Whew, the whirlwind I am living in..

It's been a while since my last post. I constantly have thoughts running through my head about what I need to include in my next entry, but finding the time to do this is sometimes tedious.

As part of Team Short Story, we created the Purple Glove Dance video. We received unbelievable response. After much procrastination on my part, I finally got it edited and published. Now the hard part is getting people to go watch it and to vote on it daily. Here's your challenge, go to this link: and vote. CLICK THE RED BUTTON THAT SAYS 'STANLY COUNTY'S PGD' IN THE UPPER RIGHT CORNER to access the link!


You can vote once daily through 7/31. Should we win, we get $5000 that will go to our Relay For Life. Just think, you could make that difference. If I can watch it 15,914 times putting it together, then surely you can do it once a day. Thanks so much!

Now, an update on the book. After taking 2 days just to create the 'C' for the cover, it's well underway. I'm adding pages daily and with each entry I'm rejoicing with the survivors and cherishing the memories of those who have passed through the words and ideas that the family members shared. God is still the CEO of this project. I'm so excited to see it all come to fruition and can't wait to share it with all of you. I'm desperately trying to keep the photos a secret, but I find it harder each day to do so. I want everyone to see and feel what I am.

While in the middle of all of the video and book editing I found myself auditioning for another Uwharrie Players production. What was I thinking? I had said I would not, but in a moment of pure stupidity I did it anyway. I'm so glad that I did. It's a great cast of people and our director is phenomenal. It also gives me a chance to be with one of my favorite honorary Short Storys, Bradley. This is a great challenge and the part is one I have wanted to play for many, many years. The play is 'Dearly Departed' and involves the death of the patriarch of a family and the usual planning of a funeral....southern style. It's very funny and definitely going to be one you'll want to come see. Once again, I'm playing an older lady that's full of 'spit & vinegar'. I guess I'm seeing myself in a few years through these roles.

Since we're on the subject of the UP's. JW and I attended the annual UP awards banquet last Saturday. JW got called back into work while we were there so he missed a huge part of it. We're so proud of Staley. She won another 'Best Supporting Actress' award and 'Fav. Female Comic Performance' for her role as Lilly St. Regis in 'Annie'. Many years ago my parents took us to see 'Annie' at Ovens Auditorium in Charlotte. I was a junior in high school. I can remember wishing that night that I would someday have a little girl to play Annie. I instead got a little girl who played Lilly (a hooker). Dreams do come true. They may not be like you had originally dreamed them, but they do come true. We're all so proud of Staley and very proud to be a part of the Uwharrie Players.

With all of this going on I can honestly say I'm living in a whirlwind. It's the way I survive and would not change a thing...except to see my Short Storys more often.

Peace, love, & smiles!

Leave a Tender Moment Alone

I struggled with the title of this post, but thanks to Billy Joel I found it. God put several tender moments in my day today. When you talk to people who have or had cancer, you see that every single moment is tender and special. Perhaps this is one of the things he's teaching this hard head. I'm learning not to try to over analyze the moments of my life. I am learning to accept them as His will.

God gives us so much and today He gave us such a beautiful day. I met with a sweet young lady and her mom about her wedding coming up in May. Her mom works with my aunt, Deborah, and is also fighting a courageous battle with cancer. Because of not knowing with the future holds with her mom's cancer they moved the wedding from November to May. What a blessing to spend that time with them and to see the excitement about the upcoming wedding. For the joy she was showing, I know that underneath is the fear and dread that cancer loves to throw upon its victims. She, like everyone I have talked to about their experiences, has such an unbelievable faith. She is strong and knows that God is there in everything. She's amazing. I'm looking so forward to the wedding. We talked about how even the smallest things mean so much more. This wedding will be magical.

Later this afternoon I did another session for 'Faces' at the home of my sister-in-law's family. Amy, my sister-in-law, lost a sister to cancer a few years ago. Connie had fought a hard battle with cancer. She was the mom to 3 special children. I had watched her kids grow up from the kitchen window of my mother's house. She lived her every day for her family. At the time that Connie 'won her war', she had no grandchildren. Today I photographed her babies, all 5 of them. They are precious. Although she never knew them here, I'm sure that before God sent them to their parent's that she must have rocked them in Heaven. I just had to think as I photographed tiny Hatley, that Connie must have been there. After just a bit of fussiness she finally calmed and lay there so quietly with Connie's picture. You could feel the presence of an angel. Connie was there in that tender moment. What a privilege and honor to have this opportunity. Every step these little ones take she will be there to watch over them. Cancer may have taken Connie from them here, but I know it was so she could take care of 'her babies' from a higher place.

