Each year as winter comes to a close and the weather warms up, I find myself anticipating new flowers, new warmth, and new life. It has been said that hope is anything but wishful. It is expectation based on experience. And so each year as Spring draws closer, my spirits tend to lift as the newness of the season approaches. My heart feels lighter as the chill of Winter drops into the background once again.
I found a wonderful quote which expresses my feelings and I wish to share it with you. Once again, I don't know the author, but I hope these words resonate with you as they did with me:
"I see Hope clearly now. She is serene. Her eyes have the deep knowing look of someone well acquainted with sorrow, the luminosity of recently being wet with tears. Hope has the confidence of one who clearly sees a bright future even when the next hours seem fog shrouded. Hope is steady and strong, a friend I am glad to have beside me during my own trials."
Trials come in all varieties and it seem they are everywhere around us. Whether they involve our health,finances, social injustice, family issues, or emotional insecurities, the serenity of hope can give us the strength to keep going; to "Keep on Keepin' on" as my Grandma Belle always used to say. Hope is never far away and is a friend that each of us can hang on to when the going gets tough.
Kathy Christensen
Guest Blogger
Sister Survivor
Thursday, March 31, 2011
Wednesday, March 30, 2011
ALMOST WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - Pink Chocolate on a Stick!
Again, with the chocolate?! Sorry - I just couldn't help myself! Last tempting post, I promise...
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
TUESDAY TIPS - Health Benefits of Chocolate
So, since I tempted you yesterday with all the talk and pictures of chocolate, I thought I'd better find some good information about the health benefits of chocolate (and, I'm just craving chocolate again - go figure!)
Here is part of an article found on ClevelandClinic.org:
"Flavonoids help protect plants by shielding them from environmental toxins and helping repair damage. When we consume plant-based foods rich in flavonoids, it appears that we also benefit from this “antioxidant” power. Antioxidants are believed to help the body's cells resist damage caused by free radicals that are formed by normal bodily processes such as breathing and from environmental contaminants like cigarette smoke. When the body lacks adequate levels of antioxidants, damage from free radicals occurs and leads to increases in LDL (“bad)-cholesterol oxidation (oxidized LDL-cholesterol hurts the arteries) and plaque formation on the walls of the arteries.
Flavanols are the main type of flavonoid found in cocoa and chocolate. In addition to having antioxidant qualities, research indicates that flavanols have other positive influences on vascular health, such as lowering blood pressure and improving blood flow to the brain and heart, making blood platelets less sticky and able to clot, and lowering cholesterol."
If you'd like to read the rest of the article, just CLICK HERE and you'll be directed to the article. It's very interesting.
Here is part of an article found on ClevelandClinic.org:
"Flavonoids help protect plants by shielding them from environmental toxins and helping repair damage. When we consume plant-based foods rich in flavonoids, it appears that we also benefit from this “antioxidant” power. Antioxidants are believed to help the body's cells resist damage caused by free radicals that are formed by normal bodily processes such as breathing and from environmental contaminants like cigarette smoke. When the body lacks adequate levels of antioxidants, damage from free radicals occurs and leads to increases in LDL (“bad)-cholesterol oxidation (oxidized LDL-cholesterol hurts the arteries) and plaque formation on the walls of the arteries.
Flavanols are the main type of flavonoid found in cocoa and chocolate. In addition to having antioxidant qualities, research indicates that flavanols have other positive influences on vascular health, such as lowering blood pressure and improving blood flow to the brain and heart, making blood platelets less sticky and able to clot, and lowering cholesterol."
If you'd like to read the rest of the article, just CLICK HERE and you'll be directed to the article. It's very interesting.
Monday, March 28, 2011
MONDAY MOTIVATION - Chocolates
I was looking for a good quote to post here today. I looked up quotes on happiness, and that naturally led me to quotes on chocolates. (What? You don't see how that could happen??!) And then this quote popped up...
