Tough Enough To Wear Pink

I need to hurry because it's almost midnight, I seem to do my best work in the wee hours.  But I must report on the fun weekend I've had!  A group from Young Survivor Sisters will be singing the national anthem at Days of '47 rodeo on Tuesday (our 16th anniversary).  "Tough Enough To Wear Pink" is the theme for the night.  We've had a couple of rehearsals at my house and tonight we went to the E Center for the sound check.  There will be 10 or 11 of us singing, it will be AWESOME!  I fell apart when we started singing and hope like the dickens that I can get through it without tears.  So, you should all come see us make our public singing debut, I think it will make us famous.  I will post video here Tuesday or Wednesday.  : )

I got to go to dinner last night with a new friend from Mississippi.  Her name is Cindy, she is a friend of my friend Melanie.  Melanie told her about me and my blog and she has been a follower for the last few months.  She is going through chemo right now for metastatic uterine cancer.  She was so fun to talk to, with her southern accent and charm!  She is so positive, an awesome example of how great people get through really hard things when they have faith in God and His plan for us.  I have never heard of anyone with a more aggressive chemo regimen than hers, my thoughts and my prayers are with you Cindy.  Thanks for hooking us up Melanie!  It was awesome to get out and just be our bald selves.

Can you see me? I'm in there somewhere.

We went to MoTab's Pioneer Day concert tonight.  All I can say is, I love that group and someday I will be in it!!!  Be grateful you don't sit next to me because I sing all the songs I know under my breath, and bounce my knees and sway back and forth.  Imagine me . . . a hairless woman causing such a scene!  I had a great time embarrassing Maddie and Isaac and getting some giggles from Mat.  This year marks the 100th anniversary of the choirs recordings, so they sang many of the "classics".  Whenever I hear the choir sing "Battle Hymn of the Republic" I can hardly stand myself.  I just want to jump up and sing with them at the top of my lungs!  I'm pathetic, but I'm going to be in that choir someday.  : )  That song reminds me of my dad.  He sang for many years in the the choir back when his health was good.  We went to many concerts when I was growing up, that is when I grew to love that and many other songs.

This morning I got up early so I could go out and weed in the back yard.  I find great pleasure in early morning weeding sessions.  I get to sit and listen to how quiet everything is.  It's before the kids get up at our house and in the neighborhood, before the neighbors dogs are out barking, before there is much traffic and busyness.  We have lots of mourning doves in our neighborhood and I love to sit and listen to their peaceful songs.  I was contemplating this morning about how "simple" my life is now.  After you have had something like cancer (or any other life-altering crisis), it's real easy not to sweat the small stuff.  Suddenly, all that matters is the important stuff--the people in your life and God.  I've been amazed at how much more relaxed I am when I'm not killing myself working in other people's yards.  It's been awesome to see how my being calm trickles down to the family.  We are much more relaxed around here, it is an awesome feeling.

I decided to do a little business this year.  The economy is making sure that all I will get is a little bit, but I'd have it that way anyway.  I never want to get so crazy again that everything/everyone gets neglected.  I decided I will go back to school for a Masters, but not until I have all of the tuition saved.  It makes me sad to say it, but my kitchen will have to wait a little longer.  (sigh)

Total Slacker

That is what I am.  I just don't feel like I have much to report!  It feels like the side effects of chemo are behind me.  The only thing that might clue someone in to my cancer is my hair (or lack thereof!).  I started wearing my caps again because it is growing faster on top than it is around the sides.  I look like an army guy, not that I have a problem with army guys, I just don't want to look like one.  : )  I started taking the Tamoxifen a few weeks ago and I've had no problems with it.  Some people have dreadful side effects, I am grateful to tolerate it well.  It is the last thing on the list of  "doing everything I can" to prevent cancer from coming back.  Tamoxifen prevents estrogen from attaching to fast growing cells--estrogen was "feeding" my tumors, so that is an important last step.  Hooray!

McKinley just turned one, we took her today to get her pictures taken.  I must share!  She is so dang cute.

I had no intention of being in the pictures.  If I had known I would have ended up there, I would have worn a nice shirt, maybe put on some make-up!  I was trying to comfort her because she didn't like posing and getting attention from the picture lady.  How could I not order that picture?!?  Look at that face.  We love her!

I was called as the Girls Camp Director a couple of weeks ago.  Camp is on the 27th and lasts for 5 days, so I have a few things to figure out!  Maddie is really excited to have me there, this is her first year.  I feel a little overwhelmed, I am not a crafty person at all and I see what some of the other wards are doing.  Yikes!  I've been debating about whether I should come up with some grandiose theme and spend a bunch of money on decorations for the cabin and other stuff.  I'm not sure.  I'd rather spend the money on snacks and s'more stuff.  That is more my style.  : )