25/2

This Month, February marks a major milestone in my life. 

I can't let the month end without me taking a minute to document it. 

I have had Rheumatoid Arthritis for 25 years this month 

and been cancer free for 2 years.

25/2

What a journey.  

It hasn't been an easy journey and I have learned a lot.

Patience, heartache, acceptance, humility, endurance, and strength.

Not physical strength - mental and spiritual strength.

I have also been blessed with amazing people in my life who have loved me for who I am and stood by me through multiple surgeries, years when I didn't feel good (say 24 years) and loads of medical bills, grouchy days, sad days, physical therapy days.

I was talking to a friend awhile back telling her that I wish my parents were alive 

(for many more reasons than this one) 

so I could ask them how they taught me to live with my challenge.  

How did they help me to not blame people and have a chip on my shoulder and how in the world did they help me see the positive vs. the negative.  Because automatically I look for the positive in most things.  

It comes naturally.  

How did they teach me that and how can I teach that to my girls?  

Oh how I wish I could ask them.

Having had a physical challenge for most of my life wouldn't have been something I would have wanted.  

But I can say with all honesty that I am thankful for those challenges.  

It's made me who I am and I like who I have become.  

25/2

I have survived and I sure hope I have another 25 years to become even better!

 

I saw this quote today and just had to share.

That got me thinking........"am I classy and fabulous?" 

I think not.

Then I thought....."what makes a person classy and fabulous?"

Then I saw this quote from Audrey Hepburn (love her)

The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries or the way she combs her hair.  The beauty of a woman must be seen from her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides.  For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others, for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness, and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.

OK, I'm going to add "become classy and fabulous" to my 40 before 40 list.  I have my 2011 song, my 2011 word (almost), my 2011 list and now I have my 2011 quote.  

I'm on a roll here peeps and I'm loving 2011 more than you can ever know!

Top 10 Tuesday

My Word for the Year.
I'm trying to narrow it down..........
Which one will I pick???

 attitude
 balance
 become
 believe
 commit
 dream
 enjoy
 exemplify
 enrich
 experience
 hope
 inspiration
 inspire
 learn
 live
possibilities
purpose
seek
sparkle
shine
treasure
uplift
vision

This is my 4th year choosing a word for the year.  I love it!  This year I'm going to take a class to make my word even better than it has been in the past.  If you want to take the class too you can!  Info is HERE - Ali Edwards, Big Picture Classes

BTW - it's 1/11/11 today!  Fun♥

2011 - It's Going to be GOOD!

Today I found my new favorite song.  Lady Antebellum's I Was Here

Here is what it says:
I Was Here lyrics
Songwriters: Burr, Gary S; Scott, Hillary Dawn; Shaw, Victoria;

You will notice me
I'll be leaving my mark like initials carved
In an old oak tree, you wait and see

Maybe I'll write like Twain wrote
Maybe I'll paint like Van Gogh
Cure the common cold, I don't know
But I'm ready start 'cause I know in my heart

I wanna do something that matters, say something different
Something that sets the whole world on its ear
I wanna do something better with the time I've been given
I wanna try to touch a few hearts in this life
Leave nothing less than something that says ?I was here?

I will prove you wrong
If you think I'm all talk, you're in for a shock

'Cause this dream's too strong and before too long

Maybe I'll compose symphonies
Maybe I'll fight for world peace
'Cause I know it's my destiny
To leave more than a trace of myself in this place!

I wanna do something that matters, say something different
Something that sets the whole world on its ear
I wanna do something better with the time I've been given
I wanna try to touch a few hearts in this life
And leave nothing less than something that says ?I was here?

And I know that I, I will do more than just pass through this life
I'll leave nothing less than something that says ?I was here?
I was here

I love this!  I do want to do something more than get up each day and do laundry, make dinner, go to work, spend time with my family.  I want to have my kids remember little things that I do to show them I love them.  I want them to pass down funny little songs and stories from our life and paint a picture of who I am and how I cherished them.  I want to be the best in everything I do.  Not competitive "best" (I don't have a competitive bone in my body) but best for me personally.I want to learn new things this year, see new places, create new memories that will last beyond this life and into the next.  I want to live each day to the fullest and make a difference and let people know I was here.

I'm turning 40 this year.   
The BIG 40!   
I could be very depressed about this but...I'm not. 
I'm excited! 
I have a plan to make this the best year EVER!!!
I read somewhere, on some blog, sometime ago, about a list.
a 40 before 40 list.
I'm going to do it. 
Projects, places, classes, goals, books, changes, oh I could go on and on!  I don't have my list finished yet but I'm working on it and hope to have it done by the end of the month.


I have decided to make " I Was Here" my song for 2011 to go along with my word and my 40 before 40 list.  I told you this was going to be a good year.  I can just feel it!


Now I just have to find the perfect word that describes how I feel and what I want to accomplish this year.  Wish me luck!

credits for me finding this song - Kristi's Marathon Video - It's awesome!

Bath vs. Shower

 

I had an epiphany yesterday as to why I love baths so much more than a shower.

Here it is........

You get out of your nice warm shower and you freeze your cha-cha's off.

It doesn't matter if it's winter or summer, that cool air against your wet skin is COLD!

I hate being cold, especially on purpose.

Plus you have to stand up the whole time.  That's not relaxing!

When you take a bath you can 

a) stay in and soak, relax, unwind and more importantly... lay down!

b) you can read, doze, paint your nails, shave your legs

c) add yummy fun smelling things to the water

d) most importantly - get nice, warm and toasty.

Hopefully you get to stay in your nice warm, relaxing bath as long as you want without interruptions.  

If not, at least try and enjoy being clean and pruny♥

When you're good and done cooking in that warm bath of yours, you get out, dry off and enjoy the cooler air on your skin because you are so HOT!  This is the key my friends.  Get your body temperature up as high as you can so when you get out you welcome the cold!