The tender moments hidden within my day have been stored in my heart. Thanks be to the One who makes it all possible.

Finding Nemo - Just Keep Swimming

Just Keep Swimming, Swimming, Swimming

It has been a totally uplifting day in so many ways. I had the opportunity to proctor exams again at AHS. The young lady touched me in such a special way. She told me of her plans after graduation of wanting to join the army. We talked about how we both hated math and that overcoming that was a feat for both of us. She said she wouldn't join the Navy because she couldn't swim and that her sister was in the Army and she wanted to be like her. I told her how proud I was of her and how someday she would be a wonderful soldier. It's going to take great determination, but she's got it and she'll go far. She brought such a light to my morning. Keep swimming, girl! I'm proud of you!! As I walked out to my car, I stopped right there in the parking lot and said a prayer for her. I asked God to guide her footsteps and to protect her. I also gave him many thanks for her.

Yesterday I went for my mammogram because I had, once again, found something a little suspicious. I had purposely not told anyone (including JW) that I was going. In our family, a mammogram can reveal things we sometimes don't want to hear. Thanks to wonderful angels who led my way to the Breast Center, I got there and 'survived' the party. I got the results today that, although there is a cyst, it's nothing to be concerned about. I'm good for a year. I'll just be swimming, swimming, swimming!!

We had our monthly Relay meeting and I can feel the energy bursting in this group. It's great to see God working through all of them. Yet again, I have to think...just keep swimming, swimming, swimming. With all of this hard work, Relay will be walking on water. We may not be making a huge difference, but sometimes it's the small differences that change the world. Every small stroke in the water takes us just a bit closer to the goal.

Finally when I got home and checked my email, I had some sad news that a friend who is battling cancer got some 'not so great' news from his latest scan. This person has the faith of a saint. He is such an inspiration to me. He and his wife are a part of 'Faces of the 'C' Word'. I'm so proud to have them in there. Stay strong, my friend. We know that Jesus calmed the water when the disciples were afraid. He will do it for you. Keep swimming, swimming, swimming! When your arms are tired, God will paddle along for you.

I hope if you are taking the time to read my ramblings that you will stop just for a moment that you send a prayer for Danny.

Life is good and I am blessed beyond measure. Amen? AMEN!!!!

From High Hilltops to Art Galleries. From Church Altars to Haunted Trails

From the beginning of this unbelievable journey, I have said that I did not know exactly what God was doing in my life. He's changing my heart and my spirit. I never knew that cancer would take me to the places I have been. More importantly, I never knew that terrible, no good, horrible, rotten disease would bless my life in ways that I cannot describe. He's put so many people in my path that are more than willing to share their stories, their experiences, their tears, and even their laughter. Cancer can take away if we allow it, but it can also give us blessings beyond measure. With every story came the stories of the blessings that God gave each of them. Each of them are blessings to me.

From the early morning spent with a special teacher to a wonderful lady who lost her mother way too young and shared her story of her journey to Paris, God changed this hard headed person. He took me to the altar of a local church with a sweet lady and her gentle spirit. He even took me back to several years ago when we helped the Shriners with their haunted trail and to the man who made the haunted maze his work of art. Each journey was unique and every person a blessing.

During this journey I have thought so many times about Dr. Seuss' "Oh The Places You Will Go" and this quote:

You have brains in your head.
You have feet in your shoes
You can steer yourself
any direction you choose.
You're on your own. And you know what you know.
And YOU are the guy who'll decide where to go.

And another:

And will you succeed?
Yes! You will, indeed!
(98 and 3/4 percent guaranteed.)

KID, YOU'LL MOVE MOUNTAINS!

So...
be your name Buxbaum or Bixby or Bray
or Mordecai Ali Van Allen O'Shea,
you're off to Great Places!
Today is your day!
Your mountain is waiting.
So...get on your way!


It's now time to put it all together. The culmination of this work is coming together only by God's grace and Dr. Seuss' encouragement.

"Thank you, thank you, Sam I am!"