me - 5 years after
Hi everyone,
The photos represent my 2023 highlight reel…lol…a few photos to give you a visual of memories made.
It’s been a year of reflection, new challenges, making memories with my tribe and of course, 2023 holds a big milestone for me: 5 years cancer free on 10/23/23.
Watching our oldest daughter graduate with a degree from Bemidji State University this spring is a memory that we will hold dear in our hearts forever. Seeing her joy filled face as she accepted her degree, is a moment that I believe all parents dream of experiencing. Thank you God for letting me be there.
Jim and I made many trips to Melody and Chad’s house to help them with household maintenance tasks. One particular time, I brought the ingredients for and made dinner, while Jim painted a door. We are so proud of their accomplishment of being first-time homeowners that are doing it well. It’s been more than three years since they embarked on their adventure. Thank you God for letting me be there.
Traveling to music events at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, IA and the Bayfront Blues Festival in Duluth, MN, were part of our memories made this year. Jim and I attended a niece’s wedding in Siren, WI this summer and have also kicked back with family and friends, on many occasions, as well as sharpened our music skills with our Badger bandmates.
Felix is pretty much my constant companion, unless he is sitting in Jim’s lap. He continues to be a joy in my life and my home therapy partner. Who knew dog’s could be such great therapists?
Writing, editing and publishing…wow…it’s a big job. We have been steadily approaching and passing milestones as we work to finish my book. In it, Jim and I tell you our story of walking through cancer to healing that reveals the humor, anger, tears, laughter and joy we experienced.
We did our best to be as transparent with you about who we are and how we walked through; good or bad, right or wrong in my approach, the desire of my heart is that you read our story and find hope, causing you to hope and believe for your own victory, whatever that may look like in whatever life challenge you are facing.
Thank you, God that You allowed me to stay here a little while longer so that I can continue making more memories with my tribe. I cherish every one of them.
I wrote my book, Hope, as a response to fellow travelers that were moved to hope for their own outstanding outcome upon hearing my story of healing from pancreatic cancer. While sharing my walk down the pathway to healing, I disclosed my range of emotions from doubt to hope, from anger to joy and the full gamut of emotions that anyone encounters when they face a trial like this. I shared how I eventually surrendered to the process, put my trust in God and faced my foe with hope and belief for an outstanding outcome. And because of God’s great love, mercy and kindness, I am here today to talk about it.