#M8kingPinktoberProductive....Catch up with our tips #2-4 in this post :)

If you are just joining us...Welcome!!! I'd love for you to add your email to our "Follow by Email" link if you'd like to stay up to date with us! That's certainly the easiest way! :)

     Now, on to Pinktober! I have had many who want to follow me to keep up with the tips I'll be posting this month for AWARENESS of cancer. And no, these tips do NOT apply just to breast cancer, it just seems to be a good time to share them since the pink vomit has ensued ;) So, here are the tips #2-4 so that you can be all caught up :)

     Tip #2: Make them a cancer care notebook. This notebook continues to be instrumental in keeping my own records of everything organized, and it's a life saver to take to appointments and have a copy of everything right there in hand. "Can't remember when that scan was?? I know, let me check in my handy dandy notebook," said in the best Blues Clues voice I can muster 🤣 In the notebook should be dividers with pockets so that they can easily slide papers without holes into the pockets until they get home. Make sure the tabs include Diagnosis Info, Labwork, Scans, Appointment Notes, Meds, Radiation (if they will be having it), and AFTER Cancer. I'm telling you, you'll be one of their favorite people EVER for thinking of this!! 😊 *And as always, see the Pink, say a Prayer!

     Tip #3: Give them a ride to their next appointment. When you're going through cancer, there are MANY rides back and forth to your many appointments, and sometimes the quiet can be a little much for your brain ;) If you give them a ride, chances are they'll enjoy chatting a little bit about something other than their reality for the day :) *And as always, see the Pink, say a Prayer!

     Tip #4: To go along with tip #3, but for the ones that don't have a schedule conducive to actually taking the patient to an appointment, give them a gas gift card. Many patients have to travel MANY miles, one way, to get to a main cancer center. I mean, think about your own town. Do you have a main cancer campus in your town that can give treatments and appointments, or would you have to drive an hour or more too? It's the little expenses that not everyone thinks about adding up until they've been there, done that :) *And as always, see the Pink, say a Prayer!
#M8kingPinktoberProductive

Pinktober: Why Survivors don't always love the holiday & Tip #1

     Many have asked why many breast cancer survivors do not love Pinktober. "Afterall, it brings awareness to the very disease you beat, why would you not like it??" I certainly cannot speak for all of them, but I will tell you my thoughts/feelings on the subject. First of all, I believe the CONCEPT of Pinktober is great! Awareness is NEVER a bad thing for any topic. Wisdom is always needed, and cultivation of that wisdom is certainly Biblical. However, the concept has become, I believe, just another money maker for organizations that SAY proceeds go to research and cancer patients, but in actuality, it's such a small percentage that those who really need the help, those in the valleys of treatments and turmoil, don't actually get it. For example, when I was a patient in the trenches, I had numerous breast cancer research organizations call me asking for a donation that would go to helping breast cancer patients. I would tell them I was one of those very patients, tell of my gratefulness to them for what they were doing, and then ask where I could go for this "help," and do you know not one of them had an answer for me?? Not one. That was the beginning of many eye openers for my family in the "business" of breast cancer.
   
     Here's the thing, yes, we need to be aware, but we don't just need to be aware that breast cancer EXISTS, we need to be aware of the REAL PEOPLE who are dealing with the disease, and what exactly that entails for them. I assure you, my "awareness" of breast cancer NOW vs. 4 years ago, is significantly different, and I guess after going through the disease, it's sickening to me that anyone would use those sweet patients, and the struggle they are going through, to put more money in their own pockets. So, in a nut shell, that's why I cringe when I walk into stores and see their Pinktober displays asking for donations to help breast cancer patients.

     Now, on that same thought, my own daughter is the first one to point them out, "Look momma, it's pink just for you and your breast cancer!" And you know what, I'm proud she's aware and SEES them. It makes my heart jump to know that my daughter sees her momma's fight as a celebration, but here's where my family tries to guide that awareness and excitement for the color pink....into the PATIENTS who are fighting the dreaded disease, and not just in October even. Cancer doesn't really care what month it is, side note ;)

     I'm a big believer in not just whining about something, but also DOING something about it. So, for all those reasons, for the next month, I'm going to give real life ways that we can be a productive part of the concept of Pinktober, and make its need for existence more purposeful and a blessing to those who actually need it the most!! I'll try to pop an idea up everyday for celebration of Pinktober from a SURVIVOR'S point of view ;)

