10 Year Clear!

 Hello Friends & Family…

I don’t even know if this post will reach anyone, it’s been so long since I have written. Just wanted to let everyone know, I reached the 10 Year Clear of Cancer mark (and counting!). Couldn’t have done it without your love and prayers all those years ago.

I have since celebrated 30 years of marriage with my best friend, had two adult children marry, and I became a grandmother - checking off several items definitely on my bucket list!

I’m working towards becoming a Master Gardener and using my time with the bugs, bees, buds, and blooms as happy therapy every day. 

Anyway, just a brief update and a big thanks for all the love, friendship, faith and prayers which helped get me to where I am today. 

God Bless!

Lisa

Bittersweet Book Release

Tomorrow marks the culmination of almost four years of hard work, revisions, and the ups and downs (mostly ups!) on the road to publication. The book birthday for my debut children's picture book The Wrong Side of the Bed (GP Putnam's Sons/Penguin Young Readers) is tomorrow, March 8th!

Please view the book trailer here http://youtu.be/L5PrnWjrN6U

As of tomorrow, the book is available everywhere online and at your neighborhood bookstores. The story follows a little girl who wakes up on the wrong side of the bed to a menagerie of mayhem making animals and only one bunny slipper. A subtle hint suggests that flexibility is the secret to looking on the bright side of things and changing outcomes, even on the rainiest of days. 

So on the bright side...as I mentioned, my book releases tomorrow!! Unfortunately, however, cancer has once again crept into my life as my father has been diagnosed with high grade bladder cancer. With his surgery today, I'm asking for all the thoughts and prayers you can muster. 

As my book The Wrong Side of the Bed comes about, I'm looking on the bright side and giving thanks for gifted surgeons and a successful outcome with little to no pain for my father today. 

And remember, when life gives you one bunny slipper, reach for your galoshes instead. 

New Shoe for Chickie-Poo

I promised Steve I would never take my new chickens to the Vet - ever. It was either that or no chickens. I justified that this promise wouldn't be hard to keep because, well, what could go wrong with a chicken?

Turns out, a lot. 

I noticed yesterday that my Frizzle chick was moving kind of funny...and on closer inspection I could see that one of her toes was bent under her foot and she was actually walking on it. :(

After a lot of Googling, I discovered this can be a problem in chicks. At first I cleared my schedule and with my phone in hand, got ready to call the Vet. Until, that is, the Angel on my shoulder politely reminded me about the promise I made to Steve. The Devil on my shoulder was whispering "Steve who?"

But realizing I like Steve and I'd like to stay married to Steve, I decided to try to deal with this on my own. So with some Duct Tape, a few toothpicks, and a Bandaid or two, I made a tiny corrective shoe for my chickie poo to wear. 

Today I removed shoe #1 and there is already an improvement so I re-fitted her with a fashionable blue shoe - one which I plan to leave on now for a few days. So far the other chickie poos are giving it an occasional investigative peck or two but then ignoring it. I think they're actually jealous. 

Call me clucking crazy...but I think chickie poo likes it. Tiny matching purse coming soon. 

(Shoe #1)

(Blue shoe #2)

xo 

Lisa 

Faith, Family, Friends....and a Flock!

With my two oldest chicks out of the nest and off to college, I finally fulfilled a long time item on my bucket list...I got baby chicks! Bantams to be specific - they are 1/4 to 1/5 the size of a regular chicken, and their eggs are similarly proportioned compared to their larger relatives. 

My kids and I have wanted chickens for as long as I can remember and I have a couple of wonderfully experienced chicken farming friends who have been amazing resources as I mother my new babies.

I can't say Steve is 100% on board, but he hasn't taken out the frying pan yet and I've even caught him snuggling a chick or two when he thought I wasn't looking. I convinced him that with one kid left in my nest, the timing was now - while my 13 year old chick was still eager to help with raising the hens!

My daughter was a bit disappointed I waited till she left for college to start a flock, but nevertheless she is just as enthused from afar as we are about naming and imagining what these little balls of fluff will become in the next few months. 

I can now add Chicken Farmer to my list of things I always wanted to become. I am enjoying every minute of designing and having their hen house built. Do I think these chicks are partially filling an empty spot in my heart with two of three kids gone from my home? Possibly - and that's not to say my kids can be replaced by balls of feathery and heavenly fluff...but they sure are a fun distraction!

Come see me for free eggs and a coop tour in about 6 months....

(4 of 7 chickie poos)

Now who doesn't love a fluffy chicken butt?

xo 

Lisa

Make it stop!

Make it stop! 

By that, I mean the clock. 

My daughter is just two days away from leaving for college and I know this sounds cliche, but where did the time go? I can still remember her first day of kindergarten like it was yesterday, so how is it possible it was 12 years ago instead?

It was difficult when my oldest son left for college two years ago, but there is something different about my daughter leaving. To be clear, I love all my children and embrace each one for their differences - but having a daughter in a house full of testosterone has been like having our own special sorority.  She gets my silliness and can, in fact, match it. She is a dear and faithful friend and I will miss having her in my house on a day to day basis. She is lovely on every level and anyone who gets to know her in college will be forever changed for the better. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm thrilled and excited for her to begin college and I know this is part of life and 'letting go' but it's so very difficult and selfishly, I'm very sad. I know eventually the sadness will be replaced with happier emotions as she finds success and happiness of her own on her own, but it will truly take some time. It is not easy to send your child to college. It's a very bittersweet endeavor indeed. 

I'd like to imagine my daughter as a butterfly as she flutters into this next facet of her life and pass on some lessons we can all learn from such creatures:

Let go of the past...

Trust the future...

Embrace change...

Come out of the cocoon...

Ride the breeze...

Savor the flowers...

Put on your brightest colors...

Let your beauty show.

To my beautiful daughter, you are a blessing to me every day and I love you with all my heart. 

 Love, Mom

Courage

Courage

—noun 

1. the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear; bravery.

It was three years ago on October 7th, 2011 that I was diagnosed with cancer. What followed was a year of surgeries, chemo, and a general blur of difficult memories. But one memory I will forever cherish is how my friends and family rallied with me in battle. I never could have made it through without the support of those around me. 

During the past few years, particularly when the days were darkest, I received many gifts of encouragement. Admittedly, at my worst, I was not of body or mind to thank everyone personally, but I hope you all know how much your thoughtfulness meant to me and still means to me today. 

On the eve of the anniversary of the day my life changed forever, I came upon a gift wrapped box tucked away on a shelf in a closet. Inside was an Angel of Courage and it reminded me of all the angels of courage I have had through this journey. There was no card, no note, no indication, and sadly, no recollection of who gave me this wonderful gift, so long ago. I hope this post helps me to find the gift giver...but I also hope it serves as a collective and heartfelt thank you to whoever it was and to all the rest of my angels of courage who stayed alongside me - enabling me to face difficulty, danger, pain, etc., without fear. I love you all. 

xo

Lisa 

I'm Fifty!

Today I turned 50. For me it was so much more than just a birthday. It symbolized a milestone in my fight with cancer. I feel great, I'm happy, healthy, and feel strong both physically and emotionally. A sort of IN YOUR FACE to cancer, I guess is what it comes down to. 

As I feel that every day cancer free is a blessing beyond words, please join me on a collective celebration...

Happy birthday to me!  Dear Cancer, you're NOT invited to my party. 

XO