Can You Hear Me Screaming?

I'm sure they can almost hear me screaming all the way to Atlanta. I'm just so excited since Eric and Angela and the three grandchildren are coming tomorrow! I simply can't wait!!!!

A Walk with a View!!!!

Oh My Goodness! We walked on the beach this morning instead of our usual walk on the sidewalk. What a beautiful day and the water was incredible!!!

The Faithful Helper

For years I've heard of a tradition of burying a statue of Saint Joseph, The Faithful Helper, in your yard to sell your home quickly. I heard people talking about this when we lived in Nashville and Atlanta. Everyone told amazing stories of how Saint Joseph helped sell their home. I was told you're supposed to bury the plastic statue in your front yard upside down facing the house. I've never tried it. I wasn't even sure where to get one.

A few days ago, my friend Barbara, brought one over to the new house we've decided to sell since our current home hasn't sold yet. She buried it in the yard for luck. She then called her Mom and asked her pick up another one and mail it to her. Her Mom did and yesterday, Barbara brought the new one to our condo to hopefully bring luck in selling it. The instructions tell you if you live in a condo to place it on a shelf. I've done it and now I'm waiting for good things to happen.

THE CAT'S AWAY

The "Girls" - Jo, Jeanette, Barbara, Diane, and Me

Yep, we were acting like models...silly girls!

"While the cat's away, the mice will play"! George is on another Zelosport business trip, so the "girls" came over for drinks, dinner and games. Lots and lots of fun.

The Little Things

Thanks Kim and Mike!

The saying "the little things in life are what makes life worth living" is so true. When I water my plants on the balcony every day, a geranium Kim and Mike sent to me after my surgery just makes me happy. The color is my favorite. And this wonderful plant just keeps on blooming. It stays full of blooms. I get to enjoy it from the outside when I'm on the balcony and from the inside since it's right outside my sliding glass door. It's a "little thing" but oh how it makes me happy.

My friends are the best!

We played tennis and then walked for an hour. Afterwards, we all walked (yep, more walking) over to the Village for lunch and I mentioned that we needed to move some furniture from the storage unit back to the new house since we've started having open houses there. George tried to get a mover but they were booked until next week. My friends (all girls) volunteered to help and provided their family pickup trucks too. So off we go following George in his SUV. No one would let me lift a finger because of my recent surgery. George with Jeanette, Diane, and Barbara loaded up mattresses and box springs, mirrors, bed slats, chest and night stand and off we went looking like the Beverly Hillbillies. Then, they helped unload. My friends are the best!

LORD I LIFT YOUR NAME ON HIGH

I truly love Sundays! Today we sang loudly:

Lord I lift your name on high
Lord I love to sing your praises
I'm so glad you're in my life
I'm so glad you came to save us

You came from heaven to earth
To show the way
From the earth to the cross, My debt to pay
From the cross to the grave, from the grave to the sky
Lord I lift your name on high

A DAY WITH "OM"

I had a wonderful day on the beach with "Other Mother". Just look how pretty the water was! Awesome!

George joined us all in playing Farkel tonight. I've laughed so much this week! They say laughter is the best medicine and I agree.

A NURSE IN THE FAMILY

HIP HIP HURRAH! Oh my gosh....I'm too exicted to sleep! Bree just called. She passed the Boards! We have a nurse in the family!!!! She's so excited...and she should be...she's worked so very hard. We're extremely proud of her. I feel like dancing! Praise be to God from whom ALL blessings flow!

More Fun

We piddled the day away...playing Mexican Train and Rummikub.

Tonight George and I went to dinner with Susie and Jim who were in town. We took them to our new favorite Italian restaurant, Trade Winds. We had the "family style".....so good. They loved it!

What's Not to Like??

Here we are "chillin out" on the patio watching the sunset while George grilled burgers.


What's not to like about today:

I spent all day with my Mom, "Other Mother" and Sherry playing games, eating and laughing.

I got a good haircut.

George came home from his trip safe and sound.

We all watched a wonderful sunset while our burgers cooked on the grill.

Life is good!

More Farkeling

No tennis today, but I walked with Dale. Not as hot this morning as it has been.

Pauline (from our very favorite bagel shop) came over this afternoon for games and dinner. We taught her Farkel. She loved it! And she won 2 out of the 3 games we played!

Bree took her Boards for Nursing. We're waiting on the results. Hopefully, she'll find out in the next day or two. She's nervous and I know it's hard not to worry until you get the results. No matter what...she makes us proud.

