Thoughts about cancer from someone else

My Bucket List

My Bucket List

Not in any special order, priority or date of time accomplished.  Just a random list of things to do or things I've done.

Learn to sew.
Buy a two piece swim suit.
Learn to ski.
Wear mini skirts.
Sing alto.
Learn to fly.
Be a social worker.
Go to college.
Get married.
Have kids.
Have grandkids.
Find my high school BFF.
Do square dancing.
See Ronald Reagan.
Hot Air Balloon Ride.
Sing solo or a duet.
Meet Andy Williams.
Buy a brand new car.
Make a book of my writings.
Lose weight and keep it off.
Organize Dad's MFI and family slides.
Make girls school stuff keepsake books.
Make My Favorite Things Shutterfly book.
Visit Switzerland.
See the Eiffel Tower.
Eat a Belgium Waffle in Belgium.
Take a cruise.
Get a daisy tattoo.
Make Log Home Shutterfly book.
Meet the new owners of the Log Home.
Revisit the old places; where we lived, high school, Flagler Museum, Vizacaya
See the Grand Canyon.
Get published.
Meet my drunk driver.
Get a gun permit.
Sing in the choir.
Walk a mile in the Susan B. Komen Race.
Publish Cancer Journal.
Organize pictures.
Be at the Missionary Flights 50th Anniversary Banquet in WPB and Ft. Pierce.
Speak publicly without sounding nervous.
Make Beldin, Keller and Our Beldin Family Shutterfly books.
Preserve family recipes for girls.
Swim with the dolphins.
Downsize.
Move to Robin Ann Lane.
Go on a cruise with Joan.

Reflections from a yard sale warrior

It's times like this I wonder why I haven't retired from doing yard sales. My heating pad is on the highest setting and the warmth is soothing my aching back.   The doses of Zyrtec and cough medicine will soon mask my allergy ailments from sitting outside during two 'high tree pollen' days.   And Advil will kick in and relieve the extra aches and pains from cleaning out, setting up and and running a two day yard sale.
This yard sale had sunny, cool days and the usual funny moments.  Like the customers who jumped when the Sully plush toy talked to them.  Or the couple who wanted to give us rock bottom price for all our books and one of them was wearing a McKay Used Book Store tee shirt.   And the older gentleman who bought the spiffy hat even though his wife told him it was too small for his head.
Retiring from doing yard sales would be a loss of an annual purging for profit and taking control over ''stuff' instead of 'stuff' controlling me.  Though I have passed the yard sale baton onto my daughter and her neighborhood, I feel like she still needs me until her daughter is old enough to step in.  But the biggest loss of all in not doing our yard  sale would be the loss of quality time with my three wonderful daughters and grand kids.
So probably I will postpone retiring for a few more years.  Surely when the next yard sale time rolls around the memory of how old I feel right now will have faded.  Yard sale warrior will rally to do it again!

Looking back as I continue forward.

     Sometimes you need to look back on life.  And remember where  you came from to appreciate why you are where you are now. 
     Another one of my mentors and a spiritual parent went to be with the Lord and Savior he faithfully served.  Pastor Gustafson played a pivotal role in my life when I was a young wife and mother.  He helped me find direction in being a faithful follower of Jesus Christ, not just in my head and heart but  in my daily walk according to the Word of God.  He was my shepherd, my sounding board, my adviser and my friend.  I am grateful for the time I was a student under his teaching ministry. 
     Being at the funeral home to express our love to the family of our dear pastor, we saw many familiar faces from years past.  We raised our families together.  We shared laughter and tears.  We often see each other at bridal showers, weddings, baby showers, milestone anniversaries and birthdays, retreats, reunions and funerals.  And though we haven't spoken in awhile, we smile, shake hands, hug and pick up right where we left off.   We share a bond.  These folks will always be home.  And it is good to go home.
     Yes, sometimes we need to look back, draw strength in the memories.  So we  continue forward, being mindful to be thankful for the dear ones who invested in our lives and helped us become who we are today.

