tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15144525656457524052024-03-13T01:09:38.808-07:00Lightning Bug Flicker..."I sat and held the (lightning bug) lantern in my hands, listening to the owls, watching it glow and change, and glow and change.
Like all of us."
~Ivy Rowe, Fair and Tender Ladies (Lee Smith) LightningBughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897417238035965445noreply@blogger.comBlogger111125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514452565645752405.post-18405765343790240092020-05-26T08:28:00.000-07:002020-05-26T09:27:09.265-07:00Fear-Conquering Love
Mother’s Day weekend 2020 was great. My husband helped me
hang family pics on the wall and then he built me a new farmhouse table for the
porch! I loved it so much that I decided to keep it in the dining room. My children
all sat around it on Mother’s Day Sunday and we had dinner together. My heart
and my belly were full!
My husband did the mowing and trimming that afternoon. With
all the LightningBughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897417238035965445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514452565645752405.post-29139936183848068302019-07-10T10:11:00.005-07:002019-07-10T10:14:20.027-07:00706 Potts Creek Road
Dear 706 Potts Creek
Road,
Our time with you is
coming to a close.
It has been heavy on
my heart to take a little time and tell you how grateful I am for you.
The day we listed the
house, I cried. Yes, I’m the one who wanted to move, yet I sobbed when I began
thinking of how good you’ve been to us over the years.
The year was 2003 and
I was 26 years old. We had moved back to LightningBughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897417238035965445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514452565645752405.post-813234098153543702018-10-15T18:45:00.002-07:002018-10-15T18:59:48.176-07:00"I'm All Good"
This evening I was scrolling through Facebook and
I saw a post from a fellow breast cancer survivor. Her post said the following:
“…Luckily the cancer hasn’t returned, but the long-term effects take place for
years. Seems I have now developed a painful case of endometriosis which
research shows can be exacerbated by Tamoxifen-a drug I take to keep the cancer
away. So now my doc has decided to,LightningBughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897417238035965445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514452565645752405.post-2110757404822946792018-09-01T05:06:00.002-07:002018-09-01T05:12:15.794-07:00And then life happened...
Two weeks have now passed since Aimee arrived. Life has been busy and
chaotic and crazy and I am completely behind with my updates so today’s update
will be a cram session so I get myself caught up! Kevin and I both worked a lot
this week and Natalie hasn’t been feeling well so we are trying to deal with
that on top of our normal day to day craziness.
Aimee has logged 10 days in American LightningBughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897417238035965445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514452565645752405.post-58924002885713220412018-09-01T04:25:00.000-07:002018-09-01T05:14:00.005-07:00SSS-School, Sox, and the State Fair
On Friday morning, everyone got up and began
getting ready for school. I went into work for a couple of hours at the church.
I left Aimee at home to rest after a quick tour of the house. I let her know
that I would be back at 11am to get her to pick her up for our
appointment with the guidance counselor. Today she would be registering for school and picking out
classes. Aimee was waiting onLightningBughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897417238035965445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514452565645752405.post-50354944579307428422018-08-29T17:20:00.002-07:002018-08-29T18:17:45.995-07:00At last, we meet! Willkommen in Amerika!We hurried to to airport after having a delicious dinner of wings and fries at B Dubs. I wonder if Aimee has ever hear of B Dubs?
Normally we are super early when going to the airport, but tonight, we don't have a lot of time to spare. We argue over who has to carry the balloons in. They were a great touch, but a bit bulky to drag in. Papi concedes to be the designated balloon carrier. Natalie LightningBughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897417238035965445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514452565645752405.post-83335871587713083202018-08-21T18:16:00.002-07:002018-08-22T13:43:36.030-07:00A Broad's Guide to Study Abroad: The Background Story
On July 23, I received a random text message from an unknown
number.
The message read “You provided a reference for a Youth For Understanding (YFU) host
family a few years ago. Would you be interested in hosting a YFU exchange
student?”
I laughed to myself and thought "Oh heck no!" and didn’t think
too much more about it.
Until I started thinking about it again.
And again.
And then I LightningBughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897417238035965445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514452565645752405.post-8662474703607876192018-07-03T11:29:00.000-07:002018-07-03T12:58:51.382-07:00Dear Crusher Boys...
I'm not 12 and I don't play baseball.
I’m 41 and I’m a mom.
You boys all know what I went through two years ago because
you were right there with me. You may have been confused and scared just like
me.
