What do YOU do?

I get this question everytime I meet someone new.  Now let me just start by saying that being a mom is a full time job.  It's a thankless job that does not pay NEARLY enough.  I knew when we found out that we were pregnant for the first time that Joel HAD to get a job so I could stay home with my baby.  As luck would have it, 4 short days after I peed on the stick, he got the DC gig.  I stayed home with Jackie for a year.  It was H.A.R.D!  Not only to be a new mom, but to get into a routine in a new town with a kid that did nothing but eat, sleep & poop.  I felt like I needed something more...for me.  So, that next fall I went back to work--first just to substitute as needed and as I wanted to.  But then I got a call that one of the elementary schools in the county needed an extra Kindergarten teacher.  And K. is where my heart is for teaching...so I took it.  It was fun, don't get me wrong.  But I drove 45 minutes to and from work every single day.  My first day of teaching was literally on Jackie's first birthday.  And then after 2 weeks of being back at work, my babysitter bailed on me.  I had to take several days off to find a new childcare situation.  The whole thing was a nightmare. 

Then I began working in the evenings and weekends with a company I had started shopping with over the summer before going back to teaching.  I did it from home, on my time and was paid for my efforts.  I enjoyed every minute of it and started hoping for snow days so I could work from home MORE!  Now I know that sometimes home businesses have a bad reputation--and there are many scams out there.  I've talked to more people who have been ripped off over the years & it's sad.  But I love what I do & after Josie came along, I quit teaching to pour all my efforts into my business.

It's challenging--to say the least--to get respect from certain people about what you do when you have your own home business.  I talk to complete strangers daily who don't know me, don't trust me, still have skepticism about what I'm telling them.  That rolls off my back because I really can't blame them.  However, it's those people you've known forever who don't respect what you do that kinda takes your breath away for a moment.  And I say a moment, because it really IS just for a moment.  I am confident about what I do and won't let anyone take that away from me. 

You see, I am still an educator.  And when I talk to people--friends, family, or complete strangers--I talk to them to help THEM.  It's truly about educating as many people as I can.  A stranger may not believe that of me right away and again, I can't really blame them.  They don't know me.  BUT if you DO know me and you still think I'm just talking to you to make a quick buck you are sorely mistaken.  I love providing a little extra income for my family.  I love driving a car that my company makes the car payments.  But I don't chase down my friends & family to only make a buck.  It's a genuine concern.  Just like when I was a teacher and I had a student who needed some extra help in school.  I didn't call the parents to schedule an appointment for a conference because it made ME more money or helped MY resume.  I called those parents in to educate them on the situation involving their child and what they do with that information was up to them--just like the information I share now. 

Now I'm rambling, on my soapbox.  Sorry...let me just say this.  It took guts for ME to quit teaching and pour my heart and soul into this business.  Joel & I have had many heart to hearts about this and he has been my #1 fan and supporter from Day 1.  If you have ever taken the time to let me share my company with you, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.  What you DO with that information is out of my control...but thank you for letting me educate you.  Fear of home based business is real because there ARE scams out there.  But if someone you know--someone you've known for YEARS--approaches you out of concern for you and your family, take the time to hear them out.  And if I personally happen to come to you--know this.  I am not going to chase you or try to convince you to do something you don't want to do.  If I have come to you & addressed a concern, I assure you it is genuine because I think I have a way to offer you a solution to some problem I've seen you having.

I've been able to help well over 600 families in the past 7+ years.  Some came to me because they wanted to make money and be home with their kids.  Some needed to find a solution to health issues their child or spouse was having.  I've talked to probably 5x's that many people but 600+ families found an answer here.  You can't find the answer if you don't look at all the options.

Perspective

Perspective:  a specific point of view in understanding or judging things or events.

This word has come to mind several times in the past 4 years.  This week it's one of Jackie's vocabulary words at school.  It amazes me that some people make it to adulthood with the "bubble" they live in & the things that actually come out of their mouths.  I guess it takes all kinds to make the world go round? 

Last summer I got a tattoo.  I honestly never wanted a tattoo.  But after my cancer journey decided it would be sometihng to serve as my "badge" of survival.  It was a gift to myself and I love it!

Just before I went to get it, I had someone say to me, "On your ankle?  That's gonna HURT!  Omygosh, are you sure you want it on your ankle?"  Hurt?  It's gonna hurt?  Let's get some perspective here--just weeks before this conversation I had my stomach cut from hip bone to hip bone and all the skin removed from my right breast, then replaced with the skin & tissue from my stomach.  I was in the hospital for 4 days, couldn't walk standing up straight for about 3 weeks and had 4 drains hanging from my breast and hips for 2 weeks.  A needle coloring on my ankle bone for 30 min is gonna HURT? 

