Soulful Sunday: Goodbye to a Very Dear Friend

On Tuesday, March 9, 2010, Renee of Circling My Head Blog passed away after a lengthy battle with cancer. She was so brave and smart and caring. Though I am glad she is no longer suffering, the world is truly darker without her bright light shining. I didn't know her for very long, but we became fast friends and exchanged little gifts a few times. If has taken me almost a week to write a tribute to her, as really, nothing I can say, write or express will ever come close to describing the wonderful woman she was.

I loved her spirit. If people didn't understand her, or tried to say anything against her (which, really, wasn't very often as she was just so damn right in everything), she would say, "Fuck it!" sorry for the language, but there are times when it is right to say. On Wednesday when I read the announcement on her blog about her death, I was quite upset and didn't really know what to do. As an emotional eater (yes, guilty!) I immediately wanted something with carbs. Bread, or pasta or fat, or comforting, but it had to be good. The other side of this rather one-sided conversation was saying that I'm trying not to eat processed foods as they really don't agree with me, yadda, yadda, yadda. So yeah, I said...

"Fuck it!" I made cheesy tea biscuits in honor of Renee. I love you and miss you.

The tea biscuits were delicious, and Brennan and I ate all twelve by the end of the next day. It was worth it. Renee was worth it. Her spirit lives on in everyone who takes the attitude that we ARE worth it. We are God's children. We ARE.

Rest in peace Renee, we can't wait to see you in heaven when our turn comes.


P.S. I am very sorry for the language today. I seriously debated for a long time whether to put it in as I didn't want to offend or shock anyone, but the loss of Renee hit me pretty hard, and that is really what she said. I didn't want to bleep her. Anyone who reads this blog knows I try very hard not to swear, but sometimes you have to get it out. I got it out, and thank you for understanding.

Thoughtful Thursday: Prayers for Renee

Months ago I met a woman that should be known by everyone. Renee is an inspiration to anyone who has any sort of illness, who wants to be courageous, or who simply wants to tell it like it is. Renee writes a blog, CirclingMyHead, about her battles with cancer, general family information and many other fascinating things. Please check it out, you'll soon realize just how special Renee is.

Renee has final stage breast cancer which has spread to her stomach and bone marrow. She is in her final battle, in hospital to control the pain and allow her to get fluids and nutrition.

Renee is an incredible woman. Her forthrightness with everything, including her illness and her thoughts, fears, hopes and wishes is commendable to the utmost.

Renee is from a large, loving family that is also dealing with the recent loss of one member to a very rare cancer (Sheldon, in his 20's), she just lost her mother, and her sister is also struggling with terminal brain cancer.

Please keep Renee and her family in your prayers, they certainly need and deserve them.

Renee, in the short time I have known you, you have become invaluable to me. I love you and I salute you as a free person. Go with God in peace.

Thoughts and Prayers Needed

I haven't written a blog post for two days as I had some sad news from 2 of my blog friends and I needed time to think it over. I wanted to put my feelings into order to make a blog post that would mean something, but I am still very upset and I don't think I have the ability to be very loquacious at this point (or probably ever).

Barry at An Explorer's View of Life has informed his blog followers that the cancer in his esophagus has spread to other parts of his body, making his cancer treatable, but not curable. His doctors have said he has anywhere from a few months to 5 years. I am in shock! A man who is so witty, funny, fresh and alive, who has gone through the Hell of chemo, radiation and throat widening procedures just HAS to get better. Please, please pray for him, or if you aren't a praying person, please, please send him positive thoughts of healing and happiness.

After hearing that, I went to another of my favorite blogs, written by Renee on Circling My Head. Renee is a vocal, intelligent woman, not afraid to swear when it is necessary, dealing with her own terminal cancer (which is, thank God, stable right now), and having a very hard time recently, with her mother getting sick, her sister diagnosed with inoperable brain cancer, and her nephew with a cancer that less than a handful of people in the world have had, and none have survived. On Friday, her Nephew Sheldon succumbed to his cancer and passed away in the hospital. Please, Please pray and send positive thoughts to her and her family to help them get through this terrible time. He was only 25, and though death at any age is hard, his was more so.

Please help them with your thoughts and prayers. Please visit their blogs and give them your support.
My love to all of my blog followers, I hope you never have to go through what these brave people are going through. My love, prayers and thoughts to Barry and his family, and to Renee and her family also.

Melodious Monday - I Won an Award!!

