Relay For Life

On Friday night at 10:30pm Ken and I met my sister and her husband at the Gladstone athletic field to participate in the Relay For Life.

It didn't matter how tired or stressed out we were with current events going on...we were walking/running for a cause very dear to my heart. I lost my Dad to colon cancer when I was 10 years old. I've had numerous uncles that cancer has taken too. My friends little brother lost his battle, our dear friend Max did as well. A couple months ago we lost our friend Mike, and this year my friend Amy. My friend's Mom lost her battle after many years of fighting. We lost Nana and Grandpa to the evil C-word as well. There are more people than our fingers and toes can count that we have lost to this nasty disease. BUT...my friend Becky conquered it, so did my sister Chris and Jamie. My aunt Barb is cancer free too. Our neighbor is alive and well, and so is my friend Marshall. My cousin's wife is doing well too after fighting lung cancer. We are completely blessed to have Ken's Uncle Don and Gpa in our lives after having prostate cancer.

My body was tired, but my heart was soaring. Seeing all those luminaries adorned with people's names and decorations lit up BOTH sides of the track inspired me and keep me doing...one more lap...numerous times. The pain in my legs and tiredness I was feeling at 1am was absolutely NOTHING compared to what a person fighting for their life feels. Those luminaries represent people who are fighting, have beat or have lost the fight. I consider it my duty to not only run for my loved ones who I have lost and am honoring, but to also support the others.

Like the banner says: THERE IS NO FINISH LINE UNTIL WE FIND A CURE

Joys first MSU shirt and little sweater

Joy is a month old (on the 20th) and she already is a MSU fan....just like her Uncle Ken & Aunty Kathy. =)

I made her a sweater the other day. She had her first sleepover with us on Saturday night. She's such a joy to have in our lives. To say we love her is an understatement. There is nothing like being an aunty.

Remembering Nana...

It's been a year...

If tears could build a stairway
And memories were a lane
We would walk right up to heaven
And bring you back again

No farewell words were spoken
No time to say goodbye
You were gone before we knew it
And only God knows why



Our hearts still ache in sadness
And secret tears still flow
What it meant to lose you
No one can ever know



But now we know you want us
To mourn for you no more
To remember all the happy times
Life still has much in store

Since you'll never be forgotten
We pledge to you today
A hallowed place within our hearts
Is where you'll always stay.


Today is Nana's 1 year anniversary of her passing. It seems like just yesterday we got the news, but at the same time it seems like it's been am eternity since we shared laughs, hugs and kisses. I miss her so much... I miss our random phone calls, the emails, her words to the wise, and outspoken demeanor. There are several times a week I just want to pic up the phone and call her. No words could ever express just how much she meant and continues to mean to me. Her memory lives in my heart. Her knowledge continues to guide me, and I continue to love her. We miss you Nana!!!

Today's sunrise bikeride came with a pleasant surprise

I got up at 5am today, got dressed and hopped on my bike and headed for the lake to watch the sun rise.

As I sat on the bench on Municipal Dock, watching the lake I saw what I thought were two "dogs" running toward me out of the corner of my eye. I was sure their owner would follow soon. No owner followed and these "dogs" were running right toward me.

By golly! They were deer...running toward me. They got about 10 feet close and I made a clicky noise to kind of scare them off. I think deer are gentle but didn't want to chance having a hoof print in my face.

What a treat to see!! I'm really diggin this early morning thing and cannot even wait to see what tomorrow morning brings.

Get out an enjoy life! Don't forget to brng your camera. You never know what you may see.

Joy

Whoever said you can't fall in love at first sight was wrong. My niece Joy has me wrapped around her precious, long, beautiful fingers and she is only a couple weeks old.

Cleanup

I was asked today by a couple friends if I would be interested in going down to the Gulf Coast to help with cleanup for a few weeks. My heart wants to be there and to help all of the innocent animals. It breaks my heart to see them suffering and dying. Last night while watching Anderson Cooper I cried. The complete devistation tugs at my emotions. I am not gong to go into the politics and turn this post into a rant on the Oil Industries but dang!!! This is ridiculous!! Be responsible, follow safety regulations, and clean this up!!

We are still unsure if we will go, or if I will even be able to go. We have 5 dogs who happen to be extremely attached to their Mommy and wouldn't do too well with just their Daddy. Our lives are also on standby on the whole adoption situation.

I wonder if we could hook the camper up and all head down there. Ken and the pups included. July is a very slow month at work for Ken. There has to be something we can do to help all of those animals...

Happiness, a place more people should visit

I'm sure most of you can see from previous posts that I live life on the sillified side. I find something beautiful in each and every day. I like to have fun, laugh at life, experience it and just live it!! I don't understand why people have to be so negative to others and to themselves. I tend to distance myself from those types of people. I am sure we all have friends or family members who constantly nag about their looks, the car they drive, who has what, what they want...you get the point!!!

I'm gong to be honest, I do happen to have a few of those such type of people sprinkled in my life. Often times I get comments, "ohh you are so happy all the time" "well you have Ken to make you happy" "your life is perfect and you have this that and the next thing" "You have such a close, perfect family life" Well....folks. I'm here to tell ya....NO, I am not happy all the time but I DO make it a point to find something in each and everyday that makes me happy. Sometimes I have to search, but most of the time I don't.

I know I am very fortunate to have Ken, and yes, he does make me happy. He also makes me sad, angry, hopeful, eager and proud. The only person who can make YOU happy is YOURSELF and I know that.

I laugh when someone comments on my family life...LOL if you even knew. I am very fortunate to have a large loving family. I also have a sister who doesn't speak to me, a niece I have never seen, family who has addictions...Life is not always "perfect" I choose not to dwell on the negative nonsense and go about living. You can't change people, or even make them happy. They have to do that on their own.

All the material bologna we have is just that. It does not define me or limit me or give me any more power than anyone else who does not have what we have. Remember, four years ago Ken and I lived in a camper and the semi. But, even then, without running water, driving around an old pickup we bought for $300, we still had it all.

Happiness is a frame of mind that I truly wish more people would allow themselves to visit. Quit comparing yourselves to others, quit cutting yourself and others down. Truly love yourself, and all your imperfections. Embrace life, live it, and open your eyes to the beautimus things around you.

We give new meaning to the phrase "Bag Ladies"

I'm not sure that any of these pictures need a description. My friend Sammi and sister Jamie got our hands on some bags and got creative. Tons of laughs were had. It's the simple things like this that make life that much funner!!

Like our bonnets and halter tops?

Nice tankini right?

If you look past the bag lady you will see the veggies are growing in the raised garden bed...I know, it's hard to see past my sister in her pretty outfit.

Sammi went for the biker chick look.

Walk to the park

I take a lot of walks and when I do, often times I am greeted with awesome things. This was written on a sidewalk on the 20th of May which just so happens to be the same day that Ken and I decided we would try to adopt...one more time. I needed to see this =)

"When the world says, "Give up,"Hope whispers, 'Try it one more time.' "~ Unknown