I can’t believe we are already in February/2024. I made it through 2023 but barely. That was the longest hardest year for me. I found out in March of 2023 that I had thyroid cancer, it hit me hard. I had my thyroid removed in Tijuana Mexico and decided to just move on again. I was only home about a month from Mexico when I found a lump on my left side where my breast once was. I was a little, NO a lot confused I didn’t think I would get cancer back in the same spot. BUT oh yes I did. Then started the long long road to what I do next. After many many tests and then many more i was diagnosed with stage 4 metastasized breast cancer. Not something we ever want to hear. I cried many tears over finding this awful disease again. I wasn’t even sure what I wanted to do. Going through surgery and chemo again seemed just awful. I also wanted to live so it was a no brainer. I had surgery to remove the cancer or as much as they could. I had a few weeks recovery then the ever dreaded chemo started. I HATED chemo the first time, I hated it again this time. Mostly knowing that your putting that poison into your body and your going to be sick. It is so so hard. And I was sick, very sick. Did I say I hate chemo ??? Because I hate chemo !!!!!! We don’t know how strong we are until being strong is our only choice. 🙏🏻🤨

I was done my chemo the beginning of December so I threw myself into Christmas. More then I have done in years. I baked I decorated I went to parties and I had friends over. It all helped me to end the year on a much more positive note. I can say I really enjoyed my Christmas this year. I wanted so bad to put the awful year I struggled through to be over. OVER for good. I found a really good saying that resonated with me. God said : in 2023 I made you strong. In 2024 I am going to show you why. So here I am 2024 show me why I am still here ??

The beginning of the year started out pretty rough as well. As a friend of my lost her son. Even though I have been there in her awful awful shoes. I didn’t know just what to do for her and her family. I helped in the areas that I could, but as I went through the motions in the day with them. At night I fell apart. I remembered the pain so awful at the beginning. I felt so sad for all of them they have no idea what awful times lie ahead. Your just so frozen at the beginning. You go through the motions, and do all the things expected of you. You really feel so numb that it doesn’t rally hit you yet. But it will. Oh yes it will. The celebration of life for this young man was last weekend. Now the hard part starts. I hope I can be the friend they need at the times they need me to be there. The road of grief is a very long lonely road. There is a whole world of grief that no one can understand until they walk through it. And, once you are in it you will never be the same. You will hurt as you never have. You will be broken as never before. And you will savour life as you never have before. ❤️

I heard a song for the first time today. It is by Toby Keith who lost his battle with cancer last night. The song is “ Don’t Let The Old Man In” if you have not heard it go to YouTube and listen what a beautiful song he left us. I believe he knew……he knew.

Life is short so be sure to live it well. Your health is so important, but you must listen to your body and check things out, anything that doesn’t feel right check it out. You are your only advocate so advocate for yourself. We are all just a car crash, a diagnosis, an unexpected phone call, a newfound love, or a broken heart away from becoming a completely different person. How beautifully fragile are we that so many things can take but a moment to alter who we are for forever. 😘

Todays sayings : When something bad happens you have three choices….you can either let it define you, let it destroy you, or let it strengthen you. You choose. 🧐

Number 2 : I have never met a strong person with an easy past …..🥰

Beth 😇