Long Term Vision

Since I am busy being a parent I thought I would share an author with you. She is Sarah Scrafford. Her writing I find helpful and straightford. On her site there is more of her work.

Sarah Scrafford is an industry critic, as well as a regular contributor on the subject of Small business. She invites your questions, comments and freelancing job inquiries at her email address: sarah.scrafford25@gmail.com


You wake up one morning and decide to diet – you need to lose at least 20 lbs, you need to get fit and you need to regain your health. The ingredients that contribute towards making a good diet are all at hand – your morning jog in the park, your healthy breakfast, active schedule, a light lunch, an hour’s workout in the evening, and a low calorie dinner before you hit the sack. You follow this routine religiously for a month or so and then step on your bathroom scales – only to find that you’ve hardly lost 2 lbs.

You throw in the towel and go back to an undisciplined life where you eat all you want and laze around as much as you can. After all, a month worth of toil has not worked wonders for you, so why bother? If that’s the way you feel, I’ll let you in on a secret, the secret to becoming both healthy and wealthy; the most perfect diets and the best prepared budgets have one thing in common – they’re only as good as the people who follow them. In short, there’s no use going to great lengths to search a variety of sources and spend valuable time preparing a detailed and cost-saving budget (or diet) only to stray away from the chosen path soon after you’ve started.


Financial planners and dieticians can only help you put ideas on paper and map out a strategy for you to follow. But it’s up to you to put good use to that piece of scrap and turn it into the figurative pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Diets and budgets do not have time limits – they are perennial tasks that have to be followed day after day, week after week, year after year, for as long as you live, especially if your income is barely enough to meet your expenditure.

Budgets are not the universal solutions to financial problems; they only help those who help themselves. Even if a strategy takes time to pay off, stick to it. Remember the story of the hare and the tortoise? Slowly, but steadily, is the way to go. In the long run, being disciplined and staying on course will bring in the rewards, not just financially, but otherwise too. For one, you’re setting the standard to follow for your children – if they realize the value of money and budgeting at an early age, you can rest assured that they will not have one financial worry throughout their lives.

Of course, there are time outs of limited periods where you can spend a little more, like on vacations and during other special events. But at the end of the day, if you do not get back on track and stick to your budget, it’s going to be very hard to meet expenses and stay out of debt.

A Sweet Dog

 

This is Lefty sleeping, when he is very tired he lays on his back with his paws up in the air. I am off to bed but wanted to share this picture. May your night's rest be this peaceful.

A Snake Tail

I was born in West Texas, in a small town at the time called San Angelo. It is near the desert, snakes and horny toads were very normal in our back yard. I was raised with two older brothers; the youngest T-Ray was the curious one. Any animal that moved he would watch, catch, feed and then release. As an adult he fishes in the catch and release way. One time when W was about three, a baby lemon shark had been caught by an angler. He was worried about releasing and didn’t want to keep it. T-Ray as only he would and could do slowly got the baby shark held in the water to do something with his gills. Don’t expect me to know, T-Ray is the expert not me. As he released the lemon shark he swam so beautifully and W jumped in along side of him about three feet away. Yes I knew W was not going to be easy to raise, but I also knew he had no fear.

W still has no fear with animals; people tend to scare him but not animals. He has a healthy respect now thankfully. When he was three, I was convinced he would not make it long. Hubby works shift work which means at times he is working nights. Normally the nights he works go by without many problems but if there are problems, they tend to be scary.

W loves to play outside; he is the type of kid you cannot keep shoes on. He was outside in the backyard one summer evening helping his brother mow the yard. At that time the youngest is the stick and rock picker upper. W has a flair for the dramatic. So as usual, he flung open the door to tell something about lightening bugs in the yard. As he did we have a brass knocker on the door. A six-foot long snake had wrapped himself through the knocker and slipped around W’s neck. I screamed “W SNAKE’. As I did W looked down, took the snake with one hand the doorknob with the other opened the door and chunked the snake! Indiana Jones couldn’t have done that stunt any better, and W had no practice. He has fast eye motor skills and is confused when you don’t. I looked our small door window to see if I could tell what kind of snake it was. I called the neighbor across the street, he was a country boy and I knew he would kill the snake. It was too big and too comfortable on my door for me to sleep that night. He came over and killed it.

