Breast cancer is a terrible disease. On January 18, 2012, my dear friend (pictured here in October 2011 with her family), passed away after a valiant fight with metastatic breast cancer. We've been friends for 20 years, having met in high school. We fought our original breast cancer battles in 2009, and sadly, Gina had a recurrence. It was an incredibly aggressive form of cancer and she was gone before I could get to her side and say goodbye. I hope that she is watching down on us now and can feel the love I have for her and the sorrow I feel because I miss my friend. There is nobody like Gina - she was the best of the best, the funniest woman I know and the kindest woman around. I hate breast cancer. I hate that my friend is gone and that her young family will have to live on without her. But I keep Gina's love and laughter in my heart and fight on in my crusade to raise awareness about breast cancer.
I realize it's been a long time since my last post, but I'm back anyhow. In November 2011, I had the chance to meet one of my heroes ... Jim Brickman! Who, you ask? Jim Brickman! America's Romantic Piano Sensation, that's who! I've been a fan for years, and thanks to the kindness of my buddy, Tina Macuha, I got to meet Jim in studio, watch him perform live on television, attend his concert at The Crest and visit with him again after the concert. Such a great talent and an incredibly kind man!
If ever there were a real-life princess, her name would be Avery Cait. Not because of the kingdom of riches and worldly treasures a princess accumulates; no, a real princess is royal at heart. She loves unconditionally, speaks gently, serves others, strives to be the best she can be, shines her bright light of love on others and is always an example of true charity and love. And I, well, yes, I am blessed to be the aunt of such a royal beauty. Avery Cait, may you always, always, be true to yourself and know that you are truly a princess. I love and adore you so much more than you will ever know and it is my joy in life to be your aunt. Happy 10th Birthday! Love you to pieces!
I spent the Halloween weekend in Montana visiting my sister and the kids. We tried to get a decent photo of the five kids together, but as you can see from the photo, it's impossible to get five kids to all smile and look in the same direction at the same time. Oh well. One of my favorite things was capturing this moment with Avery and the pumpkin she had carved for me. I love her sweet expression here, not only on her face, but her expression of love for her aunt with the ribbon carved into the pumpkin.
I know life hands each of us challenges each day and sometimes it's easier to get absorbed in our own troubles and trials. But I have to wonder, no, I have to testify to you, that if we step outside our own trials even for just a moment, and focus our attention on showing love to someone else, we will be enormously blessed. Focus your heart on someone else...and watch how the love warms your heart.
