A Ray of Sunshine

I've had blood drawn three times this week - 4 and 5 vials at a time. I've had shots, I've been poked and prodded and I no longer have an ounce of modesty about my top half being naked. LIKE NONE. (Be warned if you are thinking about coming to visit - JUST KIDDING) Fortunately I am in the hands of amazing professionals all the way from the receptionists to the schedulers to the nurses to the doctors and surgeons. Man do have an outstanding team. They know what they are doing and they are just great people to be around. Every visit, we are serious and we get at least one good BIG laugh.

My first appointment today was with my family doc. He came in the room and said asked how I'd been. I said "I'm doing well. Have you been getting all of the updates about my breast cancer? Every time I fill out paperwork for a new specialist, I ask them to send you everything."

He paused for second, looked at me and said "you're kidding. I heard you two (Stevie and me) in here cracking jokes and giggling, I walk in here and you are smiling and happy...I thought the staff was confused and gave me the wrong name. You really do have breast cancer."

"Well yea, and I am so well taken care of." And so started my morning of appointments. He sent me to get blood work and the phlebotomist drawing my blood said "you two are just a ray of sunshine. Thank you." That's not a compliment you get every day.

As we were riding to the next appointment, Stephen said "you know you have to blog about that." So here I am. And what I am left thinking is that there is a joy in embracing whatever life throws at you. When you are 100% convinced that God is in control no matter what, then there may be sadness and a dark moment here and there, but the overarching theme to life is joy. A deep, genuine thankfulness and thoughtfulness about every moment - even the moments that just seem mundane. Cancer is no fun, but spending countless hours with my best friend and confidant Stephen Woodard at my side, even if much of it is filled with doctors and everything that goes with that, is a gift. It's a gift that I don't waste energy questioning. I can't. There are no satisfactory answers. Instead I embrace the journey, full on, knowing that as we tell people every day - it is what it is. The rest is what you make it.