Perspective

Whipped. That's what I am. I am laying in bed watching one of Gary's most favorite movies - Charlie Brown Christmas. I forgot how brutal these kids are to one another. Lucy can be ROTTEN!

We had a great time at Disneyland! No crowds. No fuss. No stress. Take our time. Chilly but nice weather. Good times with friends. Smiles all the way around - ALL DAY! Such a blessing. While we were there the boys went to their favorite store (the one over by the Tiki Room) and can you guess why it is their favorite? Yep - they have Webkinz there! So, the Webkinz are such a rip at $17.00 per animal! So, my cheapness got the best of me and after Disney we ended up running to the mall so that they could go to the American Greeting store to buy them for $9.99 each! I know it is their own money but getting a deal is huge! I want to help them to maximize their cash fund. Nate bought 4 (none of the ones I have for him for Christmas! ) and Jax bought 1. I am glad they are happy and enjoy them so much!

Gary had an okay day today. Steve came over and they went for a walk around the neighborhood. Well, Steve walked. Gary hopped on his "TROJAN" and off they went. I think I forgot to tell you that we named his scooter TROJAN because it is the crimson USC color! I think it sounds much better than THE GOLDEN COMPANION! So, Gary rode the Trojan and Steve hoofed it. He had a good dinner (his Mom cooked for him all weekend and left lots of his yummy favorites) and he just polished off a hunk of Pineapple Upsidedown Cake. I am sure he will want something else before I close my eyes.

We found out today that very close friends of my parents are now facing cancer. Bart and Dorothy are such nice people and I do not get to see them all that often but when I do I always enjoy seeing them and being with them. Bart was not feeling well and within a 3 day period he has been diagnosed with cancer in his brain and the doctors are confident that it is not brain cancer. It has spread from somewhere else (like the lungs). I will ask you all to pray for them tonight when you go to sleep. Gary and I both know how they are feeling now with this news and prayer is essential for them now. Pray for peace and patience.

Life is full of surprises. Some of them good and some of them bad. Who will be affected by cancer or any other awful disease or a tragic death? Who will win the lottery or get a promotion at work or find that one special person or bring a life into the world? You can't be defined by these surprises but you can be defined by how you handle these surprises. If you win the lottery do you blow it all or do you use the money wisely? Do you abuse your power at your new job or are you humble and learn to be a great leader? If you get cancer do you sink into a forever depression or do you forge on and try to be positive amidst your disease? If we have a strong foundation in our faith and we stop and look to God for answers and for help and guidance and love then I can guarantee you that whatever surprise comes your way you will be able to handle it with grace. This life we live here is short. It is not the end. It is only the beginning.

I know all of you think we are super heroes. I am happy you all think that and feel badly that you are so incredibly misguided! I can multi-task and it makes me look better than I am. Gary is a hero - a super hero in fact and he gets that title.

Thereare things I do on a daily basis to make things a little easier and lighter. I chose to be positive. I chose to be strong. I chose to be confident. I observed nurses and learned my way around drains and tubes and bags and IVs and wounds. Super Hero? I don't think so. Not even a little. I do not do anymore than any of you do. I know single Moms who are most definitely HUGE SUPER HEORES! I have friends who constantly give and give and give (I know because I am the recipient of the giving) and they are my HEROES! There are people who do not even know us who help us and support us and they are our HEROES. So many of you commit us to prayer and take time out of your day to talk to God about us and that is truly HEROIC.

The definition of hero is this:
A hero is a person of distinguished courage or ability, admired for his deeds and noble qualities.

Thank you all for rescuing us and being so heroic. I know cancer is scary and it is much easier to try to turn your face from it then to be in its face! It takes courage to be on this journey with our family. I used to shrink away from cancer in part because I thought if I was around it I might somehow get it. Not that it is contagious but that maybe God would expose me to it to get me ready for someone close to me who would get it. I know it sounds kinda funny but that's how I thought. I now know that my perspective is not a Godly one and I no longer feel like that. Our cards have been dealt and now we will continue to deal with the hand. I hope the river is better than the draw!

Off to bed.

Love to you all! 16 days until Christmas!

Lisa