Practicing Gratitude 8 of 31 | 101 in 1001

practicing gratitude 8 of 31

Practicing Gratitude 8 of 31 | 101 in 1001

My beautiful blond hair!
Hi, today I am grateful for the cancer I experienced. Wait, did I really say that?! Would I ever want to experience cancer again? Absolutely not! However, good things did happen because of the cancer. Let me explain.

My children were in daycare at 6 weeks old. Both me and my husband worked full time. His income paid for the house, utilities and all property taxes. My income paid for groceries, daycare and health insurance. We never had the newest home nor vehicles. Kevin worked then and still does in construction. The possibility of Kevin getting laid off was great. If Kevin was laid off, he would have the kids and the daycare payment would then be applied to the house payment. Fast forward to June 2003.

I was working for our family business my father started, mom and pop restaurant. Dad was taking more time off. Many evenings I worked late because some 16 year old kid did not show for work. Our children were in 9th grade and Senior year. I had just turned 39. With activities I was winded. Just thought I was getting older and out of shape was the reason.

I had an immense amount of pressure on my chest. My asthma began to bother me. I had woke up one Tuesday morning with chest pain. I made an appointment to go to the doctor. The appointment was for the next day, Wednesday. Tuesday late afternoon I had called Kevin and asked him to come straight home. Once he got home I asked him to take me to the hospital. That was the beginning of my cancer journey.

My parents and I sold the business. I worked but went to being a receptionist part time. And it was a Monday thru Friday job, 8am to noon, holidays off. I was up at the school house every afternoon to attend the school activities the kids were involved with. Did not miss a single one!

So the reason I am grateful for my cancer, I spent the whole school year and the following summer with my kids. Something I would not have done if I was working full time like my whole adult life until that June 2003.

About the doll: I lost all of my hair during chemo. My hair dresser, Nancy, told me when it was time to let her know. She had me come in before hours, locked the door and shut the blinds. We cut all my hair off. My mom was with me and she requested to keep my hair. Later mom found someone who stitched my hair onto this doll. Mom later said she wished she got a doll with blue eyes to match me!

I did not like the doll for the longest time. Brought too many negative thoughts to my mind. It represented pain. Well fast forward to about 3 months ago. Mom has gotten in the mood to get rid of many of her things. The doll came up. She was going to get rid of her. I told mom I was ready to take her. Yes, I still remember the pain, but I have so many wonderful memories with my kids I would not have had if it were not for the cancer.

Take Care. Best wishes, Debra
Gma’s photo

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October in review:


Practicing Gratitude 7 of 31 | 101 in 1001

Practicing Gratitude 7 of 31

Practicing Gratitude 7 of 31 | 101 in 1001

Today I am thankful for this beautiful morning view!

Take Care. Best wishes, Debra
Gma’s photo

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October in review:


Practicing Gratitude 6 of 31 | 101 in 1001

practicing gratitude 6 of 31

Practicing Gratitude 6 of 31 | 101 in 1001

practicing gratitude 4 of 31
Grateful for shelter, food and clothing.

Hi, today I am reminded of what I do have. I am grateful for a home I can return to, be safe in, my happy place. Plenty of food.

Kevin signed up to take hard boiled eggs to the ‘Picnic in the Park’ for the homeless. Kevin usually brings things others don’t think of and then becomes a hit. Well, I must say, Kevin was not successful this time. He tried to bake the eggs instead of boiling them. He had 12 dozen eggs and did not want to even try boiling them. Today was his first time to bake in oven hard boiled eggs. Facebook recipe said to bake at 325 for 30 minutes. Then put hot eggs in a cold bath. Kevin did as instructed. We went to the park, helped set up. During serving, one person took an egg and jokingly went to hit his head with it. The egg was not hard boiled. Every one who witnessed the scene just laughed and the eggs were pulled from the table. Thank goodness there was plenty of other food there! 🙂 Kevin keeps saying, ‘it’s on FaceBook, it’s got to be true!’ Or not.

Mary Beth, the group organizer said we had approx 170 people come thru our line today. Many different ages of people. Staples provided weekly, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches and water to drink. Then there is a sign up sheet for donated prepared food.

Take Care. Best wishes, Debra
Gma’s photo

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October in review:


Practicing Gratitude 5 of 31 | 101 in 1001

Practicing Gratitude 5 of 31

Practicing Gratitude 5 of 31 | 101 in 1001


Practicing Gratitude 5 of 31
Grateful for today!

Hi, today I am feeling grateful my prayers have been answered and even for the unanswered prayers!

Take Care. Best wishes, Debra
Gma’s photo

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October in review:


Practicing Gratitude 4 of 31 | 101 in 1001

practicing gratitude 4 of 31

Practicing Gratitude 4 of 31 | 101 in 1001

Hi, today I am thankful for the beautiful life experiences God has given to me. Here is just one of them, witnessing a just born calve!

Take Care. Best wishes, Debra
Gma’s photo

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October in review:


Practicing Gratitude 3 of 31 | 101 in 1001

Practicing Gratitude 3 of 31

Practicing Gratitude 3 of 31 | 101 in 1001

Hi, today I am grateful for a few reasons. First, for my husband who came up with this breakfast recipe for me. There may already be a similar recipe somewhere, but I have never seen it until Kevin made this. I call them Scrambled Egg Muffins. Originally, he used a regular sized muffin pan and sliced ham lunch meat. After several tweaks, he now uses the large muffin pan and Canadian Bacon slices. Second reason, these are quite tasty and only 4 points on the Weight Watchers program for two muffins.

Kevin never writes down his recipe, it changes each time he makes it. Should you be interested, here is a basic recipe to follow:

Preheat oven to 425 degrees. Large Muffin pan, sprayed with non stick spray.

Canadian Bacon
– Two Slices per pocket
Eggs
– 18 Large Eggs Scrambled
Cheese
– Your Choice and Amount
Salt & Pepper
– To Your Liking
Chopped Green Pepper
– As Much as You Like

First, place two slices of Canadian Bacon into individual pockets.
Then add in order- green peppers (any vegetable), scrambled eggs filling the pocket half or two thirds, top with cheese.

Bake 20 minutes. Turn oven off. Turn muffin pan 180 degrees, leave in oven (door closed). Let set in oven for approx 2 minutes. Remove from oven. The eggs will be fluffy and very pretty 🙂 Once cooled, the eggs will shrink. Remove from pan, store in plastic zip bags in refrigerator. In my opinion, they are good cold or heated in microwave.

Practicing Gratitude 3 of 31
Scrambled Egg Muffins

Take Care. Best wishes, Debra
Gma’s photo

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October in review: