My momma always told me I would do great things in my life. I think every mother says this to their child to motivate and inspire them but I have always been so focused on making MY momma proud.
My mom was always my biggest cheerleader in life. I think she cheered for me even when she knew I was making a mistake or doing something foolish. However, she always allowed me the opportunity to try it for myself and sometimes, learn a very valuable lesson from whatever that experience may be. It has been hard since she has been gone. I have a lot of cheerleaders in life but I always hope for that one pat on the back from my mom. I want her to be proud.
When Cancer stole my momma away from me a little over a year ago, I knew my life would never be the same again. I not only had a broken heart but a huge empty space in my world that she once filled. I knew I would NEVER forgive the illness that stole her away from me. I set out on a crusade to fight just as hard as my mom did against this BULLY! I set out to spread a message that we would not stand to be bullied by Cancer. WE will win and quite frankly, we'll kick it's ass hard core!
I didn't know where to begin or how I would attack this bully. I came up with a plan, I would start a Relay for Life team. I'm sure I could get a few people together and raise a little money. But, that just wasn't good enough for me. As in all area's of my life....I needed it big, large, and grand. Not only would I start a Relay team but I would set a goal to raise $5000. EASY! But then I thought....why not go bigger even and get my team to throw a gala! If we did that we could make $5000 easy....so why not raise our goal to $10,000! And that's is exactly what we did! I am SO extremely blessed to have the amazing people in my life that I do. My team has been so great, that I really have no words to thank them. I had a vision....I wanted to throw a gala. It would be on Daffodil Day....April 27th...and so, the Daffodil Dinner was born. In the past few months, weeks, days, hours, I watched a vision become a reality! Everything was perfect, exactly how I pictured it in my head. My team mates worked so incredibly hard at tonight's gala fundraiser and for that I thank them from the bottom of my heart! With their help and support and the support of each guest, I know we will crush our $10,000 goal by the time we participate in the Relay on June 14th. Tonight each of us took a memory of a loved one lost and concentrated that anger, sadness and love and....I KNOW they would be proud!
Sunday, 28 April 2013
Thursday, 28 March 2013
I will wear my Daffodil for you...
It has been 13 and a half months since my momma went to Heaven. It is odd how the days just roll by and all of a sudden you realize....it's been 13 and a half months already! I have found myself obsessed with a project though. What's the project?? Raising money for the Canadian Cancer Society. I have been a bit over the top, I'm ok with that though. Most people who know me know I'm extremely type "A" and can get a bit obsessed!
The truth of the matter is that we all have a story in which Cancer is the villain. My story is no more important than yours in the grand scheme of things. It is just the most important to me in the same regard that yours is the most important to you! This is what makes us so driven! The one thing all of our different stories have in common (besides the villain) is those of us left behind telling the story are joined in HOPE! Together we can hope for a future where there is no Cancer....and this is why I'm now obsessed with my new project :)
As I embarked on this journey or project this year (team captain for a Relay for Life team), I did so with apprehension. First my anxiety came from the thought that it might be too hard for me. As each fundraiser came along or as I asked the people in my life to donate to my cause I would be faced with the sad fact that I lost my mom not all that long ago. After I got past this and told myself I would get through that with all of the amazing support I have in my life, I began to worry....what if I can't reach my goal! I still sit in that worry a bit. I have set out to raise $10,000 with my team. What drives me each day to obtain that goal is the faces of each daughter, son, husband, wife, mother, father, friend, and so on that I saw each time I stepped foot in the Cancer clinic or the PCU. I can't bear to disappoint those people. They are the people that count on these funds! During my mom's fight, we were lucky enough to have support from the CCS and I was SO very lucky to have met an unforgettable volunteer that I simply knew as Gran. She was everything that the CCS embodied and so much more! I recently found out that Gran's cancer came back and she lost her courageous battle to the "monster". She always amazed me at how she could be so positive all the while secretly fighting her own war. Everyone going through cancer treatment (patients, family and friends) needs to have a Gran!
