happy day sweet jessamyn!

thank you jessamyn for all the wonderful memories that we have shared since you entered this world and filled the youngest daughter spot! :)

jessamyn: wonderful mommy, peace loving, seeking soul, passionate, wonderful writer, sensitive, deep thinking, caring protector of the environment....

we love you and are so thankful you are our daughter, sister, and friend!

faraway fridays

just a few pictures from one of my favorite

places on earth

coronado island, san diego

i love that when we park the car

we never have to get in it again...

you can walk from one end of coronado to the other

and find everything you need

without ever setting foot in the car

until you have to leave!

it is quaint, beautiful, restful, friendly, yummy

and the most beautiful mix of colors ever!

the beach is absolutely beautiful!

so until we meet again.....

love thursday

i know i talked about her a couple of weeks ago....but she is finished....

and just wanted to share the love!

"Her name is "Love Squared."
She wears 180 two inch art squares.
She is just under 40" tall
and weighs 6 pounds and 2 ounces.
She smiles because already she knows love
and is able to give love unconditionally.
To many, she is a symbol of hope.
She stands for COURAGE and was built
by a community of givers.

our beloved doll is currently being wrapped,
carefully packed for her journey to Art Doll Quarterly™."

she will then be auctioned on eBay, and proceeds will benefit

susan g. komen for the cure

monica made a dedication of this doll to several on her blog

and asked us to do the same....

and to

"live life beautifully"

there are several i would love to dedicate this effort to:

~jill, my cousin who is going through chemo for breast cancer

~deena, my blog friend, who is going throught chemo for stage 4 breast cancer

~kathy, a wonderful friend of Cassie's....who has just found out she has breast cancer

and since my involvement with this project was influenced greatly by my

involvement with the breast cancer 3-Day

and susan g. komen for the cure,

i would also love to mention

my daughters and husband.....who always encourage me in new efforts

cory and jessamyn, who started our family on this susan g. komen journey

my dad for support

aunt vonda, for support and who is a breast cancer survivor

my sister-in-law, karen, who worked tirelessly to make sure we made our goals

and my dear brother, ken ,my walking partner in the 3-Day

and last, but not least,

my mother, juanita pearl

for being a cancer survivor

and being the inspiration for

"team juanita" & "juanita's kids"

i only wish she knew how far reaching her life has been

wellness wednesday

so much has been said about daily gratitude,

how this habit can improve well-being,

heal

and give more fulfillment to all aspects of our life

i am grateful for:

~places that don't change

~sand between my toes

~the very first smell of the ocean

~other people packing to leave......and we didn't have to

~the sun on the water

~the reassuring sound of each wave

~the same shell shop

~reading a good book, and looking up to see i'm still at the ocean

~remembering how wonderful it feels to do nothing

~the sky, waves, sand.....all beautifully painted together

~having no agenda

~being out on a sailboat with my husband as captain

~eating fish and chips at Mc P's

~drinking coffee overlooking the bay

~being reminded of the wonders of God's creation

~the sounds....waves, seagulls, children, conversations......and quiet

~looking for treasures....but being okay not finding one

~just being

~leaving the ocean, feeling refreshed and fulfilled and looking forward to coming home

~seeing family & hugs from grandkids

wellness tip:

having an "attitude of gratitude"

far away fridays

pssssssst...

i will be gone for a few days

enjoying the feel of sand between my toes!

have a wonderful day

and i'll catch up with everyone soon!

love thursday

conversation with my oldest grandchild on tuesday:

i said: "do you want a piece of candy?"

he said: "yes, nonnie"

and proceeds to choose one of the wrapped chocolate eggs

(which he enjoyed immensely)

he said: "can i have 'nother one, nonnie?"

i said: "you have to ask your mommy"

he said "no, i want to ask YOU nonnie!"

smiling.....

his mommy let him have another piece of candy

wellness wednesday

March is National Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month

Colorectal cancer -- cancer of the colon or rectum -- is a disease that affects both men and women and is preventable nearly 90 percent of the time. Starting at age 50, men at women at average risk for the disease should get screened. Those with increased risk, should be screened even earlier.

i went friday for my first colonoscopy.....

and while the prep the day before was not enjoyable,

it was tolerable.....

and as far as the procedure went.....

the worst part was not being able to drink coffee that morning!

i didn't even know it happened until i was awake and it was over,

and then i was so hungry that we went to wendy's and then to target for Easter stuff

bryan had a painful attack of "something" last may and was told it was a urinary tract infection.

he went in for a routine colonoscopy in june, and the dr. said it was one of the worst cases of diverticulitis he had seen.

he had a resection last october......and it wasn't fun!

(it isn't cancer only that the screening is for)

so, if you are 50 or older and haven't already.....

get your screening done

or if you are at an increased risk

get it done

(click on any of the butt-ons above for more info)