Thank you Teri and Donna for contributing to my blanket drive!

Thank you Priscilla and Denise!

Soap Sacs and Blankets!

#FavoriteStitchPhase1-July

Chemo Hats From My Subscribers

May Thru June Makes

The Struggle Is Real

 

                               Everyday is a brand new day, everyday is a journey

Friendship is one of the cheapest

 and most accessible of pleasures; 

it requires no outlay and no very

 serious expenditure of time or trouble. 

It is quite easy to make friends,

if one wants to...

 There is surely no greater pleasure 

in the world than to feel one is needed, 

welcomed, missed, and loved.

—Arthur C. Benson.

  Sitting on the couch and crocheting, I sighed deeply, shaking my head in disgust. Another thing that didn't work out. Another setback. Another delay. Just another day with the same outcome. 

  Why is there so much red tape when one is sick? I mean, one can go about and prepare ahead of time, filling out all the necessary paperwork. One can prepare by making sure we have opted for all the benefits that perhaps we might need in the future. We can do all these things and still red tape happens.

  I guess, we really cannot prepare for every situation, because we are human. Mistakes can happen in the best scenarios. Still . . . how in the world is anyone to get rest or recover if they spend all their waking hours on the phone with administration? 

  Things have certainly changed in the past nine years since I have been in remission. For one, I never had to deal with insurance issues. Like majority of us, I had insurance as a precaution to any health issues that may have arisen. Once that happened, you would show your card and that was the end of that. 

  Not anymore. Insurance companies choose what type of drugs they want to pay for and that also includes dosages. They are in total control of our health. Having insurance doesn't mean what it used to in the past and it definitely is not enough. Thank goodness there are grants and assistance from various sources we can depend on for these emergencies. Don't be afraid to reach out and accept the hospitals navigators help on these matters. What a godsend they are in these situations, offering help by ways of grants, gas cards, free rides and vouchers to appointments.

  I have to be honest, I rarely used any of these programs in the past. Didn't have a need for them. Now, they are a godsend! Things are always changing in the medical world of administration and unfortunately, not always for the better. Thank goodness for the numerous organizations that offer their assistance for free. Don't be afraid to discuss these options with your cancer navigator from your clinic or hospital. The struggle is real, but there is hope if we are open to accept the help.

Have a blessed day everyone.

#FavoriteStitchPhase1-June and a Thank You to Priscilla

A Week of Hospital Meals

Discount Salvage Store Mini Haul

An Interesting Wrinkle

 

                            Everyday is a brand new day, everyday is a journey.

Not so in haste, my heart;

Have faith in God, and wait;
Although He linger long,
He never comes too late.
ANON

God doesn't give you more than you can handle.

You need to stay positive or you won't conquer this cancer.

Stop saying the "C" word. You're bringing the illness upon yourself. 

  I have found that we cannot be really honest with our feelings when we have a chronic illness. People are not ready to hear the rawness of what is happening. We need to remember that others are experiencing our illness as well, confronting their own emotions regarding it. It took me awhile to acknowledge this fact.

  Yes, our families, spouses and children are an emotional basket case, and they have every right to be. They are the closest people in our life. Although, we tend to forget about the everyday people out there who react to our illnesses. It may not involve anything other than their own feelings about death or a memory of a loved one who passed away. It may include feelings of a midlife crisis or a search for meaning of purpose in their lives.

  I used to feel irritated when people would say things like the above comments, but now I realize they need to see that it can be done. No matter how bad things may seem, we can overcome. We can persevere all things. Even in our worst moments, people see our reactions and it is important to show these moments. Yes, I have horrible days and I am honest about them, but I don't stay there. 

  So many people with cancer want to quit right at the bat. The struggle seems overwhelming taking up a huge portion of their life. Cancer treatment can last from 6 or more months depending on your situation. It disrupts our daily life as we know it. Some people feel it is not worth all of that and I try to encourage them not to give up. Fight with everything inside of you, because there is hope. 

  Have a blessed day everyone.

  

A Sunny Day

 

                                     Everyday is a brand new day, everyday is a journey.

