Catch Up

 

I've been distracted by, well, life, and hadn't checked the email that is associated with this blog in weeks. So I missed the message from Google advising me that I was going to lose my domain name (pixnprose.com) if I didn't update my credit card info. 

They don't make idle threats. Apparently. 

I lost my domain name. Which meant I lost everything. 

AND I DIDN'T EVEN KNOW. Until Heather asked, "Hey, where'd your blog go?"

I got in touch with Google and discovered they had me on a timer ... three more days and I would have lost everything FOREVER. But for a fee ($152 plus $17) they would get it all back in place. 

Is this blog worth $169 to me? The pics? The words? The memories? The prayers? The special moments from my past? The letters to my future great grandchildren? 

Yes. 

Well, obviously yes. You're reading this now, which means I spent the money. 

Worth every penny when I heard Drew say, "15 years of my life is recorded in that blog. You have to keep it!"

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How's your 2021 going so far? 

If 2019 was my cancer year,

And 2020 was our Covid year,

Then (for me) 2021 is a 'Change' year:

• The house I'm living in is for sale. By the end of the year I will have a new address and no roommates. Going to miss Max and my mom. 
• The vehicle I've been driving for the past 9 years died. I just bought a new ride. 
• The President of the organization I work for, resigned. By the end of the year, we will be working with a new President. 
• The pastor of the church I've been attending for the past 12 years has resigned. By the end of this year, the church will have a new leader. 

None of those changes are drastic, but they do add up, especially when they happen during a year when Covid is still alive and well in the world. Things just feel a bit shifty and unstable in my little world.

(Just listened to Jeff preach at his new church in Chicago. They are in for a ride with him at the wheel.)

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I've been intentional about walking this month. Hoping to hit 200,000 steps (which for me is a huge stretch) and raise $2000 for breast cancer research. I had planned to walk in my neighbourhood, but bear and cougar sitings (bears on my mom's driveway!) as well as rain, (grrrrrr) have led to me walking in circles inside whichever house I'm sleeping in that night. 

I have less than a week to go; and I'm at 142,000 steps and $1720. Can I complain about how sore my legs are? Which should indicate to you just how very out-of-shape I am. I blame my sit-at-a-computer-all-day job. Once this month is over, I will endeavor to walk/move more. I have to. This level of out-of-shapeness is silly. 

My original goal was $500. 

I am humbled and overwhelmed by the support of the people in my life. 

Was not expecting such an outpouring of encouragement; especially since I seem to constantly be raising money for something/someone. 

One in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer. So I'm walking for my mom, my daughter (in law), her sisters, my sister, my sister-in-law, my nieces, my friends, their daughters, their grand-daughters, my future grand-daughters. 

I was talking with a friend who was diagnosed with colon cancer in 2020. Last year, for her, was all about surgery and chemo treatments, finishing up just before Christmas. She sent me this message on Friday morning:

Went for bloodwork today. While waiting, I sat near a young girl (31 years old) and we chatted. She is on serious chemo for breast cancer and has a good prognosis. Both breasts removed and lost all her hair but she's thankful cancer came now, (not earlier) so she was able to breast feed her three babies. I cried all the way home. Such a strong young lady. 

She goes for chemo every Friday at 8:30 am, so I'm going to waiting there for her.

I'm walking for that young mom too. 

(And I plan on putting together a little care package from one breast cancer survivor to another. If you want to contribute a gift card or some cookies for her kids, let me know.)

 

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There are very few things that my kids and I agree on. In order to keep things civil when we're together, I avoid conversations about politics, religion, faith, marriage, children, late-night-weekend activities, alcohol, turning-lights-off-when-you-leave-a-room, picking up socks, responding to invitations, and so on. 

Which leaves TV shows, entertainment news, work, food, and memories our safest, most usual conversation topics. 

So.

Imagine my surprise AND DELIGHT to find out we all feel the same way about the Covid vaccination. 

By June 3, we all will have had our first shot. And all of us feel grateful, excited and happy we live in a country that has made it available to us. I don't take this for granted.

There are families in North America who are divided on the topic. And there are countries in the world, that haven't been able to offer the vaccine for various reasons. 

TODAY, I am feeling so very thankful. 

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THree THings I'm THankful for:

1. Right this minute, while I'm trying to get back into the groove of blogging, Clint is cleaning up the decks at the lake. This is making my heart sing. 

2. So thankful they didn't break their necks...

(They did this all the time when they were TEENS. Those days are long past ...)

3. I am thankful for Spring. The colours, the textures, the scents, the hope, the beauty. Grateful that The One who created it all loves me and mine. 

Be careful, be safe, wash your hands,

xo