"Life is like a box of chocolates - you never know what you're going to get." Forrest Gump in "Forrest Gump" (1994)
That got me thinking - about life's ups and downs (not to mention, chocolate), and I decided that it's true - you never know what life will bring. Think about a big box of chocolates:
The first thing you do (if you're like me), is eat all of the square shaped pieces. Because, those are the chocolate covered caramels - and there is NOTHING better than that. Of course, in life, you pick out all the greatest, funnest, coolest things - first kiss, marriage, ideal job, babies, opera - you get the idea!
Next, you try to NOT pick out those pieces that are round, and kind of big - because you know that you'll bite into a chocolate-covered cherry. Yuck! Life has those too - job loss, death, disease, unhappiness.
So, you search and search through the remaining pieces, looking for something that might have a yummy surprise inside - sometimes you pick out a winner, and sometime, you get one that is just a variation on the chocolate cherry. But, does that stop you from trying again? Well.... NO! And, even those pieces that aren't that great still have chocolate on the outside, right?! So, there is something good there.
So, search through your box of chocolates - partake of the good stuff, and even a few of the not-so-good, share, and share more, and ENJOY your life! Even the chocolate-covered cherry parts.
(Since this is a breast cancer blog - I'd better mention the "In Moderation" part of chocolate. You girls know what I mean, right? Oh, and dark chocolate is healthier than milk chocolate. There - I feel better.)
OK, I need some chocolate!
"Life is like a box of chocolates - you never know what you're going to get." Forrest Gump in "Forrest Gump" (1994)
That got me thinking - about life's ups and downs (not to mention, chocolate), and I decided that it's true - you never know what life will bring. Think about a big box of chocolates:
The first thing you do (if you're like me), is eat all of the square shaped pieces. Because, those are the chocolate covered caramels - and there is NOTHING better than that. Of course, in life, you pick out all the greatest, funnest, coolest things - first kiss, marriage, ideal job, babies, opera - you get the idea!
Next, you try to NOT pick out those pieces that are round, and kind of big - because you know that you'll bite into a chocolate-covered cherry. Yuck! Life has those too - job loss, death, disease, unhappiness.
So, you search and search through the remaining pieces, looking for something that might have a yummy surprise inside - sometimes you pick out a winner, and sometime, you get one that is just a variation on the chocolate cherry. But, does that stop you from trying again? Well.... NO! And, even those pieces that aren't that great still have chocolate on the outside, right?! So, there is something good there.
So, search through your box of chocolates - partake of the good stuff, and even a few of the not-so-good, share, and share more, and ENJOY your life! Even the chocolate-covered cherry parts.
(Since this is a breast cancer blog - I'd better mention the "In Moderation" part of chocolate. You girls know what I mean, right? Oh, and dark chocolate is healthier than milk chocolate. There - I feel better.)
OK, I need some chocolate!
Tuesday, March 22, 2011
TUESDAY TIPS: LiBrow - Eyebrow Restoration Product
For those of you who had chemo, and lost hair, did your hair grow back? My hair is getting a little bit thicker. I've noticed a difference in growth when I've had a protein drink each morning, and when I take multi-vitamins. However, my eyelashes and eyebrows are not growing back much. It's been 2 years since my last chemo treatment, and I'm getting desperate. My face looks weird without eyebrows. And the application of eyebrow pencil is NOT very natural looking.
I've been looking around for a product that will help with regrowth. I used Latisse on my eyelashes for a little while - it did work. I just didn't use it for long enough to make a huge difference. If I remember right, it's around $100 for a very tiny bottle of Latisse. Yikes!
I've been reading reviews for different products, and those the "work" all have something in common - they are very expensive. I decided to try a product called LiBrow (they also make LiLash). This comes highly recommended. I'm really hoping this will work. The price tag was high - $139. But this is supposed to last 4-5 months. So, that's only around $35/month. And lets face it, it's way less expensive than hair implants (which I recently considered, until I found out they would cost over $5000!!!) And really, if this works, it is totally worth it. My order should be here within a week, and after I've used it for about a month, I'll review it here and let you know if it works.
