Facing my fears...

I wish I had the energy to write everything that is going on in my life, my heart, my brain... and my body. As you know, we are moving. What you may not know is that we leave here in a week. Oh, my heart is so broken to leave. I am not sad about leaving Dallas but I am despondent to leave all my loved ones here. You guys mean the WORLD to me and I will be leaving a part of my heart here with you.

I feel so driven to get settled in Michigan. I am craving calmness, woods and stability. I am running on nearly pure instinct and intuition. This is such a big deal. The house we live in now is so lovely. I always say that it wraps its arms around us every day when we come home. Our new home in Michigan will be full of love too...in no time at all. The kids will settle into their new schools, I will have my final months of treatment with a new doctor (whoever that will be...I do not know yet), we will have new vets for the animals, new grocery stores, new phone numbers..........too many changes to mention. Most important is that we will be near Megan, Molly, Marty and the boys, as well as my loving Michigan friends.

I have cried a river of tears already but I am so excited too.

God is at the wheel....or rather I am at the wheel but God is my GPS.

Thank you for your continued support of me and my family.
Much love,
Maureen

Happy birthday, sweet boy!!

Oscar turns 7 years old today. I am proud beyond words of this special boy!

xoxo

Dallas

There are so many things I will miss about Texas...specifically Dallas. From the fried goodness at the State Fair (this year's newest addition: fried butter! seriously) to the Hill Country to the friendliest people in the world...I will miss so much about this place. It has been my home for 19 years.

And my friends.....oh my gosh.....the best friends in the world!!

I will post at some point specifically about what leaving Texas means to me.

But in the meantime I thought I would post about one thing I WON'T miss. A picture is worth....ya know....

xoxo

Mental head slap

I was feeling very sentimental and overwhelmed the other day…in a good way. And wanted to convey all this raw, wonderful emotion to Angelica and Oscar.

Me: You guys, we are so lucky…we have so many blessings. We have our health and we have each other and most important we have Jesus in our hearts.
Oscar: Mom, do worms have hearts?
Me: Well, um, I am not sure Oscar. But what I am saying is that we have so much to be thankful for. We are happy and healthy. We have a home and our family and our pets and …
Oscar: Mom, did you know some aliens have 9 arms and legs?
Me: Okay, that’s great, Oscar. Do you hear what Mommy is saying? I want us to always count our blessings.
Angelica: Mommy, my dolly has to go potty.

It may not have seemed like it but I am sure they were hearing me.

xoxo

Angelica on the Wii Ski Jump, Hula Hoop and Tightrope

Pay no attention to the mess surrounding our fun! I should be embarrassed to even show how many toys are scrattered on the fireplace. But these videos make me laugh so I wanted to share.

She cracks me up!!!

SAY IT LOUD and SAY IT PROUD...

I have been inappropriately worried about posting my big news...for fear of jinxing it. And that is nonsense. Just like being superstitious. It's silly. Walking under a ladder does not determine what will happen to us. Like ALL things, it is in God's hands. God's perfect plan is just unrolling before my eyes.

So enough of the hush-hush, cautious, secretive-ness (lol...is that a word?). Let me just belt it out.......

WE ARE MOVING HOME TO MICHIGAN! This may only be a surprise to about 4 of you since word has spread fast.

I am craving being closer to family. I know I will be fine health-wise and probably live until I am 80 (I don't have enough money to live too much past that...lol...but 80 would be great). I feel VERY blessed that I can hear my clock ticking louder than before and as a result I am more present in my life than before. Hard to explain. I guess this is the elusive gift that all the cancer peeps talk about. So my gut and heart and brain...and kids...are telling me to get back to where I grew up. And I am listening.

So, like in all things I do in my life, things are moving a warp speed. I am a do-er. Can't help it. I am just very decisive. I will make mistakes along the way. But, right or wrong, I have got things rolling and moving and happening. Things should be settled on my new house in Michigan (double the space for a fraction of the price) this week. My house is on the market, in case you know anyone: MLS# 11255605. And I have started packing. Wish us luck! My intention is to get up there and settled in so that when I start back at a job my home life will be settled and I can focus on work. Plus getting Oscar settled in as close to the start of the school year as possible will be good.

I have an infusion on Tuesday. I will talk to them about how/where to finish my treatments. My last infusion is November 3. So that will work out too, I am sure. I may just fly back for them (cha-ching!) but that way I can stay with my dream team until the last treatment.

My warmest, loving regards to all of you. Thank you for checking in and caring about us Moons'!

xoxo

p.s. We are moving to Rochester, MI. It is small town quaint...around 13,000 people. But close to bigger cities I will be visiting for my job. http://www.downtownrochestermi.com/

Pesky lil' buggers...but not to me

I am normally breakfast, lunch and dinner to mosquitoes. I usually get chowed on in the summer. But not this summer. I imagine it is because they can smell the chemicals flowing through my veins. And if they munch on me this will happen to them:




LOL. Hope you are mo-skee-toe free too.

xoxo

Oscar's first day of school

Oscar started 1st grade today. He was a champ! Although he was scared, he rallied!! I was so so so incredibly proud of him.