What I know now is the snake was a chicken snake. Chicken snakes don’t eat chickens they eat rats that live in chicken coops. They look very different to me, matter of fact I was convinced that big snake was a python trying to strangle my son.
Adam Housley has a fascinating snake wrangler on his blog, and he does remind me in a fearful parent kind of way of W. While I truly think snake wranglers are needed I am going on record as saying I would prefer W not to wrangle snakes any more.

As a side note, W has been catching garden snakes since he could walk and hiding them in his room. I refuse to go in there in the dark, I hope by now he has decided it is best to leave them outside at night.

Scott McClellan Political Son

Scott or Scotty to those familiar with him in the Texas GOP is a native Texan. He is the son of the infamous “one tough Grandma”. Grandma for those non-Texans is Carol Keeten Rylander Strayhorn. She went up against Rick Perry for Governor the last cycle. In the 1990s, Carol was well-respected hard working and had a tough no nonsense reputation. She called them as she saw them. Most of us in the Texas GOP respected her honesty and spunk. She said what many in the grassroots groups were thinking. Then she changed, slowly at first but before you knew it she was very different from the woman I met in 1998. She became bitter, and attack oriented. Some of what she said was true, but since she was at such a high pitch it was hard to understand which part she had “parsed”. There are rumors Perry asked Kinky to run for Governor to split the independent ticket. Carol could have been Governor if she had told Texans the truth. I know first hand what she told a grassroots group was absolute propaganda. I saw the pamphlets. I had been a delegate to the state convention. I knew it was fiction. Those easily lead believed her every word. It was for me truly disappointing. A woman I respected had become what I consider a two faced lying hypocrite. That my reader is what President Bush today must feel. Scotty has proved he is his mother’s son.

Rick Perry is not a good governor, matter of fact I think he is a terrible Republican. Strayhorn was right to contest him, she was correct when she pointed out his flaws, his love for taking land from our fellow Texans at any cost. The sad part is she could have won if she was honest, and told the voters exactly what she had seen first hand.

My biggest problem with Scott McClellan’s book is Scott thinking he knew information. He was not in the rooms when he says he thinks the conversations went on between Libby and Rove. Scott wishes he had the brain and the power Rove have. Rove for anyone that knows his work good or bad is brilliant. He could have told the President not to hire him but it is clear Rove supported McClellan. Scott inserts his own importance, frankly from a job not well done. Tony Snow was the perfect Whitehouse Press Secretary, and Scott paled at any effort. Yet President Bush being a loyal Texan gave Scott the wonderful opportunity of the job, and now President Bush knows Scotty is not a loyal Texan.

What most people that like and support President Bush know is that he is loyal and sincere. When he had a problem with Scott I am sure he told him, sadly Scott felt no need to do that same.

Nope much easier for Scott to sell a sleaze book than to fix a problem.

Tractor Accident

Tonight as my kids went to bed, another family in a nearby county has lost a precious child. It happened from a tractor accident. The child fell and was run over by the tractor. Tractors are powerful machines, and mistakes happen. We as humans never know when our last mistake will cause our life or someone else to leave this earth. As I write this, it is very hard to imagine their pain.

From what the news has reported a ten-year-old boy riding with his father fell from the tractor and was killed instantly. There will be an investigation but the sheriff’s department knows that the incident will be difficult for a family already grieving.

