One year

  I never really thought about a year, yes it's 365 days, and no I'm not figuring up the hours n minutes. (Haha) !!!! One year ago my life took a 360 complete change, I was diagnosised with cancer. Yes I HAD cancer, when they removed my uterus and cervix they found cancer, but because they took those parts out already that meant my cancer was out as well. However that didn't stop me from having another surgery and then later on treatments, but this is not about that. 

  One year ago I was fast heading towards getting through each day, was working out and learning to attempt to eat healthy. One year ago I was just thinking about how quickly I could heal and get back to work. One year ago I was probably not headed in the right direction that I needed to be headed in to be honest. One year ago I was just skating through. It's amazing what a few words can n will do to your life. Now one year later I think about my health a little bit more. One year later I think about what I really want to do with my life. One year later I think about my walk with Jesus and how I need it to be closer. One year later I have learned to rely on Jesus just a bit more than before. One year later I find my thoughts focusing more on the important things like what I want to accomplish before I die. 

   This past year has taught me who I can rely on and who will fail and/or bail on me in my time of need.  This past year has taught me to stop and see what's really around me. This past year has taught me that you can love from afar and still be okay. This past year has brought me closer to my grandparents even though they could not be with me during my battles. There was times during this past year that even though I talked to my grandma on the phone it would have been so great to have had her here with me sitting on the couch while I lay my head in her lap like I use to, to me that would have been the best therapy for me. I had to learn to settle for phone calls. I am still facing battles some emotional, some mental and some physical but it's ok because when all this is said and done I will come out stronger on the other side. 

  As you go through tough things and some times even tougher things in life you will find out more about yourself as well as those around you. As you walk through the valley or even the desert you will find things you thought were important are no longer important and those things that you didn't think we're important become very important. As you learn about yourself in the valley or even the desert you will change your outlook, you will change how you see things, you will change who is in your life and who isn't. The battle shouldn't be about self pity or even the poor mes' a truly take that time and learn about yourself and what you want to change and what you don't want to change. As you go through the battle and start to come out the other side take it as a sign or even a chance to realize you can change the things you want and the things that you can change, go change them. It's a new lease on life so grab hold and go live each day to the fullest that you can. 

Peace out tater tot.......

   

Seasons change and so should you........

   As I was thinking of a new post this past week, the thing that kept coming to my mind is change - then I realized that all or most of my changes have taken place in October. I met with some very close friends near n far in October 2009. I made the decision in October 2011 (I believe) to say "yes Lord I'm ready to deal with some baggage". In October 2013 I had my first surgery which led to finding cancer, then another surgery then chemo and radiation. Here I realize that my changes have taken place in October. 

   Most people wait till January 1 of the new year to make changes, whether it's a new diet, exercise, read more, be kind you get the picture. So here's my question why wait till January??? Why not do it now? The way I figure it as the season is changing we should change. If we wait till January then we are more apt to not keep the changes going, we are all stressed from having the holidays done, how are we gonna pay the bills, getting your house back to normal. In January is when the world makes changes and everyone has jumped on the bandwagon of change. So why not be different and start your change now? The leaves are changing getting ready for winter, the squirrels have gathered their nuts for winter, bears have already started their hibernation stage. 

   Before the holidays are upon us and we are busy stressing out over food, presents and schedules then make a decision on this gorgeous day to be more kind, on this day as leaves are changing colors then make a decision to eat healthier, on this day as the sun is shining bright in the sky make a decision to exercise more or even get started. As you go about this day with friends or family do something spontaneous, make today about finally starting that dream you always wanted to chase but yet didn't have the time for. Make time!!!!! 

     Today makes one year that my life took a complete 360 change, for now my life is filled with doctors appointments and testing but as I write to you about change I need to follow my own advice. It seems here lately that I have to schedule my life around doctors appointments, well, so what. I'm pretty sure I am not the only one who has to do this, so why not start chasing after my dream of writing. Why not start exercising now, why not start eating healthier, why not start spending time visiting others. My life was put on hold for bout 6 months due to treatments, there wasn't a choice at the time my body had already been through 2 surgeries in 5 weeks, so I took that time to rest and recover. So today I vow to try at least 1 new recipe a month, to start back exercising, to do more writing. 

   The leaves are changing, what will you change?

   More to come on my baggage claims

It's okay to feel yourself.....

Yes it really is okay to do that - in fact you should be doing this every month - doesn't matter if you are male or female - it doesn't matter about your age because you can be sure of one thing - cancer does NOT discriminate - all or most of us know someone who has been through breast cancer - it's never too early to start "feeling yourself up" - your doctor can give you a pamphlet about the how to's and if you don't have a doctor then the wonderful World Wide Web can help and if you don't have access or not for sure what to look for I can help you find it - more than 2.9 million women in US has had and/or has breast cancer - breast cancer is the most common cancer among women with men it is very low risk, and yes men can get breast cancer as well - a woman living in the US has a 1 in 8 chances of getting breast cancer in their lifetime - there is awareness all around us - yes we may be bombarded with info but knowledge is power - the more you know the better you are to fight and and protect yourself - from the information that I have read breast cancer is number 2 in deaths for women - heart disease being the first - so when I tell you that it's ok to feel yourself it really is ok - check yourself every month early detection is the best defense against breast cancer - so if you haven't started for what ever reason then today make a pledge that you will start "feeling yourself" - 

Peace out.....