MONDAY MEMOIRS - The Christmas Season...

I was going through chemo during the Christmas season of 2008. In fact, it worked out that I had 2 chemo treatments that December. I'm normally a "Christmas" person - I decorate a ton, love to shop, and generally get very into the holiday spirit. I love to attend things like Festival of Trees, and love to drive around looking at Christmas lights. I remember that year - I just didn't have the strength to do any decorating, or attend anything. My sister came and decorated for me, and I had help taking things down after the holidays. I didn't do any baking that year, and I really just had to rely on others to help make the holidays special for my family. My parents took me out shopping, and even did some of the shopping for me.

A few things that helped - I did most of my shopping online. It was better for me, because I didn't want to go out around crowds. I accepted help from others, and learned about that wonderful thing called charity. Everyone understood that I couldn't do things I normally did.

As I run around this year, trying to get ready for Christmas, my thoughts go back to 2008. It was a hard time for me. This weekend, as I tried to decorate my 12 foot Christmas tree by myself, I remembered that I couldn't even put this tree up in 2008. I just didn't have the strength. I still didn't have the strength to do it last year. This year, my kids helped me, and there it is - my beautiful tree! I still need help to keep up with everything, but I'm slowly and surely getting back to my old "Christmas" self.

Today, take a minute to sit down and write in your cancer journal...

How did you get through the holidays when you were sick? What kinds of things help to make that time easier? Who helped? What did you miss being able to do?

And finally...

Count all of your blessings - being alive to enjoy the Christmas season is one of my biggest blessings!

Merry Christmas!

-Kara

THURSDAY THOUGHTS - Give Your Troubles to God...

We are excited to hear from guest blogger & Sister Survivor member, Kathy Christensen, for today's blog post...

Several years ago after my second divorce, I was home trying to get
my life on track. Of course my spirits were low and I was doing my best
to "keep my head above water" each day. During the stressful times of my
life I have found it quite therapeutic to go window shopping in an effort
to get my mind on something besides my looming problems. Even though I
usually don't have the money to make any big purchases, it is fun to just
look and stroll along.

So off to the mall I went on this particular day. As I leisurely
passed all of the stores at the mall, my spirits began to lift. I
stopped for a Coke (my drug of choice) and things continued to look a
little brighter yet. I love card and gift stores so I wandered into the
first Hallmark store I found. I chuckled as I read some of the greeting
cards and found that it felt good to genuinely be laughing even a little.
I then came to the section of the store where they had mounted quotes on
display. As I browsed along one particular frame caught my eye. It
read, "Before you go to bed at night, give your troubles to God....He'll
be up all night anyway."

I was so taken by this message that I purchased the frame on the
spot because there was only one copy. When I got home that frame found
its new home on the headboard of my bed. Each evening as I retired to my
room to say my prayers and settle down for the night that thought gave me
such great comfort and strength. Cancer had not yet become part of my
personal vocabulary, but when that time in my life came, this thought was
safely locked away in my mind for quick recall. I knew that God would
be "up all night" to support me wherever and whenever I needed His help.

And so it is for each and every one of you Sister Survivors. None of
us need to travel this frightening and difficult journey alone. We are
here for each other and God is there for US whenever the journey gets
particularly rough. HE IS UP ALL NIGHT to offer support, help and love
whenever we need Him. All we have to do is humbly ask for His help.

WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - Head Down the Hill in Style - Pink Style!

TUESDAY TIDINGS - Hats off to Winter!

The snow is here! You better bundle up...

I had to have chemo during the winter, and it was a good time to wear hats. American Cancer Society's Tender Loving Care is a great place to shop for hats, scarves, wigs, and other head coverings.

My favorite "toppings" were the Cotton/Spandex turbans. They were comfortable, and I could jazz them up with beautiful scarves or braided twists...



I also had a favorite hat - the Cotton Knit Cloche.


And my favorite scarf was the Emma.



Each one of these coverings provided warmth during the cold winter months. If you'd like to shop online, go to www.tlcdirect.org. You can also call for a catalog, and to order: 1-800-850-9445.

Here's to a stylish winter!

MONDAY MEMOIRS - Cold & Flu Season

I've had two severe colds in the last month, and winter just started. Each cold I get seems to last forever, and is worse than the previous one. I think one of the problems is that my immune system is not as strong as it used to be. It's been a year and a half since my last chemo treatment, and I kind of expected to not have these problems still. But, as I've talked to other cancer survivors, I've learned that it can take 2-5 years to get back to your "normal" pre-cancer self. The fact that I can get back to my old self is good - but I wish it didn't take so much time. It seems that with each new cold, I get weaker and weaker. I guess this would be a good time to make sure I've got a flu shot, that I'm eating fruits and vegetables, and that I get lots of rest.