In my blog, I do make tractors sound fun, and in a safe environment, they are. But make no mistake they are a very dangerous enemy, and I have seen first hand how much power and speed they can put out. After this accident happened I felt like you have to add balance even to my own blog. A few years ago a man was driving a tractor near a tank (pond for city folk) and the tractor turned over into the tank. The man drowned, he was trapped under the tractor. I don’t know which type of tractor this father was driving but I know in an instant you can forget what you are doing or loose grip and it is a costly mistake.

Tragedy comes to small towns just as it does to big towns; the school in the town where he lived had counseling set up for the students. He will be missed.

Loss of life makes us reflect on our own mortality, as many parents thank God their child is safe the parents wish they had one last hug from their precious boy. May God the Great Comforter bless this family and community.

Tinian and Enola Gay

Tinian the island where the Enola Gay landed and practiced runs before the bombing of Hiroshima. It is a place that I never knew existed until 1988. My father in law one day was speaking of being in World War II, and as he spoke, he related the stories he had seen on that small tiny island. My father in law is a humble man, big in stature and I would say a true German patriarch. His kids to this day still call him Daddy, what he says goes although he listens to what he considers wise counsel. So for him to relate this amazing tale of painting bombs for the Germans where he signed his name with Love, was fascinating. Every time I think fiction is good someone I know relates a story that rivets me for years.

Back in World War II there was no Air Force, it was called the Army Air Corp. I know this because my dad served in the Army Air Corp. So did my father in law, back then they had no telephones, no emails, letters could take up to two months. As my father in law put it, the American Army could do anything on these islands because it would take months for anyone to found out about it. So he and his fellow corpsmen saw a plane that instead of them loading bombs into it had curtains around it. It did not take long for these young men from all over the United States to figure out the bomb the plane was getting was special. They of course had no idea of plans for an atomic bomb. However, they did know what type of bombs they painted cared for and loaded each day. This plane was not the same. It was the Enola Gay. Yes, we have snapshots of my father in law in front of it. According to him, the group all took snapshots in front of it. Along with the pictures of bombs signed to Germany with Love, I have seen pictures of him on the island near a statue.

To tell the whole story of my father in law in World War II would be a novel, someday I might write it. He came from a town of less than 100, sailed the ocean to go to Pearl Harbor before Hawaii was a tourist location. He has spoken of sailing on the ocean with many men sick from the length of the journey. I found his sharpshooter button; he acknowledged he did it during basic training. For him sharp shooting was not hard, he had hunted since he could walk. He thought everyone could shoot that well.

I have a link to the history of this tiny island on my title.

I tell this shortened tale, to remember the men and women today that did not come home as he did, and yet with every way possible they all served to the best of us. I am very grateful to know such a man, and know he is one of thousands. Thanks Servicemen and Servicewomen!!

Teenager hate to Shop

W hates shopping, when I say hate I mean it. As a little baby he would not like being in the store. Dunk as a baby loved the stores, I could spend hours in Wal-Mart. He was a wonderful shopping baby, W was not. He would chew on the meat if you were not careful. At one point he was fussy so I gave him some cheese, he ate right through the package. The checker thought a rat had eaten on our cheese. Yes, W hates shopping.

I knew he needed clothes for graduation. It was time we bought the stuff for graduation and he could then use it for FFA next year. They wear simple things black pants, white shirt and a FFA tie. The tie is furnished by the school. Every year I scramble to find black pants and white shirts in October. Black shoes are also required. With Dunk we used black Justin boots, but I know now that W’s feet will grow too fast to wear them. I bought some cheap shoes at Wal-Mart to get through graduation and any FFA event. W can groan and moan, and then run away from me in the store. I know he is fourteen but shopping brings out the three year old in him. Thankfully, every time he started to really irritate me Daddy would show up. W truly has no choice when it comes to Daddy. He is a take no prisoners kind of dad, and at fourteen they tend to listen. We now know at seventeen they don’t so much! So as I am saying “W you are not going to make through your senior year” Daddy shows up. W gets serious and tries on shoes, before that every pair were gay. I am unclear how so many things in our world can be so gay, but there is a long list of gay things my sons don’t like. Not gay people gay objects, I have assumed that gay objects mean uncool. After all, it is gay for me to ask what they mean!

