HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY NEW YEAR'S EVE CELEBRATION TONIGHT!

ANNUAL NEIGHBORHOOD CHRISTMAS GATHERING

Pat and I held our annual neighborhood Christmas gathering last Saturday. We are blessed with having wonderful friends, neighbors, and family. We enjoyed everyone that attended and made our holidays brighter. Oh, the flamingo is our neighborhood symbol it is "party time"!

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!

FIELD TRIP TO FORT WORTH MUSEUM OF SCIENCE AND HISTORY

Today, my 2nd grade granddaughter invited me to her field trip at the Fort Worth Museum of Science and History. This is one of our favorite museums in the metroplex. Here are a few photos from today's fun.

NOVEMBER GRATITUDE

     April 2013 my world came crashing down around me with a six letter word, cancer. Such a simple word, but a word that has a devastating effect on your way of life. Luckily, I am a survivor. I have always found enjoyment in the simple things in life and dearly loved my family and friends. Experiencing cancer has engraved in me a greater appreciation for everything and everyone. I wake up every morning with gratitude in my heart that I am living and can experience joy with family, friends, and by doing the things I love. I hope that I can "pay it forward" for all the blessings I have received in the past, have now, and will have in the future. Never take life for granted, it can drastically change with a simple six letter word.

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Can you make a difference?

You can, if you participate by voting.

Make a difference!

HURRAY - AN EXTRA HOUR OF SLEEP!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN 2014

These are characters are my grandchildren!

RED, WHITE, AND BLUE PATRIOTIC DESIGNS

These colorful patriotic items

 were created 

by 

EtsyKids designers. 

Baby Girl Shoes

by

All Things For Baby

Hair Bow

by

Katie Bug Bows

Appliqued Shirt

by

Tiny Rose Boutique

Nautical Mobile

by

Lullaby Mobiles

Necklace

by

Craving Cuteness

Please check out the other beautiful creations in my Red, White, and Blue treasury.

SUMMER FUN DAY AT THE POOL

Whenever the weather is nice, I take the 3 grandkids to our community pool for their morning swim and play. Here are some photos from this morning.

END OF ANOTHER SCHOOL YEAR

I am so proud of my two youngest granddaughters having a successful and happy year at Cora Spencer Elementary. Way to go girls!

Kirsten with Mr. West

End of 3rd Grade

Ashlyn and Ms. Johnson

End of 1st Grade

Kirsten and Ashlyn 

Enjoying the end of school!

CELEBRATING MY FIRST BREAST CANCER SURVIVAL ANNIVERSARY

On this exact date a year ago I was undergoing a double mastectomy for breast cancer. I thank God for each day that I am still with my family and friends and for His saving grace during my journey. I have a greater appreciation for life, and am so grateful for my family and friends who prayed for and supported me throughout this journey. A heartfelt thank you to everyone!

2014 DIVE-IN MOVIE

Been busy with planning and working our first HOA dive-in movie. We had a pizza party followed by the movie, Frozen. It was fun watching the little ones dance and sing along with the movie. I think everyone enjoyed the food, water, and movie. Great way to start off the pool season!

Welcoming Day Lilies

It is always exciting to wake up 

to see what is blooming

in the flower beds!

May 2014

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

Happy Mother's Day 

to my mom

in heaven.

PEANUT BUTTER AND JELLY ICE CREAM SANDWICHES

Ice Cream Sandwiches

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup peanut butter, creamy or crunchy
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Strawberry Ice-Cream:1 cup whole milk
1 cup whipping cream
2 cups half-and-half
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups diced strawberries

For assembly:6 tablespoons strawberry preserves
Peanut butter chips or chopped peanuts, optional

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a large baking sheet.

In a mixing bowl, combine the peanut butter, 1 cup sugar, the egg, and vanilla, and stir well with a spoon. Roll the dough into balls the size of walnuts. Place the balls on the prepared baking sheet. With a fork, dipped in sugar to prevent sticking, press a crisscross design on each cookie. Bake for 12 minutes, remove from the oven, and sprinkle the cookies with some of the remaining sugar. Cool slightly before removing from pan.

Strawberry Ice-Cream:In a small bowl, whisk together the first 5 ingredients. Puree the strawberries in a food processor and add to cream mixture. Pour the mixture into an ice cream maker. After freezing in the ice cream maker, transfer to a container and place in the freezer, to freeze solid, for 6 hours before serving.

For assembly:Spread the strawberry preserves on a peanut butter cookie. Top with a small scoop of strawberry ice cream and cover with another cookie. Roll sides in peanut butter chips or peanuts, if desired.

CRAFT TIP FOR CLEANING SCISSOR BLADES

Keeping Scissors Clean

Prevent lint and adhesive build up on cutting blades by wiping them after every use. For a thorough cleaning, wash them with soap and water and dry before storing or using. For extra sticky messes, fingernail-polish remover works wonders to remove adhesive.

IRIS BLOOMS FROM THE GARDEN

A few of my iris beauties this year!