Stranded in the Left Turning Lane

It had been a busy work day and I felt stretched to the limit. Plus it was the week before Christmas and my TO DO LIST was not done. During the drive home time, I talked over some details with my daughter on my cell phone. The red light at a busy intersection turned green. I was the first car in the left turning lane. As I accelerated to make my turn, I realized my car had died. "Oh, no! My car died." I exclaimed. I tried to restart. Nothing. Restart. Nothing. There was no sound that made me hopeful that the ignition would engage and my car engine would roar back to life. My daughter offered to call my husband. Immediately, cars behind me were honking. I put my flashers on. I did not exit my car to lift the hood for fear of being hit by the cars going around me on both sides. My husband called and made diagnostic inquiries. Did you try this? Did you try that? My terse answer was Yes, yes! Please come right now and get me out of here.

It was a cold, dark night. I was not in a safe place. I expected the sound of crunching metal at any moment. A police officer pulled up next to my drivers side. I rolled down the window. He asked the obvious question, Are you having car trouble? I acknowledged yes. He said he would drive around and pull up behind me. I am within moments of help and rescue yet the minutes seemed endlessly long. At last the flashing blue light appeared in my rear view mirror. A sense of peace and security replaced my anxiety and dread. Even though I was in the same place, I now felt safe. The officer held traffic while two Good Samaritans pushed my car across three lanes and into a parking lot. My husband arrived and took over the situation. I was shaken and very relieved to go home to a place of safety.

Has your journey on the road of life ever left you stranded in the left turn lane of a busy intersection? Without warning, you are stalled in an unsafe place and surrounded by dire circumstances. Your sense of control replaced with helplessness. Your plans are waylaid. Your direction has been diverted. Your independence has been swapped with a dependence on the help of others. What do you do? Where do you turn? Do you cling to your own devices and continue to struggle? Or do you call upon the authority above all, the Lord Jesus Christ and accept His offer of help and strength? The Lord, our 'blue light' in life, will drive in behind you, beside you or lead you. He will guide you in the right direction. He will protect and keep you safe in His hands. Trust Him to guide you on your journey home.
Psalm 121:2 (ESV) My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth.
Psalm 46:1 (CSB) God is our refuge and strength, a helper who is always found in times of trouble.

I hugged a stranger, all because of a soft answer.

I went to Sam's Club with my grandchildren Ava and Micah to order his birthday cupcakes from their bakery. We filled out the order form and were waiting at the bakery counter. When the customer ahead of us left, we stepped forward with our order. I heard a voice speak behind me. I turned around and said, "Pardon me. Did you say something?" The older woman answered sharply, "Yes! I said thanks for butting in front of me!" I had a split second to choose between answering with a snippy retort or treating her with kindness. I responded with an apology, explaining I thought I was next from where I had been standing and offered her to go ahead. "No, no! I can wait. I have to order a cake." She snapped back at me. I didn't notice any order form in her hands. "Did you fill out an order form yet?" I asked. Her answer was more civil. "No, I didn't." I showed her the counter that held the forms and handed her one with a pen. She thanked me and said she was sorry for snapping at me. I told her it was okey and we went on our way to do more shopping.
Later on in the store, this same lady stopped me. "I am sorry that I was so rude to you. You were so nice and helpful to me." She related that she was grieving and had many things on her mind. I caught myself reaching out to give her a hug and stopped. "I'm sorry, I was about to give you a hug." I explained. She replied, "I really would like a hug." So I hugged this stranger. Though I didn't know her, I recognized a familiar emotions common to all of us. A hurting person reacting to an ordinary situation in a less than best way.
When my grandchildren and I were back in the car, I asked them what they thought would have happened if I had spoken to the lady the same way she had spoken to me. They both agreed that she probably would have gotten even more angry and that would not have been good. I mentioned there is a verse in the Bible that speaks about giving a soft answer. Ava immediately quoted, "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger." Exactly Ava! And we just saw how that verse works!