Almost 10

In a few months Miss C will be 10. Where did the time go? How could this little one grow up so fast, she knows I want her to slow down, just a little. I guess there is no stopping the inevitable, but I wont let her get bigger without a fight.

Seriously, I am thrilled to see what a lovely girl she is developing into over time. She is all tomboy, usually with a rats nest in her hair, ripped up sweats, crazy tennis shoes, and some sort of dirt on her at all times. She is also quite the little artist. Her drawings of animals blow me away. Her desire to learn everything about nature is impressive and her compassion for others melts my heart. I am excited to see who she is in another 10 years. No doubt, someone special.

Friends Don't Let Friends Go Through Cancer Alone..

Everyone knows someone that is touched by Cancer, maybe it's you, a parent, a child, a friend or just someone you heard about via the grapevine. Well for me, this time it's a dear friend. This is about my friend, Bonnie. Just a mom like me( mind you she is MUCH older than I am), with a hubby, some kids, some dogs, sports, college tuition and all of lifes ups and downs. Sometimes in life, something comes along that drops you to your knees, no doubt this past January brought Bonnie to this humble place when the doctors told her she had breast cancer. Fear, anger and shock take over, then  the wait to see where this road would lead her. She waited for weeks to find out her sentence.

 

Finally, it was decided Bonnie would get the chance to appreciate the loss of her breasts, the pleasure of punky Chemo, some good old fashioned radiation and finally reconstructive surgery. She was sooooo excited with all this news that she could barely contain her glee at the prospect of all that was before her. Obviously, this is a brunch of fooey, but she did handle this news with a great deal of grace.

 

 

Being her friend and having this obsession with documenting all things in life, I felt it was my duty to tag along on this journey. I am hoping after all this is over and she is healthy and done with her treatments she will be able to look back at where she was, and how far she came in this curve ball in life.  So with all that said, here we go.

 When you have surgery, it is  very important that your toenails look good. Damn this woman, she knows how to keep her feet sexy.. I suggested she draw smiley faces on her boobies, but for whatever reason she wouldn't go for it. I know she probably regrets this decision.

 When shopping around for a place to have a mastectomy one must consider the surroundings. If not for yourself then definitely for those sitting by your bedside. I know her hubby would have appreciated her being a bit more considerate in that area. Secondly, when there is a ladder on the roof of the hospital, one should be very concerned. Why were patients trying to escape, just sayin.

 One thing that Bonnie told me was she wanted control of something in her life. That control came in the way of shaving her head before Chemo took it from her. Before you shave someones head, there must be a party with pizza, junk food and some serious glasses of wine. With her family and friends by her side, the Bald is Beautiful bash began.

 Sometimes there is a bit of a shock to the children when they see mom's hair being buzzed. I am happy to report, Ciara made it through this ordeal just fine, in spite of the look of horror on her face. 

 Her hubby got in there and showed some love and gave helped to give his wifey take back some control..He is such a good man, and boy has he taken excellent care of his love. Not bad for a couple that has been together for since jr high.

 A little hand holding never hurts. Thankful for a  son who was man enough not to be afraid to express his compassion and concern for his mom. This made us all tear up.

 After the trauma, sometimes a girl just needs a little love. Luckily two of her kids were able to be there. Kenzie showed lots of love via the Iphone..No doubt it was a difficult time for the whole family.

 This chorus from a song, is a perfect description for this sweet man's love for his wife, best friend and love. Need I say more, I think not!!

When you're weak, I'll be strong
When you let go, I'll hold on
When you need to cry, I swear that I'll be there to dry
your eyes
When you feel lost and scared to death,
Like you can't take one more step
Just take my hand, together we can do it
I'm gonna love you through it.

 There is a definite learning curve to this whole scarf tying thing. Luckily, there were plenty of gals there to help out and to mock the Cancer patient when necessary. Personally, I think she looked great bald..

 Reviewing the damages is important, as is sending images to your daughter. All in all, Bonnie was a great sport.

 This look did remind me of Harry Potter, I was expecting Voldemort to be hiding under that scarf. I know I wasn't the only one who was worried..

