I have a hard time keeping up on things that I start sometimes. I began blogging last year (and was feeling pretty proud about my efforts) and here I am, almost 11 months after my last entry! I am not someone like my friend Merrilee, that has the ability to focus on pretty much just one thing (her love is Music) and become an expert at it. I dabble in a little bit of this and a little bit of that. I start lots of projects, and I even finish some of them, though I will never become an expert at any one of them, because of my lack of focus in one particular area. I have learned to embrace this aspect about myself, instead of beating myself up about it (like I used to).
So, if I'm not blogging regularly, I'm probably off doing any one of the following things that I LOVE to do...(in no particular order)
baking & cooking-reading cook books and trying out new recipes
oil painting
knitting & crocheting
sewing
calligraphy
gardening
decorating
exercising
golfing (a new interest Dave & I took up with friends this past year)
hiking
playing the piano
enjoying MUSIC
organizing pictures
singing (in Merrilee's choir)
watching movies
taking classes (latest ones I took were grammar and grantwriting)
planning a party-love making memories
reading
I am so thankful for the Merrilee's of the world that bless my life so much through their talents and abilities, and I so admire their drive and passion. At the same time, I am also thankful that I have been blessed with so many things that interest me. I'm grateful for having SO many things to LOVE to do!
Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Saturday, February 21, 2009
My Friend Annette...
We had such a wonderful evening...we were able to attend a combination surprise Birthday/end of chemo party for my friend Annette. She just finished the last of 12 grueling chemo treatments.
I first met Annette 14 years ago when I moved down the street from her after I became a single Mom. Annette was also a single Mom. We instantly bonded and became much more than friends. She is my sister. We've been through many joys and sorrows together. We've taken family trips together, served in Church callings together, laughed our guts out together and shared many tears together. Annette met Joseph and got married about 3 years ago. They built a new home and moved away. We don't live down the street from each other any more, but it hasn't changed our friendship at all. We have come to love Joseph and have enjoyed many double dates together.
I will never forget the day Annette called me to tell me she had colon cancer. It was a Saturday and I was shopping at Costco. It was news that I certainly was not prepared for. No one ever is. I have watched her progress through treatments that have wreaked havoc on her entire body. I watched how she handled horrible pain when she had a blod clot in her lung after her initial surgery, when her porta-cath leaked chemo and destroyed surrounding healthy tissue which caused her to undergo another surgery to remove the dead tissue and implant the porta-cath in a different place.
Even through this difficult trial, as she has so many times before in my life, she has been such an example to me. She always handles things with such fortitude and grace. I told her tonight she is like one of those amazing strong pioneer women. She laughed and said, oh no, I love air conditioning way, way too much!
It truly was a wonderful celebration to join with her and Joseph's family to celebrate the completion of her last chemo treatment. I truly am grateful to be blessed with such a dear, beloved friend...and happy end of chemo Annette!
I first met Annette 14 years ago when I moved down the street from her after I became a single Mom. Annette was also a single Mom. We instantly bonded and became much more than friends. She is my sister. We've been through many joys and sorrows together. We've taken family trips together, served in Church callings together, laughed our guts out together and shared many tears together. Annette met Joseph and got married about 3 years ago. They built a new home and moved away. We don't live down the street from each other any more, but it hasn't changed our friendship at all. We have come to love Joseph and have enjoyed many double dates together.
I will never forget the day Annette called me to tell me she had colon cancer. It was a Saturday and I was shopping at Costco. It was news that I certainly was not prepared for. No one ever is. I have watched her progress through treatments that have wreaked havoc on her entire body. I watched how she handled horrible pain when she had a blod clot in her lung after her initial surgery, when her porta-cath leaked chemo and destroyed surrounding healthy tissue which caused her to undergo another surgery to remove the dead tissue and implant the porta-cath in a different place.
Even through this difficult trial, as she has so many times before in my life, she has been such an example to me. She always handles things with such fortitude and grace. I told her tonight she is like one of those amazing strong pioneer women. She laughed and said, oh no, I love air conditioning way, way too much!
It truly was a wonderful celebration to join with her and Joseph's family to celebrate the completion of her last chemo treatment. I truly am grateful to be blessed with such a dear, beloved friend...and happy end of chemo Annette!
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
I laugh at the thought that I am actually starting a blog...whodda thunk? With the encouragement of family and friends, I am attempting to jump on the blogging bandwagon. Please be patient while I'm learning what this is all about!
As I have looked at a few blogs, I find that I am attracted to the ones that are real, honest and chock full of reality. I admit that I'm the type that gets embarrassed when I see pic's of myself on Christmas morning with no make-up, hair poking out...but...that is reality! Some blogs remind me of those annual Christmas letters (please don't be offended if you write an annual Christmas letter, because for the most part I do enjoy them...I actually keep every Christmas card and letter), you know the ones I mean....the ones that brag about their kids being the smartest...they play 4 musical instruments each, speak 3 foreign languages, besides being super athletes and are all at least "4 levels above grade-level"??? I admit I sometimes chuckle a little to myself as I read some of "those" letters...truthfully, what I'm actually really thinking is...man, how do they have time for all of that??? I can barely get through a day without being embarrassed that someone came to the door with my house being far less than perfect and my "TO DO list" so long that I'll never "get there." I am definitely not a "SUPER-MOM" by any means!
We do love to share about our loved ones. I have heard my Dad say many a time..."every Mother crow thinks her crows are the blackest!" I guess that's the beauty of having loved ones in our lives....because whether or not you chuckle to yourself as I brag a little about my family (because I do think my family is pretty awesome)...it really is quite wonderful to have people in our lives who just quite frankly give a darn! So...thanks for sharing part of your lives with me....and thanks for caring about what's going on in mine!
As I have looked at a few blogs, I find that I am attracted to the ones that are real, honest and chock full of reality. I admit that I'm the type that gets embarrassed when I see pic's of myself on Christmas morning with no make-up, hair poking out...but...that is reality! Some blogs remind me of those annual Christmas letters (please don't be offended if you write an annual Christmas letter, because for the most part I do enjoy them...I actually keep every Christmas card and letter), you know the ones I mean....the ones that brag about their kids being the smartest...they play 4 musical instruments each, speak 3 foreign languages, besides being super athletes and are all at least "4 levels above grade-level"??? I admit I sometimes chuckle a little to myself as I read some of "those" letters...truthfully, what I'm actually really thinking is...man, how do they have time for all of that??? I can barely get through a day without being embarrassed that someone came to the door with my house being far less than perfect and my "TO DO list" so long that I'll never "get there." I am definitely not a "SUPER-MOM" by any means!
We do love to share about our loved ones. I have heard my Dad say many a time..."every Mother crow thinks her crows are the blackest!" I guess that's the beauty of having loved ones in our lives....because whether or not you chuckle to yourself as I brag a little about my family (because I do think my family is pretty awesome)...it really is quite wonderful to have people in our lives who just quite frankly give a darn! So...thanks for sharing part of your lives with me....and thanks for caring about what's going on in mine!
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