When I waited to find out whether I had cancer, it was the
worse time of my life. I was so scared. Terrified. Riley was about to be a
senior in high school and Natalie was 13 and LightningBughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897417238035965445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514452565645752405.post-38490740041246400372018-06-15T09:35:00.003-07:002018-06-15T09:45:49.786-07:00Cooperstown 2018
2018 Cooperstown
Dreams Park Tournament
Reflections from a mom who knows next to nothing about baseball...
Today is Thursday morning. Instead of scrambling to get out
the door of our cozy Garrattsville, NY campground cabin to get to the ballpark
for our 8:30 game, I am sitting at the picnic table reflecting on the week.
What a week!
What is it about baseball that is so darn LightningBughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897417238035965445noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514452565645752405.post-69428287469100333472018-02-19T19:19:00.001-08:002018-02-19T19:30:06.133-08:00Plan Crasher
February 19.
Today marked the two year anniversary of the day I got the “Unfortunately
it is cancer” call.
A month ago, I told my husband that we were going to celebrate and make
this day full of happy memories!
We were planning on getting all dressed up and having a
fancy dinner. I had the perfect little black dress and heels picked out.
I didn't bother making a reservation because LightningBughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897417238035965445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514452565645752405.post-42285016958000471792017-11-27T18:44:00.000-08:002017-11-27T18:54:15.379-08:00The Christmas Card FileYesterday I picked up my Christmas cards. All 100 of them. I
love Christmas cards. I used to be so much better with cards than I am now. My
grandma used to send out cards for every holiday and then just weekly “thinking
of you” cards. I guess we are living in different times now because when I’m thinking
of you, I’ll just send you a text and tell you, but I still try to do Christmas
cards becauseLightningBughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897417238035965445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514452565645752405.post-17977925001650147852017-08-10T16:56:00.004-07:002017-08-10T17:01:55.547-07:00There Goes My Life...
Monday, August 7, 2017—the day that I drove away and left my
kid at college.
Let me clarify. I am not a wuss. I do not baby my kids. None
of them. Never have. I have loved each fiercely, but I don’t sugar coat. I’m
not the overprotective type. I love my kids and I love spending time with them
(unless they are being jerks)—summers and weekends and evenings, but I am one
of those moms who doesLightningBughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897417238035965445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514452565645752405.post-16121580262614463342017-03-13T12:54:00.001-07:002017-03-13T14:47:57.166-07:00Go out with a bang...
I have been
dragging butt now for…well…for months if we’re being honest. I keep hoping that
the time change and the promise of longer days and shorter nights and warmer
temps and sunshine will be the medicine I need to get me motivated and moving.
I work part time at the church. I used to come in at 8 or 9 am like a normal
person. Now I can’t get moving that fast! I have a hard time getting hereLightningBughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897417238035965445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514452565645752405.post-1493685493469761162017-02-23T21:26:00.005-08:002017-02-23T22:01:43.822-08:00Once Upon a Time...
I love children's books. I loved being read to
as a child. I loved reading to my own kids and now that my kids are older, I love reading to other
children! I have had the honor of reading to Mrs. Looney's class for many years now during
Read Across America week. Last year it was difficult for me to keep my emotions
in check. The day that I read, I knew I had cancer, but I didn't have my
LightningBughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897417238035965445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514452565645752405.post-48001215580868977112016-12-13T10:18:00.005-08:002016-12-13T10:31:54.244-08:00Stop, Drop, and FluffSo for those of you living under a rock, I’ve had breast cancer this year. I have done chemo, double mastectomy and reconstruction. I am cancer free. I am one month post implant surgery. Things are healing up.
Things were looking good. And then it happened. One boob went south for the winter. One boob is visiting Santa at the North Pole and one boob has gone south for the winter. And then LightningBughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897417238035965445noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514452565645752405.post-27309157994721170072016-11-21T21:01:00.003-08:002016-11-22T05:02:13.254-08:00I'd rather it cost us playing time than family time...
I am so tired tonight, yet I have had something stirring
today and I wanted to get it out!
Let me preface this by telling about my day.
Kevin is gone on his annual hunting trip and I am single-momma’ing it for a few
days. SHOUT OUT TO SINGLE MOMS and if you have a spouse, you need to seek out a
single mom this week and you need to hug her and offer to do something like
take her kids for LightningBughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897417238035965445noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514452565645752405.post-53821430220823339572016-09-07T10:22:00.001-07:002016-09-07T10:28:46.571-07:00Amanda's Pain Scale Principle
Last week I met with my breast surgeon and she gave me the
“official” report that no cancer was detected in my pathology reports. I
already knew this because I emailed the office a week prior and my nurse gave
me the condensed version. All that chemo I had endured, all those days and
nights of prayers and pleading, all the fundraisers and shows of support…all
for this day…this big announcement. LightningBughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897417238035965445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514452565645752405.post-65440280364272662642016-08-31T19:07:00.000-07:002016-08-31T19:08:20.868-07:00Fill ups...boobs and lamps...
