now I have to tell you the moment he brought out the thumb spike and I got a look at how mobile my hand was going to be and the fact that I could remove it each time I got into the shower and no surgery involved....just lit me up like a firecracker. My hubby said you could just see the light come back into my face. Once again our Lord picked me up, laid his hands on me and went to work... it has now been three weeks, so went back to doctor on Wednesday the 13th and everything looks great!!! Was able to take the thumb spike off and no physical therapy needed. Thank you Jesus.... I am now healed and have full use of my hand. It's a little sore, but that's to be expected. I can't tell you how wonderful I feel. Now it's back on the road to recovery for me physically and mentally and I am ready to conquer the world again. God is sooo good and I am so thankful.. Now it's time to rally the forces and work for a good cause.. Relay for Life is coming up on April 29th and I cannot wait!!! I am so excited. I do have a confession to make...throughout my ordeal with Cancer I have always been afraid to call myself a survivor..not really sure why... I guess I feared that in some way I was tempting fate ... or as my momma would say "counting my chickens before they hatch", but I have realized( thanks to Relay for Life) that it's okay to call yourself a survivor... heck it's down right therapeutic...This all came to me as I was invited to a dinner for survivors through Relay for Life and let me just say I was so proud to be called a survivor and to be in the company of so many with such amazing courage. There were survivors there that had now survived the big C for more than 40 years!!!! I have to tell you...that alone has given me so much hope. The dinner was amazing and I am so thankful I was invited. I have to tell you a little story behind this ...throughout my fight with cancer my mom kept telling me about this friend of hers, Mary Kay (so sorry if the spelling is wrong) that had put me on her prayer list, asked about me each time they met and was following my blog religiously... Each time mom would tell me about her ..my momma's eyes would just light up and I could tell what an inspiration she was and already had been to so many and to my mom. Well Mary Kay was the MC at the dinner last night and now I know first hand why my Momma's eyes light up each time she talks about her.. This woman is amazing... The best way to describe her is a walking, talking, breathing light of hope... she is a tiny woman, but so large is spirit!!!! You can see her from across any room ...she truly stands out in a crowd... so funny how God puts people in your path... this is one.... that I can tell you... I am so glad to know and so thankful I finally got to meet. Thank you Mary Kay for your relentless and dedicated commitment in shining a beam of light for others to see and feel... You are truly inspirational and I can't wait to see you again on the 29th. It was mentioned at the dinner last night that so many refrain from donating to our cause as they feel their efforts will not benefit those on a local level, but what they don't realize is that when you donate to the American Cancer Society it does help those locally and all across this great country. It helps so many is so many ways..way too many to mention here. Please.. help us fight this nasty disease and donate today.. even if you can't donate money donate your time... there are so many ways that we can make a difference. For just $5.00 you can purchase what they call a luminaria in honor of or in memory of a friend or loved one who has had cancer. Your contribution will help save lives, give hope, and empower people through the American Cancer Society and its lifesaving mission. Follow these simple steps to purchase a luminaria online....
1. Go to www.relayforlife.org/charltonga
2. On left side of page click on - Relay Teams
3. Click on - City of Folkston
4. Click on the Red Arrow next to Luminaria
5. Fill in the little form for each bag you'd like to purchase and add to cart.
6. You'll fill in all your info from there
What a wonderful way to pay tribute to those we know and love that have had to battle this horrible disease.
I will finish up now by saying that it wasn't until last night that I really realized what my blog was doing for some... I had actually fooled myself into believing that as my battle with cancer was ending that so too would end the interest in the story of my ongoing fight to stay cancer free....well I was made very aware last night that this could not be further from the truth ...that as long as there is something to say there are those who want to listen... WOW... I can't tell you how amazing that makes me feel.... sooooo from here on out I will do my very best to share with you more often the peaks and valleys in my life and hope that you too take just a little bit (or a lot) of both and use it through your peaks and valleys. I also hope that you too will share with me... tell me your story...no matter how small or large.... your story has a voice here and makes a difference.... I love you all and hope you have an amazing week... You are in my heart and prayers always!!!!!
