Favorite St. Therese Quote

He guides and inspires me every moment of the day. Just when I need it, a new light shines on my problems.

St. Therese

 

Sticks of Hope

Visit sticksofhope.com NOW to send special messages and words of inspiration to kids with cancer via virtual ice cream frozen pop sticks. These “frozen pop sticks of hope” will be counted up, and at the end of this year, Nestlé Ice Cream will donate 25 cents to City of Hope Cancer Center, for each of the first 200,000 messages sent.  Keep in mind, only 8,000 messages have been sent so far, so they really need your help!

You can send as many as you like, and for every FOUR you send, a full dollar will be donated. Let’s help reach the 200,000 messages goal! 

 

See--people who make chocolate are good--very good people!!

 

Courage

A few weeks ago, I was at a party and talked to a lady who asked me about my cancer experience and how it changed my life.  I am very open about it all (obviously you know that if you read my journal!) and told her how it changed everything and mostly in a positive way.  She was very nice and told me about a friend of hers who lost her battle with breast cancer.  She went on to say how brave her friend was and, like me, refused to complain and would say that she is not going to "boo-hoo" about it.

Sometimes, I can't stand the belief that most people have about courage.  People believe that courageous people are stoic and crying is a sign of weakness.  I explained to her that it took me a while to get to the place where I am now and I did my share of "boo-hooing".  And believe me, there are still times when I am tired of all this and need to do a little crying.  I dare anyone to tell me that that makes me any less courageous.  I believe that it is a strong person who can show emotion yet continues to get up every time he or she is knocked down.  Courage is shown through actions.

I found this on a web site for inspirational cards and I love it.  I think it says it all.

Courage does not always roar.  Sometimes courage is the quiet voice at the end of the day saying, "I will try again tomorrow."--Maryanne Redmacher

And trying again tomorrow is the most courageous thing that anyone can do.

CT/PET Scan results 6/06

I repeated my PET and CT scans this past Thursday.  Today, I went to my lymphoma doctor.  Everything is the same so that is good news.  Also, my blood work had improved enough so that I can stop taking the last of the preventive medicines.  So now I am only on the synthroid (the thyroid medication) which I will take the rest of my life.  I will repeat my scans again in September.

 

I know I should be more excited, but honestly I just feel weird.  It's like I'm still in limbo.  I guess this is the way it will be for a while.  Maybe for the rest of my life.  There will always be another test and I can't think about it.  I probably shouldn't write right after I come home from the doctor because I know tomorrow I will wake up with a better attitude.  But writing things helps me work it out, so here I am.  But at least I will be able to enjoy this summer and that is what I plan to do!

 

For all you Yankee fans, the NY Yankees are having a fund raiser selling t-shirts and the money goes to Sloan-Kettering.  They are nice shirts and they are $20 each.  Here is the link if you would like to check it out.

 

New York Yankees : Fan Forum : Yankees/Sloan-Kettering Fundraising

 

Back to School--Again

Monday, I went back to school again.  It was great to be back.  I had an excellent sub who kept the kids in line.  They were so happy to see me.  It was much better coming back this time because now I know my kids and they know my routine.  It was a much easier transition. 

Today is Thursday and they finally noticed the incision line on my neck.  One kid said--You have something on your neck.  I told him that is where the doctor fixed my neck.  So another boy said--The doctor cut your neck!  I said--Yes, but then he sewed it back together!  They were satisfied with that.  It was probably a much funnier conversation in person.

I feel great.  The voice is fine and holding up in work.

The Power of the Smile

The other day, I received an email about smiles.  It reminded me that I had wanted to write about this topic and never did.  I know that in a previous entry I wrote that I smile more now.  And that is true.  For a long time before I was diagnosed, I stopped smiling as much as I used to.  Everything seemed like such a big deal and I just didn't smile as much.

When I was sick and being treated, I tried to smile even when I didn't feel like it.  It let everyone around me know that I was OK.  A smile is like a gift to those around you.  It can take the worry away from those who love you, it brightens the day of strangers, and it makes you feel better about yourself when someone smiles back at you.

Now, I smile all the time.  And I notice that people notice it too.  Of course passing strangers will smile back.  In school, I've been called "smiley" and told that my smile will be missed while I'm gone by other teachers.  It is so amazing how people respond to the smile.  I know it may not seem like such a big deal to everyone, but it really is a gift to others.

 

Daily Reflections

If anyone is interested, the web site for St. Therese is now offering daily reflection email.  The link is:

http://www.littleflower.org/devotion/reflectionemail.asp