W ended up with a nice white shirt, black pants, black shoes and the coolest tie I have ever seen. Dunk had told me about these zipper ties, and I was so confused when he told me about them. You use them instead of tied ties or clip ons. They have a zipper that comes down and makes room for your neck. They are so much fun, Dunk took W’s away from me today. He said I shouldn’t play with it. Dunk can be such a bossy kid at times. I have a link on the title; they should be played with and bought often. They truly look like ties and yet there is a hidden zipper!

When I first looked for W some shoes they were $80 to $100, but I spent 26.42 for his. For what he uses them for it is a perfect match. We don’t spend a lot of money on something rarely used. After we got home W wore his shoes all night long. That is what chaps my butt; he hates to shop but doesn’t mind wearing the clothes. Since he was born that way, I highly doubt he will change. God help his future wife, I pray for her each day.

Good Samaritan

Well tonight, we had a very special treat! The four of us, minus Dunk went out to eat at Texas Roadhouse. Dunk had a special graduation party to go to, just for him and his close friends. We rarely go out to eat and rarer even still do we go to a sit down restaurant. Normally we do that on vacation as a special treat. Dinner was not a vacation it was a surprise treat.

Hubby a few months ago was driving home and saw some back lights to the side of the road. When he works shift work, he travels in the middle of the night at times. He has seen quite a bit in his days during the night, but this night he saw the dim lights. It was a cold night, so he stopped and turned around. Every time we travel Hubby, helps people or he sees someone we know. We are the only people I know that can vacation and run into people Hubby knows. As he came on the lights, he saw it was a truck upside down and he heard screams. There was a twenty something male in the driver’s seat. As he came closer, he saw the truck was not only upside down but the cab had been crushed to six inches high. The man’s arms were failing outside, and he was trapped inside.

He called 911, waited and attempted to calm down the driver. The driver would calm down occasionally but panic would set in and he began to wave his arms. It takes a long time for an ambulance out in the country. Finally, when they came they realized they would need the Jaws of Life to free the driver. That night Hubby got home over an hour late, good thing I slept through it.

He was worried about the driver, but was relieved he could move his arms and legs after being freed. When they removed the driver, Hubby found out he was a kid that Hubby knew the family. The next week his uncle called to update Hubby on the driver. He had broken some vertebrae but he would not be paralyzed. The family was grateful that Hubby stopped that night. The kid had been there trapped a long time, his engine was cold when he was rescued. There is no telling how many cars passed him without seeing him or caring about him. Hubby is like that for most people he would give a shirt off his back.

About six weeks ago, the family came to personally thank Hubby. They then presented him with a gift certificate for Texas Roadhouse. It was not expected, but graciously received. It was a thankful gesture for what Hubby would have done anyway.

Tonight was fun for us, and as the family friend told me the family wanted us to truly enjoy the time at Texas Roadhouse. We are truly blessed! I guess you know now why we have stayed married twenty years!

Dishwashing Tips

One of my least favorite chores is washing dishes. I do it everyday but it doesn’t mean that I like it. The easiest way for me to wash is using my big deep sink; we have the original sink from the fifty plus year old house. I have in the past tried to use something to make it into two sinks, but I really like the room and the ease of a great big sink.

Another must have tool I use is Extra Thick blue dishwashing gloves. I had seen them at Bed, Bath and Beyond but they were so expensive. Four cheap pairs later, I tried them. I know they are over four years old. I wash them with soap and water regularly. They have held up nicely without any holes. They are worth the money I paid for them and more. I don’t have a dishwasher, so my hands can get really dry if I don’t use them. So even they are an upfront cost higher they are well worth the price. I checked online and they don't have them. They are blue and thick, perhaps someone knows where you can find them

Simple good tools make your kitchen sing. One thing the farming family has taught me is to clean up as you cook. So when you are through with bowls, measuring spoons or a pan do it then. That way when dinner is served you have very few things to wash. This is the only way I can cook the type of food I like to.