This was my epiphany.  Is it of sound mind.....no but it sure made sense to me!

Pictures courtesy of, country home, coastal living, Sarah's House, House Beautiful

♥700 Posts & a Give-Away♥

Yesterday I realized something HUGE!

HUGE I tell ya!

My last post - my Top 10 Tuesday Post - was my.....

700th post!

I can't believe it.  

700 posts, WOW this is so huge for me.

I have never been a journal writer.  I remember writing in my journal on Sundays laying under my Dad's grand piano.  My Mom made us write starting very young but it didn't last more than a few years.  Then when I was in Jr. High I got a new journal and wrote all kinds of crazy embarrassing stuff about my friends and boys and twelve year old things.  When I read it a few years later I was so embarrassed that I kid-you-not I never wrote in a journal again.


Not until I started blogging.  It was hard at first and I worried and fretted over every post.  My spelling and grammar were horrible.  (I have always been a terrible speller) But I loved reading other people's blogs and I loved getting comments from my long lost friends who I didn't get to see or talk to anymore.  And I loved making new blogging friends.  I had found my niche.


I have 701 posts under my belt (including this one) and this is my fifth year writing about my day to day life.  I have had 72,156+ people read my blog, my spelling has improved immensely and my grammar - a little.  I am so thankful for my friend Jen who stated me on this incredible journey.


This is all so exciting I thought I would do a giveaway.  I think 701 posts deserves a prize to be given away to one of my lucky blogging friends.  What do you say?  Are you in?  Are you ready for the rules?


Rules for the 701 Give-Away:
1)  You have to leave a comment.  Yes, I know with Google reader it's hard to leave a comment and maybe you read my blog but haven't ever left a comment before.  Now is your chance!  You can do it - that is, IF you want to win a cool prize.
2)  In the comment you have to tell:
      a) how long you have been blogging,
      b) how many posts you have,
      c) tell something nice about me.  i.e. you are so pretty or I want to give you my 2 year old etc.
      d) I was just kidding on #c


That's it, leave a comment, win a prize.  Easy Breezy.
Want to know what the prize is?
It's a good one!
I'm going to give the lucky winner a gift card to one of my favorite scrapbook sites.
Shabby Princess
Valentines Day is coming up and she has such darling V-Day things you can download and make for your kids, home, blog.  She is just too cute not to share.


So leave a comment and maybe you will win♥
Thanks for a wonderful five years and 701 posts.  I'm better because of you my faithful blog and blogging friends!


(BTW the picture has nothing to do with the post - I just thought it was pretty. It's by ARTIST Bessie Wessel)

Top Ten Tuesday

 

10 Things About ME:

10) I always forget one thing on my list when I go to any store.  I get home and go,”UGHHHHH!!!!!” 
9)   I am a burper.  Like a man.  Loud and long.  It’s a terrible habit I learned from my Father.  His burps always sounded like he was saying “DELLLBERRRT”.  My brothers and I still laugh about that – sorry Dad.  Sunday night I was walking down the hall with my nephew Zac (who’s 4) and I burped.  I said “excuse me!  I burped!” And he said in his cute little voice without even missing a beat - “Girls who burp in front of boys are rude!”  OK then, I guess I need to curb my bad habit – I don’t want to be rude♥
8)  I hate washing my hair.  I’m a bath girl and you just can’t wash your hair in the bath.  So I usually go 3-4 days between washing.  I promise if you see me you would never know!  So let’s keep it our little secret.
7)  I wish I was a runner.  I would love to run for miles and miles and use the time to get my thoughts in order, work my heart and have my bum just melt away.  It’s a dream that will never come true in this life but I’m counting on it in the next one!
6)  I’m teaching Cassidy – who’s 11 – to do her own laundry.  I think its awesome and she thinks it’s lame. 
5)  I have long list of fun things I want to do, make and go see but feel like I can’t do anything like that unless my chores are done.  The problem – the chores are never done in time.
4)  I have to clean when no one is here.  If the family is here I feel like they should be cleaning too.  But if I’m alone I’m faster and I don’t harbor ill feelings.  So I usually just play with them and clean when they are gone – it works.
3)  I miss the ocean.  I try and get there once a year to calm my beachy soul.  When you grow up near the coast you take it for granted.  Now that I’m a desert girl I long for walks on the beach, listening to the waves and smelling the salty sea air. 
2)  I never put my purse and car keys in the same location and it drives my husband    C-R-A-Z-Y! 
1)  I hate being cold.  From Oct-May I am cold.  I love the heat and the hotter the better.  I’m weird I know but it’s true! 

There’s my Top 10.  Did you learn anything new about me? 
If you do a Top 10 list let me know I would love to read it!

Examples and Feeling Blessed

Last night we went to a wedding reception. It was beautiful. The grounds were amazing! I couldn't believe something so pretty existed right here in my little town! It made me want to re-do my backyard to look just-like-it! The decorations were hot pink, orange and brown and my mind was brimming with ideas of how I could throw a party in those exact colors!!!

The girls and I got all gussied up in our finest dresses to attend. They were so excited to see the bride even though we were friends of the groom and didn't know the bride. All little girls can't help but want to see a pretty bride! Tom came home already dressed in his suit so off we went.

I was excited and nervous because I hadn't seen the groom since he was........5 years old. He was my favorite little dude back then. I babysat for his family but would call his Mom and ask if I could come get him for a play date. He was spunky and funny and the cutest little guy ever! We would go everywhere together. In fact my friend Mardi and I would fight over him and go to great lengths in coming up with fabulous activities to take him to.

A few months ago when his Mom called (we still keep in touch) to tell me he was getting married I was thrilled. She brought me up to date on what their family had been doing and what Colten had accomplished (flight school!) and I promised I would be at the reception.