     Tip #1: If you would like to give monetarily, I can tell you with 100% certainty that a cancer patient could use a personal small monetary donation. If we sit all the scans, meds, medical supplies, and etc. bills to the side, and JUST look at specialty doctor copays for a cancer patient, they spend in those copays ALONE over $100 a week. Y'all, that is JUST in copays to see their doctors who are trying to save their lives. A must pay wouldn't you say? So, if you want to help monetarily, send a cancer patient a small check and tell them it's to cover a doctor's copay. If you don't know anyone, I have a few I could send you an address to, or you can go to the nearest cancer center and pay an amount on a stranger's bill. They won't be able to tell you the person's name, but it will certainly brighten that patient's day anyway when they are struggling to keep up with the expenses. I hope this helps you all understand a different side of Pinktober. It's certainly not the only side, and probably not the right side for some, but life experiences certainly create different viewpoints in one's life, and that is certainly what has happened for our family ;) Above all, ANYTIME you see the color pink, whether it be in October or not, please say a prayer for those who are fighting cancer!! That my friends, will do more for them than anything else in this world 😘 #M8kingPinktoberProductive #Plus1cancerfreeday

Spiritual warfare and the other side of cancer

     Tonight, one of my long time mentors spoke at our Wednesday night service. Rusty Adair has been one of those people that Matt and I have gone to, many a times, to get spiritual advice from. He is one of those that meets you in the middle of the mess, with no ulterior motive, and walks with you through the thick of it all, all the while, building you up into stronger warriors. He is truly a blessing to us and we love him dearly. He moved away some time ago, so we are always thrilled when he is coming back to be a guest speaker for us, and tonight was no different. Little did I know, not only was I excited, but I needed his lesson as well. 

     Rusty spoke on spiritual warfare and how we, as Christians, often forget about the very real war that is going on in our daily lives. And yes, I am one of those that "knows" their is a spiritual war going on because the Bible speaks of it, but, as Rusty said, I too had "forgotten" about it. I forgot about its existence in my daily life. I forgot about the importance of it. And most of all, I forgot about its power.

     Its power, sadly, is the battle I am fighting mentally, everyday. The OTHER side of cancer, you know, the one that takes place when all the treatments are done, all the appointments slow down, all the scans are clear, and all of a sudden, you look back and realize the only thing you recognize anymore is fear. Everyday, I wake up and wonder if this is my last day NED. Everyday, I wonder if this or that pain is the beginning of a cancer recurrence. Everyday, I wonder if I am going to be the wife that gets to rock with Matt on a porch swing when our skin is frail. Everyday, I pray that I am the mother who is given enough time to guide my daughters into their own love for Christ so that I can have assurance I will see them again in Heaven. Everyday, I fight my fearful gut.

     It's no surprise that my "gut" has been pretty spot on since June of last year. Each time we have followed it, God has held to His words in Romans 8:28, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." He has told me, "You're gonna be ok. Trust Me," and I fought and became NED from one of the most aggressive cancers a woman can endure. He has told me, "Annaline will be fine," and that baby came out with a head full of hair. He told me, "You're story is going to be used to bring others to Me," and I have seen His light shine brighter in others than any sun could match. He has turned each mess, into a beautiful blessing. 

     But lately, that same gut that gave me such strength and reassurance through my darkest days, has become my greatest road to fear. And tonight, I believe I was reminded that my gut must be fighting a spiritual war too. At least, I pray that is it. Because if it is still speaking to me, and not fighting a war where God will prevail, then to be as transparent as I can be for you all, what it is saying to me these days, scares me to death. I don't like what its saying anymore. I don't want to cling to it anymore. I don't want to listen and follow it anymore.  

     I needed to be reminded tonight that sometimes, just sometimes, my faults, in this case the fear that I feel of my future, is not necessarily a choice I have to make or forget about it, but a war I have to remember is going on. It's a battle that is taking place, and most definitely affects me by placing fear in the place of my joy, but there is something much bigger taking place that neither you, nor I, can completely comprehend. And although this spiritual war that is surrounding me was not given to me by God, rest assured, it IS going to be WON by Him! 

     I know that many of you still pray for me daily. And I know that each of you have walked with me through this journey, and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. And although the tests have been run, the treatments have been endured, and the cancer has been eliminated, I still very much fight, everyday, and I need you all to pray for me. I need you to pray that I will remember that my gut is in a spiritual war that God will win. I need you to pray that my unbelief of "how could my cancer not return" is weakened. I need you to pray that I will be able to look at my sweet girl, and listen to her bedtime words of "I want to stay in your arms forever," and believe through hope that maybe those words will come true.   

     Please, continue to pray with me on the other side of cancer. I just don't know that I'm strong enough alone. 

Today. ahhh, what a beautiful today.

Today, my friends, is my LAST RADIATION!!

36 treatments are DONE!!!

Ahh, what glory my God is receiving today. 

Thank you Lord for your many blessings, especially for the blessing of TODAY!! 

