World Ovarian Cancer Day

It's hard for me to believe that it has been nearly 1 year since being diagnosed with Ovarian Cancer.  It seriously has been quite the year for sure.  I'm grateful to be alive, for the amazing medical team that took such great care of me and for the many prayers said in my behalf.  I'm ever to my family, friends for supporting me through the ordeal and for my Heavenly Father for answering prayers.

I still have plans to be an advocate for Ovarian Cancer.  My big plans have been put on the back burner for the past few months, but I hope not for much longer.  I talk as much as I can to patients and others about ovarian cancer and hope that someone may benefit from my discussions.

I feel humbled to be among amazing women throughout the world who have both won and lost to ovarian cancer.

 
My symptoms included urinary frequency, a mass in my left lower abdomen and horrible lower back pain.  I never had the other symptoms.

Teal from ears to toes!

Happy Birthday Auntie Thalia

Today is my Auntie Thalia's 60th Birthday.  She is one of the most special aunts.  When I was diagnosed with cancer she was at the hospital early in the morning before work and late into the evenings after work.  She was there every day of the 15 except for 1.  She got me a beautiful quilt from the pediatric ward, which I will always cherish.  She let me cry into her chest and arms when I was told that I was going to have to have an NG tube twice.  She also made an executive decision to take me outside in the sunshine after being in the hospital for 9 days, even though I wanted to stay in.  That day the sun never felt so good.

Aunt Thalia is an incredible woman.  She is super smart, takes care of many big and little details in the lives of her husband and children, takes on big projects, is a wonderful seamstress, knows how to make beautiful flower arrangements, is very giving, talented in many ways and makes by far the best dumplings ever.  These are southern dumplings to that she learned to make while growing up in Tennessee.

When I was in college I surprised her with my cousin Emilie and her family coming for Thanksgiving.  Afterwards, Auntie Thalia wrote me the most beautiful note that I still have tucked into my scriptures.

When I went through the temple she crocheted a hanky for me and wrote me a beautiful note telling me that if Grandma Swensen were here she would have done this for me, so she was taking her place.

I love my Auntie Thalia nearly as much as I love my own mother.  Happy Birthday, wishing you the best year yet!

Happy Spring Day

It's a beautiful spring day here in Phoenix, the weather has cooled just a bit, which was perfect for my 3.5 mile run this morning.  I'm due to leave work in 4 minutes, but just wanted to share happy thoughts with you!

I'm going home Friday morning with Mr. J and I can hardly wait!

World Ovarian Cancer Day is tomorrow.  I hope that you wear teal in support of it and maybe talk to a friend about OC...Get the word out my friends.  I'm so grateful to be a survivor!

If you are reading this somewhere other than Phoenix, I'm sure you are seeing some beautiful tulips. I have a great love for tulips.  They make me so happy!  I wish we had them here, but I'm grateful for pictures that I took at the Tulip Festival in Holland Michigan 5 years ago today!  This was by far one of the best girls trips ever.  Hope you have a happy day my friends!  Know you are truly loved by me.

It's May FF

1.  Happy May!  I love May.  It's such a happy month.  Tulips and Daffodils are in bloom every where except Phoenix that is, unless you just buy them at Trader Joes; however I've seen here in Phoenix a lot of my favorite lantana's that I use to grow in CLT around my mailbox, which make me happy, flip flops and shorts; but of course we wear those year round here in Phoenix too and the close of another school year for those who have kids in school.  I love this time of year where we look for bright colored clothes as we shop to bring the brightness of the season to our wardrobe!

2.  It's funny that last weekend it was actually cool and windy like in the 60's and this week it is 100.  I love it all though.  We had such fun with the wind last Saturday as we flew kites.  I felt like a kid, thinking of the times my dad would buy us a kite and we would fly it usually during the months of March and April.  I have this crazy memory of somehow someway our kite always ended up in the power lines in front of our house and would remain there for months.  Saturday we stayed far away from the power lines, Mr. J lives by this great park where we had lots of room to fly kites and the dogs had lots of room to run, well they were limited a little by their leashes.  I hate to admit it, but I think I'm becoming a little attached to these cute dogs, maybe because they are just part of the family.

3.  Saturday was Pizza Night at "our" house!  We had fun making them from Trader Joe's herb dough, Deborah's homemade pizza sauce and our favorite toppings.  I loved the gourmet pizza that I made, it made me think of my friend Shelley McConkie and her gourmet pizza's.

We had left over ham from  Easter so I used that, mango, pineapple, mushrooms, goat cheese and red peppers.  It was delicious!

4.  It's hard for me to believe that it's popsicle and watermelon season.  I love watermelon with salt, brings out the flavor so well!  It was funny Sunday when Mr. J said to me, "How is it that I have 7 boxes of popsicles in my freezer?"  Little girl A and I went to Albertsons Saturday night before bedtime and stocked up on popsicles because they were only 75 cents a box, and of course they are our favorite kind, I mean who doesn't love the rocket pops and fudgesicles?
5.  You wouldn't believe it if you saw how many shoes I have, but I have a hard time finding shoes that fit my 5 1/2 feet.  This week I stopped at Nordstom Rack on my way home from work and found 2 pairs!  I was looking for some brown sandals because my favorite Steve Madden ones broke a few months ago.  I also found a pair of Keens in the kids section.  My traveling partner Jenny always wears them when she travels and says they are so comfortable, so of course I've been looking for a pair for a while and had to get them for my Europe Trips which is in 3 1/2 weeks.  I can't wait!

6.  I worked 4 10's this week; day shifts.  It has been a year and a half since I've done that.  I must admit I was a little bit of a wimp, but it sure was nice to have my evenings off and my entire Wednesday off!.  I loved being able to go with Mr. J to pick up his little A's from school, to have dinner with them and spend a little extra time with them.  We started reading the kids edition of the Book Of Mormon this week.  I have loved it and the opportunity to share my testimony with them and teach them a little about the gospel in the evenings before bed.
7.  Wednesday Mr. J and I spent the entire day together.  I loved it!  We went on a fun hike where I wore my new favorite shirt that says, "We don't know how strong we are until being strong is our only choice!"

8.  This week I talked to my friend from Jr. High Sarah Houston who I usually only talk to in April around her birthday.  It is always so fun to catch up with her!

9.  Tonight we had dinner at a yummy Thia restaurant and then spent some time looking at the stars.  A few nights ago I saw the most awesome falling star as I was saying goodnight to Mr. J.  I've always been a fan of stars.  I love how beautiful the night sky is here in Phoenix.