I also use foil as a scrubber for stainless steal. Sometimes when I have a stubborn pan I use some baking soda, it helps the soap work better. Once a day I put some bleach into the sink to keep it sparkling clean, not a lot only a teaspoon.

So those are my cooking secrets for today! My main purpose for writing about cooking is in hopes that others that long to cook try to do so. Cooking can be very relaxing.

Callaway Foundation Scholarship Picture #2

I have included two pictures the first one they were doing their best, the other one they were tired and punchy. Dunk is talking to Jake, it is just so this class. You can only get them to do so much and then they are want to have fun.

Callaway Foundation Scholarship

The Callaway Foundation is a foundation that has helped my son. It is what is great about America. This couple decided to give back to our little school district.

They were not business owners they didn’t inherit a lot that I know of. They lived a simple life on the street behind me. Each evening Mr. Callaway would feed the geese. He would throw out feed on his lawn and roof, and hundreds would land, eat and fly away. I would take out my kids to watch some nights an evening ritual. The geese knew it was his house; they never flew to ours the geese, as the local kids knew exactly where to go. Mr. Callaway was an manager for McLane groceries later to become McLane Company. As the company grew so did his stock value, if you add that to his frugal living and investment ability you get a foundation worth more than I will ever see.

There are on average about 140 kids in each class much less, than that graduate and fewer still go to technical school or college. Anyone that does and applies to Calloway will get money to do so. It is that simple in a way. You do what most kids do and fill out the application you get money. If all you do is go four years to our high school, with Callaway they would receive $750.00. They have added the requirement of 20 volunteer hours, which in honesty is not hard. With FFA, 4H and NHS most kids have that already. With each year they have perfect attendance they get even more money, with their activities each year they add money for each group they participate in. The foundation also requires a 90% attendance rate in school. The kids do have some rules, but nothing that most kids motivated to live a better life don’t have. Dunk ended up at $2450.00.

This year the lowest amount was $1250.00 and the highest was $78,000. The top three get $60,000 or four years at a university. Each year the university changes, this year it was Texas A & M.

There are some kids going to a local junior college, some are going to Texas State Technical School, some to four-year colleges and one is going to the Culinary Institute in Austin.

The grand total of money given to this group of kids was $360,925.00. It was given in love from two people no longer here on earth that knew these kids needed an extra bit to get started. Since this foundation began giving, more and more kids are going to college. The legacy that this humble couple left will last for decades.

This picture is all the kids that applied for and got a Callaway Foundation Scholarship, Skeet in the middle is holding the Callaway’s portrait that hangs in the display case of the high school.

College Scholarships part 2

This is the second part about applying for scholarships. It is just a shortened version to help you get started.

You have done the State application, the college application. You are doing the FAFSA. Bear in mind that the FAFSA will take a lot of paperwork in prep. The basic tools that are needed is the parents W2s, 1040s and the social security information. You will need that information from your child too. It takes up to three days to get a pin, so you can register before you are ready. Remember save, save, save each time you enter a page.

This is the time you need to start looking for scholarships. The best place I found is www.fastweb.com. I tried other places but I never found actual scholarships. Fastweb has some that you know upfront are perfect, and others you would not do at all. At least you do have access to many and it is free. This area has many local scholarships, but I still branched out to find the ones few applied for.

I went to a meeting with our local 4-H Agent. She totally walked me through all of what I have told you. Texas A & M had a financial aid counselor that came to our school to walk us through it as well. Go anywhere that is free that will help you. As the Financial Aid says Aid is free to find it, no one should be charging you anything to find aid or scholarships.