When we got there the bride and groom were busy dancing so I talked to the family and took a tour of the grounds. When I was going out one of the doors Colten was coming in. He looked at me - had faint recognition then his face lit up and he said,

"Oh my....CARA!"

and gave me the biggest tightest hug ever. It warmed my heart. I was his Cara all those years ago.

We met his beautiful bride, I introduced him to Tom and the girls we had a little catch up and then he was gone. Of for more dancing and socializing. We stayed a while longer then dragged the girls out of there to go home and get ready for bed.

All night I kept thinking how amazing it is the impact - however small - we have on one anothers lives. I'm not sure how much of an impact I had on Colten but he is one of the reasons I wanted to be a mother. I wanted a little boy with as much spunk and personality as him! (even though he drove his mother crazy back then!) His parents had a huge impact on me. I loved them and wanted to have a marriage and friendship like them. After I would babysit we would sit and talk about life. They helped me through many things without even knowing they were helping. They were such an example to me.

Growing up we didn't have any family close - at all. My grandmother came every other year at Christmas and that was about it. We relied on our friends being our family. We had a wonderful tight community that gave us plenty of opportunity to have close "family" friends. I had adopted grandparents (two sets) and a next door family that we called the Mom Auntie Eva and the kids our cousins. I also had several Mother figures I admired while growing up and Colten's mom was one of them. Everyone helped raise and look after each others kids and it worked.

I now live among family. In fact we have so much family on both sides it's hard to have family gatherings for the lack of space. I'm so thankful to have been blessed by friends and family now and in the past. They are the reason I am who I am. Their examples, encouragement and strength have enlightened me. Thank you for that! I feel blessed.

My Day Today So Far:

I can't seem to get going this morning. To be honest.......I haven't been able to get going all week! I feel so tired! I also haven't wanted to wear makeup all week and have had to everyday for something. I hate that. Makeup is great - takes away all you imperfections and enhances your features but sometimes I just wish I had beautiful smooth splotch free skin that required no makeup. Too bad Photoshop doesn't work in real life. Oh, I forgot....it does - it's called plastic surgery (wink).

The other night I watched a show called Hoarders. It was awful!!! I laid in bed watching it with my mouth hanging open and my face scrunched up on a disgusted pose. Seriously it was horribly shocking how these people lived. It was so bad yet.....I couldn't stop watching it. I can't believe people can get to that point. It made me want to get out of bed at 11pm and start cleaning out every drawer, closet and cupboard. Every time I need motivation to clean - that's what I'm turning on. And by clean - I mean get rid of, de-junk, cleanse, purge. I do have a secretly bad habit I'm willing to share. My house looks clean when you come over - it does. The floors are swept & vacuumed, the counters are washed, dishes in the dishwasher. Things are neat and tidy. I like it that way. Clutter puts me on edge. However - my closet isn't tidy nor is the armoire that holds my present wrapping station and gifts and don't get me started on the laundry room! I do have several areas that need to be de-junked so fair warning - be careful what cupboards & doors you open when you come over. (Go watch that show, or at least watch the clips on the website. It will get you motivated in no time!)
I guess I will write my TO-DO list on the blog. That way I have no excuse to not get things done. I've made my list public (even though I don't think anyone will be reading this) so I must stay motivated even though I want to crawl back in bed and watch TV all day. ( I would read but I haven't gotten my book club book yet). Here it goes:

Cara's TO-DO list for Thursday:
1: clean kitchen - do dishes
2: make beds - put clean laundry away
3: open mail and sort
4: go to lunch with Abby - she's still having a hard time
5: make something for dinner since I haven't cooked since.........Sunday?
6: drink 88oz of water - two 44oz sonic cups)
7: bring paint in from the car that's been there since..........Monday
8. refill treasure basket
9: find some bathroom/bathtub pictures for my bathroom remodel that I'm dreaming of, like these below: pictures courtesy of house beautiful, country living, BHG

View Full Album

I think I will stop at 9. I'll let you know what I get done!

Hungry-Girl

OK all my cybercafe and real life friends. Have you been holding out on me or do you not know about Hungry-Girl??
I was reading a health magazine yesterday and came across an add for this book. I was bored so I went and found the web site. Go HERE to see Hungry-Girl on the web.
She has a lot and I mean a lot of yummy looking food and treats for very low calories, fat, WW points etc. Seriously people! She has renamed these little yummiest with the cutest names! I had so much fun clicking and looking! Can’t wait to make some of the treats. I think my first recipe will be the Rocky Road Fudge for only 73 cal, 1 g. of fat and 1 WW point. Yep! You read right! It won’t be the real thing but when you are over 30, the real thing just can’t happen anymore without some serious “back” side effects! Hee Hee!
Tom and I have been doing a diet together which has been a good thing. However it has made me realize a few things about myself.
1. I am a cheater. I have no will power. Tom is a rock. He’s better than me!
2. I show my love to others through food. Have you heard of the 5 Love Languages? I’m not sure if food is one of them but…..it is for me. My family comes over and I feed them. My kids come home from school and I have made them a treat.
I also realized that I am a baker. I love to bake. I love to try new recipes for muffins, brownies, cookies and cakes. I have been obsessed with the Food Network and have a whole list to try after we end this diet. I even bought the cutest cupcake book at Costco today! Hopefully I won’t gain back all the weight and inches I’ve lost. I have a plan………only make yummy treats on the weekend. Do you think it will work?

A Little Complaining

I know I shouldn't,
but........sometimes I just have to get it out.

I hate that I have a scar on my neck. It's big, red and still hurts a bit. It's very noticeable and hard to hide. Everyone is very positive about it. They say, "it looks great, hardly can see it, WOW it's not as bad as I thought!" And so on...........

But I can see it.
I can feel it and I don't like it.
Not one bit!

