Blog-cation Over - Thinking of a Disney Cruise

You have all noticed that I took a blog-cation.  There was no medical reason for this - thank you for all you worry and care- I am doing well and just having summer.

We have faced a couple big challenges lately:

1. The new regime (read here for details) is pretty wicked sometimes and totally mild other times. I have been through the terrible rash I blogged about a while back.  Shortly after that there was a couple days with mouth sores so bad!  Oh those things are the worst.  But, I have been doing well lately other than some issues that are neither visible nor meant for public discussion.  But, in spite of the drama the tumor markers fell last month- and in a week or so we will know what the net result of this month will be, but I feel bravely optimistic.
2. Lost of heartache over being the child of divorced parents at our house lately.  We are working through that, but it just adds to the weight I must carry.  Thankfully I do not carry it alone.
3. The EX has left a huge unpaid debt with my name attached so I will have to take care of it before the creditor takes action against me.  But, it will be another notch in my belt of overcoming unbelievable odds when it is over.  And, the kids will be teaching swimming lessons with me to help get a bit more money together.  It is great to be able to teach them the value of work and money.

I am thinking about planning a cruise sometime in the future.  It may be a while before I am ready to go financially and also so the kids are older, but I wonder about others experience of cruising with kids.  I think a Disney Cruise would be a great kid-friendly choice.  And, they leave from Galveston, TX - not far from home.

What do you think? Have you cruised with kids?  Maybe Disney would take us as guests if I blog for them about the trip.

Finally, the most recent edition of O Magazine is loaded with quizzes, they are fun and silly.  One is based on mapping out a typical day and then an ideal day which includes some of the activities you would like to do but don't.  I guess it had an impact on me because I dreamed about it that night.  So, I am thinking of ways to really include some of my ideals in the busy schedule of life by cutting out of those things that aren't valuable.  


Now that I am back I hope you are all well.  Love to my dear friends, Kel

Remembering the Past

Over the last few weeks I have been very mindful of my Grandma (Mom's Mom) to the point that one night last week I woke with the thought of telling her not to leave, as in die.  She has been gone for almost 9 years.
Maybe it is her strong character I wish I had as I face a new year.  Maybe it is the witty jokes.  Or it could likely be her children and grandchildren, my Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins, who have rallied  with unwavering support through my current cancer phase as well as they last.
I have been having conversations with her in my head, lest you panic- they are all one sided- one sentence conversations that end as I remember I am not getting an answer.
Grandma is an amazing lady.  She had a strong commitment to religion and family.  She worked so hard, even in the face of heartbreak.  She was resolute.  And, I feel so weak.
I was sick this week with strep.  Strep really isn't that big a deal, I mean it never has been to me, but this week I was sicker than I have been in years.  Also a few weeks ago I was sick a couple of days.  My blood pressure seemed to be controlled by some erratic electric current.  It righted itself, but for a couple of days....
I have just been thinking about how blessed I have been with this phase of cancer. (I am calling it a phase because I can't think of a better term right now.  There was round 1 of diagnosis and treatment, now I am in round 2 of re-diagnisis and treatment.) I have been very strong.  I zip over to treatment at lunch and the only reason I am not back to the office within an hour is that I eat a decent lunch from a surface other than my desk on these days of saving my life.  I don't have to get too sick, and I think that I am learning how to manage the effects so I don't really have to be sick or worn down much at all.  And, the tests are promising.
But, in spite of all that is going so easily, I wish I was stronger.  I wish I felt more energetic.  I wish I was more like the me I was before I turned 30 and entered phase one.
Oh well, I got what I got.
And, I am so blessed by the people who are in my corner.
Of course my parents, who give all that any parent ever could for their children. At our church we have amazing friends, who it seems we have known forever, who watch out and care for us.  The kids know they are loved, and feel confident calling on them for help if ever Mom or the Grandparents can't offer what is needed.
And, as I mentioned, family- from across the country, who have reached out with prayers, cards, and love since this began over 2 months ago.  They have gone out of their way! Friends around the world have done the same.  What a sweet moment to get something in the mail from one of these cheerleaders.  I see the return address and that is the real gift!  It is magic knowing the thought about us and then did something about it.
Just a few weeks ago in the car I was talking with the kids about money and being rich.  In discussing that love, happiness and friends are true riches which money can not buy we had settled the subject.  But the little one, very proud of the money earned by helping Grandma with a task, announced "but I can [buy happiness] because I have $3!"
Luck for me, I have $3 too.  So I can buy lasting wealth.
I hope you have the wealth of friends and family, love and happiness.  I hope you're the wealth of many others. I hope this New Year provides you many opportunities to count that $3 and multiply it over and over.