And not to be outdone, little Miss Tooty-Toots.....Angelica! So proud of her too!!

xoxo

Bad, bad blogger!

I have been rotten at blogging lately. I'm sorry.

I do have oodles of things going on in my life right now. But I need to keep it under wraps for just a little while longer until I can firm things up a tad more. Ohhhhhhhhh, it is good news...very good for my family. Sorry to be so enigmatic. It is not anything too juicy, like I had a hot date or anything good like that. That I would be shouting from the rooftops. It is more about some major life changes I am making. No...now stop that....you can't guess....no...don't...please....I am a terrible secret-keeper. Please don't guess. Oh, alright, daggnabbit....

Nope. My lips are sealed. But please stay tuned.

:)

xoxo

Do you hear yourself...?

I am doing okay...but definitely not myself. I am tired and achy and less patient than I could be with the kids. I say all this not to complain but rather as a preface to this story I am about to share.

We were out of toilet paper this morning so we ran to Target (what is it with this family, Target and potty issues?!?!). I wanted to get in and get out. But Angelica got tangled in the spider web of the $1.00 section. She wanted to buy a pair of scissors that cut in a pretty pattern, like a children's version of pinking shears. I was so tired and not feeling good and wanted to get back home.

So, in my impatience, I barked at my 3-year old "Just run with your scissors!!"

Oh, how the head's turned. I got completely tickled and couldn't stop laughing. Angelica just looked at me like I had 3 heads.

Headed to bed. Love to you all!

xoxo

Just a few (dozen) more pictures to share...

Our whole immediate family...all 15 of us!

Gorgeous rainbow right in the middle of the lake...

My nephew Douglas...surfing the sand

xoxo

Reunion

We are home from our family reunion. It was wonderful beyond words. I have the funnest, most wonderful sisters, friends, cousins, aunts, uncles, niece, nephews and brother-in-laws ever!

I will let the photos do the talking, except for one story.

I was accidentally copied on an e-mail regarding my birthday present from the family. So I knew I was getting a toaster oven (I am a dork...I really wanted one!). So, to yank my sister Megan's chain, I mentioned, very gloaty-like, that I had just bought a toaster oven and loved it. Why would I do that? Because I thought I was sooooooo funny. So when it came time for me to get my b-day cake (a cream puff with Sander's hot fudge) and song and present, Megan got me back....and good. Notice what my gift is....

That'll teach me!

The rest of the photos are random shots of wonderful family time.

Marty and me

Fearless Angelica...

Michele, Megan, me, Suzanne, MB and Molly...

Me and my Aunt Billie

Me and my Uncle Jim (my mom's brother)

3-day old calf...precious

Molly and my nephew AJ


Kyle and Reid, my nephews

Bestest friends....

More best friends...

I love Michigan...

Molly, Megan, Michele, Suzanne and me

MB and Kyle with Douglas playing guitar in the background

Now it is back to reality for me. I have doctor's appointments on Monday, treatment (infusion) on Tuesday and MRIs on Wedneday.

I am fatigued beyond words and headed to bed. It is 7:30 here. I will fall asleep shortly and sleep until morning with no problem. Crazy.

Hugs and more hugs to all of you!

xoxo

Family time...

The kids and I are off to spend a couple glorious days with family......our whole family on my mom's side.

Through this whole cancer journey I have missed my mom so much more so than normal. Every step of the way I have wished I could pick up the phone and call her...or stop in at her work and see her....or meet her for lunch at Sander's like we used to.

My mom died from breast cancer when I was 21. At 21 you don't know enough to ask all the questions you wish you knew the answers to later in life.

The good news is that I know she is with me and I take great comfort in that.

Found these old photos. Love them. The second one is of baby me and my much older sister Suzanne. I still look at her in awe like I am in this photo.

The more remarkable thing about these pictures is that I am sure, quite certain in fact, that my head (noggin' circumference) has not grown since these photos were taken.

xoxox

Finally...pictures of my new hare

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Ha ha ha!

Meet Roxie. She is the sweetest rabbit ever. She came to us, along with a beautiful hutch, food and other accessories, as a result of another family's misfortune. We are sad for their loss but will give her a good home. The whole family loves her. Earlier this week I came home from radiation and was met at the door by Oddie, Scruffy AND Roxie. Hilarious! We leave her cage door open. She is using her litter box so as long as that continues she is free to roam.

xoxo

p.s. I will post an update on me health-wise soon...