My sweet niece, Avery, turn nine years old today. Happy birthday, sweet girl! Avery is smart, beautiful, loving, and has the most tender heart of anyone I know. She does anything she can to make people happy and feel loved. You inspire me to be a better person, Avery. I love you so much and you will always, always have a very special place in my heart. Someday I hope you have the chance to love your children (or nieces/nephews) the way I do you. Being a part of your life is my greatest joy. Happy Birthday, Princess. Big hugs coming to you in a few days!
My sweet nephew, Carson, turns four years old today! We celebrated his birthday last weekend while I was in Utah visiting them, so he thinks he already had his birthday. This young boy has his aunt wrapped around his little finger, let me just tell you! He loves to cuddle and watch movies with me. He loves for me to tuck him in at night and sing him his usual four songs. When he talks to me on the phone and says, "I, I, I will pick you up at, at, at the airport", well, I'm inclined to catch the first flight out to see him. He is sweet, loving, hilarious, adorable, and is the love of my life. Happy Birthday, Car-Car. Aunt Ree loves you so much more than you will ever know.
With chemo treatment behind me and my immune system hopefully improved, I traveled to Utah to visit three of my nephews for the first time since Thanksgiving. Now, it might not seem like that's a long time ago, but for this aunt, who usually travels to see them about every six weeks, well, it's been WAY too long! How I have missed them! They didn't seem to mind my bald head, though it took them a few seconds to truly see that I was the same aunt. My happy place is when I have the kids around me...as you can see from the photos. They LOVED the Mac's Photo Booth, where we could take lots of silly pictures of ourselves. I tucked Carson into bed and had to sing him songs (certain songs that included: the Smurfberry crunch song as I call it or the Toy Prince song as he calls it, though it's actually a classic piece; Jingle Bells, Santa Claus is coming to town, some church songs, and Edelweiss). I kid you not. Those are his usual nightly songs. So I sang them as best I could, with all the love in my heart for him. But frankly, I can't stand the sound of my own singing voice!
My nephew, Charlie Jack, turns two today. Pictures here show one of our first photos together (he wasn't even a week old there) and one of our most recent photos together (Thanksgiving '09). I love that boy as if he were my own. He is a happy, adorable, fun little man and he makes his aunt so very proud. I love cuddling with him and watching him smile.
Charlie, I want you to know that while you won't remember the past six months of your life, your aunt will. I haven't been able to see you as much as I'd like to, but it's only because I'm fighting my hardest to be healthy and rid my body of breast cancer. I'm doing it not only for me, but for you, your big brothers and your cousins. I may have had to sacrifice some time with you right now, but it's only because I am committed to having lots more time (years and years) with you later. We have lots of wonderful memories to make together, Charlie. I can't wait to watch you grow up! I love you more than you will ever know.
My sweet Marshall turns five today. Time just goes by too quickly for this aunt...I've been blessed to be a part of Marshall's life. I don't think I've gone more than six weeks at a time of not seeing him his whole life. I talk to him almost every day and he always asks me, "How doing?". I'm fine, Marshby, but I'm better when I'm with you. I love you to pieces, sweet boy. My love for you is stronger than you will ever know. I can't wait to watch you grow up and be the man I know you will become.
I've always believed certain people come into our lives at certain times and for certain reasons. Evidence of this to me is in my new friend, and hero, Tammie. When I went in for the mammogram that eventually helped diagnose me with bilateral breast cancer, Tammie was there. (She's actually the Supervisor, but was helping out that day doing the tests.) And Tammie has been with me every step of this journey. She's offered support, opinions, resources, you name it and Tammie is willing to help me get it. She was by my side before and after surgery and came with me to the meeting with the oncologist where we made the decision to proceed with the double mastectomy and reconstruction. Tammie's strength, humor and compassion have been constant sources of strength for me and I am eternally grateful that she is now in my life. Someday, I hope to "pay it forward" and pass along all that Tammie has taught me and continues to teach me everyday.
Tammie is a five year breast cancer survivor herself ... part of why I admire her and trust her so much. She's been where I am and is helping me get to where she is. Life is a journey ... look for the butterflies and dragonflies along the way. 
These two pictures are honoring a good friend of mine, Jill. She was diagnosed with breast cancer just six weeks after I was. Five weeks ago she underwent a double mastectomy and will soon be beginning chemo. Jill is so strong, not just physically, but mentally and emotionally. We joke that we are "warriors" in this battle, but I have to tell you that her strength is part of what allows me to be a warrior with her. I encourage you to check out her blog (www.blogforacure.com ... she is listed as parkerfu). Check it out!
My sweet niece, Avery, turn nine years old today. Happy birthday, sweet girl! Avery is smart, beautiful, loving, and has the most tender heart of anyone I know. She does anything she can to make people happy and feel loved. You inspire me to be a better person, Avery. I love you so much and you will always, always have a very special place in my heart. Someday I hope you have the chance to love your children (or nieces/nephews) the way I do you. Being a part of your life is my greatest joy. Happy Birthday, Princess. Big hugs coming to you in a few days!