FORT WORTH ZOO FIELD TRIP 2014

I was a chaperon for my granddaughter's third grade field trip today to the Ft. Worth Zoo. We had a wonderful time and enjoyed seeing all the animals and mechanical insects and arachnids!

CLOSET ORGANIZATION

I am always on the lookout for organization ideas. Here are a few ideas that I found for clothing closets. 

I like the cubbies, drawers, and double clothing rods shown here.

I like this shoe storage idea.

I AM A SURVIVOR!

I attended my first Baylor Sammons Cancer Center's annual breast cancer survivors luncheon on Friday, October 11, 2013. My daughter, Cathy, and friend/survivor, Amy, attended. The medical update was given by Dr. Mabel Mardones, who did her fellowship with my medical oncologist, Dr. Pippen. The keynote speaker was Michelle Berndt, who is also from Mansfield. Small world! She gave a very heartfelt recap of her journey and "finding your purpose in life". You can view a video clip of Meet Michelle Berndt, a Cancer Survivor Profiled in "Dallas Hope" by Good Morning Texas and her story.

I am cancer free! On a yearly basis, I will continue to see my breast cancer surgeon, medical oncologist, and reconstruction surgeon. Since I had the double mastectomy, I won't need yearly mammograms, but I will do monthly self breast exams and take my prescribed medicine. Michelle is correct, I too thank God for each and every day! 

Here are additional links from The Susan G. Komen website:

Breast Self Exams

Breast Cancer Warning Signs

BREAST RECONSTRUCTION SURGERY

Thursday, September 19th will always be remembered as my "boobie day"! You must have a sense of humor to get through this cancer ordeal!

In this reconstruction phase, Dr. Morales will remove the expanders and insert silicon gel implants. These implants are an improved gelatinous silicon which is better than the old liquid silicon. The out-patient surgery will take about 2 hours. I would have surgery early in the morning and be released by mid-afternoon. My friend and cancer survivor, Amy, said this would be much easier than the mastectomy surgery. I am ready to go and less anxious this time.

Stacy, my neighborhood baker, made her classic cinnamon rolls for me to give to all the surgical staff. Due to surgery, I couldn't taste these delicious goodies!

Overall, the surgical procedure was a "walk in the park" compared to the mastectomy. This time I did not require drains, so the recovery period was much easier. I did have more reaction to the anesthesia. I remember little from the time I left for the OR to waking up at home. Cathy said I was more nauseated this time. Glad I couldn't remember it! I am so thankful and blessed to have Pat and Cathy taking care of everything! My faith has also played a major component in being strong throughout. Every morning and night I thank God for giving me another day.

HAPPY EASTER TO EVERYONE

SPECIAL BIRTHDAY

I saw Dr. Morales on Wednesday, August 31 for a re-check and to schedule the reconstruction surgery for Thursday, September 19. I am ready to have this done and move on with living!

After dealing with breast cancer and all the emotional ups and downs; my birthday this year held extra-special meaning for me. Number 1, I was alive; and Number 2, it seemed like I was beating this cancer! We had relatives in for the weekend and celebrated each day with good food and companionship. My daughter, Cathy, posted a birthday message to me on Facebook which touched my heart. 

"Happy, happy birthday to my mom! 

What a tremendous example you have set on 

how to be a loving mom and a faithful person 

walking through your cancer this year. 

I am thankful you are healthy and MY mom! 

Love you." 

This brought tears to my eyes and made my day. We have always had a very close relationship and this breast cancer journey has deepened our appreciation and love for one another. I could not have gone through this without her.

My husband, Pat, gave me a beautiful James Avery cross necklace that I had wanted for a long time. He has been my strong partner throughout this journey, and as always, my champion.

My three brothers who live in Missouri called and we had good chats. My son, John, and granddaughter, Anneliesa, made baked goodies for me. Unexpectedly, our next door neighbor brought fresh cut flowers and a card. Overall, it was a great birthday. I pray that I will have many more to celebrate!

GENETIC TESTING

On Tuesday, June 25th, I had a genetic counseling session with Laura Panos at Baylor Sammons Cancer Center. She reviewed my family's medical history and designed a genetic "combo" test specifically for me. I have a daughter and three granddaughters. I needed to know if I carried any of the known genes associated with an increased risk to develop cancer. If yes, what was the probability of me passing the gene on to them. Yet another worry.

Genetic testing was done on these genes: BRCA1, BRCA2 (hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome), STK11 (Peutz-Jeghers syndrome), PTEN (Cowden syndrome), TP53 (Li-Fraumeni syndrome), and CDH1 (hereditary diffuse gastric cancer syndrome). Blood was drawn and we should hear the results within 21 days. Another wait and see game!

I found the Oncotype DX genetic testing and this genetic counseling/DNA testing fascinating. I am a retired biology teacher and performed DNA testing in the classroom and as a research assistant.

Laura called on Monday, July 22 to report all genetic tests were negative and showed no mutation for cancer! A big sigh of relief! At this time, no recommendations for removal of my ovaries or uterus. My daughter who is 35 will need to start having mammograms, since she is considered a "first degree" relative.