Praying for Bree

Bree takes her Boards for Nursing tomorrow. She's worked so very hard. It's unbelievable to think that she's graduated from High School, College and now Nursing School. Seems to have gone by so fast! She's amazing! She makes us so proud. I'm praying for her tonight. I have every confidence in her.

A BUSY DAY

"Other Mother" and me "cheek to cheek"
Mom and Sherry "cheek to cheek"
Sunset on the harbor


Right before sunset on the beach

A busy day:

8:15 Two week appointment at Dr. "B"s office so Mattison could check my skin now that radiation is over...all is well!
9:00 Tennis...so hot today
11:30 Lunch with my Tuesday Lunch Bunch...Thai food.....y-u-m-m-y!
4:15 Three Month checkup with Dr. "M"...nothing to worry about!
5:00 Played Farkel before, during and after happy hour
7:15 We all walked down to the beach for photos and to watch the sunset...wonderful...perfect temperature and the sunset was awesome. I told the girls I liked "cheek to cheek" photos and they promptly picked the wrong cheeks! Crazy girls!
7:45 Dinner: Shrimp with lemon/garlic butter, coleslaw, baked potato and garlic bread...oh my!
Afterwards, we played Phase 10 until bedtime.

A good day!

Today

No tennis this morning so Barbara and Jeanette drove here and we did our walk on the beach. Very nice! Afterwards, we met Mom, Sherry and "Other Mother" at the bagel shop for breakfast. Later "Other Mother" and I spent a few hours on the beach. We played Mexican train most of the afternoon, but switched back to playing Farkel for the last hour or so. We're having alot of fun with this new game.

Playing Farkel

Lots and lots of Pocket Farkel - so much fun!
Yum - Fried shrimp baskets!


Mom, Sherry and Bet (aka "Other Mother") arrived this afternoon for the week. George left not too long after they arrived for his road trip to visit friends and family and to meet with possible investors for Zelosport.

The four of us girls played Pocket Farkel for a few hours and then went to Dewey Destin Seafood. We came home and played more Farkel and then went to Krispy Kreme. We came home and played even more games. Every time we're together, we play lots of games, eat, and laugh and laugh. I'm tired now but very happy.

There's A Reason

Bill Evett plays the electric guitar and sings beautifully almost every Sunday in church along with David and the others. Together they make our worship services really special. Bill writes alot of his own words and music. He was so touched by a speaker we had a few weeks ago who has a child with cancer that he wrote a new song. He performed it this morning. Oh my!

There's a Reason

When trials and tribulations come your way
Even daily tasks can lead your hope astray
Your burden's heavy now, you've lost your will
Turn to the One who's always able still

Chorus:
To show you that there really is a reason
For the troubled times we sometime have to bear
In God's master plan there always is a reason
Put your faith in Him and trust Him to be there

There are many times in life we're seeking comfort
We strive to come to grips with grief and pain
Look to the Lord, in Him you'll find your comfort
He's always there to help you sustain

Bridge:
Just pray--let go--reach out--God shows
The way--He chose--don't doubt--just know


I know it comforts me that I can always trust in our God to take care of me no matter what comes my way. Praise be to God!

IS IT TRUE?

Questions: Why do people say they "worked their butt off"? And...is it true? Well, if so my butt should be ALOT smaller tonight.

Tennis was really, really good this morning. After two hours, we only finished one set! Final score 11-9! My partner and I won, but it was close all the way to the end. A great match. And very, very, very HOT!

Afterwards, I headed over to the new house. Since NOTHING seems to be sellings anywhere except Sandestin and since the new house has just sat for almost 6 months waiting on our condo here on the beach to sell, we've decided to list the new house and see what happens. We're doing an Open House this weekend so George and I (along with Jeanette and Barbara) worked our butts off getting it ready in one day. Lots of cleaning inside and out and arranging furniture. I got there right after tennis around 10am and literally didn't get home until after 9pm. I'm so incredibly tired tonight. I took a long hot bath and as I sat there I thought "I worked my butt off" which got me to thinking....hope it's true. Hehe! I'm taking my hopefully smaller butt to bed....finally!

OH MY MY!

