Lifting Hearts

Wednesday, October 13, 2010

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY... Take a PINK ride!

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

TUESDAY TIDINGS - An Breast Cancer Survivor... an Incredible Woman!

I thought I'd let you know about an interview I'm doing over on my Incredible Women blog this week...

Lynn is a 2 time Breast Cancer survivor - and someone I've waited a year to interview. She is quite a unique woman - just like each of you. A year ago, when the Incredible Women blog went PINK for the month of October, I sent out questions to a bunch of Breast Cancer survivors. Lynn was one of them. She had actually seen the blog, and contacted me earlier. That's when I was introduced to her and her cancer blog...

www.learningfromlynn.blogspot.com

Lynn has written almost 700 posts on her blog in the last 2 1/2 years! It is one of the most helpful, inspiring blogs I've ever read. I love it. One thing that Lynn includes at the end of her posts is quotes. I loved the quote from a post a few days ago - I've added it to our right sidebar - go have a look! Her cancer story is amazing, her blog is wonderful... what more can I say? If you have a few minutes each day this week, I encourage you to visit Incredible Women and read about Lynn - each day there are 2 questions/answers for the whole week. And, don't forget to visit her blog - Learning From Lynn. You really will learn lots.

BTW - I've added Lynn's blog to our Sister Survivor's blog list. Just look near the bottom of the left sidebar.

Have a great day!

-Kara

Monday, October 11, 2010

MONDAY MEMOIRS - Service...

Today, I thought I'd share with you what our Sister Survivor group did at the meeting last Thursday. We've been trying to get ready for the big Kick Off that is on October 28th, and Bethanie, Colette, and I really needed some help. Dr. Bishop and his staff have done so much, but I'm finding out that planning and executing something this big takes a bunch of willing hands. So, I sent an email to the members of Sister Survivors, asking them to show up on Thursday to help.

In planning for Thursday night, I started to get worried that we would have too many people, and not enough to do. So instead of just wrapping up all of the silent auction gifts, I thought maybe they could help to change the date on the 1500 fliers that were already printed (we originally had the 7th for the Kick-Off), and then maybe we could make a few blankets for some women going through chemo. As the night drew nearer, I started to worry that we wouldn't get everything done that we had planned. (I worry about a lot of things! Haha!) Anyway, I shouldn't have worried - the ladies came through and showed up (there were 20 there that night!), and worked hard. We got everything done! And I have to say - I think it was the funnest Sister Survivors meeting we've had. I loved every minutes of it. I told Dr. Bishop that many hands make happy hearts, and I believe that. It was so thrilling to see how happy everyone was to be serving others. It was just a great night. Bethanie mentioned to me later, that she had noticed the interaction between the Sister Survivors, and loved the conversations that were taking place. Two of the Sister Survivors brought their daughters along to help, and my sister, Kris, came as well. Kris took lots of pictures - I thought I'd share them here. And, once again, thanks to Colette's brother, Scott, for allowing us the use of the board room at his law offices.

By-the-way, if you are expecting a MONDAY MEMOIRS today, get out your cancer journal and write about ways you have served since your cancer diagnosis - or ways you plan to serve once you feel better. I know I've wanted to give back in some way, just to "pay it forward" - to honor those who helped me so much during my cancer journey. One way I'm trying to serve is to be involved with this wonderful group of survivors and patients - it makes me happy to help those who have to deal with the same monster that I did.

Here are the pictures - ENJOY!

And, here is the result of our hard work:

Friday, October 8, 2010

FRIDAY FARE - Green Smoothie...

Guest blogger, Shannon Stahura, sent this in. Shannon is a friend and neighbor of mine. She helped me out lots during my treatment. Her mom is currently undergoing treatment for breast cancer, and Shannon volunteered to help me out here on the blog with recipes...

"My trainer gave me this recipe and I have been making it for breakfast and as a snack for the last couple of weeks . If you have had the naked juice or odwalla green juice it is very similar . This is a great fast and easy way to get your fruit and veggie servings."

GREEN SMOOTHIE

1 cup water
2 cups spinach
1 cup fresh pineapple
1 banana
1 cup ice

Optional...

Add protein powder or a teaspoon of coconut oil. Coconut oil is a great way to get your serving of healthy fats and adds some thickness to the shake.

Directions...

1. Blend spinach and water until well blended
2. Add the rest of the ingredients and blend well and drink it up.

The whole food blenders such as Vitamix or bBlendtec are recommended.

By-the-way, at our nutrition meeting in the summer, Kim - one of our Sister Survivors - showed us how to make green smoothies, so I'm excited to have another recipe. I've still got a few of Kim's smoothie recipes if anyone didn't get a packet. Let me know... sistersurvivors@gmail.com

-Kara

Wednesday, October 6, 2010

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - Pink Pumpkin Parade...

Tuesday, October 5, 2010

TUESDAY TIDINGS - Monthly Sister Survivors' Meeting on Thursday night...

All Sister Survivors: We will be holding our monthly meeting this Thursday night at 7:00 pm at the law offices. (look at the left sidebar for the address). We will be getting ready for our Kick-Off, which will be held on the 28th. We could really use some help from all of you. Also, those who aren't working on stuff for the Kick-Off will have a chance to help make some "chemo blankets" for the Sister Survivors who are currently having chemo (like this one that my mom made for me!)...

If you are donating anything for the silent auction, please bring it with you that night.

Come spend some time with us - can't wait to see you!

Monday, October 4, 2010

MONDAY MEMOIRS - Night Reflections...

I was thinking recently about the few days following my doctor's announcement that I had breast cancer. One thing that sticks out in my mind about that time, is that I couldn't sleep. I would lie awake, staring at the ceiling, and finally get up and wander around the house. I would visit my kids' rooms, and watch them sleep. I would sit in my living room and watch the lights from outside make unusual patterns on the walls and ceiling. And I would think about those words... "you've got breast cancer". During the day I could handle that fact, but during the night, I couldn't calm my mind. It was a time of fighting fears, a time of quiet reflection, a time a pleading with God, and a time of facing my own mortality. As I'm describing this, are any of you right there with me?

Take a minute in your cancer journal to write about the nights during your cancer journey. What were they to you?