The best tip I got was from the Agent she said to be sure at set up a file folder for each scholarship. At the time I thought I would not need it, but fifteen scholarships later I am glad I paid attention. Be sure and put the due date and the amount on the outside so as you are working you can find each one quickly. As the due dates got closer I would write on the outside what they needed. For instance: transcript and signatures. Then all you have to do is a few things. In our case we had fifteen due within thirty days of each other. I used spring break to get Dunk to do a lot of the work.

All scholarships have different requirements. Some need transcripts, some need essays, some need volunteer hours and some need activities. In a word, you are going to be doing it repeatedly. Get used to it; there will be one scholarship that asked for all of the above. I used that information repeatedly. The essays seem hard when you first look at them, but honestly, the people want a kid that wants it, that will use it to further his future. If your kid really taps into his or her heart then it will be great. Do not no matter how much you want to write the essay. It will not help your child in the end, and if they are unable to write a 350 word essay how will they do college? I know seniors are busy. Dunk is rarely here. He wrote 5-6 essays when he had to. All were different because what the scholarship asked for.

If you file the files by the due date with the earliest date up front, it will make it much easier. I put the FAFSA file, ACT file, SAT file and the Tarleton file behind the scholarship files. You may not get half of what you apply for, but it is free to apply and you get better the more you apply. Next year Dunk will apply for even more. That is what has to happen. We have heard from a few, but many have not decided yet.

Tomorrow I will talk about one scholarship that is special. After tomorrow I will be on to the next topic!

College Scholarships

This is the first part of two in a series.

Since my last year has been consumed with the dance and jig of trying to get the scholarships done I have learned a few things that may help someone else. College applications, financial aid, scholarships and acceptance have changed dramatically since I went to college.

The very first thing you must do is apply to a college. With that, please know that most of the application fees are non-refundable. In Texas, everything is online; I would imagine most of the other states are as well. Texas has Texas Grants, so when you go through ApplyTexas.org it is a twofer meaning you apply and Texas has the information for your possible grants if you are eligible.

The next step is FAFSA. It is without exception the beginning and end to your questions. FASFA gives, calculates and collates all of your financial aid. The application there is not easy, please don’t make me lie. However, what you need to focus on is each year all you will have to do is update from there on out. The link for FAFSA is fasfa.gov. All of these act the same way they help even a student that doesn’t expect financial aid. Most of the scholarships expect you to apply for FAFSA some require it. The site has many tips to complete the forms, but the main thing is to remember to save often! That goes with all the applications. Saving makes it much easier when you have an unexpected shutdown. You will need everyone’s Tax forms, and that may include a divorced spouse’s tax forms. With FAFSA the student will have the actual application and pin number. The parent will have a password and user name as well, this is to allow the parent to virtually sign the forms.

Tomorrow we will talk about how to get the most scholarships and what system works best to achieve your goals.

Ron Paul and Al Gore

Sometimes I hear things through the grapevine before it is public; I know I sound like an insider. In some ways I am.

I knew that months ago Ron Paul was going to take over the Republican National Convention. The same day I heard that rumor I heard the one about Al Gore taking over the Democratic National Convention, and Kerry planning to run in 2012. It may have seemed crazy at the time. However, in reality what I heard made sense. Ron Paul was mad, and he is very powerful for a grassroots person. His supporters are extremely focused. Then when I heard the news what was happening behind the curtain with Hillary and Obama, I thought maybe it wasn’t true. Now it seems my sources were accurate. What I heard is that Hillary doesn’t like Obama enough that she is willing to pave the way for Al Gore. In hopes she can come back as a VP in 2012. I know months ago I didn’t buy it. Now it has a reality to it.

So sometimes the people you least expect know stuff. I don’t look like an insider, what I have that most don’t is people who know people. See I work on campaigns of every kind. Through the years, I have gotten to know many people. People that know people you would know.