 Even Pat looked a little scared. Quite possibly, this whole ordeal can weigh heavily on a man's heart..

 At the end of the night, whether it was shaved head, the fear of Voldemort or a little Rapunzel, we were all happy to be there for Bonnie. We were honored that she wanted us to be a part of such an intimate part of her life.

As of  May 10th, Bonnie had 3 chemos down, 3 to go. Half way there, baby...Chemo isn't all fun and games though. There are a lot of blood draws, medications and a couple trips to the potty. Okay, I made more trips to the potty than Bonnie.  but I had a nervous bladder, don't judge.

There was some texting going on. Along with Lots of drip, drip, drip, drip, drip,drip, drip and more drips.  Did I mention all the drips???

 Some of the drugs were a little scary. The RED DEVIL med was a little freaky. It looked like they are pumping her full of Red Koolaid.  I'm not going to lie, Bonnie did look a little red after this stuff..

 Luckily the nurses at the hospital know how to push this drug with a smile. In fact, Tammy was so sweet, I wanted to put her in my pocket and take her home. She showed such compassion, kindness and a killer sense of humor towards Bonnie..I suspect Bonnie might miss this little lady when Chemo is over. Heck, I missed her before we were out the door.

Finally, the day came to an end, but the journey will continue for a while longer for Bonnie and her family. Will it be easy,  I think not, but she will not be alone. She will have to fight some battles alone, the battle recover from the Chemo for 2 weeks, the battle to get out of bed when her body tells her not to move, the battle to look at herself and smile, even when she feels weak, the battle to be strong for her family and finally the battle with why? Although, I have never heard her ask that question.

As her friend, I am so proud of her and her strength. I am impressed by the dedication and love of her family and I am thrilled to call her friend. If Bonnie could say anything to you, she would say, PLEASE get those boobies smashed and enjoy life.

 I will be keep you up to date on her progress over the coming months. So if you think of her, say a prayer. If you find your self in her shoes, know you will not be alone and if you find someone you know in this place, reach out and let them know you love them. Words aren't always easy when you don't know what to say, but sometimes your presence is enough.

Spring

Oh, how I love this time of year. Not too hot, not too cold..The grass is green, baby birds are hatching and of course, the flowers are in bloom. There are no words to express how much I love flowers, whether they are fresh cut or taking over a field, they make me happy.

These flowers bring me hope for a bright future. I see color, cheer, love, serenity and joy in every flower. Hope does spring eternal from every bloom..I hope Spring brings you great gifts this year...

The Earth Laughs In Flowers.....e.e.cummings

 

 Laughter truly is like a flower. Both makes us smile, both are beautiful, both bring joy and happiness, both have the ability to brighten someone's day and both are part of God's creation.  Imagine life without laughter and flowers,  I can't do it.. I have no doubt, God knew how important these two things would play in the lives of each and every person.

 I am so thankful every giggle I have ever heard, in fact, some laughter is so beautiful that it makes others laugh as well. Flowers, make an ordinary yard, an extraordinary yard. A painting or picture of flowers brightens a room and fills it with color and warmth.. As you can see, I would not want to live one day without these beauties in my life.

                                Ranunculus are so delicate and layered with beauty

I hope your day is filled with lots of laughter and some beautiful flowers. I wish you a blessed weekend.

Our Little Lovies....

All kids have lovies, and with 6 kids, we have collected our fair share of lovies over the past 21 years, These precious stuffed animals, blankets, and zippers have comforted all six of my kids through bad dreama, teething, tripa to the ER, long car rides, scary movies etc..You name it, these little creatures have played a very special part in each and every one of the kid's lives..

There have been a few losses, the most tragic was the loss of Piggy Sue, an adorable stuffed piggy that my oldest loved for many years. I allowed one of my children to take this piggy to Kindergarten for some occasion, and it was lost in the room and never returned..Now, all these years later, I still feel very guilty about the loss of this loved member of our family..Hopefully, one day, my oldest will forgive me.. My hubby and I have retrieved many a blanky from the trash bin, a preschool and even a McDonalds, and it has always been our pleasure to return these to their rightful owners in our home.

