50th Birthday

"I wish for love, bliss, grace, contentment, clarity, insight, abundance, joy, laughter, lightness, magic, wonder, miracles, peace, passion, rest, quiet, harmony, enthusiasm, connectedness, patience, fortitude, presence, compassion, levity, sparkles and spunk. I wish these things for you and me. Let it be! "

I loved Steffany Barton's birthday wishes so much I am posting them as mine.

My daughter Bonnie's

birthday card to me:

FRONT

"I know a woman of strength and beauty... I have watched her for years."

INSIDE

"She is my mother"

"Happy Birthday"

Thank you for all the kind and loving birthday wishes. I feel so blessed.

With love in my heart,

Denise

November 21, 2010

Cousins ...cousins and more cousins

So many of my posts from year to year, season to season seem repetitive, I guess that is because they are. Napper and I decided early on in our parenting lives that we wanted to have traditions for the kids. Neither of our families live close by so we wanted to create other special memories for Brian & Bonnie to always hold dear from their childhoods. Many of those traditions have centered around the holidays. Well this year we are shaking things up. We have handed off the turkey roaster to our Colorado family and are heading out there for Thanksgiving. We are looking forward to a rocky mountain holiday. The guys are hoping to do a little snowboarding, and me some cross country skiing. We also look forward to visiting with my parents, the O'Connells and our friends the Driscolls. Sooo grateful.

Our next big adventure will be shaking up our Christmas schedule. Of course we will still make our traditional anise cookies... the kids wouldn't tolerate skipping that for any reason. But we will throw in some extra travel. On Christmas day we are leaving for Tahoe and will be there through New Years Day. When my husband asked what I wanted to do for my 50th birthday, I said "I just want to be in a cabin somewhere with snow." So that is our destination. Bonus for Brian because he has always wanted to ski Heavenly.

I am extremely grateful for these opportunities to be with my family. Watching Brian & Bonnie grow and mature these past five years are prayers answered. It has been such a privilege to be their parents. So many moments, both wonderful and difficult, over these past years where I have thought to my self..." wow, I'm so glad to be here for this.." Having lung cancer has given me a heightened awareness of just how fragile and precious life, and love can be. As much as that vulnerability used to scare me, I now know that with God's love we can endure.

Our past months have been filled with life. It all goes by so quickly, Highlights of the past months have been our vacation to Mishawaka in June, summer visits from Napper's sisters Mary and Colleen with their children and grandchildren, Brian's confirmation into the Catholic church, Brian's soccer season, Marching band, and Bonnie's dance activities. I have added some photos from these life events. Happy Thanksgiving.

Sincerely,

Denise

November 3, 2010

When I started this journey five years ago, the odds were that I would not make it to my 46th birthday, let alone my 50th, but here I am healthy, thriving and hopefully contributing in a positive way. I am extremely grateful to continue my role as a wife and mother, most especially, and all the other hats I wear throughout the day. I have felt a an obligation to evaluate, understand, improve etc. myself over these past years. At first, I focused my efforts on improving my physical health through diet and exercise and though crucial to my well being, are only a part of my mission. The past couple years I have felt a need to reconnect with my past. I have met with people from my childhood, had reunions with family, classmates, and friends. I have consciously put energy into healing pain I had stuffed from years past. Let me tell you, If you have never taken that time for yourself, I highly recommend it. It is very freeing!

Thank you for your support, prayers, encouragement, faith and love over these past five years. I am truly blessed.

Most sincerely,

Denise

P.S. I have posted two pictures from days gone by, my kindergarten photo, and a photo taken (1990) by my grandmother of me and my devoted buddy of 16 years ..Kelly

February 12, 2010

2010 is another big year. This year I will celebrate my 50th birthday and I WILL celebrate the five year anniversary of my lung cancer diagnosis. Wow! I met with my oncologist last week. She said, after my next scan and blood work this summer, she will cut me loose. I asked, What then.... she said, "you will live your life"...really...WOW!!!! I had never thought that far ahead, and quite frankly, I was blown away... in a very good way!!! Later that day in the grocery store as I pushed my cart around with my perma grin, believe or not, the song .."I will survive" was playing over head. It took every bit of composure I had to not dance and sing around the store with my cart. It made me laugh and it still makes me laugh to think about it. Of course when I told Brian & Bonnie about it later, they needed definite confirmation that I had not danced. Welcome to the world of teenagers. Ha Ha.

Life has been full these past months. Brian's participation in marching band and soccer kept us hopping this fall. Bonnie has been busy with competitive cheer team and dance. Her only day off is Friday. (ours too) So we do a lot of running. Thank goodness for carpools. Of course we always throw in plenty of travel to fill in the gaps. In November, my sister and I did our now traditional girls trip to Patagonia, Arizona and the Tree of Life Rejuvenation Center. It was great. Also that month, I was flown by husband Matt to Boulder, Colorado to surprise wife Nancy for her 50th birthday. I loved loved loved reconnecting with them and their family that weekend, as well as friend Sue Dickey. In December we drove to Minnesota and did double duty with a family wedding and Curley Family Christmas party. We had so much fun, and the timing worked out perfectly, because the next weekend K.C. was hit with a big snow storm and very frigid temperatures.

So far this year, we have managed to squeeze in a little travel. Napper and I took a quick trip to Puerto Vallarto, Mexico. We were there three full days. It was great to soak up the sun, read, listen to the ocean and breathe the salty, humid air.

Now looking forward to another road trip to Florida. Last fall, Napper purchased a "vintage"

motor home and we are going to drive it to Florida for spring break. We have reserved a camp site on the beach. Should be a riot. Walmart parking lots... here we come.

I continue to practice eating a raw, alkaline diet with lots and lots of organic green veggies. I feel great eating this way and continue to incorporate more of this way of eating into my kid's diets. They are very receptive. I hope to some day educate myself enough to be able to teach other people the benefits of this lifestyle. Exercise continues to be an important part of my routine. Recently, I was trying to help Bonnie condition and increase her stamina. She kicked my butt... and it turned out that she was the one pushing me. So okay, in my age group, I am in pretty good shape.

I have tagged on photos that journal our last months. Hope all is well in your lives. Thanks for caring about mine.

love, Denise