New Years Resolution

We have a wonderful staff member battling cancer.  She has a care page that she uses to keep us all up to date on her fight for her life.  Today she posted the following and asks readers for their New Years resolution.  After reading her post, mine is to be grateful for my life and health.  

What is yours?

 WOW!!!!! What happened? I actually slept in this morning; I got up at 6:30. Chemo day, again, and YES! I am dreading it.  No matter how I try to keep telling myself it's all good, come morning my stomach gets in knots, my nerves go haywire, my stress level rises, I pace, I talk a lot and louder than normal, and I become a wreck from the process of today and the next few days. I have learned I can not compare it to any of the past treatments, because each one seems to be different. So I am taking a deep breath and find the numbing cream and do what I have to do.
Gary says that I give a whole new meaning to a chameleon because my skin changes colors all week, from pale, white, grey, green, peach, and my normal color RIGHT!!!! Today I guess I am pale from worry, it's all good!!!!
I have a few stubborn hairs on my head that simply refuse to fall out, but after today I think these stubborn hairs will fall out. The three things that I don't have to worry about are; shampoo, razors, and a hair brush, HA HA, but I have been using a lot of lotion.
 

Happy one year anniversary Heather and Drew, I can't believe it's been a year already, where has 2011 went, and speaking of years, New Years is just four days away and I have been thinking about my New Years resolution. Got the losing weight under-control, got a new hair dew under control, new wardrobe with my hats, I got the exercising down-pat with the sit up from my naps. I got the traveling under control I go to Winston once or twice a week. Meet new people, I do that once a week. Surround your self with family and friends, that's good. Laugh a lot, I am handling that, I GOT IT!!!!WORRY LESS!!!! THAT'S IT, when the NEW YEAR comes, I AM GOING TO WORRY LESS.  I am going to try and worry less, no I am going to think about worrying less, and then I will pretend to worry less. HA HA
So have you thought about your NEW YEARS RESOLUTIONS? Would love to hear them.
Have a bless day - Love Ya All

THE UGLY GREED OF CHRISTMAS



The recession has had an impact on almost every family in this county.  Rowan County has been hit especially hard during these past few years.  Many of us have lost jobs, homes and a way of life that we’ve known for decades. And now it’s Christmas, the most spending and materialistic time of the year.  I have spoken with many parents who worry about disappointing their children on Christmas Day.  Somehow, the amount of STUFF we buy for our children has become symbolic with how much we love our children.



I don’t remember much about the STUFF I received for Christmas.  I do remember my uncle Abe buying a large box of crayons for me because, as he explained, he was told that I like to draw.  I wouldn’t have remembered the gift, though, had it not been for the fact that Abe, a very busy young man, sat down next to me and drew pictures using my new box of perfect crayons.  That was truly the gift he gave me that Christmas.  He made me feel important.    

It snowed here in Rowan County last Christmas; a very rare event.  I don’t remember it though.   I was too busy trying to make Christmas perfect for everybody in my family.  The recession has hit my family too, so there won’t be as much STUFF under the Christmas tree.  I’m alright with this fact, because this year I will remember the lesson my uncle Abe taught me.    

Katherine Generaux, Community Inclusion Director

Christmas Tree Tradition

Legend has it that Martin Luther began the tradition of decorating trees to celebrate Christmas. One crisp Christmas Eve, about the year 1500, he was walking through snow-covered woods and was struck by the beauty of a group of small evergreens. Their branches, dusted with snow, shimmered in the moonlight. When he got home, he set up a little fir tree indoors so he could share this story with his children. He decorated it with candles, which he lighted in honor of Christ's birth.

Merry Christmas
May your holidays be happy days, filled with love and laughter.

May the ones you hold dear come from far and near,
to fill your house with joy and music to the rafters.
And may each day bring joy your way, in the year that follows after!

christmascarnivals.com

Michelle Macon, Program Coordinator

The spirit of giving

Modeling one of her new "cool hats"

One of our beloved staff, Laura Medford has been diagnosed with Lobular Carcinoma (a from of invasive breast cancer).  The Doctor said that only 20% of women have this type of cancer because it does not show up on any test and is usually invasive before it is found.

Laura began chemo a couple of weeks ago.  She is battling all of the elements that go with the treatments, but is still always thinking of others.  She had the length of her hair cut off for locks of love before it started falling out.  Another example occurred after visiting the doctors office last week.  She saw some cute little hats and asked how much they cost.  She was told they were free to cancer patients.  She took the last one and when she got home began  making more to donate to others that are losing their hair to chemo.  That is so Laura - giving to others!  Please join the PIL team in praying for her healing. 

You can find out more or keep up with her updates at  http://www.carepages.com/carepages/LauraMedford/patient