Friends Forever even through cancer

This is not my typical Blog entry and for that I am grateful. I dedicate this Blog entry to a very important person in my life. My best friend Keri. Keri and I have been close friends for over 25 years. For the last 11 1/2 years we have lived only 5 houses away from each other. Keri is the friend you want in your corner. She will sit and listen to whatever you have on your heart. She is not judging. Keri came through every time I needed her when my husband Bob passed away. She is a second mom to my children and they love her very much. Keri is so excited about Blossom coming home and can not wait to meet her. Here are just some of the many qualities that anyone who knows Keri will agree with. Keri is: loving, caring, giving, compassionate, funny, kind, gentle, patient, helper, loyal, generous, honest, independent, happy, she is a wife, a mom, a grandma, a sister, a daughter, an aunt, child of God, she is my best friend.

When Keri was born the Dr. said she would never make it to the age of 5. She did and continues to prove them wrong. Keri was dealt the hand of partial paralysis on the left side, legal blindness, and hydrocephalus at birth. Did this stop her? Nope, Keri met the challenges of growing up with a disability but never blamed God. She never said poor me. She just did what needed to be done and moved on. Keri finished schooling and married her one true love Russell, who she affectingly calls hunna bunna. Keri has two wonderful children and a young grand-baby boy.

On March 19, 2012 we both sat waiting in the E.R. waiting room for test results that had been taken earlier. When the nurse called us into a small room at the  back of the E.R. Keri said" this isn't good news." As we sat for what seemed like forever but really was just a few minutes, the Dr. came in and broke the news to her and I that she had some type of advanced cancer in her abdomen, lymph nodes and chest. You could have sliced the air with a knife. The Dr. began telling us that she would be admitted into the hospital and they would run test to see exactly what we were dealing with. He then asked if we had any questions and we just stared at him. We asked a few and then he left and we sat and cried in the little room.

The pastor from their church immediately drove to get Russell who had been with Keri the entire day at the E.R. but had to leave to speak at a speaking engagement. Russell left the engagement immediately not finishing to be with Keri.

Through many days of testing  the results were in,  Stage 4 ovarian cancer. Most people would have just thrown in the towel and been so angry at God. But not Keri she is truly sad and questions why but she said to me "you know,  I am not mad at God, I'm not really." What? Are you serious? I just looked at her in amazement. She continues to shock me even to this day.

This is my friend Keri

Here are a few snap shots of the last week. Learning to deal with the new normal.

Keri and her hunna bunna Russell

Hospital food yuck!

This is my niece Lilly who Keri has watched since she was 2 years old. Yep that is Blossoms cousin.

Back home now, this is what Keri thinks of what is going on

But together as a team we can handle it

Both of them together can handle it

These are pictures of the women at my church. This is the Tuesday night Bible study praying for Keri after learning about the cancer. Keri attends the Bible study with me and brings homemade brownies every Tuesday.

So on to the next item. If your a 15 year old kid who has had their life ripped apart by cancer in the form of loosing their daddy, effecting one aunt, both grandparents and now Keri their 2nd mom who makes them cookies when their 1st mom is to busy, what do you do to make a difference?

Of course you give away something that everyone takes for granite but cherishes everyday.

This is my daughter Jessica

Before

point of no return

13 inches!!!!!

after

Somewhere out there, there is a little girl who is going to feel like a princess again. Right here there is a 15 year old princess and a very proud mom.

So there it is, two very special people in my life. One who is going to be going through the battle of a lifetime and continues to stay strong in the Lord. An another special person who continues to amaze me by allowing another child who is fighting the battle of their life time to feel beautiful again. Thank you Lord for these special women I love them both.

Photos Can Make A Difference

Has anyone ever had their photo taken and thought, that's a nice picture? Or the opposite have you ever thought, hmm what was I thinking? Retake please!!! 


Some times you can take just one picture and PERFECT! It tells the whole story about what is going on or how the person feels. 


This is a picture of my social worker Jill and I after we finished our last home visit interview. 

I think it is saying yeah you are on your way!! I am so happy for you! We both defiantly look happy.




Then there is the other side of the coin. The dreaded passport photos. 

I think these are  saying, really? If I were looking for me, I would not look for the lady in the passport. I don't spend time looking so downcast without a smile. When did I get  gracefully older and what about the glasses?  The gentleman at CVS said "sorry ma'am no smiling and you can not wear your glasses."


Well that made me laugh so hard I had to turn it into a mug shot listing.


Here are some pictures that say it all. I received these a little while back and have spent time enjoying them. I am not sure on the ages of Blossom but you can kinda get the idea when they took place.

Look at that short hair!

So tiny!

I love this picture. You just want to squeeze those cheeks!!

So Happy!

Beautiful!!!

Almost every picture I have ever seen Blossom in she is smiling. I think Blossoms face tells it all. She is loved, cared for, and is truly a happy little girl.  I long for the day that she will look at me and flash me that same smile. I wonder if she will smile in her passport photo?

A precious little girl

The Lord has freely given

Truly a special gift

Sent down from heaven

For she is God's blessing 

Wrapped in his grace

With the beauty of the Lord

Reflected in her face

By M.S. Lowndes

Final Home Study Visit

It has been a while since I have updated the Blog. A lot has happened. I had my first home visit with my social worker in February and tomorrow I will have the second face to face visit. It took a while to get the second visit due to the social worker going on a vacation. It is alright though as I have procrastinated in getting the last few things done. Procrastinated is such a harsh word, it is more like I decided to tell life it needed to be put on hold while I spend the week cramming in information about China and how the whole thing is going to go with the adoption. When you start work at 6:15 a.m. Monday through Friday, pick up children after school, take everyone here and there, go to Bible study twice a week, try and keep a house running smoothly, put dinner on the table, take time  doing activities with the kids, look at e-mails, try and work on fund raising, you know us mothers, we can go on forever........................ Needless to say, I had to say  "children take the bus home from school,"  "sorry, if you have an activity you must call someone else to take you,"  "laundry, you sit right here and I will get back to you starting next weekend."  And dinner you ask? I just said those 3 magic words everyone loves to hear "LET'S EAT OUT! " I must tell you my brain was sent into over load towards the end of the week. Mind you I have adopted a child and had 3 bio children. When people say those comments like "your taking the easy way out"  I just want to laugh and say if you only knew the real story. Anyway, tonight I said "kids we are going out and relieve the stress of all this."
I took three of the kids roller skating. Unfortunately Erica had to work so she was not able to go. Everyone had a blast. Here are some pics.

Let's get started

Having fun watching

Ice cream is cold

Air hockey after roller skating

Hey, mama can have fun too

Had a great time. Time for a slurpee 

I know there are not any pictures of them actually skating, but they did skate. I took several short videos but I do not know how to upload them.  What a great time relaxing and laughing with the kids. I actually spoke with the manager and asked her, " can a person in a wheelchair go out onto the floor?" Guess what she said? "Yes, as long as someone is pushing the wheelchair." I hope Blossom enjoys skating, in her case the wheels are just a little larger.