You may have noticed " yellow poppies" (as my little preschool bunch calls it) AKA daffodil pins out in the community. That's because the Canadian Cancer Society is gearing up for Daffodil Month capped off by Daffodil Day on April 27th. The funds raised by this movement are so valuable to help people like Gran help me, or you, or your neighbour, friend, co-worker! Who will you wear your daffodil for? I will be wearing mine in memory of my mom, my step mom, an amazing woman named Gran and all the other amazing people out there courageously fighting. So what if people think we're over the top! A little yellow pin can symbolize so much in a battle that we MUST keep fighting for one day we will win the war!
The truth of the matter is that we all have a story in which Cancer is the villain. My story is no more important than yours in the grand scheme of things. It is just the most important to me in the same regard that yours is the most important to you! This is what makes us so driven! The one thing all of our different stories have in common (besides the villain) is those of us left behind telling the story are joined in HOPE! Together we can hope for a future where there is no Cancer....and this is why I'm now obsessed with my new project :)
As I embarked on this journey or project this year (team captain for a Relay for Life team), I did so with apprehension. First my anxiety came from the thought that it might be too hard for me. As each fundraiser came along or as I asked the people in my life to donate to my cause I would be faced with the sad fact that I lost my mom not all that long ago. After I got past this and told myself I would get through that with all of the amazing support I have in my life, I began to worry....what if I can't reach my goal! I still sit in that worry a bit. I have set out to raise $10,000 with my team. What drives me each day to obtain that goal is the faces of each daughter, son, husband, wife, mother, father, friend, and so on that I saw each time I stepped foot in the Cancer clinic or the PCU. I can't bear to disappoint those people. They are the people that count on these funds! During my mom's fight, we were lucky enough to have support from the CCS and I was SO very lucky to have met an unforgettable volunteer that I simply knew as Gran. She was everything that the CCS embodied and so much more! I recently found out that Gran's cancer came back and she lost her courageous battle to the "monster". She always amazed me at how she could be so positive all the while secretly fighting her own war. Everyone going through cancer treatment (patients, family and friends) needs to have a Gran!
You may have noticed " yellow poppies" (as my little preschool bunch calls it) AKA daffodil pins out in the community. That's because the Canadian Cancer Society is gearing up for Daffodil Month capped off by Daffodil Day on April 27th. The funds raised by this movement are so valuable to help people like Gran help me, or you, or your neighbour, friend, co-worker! Who will you wear your daffodil for? I will be wearing mine in memory of my mom, my step mom, an amazing woman named Gran and all the other amazing people out there courageously fighting. So what if people think we're over the top! A little yellow pin can symbolize so much in a battle that we MUST keep fighting for one day we will win the war!
Monday, 28 January 2013
Baby, you're never alone....
When it came time to plan a memorial for my momma, I didn't know where to begin. My mom had always been the one to know exactly what to do in this situation! I never paid attention! The one thing I did know is that I wanted to pay tribute to her life in photographs (a bit of a hidden hobby of mine!). I watch that slide show probably at least once a week, even now, and think about her and the memories we made. One of the songs I chose for the slide show is a song by Lady Antebellum, Never Alone. It speaks to me and reminds me of her on SO many levels that just simply hearing it will take my breath away. My mom always used to tell me that as long as we had each other, we would never be alone. When she passed away, I felt lost! Because now, I was "alone" so to speak (even if it was in my own mind at the time). Don't get me wrong, I have SO many amazing friends and family but no one could replace my momma.
It took me a very, VERY long time to realise that the lyrics to the song were actually true "My love will follow you stay with you. Baby, you're never alone". As I've continued on the journey recently, I have realised just how true this is. I'm not extremely spiritual BUT if I am having a particularly hard day and I miss my momma, I find that night I will dream about her and it will make me feel like she's there. I truly believe that she is around keeping tabs on me and making sure I behave! I know I feel her look of disappointment when I do something I know I shouldn't have and I can feel her pride when I do something I know she would be proud of. Just because she can't reach out and physically hug me anymore, doesn't me she's not there, so I'm never alone because she is in my heart. That's actually the best place for her because she can go on all of my adventures with me! It wasn't until a few weeks ago that I finally allowed myself to let go a little bit of all the things I wish I'd said (or hadn't said) and just be happy in the memories I have that no one else will ever get. I still miss her terribly but it is getting easier to get out of bed than it used to!