I admit, it has been sad to see many of the kiddos grow up and put their lovies in boxes, on top of a shelf, in a wicker chest or just left in the bed for those special times. Still, most of the kids still hold their special animal, blanky or zipper close by..Time may pass, but I know each of these kiddos has a lifetime of memories with their special lovey. I may get rid of a lot of things from the past one day, but you can be sure each and every lovey will always have a place in my heart and in  my home..

                                                    Piggy and Blanky

                                                                         Bunny

                                                                         Fuzzy

                                                                           Bluey

                                                                       Teddy Bear

So, thank you to Katy's, Piggy Sue and blanky, Jay's Fuzzy Bear, blanky, and binky, Em's Teddy and blanky, Hawkes' Bluey the dino, Snoodle and zipper, Caroline's Piggy and blanky, and last but not least, Phoebe's Bunny and blanky for bringing comfort and joy  to each and every one of these kids over the years.. 

The Littles

Today, I took a little time to get a 10 minute shoot with my two youngest kiddos.The four older ones will not be bribed or begged into submission anymore.  I had to bribe these two with a trip to McDonalds for ice cream. It isn't easy getting hired help anymore. Before you know it, they will want cold, hard cash. Yikes.. For now, here are a few of the little ladies..

Florabella LOVE

Many of us use actions and textures to enhance our images. NO, our pictures do not look all that wonderful without a little tweak here or there. Luckily for those of us that love to use these actions, there are talented people that spend endless hours making these actions and textures for us. I have tried many different collections, but I do have a favorite for my floral images.

These are developed by Shana Rae, from www.florabellacollection.com. I can't even describe how giddy I get when she comes out with something new. Tonight, I just wanted to share a few of my processed images with you..Please feel free to check out Shana's beautiful site..

A Macaroon Kind of Sunday......

Rain, rain go away..That has been the theme of the weekend for me..Now, having said that I am grateful that God has showered us with the much needed rain. Texas has been hit very hard this past year with one of the worst droughts we've had in years. Many trees and bushes have died, the grass has been scorched and the flowers have suffered.

So why, would I want the rain to go away. I guess two words should do it..Cabin Fever!! With 5 kids, a husband and a dog sharing the same space, things have gotten a little over crowded..So I say, amen for the playstaion, the wii, the television, netflix and the ipad..Seriously, this whole new age of technology is insane. I remember when we played board games for hours and read books that took us on adventures we could not even imagine. I truly miss those days, but wonder if it's possible to return to the past?

I have come to the conclusion that all that really matters in the long run is that we are together, even if it means cuddling up on the couch with the Ipad, watching a Prince slay an evil dragon, or comparing the images we took with our Iphones. Yet, my heart still melts when one of my kiddos spends hours drawing me pictures or when my bigger kids still snuggle in my bed while I read one of the classics, like White Fang. More than anything, I am just grateful for each and every day. Even the crazy moments in our house that closely resemble the movie,  The Shining...

I hope your weekend was filled with love, laughter and hugs, whether you were indoors avoiding the rain, or outdoors playing in the snow, or relaxing on a beach.

On that note, let me leave you with an image that brightens my day, mainly because I got to eat the delicious objects in the photo..

The Unexpected Journey...

One month ago today, I got a call that has changed my life and the lives of my family. My sister called to tell me that my beautiful, healthy, kind, vibrant, elegant mother had a massive stroke and would not live..Now, I had been through this 3 years ago with my sweet step mother and it was such a shock. This time was no different, my mom had been this healthy woman, whom at almost 73 did not look a day over 60. She did not drink, smoke and she exercised daily as a Yoga instructor and as a student of Yoga. It threw me and my entire family into shock and horror to lose this special person in our lives.

I was blessed to have been able to fly with my cousin to be there with my step dad, and siblings to be by my mom's side when she passed the next day. I will never regret the opportunity to hold her hand, kiss her face, and tell her how much I loved her, tell her how special a mom she was to me and finally say goodbye. It was so difficult, but the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. She truly looked gorgeous when she passed away.