The reason I have never posted it is I thought it would be best not to. Now I think it wouldn’t hurt anyone. The Republicans I think can control their convention. Hillary will quit when she wants to and not a day before. Not that I would ever help Hillary. I am politically uncorrect we own guns. We shoot guns; some may call us bitter and hint we are uneducated. I consider my family the backbone of this nation. Without people like Hubby this great land would be dirt poor. It takes not only hard work but also work with knowledge and purpose to feed people.

Yeah I haven’t changed, I have only been quiet about politics. I have been watching Obama and Hillary with glee, and it is fine by me to keep watching it up to November.

Mastectomy and Reconstruction Part 3

This is the last post for another year. Each year I celebrate my survivor anniversary. Hopefully my honesty can help others in the midst of struggle unable to think they will make it.

Slowly my bumps became what felt like over inflated balloons. They felt hard and heavy. I was still having the fathom nerve pain, matter of fact I had it for years. They do a fill every so often. Then eventually after they are done filling the expander, you wait for a couple of months for the skin to stretch and heal. After the months are over then you are able to have the exchange. This means you get your real implants, and they are soft and more natural.

I give the whole process because it does take months to finish, in the meantime, you are a work in progress. So while the lumpectomy, chemo, radiation girls are dealing with their treatment issues. You are dealing with surgery healing. Neither is easy, neither is fun. Either way you go, it takes at least a year to start to feel any amount of real strength. Your body is not the same, and all this stuff takes a toll on you.

I tend to get sick not often but more easily. Fatigue before would make me feel tired, now I can feel exhausted. I used to think that was only the chemo, radiation girls. Now through talking to many survivors I think it is the cancer changes. An infection can develop faster and nastier in us. I struggle with it as well as many survivors do.

I have said that The Beast taught me my priority list was not correct. I was a too busy mom; I did excessively much for too many people. Most of the people were not my family. Now my family comes first then everyone else. I do say no more often, I do limit the amount of time and effort I spend on things that take away from my family. Anything can separate you from your family too much, and I am no longer willing to let that happen. That is not to say that my volunteering wasn’t doing good things, but if you don’t feel you did your best at home. No amount of helping others will make you feel better.

I saw that my focus needed to be on people not things. Contentment became a focus as well. With the beast, any moment you can laugh or dance is special. Prayer time became more intimate to me, it is hard to explain but my relationship with God changed. I was no longer a child; I had a personal home number to God. He heard my every cry; It is not about salvation it is about the exclusiveness of me and him.

So that is my tale, it has taken me three years to document.

I wanted to share with you the local woman that I know that was diagnosed before me told me her and her husband no longer celebrate their anniversary. They celebrate the day she became a survivor. That day is the day for them to remember. Hers is next week, and she will be a four-year survivor.

May this post help someone out there facing the beast know that they are no alone.

Mastectomy and Reconstruction part 2

This is the second post on my mastectomy and reconstruction. The story is detailed I know but so many don't understand the procedure of reconstructing the breast. I consider my doctor a breast artist, he created for me breast that look and feel normal. It is what most women dream of. To shorten this part would take away how amazing the procedure has become. Tomorrow will be the last beast post for a while I hope.

I looked good I felt good and strong going into surgery. I had lost weight before I was diagnosed, I was running a mile or two several days a week. I was doing Pilates every day. I was in the zone. I was unprepared, but I thought I was prepared.

Hubby works shift work and farms. The boys needed Hubby at home the night of my surgery, everyone was trying to help but my kids were not going to be okay unless Dad was home. I had never been away from them other than giving birth.

My procedure is not easily or short. They take you apart; they remove everything from your chest one side at a time. They even take your breast lymph nodes, and they cut your nerves. Then as the breast surgeon has finished one breast, the cosmetic surgeon comes in and starts in the flat chest. The patient gets what they call expanders, and they are amazing things if you understand them. They are like a saline implant but they have a port in them surrounded by a metal ring. They put in some saline after they get them in and they sew you back up. Then when the other breast is done, the surgeon does the same with the other bre