As the first anniversary of my mom's trip to Heaven approaches, I'm challenged to remember all of the people who wouldn't let me be alone. Those friends and family that, no matter what, held my hand and said "Let's go, we're in this together!" I can never put in to words what that has been like or how thankful I am to have you! This June I plan to honour my mom and my step mom in the Relay for Life, it has become even more apparent to me through this plan alone that "Baby, you're never alone" !!
It took me a very, VERY long time to realise that the lyrics to the song were actually true "My love will follow you stay with you. Baby, you're never alone". As I've continued on the journey recently, I have realised just how true this is. I'm not extremely spiritual BUT if I am having a particularly hard day and I miss my momma, I find that night I will dream about her and it will make me feel like she's there. I truly believe that she is around keeping tabs on me and making sure I behave! I know I feel her look of disappointment when I do something I know I shouldn't have and I can feel her pride when I do something I know she would be proud of. Just because she can't reach out and physically hug me anymore, doesn't me she's not there, so I'm never alone because she is in my heart. That's actually the best place for her because she can go on all of my adventures with me! It wasn't until a few weeks ago that I finally allowed myself to let go a little bit of all the things I wish I'd said (or hadn't said) and just be happy in the memories I have that no one else will ever get. I still miss her terribly but it is getting easier to get out of bed than it used to!
May the angels protect you
Trouble neglect you
And heaven accept you when it's time to go home
May you always have plenty
Your glass never empty
Know in your belly
You're never alone
May your tears come from laughing
You find friends worth having
With every year passing
They mean more than gold
May you win but stay humble
Smile more than grumble
And know when you stumble
You're never alone
Never alone
Never alone
I'll be in every beat of your heart
When you face the unknown
Wherever you fly
This isn't goodbye
My love will follow you stay with you
Baby you're never alone
Well, I have to be honest
As much as I want it
I'm not gonna promise the cold winds won't blow
So when hard times have found you
And your fear surround you
Wrap my love around you
You're never alone
Never alone
Never alone
I'll be in every beat of your heart
When you face the unknown
Wherever you fly
This isn't goodbye
My love will follow you stay with you
Baby you're never alone
May the angels protect you
Trouble neglect you
And heaven accept you when it's time to go home
And when hard times have found you
And your fear surround you
Wrap my love around you
You're never alone
Never alone
Never alone
I'll be in every beat of your heart
When you face the unknown
Wherever you fly
This isn't goodbye
My love will follow you stay with you
Baby you're never alone
My love will follow you stay with you
Baby you're never alone
~Lady Antebellum~
Trouble neglect you
And heaven accept you when it's time to go home
May you always have plenty
Your glass never empty
Know in your belly
You're never alone
May your tears come from laughing
You find friends worth having
With every year passing
They mean more than gold
May you win but stay humble
Smile more than grumble
And know when you stumble
You're never alone
Never alone
Never alone
I'll be in every beat of your heart
When you face the unknown
Wherever you fly
This isn't goodbye
My love will follow you stay with you
Baby you're never alone
Well, I have to be honest
As much as I want it
I'm not gonna promise the cold winds won't blow
So when hard times have found you
And your fear surround you
Wrap my love around you
You're never alone
Never alone
Never alone
I'll be in every beat of your heart
When you face the unknown
Wherever you fly
This isn't goodbye
My love will follow you stay with you
Baby you're never alone
May the angels protect you
Trouble neglect you
And heaven accept you when it's time to go home
And when hard times have found you
And your fear surround you
Wrap my love around you
You're never alone
Never alone
Never alone
I'll be in every beat of your heart
When you face the unknown
Wherever you fly
This isn't goodbye
My love will follow you stay with you
Baby you're never alone
My love will follow you stay with you
Baby you're never alone
~Lady Antebellum~
Never Alone
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