I know I should be grateful. I could have had a worse case of cancer. I could have no hair right now. I know this and I am grateful. But it's still hard and not fun.

Last night my neck hurt, not like a stiff neck but the front of my neck felt swollen and sore and it was hard to talk and felt uncomfortable. My scar was sore and I was so very, very tired. I'm always tired. I'm also so dry. My skin, my lips, my mouth, my throat. I feel like every ounce of moisture has been sucked from my body and I can't replace it. Tom asked me yesterday if I was back to "normal", I laughed at him. He asked what percentage was I of being "normal" I thought for a minute and said, "50%". He was shocked! "What? Are you kidding me?" Yes I know, I'm a good faker. My arthritis is flaring up, my neck hurts, I'm gaining weight even though I'm watching what I eat and I'm oh so tired.

Again, I don't like this.

Why do I have to be the one with trial after trial. We come to this earth to gain a body and learn. What am I not learning?

I guess I better step up my game and figure it out. I don't want another trial anytime soon. I'm already having a hard time getting through this one!

My Adventure

I'm not radioactive anymore!
  Yippeefor ME!!

Over Valentines weekend (of all the weekends) I had to take my I-131 pill. This is a radioactive form of Iodine that kills off any remaining cancerous thyroid tissue, cells and I'm sure other things that I wanted to keep. I had to be totally isolated for 4 days and then I had to stay 3-5 feet away from people for 10 days. Did I mention this was OVER VALENTINES WEEKEND???

The Dr. office gave me some ideas on how to stay away from the family. I chose to stay in a Hotel. Now I know this is a bit of a controversy but let me explain that no one was in danger and I was very careful the entire time I was gone.

While I was booking my Hotel I was praying - "please let me get a good hotel, please let me get a good hotel". I use priceline and have always had excellent results with getting very nice high star hotels for very little money. Very little! This time was no exception. I was lucky to get a 3 1/2 star Hotel for cheap on this very busy weekend but when I looked at the pictures I was very disappointed. The Hotel was a Golf Resort and was older.....much older lets just say. I was picturing in my mind that I wanted to stay in a hotel similar to the one we stayed in in West Hollywood-pure luxury! No such luck. To say I was not looking forward to this weekend was a HUGE understatement!! And the hotel was just one of the factors!

So on Thursday I went to Scottsdale and was given my little tiny white pill in a little tiny clear glass vile with the yellow and black radioactive sticker on it and all I kept thinking was - this is wrong! So wrong! I don't want to do this, I don't want to do this! I am ingesting something so horrible into my body - what am I doing?????? Again, I said another prayer to help me get through this.

I then headed to the Hotel. When I got there I was still a little disappointed. It was pretty, but old and lets face it, I'm now spoiled in my hotel stays. When I got to my room there was a beautiful little table set up outside my door with roses, a card and a home made no iodine meal just for me from Monica. That made me feel a lot better and want to cry all at the same time! How sweet is she? When I got in and settled I realized the room wasn't that bad. It had a very nice, very comfortable bed, a sitting area with two reclining chairs and a little kitchen with a fridge, microwave, table and chairs. "Maybe this won't be so bad" I thought.

Over the next four days I realized how lonely living alone is. It's horrible!!! I felt so bad for my Mom who lived alone for five years before she died. My Grandma for 30 years!!! Maybe they liked it, I don't know but I vowed that anyone I knew who lived all alone was going to hear more from me!!! It's a weird feeling to not have to use your voice all day. When you do use your voice it sounds funny to you because it breaks the silence and then doesn't sound right. I always thought that I would be fine if I had to live alone. I'm an independent woman. I can be by myself just fine thank you! Well guess what? I have changed my tune! I always have told Tom that if he dies I'm NOT going to remarry - nope- no way! When I got home from this weekend alone one of the first things I said was....."I'm getting remarried if you ever die." Nice of me huh?

I did get several doorbell ditches from Mindy and Monica bringing me yummy food to fill my tummy. I also texted Crazy Mama -Julie the first night I was there letting her know what was up and the sweetie came right over and hung out with me all night~ We watched Grey's Anatomy and Private Practice. I sucked on the sour candy she brought along with other Valentine goodies. She could come over because she's already been through this and doesn't have a thyroid. I couldn't hurt her so she dropped what she was doing and came. What a friend!
My other friend Kim came on Saturday night after calling her Dr. friend and getting the O.K. to come with instructions to not kiss me or let urine get in her eye. Yeah - I think that wouldn't be a problem! We had fun and even though we didn't go get take-out (*I wasn't feeling well) we had fun talking the night away!

I spent most of my days laying on the comfy bed watching T.V. or playing games on the computer. I did feel sick for most of the time even though the nurse said that wouldn't be the case. I would venture outside each day to sit in the sun and increase my vitamin D along with warming my bones. No one was around - I mean no one so I could sit at the pool (which was right outside my door) or on my patio and read or sleep without worrying about infecting people.
I then realized that I was blessed in getting this Hotel. Heavenly Father knows what I need more than I do. He blessed me with a Hotel that had little casitas, with no people around and access to the outside without having to go through hallways, elevators etc. I could sit outside without having to worry about people and safety. If I hadn't been able to go outside and get fresh air (I am a fresh air freak) I would have been so miserable. I was truly blessed.

By Monday I was more than ready to get home. Let me tell you! I was ready to put this horrible, boring, depressing situation behind me!! I woke up at 5:30 am and hopped right out of bed and got ready! I was checked out and in the car heading home by 7:30am. (Don't worry though - I cleaned the entire room before I left. the nurse told me how and I didn't leave one radioactive germ living - I promise!) I stopped off at Krispy Kream and picked up a dozen yummies and headed home to my sweet family! We were so excited to see each other. We opened cards, presents and shared the love that we have for each other and vowed to never be apart again! I'm so lucky to have my sweet family!!! Blessed is a better word. I am so very, very blessed!