Me with George, Barbara and Dick, and Jeanette and Garrett
Barbara, Me and Jeanette with Tom, owner of Trade Winds and a wonderful dessert wine


Tonight Barbara and Dick took us and Jeanette and Garrett to the most fabulous Italian restaurant EVER! One of our favorites is LaMela on Mulberry Street in Little Italy in New York, but this comes very close to topping it. Oh My My! It's across the toll bridge so it takes about 30-40 minutes to get there...but soooooooo worth it! It's called Trade Winds. Looks can be deceiving cause this place doesn't look like ANYTHING from the outside...and it's not fancy on the inside. We ordered "family style" (just like we do at La Mela) which meant they just kept "bringing it on". Oh My! Delicious! Every single dish and let me tell you there were many! Trade Winds is celebrating it's 10th anniversary this month so they even gave us all a free glass of wine. The wine, the food and the dessert was INCREDIBLE and being with good friends make it a perfect evening!

A Life of being on vacation

My friends and I talk about this alot....we live each day as if we're on vacation...we do things most people do on their vacation...we play tennis or golf, we walk, we do lunch, we have cocktails and watch the sunset, go out to dinner, spend the day on the beach, go boating, etc. Of course, we do normal things too like cook, clean, shop, water plants, do laundry, pay bills, buy groceries, etc., but most of the time, we're blessed to be doing really fun and great things. I know for sure NONE of us take it for granted...we know how very, very blessed we are. We express our gratitude alot. Everyone (or their spouse) has worked really hard for a really long time in order for us to be at this point in our lives. We've raised our children and now we're able to spend quality time with our spouses and our friends. It's wonderful...it really is, but we never want to forget how very lucky we are. When I say my prayers at night (and sometimes during the day) I ALWAYS thank our awesome God for the gift of my life.

"GYM IN A BOX"

Here's my purchase today...I call it my "Gym in a Box", but maybe it's really "Hope in a Box"...hehe! I've started back walking everyday (right after tennis and even on the days I don't have tennis). Jeanette and Barbara walk with me every day too and Jo walks when she can. Today we even carried hand weights to help us keep our arms up and moving. No problem, except my hands kept getting sweaty. Later after lunch I rode my bike with George. Wow...tennis then walking and later bike riding. I'm nuts! Guess I'm just so happy to be feeling my energy back. I've decided not to re-join Curves right now. I loved it, but my membership ran out and now my crazy schedule really doesn't allow me much time to add the gym to it. At Curves between each machine there were steps to move on and I loved to jump up and off with the beat of the music. So today I stopped by Target and bought me some steps. I think it'll be fun to do this in front of the TV or put on my iPod and jam. That's the plan.

Here I Am To Worship

Here's a photo of the widows above the altar in front of our church...so beautiful! I sit in the pew each Sunday and look high above and through these windows, especially when we sing. It's so peaceful...I feel I can almost see God and I know he sees and loves me. How awesome is that!

Today we sang "Here I Am To Worship"...wow!

Chorus:

Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You're my God
You're altogether lovely altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

The Celebration Continues

After tennis, shopping for groceries, running to the library, etc., I came home and took a three hour nap. Unbelievable! Only meant to sleep for an hour or so. Guess I needed it!

We continued the celebration of "no more radiation". Tonight we had a shrimp boil on our balcony with Jeanette and Garrett and Barbara and Dick. So much fun! It was a beautiful night...the food was awesome (shrimp, boiled new potatoes, corn on the cob, salad)...lots of music. We all sat around and talked about how we all ended up living here in "paradise" and just how lucky we are. Garrett kept us laughing with his jokes. Great friends...another wonderful day. The guys had to leave earlier than the girls wanted to, so they went home in one car and the girls stayed. George decided to go ahead to bed since he's going to Columbus for a meeting in the morning. The three of us girls took a long walk down the beach. The end of another perfect day. Life is good!

LAST DAY OF RADIATION

I graduated!!!!
Me with Dr. "B" and her incredible girls (Dr. "B" is in the navy dress, Cyndi is in the lab coat...she does my treatments, and Mattison, in the back is Dr. "B"s nurse and receptionist)



Oh Happy Day! Today was my last day of radiation!! I made my appointment at 8:00 so I could do my walking afterwards...I wasn't really dressed for photos, but what the heck!

Yeah...no more radiation!! Now it's time to party!!

PARTY TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

My friend Jeanette was our "bartender"...she makes incredible peach or lemon martinis!
Lots of drinks
Lots of food!

THE FUN CONTINUES

Me with Cyndi...she's the one that did my treatment every day...sooo sweet! Martini Time! We all had a ball...right in the waiting area of the office.
Me with Mattison...she was my nurse and the office receptionist....very nice, but oh so funny!