I am also trying to gain an appropriate perspective going into my 60 mile walk next week.  I admit that I have lacked in training this year--I can give excuses, but I won't.  I am just not ready physically.  While talking with my team about blisters that we will most likely get within the first 5 miles (AHHHH!), I will have a mind over matter battle putting that "pain" into perspective.  Little J is still in the hospital undergoing treatment for her lukemia--she's been there for over 2 weeks now.  She's only 3 years old & being stuck with needles daily without a way to understand WHY (tho NONE of us can understand WHY).  When those blisters are bulging & the shin splints are screaming and my feet are cramping next weekend, I assure you that I will go further than I want to for little J.  She doesn't have a choice--neither will I.  

It's all about perspective. 

November 5

For the first 19 years of my life November 5 was just another day--one day closer to my favorite holiday, Thanksgiving.  Then I met my dear friend, A, my sophomore year of college and learned it was her birthday.  For the next 7 years it was the day I got to wish A a Happy Birthday.  In 2004, my lovebug, Josie Mae, came into the world on November 5.   Now she shared her birthday with someone I love so much--an amazing day!  In 2007, November 5 was the day after I gave birth to Bubba Boy and we celebrated Josie's 3rd birthday.  One year later, on November 5, my worst fears began to unfold. 

It was 2 years ago today.  Joel had been home from fall tour for a few days & I had found a lump.  How could I have POSSIBLY found a lump when I had a bilateral mastectomy & implants, you might wonder?  Well, it was there, in the skin.  And I saw my surgeon on November 5--Josie's 4th birthday.  First he claimed he couldn't find the lump and asked me to point it out.  Then he assured me it was scar tissue & did an ultrasound in the patient room.  But, he decided to send me to radiology for a better ultrasound and further testing--just to make sure.  He sent me off with these words "Either they'll tell you it's scar tissue and you need to come back in 6 months for your next checkup OR they'll tell you it's nothing.  I'll probably see you in 6 months!"  For the next 6 hours I went from ultrasound to needle biopsy to mammogram (yup, it was a "pinched" mammo where the poor tech had to hold my implant out of the way to get a visual of the lump...very interesting).  The radiologist who read my films that day was the same one who told me in June of 2006 to have my first lump removed.  She came into the room & I was reading a Women's Day magazine.  The look on her face told me all I needed to know.  She sent me back to my surgeon to schedule a biopsy.  I didn't need to wait the next 7 weeks for the biopsy results to find out--I knew that day. 

November 5, 2008 was just the beginning of our second cancer tour. November 5, 2010 has been a completely WONDERFUL day with cupcakes at school & a friend home on the bus, dinner out & ice cream sundaes for dessert.  It's amazing to me how one day can hold so many memories and meanings for you while giving you so many mixed emotions. 

November 5--Happy Birthday A & Josie Mae and thank you to the docs who spent so much time with me on this day 2 years ago to make sure I got the best advice possible so I can see many more November 5 in the future.   

Month of Thanks

Today my head has been swimming with thoughts.  My morning started with a trip to the doc with my little man.  It was his 2yr/3yr old well baby checkup.  Why 2/3yr you ask?  Yes, I FORGOT to take him for his 2 yr old checkup.  FORGOT.  I admit, that in my multiple trips to the doc for preop appts, surgeon for post surgery appts, urologist for kidney stones, lab for xrays & MRIs on my foot in the past 16 months, I let it slip my mind that my little guy may not be up-to-date on his vaccines.  SO, today we went for his 2/3yr old appointment and I have said thank you more than once for the clean bill of health. 

You see, while sitting at this particular appointment I got a text from Joel informing me that friends of ours were sitting in a hospital room with their 3 yr old daughter undergoing treatment for lukemia.  When I got home, I had an email update from my neighbor's niece regarding her 5 yr old's MRI test today and clinical trial starting on Thursday for his inoperable brain tumor.  And then a coworker asked for prayers as a 20 yr old child of her friend undergoes treatment for her 3rd round of cancer, currently planning her wedding as it is her only wish as they fear a devistating outcome for her. 

November is the month of thanks.  And on November 25 we will sit around our dining room tables and say thanks for all that we have.  I am thankful that I have a beautiful family & amazing friends.  I am thankful that I can say I am a survivor.  But I am mostly thankful for the little people in the world--like H, J & K--who remind me that I can be a better person as they are fighting a fight I will NEVER know or EVER understand.  My heart is with these 3 families tonight and through this month of thanks as everyday is truly a blessing.  Thank you for touching my life in more ways than you can possibly know.