I'm Back

I'm back....finally.
That was a very long hospital stay.
I was ready to come home on Tuesday!
But Thursday night at 10pm I got to come home.
Yippee!
Everyone at the hospital was very nice.
The nurses were amazing and oh-so-sweet to me.
I was in the VIP room which was nice...I guess. I don't know why it was called the VIP room. I sure didn't have a VIP view. It was a big room, but then again I was in the bariatrics unit.
I'm just happy to be home.

I haven't talked about why I needed surgery much. I haven't said anything on the blog at all and in real life very little. I usually try and keep my health problems on the back burner. If I talked about my health problems openly that's all I would have to talk about. So I choose not to talk about them if possible even though I do have quite a story to tell:

10 joints replaced
(7 done in less than a year)
4 hip replacements,
4 knuckles replaced - 2 on each hand
and both wrists replaced,
Juvenal Rheumatoid Arthritis for 22 years
and now Thyroid Cancer.

Thyroid Cancer!!

I still can't believe it. I always said I wouldn't get cancer because there are too many other things wrong with me. Guess I was wrong. Very wrong!! Darn it.

Lucky for me Thyroid Cancer is treatable....curable......easily. With surgery, pills, and radiation it will be gone. My thyroid is gone as of this week, I have many, many, many pills to take and I'm not sure yet about the radiation. I'm still looking into that.

I feel very little pain, however my neck is swollen and sore and my voice is scratchy. It's hard to swallow because of the swelling so I have been eating a lot of soup. I love soup. It's such comfort food isn't it? Oooh I had cake today - yummy, yummy cake! I can't forget about that. And I had a nap. Thankfully my MIL was here to go get Abby because I was dead asleep.

I have fun stories to tell of my hospital stay. I also have a lot of pictures thanks to Abby and Cass to go through. Thank you for all your sweet e-mails and calls, texts and visits. I appreciated every one. I did have Internet there in the waiting room and could look at blogs but not post on mine. I would have been giving a play-by-play if I had. I was sooooooo bored! Beyond bored! Crawling out of my skin bored. Good thing I'm home!

Check back soon for the hospital highlights! For now - I'm off to watch last nights Burn Notice. I'm so excited I can't wait any longer!

52 Blessing Project

Week 33

These are my hands. As you can see they aren't the prettiest hands and in no way could they ever have been hand models. But let me take a moment to tell you about them.

On my right hand the ring finger is so puffy I can hardly bend it. My pinkie finger is permanently crooked and my wrist doesn't rotate back and forth at all. And lets not forget that my middle finger is shorter than my ring finger.

As for my left hand things work pretty well. My 1st two knuckle joints don't bend on the pointer and middle finger but that's about it for the left hand. I do however have a pretty ring on that left hand that my sweetie gave me for our ♥12th wedding anniversary♥. Hopefully people are looking at the ring and not the joints Ü

Having Rheumatoid Arthritis for 21 years can really do a number on your joints. Mine took a beating in the 1st few years I had the disease. My joints in my hands and wrists were so bad I couldn't even pick up a glass of water. My Dad would come home from the grocery store and have to open all boxes, jars and bottles before putting them away. Otherwise I would be out of luck. I also had a hard time buttoning my jeans. How embarrassing to have to ask people for help buttoning your jeans in high school.

Anyway, when I was 19 I had 3 surgery's and 7 joints replaced in 9 months. Two knuckles on each hand, both wrists were fused and new joints were made and my right hip was replaced.

Since then I have had my left hip replaced (4 weeks before my wedding) and then both hips re-done for a total of 10 joints replaced. I have to say that it was the best thing that had happened to me since getting arthritis when I was 15. Even though it was hard, painful and time consuming I don't regret any of it. If it wasn't for amazing Dr's and Nurses and Hospital staff , along with a wonderful husband who loves me I wouldn't be who I am today.
These hands although not the prettiest things around have been able to hold my babies, carry in loads of groceries including gallons of milk and juice. They can open car doors, house doors and kitchen drawers with no problems. They can carry kids and car seats, vacuum floors, sweep, mop, drive a car - a stick shift if need be, fix things, cut things, sew, type, write long love letters, cook, and even button my own pants!!
Before my surgeries I would have never been able to do any of these things. I feel so very blessed to have hands (and the rest of my body parts) able to help me with my daily duties. I forget to be grateful for this since I don't think about the past that much. I need to be better about remembering how truly blessed I am.

My Favorites Right Now

Food: Monica's Famous Ribs

Drink: Ice Water

Fruit: fresh pineapple and strawberries

Ice cream: I don't eat ice cream

Candy bar: Godiva chocolate that Tom brought me from TX.

Music: This is Not Your Mother's LDS Music 2

TV Show: There is nothing on right now and it's ticking me off!

Movie: I haven't seen anything lately to be a favorite.

Book: Remember Me - Sophie Kinsella

Sound: Abby laughing uncontrollably on laughing gas

Smell: ginger lime candle

Sight: My girls with cute earrings in their ears.

Touch: Having Abby snuggle up to me.

Taste: I'm digging salty things right now.

**What are your favorites right now?**

Hi, I'm Cara.....

.....................and I'm a costume addict.

Yes, the 1st step is to admit you have a problem. I am here to admit my problem and.........get everyone else to become an addict too!!

Let me explain. Every year since Cassidy was 3 I have scoured the thrift stores in the month of Sept and Oct. for dress up clothes (aka-costumes) and saved them for her birthday presents. Silly it may sound, but they have been the best birthday presents I have bought every single year for the past 5 years. My girls LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to dress up. If you have ever been to my house you will know that dress up is the theme around here. My girls wear dress-up clothes more than regular clothes.

