Monday, October 31, 2011

Happy Halloween!


I hope you have a wonderful day! Enjoy some of your favorite candy, spend time with family and friends, and smile at all the cute kiddies and their costumes!

Happy Halloween!!

Thursday, October 27, 2011

Attitude

I found this little piece when I was in Pinehurst, N.C. visiting relatives. This is from a little magazine called Moore Senior Living and is written by Charles Swindoll. These are words to think about.



Attitude

"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, than education, than money, than circumstances, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance or giftedness, or skill. It will make or break a company...a church...a home. The remarkable thing is that we have a choice every day regarding the attitude that we will embrace that day. We cannot change our past...we cannot change the fact that people will act in a certain way. We cannot change the inevitable. The only think we can do is play on the one string we have, that is our attitude. I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I react to it. And so it is with you...we are in charge of our Attitudes."

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

The 100 Workout



I don't know about you but I hate to exercise, maybe that is not true, I think once I am doing it I love it, it is the whole idea of getting ready, getting to the gym and actually leaving the house that I hate. In any case, I saw this on Pinterest and I think it looks pretty cool and the great thing is that it is something you can do at home! Who doesn't love that?

I think I am going to try this out for a few weeks and see how it works!

Monday, October 3, 2011

Breast Cancer Awareness Month




"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world."
Ann Frank who would have turned 82 on June 12

 Hello ladies! October is National Breast Cancer awareness month, so do your part to help yourself by doing self breast exams and getting mammograms. Cancer is a terrible disease and it literally touches everyone. I am sure that you all know a sister, a mother, an aunt, a grandmother, a friend or even yourself who has had cancer or has lost someone to this terrible disease.

Breast cancer has touched my family in many ways, it took a young cousin, who left behind three boys; her mother, my aunt who was diagnosed three years ago,  luckily has had a better outcome and is now celebrating 3 years cancer free. IT took my grandmothers sister and has caused many a scare in my own sisters who have found lumps more than once over the last few years.

It also came to visit my own home, when I was a teenager, young, naive and maybe a little stupid  my mother was diagnosed at the age of 36 with breast cancer. My memories are a little fuzzy of this time because I do not actually remember my parents telling us my mom had cancer or even knowing what it was. I do remember my grandparents were devastated, especially as my grandfather was fighting a battle of his own, lung cancer, at the same time. I really only remember my  mom coming home a few days after her mastectomy and me absolutely not wanting to talk about it or even ever see her scar.

I remember my mom having to do arm exercises and then eventually having reconstructive surgery.  My mom tried to lighten our load by joking about her "cutlet" insert and once she threw it to me to touch and feel and I absolutely freaked out. I did not want anything to do with that thing. My mother is now a 30 year survivor! I am so proud of her and I am so thankful to God for giving me such a wonderful mother. I thank God on a daily basis for her guidance, care, love and her life. I worry each year when she returns for her annual tests and am anxious until they return the results and give her an all clear.

Although I routinely do self breast exams, I am always, and I mean ALWAYS nervous when I do them because what if I find something? In addition to my monthly self breast exams I have a yearly mammogram. Ladies, go for your first mammogram early in your life, so that your doctor can establish a baseline of what your breasts look like, then every year after he can make comparisons to your new slides.

Do not wait if you think you have a problem! One year I was talking to my mammographer and she told me that women have come in with open wounds on their breasts because they were afraid and in denial. Also ladies, do not let anyone deter you from taking care of yourself. You are legally entitled to a yearly mammogram! There are conflicting medical reports out there in the last few years, but do not take a chance.

Lets all do our part for Breast Cancer, get out there and "think pink", buy pink, eat pink and even drink it, there are many companies participating in this endeavor. Who knows one day we may even find the cure.




Saturday, October 1, 2011

Welcome October!

 
photo via Pine Cones and Acorns
"Crispy air and azure skies,
High above, a white cloud flies,
Bright as newly fallen snow.
Oh the joy to those who know October!

Colors bright on bush and tree.
Over the weedy swamp, we see
A veil of purple and brown and gold.
Thy beauty words have never told. October!

Scolding sparrows on the lawn,
Rabbits frisking home at dawn,
Pheasants midst the sheaves of grain,
All in harmony acclaim, October!

Brown earth freshly turned by plow,
Apples shine on bended bough,
Bins o'erflowed with oats and wheat,
And satisfaction reigns complete. October!

Radiant joy is everywhere.
Spirits in tune to the spicy air,
Thrill in the glory of each day.
Life's worth living when we say, October!"
  Joseph Pullman Porter