It has been the most wonderful weekend!  I am in the recovery period between chemos and have been feeling great.  (As great as can be expected during chemo, anyway.  Hey, I'm not complaining.  I'll take it like this any day...).

 

On Friday evening, Gary brought us out to dinner.  I think all of us had breakfast, with the exception of Gary.  It was so nice to go out with everyone and enjoy my husband and children.  I brought my laptop and we made Christmas lists for the kids.  Drew is still at that magical age where Santa is THE MAN.  He actually made a handwritten letter to be mailed out to Mr. C.  That is how he addressed it.  I think that is just too cute!

 

We went out to look for our Christmas tree afterwards. It didn't take us very long to make up our minds! The second tree we looked at was the most beautiful, perfect pine tree anyone of us had ever seen.  Needless to say, we chose that one and brought it home. I don't know if I will ever get use to christmas tree hunting down here in South Florida.  What a great thing to walk around in 85 degree weather for Christmas.  Why couldn't we make up our minds that fast when we lived in Minnesota?  We use to take the children (Megan before Drew was born) and cut our own trees.  Even though it was extremely cold, it was a memorable time to trudge through the snow from tree to tree.  Aterwards, we use to take the sleigh ride pulled by horses and stop in for hot cocoa and coffee to warm up later.  You can't really do that here.  I don't think that anyone would cut Palm trees and try to use them for christmas trees!?!!  And forget the hot cocoa and coffees.  Unless it was iced tea and iced lattes I don't think the "hot drinks" would cut it down here.

 

Anyway, we had a wonderful evening as a family.  It isn't often that I can accompany Gary and the kids any place these days.  It's enough just to get out of bed most mornings! 

 

Saturday was equally nice.  The children were excited about decorating the tree.  Drew and Megan had worked on making hand made Christmas ornaments this year again.  They turned out just precious.  I gave them old Holiday cards of the baby Jesus.  Drew cut them into circle shapes and glued the saying from the card on the back of the ornaments.  Both children worked on putting silver and gold glitter around them.  Last year they made cookie cutter ornaments.   We found the recipe on the internet and they mixed the ingredients, baked them in the oven and then worked on painting each ornament.  What a blast!  I have lots of cute things going into my "memory trunk".  In fact, I have to start another one pretty soon.  The one I have is getting too full.  It's not a little trunk, either.  When I was diagnosed with ovarian cancer I purchased a huge trunk so that I could fill it with Gary, Megan and Drew's things I wanted to give each one for special memories. Items that they made, or things I saved since they were born.  I wrote letters and put them in the memory trunk.  I want them to open it when I pass away.  I want each one of them to find all the special things they made me, special clothes like Baptism outfits, etc.  I want them to feel special and still have something from me after I am gone and can no longer tell them, touch them, hold and kiss them...  I want each one of them to know how special they are and how much I loved them while I was here on this earth. 

 

Well, enough of that!   While all this was going on I made a great turkey feast with all the trimmings and pumpkin pie to boot!  Gary put on the Christmas music and lit a candle for the holiday mood and ambience.  Each one of us took a turn putting on the decorations.  I had bought cookies and non-alcohol champagne to celebrate the occasion.  Drew got a kick out of toasting.  It really is a hoot raising children!  They do the most wonderful and spontaneous things.  I really love being a mom.  I think that my children are just the most precious beings in the world.  I simply adore my husband also.  I don't know if I could have survived this long without their love and support.  I am very blessed.

 

Sunday morning brought us to Delray Beach to do a little beach combing.  Gary just purchased a metal detector from ebay.  I sat in my beach chair and watched while each one found their own special little treasures.  They have big plans for all the buried treasure and sunken ships that are rumored to be still hidden along Florida's Treasure Coast and the Florida Keys.  I took a walk with my daughter and we held hands and walked along the surf.  I sat down in the sand and built sand castles with my son.  We also played catch with a little baseball he had taken along.  Later, Gary and I snuck away while Drew was sleeping and finished our Christmas shopping.  Megan and "the girls" stayed home to babysit.  We have two dogs - Sarah and Tracy.  Sarah is a pug and mini dachsund mix while our Tracy is an english cocker spaniel.   

 

I am looking forward to feeling well for Christmas this year.  The past two holidays I was recovering from surgery and chemo. This year will be special.  I am excited and anticipating watching everyone open their gifts while being able to join them.  The first Christmas after being diagnosed I was recovering from my "second look" surgery and chemotherapy.  I do remember spending the day on the beach in Delray.  What a wonderful blessing to be in the recovery phase and to be in between chemos.

 

I received sad news friday when I went to the hospital.  My friend Sandra passed away. She was such a beautiful human being with the strongest spirit.  We met at the hospital.  Our diseases were diagnosed around the same time.  Our surgeries along with disease progression it seemed were very similar.  I know that twice we had our surgeries on the same day. I was told that she passed shortly after her bowel re-section.  That was one of the surgeries that we had on the same day.  We have the same Gynecological Oncologist.  First Trish and now Sandra.  I wonder when my turn will be?  Maybe I shouldn't say or think like that but I can't help the way I feel.  I think my heart will break before this disease kills me.  It is such a terrible disease, this cancer.  My prayers and my thoughts are with Sandra's family.  I'm so sorry...  I loved you Sandra.  Thank you for your presence in my life while you were here.  Thank you for your strength, your support and your beautiful, beautiful soul.  I know you did not want people to remember you in your sickness.  You want people to keep the memories of the happy, vibrant and beautiful Sandra. You are beautiful and that is how I remember you. You always made me feel special and strong even in my sickness and my weakness.  Your spirit touched my spirit, your heart is in my heart...  That is where I will always carry you - right here, in my heart.  Thank you for everything, Sandra.