So, September has started and I have begun the thrift store obsession. I really need to stop, but can't. It's only been one week and I have been twice and gotten seven new things for the girls. When will my madness end??? (maybe when Halloween is over!)

I think this all started when I was little and I went garage saleing with my Mom. I remember going through a box on this little tiny lady's front yard and finding dresses, shoes and hats, all about my six year old size. (well, not really but they weren't too big and perfect for dress up) My Mom bought the box and I came home with endless hours of fun that I still remember having. When Cassidy was 2 1/2 my Mom made her a blue Sleeping Beauty dress for Halloween. I am not lying when I say Cassidy wore that dress every single day for one full year until the next Halloween. She wore it to the store, library, park, parties, dinner, where ever she went. My Mom had to mend it several times to keep it from falling apart. We still have it and it's Abby's favorite dress and won't share it with anyone.

                                                                                                                                                                        This is when my obsession started. I thought, "Hey, if she loves dress up (and secretly so do I) then lets get her some dress up clothes!" My Mom and I went thrifty and between the two of us cleaned Savers out that 1st year. Cass and her cousins were in dress-up heaven! My Mom was just as obsessed as I was. We both had a dress up box filled with goodness.



So now I am confessing this on my blog not really to help my addiction because I know it will continue until my girls are too "cool" to dress up, but to start someone else's addiction. If you are reading this and have children who have imagination - then you need to go and scour those thrift stores this month. Did you know that the thrift stores keep all donated, wonderful, used costumes all year in the back only bringing them out starting NOW!!! I have never paid more than $3.99 for any of my fabulous costumes. Some of them handmade, some of them from the Disney Store, and some of them just plain awesome! We have wigs (not used -ew gross), shoes, hats, crowns, wands, prince costumes, batman, superman, soccor man, (we have boy cousins - can't be discriminatory)capes, jewelry and gloves. If you can imagine it, we have it!!!

So go out there! Find some good stuff! Have your kids be four different things this Halloween just because....they can!!!! Mine do! Last year they were something different every party we went to. It was so fun! I'm a sucker for fun, good cheap, imaginary fun!

Here is the new Pink Sleeping Beauty dress my Mom made for Cass, and the poor, old, falling apart blue Sleeping Beauty dress she made for Cass six years ago. Yes they both wore them to Disneyland and yes even though the dress was worn and ragged, it was worn with love and it's a memory I will keep forever.

Here is a picture of Abby's room where we keep her dress up clothes. It says, "Some days you just feel like a princess!"

At our house that seems to be everyday!

Make-up Deal

I thought I would pass on this great deal on the make-up I use. I have never been a heavy make-up user. In fact it wasn't until about 3 years ago when we went on our 1st cruise that I even bought a whole set of makeup for myself. (thought I needed to look pretty for my sweetie)This is what I bought and I have been a loyal customer ever since! I love, love, love it! Mainly because it doesn't "feel" like I'm wearing makeup - even when it's 115 degrees outside. It covers all my problem areas and smooths out my skin. I can even sleep in it - which I do only sometimes. I bought it at Ulta.
They have "people" there that will help you pick the right set for you and show you how to apply it. It was a no brainer for me since I wasn't make-up savvy for sure! Anyway, they are having a great sale and thought I would pass the information on.

ULTA Exclusive! Starter Collection - $60.00 - Light
The Original bareMinerals Starter Kit, a $165.00 value, is yours for just $60.00.
The Original bareMinerals Starter Kit includes:- Two shades of SPF 15 Foundation- Mineral Veil- Warmth All-Over Face Color- Glee All-Over Face Color- Handi Buki Brush- Maximum Coverage Concealer Brush- Flawless Application Face Brush- How-to DVD.
SKU: 2133148

Question:

What kind of make-up do you use?

Do you have a favorite brand?

10 quirks

I was tagged a week ago by Julie and I'm just now posting. Partly because I have been crazy busy and partly I had to think about my oddities. Get ready, I'm letting you in on some things that maybe shouldn't be shared:

Quirks about me
1. I sleep with 3 pillows. No more, no less.
2. I am a neat freak. I like things nice and tidy. It doesn't have to be deeply organized or even clutter free. Just tidy and nothing on the floor. If there's things on the counter or desk, it needs to be in nice neat piles. my kids do not share this obsession. However, Abby is a great cleaner and enjoys helping me which is nice.
3. I can't sleep if anything is near my nose. I sleep on the edge of my pillow so I can breath. I sleep with the covers all the way up to my neck but never touching my face. I also can't have my hair touching my face or ears when I sleep. I have to have it fanned out on the pillow and tucked behind my ear. ( I am a side sleeper) I also can't sleep with anything in my hair. Rubber band, clip etc.
4. I hate taking time to go to the bathroom. I can hold it forever!
5. I love white furniture. So crisp and clean. Most of my furniture has been painted white. Except for my parents antiques. I don't quite have the courage. Maybe someday!
6. I am a procrastinator. I hate paying the bills, calling my prescriptions in, making appointments, getting a babysitter, calling people back. I'm the worst!
7. I love having kids over at my house. The more the merrier! I don't mind a bit if you ask me to watch your kids. I enjoy the happiness of playing children. I also enjoy the peace and quite when everyone goes home. It's a nice contrast.
8. My arms don't go straight and my fingers don't bend. I don't notice it but the other day I was watching Abby call someone over and she was only using her last two fingers (which is what I do). I thought this was funny. You teach by example and I guess my example is a little quirky!
9. I would much rather be hot than cold.
10. I love old books, pieces of furniture with history, antique white pitchers and old silver. I love all things that have a story.

There's my 10 quirks. If you're reading this tag you're it! Let me know when you post your quirks. I would love to see if anyone is more quirky than ME!!!!

