The week of Thanksgiving in 2018, I was diagnosed with colon cancer which was found through a colonoscopy. The day that I found out, I was given an appointment for the following Monday with the surgeon. However, I was in such awful pain that I did not feel that I …

We painted kitchen cabinets. Pulled all the drawers and took over the space only to read the paint can, and realize that the paint required 16 hours between coats. Today, like everyday, I’m reminded the value of patience. It is so important to be patient with each other and with …

When installing a floating floor, spacers are used along the wall to give the floor room to move and flex. We all need space sometimes to be away from the chaos and noise. When we give ourselves space, we discover things that might have otherwise gone unnoticed. Make time in …

My dad loves a good cherry pie. He is particularly fond of the way my mom makes the crust a little light and flaky and the filling a delicious combination of fresh, tart cherries all bubbling with goodness. The smell will fill the kitchen and the anticipation of eating the …

This tool is a confusing one because although it looks like a triangle, it is actually a square. It reminds me that so often when people ask us how we are, we say, “I’m fine” when we don’t honestly feel fine at all. It is okay to be real, it …

Ever since I can remember I had excruciating painful periods and excessive bleeding. The cramping was so bad that I would take tons of ibuprofen just to get by. I was in misery every month. I was so afraid that I never went to the doctor. Of course, the writing …

Hello all, . My name is Nicole, and at the age of 35, I was diagnosed with stage 1a breast cancer. My whole life I have always loved art and would spend hours painting and drawing. This very activity helped me deal with my whole cancer journey. It was the …

I guess the most important place to start would be at the beginning, although that might make for an exceptionally long and unnecessary story. My life has been a journey and to understand or comprehend how one path led me to the next is something I am not sure even …

In June 2019, I had a diagnostic mammogram that came back suspicious. I was sent for a breast MRI that determined that I needed further evaluation and was told to have a wire localization biopsy. On the day of the procedure, there were no special instructions. The first part of …

Strength is a powerful word. Physical strength is very obvious to the human eye. Internal strength is something different and more difficult to define. Not only is it difficult to define, but it is hard to determine where one finds their internal strength. It varies from person to person. When …