38 Years of A Great Life

Today I turn 38.

After a couple of years of helping my sister in law, Roisin, through her battle with cancer & living a lot of these last 11 months on a pediatric hospital unit, I have something to say:

Embrace your age & don't complain about "getting old".

When Roisin died people would say (and still say), "wow, 42 years old ...she was so young". So True!

But if 42 is so young to die why is it too old to live? I don't get it. People complain all the time about turning a certain age or "getting old".

Life is good. If you are reading this, you are very much alive & there is nothing about your age not to be happy about. Be thankful.

This past year has been beyond any challenge I could have imagined but it has been filled with many blessings and it has given me a new perspective on this wonderful life God has given me.

I am thankful for so many things but here are just 38:

1. The laughter of my daughters .. and the fact that I now have "daughters" ... plural!!!
2. Jim & that he lets me be me
3. Soft towels & bed sheets (b/c let me tell you, Nate Berkus has not manufactured hospital towels or bed sheets!!!)
4. Nurses that care & go beyond the call of duty.... too many to even mention ... you know who you are & I love you!
5. A child life specialist named Holly in Maryland & Claudia in California.
6. Friendship with a dear young guy named Daniel. We all still remember him & know that we will see him again in heaven!
7. My bathtub ... soaking is therapy.
8. "Party in the USA" by Miley Cyrus. Lily sings along & says "up little bit" (for me to turn it up)... life is a party!
9. The kindness of strangers.
10. A girl named Kylee that left a legacy of sharing books with critically ill children.
11. The Make A Wish Organization
12. Emily that works at Build A Bear in NYC & gave my Hannah a time she will never forget!
13. Vicki Allen & all she did to rally so many for Hannah's Magical Day on 10/17/09
14. Hannah's recent blood counts that do not require transfusions!!!!!!
15. The Aplastic Anemia Association & all the information they have provided during our journey this past year.
16. A 46 year old man in Europe that is willing to give his bone marrow to save my daughter's life
17. Friends ... how to ever say thank you for the way my heart has been encouraged during the darkest of days?
18. God's gift of a dear friend & sister named Kim ... what would my life be like w/o you?
19. My parents that continue to encourage me & love me each day (Dad just called to be the first to wish me a happy birthday .. how sweet!).
20. A red wine named "Kitchen Sink" ... :-)
21. Our house.
22. A serviceman that I met on a flight, as he was coming back from Iraq & gave me a battle patch to give to Hannah since she was in a battle for her life.
23. Health: shoulders in place, face working fine (no bell's palsy)!
24. My sisters. Life without sisters would just be wrong.
25. Cousin Blair & her selflessness as she helped me this summer
26. Dr. Agnes Horvath at Kaiser Fontana ... an angel filled with only love & care
27. Dr. Phillip Scheinberg at the National Institutes of Health ... a brilliant & caring doctor that has calmed our fears during the worst of storms.
28. The fall flag in front of my house & the sign that says "Home Sweet Home"
29. Wonderful places that we have stayed during hospital stays: The Children's Inn & Ronald McDonald House
30. Massive amounts of hand-me-down clothes from another China treasure, Mia
31. The blessing of adoption ... beyond words that God chose me to be Lily's mom.
32. The Lord and only the peace that He can give!!
33. God's grace ... I never appreciated His grace as much as I have this past year. Can't imagine walking a day of this road without His unending & unconditional love.
34. Our sweet dog, Joy. And another home for a sweet dog named Abbie .. thank you Chance for wanting a beagle (and Ben & Virginia for saying "yes")!
35. Cherry Zero
36. Fun memories of times in the hospital: IV Pole Dancing, eating Captin Crunch with Hannah @ 3am, Lily sleeping over with us on some occassions, watching Food Network together & staying up all night too many times to count ..
37. Knowing that the future is already known by the One who knows me.
38. Understanding more of what it means to "not worry about tomorrow because tomorrow will worry about itself"


... all I have is today & I am beyond thankful!!!!

PS -- Photos were taken by a photographer at the fabulous event that I attended on 9/11/09 for Make a Wish Mothers at the St. Regis Hotel & Spa. I was being such a goof ball! Thank you Valory for the care of your staff!!!