Here’s to another year of building a strong marriage based on friendship, laughter, and love.
Happy Third Birthday to our marriage!
find the love!
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Beauty
There aren’t enough words to capture the beauty we’ve seen over the past days. Mountain ranges that have brought tears to my eyes. Rock formations and structures that have taken my breath away. Countless times we have all exclaimed “are we REALLY doing this?!”
We’re having the best time.
Yellowstone, you’re up next! (Alternatively titled, please let us survive without being eaten by a bear!)
Posted in beauty, joy, road trip
Tagged colorado, denver, rocky mountains, south dakota, the badlands
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2,628,000 Minutes
2, 628,000 minutes ago my best friend was wheeled down a long hallway. Her last words to me were “I’ve gotta go rock.”
2,628,000 minutes ago my Mom was wheeled down a long hallway. Her last words to me were “I’ll see you soon.”
For hours I paced. Wore paths in the pastel carpeting.
Pretended to read. Pretended to hold conversations.
Looked up every time a man or woman walked by in scrubs.
I’m fairly certain I held my breath for over six hours.
Until I glanced up one more time and recognized the doctor. I was sitting alone that time. Everyone else was getting snacks or using the bathroom.
But he wouldn’t wait until I had support, he asked me to step into the family room so he could deliver his news.
My Mother’s fate. My best friend’s fate. The two people in the world I was fairly certain I couldn’t live with out.
“Well,” he started slowly, his face giving away nothing.
I had a sharp intake of air and tears welled in my eyes.
“The surgery went as well as we hoped. Your Mother’s new kidney is already producing urine.”
My entire body started to shake as I gasped and thanked the doctor.
I didn’t know then that we were far from out of the woods.
I didn’t know then that I would face the possibility of losing my Mom again.
I didn’t know that in some ways, this was the easiest day of the journey ahead.
What I did know, was that I had just experienced the most selfless and loving act I had ever known.
2,628,000 minutes ago Stacey donated her kidney to my Mother.
5 years ago.
A million memories ago.
And I have never felt gratitude like that before in my life.
It’s not everyone that can say they know a true hero -and I know two.
*******
For more on living donation, please visit this website. I urge you all to fill out organ donation cards as well.
Are you a good witch or a bad witch?
That’s right folks! I’m reporting LIVE from the city of Oz.
Wish y’all were here.
And remember that only bad witches are ugly.
It really is windy…
Wow! We had a great time in Chicago! We went up the Skydeck (and out on the plexiglass where you can see the city below you – 1,000 feet below you!). We got deep dish pizza and walked along Lake Michigan. I cannot tell you how amazing it is to be touring the country like this. AND, I drove in downtown Chicago successfully with our sweet minivan (Bessie).
Henry Ford Museum
Here’s where we spent yesterday, and if you’re ever in Dearborn, Michigan – check it out! Well worth the $17.
And today, we’re exploring the windy city!
Hope everyone out there in blog land is doing well!!
The Story of Road Warrior
We have a special companion on our Cross Country Adventure.
Her name is Road Warrior.
She is a Build-A-Bear that is seeing the sights so that we can send pictures to my Mom’s current Chemo-Patient assignment.
What’s a Chemo Patient? Good question. A few years after my Mom was declared cancer-free she began working with the Chemo Angels which is an organization that provides a network of support to people going through Chemotherapy, from people who have gone through it themselves. She writes letters, sends cards, pictures and small gifts to support her assigned Chemo-Patient.
So we’ll be sending pictures of Road Warrior in various places around the USA, and at the end we’ll send Road Warrior herself to my Mom’s current assignment. It’s a great organization and I highly recommend checking them out if you’re looking for resources or a great organization to donate to!!
Posted in Uncategorized
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Does Hershey REALLY smell like chocolate?
We’re safe.
We’re having a great time.
And yes, Hershey, PA smells like chocolate!
Who Says You Can’t Go Home?
How nice it has been to spend seven whole days in my very first hometown.
Where the streets are familiar, and I know the back ways to everything.
Where I can start sentences like “hey Casey, when I was little, I used to…”
Where I can see friends who have known me since I was knee high to a grasshopper.
And where I can find old relics hidden away, like how I was a vet (that spent too much time watching “The Price is Right”) when I was 12. Clearly, I was the vet version of Doogie Howser.
Have a great day, all! I’ll catch you in Hershey, PA next.
I hear it smells like chocolate?!?!?!?!?!
Congratulations, Mom!
If I am a good employee, a hard worker, a loyal and dedicated part of the workforce – it is because of her.
Because for 40 years she has worked for the State of Vermont, starting out at the “bottom” as a stenographer and working her way up to the Financial Director, Business Manager (whatever you wanna call it!) for the Department of Financial Regulation. Handling millions of dollars. And doing it with style, grace, and maybe a dash of blood, sweat, and tears.
Today – we celebrate her. As she closes the chapter on this career and moves in to retirement. I am so proud to be her daughter. The daughter of a woman whose hard work paid off, who put in long hours to provide for her family, who held her own in a male dominated career path.
My Mom taught me a lot of things – and how to be a good employee and a good supervisor are among only a few of the things I have picked up from her. But they are among the most important.
Congratulations, Mom! We love you and are infinitely proud of you!