Me: Hey God, I’m really sick of crying and being all down in
the dumps and worrying about the stuff that I’m consumed with right now. Could
you help me out?
God: Could you shush your brain and your mouth and listen?
Me: You’re asking a lot here God.
I got in the shower this morning. And for those of you
who read my blog, you know that the shower is where most of my talking to God
happens LightningBughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897417238035965445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514452565645752405.post-67632235983936134212016-08-30T14:55:00.003-07:002016-08-30T14:55:59.072-07:00Fragile: Contents Under Pressure
You know that feeling when you've had a long, hard day and you come in and the first thing you want to do is take off that gosh-forsaken bra? Well that's what it feels like after a mastectomy but you can't take it off. Because it's not a bra, it's your skin. I've had that feeling since Aug. 10. And it sucks. And it makes me very grumpy. Yesterday I was cleaning the dog's water bowl and Colby LightningBughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897417238035965445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514452565645752405.post-49579393951330724722016-08-19T09:34:00.001-07:002016-08-19T09:34:24.582-07:00Jesus & a Bedazzled Hat
It’s been a long time since I dug down to the area where my
recent fountain of tears have originated. It was probably back before my biopsy
results and the days following that. You
have your regular tears and then you have those that are from the deep down
depths of your soul—the ones that don’t get out too often because they just
hurt so much so we keep them buried and then one day, LightningBughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897417238035965445noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514452565645752405.post-44851410165770569252016-08-09T17:52:00.000-07:002016-08-09T17:52:52.064-07:00Twas the night before mastectomy...
Twas the Night before mastectomy and all through the casa,
I was running around and feeling quite awesome.
The bras were hung in the closet with care,
Since that’s one less layer I will have to wear.
The kids were riding the hoverboard down the street,
As I hollered from the porch, “Please stay on your feet!”
Kevin in his athletic shorts and I in my wig,
Were sitting outside LightningBughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897417238035965445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514452565645752405.post-78563521136019318552016-07-28T19:57:00.003-07:002016-07-28T19:57:31.683-07:00Un(W)hol(E)y
Last Sunday I had to go to Lowe’s and there’s this unwritten
rule that when we go to Lowe’s in Lewisburg that we have to go to Sweet Frog
for yummy fro-yo.
I had on my little gray cancer cap. That’s what I call it.
Nobody wears a hat like that unless they have cancer. Sometimes I can hide the
fact that I have cancer if I wear my wig and put on my eyelashes. When I wear
that hat, I may as LightningBughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897417238035965445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514452565645752405.post-26158394357587100652016-07-27T08:28:00.001-07:002016-07-27T09:26:53.445-07:00Batt'n 4 Boobies Words...
On Saturday, July 23, the best friends a girl could have came out to play softball and support my cancer battle. I couldn't let them do all that for me without telling them what they all meant to me, so I said these words to them before the tournament got started:
February 19 is when I got the call. It was a
Friday morning about 10 am. I was standing at my kitchen counter when the call
came. LightningBughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897417238035965445noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514452565645752405.post-52205391004977590912016-07-07T05:31:00.004-07:002016-07-07T06:58:17.068-07:00Hair in curlers kind of life...
It has been a while since I wrote last! That’s a good thing!
That means I am busy living! I am all
finished with chemotherapy. Hallefreakinglujah on that! Now I am in r&r
mode for six weeks awaiting my double mastectomy.
I still have side effects from the chemo. I have had some
neuropathy. Neuropathy is disease or dysfunction of one or more peripheral
nerves, typically causing numbness LightningBughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897417238035965445noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1514452565645752405.post-52543770541188147372016-06-09T19:30:00.000-07:002016-06-09T19:33:05.720-07:00Meet Brownie...
Meet Brownie.
He came into my life about 35 years ago. He has been through
just about everything imaginable with me. Check out his eyebrows and his nose
and his eyes and the wear and tear around his old mouth. He is showing his age.
My Momaw sewed his eyebrows and his nose back on more than once.
I was downstairs in Leggett on Main Street with my mom when I was only
about four years LightningBughttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09897417238035965445noreply@blogger.com2