it's that time of the year!

Usually one of my favorite times of year... however up until this morning I just really wasn't feeling it! Over the past two weeks I have tried to talk myself into being excited about Christmas, but even after the Christmas parade, putting up and decorating the tree, and work parties I just couldn't seem to drag myself out of this bah hum bug mood. I'm pretty sure my lack of enthusiasm for shopping and the fact that the temps have been more like summer than mid-December haven't helped to brighten my spirits! I have been telling myself that this year more than any other should be the BEST Christmas... I am a cancer survivor! Not sure if it is the cold weather or the fact that today is the start of our Christmas break at work or maybe that Santa is going to be visiting Frisco tonight, but when I woke up this morning I felt EXCITED!! Feels good to be me again!

Now that I'm excited about Christmas I just have to finish getting ready for it! Still have shopping to do, I have two doctors appointments, and then of course baking and wrapping! Hoping to finish up my shopping while in Chapel Hill for my appointments. One is just a check-up with my radiation oncologist, the other will be my first appointment with the plastic surgeon. Trying not to stress over the last one... too much information and too many decisions to make. None of which are easy! Some decisions I thought I had already made. The problem would be that when I made them I was in a completely different place. A scary one that included a long list of treatments and surgeries. Probably not the best time to make long term plans. So I am taking a step back, gathering information, and then I am going to let it sit and simmer while I enjoy a Merry Christmas with my family and friends. The important decisions for now can wait!

weekend fun

A perfect weekend! Horseback riding, office Christmas party, cookie baking, and Christmas parade!

So I can cross another one off the bucket list... Horseback riding! Something I have always wanted to do... NO, I had not EVER been on a horse before! The experience was amazing ~ beautiful day, wonderful group of ladies, and no worries!

Follow up a perfectly peaceful, beautiful horseback ride on the beach with our office Christmas party and you have a great ending to the first perfect day of the weekend! 

Saturday the girls and I baked cookies! Lots of cookies! Always a tradition this time of year in our house. I love being in the kitchen with my favorite girls! Decorating sugar cookies is our favorite! And it's not fun unless there is more frosting and sprinkles on the floor than on the cookies!

Sunday (aka marathon day) ~ the dentist office entered a float in the parade. Kind of a last minute decision, but totally worth it! We all had lots of fun! I am positive that all the hard work (last minute as it was) was all completely worth it!




my office family

 Me, I'm doing pretty well! Still have moments when reality seems a little overwhelming, but mostly I am trying to take things in stride. Christmas kind of snuck up on me and I wasn't really feeling much in the spirit, but I have to say that all the fun of the weekend has totally turned that around! Now if we could just get more than just lights on our tree!! We will be working on that this week :)

getting back to normal...

Ending my first week back home! It feels good to know that things are going in the direction of normal. Some adjustments are easier made than others. The first two mornings we almost missed the bus. That wouldn't have been the end of the world, but it did show me that my morning time schedule needed to be re-arranged! All those mornings in Chapel Hill when preschool didn't start until 9:15 spoiled Kimber and I. It seems that it may take some patience to help Kimber get back into the swings of things. She has to get up earlier, and she misses her friends and teachers. I think she has done amazing considering what she has been put through in the last two months, but a few mornings this week she has "gotten up on the wrong side of the bed"!! Work was great ~ pretty much seemed like I had not been gone at all.

Wish I could say that I would be able to spend my first weekend at home getting the house in order and Christmas decorations up, but the girls and I are going to Smithfield, NC for a family reunion. Don't get me wrong ~ I'm really excited to go and see everyone, but I am NOT looking forward to riding in a car AGAIN! Oh, well! I'm sure it will be worth it! Besides, there are all those outlet shops!

Music has always been one of my favorite things. There are songs that can portray just about any emotion one may be experiencing. Sometimes we can hear a song many times but not really hear the words. Maybe we just don't think about the words until we are going through a time in our lives when those particular words have meaning. During this battle there have been a few songs that have really been inspirational to me. Most of them popular enough that most people have probably heard them. Martina McBride ~ I'm gonna love you through it, Craig Morgan ~ Tough, and Rascal Flatts ~ SaraBeth (aka Skin) and I won't let you go. Recently I received a CD that included a song that I had not heard before. I have to say out of all the songs that I've heard this one touched me the most. The following link does not have the best sound but it's the only one I could find. My computer skills are limited!!

"She holds on tight to those in her life because that's what keeps her strong"

Colton James ~ What keeps her strong

The love and support of family and friends and my faith in God are the only things that have gotten me through the last eight months and what will continue to keep me going! I have the best support system any girl could ask for!