**The thing that convinced me to purchase this product - a 90-day 100% guarantee (but only if you buy it from the LiBrow website - see below).
Here's the link if you are interested: http://www.lilash.com/pages/LiBrow
I've been looking around for a product that will help with regrowth. I used Latisse on my eyelashes for a little while - it did work. I just didn't use it for long enough to make a huge difference. If I remember right, it's around $100 for a very tiny bottle of Latisse. Yikes!
I've been reading reviews for different products, and those the "work" all have something in common - they are very expensive. I decided to try a product called LiBrow (they also make LiLash). This comes highly recommended. I'm really hoping this will work. The price tag was high - $139. But this is supposed to last 4-5 months. So, that's only around $35/month. And lets face it, it's way less expensive than hair implants (which I recently considered, until I found out they would cost over $5000!!!) And really, if this works, it is totally worth it. My order should be here within a week, and after I've used it for about a month, I'll review it here and let you know if it works.
**The thing that convinced me to purchase this product - a 90-day 100% guarantee (but only if you buy it from the LiBrow website - see below).
Here's the link if you are interested: http://www.lilash.com/pages/LiBrow
Monday, March 21, 2011
MONDAY MOTIVATION - Lose Yourself in Service
Something exciting happened in my family last week. I hope you won't mind if I share it with you. The church I belong to - The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, or Mormon church - offers the opportunity of missionary work to its members. Young men (age 19), are asked to serve a mission somewhere in the world - for 2 years. (Many young women and couples also serve missions.) My son, Michael, just received his mission call - he is going to spend 2 years in Veracruz, Mexico!
This mission call has caused me to pause and think a lot about service. Missionaries (and their families) pay for their own missions (about $10,000), they don't work for those two years. They spend their time studying, learning, teaching, and serving. It's an amazing opportunity - one that cannot be equaled. My oldest son, Grant, served a mission in Fukuoka Japan for 2 years, and he came home a changed man. It was an amazing transformation for a mother to watch. The thing he learned that was most important, in my opinion, is that we must serve other people.
Service is something that changes lives. While going through my cancer journey - especially through all of my treatments - I was the recipient of an outpouring of service. My mother served as she took me to every one of my chemo treatments, stayed with me all day, brought me back home, and made sure I was comfortable. My sister, Kris, served me by being my Bosom Buddy - the one who went to every one of my appointments at the plastic surgeon's - holding my hand through every single injection, through bandages being removed, and stood right next to me, looking at my new image in the mirror. Other friends, and family, served my family through dinners, cards and letters, gifts, phone calls, etc. All of this service was invaluable to me. It helped me through my cancer journey, and instilled in me a desire to serve other cancer survivors. It changed me, and I'm sure it changed each person who served me.
I love the words of Mohandas Gandhi:
"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."
"All other pleasures and possessions pale into nothingness before service which is rendered in a spirit of joy."
We, as women, are especially drawn to service - it strengthens us and lifts us up.
As Gandhi said: "I have worshipped woman as the living embodiment of the spirit of service and sacrifice."
As you go through your cancer journey, let others serve you. Allow them to shower you with love and help. Then, when you feel better, let their service influence you into serving as well.
Have a wonderful day!
-Kara
This mission call has caused me to pause and think a lot about service. Missionaries (and their families) pay for their own missions (about $10,000), they don't work for those two years. They spend their time studying, learning, teaching, and serving. It's an amazing opportunity - one that cannot be equaled. My oldest son, Grant, served a mission in Fukuoka Japan for 2 years, and he came home a changed man. It was an amazing transformation for a mother to watch. The thing he learned that was most important, in my opinion, is that we must serve other people.