Whate'er my God ordains is right;

Though I the cup must drink
That bitter seems to my faint heart,
I will not fear nor shrink.
S. RODIGAST

  Not quite sure what was so special that day. Maybe enough time has passed or perhaps it was the sun shining. I could feel the warmth upon my face as the rays streamed through the windshield of my son's car. After a long and cold Winter, it felt really good.

  I have been angry, really angry and not at all cooperative in any way. I just didn't see the purpose of it all. Why now? Why at all? The trip we took this morning was to see the specialist in regards to my bone marrow treatment all the way to St. Louis! This was fast becoming way too much work for my liking. Was it even worth it?

  Something changed during the morning. Perhaps it was seeing the cancer clinic and all the patients in it waiting to receive their chemo infusion. Memories certainly came flooding in of the many times I sat in their place. Perhaps it was the reprimand from my own children reminding me of my bad behavior of the last couple of weeks.

This is not you, mom. 

  Isn't it? I believe we all have that person inside us who appears rashly and suddenly from time to time. We are more than capable. Many things came into my mind as the morning quickly turned into afternoon.

  The ride back felt different. I didn't feel as angry or upset. I felt resigned to accept what I could not control. Here I was facing the same giants just in a different way. A different cancer. One I know nothing about. No matter how many times my ovarian cancer came back, it felt familiar. The symptoms were the same, the method and even the place. This was different and it scared the heck out of me. We don't like change, no matter how much we claim the opposite. 

  All the way home, I felt the warmth of the sun upon my face. It's been so cold and dreary, the sun was a welcomed sign of Spring in the near horizon. Pretty soon, it would be there on a regular basis and all this gloominess would be a thing of the past. It was a long Winter . . . yes, but soon it would disappear.

  How many times, have we faced trials or obstacles in our life? No one is exempt from them, but they do leave us eventually. As we age, we have less and less desire to fend them off. We are tired and want to be left alone to enjoy the remaining years in peace and quiet. 

  Yes, it was that ride, that day, that sun, that brought an energy within me to get back up and accept the latest challenge. What a lovely day it turned out to be.

Have a blessed day everyone.

More Blankets For The Drive

Blankets for families of prisoners to date.

I Never Imagined

                                    Everyday is a brand new day, everyday is a journey.

Lord, with what courage and delight
    I do each thing,
  When Thy least breath sustains my wing!
    I shine and move
    Like those above,
    And, with much gladness
    Quitting sadness,
  Make me fair days of every night.
H. VAUGHAN.

  Honestly, I never thought this would happen again. Sort of naive in my thinking considering my past history. It's only to be expected, right? And yet, I was stunned.

  We become very complacent in our life. Normalcy does that to us. We live our life in a sequence of order that some call monotonous or predictable. It does provide a sense of security something we all need even if we don't want to admit it.

  When the doctor told me I had A.L.L. {Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia}, I literally stared at him dumbfounded. He can't be right. That's not even my cancer. I have dealt with stage 3 ovarian cancer for over 18 years. It came and went four times, each time a very familiar occurrence. 

  Nine years I have been in remission. Nine years! How could I not have become complacent? Safe and secure in the knowledge that perhaps I was done? Finished with it? I could now move forward, worry free of having a  chronic illness. It was behind me and I have conquered it.

  What surprises me the most is my own inability to accept this new challenge in my life. My resistance has resulted in a bad altitude, moodiness and quite frankly open rudeness to anyone within my presence. Is this who I am really inside? Absolutely not! What have I preached to fellow cancer patients for the past 18 years? To be the way I have been acting? Absolutely not! 

  I guess we are never done learning new things about ourselves. There are so many layers to us exposing our inner thoughts, emotions even if they are so very raw. The Lord is continually pruning us and it hurts, really hurts. We feel alone and forgotten, but deep down inside we know that is a lie that the enemy loves to imprint into our soul to discourage us. 