Juice Plus- A different kinda post ;)

     Hi all! This is not my typical kinda post, but I’ve been praying about it and decided sharing this info is what I needed to do. So, it’s no big surprise I had cancer. I know right?!? Crazy!!! ;) Anywho...although we don’t REALLY know why anyone gets cancer, I do feel pretty certain I know why I got cancer. I HAD terrible health habits. And I mean TERRIBLE!! So, while going through treatments, I knew I had to come out of this adventure with better habits if I wanted the best chance of my cancer not coming back. So, I began a bit of research fun. I tried juicing. More power to you juicing folks….I just simply can’t do it. I’m not even going to tell you all my description of what those drinks tasted like. Yak, just not pretty at all. ;) I then began a whole food drink that a family friend sent me called Zeal. You see, it already had all that good stuff crushed and in the drink powder. And most importantly compared to my juicing adventure, it was delicious!! I mixed it with a little grape juice and down it went!! I began feeling so much better on it as well. I could definitely tell my gut was having life put back into it, and my energy level was elevating which is HUGE for a momma of two littles ;) Although I love my Zeal, and will definitely continue to drink it, I noticed that some days I would miss it, and on those days, I would miss my energy too :( There really is something to be said about eating “super foods.” Either we would be out of grape juice, or we were running out of the house too fast to a doc appointment for me to stop and get it ready. I know, my own excuses, but alas, I would miss my Zeal like crazy on those days. 
     SO, that led me to Juice Plus. I wanted something that would give me the same benefits of Zeal, but would be even easier for me to take, especially when I couldn’t drink my Zeal for whatever reason. Juice Plus is an organic, whole foods CAPSULE!!! Guess what?!? I always have water to take my capsules ;) AND, you wanna know what this momma of two REALLY loved about Juice Plus?? FREE children’s organic, whole food gummies (or capsules)!!! So, not only am I getting Matt’s and my gut healthy, Bella is getting to enjoy whole food health too!! I tell you what. I will do ANYTHING I can to keep my sweet girls from getting childhood cancer. For me, whole food health, in the form of Juice Plus gummies for my baby girls, is an insurance policy!! 
     Now, I am NOT a salesman!! That is one desire I have NEVER had!! But after feeling a difference on Zeal and Juice Plus, I most definitely wanted to share the info with you all!! I feel like if it can save one person from all the struggles my family has had to endure over the last 8 months, it was worth it! I wanna help save ALL my loved ones from cancer and other diseases! If you would do better with a drink, please let me know and I will hook you up with a great guy that sells the Zeal. If you would like to try the organic, whole foods capsules or gummies, please let me know and I’ll get some to you. I am now a “distributor” for Juice Plus ONLY because all my family has begun taking them and we wanted to all be in this together :) When it comes to the Juice Plus, I am including my website so that you can go and research all the health benefits of the product by yourself. There are thousands of medical journals Juice Plus has been included in, and you can read all the articles. It is really fascinating how important gut health really is! Any who, like I said, I am not a salesman, but I do very much want my friends and family to find something they can use to help themselves become healthy so that we can fight stupid cancer in a different way!! Love you all :)       

http://kgriffies.juiceplus.com/content/JuicePlus/en.html

Ahh, the Irony.

"Isn't it ironic? Don't ya think? A little tooooooo ironic, and yeah I really do think?"

Go on....belt it out!!! You know you want to ;) 

The door to my radiation room. Find the irony yet?!?

It's going to help you they say...

It's going to save your life they say.....

Irony. 

...and then God sends perspective.

It's no surprise I have been down for the past week or so about radiation, and the effects it is having on my life both physically and emotionally. Well, last week I was walking into the radiation center, probably with a grouchy "this is a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day" kinda face, and I noticed an older gentleman walking towards the door as well. The following conversation was exchanged,  and most definitely placed for a purpose. That purpose might you ask? A gentle perspective lesson from my Heavenly Father. After all, He always knows what we need and when we need it, right? :)

Mr: "Another day? It gets tiring, huh?"
Me (realizing I need to try to be a Positive Patsy instead of my current Negative Nancy self <insert
          smile> )
      "Yes sir. This is my 20th, but it'll be ok!"
          (thinking to myself...You're being a pretty good little actress today <Pat on the back> Oooouch,
          too hard. Remember, this crap has given you a terrible burn!! Oh I hate radiation. Don't let this
          poor man know your real thoughts!)
Mr: "This is my third." 
Me (thinking to myself...Aww, poor newbie. He has no idea what he's in for. Just try to be positive to
          the poor fella. Bless him.)
      "Oh, ok. Well you hang in there, it's not that bad." 
Mr: "Oh, I don't mean my third treatment. This is my 3rd case of cancer. This is my 100th radiation 
      treatment." 

Perspective given.
Perspective received.

#Godiswritingmystory