Me with Angie...she does the computer/office work and helped me with my insurance issues.

We had a ball! Lots of music, food, and peach martinis all right in the reception area...of course, the office was closed and the door was locked.

More Photos

Me with Dale
Me with Barbara
Me with Anne Me with Marie - another survivor!
Jeanette and I felt like dancing!


Good Friends!

Me and Matthew

I had to give Matthew a kiss!

The girls in the office know I love Matthew McConaughey so they hung some posters for me!

Fun with friends

Dick (in his "Hey Mon" crazy wig) and George making us frozen mudslides!
All wrapped up and trying to get warm...those drinks were COLD!
Jeanette, Me and Barbara....just "chillin"
Yum! Frozen Mudslides!


I was soooooooooo sore when I woke up this morning...it's just been too long since I've walked AND played tennis in one day. I'm glad to be back at it though.

Another really good day. We went boating with our friends Dick and Barbara and Jeanette (Garrett was out of town). What fun! Saw lots of dolphins too.

I spent the entire evening preparing food, etc. for my "Thankful It's Over" party tomorrow afternoon. MY LAST RADIATION TREATMENT IS IN THE MORNING!!!!

A GOOD DAY

Jo, Me, Jeanette, and Barbara
Cards from Sydney Anne and Kaley Grace

A GOOD DAY FOR LOTS OF REASONS, BUT HERE'S A FEW:

I got the sweetest cards/notes with drawings from Sydney Anne and Kaley Grace. Oh my, even the envelope was cute. As soon as I opened the mailbox and saw them, my heart just soared. So cute! I miss them :-(

Today was my 28th radiation treatment....only two more! I'm planning a "Thankful It's Over Party" on Thursday afternoon at Dr. "B"s office for the girls in the office and some of my friends are coming too. We're locking the door at the end of the day after all the patients are gone and we're having a party!!!

My energy level has returned!!! Today I started walking again with 3 of my friends and also played tennis.

Tonight we (the same three friends and I) went to the movies to see The Breakup and then went for salad, pizza and wine. Lots of laughing. Wish Carol was back in town. Sure miss her.

Thankful every day!

Melinda with one of her "kids"



Sunday...my favorite day! I was sitting in church this morning waiting for the service to begin and was thinking how incredibly thankful I am...for so much. I'm always saying "I'm a lucky girl". One of my friends (?) even said she gets tired of me saying it all the time, but I do because I AM. Anyway, one of our songs today was GIVE THANKS...another favorite of mine.

Give thanks to the Lord for the works of His hand
For a kingdom that cannot be shaken
Give thanks to the Lord for we all now can stand
And fear not of being forsaken

Give thanks to the Lord for His righteousness
Give thanks to the Lord for His love
Let us worship His name and His holiness
Oh give thanks to the Lord
Oh give thanks to the Lord
Give thanks

Give thanks to the Father for sending His Son
Give thanks to the Son for the Spirit
Now lift up our voices to God three in one
And shout so the world can hear it

Give thanks

Today we had a guest speaker, Melinda Mayton, from The Lighthouse (a seaside retreat for children living with cancer and their families). www.lighthousefamilyretreat.org
A family from Texas that saw about this program on Dr. Dobson Focus on the Family was here for their retreat and came to share their story with us. Their son has a cancer of the brain stem. The Mom spoke to us too. Being a cancer survivor myself and knowing the fears...and "God incidents" that happen...makes me want to help. I'm not sure in what way, but I'm planning to find out. I pray God will lead me in the direction where I'm meant to be.

The "Boost" Begins

Yippee! I've finished the 25 radiation treatments for the whole breast yesterday and today I got the first "boost" out of five for the incision site. I'll have four more next week, Monday - Thursday, and then I'm "good to go". Here's a photo I took today of the plate that was made for my personal treatment. Dr. "B" drew this shape around my incision, it was then drawn on a piece of glass and then they made the metal mold to use. The opening is about 5" across at the widest place. Today they just lined up the machine holding the mold to the marks on my skin. It came a lot closer to my skin than the other treatments did. Really fast treatment, probably only 30-40 seconds. In and out of there quickly. I've found this whole process so interesting. We're so lucky to live in the times we do. So much progress has been made.

Please not again

Today's the first day of hurricane season...ugh! Hurricanes: please, please, please don't come here...ever again! We've had our share, thank you!