15 minutes...

I planned on posting something else today, but I opened my email this morning and a friend emailed me this.  Yes, it's 14:48 minutes, almost 15 minutes, but so worth your time.  

"When you get too tired to fight, then lay down and rest, and let somebody else fight for you."
This is not an easy task when you like to handle things on your own.  It was a process for me and some days, not really a choice.  I'm so very grateful to those who helped and still help pick up the pieces when I've been "too tired to fight".  Whether we are faced with the Big C or not, we all have days when it's hard to fight, but when we help one another, it lessens the burden. Be there to fight on when someone else can't.

"You beat cancer by how you live, why you live and in the manner in which you live."
Thank you Glen for sharing. xo

Restoration...

My bathing suits have been put away deep in my drawer for a long time.  Since my mastectomy in January, 2012, I certainly wasn't a fan of swimsuits, and most I couldn't wear.  Although I was grateful to have a prothesis and I could blend in fairly well in street clothes, that was not the case with a bathing suit.  I was always always self conscious...it was hard to look symmetrical and the prothesis shifted and moved to places it shouldn't.  I had to safety pin the one bathing suit I could wear and try to rig it so I felt better.  I think it was last summer when I finally decided that I was going to go for the reconstructive surgery. The glaring reminder of the effects of the Big C was not something I was willing to deal with every summer.

The surgery road was scary, long, and not always fun, but most of it is behind me now, and I'm very grateful.  
In anticipation of our upcoming vacation, I tried on bathing suits last night.  I'm happy to report that there were no tears shed.  Although not all my bathing suits were a good fit for the "new" me, some were.  For the first time in two years, I am able to wear a bathing suit comfortably. 

Although the scars from the Big C will never go away and I will always be forever changed from its intrusion, I'm grateful to be able have some restored confidence, especially during this beautiful summer season.  

Happy Friday Everyone!

In the meantime...

I'm still working on getting my groove back in regards to blogging.  

In the meantime, these are some recent pictures I've taken with my phone.  

We belong to a CSA. For those of you unfamiliar with this acronym, here's the definition, 

1. "Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) is a way for consumers to buy local, seasonal produce directly from a farmer in their community. It is basically a farm share. A farmer offers a certain number of “shares” to the public."

As shareholders, we are expected to work 8 hours on the farm.  I worked a couple hours on Wednesday morning picking green beans and beets and using a scuffle hoe.  Not familiar with a scuffle hoe?  I wasn't either.  That's part of the fun of being a shareholder, delicious, fresh fruits and veggies and new experiences and knowledge.  Good Stuff!

 E had the opportunity to play soccer at Gillette Stadium before a recent Revolution Game.  

 Little Miss had a special visit from her birthmother this past Sunday.  It was pretty fantastic and I am so very happy for the both of them. Open adoption is a beautiful thing! 

I visited my memere this morning.  When I spend time with her, I'm always reminded of the beauty in the everyday, mundane moments.    

 Be happy for this moment. This moment is your life.

Omar Khayyam

If you're on Instagram, don't forget to follow me @abetterdream

A month of memory making...

Today marks exactly one month since my last blog post.  I didn't mean to "disappear" for so long; it kind of just happened.  I'm not even sure where to begin to catch you all up, so I think I'll just post some random pictures from the last month.  We've been busy making memories.

We participated in our 3rd Relay for Life Event and have raised over $21,000 just this year.  Our 3-year total is close to $75,000.  

More nests and eggs, but I think these two were abandoned.

 Is it the last day of June or October?  My kids like to dress up ;)

 Last day of school. I think they look so old in this picture.  :(

 This picture deserves an entire blog post all its own and it will get one at some point.  This is E and one of his teachers from this year.  Although the picture "says" it all, I'll write more soon.

E wrapped up the spring soccer season by playing at Gillette Stadium before a Revolution Game.  He even scored the first goal of the game.

 And we closed out June with a birthday party at my cousin's house farm, complete with chickens, bunnies, and goats.  This boy wrangled chickens for 4 hours.  I think he is owed $2.00 for catching this one.

Take care of all your memories. For you cannot relive them.

Bob Dylan

Insta-Friday...

Our week in photos...

When Vic saw this picture, he said that he never noticed the red in a dandelion...proof that, although beauty can always be found, we may have to look for it.  

 The season of picnics...my favorite.

 Ellie made an appearance once again in Little Miss' artwork.

 Mem.

 Selfies.

 Another nest.

 This little girl makes me smile. 

"If you take the time to look at simple things, you will come to realize they really are beautiful."

Insta-Friday

It's looking like spring around here.

Little Miss can usually be found lounging in the hammock on our front porch.

"If dandelions were hard to grow, they'd be most welcomed on any lawn."

-Andrew V. Mason

Selfies by E and Sparkee

Every year we are able to see a bird's nest in our yard.  This year I have counted 6 nests so far.  Here is a quick video of some of my instagram pictures of the progression of one of the nests.

"Anyone who keeps the ability to see beauty never grows old." - Franz Kafka 

 Happy Friday Everyone! Enjoy your weekend and be sure to find the beauty in your own backyard.

Have you heard this?

It's not a new song, but sometimes I don't think I'm tuned in.  Today I was and I really listened.  You should too.

"To be humble, to be kind, it is the giving of the peace in your mind.

We are how we treat each other when the day is done."