  How many times have we felt down and in pain? Yet, there would be a phone call, a card, a kind gesture sent our way. Sometimes, a beautiful sunrise or the warmth of the sun upon our face. Who sent that our way? Only Our Lord. He is with us. He is carrying us. He loves us. He loves me.

Have a blessed day everyone.

SUNDAY RAMBLE!

SUNDAY RAMBLE #2

SUNDAY RAMBLE #3

THE SUNDAY RAMBLE #5

SUNDAY RAMBLE #6

SUNDAY RAMBLE #9

SUNDAY RAMBLE #10

SUNDAY RAMBLE #11

SUNDAY RAMBLE #12

SUNDAY RAMBLE #13

SUNDAY RAMBLE #14

SUNDAY RAMBLE #15

SUNDAY RAMBLE #16

#weekinreview #fruitflyinvasion SUNDAY RAMBLE #17

#deepcleaningourplace #birthdaycelebration SUNDAY RAMBLE #18

#coppa #sundayinreview SUNDAY RAMBLE #19

VLOGMAS 1 SUNDAY RAMBLE #20

VLOGMAS #8: SUNDAY RAMBLE #21

VLOGMAS #15: SUNDAY RAMBLE #22

VLOGMAS#29: SUNDAY RAMBLE#23

SUNDAY RAMBLE #24

Sunday Ramble: A Little Update

Sunday Ramble:What's Your Favorite Garden Vegetable To Grow?

Some finished items.

2024 Granny’s Magical Cupboard Calendar Blanket hosted by @JaydaInStitches

January Makes

#2024NewTestamentBibleCal Pinwheel Blanket hosted by @NanasCrochetIdeas

#FavoriteStitchPhase1-February

Progress on my 2024 CAL’s

Winter Wonderland

                                  Everyday is a brand new day, everyday is a journey.

 Living in Chicago for a major part of my life, I remember the many Winter storms I have survived. Now those were real storms of never-ending snow, slush and freezing cold. One would shovel as soon as it started, then several times during the storm and the clean-up that followed afterwards until we did it all over again in a few days. The sidewalks resembled snow tunnels piled up high. My children would build igloos using 5 gallon buckets.

 We have been living in Central Illinois now for almost five years and the Winters here have been quite mild compared to Chicago. People have no idea what winterwear consists of where many don't even own a coat. I regale our friends with stories of wearing plastic bags inside my boots to keep them from freezing, keeping blankets in the cars to drape over our laps and the many days/nights of scraping the ice off our cars. They just stare at me like a deer in headlights as if I was a dinosaur from the centuries ago. And you walked how many miles to school? Barefoot?

 Winters are pretty mild in Central Illinois to say the least. Once in a while, a storm passes through and for a short period, we are covered in a Winter Wonderland. This morning, the temperatures read a mere 2 degrees. You would think these people would get a jacket, hat and gloves on? Absolutely not! They dash like a gold medal Olympic runner to their cars dressed in their sweats. A coat? Bah, who needs one?!

 I, personally, have always enjoyed the Winter. Yes, I don't enjoy pumping gas when the wind blows so hard and we stand shivering. Yes, I don't enjoy scraping ice and snow off the car. Yes, I don't enjoy the dreary and cloudy skies with no sunshine to be seen anywhere. 

 Yet, there is something so serene, majestic and peaceful in seeing the beauty of a Winter Wonderland. From the inside, of course. I really do miss a real Winter like the one we had in Chicago. To me, Winter is a time of reflection and relaxation of both mind and body. A time well spent in reassessing how well we did during the year. We can determine what needs to be weeded out from our lives and what graduates into the coming year. 

 It is also a time where I play catchup with various projects that can only be done at home. The books we want to read and the movies we want to watch curled up on our couch with our favorite blanket enjoying a cup of hot chocolate. When does a hearty soup or chowder or a bowl of chili taste the best? Only in the Winter. 

 All four of the Seasons have their splendor and purpose. There is beauty in this Creation Our Lord made for us. A Season and a time for everything. What is Winter to you?

Have a blessed day everyone.

 

There’s always more coffee!

It’s Snowing!

#FavoriteStitchPhase1=January