As Promised....

Here are a few pictures of the landscaping/rehab projects I have been doing......

And the dresser I restored.....which is becoming my new FAVORITE hobby....=)

I have also been working of refinishing the cabinets in our old/rental home....

Yes, it is minus an oven.  If you look above where the oven used to be, you can see some awesome tile work done by Aaron's brother Roger. He did an AMAZING job!

Tomorrow I am repainting throughout the house...touch up here and there, and restaining trim, etc. Fun times! =)

Until next time, have a super day!

Mr. "Lawn-mower-guy".....

I have kept it no secret that I love to mow laws.

Getting that off my chest is quite liberating this morning.

This year, our mower bit the dust. We bit our pride and are borrowing our friends (our other neighbors) lawn mower that is a HOSS. It is a huge zero turn Scag Turf Tiger, "the beast" known by most men. I love it. Not a competitor by nature, except against myself, I am happy to report that with "the beast" I am able to shave off several minutes off my normal mowing time. Just sayin'.

Perhaps it is my "OCD" nature.

Or something I can cross off my list. (another favorite past-time)

Regardless of the reason, I believe I have found another kindred spirit in this same "hobby" right next door.....

Let me start off by saying, this guy is the NICEST guy. Helpful. Hardworking. Obsesive Lawn-mowing: on a regular basis. Not talking of his bathroom habits, or his other hobbies since I am not THAT nosey of a neighbor. But EVERY Friday or Saturday, weather permitting, this guy is on the job.

Now you also know that I love my man. If we lived in Biblical times I am POSITIVE he would be an elder among the city gates. I mean, he has the wisdom, some mad skilz, all around great guy, and gray hair to boot! Not trying to throw him into mid-life-crisis here, but just throwing out some bragging love.

He KNOWS how non-competitive I am, due to the competitive nature in himself.  BUT, he also knows that I love people and their quirks, along with my curious streak a mile long. So last week he casually suggests that the neighbor guy is trying to race me to get the lawn mowed. Something he has been observing for some time.

I assured him it wasn't so, b/c this guy mows on Fridays or Saturdays, etc. So I decide to exert my curious self and do a little test project.

I mowed on MONDAY.

I kid you not, I wasn't on the mower 20 mins. when his garage door yawns open and here he comes "decked" out in all his equipment and lawn-mowing splendor.....TO MOW THE YARD. I just couldn't let it rest. It was GAME ON from there. I was determined to figure this out...

And I got a flat tire.

Not just any flat, but a SLICE....need I remind you that this is NOT our mower???? I had to stop half way, limp the thing into the garage, and my awesome man got the tire off and into my car for the tire-fix-it-man.

A curious thing happened.

THE GUY STOPPED MOWING. For real. Half-way done, he drove his own zero-turn into the garage as if to taunt me and/or try to even the score. Like he KNEW what I was doing.

You know I couldn't just let this go.

The tire got fixed.

I myself, put it back on, found my own pair of ear-muff-wear and safety goggles...and fired that baby up. I just HAD to see if this guy was seriously racing me.

UPON MY WORD....He drove by almost 10 mins. later in his car, with his face pressed against the drivers side window, pulls into his driveway............and gets on his lawn mower.

By this time, I am trying to pretend that I am not watching him, and that I am not completely tickled with my discovery.

I am sure he had to have noticed that I donned the extra protective wear, not to poke fun, but to even the score. Since he stopped at half way the day before, and if he really saw this as a race, why not have a little fun with it?

I finished first.

It was GAME OVER.....this week.

But I was more tickled by the watching the whole thing unfold, and confirming what my man suspected.

I salute you Mr. "Trying-to-race-the-neighbor-lady-to-get-her-lawn-mowed-while-wearing-safety-glasses-ear-muffs-and-a-smile-guy".

You're the best.

And you made my day.

Time for a post......

Good morning!

I noticed that it had been a WHILE since I have written so we are overdue for a chat!

This past month has been full of things. To keep it short, here are the highlights....

-Cade started T-ball and he LOVES it. This year we are seeing such a big improvement in his coordination and his desire to play. It is so wonderful to seem them grow! (sad at the same time!)

-I just finished my first "re-finished" project. I may have just found a new hobby. I will post pictures of the dresser just as soon as I find the batteries to my camera. (The downside to having an intelligent little boy who reads fluently is, he understands directions on toys that require batteries and his little mind has stored the hideouts and possible "borrowing" places of where to find them. We are learning to replace or return them, which is a lesson that for some reason he "forgets". ) =)

-I went to a LIVING PROOF LIVE event by Beth Moore, and had a fabulous time with some awesome friends. She is phenomenal. If you EVER get the chance to see her live- GO! You won't be sorry.

-My gardening/Landscaping project is coming along nicely. However, it looks so much easier and cleaner on TV when they work with "clean" and perfect soil rather than Clay/dirt. But I love it just the same and I am enjoying the Vit. D I get to soak up. =)

- I am nearing my one year REMISSION appointment. I believe it is in June, but I get to celebrate in MAY, when I officially ended my Chemo. WOOOHOOO!

- Aaron is doing great. He has tackled our pond and "potty" pond area with his chainsaw and has been clearing out the brush and trees that don't belong there. It is looking fabulous. Again, pictures coming soon.

I cannot believe that school is almost over! Where does the time go? It seems like just yesterday I watched Cade go into school for the first time and now he is already talking about 1st grade. Be still my soul. A mother, it seems, is always changing with the seasons in the life of children. Ambiguous feelings flood around your feet and before you know it those little puddles of regret become a wading pool of memories that you just want to sit in and stay awhile. Mercy...I am full of hormones today...I need a good hot flash to cure that and remind me just to take my med and enjoy the day! =)

Today is Mom's In Touch day...where we go to the church and pray for the children. I love this day. It is teaching me much about prayer and discipline of sitting quiet and quieting my anxious thoughts.