Ruthie at RoseWorksJewelry sent me a comment yesterday saying she had given me an award and I must say I am incredibly delighted. Her jewelry and blog are fantastic and I highly recommend you check her out, and treat yourself to one of her many gorgeous creations, guaranteed to make you feel like a million bucks.
Now, what is this award, you ask? Maybe you didn't ask, but I'll tell you anyway, since I'm bursting a few buttons from smiling so much :)
This is the Premio Meme Award and I need to tell you 7 things about myself. I'm not very good at this so I'll give it a try:
1. I'm 26 and disabled with Fibromyalgia (okay, okay, you knew that already)
2. I used to compete in horseback riding and was trying to be a professional show jumper (before the money ran out, LOL - not being rich in that sport is a definite drawback). I still want to get back into riding though, it was the best time of my life :)
3. I am addicted to books. Period. I have to keep buying new bookshelves because I fill up the ones I have so quickly, despite trying (unsuccessfully) to give away or sell my older books that I no longer read every year (yes, I read my books over and over and over...I like them, okay??)!
4. Hubby tries to keep me away from Amazon.ca because of #3...he's not always successful though ;-)
5. I love people commenting on my blog or Etsy store - it really does make my day.
6. I do actually cry a little bit from happiness at every sale I make; the fact that someone chose me out of all the other thousands of jewelry artists for their needs is the best feeling I can possibly have. I know, it is cheesy but true. I'm trying to embrace my 'softie' side!
7. I love gardening - even the weeding! It might be difficult when I get so sore, but there is nothing better than pulling a bunch of weeds to rid you of frustrations, and make you feel like you really accomplished something when you look at that small patch of weedless soil. Plus, I feel like the flowers and veggies thank me afterwards with their wonderful blooms and produce :)

Now I need to pass this on to 7 people, so here goes:
1. Louise from Fireseed - she never ceases to amaze and inspire me with her lamp work glass creations
2. Barry from An Explorer's View of Life - he is fighting the battle of his life and still maintains his humor and witty writing style.
3. Audrey at Stage 3 Who Me? - smart, capable and strong, she is also quite artistic and you'll love her.
4. Renee at Circling My Head - the strongest woman I know, and a blessing to all who read her blog.
5. Daisy and Harley at Daisy the Curly Cat - they always make me smile, and quite often laugh out loud at their outfits, expressions and antics.
6. Kathryn, Dobby, Franklin and Tasha at Mishkat - creative, funny and positive, there is always something to smile at or learn, or both. Despite not selling her art quilts, Kathryn is very talented and artistic
7. Sonia at the Dark Raven's Nest - starting to come out of her shell artistically, she is witty, funny and very creative. Always fun to read and be inspired.
Well that's all for now folks, tune in tomorrow for a new pair of earrings in my NeoAmour Collection!!

Sweet Saturday: A Wonderful Gift From a Wonderful Woman

Click on the image above to go to Amazon.ca's website to purchase this wonderful book!

Yesterday I received a wonderful gift from my friend Renee of Circling My Head! We have been exchanging emails for a while now and have exchanged a few little gifts as well. After hearing that during one of her ongoing hospital treatments she only has a parking lot to look at, I sent her a few of my old gardening magazines so that she would have something pretty to look at instead of cars and hot pavement.

It was only a few magazines, and though I hoped she would enjoy them, I didn't expect anything in return. Imagine my surprise when I got a notice saying that the post office had a package for me! When I received the parcel (special thanks to Brennan for picking it up!) I opened it and found this beautiful little book called, "Mayfly Day" by Jeanne Willis and Tony Ross. It is about a Mayfly and her journey in her whole 24 hour lifespan. The images are sweet, and though the writing is for children, it really struck a chord with me, as I am sure it will with many people.

It is not just a story about a Mayfly, it is a story about life and how we live it. Do we always wait for tomorrow? As Meredith Willson said, "You pile up enough tomorrows and you'll be left with nothing but a bunch of empty yesterdays. I don't know about you, but I'd like to make today worth remembering.".

This story is about living TODAY, and it is wonderful. I highly recommend it to anyone, children and adults alike to show you that no matter how long or short your life is, you must live it all everyday.

Thank you Renee, you are the raindrops on my roses :)

Fabulous Friday - Charity of the Month for April!

In honor of the many (far, far too many) friends and family members who have fought, or are currently fighting cancer, this month's charity is the Canadian Cancer Society. 10% of my sales before taxes and shipping will be donated to this wonderful charity, which helps fund research, education and support for those dealing with cancer (either directly or with friends/family members). Please join me in helping this amazing charity by purchasing any item, and the other charities I help in my Charity Promo Items Section of my Etsy Shop.
So here's to you Dad, Alice, Andy, Barry, Renee and Rebecca, I hope these donations will help in some small way! I may not be able to help you physically, but you are always in my thoughts and I hope you are soon cured/stay cured :)
My love and prayers to you all,

Thankful Thursday - I Got an Award!

I woke this morning to find that Mishkat had given me a Lemonade Blog Award!!

Here is the text of the award:

The Lemonade Award is given to sites which the giver show either great attitude and or gratitude.
The rules for these awards are:
1. Put the logo on your blog.
2. Add a link to the person who awarded you.
3. Nominate 10 other blogs.
4. Add links to those blogs on yours.
5. Leave a message for your nominees on their blogs

Thank you so very much!! I'm going to have to give this award to a few people whose blogs make getting up in the wee hours of the morning very enjoyable - they are a joy to read and I always look forward to their updates:
Fireseed
Circling My Head
The Fantail
Gypsy Mare Studios
BeadedTail
FriendsFurEver
An Explorer's View of Life
TheLetteredCottage

Thank you again Mishkat, and I hope to continue to earn this award every day in the future as well :)