One year ago... on one day... one six letter word...

One year ago after being diagnosed with breast cancer, saying my world was rocked is an understatement. But with unending support from my extraordinary family and friends I made it through many dark days. I'm writing this once... to thank all the wonderful people in my life and to anyone who needs to know someone understands...

One year ago... on one day... one six letter word...

My world as I knew it to be. . .

C... ame crashing down, stopping my breath, unable to believe

A... ll of a sudden feeling so helpless, so not in control, so unsure of everything

N... ever thinking it would be me, even though there are so many, but still asking why?

C... ouldn't imagine leaving all the people I love so, it's not my time, I have so much more to do, don't I?

E... very ounce of my being feeling so scared... so frightened about the road ahead of me

R...eaching out and holding on to my extraordinary family and friends who kept me from falling

One year ago... on one day... one six letter word...

Turning my life upside down, yet trying to except what it was and how I would fight

The doctors, the tests, the waiting. . .

Digging deep inside... to be strong, to fight, to be in control

Yet I still had questions deep in my soul... where no one could hear, why me? What could I have done differently?

If I had to be the one for all the other women in my life, than so be it

And always holding on to my extraordinary family and friends to keep from falling

One year ago... on one day... one six letter word...

The treatments, the effects, the inevitable

Watching each hair fall, first slowly, than much to quickly

Once again feeling so powerless and so not in control

I needed to fight back, to be able to make a choice

Steadying my hand on the razor, I watched as my hair disappeared

And in some strange way I felt empowered, a new strength, and the determination to. . .

Dig deep inside... to be strong, to fight, to have the control

And always holding on to my extraordinary family and friends to keep from falling

One year ago... on one day... one six letter word...

Counting the days for each treatment to be done

Believing it's killing the bad while passing over the healthy

Getting through the bad days by remembering the many good ones

Digging deep inside... to be strong, to fight, to be in control

And always holding on to my extraordinary family and friends to keep from falling

One year ago... on one day... one six letter word...

Accepting that this journey has changed me in ways that I still don't fully understand

Knowing that attitude is as important as the fight

Reinforcing that I am very fortunate in so many ways

And knowing that I have extraordinary family and friends. . .

photo © 2010 QUOI Media Group | more info (via: Wylio)

Children

photo © 2007 *USB* | more info (via: Wylio)

This month I will celebrate 3 graduations

One for my nephew and 2 for my granddaughters

For each of them it's the end of one chapter and onto the next in their very own book called life

Morgan, will be starting high school, and hopefully this is where she will find her passions and start planning and working towards those goals and dreams

Sarah, will start culinary school she discovered her passion, now she needs to cultivate her dreams so they become her reality

Jason, knew what his passion was at an early age, he worked hard and now his dream of practicing law has come to fruition

Each of them in very different phases of their lives, yet is it really all that different?

The chapter numbers may be, but each is starting a new milestone in their life

And I am so proud. . . my heart so full of hope of each of them . . .

Children should start out with dreams, hopes and aspirations

The adults in their lives should guide and assist them to build the foundations

Children need to believe that all their dreams are within reach

The adults in their lives should love, nurture and make sure the lessons, they teach

Children need to know the process may not be easy, in fact, it can be tough

The adults in their lives need to convey that this is what builds character and self assuredness oddly enough

Children need to always feel that they are special and one of a kind

The adults in their lives need to keep this in the forefront of their mind

Children grow up and if we the adults do it right

They will continue to be a constant delight!

Children. . . amazing. . . grabbing hold of our souls and filling our lives with love and joy

photo © 2009 Cathy McKie | more info (via: Wylio)

Just a Thought. . .

The sun sets, darkness comes and the day comes to a close

You start to settle down. . . both mentally and physically

You rest your head into the pillow emptying you mind of all thoughts of the day

You begin to drift off. . . ever so slowly into the darkness. . .

You are no longer aware of mind or body. . .

Then all of a sudden, your eyes pop open

You feel again and are aware, even though you are surrounded by darkness

Then it starts... your mind is flooded with yesterdays, todays and tomorrows

The more you want to go back to that quiet, the louder it becomes

Breath, Relax, Concentrate

The mantra that plays over and over

Breath, Relax, Concentrate

Why isn't it working?

Breath, Relax, Concentrate

The harder you try the more your mind is spinning with thoughts. . .

Then like a flip of a switch

Back to the invisible, the tranquil, that very quiet place

Until. . . . . .

BUZZ....BUZZ....BUZZ....

The sound of your alarm

Awaking you to the new day, new beginnings

And if you are lucky, a new perspective on the yesterdays, todays, and tomorrows. . .

photo © 2009 Paul Simpson | more info (via: Wylio)

Don't

Once again my friend Michelle has inspired me. . .

photo © 2006 Ali-Andrea Cahal | more info (via: Wylio)

Don't. . .

Ever underestimate yourself and the strength you have within

Don't. . .

Forget you can make a difference. . . be it BIG or small

Don't. . .

Judge others, embrace the differences

Don't. . .

Focus on the problem, but rather the solution

Don't. . .

Walk through life blindly, instead open your eyes, mind and heart

Don't. . .

Promise, if you can't keep your word

Don't. . .

Forget words can be powerful, choose wisely

Don't. . .

Pass over life's accomplishments, CELEBRATE in a big way

Don't. . . Don't. . . Don't. . .

Ever, Ever, forget to tell the people in your life how much you love them!

Listen. . .

photo © 2008 Sandeep | more info (via: Wylio)

Listen. . .do you hear it?

It's out there. . .

The early morning birds serenading us

Welcoming a new day, a new start, a new beginning

Listen. . .do you hear it?

The wind purring softly

Creating a melody of music along its path

Listen. . .do you hear it?

photo © 2010 Tanya Impeartrice | more info (via: Wylio)

The gentle whoosh of the ocean waves

Bringing in the new, and whisking away the old

As the sun slowly disappears on the horizon

Listen. . .do you hear it?

The quiet rain drops dancing on the rooftops

Cleaning, refreshing, nourishing, turning the browns to rainbows of color

photo © 2008 Quinn Dombrowski | more info (via: Wylio)

Listen. . .do you hear it?

They are out there. . .