101 Things that Make Myself Me

1. I love the color green. Any and all shades.
2. I love drinking herb tea in the winter. I wish I could drink it all year but it gets too hot in AZ.
3. I would rather watch T.V. in bed than in the family room.
4. I wish I could exercise like Lisa and Mindy. I think I would like my pitiful body better.
5. I’m pretty sure we are done having kids. But never say never!
6. I love fruit and vegetables I just hate to prepare them for eating. My favorite fruit – gala apple, favorite vegetable – green bell pepper. Plus, I love anything with lime squeezed on it
7. I miss dinner group!!!!
8. I don’t like to eat if I’m alone. Even snacking.
9. I don’t like dogs.
10. I have an inner creative side that has been untouched for awhile but is ready to be set free.
11. My favorite songs these days are from Radio Disney. (sad but true! That’s what happens when you have kids I guess!)
12. I don’t have the vision for visiting teaching, but have a goal this year to change.
13. I love to drink water, I’ll drink it all day. But when we go out to eat, I have to have a diet coke. Yet I don’t drink diet coke at home.
14. I’m allergic to milk, almonds and kidney beans. I’m thankful that Mindy and Monica are allergic too because it makes for great discussion!
15. I have to give myself a shot every night before bed. I dread and hate it! I also take 14 pills a day just to keep this old body moving.
16. I have three super great brothers, Matt, Kurt and Joey.

17. I don’t like red meat. My choice of meat would be chicken and salmon.
18. I love every flower on this planet. My favorites would be…..roses, tulips, daffodils, pansies, forget-me-nots, hydrangeas, runiculas, peony’s, daisy’s, lavender, and any pink or purple or white flower I might have forgotten. 19. I swam with a Dolphin named Jack. It was a magical experience!

20. I love fog. For my birthday this year I woke up to real true to the ground dense FOG! It was fabulous!! Tom said it was a gift from my parents to remind me of home in CA. 21. I love a treat with a crunch. A cookie, Twix bar or toffee.
22. I don’t like ice cream.
23. I don’t like popcorn, even though I make it every night for my family.
24. I love the heat. I would rather be hot than cold. Good thing I live in the desert.
25. I am learning to play the piano with Cassidy. Thanks Amy T!
26. I love clouds. I always am mesmerized with clouds. When I was little I would lie on the grass and watch them for hours. We don’t get clouds here very often so when we do I take notice. My kids and I watch them and talk about what they look like and how they look good enough to eat or sit on. Clouds are so FUN!

27. I am a procrastinator.
28. I’m not good at thinking ahead and planning for future events. Thanksgiving and Christmas are always planned last minuet. Although, this year I was much better at getting everything organized for the holidays.
29. I love to shop. I love to go into any store and look at everything. I am happy to just look and not buy. In fact I like looking better than buying!
30. I love to collect old books. My great aunt Dee Dee gave my Dad (who gave to me) a lot of her old books. Some from the 1800’s early 1900’s. I love looking at them and reading them and thinking about who has read this book before me? 31. I love to read. I have grown up in a family who reads. Tom likes to read and our favorite date is to go to the bookstore and get piles of books, find a cozy chair and read. I hope my girls will find the love of reading. (Right now Cassidy doesn’t have it)
32. I have to sleep on the left side of the bed. I also have to sleep with three pillows. No more, no less.
33. I love magazines. My new favorite is Real Simple. At one point I had subscriptions to 7 different magazines. However that’s when I had no car and was stuck at home. HGTV and magazines were all I had!!!
34. I hate getting the mail.
35. I love Christmas cards with pictures in them.
36. I hate getting ready for the day. I wish I could stay in my P.J.’s all day!
37. I love to clean and organize. I wish my kids did too. It sure would make my life a lot simpler.
38. I hate to unload the dishwasher. I will clean the whole kitchen; put all the dirty dishes in one side of the sink filled with soapy water and walk away calling it clean. I don’t know why I have this phobia of the dishwasher but I do. My dad always did the dishes growing up and when he lived with us he knew I hated it so he would get up every morning and unload it for me. He was the greatest dad ever!! Cassidy’s new after school job is unloading the dishwasher (as of Monday). I’m so excited!!!
39. I need to loose 10 pounds.
40. I love getting pedicures. I also love getting my eyebrows waxed.
41. I love having two girls. I love tea parties and dress up and nail polish and ribbons and bows and the color pink. I love tulle and polka dots and Barbie’s and little children’s furniture. I’m a total girl mom and I love it!
42. I love shabby chic design. I love cottage style and florals. I am sucker for furniture that is white. I love antiques and pieces with a history. Every time I go on vacation I have to go find a salvage yard or antique store and find something that has a story to bring home.

