Look to the Lord and His strength; seek his face always. 1 Chron. 16:11

I apologize for taking so long to follow-up to my 'down in the dumps' post. Things quickly turned around as they always do. Thank you for the reaching out and those that didn't I know you are there thinking and praying for me as you do anyone else in your life. Obviously somehow reaching out and expressing oneself is like freeing the soul. I've never been one to privately 'journal' or write about my daily life. I admire those that can. But, I will say posting and chronicling this journey has been very rewarding and it is definitely part of the process of diagnosis, treatment and recovery. I highly recommend it to anyone who goes through anything life altering. Life around me has continued to move forward, kids are having birthdays, getting bigger and honestly we couldn't be busier. What I try to remember and practice on a daily basis is allowing time for myself. I remember, before cancer, always being in a hurry, always rushing. Why would anyone want to live like that?  Think about that?  Honestly some things can wait for tomorrow. And if the kids take 2 days to put laundry away, then so be it-right? In the grand scheme of things does it really matter?  What does matter is how you feel about yourself, your life, your kids, your home, your family. Are you being the best you can be each day? If you aren't your best, how can you motivate anyone else (i.e. your kids) to be their best? For those of you that are finding yourself coming and going (and who isn't?), I ask you to do a little soul searching. I learned last year to rest during the day so I can be my best in the afternoon and evenings when the kids got home. I'd like to say I've carried that thinking over to this year as well. I'm not saying lay around in your pjs & watch TV all day. I'm saying put it all into perspective. Have your list of goals for the day; including checking emails, trolling Facebook, etc. whatever it is, have it down on paper or in your head. Don't get sidetracked, don't create unnecessaries throughout the day. That ultimately takes time away from your family. This goes for working parents as well. I still don't know how you do it, work all day and take care of kids all evening. But I do think you can learn to find your balance and somewhere in there is a person who can ultimately have it all-happiness, health, career, family, home..etc.  Create time each day for yourself, whether it be exercising (this should be a priority), reading a book, doing something 'crafty', maybe even picking up the bible. If we can all learn to balance the day and refocus, recharge, and find our true happiness, our true self we will learn to love life to its fullest. That includes loving our spouse, our kids and reaching even higher for the stars than we ever imagined. And when I say reaching for the stars, I mean reaching towards Heaven, reaching toward-what we are here on earth to strive for and that is finding our ending place with-God. Enough of my soap box.
Check out my new photo to the right. I'm finding my inner 'Marcia Clark'!  Have you been watching that mini-series, OJ on FX? Well, I'm constantly finding new people that I can compare my little new hair style with. And Marcia is the newest 'afro' look alike. I don't like selfies, but you no, gotta do what you gotta do!
The other thing I wanted to vent about today was just how bad cancer sucks. It takes someone every day. A family is losing a spouse, a mom, a dad, a child, a friend, someone is dying. And every day cancer changes peoples lives. SO, my point. My point is, pray...pray for a cure....pray for the doctors, the researchers...pray for everyone that is associated with cancer, because in some way we all are. We are going to have a break through. I just know it. A cancer breakthrough will mean a brearkthrough for all things. And just maybe we won't have to watch our daughters go through breast cancer as I did. Maybe our sons won't have a wife suffer. Prayer is our answer to everything. Maybe it's not prayer, but talking. Don't talk to yourself, talk to God. Have a conversation, but don't forget to listen because HE will answer you. And if you haven't learned that, GET WITH THE PROGRAM! God hears, God listens and God responds. If we all are praying for a cure from these awful diseases, just maybe we can lessen the impact evil has on the world. And wouldn't you like to live knowing you made an impact on the world. YES, each of us can and each of us should strive for making an impact.

My love, hugs and all my prayers go out to each of you each and every day....Love God, Love Life and LOVE YOURSELF!