March 2020 blog

Cancer, what an ugly word!  How blessed am I to have grown up in a family of six.  Mom, Dad and three siblings. Although we were a split household, Mom always made sure we all were together for the holidays.  Looking back, no words can express what an amazing gift she gave us!! While we did not have “alot” as far as material things are considered, we had each other.  Another gift. We learned that “things” in life were just that….”things”. Nothing was taken for granted.

Fast forward June 2004, there it is...that rotten, ugly word CANCER.  My father's biggest fear has become his reality. He was diagnosed with Lung Cancer that had spread to his brain.  How heartbreaking!! He fought that terrible battle for six weeks. My family would never be the same. Looking back at all that he taught us, the best gift was that God and family are most important.  He would make sure we said our prayers every night and “peek a pock a pook a belly” us before bed. He would load us in his car and take us to camp for the summer. He would sit on the beach at camp for endless hours letting us swim never complaining.  Just letting us be kids. When we grew up and had families of our own, he would come to each one of our houses every day just to see us. Many times that was hard for him but he always figured out a way to do it. Thank you so much Dad for passing that strength and ability to adapt and overcome whatever comes our way.  I miss you Dad and my strong faith knows you are happy and that you are free from pain.

Fast forward February 2016, there it is again that rotten, ugly word CANCER.  My moms biggest fear became her reality. She was diagnosed with Lung Cancer that spread to her bones and brain.  Are you kidding me?? One of the strongest people I know has CANCER. Just like her style, what did she do? She prepared us, and herself, I guess.  We talked about everything. Our lives, our individual families, her grandkids whom she loved with every ounce of her being. She made us face things we didn’t want to nor could find the strength to face.  She even took us to the cemetery to help her choose her plot. How hard that must have been for her??? I know how hard it was for us. She chose a place that covered the things that mattered the most to her.  She needed to be in that specific cemetery, she needed to be near her best friend. She needed to be near the Lilac tree knowing she would be able to smell them. I know she gets to smell them every day now. I have since planted three trees at my home and one at our camp, right by the front window.  Again, “things”. I love her for what she was able to do and I thank her and God for her strength. The same strength my siblings and I have. The same strength we have given to our children and now, their children.  

Thank you God for choosing me and giving me the best parents a person could ask for..AMEN.

Fast forward November 2019…