Spur of the moment

Life can be unexpected. When it becomes unexpected, like it has for our family this past week, I find that I gravitate towards three things; Dave, the girls and my family up North. When I am away from them all I can think about is seeing them and being around them. So, because life has become very unexpected right now, I did what every teacher hates parents to do; I pulled my kids out of school early to drive to Bothell to celebrate this girls 3rd birthday.

Looking at her face you wouldn't think that she has been fighting pneumonia all week or that her brother was too sick to come out to enjoy our first sun of the spring. He has been fighting a cold, a double ear infection and a ruptured ear drum.

Nor would you think that by looking at this happy face that the next day after this picture was taken that her Grandma Kathy would go in for a very important doctor's appointment.

And looking at this girl, all grown up, you would never know that her Grandma Kathy would find out that she has a mass on her ovary the size of a newborn babies head and that she would require surgery on Monday morning to remove it and that she has a 50/50 chance of having cancer to go along with that mass.

So, here I am, hopping in my car spur of the moment to help keep things real for me.

I need these people in my life, every day, to help ME get through these unexpected times.

Life can be unexpected, but as my amazing mom has said multiple times this week: "You can wallow in this and simply give up OR you can look to the future and make the most out of your given situation." I'm with mom...the future does look scary, but together, we can definitely make the most of every day and every situation.

Starting Somewhere....

It's been a long time. I know. There is lots to share and I just didn't know where to start. So, I'm starting here. With what matters most.

Two sisters. As close as ever. They fight like crazy but have each others backs day in and day out. True love.

This girl is about to be 7! She got her ears pierced, got an infection and no longer has them pierced. She learned how to sew by needle point and can tell you (and show you) 8 different ways to use the needle. She is a reader, an artist and an amazing friend to others.

This girl went to her orientation to meet her Kindergarten teacher last week. I sat with tears in my eyes as she ran off with the teacher without so much as a backward glance towards me. She lives life to the fullest these days; she is writing her name, knows all her letters and sounds and continues to light up any room with her laugh and smile.

Ahh. These two. They are happy. Busy. But happy. He celebrated a birthday in April (and turned my favorite number), is recovering from a gum graph surgery and busily finishing up another school year. She has stumbled upon a new business making headbands and clips (look for Seriously, Heather LLC to debut soon) and is counting down the days until she can sip coffee on the back porch without being in a hurry. Life is busy but the love they share is in full bloom.

And all of us? Happy, united, strong and feeling blessed to have one another.