Life has recently taken some interesting turns in the road
and I've encountered a few bumps, but "Domino" by
Schnibbles is ready to be quilted finally! I absolutely
adore the charm pack, "Lovely", by Moda and think it
will be a fun summer quilt to hang in my house.

Quick and Easy

I'm always on the lookout for a simple, quick and easy
little gift idea and today my friend, Laurel, shared one
with me.  It's fun to remember friends, neighbors,
co-workers, etc. with a little inexpensive gift on their
special day or just to say "I'm thinking of you."

Scrapbook paper, card stock, ribbon and a simple
embellishment was all I needed to make this little
gift box.

I added a few wrapped Hershey Nuggets and now I
have a little friendship gift all ready to go.

 

Easy Peasey!

Six Years

Today as Dr. Gray was going over the results of my
blood work and checking on a few things, he reminded
me that it was six years ago this month, that I was
diagnosed with Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC). 
In many ways it seems so long ago and in other ways,
it seems like yesterday.  Who knew the road would be
so bumpy, but I got through it with only a few battle
scars which I now call my Victory scars. They
constantly remind me of how blessed I am!

March 25, 2006 I wrote the following:

The War Within

Inside my breast a war rages.
It's ugly fingers spreading out
Fighting to over come healthy tissues.
Marching forward in haste
Its strongholds to secure.

Now, I, too, must engage in this battle,
Preparing my defenses,
Strategies are mapped out.
A course of action to be taken.
Advice from my oncologist.
We've only just begun.

Where this battle will go,
How it will end,
I know not.
Armed with faith, hope, determination and
Trust in the Lord,
Forward I move into the foray.
Praying my forces will
Overcome the enemy within.
       

Inflammatory Breast Cancer is a rare, fast-
growing type of cancer.  Unlike other breast
cancers, this doesn't cause a lump in the
breast.  Mammograms and breast exams often
fail to catch it early.  Because it grows so fast,
it usually has spread by the time it is diagnosed.

As you perform your breast exams, be aware
of a breast that may be swollen, red and warm.
One that is tender or painful, or an area of itching
in the breast, a change in the nipple (retracted)
or even some dimpling (like an orange peel).

I had a rash that actually spread around my
chest and top of my stomach.  I thought it was
due to a change of laundry detergent, but when
it didn't leave my breast and I noticed other
changes, I knew something was wrong. I
got the quickest dr. appointment I could and it
was with my family doctor who, I think
recognized it, but sent me for a mammogram
immediately.  From that appointment we were
off and running.

To be sure of the diagnosis, a needle biopsy
was done, but didn't reveal anything.  Next we
did a deep tissue biopsy and that showed
results.

Doctors are becoming more aware of IBC
but some still send patients to a dermatologist
thinking it is some kind of a skin irritation, etc.
 
I knew back in January of 2006 that I had
IBC because of going on the internet.  It scared
me to death to see pictures and read about it.
Of course, I think the worst case scenarios
in pictures are presented.  But, I still had to go
through all the hoops before a  plan of
treatment could be set up and a sure diagnosis
given.

So, why am I telling all this?  Because if it
helps one person to not put off getting a
mammogram or visiting her doctor because
of concerns, it will all be worth it!  Life is
too precious to not act--no matter how scary
it seems. Don't let fears hold you back or think
that you'll do it tomorrow.

DO IT NOW!  Don't be afraid to take that step.
Call your doctor if you have any concerns.

The life you save may be your own.

It's too early!  Way too early for mosquitoes to be out
and about.  And, to be so BIG!

Decided I needed to take a break from working on my
father's history this evening and thought a quick
walk around the neighborhood would energize me.
The weather was so nice, cloudy, no wind, and
warm temperatures.

Coming back home I stopped to chat with a friend
and couldn't believe the mosquitoes that immediately
surrounded us. They must have been starving the
way we were attacked.  These little critters have always
found me tasty from the time I was little and
tonight was no different.  I have several huge welts
on my arm to prove it and they have been itching
like crazy.  I put some anti-itch cream on the bites and
covered them with band aids to tone down the
itching and to keep me from scratching them.  I
think it is finally beginning to work.

Guess I won't be able to go walking in the early
evening anymore unless there is a breeze.
Hopefully the Mosquito Abatement will be out
soon spraying before these little HUGE bugs
overtake us.

In Memory of my sweet Sister in Law,
 Kathleen Farnes

I am really going to miss her.  Kathleen was more
like a sister and a best friend.  We shared so
much through the years, the good and the bad,
happy and sad times, the ups and the downs
and everything in between.  What fun we used
to have!  How I will miss those phone calls!

Kathleen was a wonderful example to all she
came in contact with and was a woman of strong
faith.  She and her late husband raised five
wonderful children, four or whom are pictured
below.

My son on the left with some of his cousins and
Kathleen's daughter, Christy. 

Matthew 7:24-27

Each Thursday evening we gather together for Family
Home Evening (FHE).  Last night it was my turn to
present the lesson.  Since I have been focusing on
"Choosing the Right", I chose to focus on choices and
consequences.

After reviewing a few basic principles we've recently
discussed, we talked about how every day we have
choices to make and each choice has a consequence.
After getting their feedback about what a consequence
was, I threw out several scenarios and asked what
the consequence might be--good or bad:

"If you choose not to eat---you will be hungry"
"If you choose not to wear a coat, hat and gloves
when it is cold and snowy outside---your ears and
hands will freeze and you will get sick."
"If you use sunscreen when it is hot and sunny
outside---you will avoid a sunburn and pain."

Also tried to teach them that some consequences
come quickly after you make a choice.  Sometimes
you  may not recognize a consequence until long
after you make the choice.  But, eventually there is
always a consequence.

Then I passed out a blank piece of paper to each
one and told them we were going to draw a
picture about a wise man and a foolish man as I
read the scripture to them.
(Matt. 7:24-27)

First they were to draw a wise man, then the house
he built upon a rock.  For this picture they used
permanent markers:

Next I read about the foolish man who built his house
upon the sand.  Washable markers were used for
this picture:

Then we all gathered around the sink and watched
what happened to the houses when the rain descended
and the floods came and the winds blew and beat
upon the houses.

Using a spray bottle, I sprayed water on the picture
of the wise man's house ....

.... and of course, nothing happened!  The house
remained!

Water was then sprayed on the foolish man's house ....

....and the rains, floods, and winds came and
washed his house away:

They LOVED This!

I believe they got the message!  And, now hopefully
they will remember the lesson of the wise man and
the foolish man and the consequences of their choices
in building their homes upon a rock or upon the sand,
and that they will make good choices as they grow.

Piecing + Distractions = Confusion

Yeah! I figured it out!  Thanks everyone for your
help.