Now, a month later, I still miss her and long for those daily calls to her, but I also feel grateful that she will never know the angst of growing old, never see the lines of age in her face, and never lose that beautiful smile that lit up a room. How blessed she was to have God take her up in the prime of her life, still full of her love for life, still thankful for every day. She will never fear what old age will do to her mind and body, never suffer a long grueling illness. For all these things, I thank God.

                                                When I come to the end of the road,
                                                       and the sun has set for me.
                                                I want no rites in a gloom-filled room.
                                                      Why cry for a soul set free?
                                                  Miss me a little—but not too long,
                                                 and not with your head bowed low.
                                             Remember the love that was once shared.
                                                          Miss me, but let me go.

                                 For this is a journey we all must take, and each must go alone.
                                  It’s all a part of the master’s plan, a step on the road to home.
                               When you are lonely and sick of heart, go to the friends we know.
                                        Bear your sorrow in good deeds. Miss me, but let me go

 

I want to finish this by saying, today, I am without my mother, but I will never be without the memories or pictures that shaped my life. I will always have her brown eyes and I will always remember the words she repeated to me so many times when I was sad or angry. "Acknowledge it and let it go, Krissy". So today,  I will feel sad, but tomorrow I will let it go and live my life. I will try to learn from her example and will hope to pass these lessons onto my own children. 

"Mom, I will see you again one day soon, and I can't wait for you to welcome me with open arms". I love you..

Happy LOVE Day....

Happy Love Day....So today is supposed to be all about LOVE. This is great, but how about the other 364 days of the year. Shouldn't we be showing the important people in our lives how special they are by reaching out and calling those who are alone, by writing (yes, with and actual pen and paper) notes that we stick in lunch boxes, letters to our special Honey hidden in a brief case, or a letter to our parents letting them know how blessed we are to be their children. This is how we should show our LOVE every day.

Remember, every day is a chance to make someone's day special..Don't forget the people that help us daily, the cashiers, the teachers, the bagboy, the pizza delivery person, the mailman. So many times I am hit with shock when I hear a person speak rudely to these people and show so little patience. How about asking a question or two when you see them, ask about their day, their family, just something that lets you into their lives. Maybe they need a kind word today. When we have a vested interest in someone we tend to value them more. I bet they will be more inclined to smile more the next time they see you..Why not, try it??

For me, today, I want to let my family and friends know that they are the light in life, they are the skip in my step, the cherry on a  hot fudge sundae, the fizz in my soda, the love in my heart and even the pain in my @%$, but always I am grateful and blessed beyond words to have them in my life.

                                                                      A note to my children.........

                                                              To my Hubby..... I LOVE YOU




Happy Day to you..  I wish you lots of love and a day filled with some yummy chocolate..

A Cherry Blossom Sunday

Today was one beautiful but cold day. It was a great day for a walk, so I did just that this afternoon. As I huffed and puffed my way around the walk trail I remembered how around this time last year we had snow. Not a flake of snow so far this year, I would be lying if I said I wasn't a bit disappointed in this lack of weather.

The seldom used sled remains in the attic, the boots go unused by the children except for the big ones that wear them with their shorts. The house remains mud free, and the dog, well, even he seems a bit depressed about the whole situation. So with February quickly passing us by, I plan to do my snow dance tonight after the kids are all tucked away in their beds. Don't judge, this is necessary. I can't bear to look at those sad little puppy dog eyes asking "Mom, where is the snow?" Then I will be forced to pet and console the poor dog all day, this will lead to a lack of laundry getting done, no dusting, no mopping floors, no making dinner and no help with homework. Can you see how life might fall apart, now?

To get by for now, I leave you with this picture I took last year of my favorite tree, with my favorite snow...I feel happier already, don't you?

10 on 10 February

I have admiring all the 10 on 10 blogs that I have been viewing, one of my favorites is the very talented Molly Flanagan. Her lifestyle photography is filled with such joy and true to life images. I decided to attempt my first 10 on 10. 10 pictures on the 10th of the month, so goes here folks.

Please go check out Molly Flanagan's 10 on 10