So Much Awesomeness

Having cancer sucks.  I mean, it really sucks.  But the crazy weird thing is that every time I start to get down or depressed something comes along to cheer me up and remind me how blessed I am.  I think that we all know that we are loved, but it takes something like cancer for you to find out just how much you are not only loved and cared for, but just how far people will go to express that to you.  It's very neat.  It's also overwhelming.  It's super-cool.  It sometimes makes me feel kinda bad - like there's no way I am ever going to be able to repay all this kindness in my life.

I want to continue to share all of this awesomeness with everyone.  But, I also want everyone to know that they don't have to give me things to make me feel loved.  Your words, your thoughts, your smiles, your time, your laughter, your prayers - that's all I really need.  And, I am so thankful for all of those.  Thank you!

That being said, now I need to share a whole lot of awesomeness with you...

I think it was on the same day that my sister-in-law, Carrie, found out about my diagnosis that she also heard about Legacy Bracelets.  She got my family to send photos to her and made this beautiful bracelet for me.  Oh my goodness, how sweet.  And, this bracelet is so beautiful.  I really love it.  I am looking forward to wearing it to Chemo and showing it off to everyone there!  Thank you, Carrie!

On Monday, Matt's very good friend, Bryan Rutsch's wife, Christina (did that make any sense?), made us the most awesome dinner.  Ham, rolls, mashed sweet potatoes, pumpkin muffins, and my children's most favorite thing - fruit!  (All of it labeled for allergies!  You have NO idea how nice that is.)  It was such a perfect family-friendly, healthy, yummy meal.  If this is how the Rutsches eat, I would like to have dinner with them every night!

Christina, also made this wonderful care box for me.  Magaizines, decaf(!) tea, a tea mug, warm socks, candy, and my favorite - pajama pants!  I love pajama pants!  I would wear them all the time if I could.  Thank you so much Rutsch Family!

Can you believe this tray of fruit?!  My children were in heaven!

And this evening, we had another super-fabulous meal from the Wurtzbachers - also all allergy labeled!  Wow!  You guys rock!  Erin made us lemon chicken.  Seriously - lemon chicken!  Broccoli (another family favorite) and rice.  So good!  Seriously, I have never eaten so good in my life as we have this past month.  We are getting SO spoiled.

And...as if dinner was not enough, Erin had this water bottle made for me!  With Team Kelly on it.  Awww...that was SO nice.  Thank you so much, Wurtzbachers.  I am supposed to drink a lot of water (64 oz. a day, say what?!) - this will definitely help me to do so in style.  Thank you.

Finally, for this installment, the Mass Family from our church sent me a care package in the mail today.  I didn't know this, but Lisa had breast cancer 5-1/2 years ago and kicked it.  Yay, Lisa!  She sent me all kinds of fun things that the kids loved, probably none so much as these masks:

But, I enjoyed her note. (Oh! And, the Super Man/Mom t-shirt!  LOVE it!)  She had lots of great tips and just a really encouraging message.  Lisa, I do know who you are and I hope we can talk very soon!  I am hoping to be at church this Sunday, but honestly, I am a bit overwhelmed with the thought of all of the people.  Is that weird?  I am a well-adjusted introvert, but any time I am around large groups of people I feel intimidated.  Knowing that so many people are going to want to talk and encourage me makes me feel wonderful and scared all at the same time.  I have been hiding behind the fact that Hugo has, until just this week, still taken a morning nap.  But, he seems to have made the leap to afternoons now (maybe...he didn't do so good today...), so I am going to have to stop using his naptime as (what I think is a very good) excuse.