Today, open your journal and talk about getting better. As you think about this, try to recognize the things you are doing that help you feel better. Is there something you are trying that helps? Maybe you take a nap each day, and that helps boost your energy - or maybe you are careful to stay away from others who are sick.

My advice: Be careful of crowds. If you feel a cold coming on, get plenty of rest and Vitamin C. Take care of yourself!

FRIDAY FARE: Elegant Turkey, Cranberry, & Brie Quesadilla

Looking for healthy recipes for Breast Cancer patients, I came across this information posted at the Avon Foundation Breast Center, at Johns Hopkins Medicine website:



Guidelines for Healthy Eating



There are no food or dietary supplements that will act as “magic bullets” to prevent breast cancer from returning. National Cancer Institute guidelines for cancer prevention can be used to decrease the chance of a breast cancer recurrence. These guidelines include:



* Increase intake of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains

* Decrease fat intake to <>

* Minimize intake of cured, pickled and smoked foods

* Achieve and maintain a healthy weight

* Alcohol consumption should be done in moderation, if at all



So, today's recipes include fruit - and it's a great recipe for all the leftover turkey you'll have next week! ;-) I found this recipe on Healthy Kids Recipes (www.healthy-kids-recipes.com), and I can't wait to try it!



ELEGANT TURKEY, CRANBERRY & BRIE QUESADILLA





Chive Topping:

1/2 cup Sour cream, low fat

1 oz (1/2 cup) Chives, thinly sliced

1 teaspoon Fresh garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon Lemon juice

1/4 teaspoon Salt

1/8 teaspoon Cayenne pepper, ground



Quesadilla:

1 lb Turkey breast cutlets (or use leftover Thanksgiving turkey)

2 cups Brie, rind removed

8 Flour tortillas, low fat, 8-inch

1 cup Cranberries, sweetened dried

1/2 cup Walnuts, toasted and chopped

1/2 cup Chives, thinly sliced



Preheat oven to 350°F. Purée chive topping ingredients in food processor until smooth. Refrigerate. Sauté cutlets in lightly oiled skillet over medium heat 5 minutes per side until turkey is no longer pink in center and reaches internal temperature of 170°F. Cool and shred.



To make quesadilla:

Spread 1/2 cup Brie over tortilla.

Layer 1/2 cup turkey, 1/4 cup cranberries, 2 tablespoons walnuts and 2 tablespoons chives.

Top with second tortilla.

Bake quesadillas on baking sheet 8 to 10 minutes until cheese is melted.

Cut into wedges. Serve with chive topping. Makes 4 quesadillas.

THURSDAY THOUGHTS: Rain Dancing...

We have a new guest poster - Kathy Christensen. She is one of our own Sister Survivors, and she'll be posting here each week on Thursday Thoughts:

When I came to the first meeting for Sister Survivors, I didn't know quite what to expect. Not knowing anyone in the room, I decided to mostly listen and see what this organization was all about. As I listened to Kara, Collete and Bethanie, I couldn't help but be fascinated by their stories, their experiences and their positiveness. Later, when I listened to many of the survivors tell of their experiences, I felt almost unworthy to be in the room. My own Cancer adventure, although huge and disconcerting to me, didn't hold a candle to all that these many women had endured.

I was diagnosed on December 10, 2008, and had a lumpectomy on January 2, 2009. My very small tumor(less than a centimeter in size) was found during a routine mammogram. Because of this great blessing I was spared the rigors of Chemo Therapy and did not even come close to needing a Mastectomy. I decided that I could truly be the poster child for mammograms....Perhaps THAT is what I could contribute to the group.

At the November meeting I volunteered to try my hand at providing the Thursday Thoughts for the blog. I was happy to lighten the load for Kara any way that I could. As I thought of where I might begin, I remembered a wonderful little plaque that I found to give my best friend for her birthday birthday. It read like this:

"Life is not about waiting for the storm to pass; it is about learning to dance in the rain."

I absolutely fell in love with this thought because I feel that all of of us do
our fair share of "raindancing" as we progress through our lives. I feel that the women I have met in the Sister Survivors group are among the bravest and most courageous that I have ever had the privilege to meet. So carry on dear Sister Survivors....every one of you. You are among the best "raindancers" I have ever seen. The world can learn from all of us as we help lift, encourage and support one another. I am most proud to be a part of this group.

Sincerely,

Kathleen T Christensen (Kathy)