Sunshine

This past weekend, I FINALLY made my way back on my surfboard ...

Me & My Board

Lovin' the Waves

As I have said so many times before ... for me, there is no better place than on our boat, on the water!  I absolutely LOVE soaking up the sun, playing in the water, and making wonderful memories with my precious family ... 

And, each time I look up at the beautiful rays of sunlight ... I give thanks to God for shining down on me, for healing me, and for giving me back my charmed life ...

Here's to the sunshine ... 

Sweating for Survivors

About six years ago, Scott and I returned to Georgia after several years away from home. As with any move, there are LOTS of changes ... even when you are returning to a familiar place.  So, shortly after we settled in, we began looking for a new bank, new doctors, and a new gym ...

In August of 2006, Scott and I joined Bodyplex of Woodstock.  The gym came highly recommended by my cousins, Jenny and Mary.  Since then, Bodyplex has been a constant in my life ... and its people have become like family ...

Throughout my journey, several of the instructors at the gym reached out and offered their prayers ... always asking what else they could do.  Of course, as most of you know, there just isn't much anyone can do.  Well, they found the very best way to show their love and support ...

Gloria and several of the other instructors planned an AMAZING fundraiser for me and my Princess Warrior team ... Sweating for Survivors!  Last Friday evening, Bodyplex hosted a PERFECT evening ... FULL of raffles, t-shirts, cupcakes, face painting, wine, and dancing ...

Me & Gloria

Lauren, Mysti, Gloria, Me, and Melissa

GREAT instructors ... GREAT friends

BodyJam & Sh'Bam FUN!

I had NO rhythm, but LOTS of FUN!

$947 RAISED for Team Princess Warriors!

And this isn't even everyone ...

Honestly, I don't even know where to begin ... I cannot thank Gloria, Lauren, Mysti, Melissa and all of the other Bodyplex instructors enough for organizing such an EXCITING evening ... owners Dan and Matt for their continued support ... and ALL of the WONDERFUL people who came to GIVE to such an important cause!

From the bottom of my heart ... THANK YOU!

Here's to Bodyplex ... and Sweating for Survivors ...

Aunt Flo

Whatever you call it ... Aunt Flo, riding the cotton pony, surfing the crimson tide ... my period has returned!!!!!  As strange as it may seem to be sharing such news ... I am SO, SO excited ...

After chemotherapy, many women experience "chemo induced menopause" ... which I was dreading!  So, although I feel like I'm back in my teen years, I am celebrating ... my body is continuing to heal and this is just the next sign that I have BEAT breast cancer and I WILL have my life back ...

Here's to Aunt Flo ...

Humpty Dumpty

These past few weeks have been filled with appointments ... routine exams with various doctors, a few visits with my plastic surgeon and, FINALLY, my first haircut ...

This morning, I stepped into Salon and Spa Vanessa for the first time since October.  It was time for my very first haircut since Scott and Maddie shaved my head more than two months ago.  It took Brittany, my stylist, a WHOPPING two minutes to cut my hair!  Now, though, it has a little shape and is ready for a future style ...

  Brittany and Me

So ... although I feel a little like Humpty Dumpty ... I feel GREAT!  And, slowly but surely, I am being put back together again ...

Approaching Zero

This morning, Scott and I headed to Emory for the first exam since my surgery.  Although I was a little anxious, it was GREAT to see Dr. O'Regan ...

I had blood drawn and a clinical exam ... all is well!  During our appointment, I had many questions.  And, the most important question of all was asked ...

I said, "You know me, I need percentages.  What is the likelihood that I will experience a recurrence in the future?"  And, Dr. O'Regan responded ... "Approaching zero."

I have no words.  Approaching zero.  I cannot begin to explain the relief I feel.

Thank you God ... thank you ...

Juice, Juice, Juice

Just wanted to share the FUN I have been having with my new juicer!  I absolutely LOVE it!  For a little over a week, I have been enjoying three 8-ounce glasses of juice each day ... and I feel better than ever!  It is truly amazing what a difference it makes!

From beginning to end, it takes about two hours to juice enough for an entire week ...

Before

After

So, I am eating better than ever, drinking my juice each day, exercising as much as possible ... I came out of surgery with absolutely NO sign of cancer ... and I have God working in my life ...

I think I have this cancer thing beat ... FOR GOOD!

Here's to juice, juice, and more juice ...

Old Friends

This afternoon, I had the privilege of having lunch with an old friend ... Jan Ayers.  Many years ago, Jan's daughter, Ally, and I were the best of friends.  We spent almost all of our time together and our families were quite close.  Over the years, we have kept in touch through Christmas cards and, most recently, Facebook.  Throughout my treatment, though, I received some very touching cards from Jan.  She provided words of encouragement, understanding, and hope ...

Jan is a NINE year breast cancer survivor.

After all these years, I finally had the opportunity to see Jan.  We met for lunch at Ruby Tuesday and had a wonderful talk ... mostly about our personal experiences with cancer, although we did catch up on our families, too ...

Me & Jan

I am SO happy to see Jan doing well and am thankful to have her in my life.  She has overcome cancer, moved beyond it, and lives a very happy life ... I plan to do the exact same thing ...

Here's to old friends ... what a blessing they are ...

Proof

He is RISEN!

Today is such a special day ... on this day, almost two-thousand years ago, Jesus conquered the grave and PROVED that He IS the son of God ... and in his resurrection, he brought hope and a promise ...

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  John 3:16

Although I was baptized almost 12 years ago, my relationship with Christ only recently became whole during my fight against breast cancer.  Throughout my journey, I spent many hours talking to God.  Many hours praying for guidance.  Many hours praying for my doctors.  Many hours praying for healing.  God heard every one of my prayers ... and He answered them.  Along the way, He spoke to me in so many ways ... all of which gave me the "proof" I needed ... Jesus is REAL, He LIVES, and my life matters to Him.  There is absolutely NO OTHER explanation for my healing and for the story of my journey.

So, on THIS Easter, I give so much thanks for the hope brought to me through Jesus Christ and the PROOF through His resurrection that He LIVES in each of us ...

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.  Peter 1:3

HHI

This past week, we had the opportunity to spend several days in Hilton Head Island ... and what a wonderful trip it was ...

We spent most of our time with our dear friends ... Tim, Kathleen, Abby, and Delaney ... and had a little family time, too.  We were also able to catch up with a few of my other "teaching buddies" from Indiana ... what a special treat!  It was GREAT to relax and enjoy our first vacation since the end of my treatment ...

Kathleen & Me

Although it was a short getaway, we made the most of every minute ... and had a BLAST! In just three months, Kathleen and her family will be making a trip to Georgia for a week-long visit ... and we are so excited ... 84 days, but who's counting?

Here's to a wonderful trip to HHI ... and more memories made with our amazing friends ...

Locks & Lashes

As of April 2, 2012, it has been exactly two months since my last chemotherapy treatment. At this point, I am feeling GREAT!  All of the lingering side-effects have subsided ... with one exception ... I still have mild neuropathy in my toes.  Honestly, it really doesn't bother me all that much and it seems to be improving every day.  The BEST improvement thus far ... my locks and lashes are GROWING ...

We just returned from a wonderful trip to Hilton Head and I was able to go "wigless" almost the entire time ... it was such a good feeling.  My eyelashes and eyebrows have almost completely filled in and I look a lot healthier than I did just a couple of months ago. It's amazing what a difference a few short weeks can make ...

Each day, I continue to thank God for healing me and for giving me back my charmed life ...

Here's to HAIR ... EVERYWHERE ...