My brother in law had his surgery yesterday and the outcome is not good. The tumor had already spread throughout his brain and it is malignant. I don't know the name of the type of cancer it is but it's very bad and there isn't much they can do. Radiation will only prolong his life, not save it. The doctor is giving him 6 months to a year to live. Apparently, it's the same kind of cancer Ted Kennedy had and he made it 10 months.
Needless to say, my sister is absolutely devastated. She has two young children (5 and 3) and must be so scared of what all this means for them. My heart is breaking for all of them. Obviously very sad for my BIL, but I'm truly so so sad for his family...my sister, my niece, my nephew...his parents. It's impossible to catch a flight back east right now (they live in South Carolina) with all the weather so my parents started driving yesterday afternoon. They're hoping to drive straight through so it'll take about 36 hours to get there. Unfortunately, everyone but my sister lives out here so she has no family with her right now. Luckily, she's lived in that same town since she was 11 and has lots of close friends. I know she's getting support but I feel so helpless being so far away. I'm thinking I will make the trip in a few weeks...after the initial surge of friends and church people have made their way to their house. After his parents have left (they live in Michigan). I'm thinking if the family can stagger their visits, she'll have more continual support. It's just all so awful.
I can't stop thinking about it. You can't help but reflect on your own life and put yourself in their shoes. He's so young. He just turned 40 in September. Every now and then a thought will pop into my head (like his poor 3 year old probably won't have any memory of her father) and I just start crying. So definitely the worst news we could've gotten.
I'll do a regular post tomorrow about Onederland and how it wasn't all it was cracked up to be but I don't have the energy right now. Hope everyone is doing well in Blogland. Being off work, I haven't had much time to check in and comment but I'm following as best I can.
Hope you all have a very Happy New Year!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Monday, December 27, 2010
Friday, December 24, 2010
Merry Christmas
I work a half day today and then it's time for the festivities. I have all next week off to spend with my girls and I'm REALLY looking forward to that. This is one of my favorite lines from the infamous "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" first published in The Sun in 1897. You can read the entire article by clicking on the text. It just makes me think that you haven't REALLY experienced Christmas until you can see it through the eyes of a child. I enjoy Christmas so much more now that I have kids. I've always liked Christmas but it's still so magical to my kids.
You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.
No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
For those who don't celebrate Christmas, I hope you have a wonderful weekend. I hope you can appreciate the more secular side of the holiday...the tree, the lights, the whole idea of peace on earth and goodwill to men.
For believers, I hope we can keep in mind the true meaning of Christmas and appreciate the blessings in our lives.
For everyone - Just a reminder that with Christmas looming tomorrow, it's important to keep in mind that at this point we need to let go of the imperfections in ourselves and in others. It doesn't matter if all the cookies didn't get baked, carols didn't get sung, cards didn't get mailed. It's about the friends and family that we share this time with. Appreciate all the wonderful people in your life who love you and support you all year long. Also remember that no one is perfect. Holidays can bring out the best...and the worst...in people. Try to see past the flaws and get to know the person inside. This includes the person who cuts you off to take the last parking space at the mall, the person with a cart full of groceries in the express lane and the crazy aunt who insists on explaining everything you're doing wrong with raising your children.
Merry Christmas everybody! I hope your holiday is as merry and bright as can be!
I leave you with pictures of my daughters with Santa. He was at a local restaurant here in town when we went to lunch a few weeks ago. We didn't know he'd be there so I took these with my phone which is why they're a little blurry and my kids aren't dressed as cute as they would've been otherwise.
P.S. The girls loved the movie and my hubby said they sat and were quiet through the whole thing. Glad it all went so well!
You tear apart the baby's rattle and see what makes the noise inside, but there is a veil covering the unseen world which not the strongest man, nor even the united strength of all the strongest men that ever lived, could tear apart. Only faith, fancy, poetry, love, romance, can push aside that curtain and view and picture the supernal beauty and glory beyond. Is it all real? Ah, Virginia, in all this world there is nothing else real and abiding.
No Santa Claus! Thank God! he lives, and he lives forever. A thousand years from now, Virginia, nay, ten times ten thousand years from now, he will continue to make glad the heart of childhood.
For those who don't celebrate Christmas, I hope you have a wonderful weekend. I hope you can appreciate the more secular side of the holiday...the tree, the lights, the whole idea of peace on earth and goodwill to men.
For believers, I hope we can keep in mind the true meaning of Christmas and appreciate the blessings in our lives.
For everyone - Just a reminder that with Christmas looming tomorrow, it's important to keep in mind that at this point we need to let go of the imperfections in ourselves and in others. It doesn't matter if all the cookies didn't get baked, carols didn't get sung, cards didn't get mailed. It's about the friends and family that we share this time with. Appreciate all the wonderful people in your life who love you and support you all year long. Also remember that no one is perfect. Holidays can bring out the best...and the worst...in people. Try to see past the flaws and get to know the person inside. This includes the person who cuts you off to take the last parking space at the mall, the person with a cart full of groceries in the express lane and the crazy aunt who insists on explaining everything you're doing wrong with raising your children.
Merry Christmas everybody! I hope your holiday is as merry and bright as can be!
I leave you with pictures of my daughters with Santa. He was at a local restaurant here in town when we went to lunch a few weeks ago. We didn't know he'd be there so I took these with my phone which is why they're a little blurry and my kids aren't dressed as cute as they would've been otherwise.
P.S. The girls loved the movie and my hubby said they sat and were quiet through the whole thing. Glad it all went so well!
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