Service is something that changes lives. While going through my cancer journey - especially through all of my treatments - I was the recipient of an outpouring of service. My mother served as she took me to every one of my chemo treatments, stayed with me all day, brought me back home, and made sure I was comfortable. My sister, Kris, served me by being my Bosom Buddy - the one who went to every one of my appointments at the plastic surgeon's - holding my hand through every single injection, through bandages being removed, and stood right next to me, looking at my new image in the mirror. Other friends, and family, served my family through dinners, cards and letters, gifts, phone calls, etc. All of this service was invaluable to me. It helped me through my cancer journey, and instilled in me a desire to serve other cancer survivors. It changed me, and I'm sure it changed each person who served me.
I love the words of Mohandas Gandhi:
"The best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others."
"All other pleasures and possessions pale into nothingness before service which is rendered in a spirit of joy."
We, as women, are especially drawn to service - it strengthens us and lifts us up.
As Gandhi said: "I have worshipped woman as the living embodiment of the spirit of service and sacrifice."
As you go through your cancer journey, let others serve you. Allow them to shower you with love and help. Then, when you feel better, let their service influence you into serving as well.
Have a wonderful day!
-Kara
Thursday, March 17, 2011
THURSDAY THOUGHTS - Our Finest Hours
Neal Maxwell shared a quote in his book that truly caught my eye. it reads:
"For the faithful, our finest hours are sometimes during or just following our darkest hours. Only the Lord can compare crosses, but all crosses are easier to carry when we keep moving."
Just think of the people you know and respect. Most of them didn't get where they are by having a life of clear sailing and no storms to weather. My own mother is now in the final stages of Multiple Myeloma (Cancer of the bone marrow). Her life is full of pain, but she keeps moving. Each day for her it takes courage just to get out of bed and begin a new day, yet she does so and remains pleasant and courageous. The disease has left her frail and weak. We are grateful for my father who sees to her every need. It is indeed a true and noble love story playing out right before our eyes. Despite the fact that my father was an award winning athlete in his younger days, and my mother was a most skilled secretary, I think that their finest hours are being lived right now as they finish out their days caring for each other. Many times the days are long and the going gets rough, but they keep moving; chugging along each day, counting their blessings as they go.
I believe that as much as we are fascinated by the lives of the rich and famous, many of the most inspiring examples of courage and tenacity are displayed in the lives of those right under our noses who carry on each and every day without the fanfare of the media. I see many of you in the group Sister Survivors. You, just like my parents, keep moving as you courageously face the challenges of each new day. So carry on, forge ahead, continue smiling, and as my Grandma Belle always said, "Keep on Keepin' on!"
Kathy Christensen
Guest Blogger
"For the faithful, our finest hours are sometimes during or just following our darkest hours. Only the Lord can compare crosses, but all crosses are easier to carry when we keep moving."
Just think of the people you know and respect. Most of them didn't get where they are by having a life of clear sailing and no storms to weather. My own mother is now in the final stages of Multiple Myeloma (Cancer of the bone marrow). Her life is full of pain, but she keeps moving. Each day for her it takes courage just to get out of bed and begin a new day, yet she does so and remains pleasant and courageous. The disease has left her frail and weak. We are grateful for my father who sees to her every need. It is indeed a true and noble love story playing out right before our eyes. Despite the fact that my father was an award winning athlete in his younger days, and my mother was a most skilled secretary, I think that their finest hours are being lived right now as they finish out their days caring for each other. Many times the days are long and the going gets rough, but they keep moving; chugging along each day, counting their blessings as they go.
I believe that as much as we are fascinated by the lives of the rich and famous, many of the most inspiring examples of courage and tenacity are displayed in the lives of those right under our noses who carry on each and every day without the fanfare of the media. I see many of you in the group Sister Survivors. You, just like my parents, keep moving as you courageously face the challenges of each new day. So carry on, forge ahead, continue smiling, and as my Grandma Belle always said, "Keep on Keepin' on!"
Kathy Christensen
Guest Blogger
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