Most of my hours have been spent working. Things have cranked up in a big way for me and I have lists on top of lists on top of lists. Meetings every day, back to back to back. I am rotating my cordless phones on the charger regularly because I keep draining the batteries! It is a fine problem to have and I know that things will settle down. They always do.
Consuming lots of my brain and heart power is Lana's new breast cancer diagnosis. She had her first appointment with her oncologist on Tuesday and initial test indicate Stage II breast cancer with a few more tests to do. She will start chemotherapy soon and then have a single mastectomy. Decisions about radiation will be made after those steps are complete. The good news is my momma comes from some sturdy Polish stock and is healthy and will give cancer more than it bargained for. I didn't ask her if I could post this here, but let's be real...I have about eight loyal readers and two of them are my parents! Also, I had a great reminder last week from my friend Lori that sharing our burdens and worries makes them lighter. So let's all pick up a piece of this cancer burden for my momma and make her load lighter. If you could put her on your prayer list I would be forever grateful! I will keep you posted as she starts treatment and if there are any specific prayer requests she needs. In the meantime, she feels good and she left me with this sweet little nugget of encouragement..."This is the last day of my life. Tomorrow is the first day of the rest of my life".
Bob also has a few medical things on his plate and will be having cataract surgery on both his eyes in October. Hopefully, his surgery goes perfectly and he ends October with much better eyesight and no complications. We do not need any complications!!
This week I also mourn the loss of a beautiful young momma that lived in our neighborhood. She has a son that is Chip's age and we have been on field trips and shared field days and crossed paths on early morning walks for years. She heroically battled melanoma for two years and I wouldn't dare diminish her bravery by saying she lost her battle to cancer, because she lost nothing. She was a light and a joy in this world until her last breath on this earth. She left a mark on this world - she was loved hard and she loved hard. We should all be so blessed.
In and amongst the worries and the sad, there are so many fabulous things happening. How about this for some amazing news?
I have two good friends, who were friends long before I met them. They both became first time grandmothers on the same day this week. Actually, about twelve hours apart! Melt my heart. They both shared pictures of their beautiful grandchildren and my heart just soared. I can't imagine what a moment in time that is...to lay eyes on your first grandchild and to see your own child become a parent. I am covered in goosebumps as I type. Congratulations to Jenny and Diane who have so much more to love this week!
And finally, this.....
My Aunt Gail sent Harry a graduation gift this week. It was epic! It put my crazy money hiding gifts to shame! She is officially dubbed The Queen of Crafts! Look at this....
It arrived looking like a cute little dog with a graduation hat.
Harry could see something through the belly of the pup and after some dissecting, he discovered two rolls of tightly wound dollar bills. He was finally able to start pulling on one of the rolls and it just kept coming, and coming, and coming and coming! So many dollars! There were two rolls in the belly.
We called my Aunt to laugh and congratulate her on this clever way to give cash. I asked her where she bought the dog and y'all....she modified this regular dog from Walmart. Took it apart, modified it and put it back together again. She is a nurse, but maybe should have been a surgeon!
She sent these pictures of the process which was an absolute labor of love. All the taping and rolling of dollar bills alone makes my hands ache!
Harry also later found more money in the head and the chest and the butt! Five giant rolls of dollar bills were hidden in this dog!
Sadly, the dismantling of this poor dog to get to the cash was borderline disturbing! He was just a shell of his little puppy self by the time Harry got all the cash out!
We mummified Harry with one of the rolls to commemorate all the cold hard cash spilling out in our house! It went on for days!
What a generous and thoughtful gift and the unwrapping and discovery will be forever remembered! My gift giving of money rolled up in drinking straws seems so elementary! Glued inside walnut shells? Come 'on...so basic! This is next level! It brought us all some much needed joy, laughter and happiness this week. Perfect timing!
I have a few things on my "To Do" List today, but for the most part I plan to start the day with a nice breakfast, tidy up the house a little bit and watch college football like it is my job. Doesn't that sound perfect?
Life Lesson....even when you get kicked in the teeth, you can still find something to smile about.
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