43. I love doing ANYTHING with Monica and Mindy.
44. I have a horrible gag reflex. I can’t hold anything in my mouth like a pencil or a credit card or I’ll gag. If the kids are throwing up, Tom has to help them or I’ll be right there with them gagging in the toilet.
45. I love and miss the smell of the ocean air. I love to sit on the beach and watch the sun go down, or walk along the edge of the water and watch the waves come and go. It calms my soul. 46. I’m a very loud burper. I can win a burping contest at whim. I guess that’s what happens when you grow up in a house full of boys.
47. I love that our house has become the neighborhood hang-out-house. All the kids in the neighborhood climb our tree, jump on our trampoline, play with our toys and watch our movies. It’s always been my dream, and now it’s a reality!
48. I hate grocery shopping with a passion! (Unless of course it’s with Monica and Mindy)
49. I love my church calling. I’m the nursery coordinator. I love going in to each class and helping the teachers and playing with all the kids. The best part is that I get to be “in” the nursery without having to “stay” in the same room with crying kids for two hours.
50. I wish I could roller blade and ride a bike. Then we could go as a family on little adventures. I think that would be fun.
51. I can’t sing. Or more appropriately, I won’t sing. I had a mother who was a singer and who can compete with that? Although, I do love to hear people sing. I love Broadway musicals and movies that have singing in them. I’m just not going to be the singer–ever!
52. I love taking baths. I would take a bath every night if my bathtub was better. It’s very calming and relaxing and makes my bones feel good. My girls follow my example.
53. My favorite number is 22.
54. I wish I was smarter. I wish I had the brain where learning was easy. I wish I could enjoy learning smart people stuff. I only enjoy learning about fun stuff. Example: gardening, cooking, decorating and photography (even that seems to be over my head).
55. I am not offended easily. I am pretty easy going and love to please others.
56. I can’t spell worth beans. Really, I have the poorest spelling and grammar possible. Thank heavens for spell check!
57. I’m very outgoing. Sometimes too much!
58. I love doing service for others. You need help? Call me; I’ll be there for you without a second thought! (My husband hates this about me because I usually rope him into helping too)
59. I don’t know how to download music and I wish I did.
60. I have to have a little time to myself each day or I go nuts! I guess this comes from being the only girl with her own room. Tom and I were married for about two weeks when I couldn’t handle it anymore. I needed some space. So I locked myself into the bedroom and told him to go find something to do for a while. Poor guy, he didn’t take it well. He’s learned and is o.k. with it now. No worries! However, I do make my kids take a nap everyday so I can have some peace!
61. I’m starting to loose my memory. I used to be able to remember everything! That’s why I’m excited about this blog – so I can record things for my failing memory.
62. I love my religion
63. I’m a little bit crazy and a whole lot of fun. I don’t like to be serious.
64. I’m not an emotional person. I’m the guy in the relationship and Tom’s the girl. (Emotionally speaking of course.)
65. I miss my Mom and Dad.
66. I’m a peeping Tom. I love to drive around and look at houses. I especially like to at night so I can see inside. I always wonder “what is their life like?” or “how is their house decorated?”
67. I love President Hinckley and wish he could live forever! I want my girls to have him be their favorite prophet like he is mine.
68. I hate to travel, but love that Tom my friends are helping me overcome that. If it weren’t for them I would not have gone to some pretty amazing places and seen some pretty amazing things. I thank them for that. 69. I love babies. I wish my girls wouldn’t grow up. I’m a little nervous about the teenage years. Will my girls still like me then?
70. I love going to the library.
71. We aren’t allowed to rent movies anymore because we never take them back on time. Thank goodness for net-flix and blockbuster online!
72. I wish Kurt still lived next door.
73. I can’t miss any of the action. If there’s a party or book club, I’m one of the last to leave. If there are people over, I hate having to tend to the kids because I might miss out on something. I need to get over this!
74. I love creativity. I encourage it in my girls more than I should.
75. I am a spiritual person. I believe in Christ and I love the gospel. I’m not open about my spirituality but I do have a firm testimony of the Church and its teachings.
76. I am a patient person. Sometimes too patient.
77. I usually go with the flow even if it’s not what I want to do..I need to stand up for myself more.
78. I love doing laundry. I usually do it all in one day – Monday. I love sorting, washing and folding. I HATE putting laundry away.
79. I am a visual learner. I have to see it to remember it or I have to envision it in my head while someone is telling me something or it goes right out the window (or ear).
80. I hardly ever cry. I wish I could especially in R.S. when everyone else is and I’m just sitting there feeling stupid.
81. I would much rather speak in public than pray in public.
82. I have a dream that my house will be in a magazine someday. (I don’t think it will ever happen, but its fun to dream)
83. I am not creative with my hair. It’s either down or in a ponytail. I wish one of the Jobe’s would kidnap me and give me hair and makeup lessons.
84. I don’t keep a journal because I get too embarrassed when I read what I wrote. I hope this blog will change that.
85. I love Tom more than he knows. I need to tell him more since his love language is verbal communication. (Mine is not so I totally need to make the effort. Goal # 2 for 2007)
86. I have blue eyes and brown hair and I have never needed braces.
87. I hate the lower half of my body. Every inch – and the inches are getting bigger by the year!
88. I love my 2 aunts. They are completely different, but my life wouldn’t be the same without them.

89. I love making a treat on Sundays. Suzanne Ross’ chocolate chip cookies mostly. Sometimes German chocolate cake in the microwave with my cool pampered chef pan (it takes 10 min. No lie!) I grew up with that tradition and have lots of fun memories of my brothers and mom in the kitchen. I hope my girls will grow up with fond memories of this and pass it on.
90. I hate wearing shoes. The minuet I get home I take them off.
91. I get a boost of energy when I am around people. It’s like a drug. If I am dead tired I can go to book club, or my brothers will come over and tada! I have enough energy to run a marathon. The problem is….when I get home, or they leave I crash. Is there a name for this drug and can we bottle it somehow?
92. I wish I could win the HGTV dream home. Or the Martha Stewart dream home. I enter the contest online everyday hoping to win. What I would do if I won? I’m not sure, It’s just my dream.
93. I love Brooke. Her and Paige are the Queen of Cute. I wish I could be like them.
94. I’m thankful for technology and all the modern conveniences we have. I could not have been a pioneer. Even though when I was younger I wanted to be Laura Ingalls.
95. I have to drink with a straw. I have a jar of them on the counter within easy reach.
96. I have bionic ears. I can hear things like know other. Sometimes it’s a blessing and sometimes it’s a curse.
97. I am not a morning person. The problem is, no one in our house is a morning person either. That makes getting up and ready for school and work a constant problem. Goal #3 for 2007 – go to bed early and get up early.
98. I grew up with no sisters. Now I have 7 sister-in-laws. I'm glad I have them.
99. I love kids and I still love to babysit. I love to play and be silly.
100. I love to go out to eat. Tom has rubbed off on me.
101. I love my family and my life. I’m glad I have them and they make me who I am.