I would love to share with you about everything the Lord has been teaching me lately but that will have to wait for another day.

Love to all.

Erin

PS- Uncle Jay, say hello to mom and dad for me. Enjoy your time! Looking forward to another Coffee/Call! =) Love you Guys!

The little....and the big things of life.

I didn't realize just how long it had been since I had written last.

Time flies when you are having fun!

Last week Cade, my Mother-in-love, and I were able to go and spend a week in Michigan....visiting family and friends. It was SO wonderful to see everyone and to just let down and relax a bit. I was able to relax a LOT, which was great for a change. Being in recovery mode wears a person out after a bit. Our trip was uneventful, especially if you leave out the part where my M.I.L. was given "the finger" while we were driving home. Try explaining that one to your 5 yr old, while your MIL was mimicing the jesture to reenact the situation to prove what she saw.

Fail.

I also had the privilege of speaking to a wonderful group of ladies at my sisters church. They were kind enough to listen through some of what the Lord is teaching me and what He is doing through all of the past 18 months of my life. I pray it was an encouragement to those that needed it. I was truly blessed with visiting and meeting many of the prayer warriors that have helped me. Their dedication and commitment humble me.

Cade had his first T-ball practice of the year. I LOVE watching them. I will post pictures of them when I can.

I am recovering both from our trip and surgery. The Dr's are pleased with my healing and I am enjoying this new season tremendously. Didn't realize just how much I missed my hair until it came back. Now I love the little things like bad hair days (just ask my friend Melissa when she drops her kiddos off for car pool!) , and wind blowing through my hair on these 87 degree days. I can now add to that short list: "wild" hair days with the curls that I can now straighten  my hair into a cute flip style. So much to be thankful for....*contented sigh*.

I hope this finds you enjoying the little things in life and as we approach Easter this weekend, celebrating THE biggest and most wonderful event of all time.

Happy Easter!

Reflecting......

 I wanted to share a snippet of what I am writing in my book. So, here goes...
{Over Thanksgiving of last year, I made a really big decision. It was a monumental one for me. I decided to let go of all the fears about Cade, Aaron and myself that I had been harboring in my heart for years. I determined to fly. To live and love like never before. So, I did. I let go.

A week and a half later I recieved my cancer diagnosis. Though tempted to believe that it was some ill will of Satan or God, or even "my fears" come to life, I have since reflected back on that time to see that is WAS the Lord, but He wasn't angry. He was telling me "Ok, now you are ready....let's LIVE, my girl. Let's Fly."

He taught me how to love myself through being bald and breast-less over this past year. And symbolically, I am now seeing Him through the "reconstruction" phase. He is tearing down the old lies that I once believed about Him and myself, all the while replacing them with rock solid truths. A foundation of truth. Truths that will last far longer that the "30 year guarantee" that I am given with my "prosthetics". =)

This process hurts, people. The inward struggle AND the outward change.

It isn't easy, nor has it been.

Wanna know something?

When I went into surgery this last time, I didn't see a butterfly. Not one. You know why? I believe that I finally graduated off my "training wheels" of faith, and simply put my trust in Him. He was testing me. A test not meant for me to fail, but because He believed I was ready.

A test of not believing in the butterfly but a test of absolute trust in the One who made it.....

Now, when I look at my chest and see the scars, I pray I will always remember. Use it as a roadmap of sorts of where I have been and where I am going. More importantly, that I will always glorify God in this, because this is HIS work, not my own.

He remains Faithful even when we are faithless.}

I love Him more because of it!

Reflecting on this season of my life has shown me.....that I have truly... begun to live.

Update....

Hey Ya'll,

Thought I would drop a few lines this morning.

Went for my one day post-op appointment and things look great. No infection thus far. I get to keep my pressure wrap until next week when I see my surgeon again.

The physician I saw yesterday gave me some new pain pills. Stronger, more effective.  It allowed my chest muscles to relax instead of being in a state of complete tenseness all the time.

True but sick story....I had my port-a-cath taken out as well which left a "pocket" in it's place. Yesterday I heard something "slosh"....yep, you guessed it...the pocket is full of fluid which will eventually redistribute, but talk about GROSS!!!! Of you touch the area with your finger,  you can hear it "squish" around. Makes me nauseous talking about it.

I am sure it did the same for you....so I will go for now.

There is never a dull moment. Guess it just keeps me kicking.

Talk to you later.

Good Morning (early) .....

I am home and resting, and now up and waiting for a pain pill.
Surgery went well. I came home without drains, so that was wonderful. I do have a pressure wrap and let me just say PRESSURE  has a new meaning.

My ribs and muscles are not feeling so hot. I don't quite remember a surgery this painful. I have had 4 over this past year, but this one takes the cake as far as pain goes. Mercy!

Not trying to be a whiner, but I have new respect for pain. Just breathing hurts sometimes, and shortly after dinner I got the hiccups. (Short expletive)

I am incredibly thankful to the friends who have brought us meals, to Melissa for driving Cade all this week. And for Cade's sweet little friend Addison (Melissa's daughter)...at recess he told me he just started crying and went and laid on the teachers lap over on the couch against the wall. As he was laying down he said, "Mom, Addi never left my side. She just wanted to make me feel better and make sure I was OK."

The sweet and simple ways we can learn to love, lived out in a selfless act of a child.

Or a husband.

Aaron has tirelessly helped me, while being down with a Sinus Infection himself. Love that man!

All that + me = one blessed and humbled girl!

Well, the words are getting foggy. Headed off to get my med....until next time....sleep well, my friends.