Life goes by so very fast. I am so guilty of thinking that the day, the week, the month is never going to end but then poof it's gone and you can't get it back. All you get to take with you into the next day is the memories of the one's before.
I tell you this because I am sitting here looking at the snow forecast for the weekend and thinking, "winter is NEVER going to end!" I then read on someone's fb post that they are praying for a peaceful end to their loved one's life. Perspective for me.
Life goes fast...winter IS going to end and the only thing we'll take from it are the memories of the days that we were snowed in, or the extra time we spent in the car with our kids because the roads were slowing people down, the cute hats and mittens we put our little ones in, the lazy weekend because it's too cold and snowy to even try to venture out.
Life goes fast...another friend is posting about her parent's 43rd wedding anniversary while her brother posts pictures of the years throughout their marriage. I bet the wedding day never seemed like it would come, the pregnancies a feeling that never ending bulging tummy, illnesses and healing that may have occurred through the years that seemed like they were going to last forever and yet, they have pushed through and are here to make more memories this day and perhaps think, "where has the time gone?"
Life goes fast...my dear friend bravely fought her cancer for 5 short months. I would imagine those months didn't feel fast as they went to doctor's appointments and healed from surgery and watched the changes that cancer had made in their loved one. Now that she has passed away, I would bet that it feels like it went too fast.
Life goes fast...when our children are born it seems like eternity when you're sleep deprived and waking up for 3 am feedings, when you're potty training and when they hit those terrifying 3's and sassy teenage years. Then somehow they are old enough to have babies, get married, move away to college and you wonder how it all seemed to go so quickly.
Life goes fast...when my job ended at the CAC, it seemed to take forever to find another job. Then 6 months into my job with Nelnet, I was granted an interview with the YWCA. It almost seems like a lifetime ago because so much has happened but yesterday I celebrated my one year anniversary.
Life goes fast...so hold on tight to each of your blessings, love with all you have, forgive as we have been forgiven, don't let people live rent free in your soul for too long, speak kindness into the world, compliment often, speak love, and most of all remember that what seems to be taking too long or what seems to be a really long and hard struggle will be over and will only be a memory soon enough. Remember that each day we have on Earth is temporary and is only here to prepare us for what is next to come.
xxoo
Wednesday, February 13, 2019
Wednesday, February 6, 2019
Cancer - Not Cancer
On January 24th, my dear friend called me and said the PET scan shows what is 99% sure to be cancer in his lymph nodes throughout his entire body. The doctor said that of the 10 things it could be, 9 of them were a form of cancer and the 10th had such a low possibility that he had never seen it. So we prepared for the final diagnosis of cancer, following a biopsy, and looked into possible treatments.
On January 25th, another beautiful dear friend of mine was put into hospice after a very short battle with glioblastoma (brain cancer). She was diagnosed late last year and had surgery and chemo and radiation. There was never a prognosis that allowed her to survive, just extended the time we had with her. It was determined that none of those things works and that the tumor was bigger and growing.
Last night, the world lost a beautiful, beautiful soul. She was my first real friend at W&R and she gave incredible advice and was a source of amusement and always reminded me of the bigger picture when I got in my own way. From our Laffy Taffy breaks to Weight Watcher Saturdays and lunches, to Pizza Friday and fried green beans, to mall walking and sharing Honest Abe's burgers and fries. She was bigger than life and one of the most generous beings on the planet. She truly lived life her way and lived her life to the fullest. She will be greatly missed. My heart is sad for those of us she left behind but happy for her that she is at peace and no longer suffering. Her presence will be missed by many.
Today, we found out that my other dear friend does not in fact have cancer. He is a UNICORN of all unicorns in that what was 99% cancer, is not cancer and is an infection of some sorts. While I know that an infection can be very serious and dangerous (especially as it courses through so many parts of his body), I refuse not to let my heart do a little dance for him not having cancer. Today I will celebrate his not having cancer. We will deal with whatever the infectious disease doctors have to say when that day comes. For now I am going to proclaim "cancer will NOT get THIS friend!"
A heavy heart that is able to find the joy in the non-heavy moments. Cancer is ugly. Cancer is powerful. Not having cancer is beautiful and a non-cancer diagnosis will be cheered for.
On January 25th, another beautiful dear friend of mine was put into hospice after a very short battle with glioblastoma (brain cancer). She was diagnosed late last year and had surgery and chemo and radiation. There was never a prognosis that allowed her to survive, just extended the time we had with her. It was determined that none of those things works and that the tumor was bigger and growing.
Last night, the world lost a beautiful, beautiful soul. She was my first real friend at W&R and she gave incredible advice and was a source of amusement and always reminded me of the bigger picture when I got in my own way. From our Laffy Taffy breaks to Weight Watcher Saturdays and lunches, to Pizza Friday and fried green beans, to mall walking and sharing Honest Abe's burgers and fries. She was bigger than life and one of the most generous beings on the planet. She truly lived life her way and lived her life to the fullest. She will be greatly missed. My heart is sad for those of us she left behind but happy for her that she is at peace and no longer suffering. Her presence will be missed by many.
Today, we found out that my other dear friend does not in fact have cancer. He is a UNICORN of all unicorns in that what was 99% cancer, is not cancer and is an infection of some sorts. While I know that an infection can be very serious and dangerous (especially as it courses through so many parts of his body), I refuse not to let my heart do a little dance for him not having cancer. Today I will celebrate his not having cancer. We will deal with whatever the infectious disease doctors have to say when that day comes. For now I am going to proclaim "cancer will NOT get THIS friend!"
A heavy heart that is able to find the joy in the non-heavy moments. Cancer is ugly. Cancer is powerful. Not having cancer is beautiful and a non-cancer diagnosis will be cheered for.
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