Where to start?? It's been a while since my last blog and I have so much to catch you up on.. I left off last time with my trip to North Georgia and just let me say once more.. how amazing our "Girls Gone Gray" weekend was.. it was just what the doctor ordered. Lots of rest, relaxation, spiritual uplifting and tons of laughs..laughing truly is so good for the soul. Came back from Georgia and got back into the routine of our daily life. My friend Donna's daughter Rose had a baby girl on March 14th so up to the hospital I went to see her on the 16th. Had a great visit and really enjoy holding such a little one again. My friend Donna walked me out and right before we could walk out the door I stepped onto a very wet floor and down I went. Fell to my knees and then on to my buttocks. The fall hurt and was sore, but pretty embarrassed by this point so had them put me in a wheel chair and wheel me to a much dryer surface then got up and left. Well don't ya know two days later my wrist was throbbing so once again in the middle of the night I head up to the hospital and sure enough..I broke my wrist trying to brace my fall. After a few hours in the ER and a makeshift cast from fingers to elbow I left the hospital and went on home. By the the time I reached the house the pain in my wrist was worse than ever and that was after I had a taken a pain pill (which I do not like to take). Soooo back up to the hospital I went. Come to find out they had wrapped the cast too tight so they cut it off and wrapped another much looser this time.. Thank you Jesus... Went to my family doc on Monday the 21st just to get a referral ($30.00) and then off to the orthopedic surgeon on Wednesday the 23rd. I have to tell you by this point my spirit was all but gone...I had just gotten to a place where I was feeling so much better and felt really good about the way I looked and then boom...now I was looking at wearing a cast for goodness knows how long and/or maybe even surgery..... I prayed about it a lot and almost called my therapist a time or two as It just seemed I couldn't take much more... I did however realize that this could be so much worse and after all..... this storm too was so much smaller than my God... so off to the orthopedic surgeon we went. I hoped for the best, but feared the worst. Doc took a look at my hand and then the xrays and said okay.. we got a chip off the wrist just floating around in there so let's put a thumb spike on it for 4 weeks and see how it looks from there. Now I have to tell you the moment he brought out the thumb spike and I got a look at how mobile my hand was going to be and the fact that I could remove it each time I got into the shower and no surgery involved....just lit me up like a firecracker. My hubby said you could just see the light come back into my face. Once again our Lord picked me up, laid his hands on me and went to work... it has now been three weeks, so went back to doctor on Wednesday the 13th and everything looks great!!! Was able to take the thumb spike off and no physical therapy needed. Thank you Jesus.... I am now healed and have full use of my hand. It's a little sore, but that's to be expected. I can't tell you how wonderful I feel. Now it's back on the road to recovery for me physically and mentally and I am ready to conquer the world again. God is sooo good and I am so thankful.. Now it's time to rally the forces and work for a good cause.. Relay for Life is coming up on April 29th and I cannot wait!!! I am so excited. I do have a confession to make...throughout my ordeal with Cancer I have always been afraid to call myself a survivor..not really sure why... I guess I feared that in some way I was tempting fate ... or as my momma would say "counting my chickens before they hatch", but I have realized( thanks to Relay for Life) that it's okay to call yourself a survivor... heck it's down right therapeutic...This all came to me as I was invited to a dinner for survivors through Relay for Life and let me just say I was so proud to be called a survivor and to be in the company of so many with such amazing courage. There were survivors there that had now survived the big C for more than 40 years!!!! I have to tell you...that alone has given me so much hope. The dinner was amazing and I am so thankful I was invited. I have to tell you a little story behind this ...throughout my fight with cancer my mom kept telling me about this friend of hers, Mary Kay (so sorry if the spelling is wrong) that had put me on her prayer list, asked about me each time they met and was following my blog religiously... Each time mom would tell me about her ..my momma's eyes would just light up and I could tell what an inspiration she was and already had been to so many and to my mom. Well Mary Kay was the MC at the dinner last night and now I know first hand why my Momma's eyes light up each time she talks about her.. This woman is amazing... The best way to describe her is a walking, talking, breathing light of hope... she is a tiny woman, but so large is spirit!!!! You can see her from across any room ...she truly stands out in a crowd... so funny how God puts people in your path... this is one.... that I can tell you... I am so glad to know and so thankful I finally got to meet. Thank you Mary Kay for your relentless and dedicated commitment in shining a beam of light for others to see and feel... You are truly inspirational and I can't wait to see you again on the 29th. It was mentioned at the dinner last night that so many refrain from donating to our cause as they feel their efforts will not benefit those on a local level, but what they don't realize is that when you donate to the American Cancer Society it does help those locally and all across this great country. It helps so many is so many ways..way too many to mention here. Please.. help us fight this nasty disease and donate today.. even if you can't donate money donate your time... there are so many ways that we can make a difference. For just $5.00 you can purchase what they call a luminaria in honor of or in memory of a friend or loved one who has had cancer. Your contribution will help save lives, give hope, and empower people through the American Cancer Society and its lifesaving mission. Follow these simple steps to purchase a luminaria online....
1. Go to www.relayforlife.org/charltonga
2. On left side of page click on - Relay Teams
3. Click on - City of Folkston
4. Click on the Red Arrow next to Luminaria
5. Fill in the little form for each bag you'd like to purchase and add to cart.
6. You'll fill in all your info from there
What a wonderful way to pay tribute to those we know and love that have had to battle this horrible disease.
I will finish up now by saying that it wasn't until last night that I really realized what my blog was doing for some... I had actually fooled myself into believing that as my battle with cancer was ending that so too would end the interest in the story of my ongoing fight to stay cancer free....well I was made very aware last night that this could not be further from the truth ...that as long as there is something to say there are those who want to listen... WOW... I can't tell you how amazing that makes me feel.... sooooo from here on out I will do my very best to share with you more often the peaks and valleys in my life and hope that you too take just a little bit (or a lot) of both and use it through your peaks and valleys. I also hope that you too will share with me... tell me your story...no matter how small or large.... your story has a voice here and makes a difference.... I love you all and hope you have an amazing week... You are in my heart and prayers always!!!!!
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