A few weeks ago I told you my kids made me a video. Let’s see if I can share here.

The video Stand By Me

Be blessed!

Diana

#standbyme

You make plans and you have good intentions and something always comes up. But it was a great day anyway.

I got my husbands clothes washed and dried. ✅

I got my nails done. ✅

I did some grocery shopping and found 2 pairs of pants for $5 each! ✅

I got my dads dogs nails cut and filed. ✅

I did not get any cleaning done. ❌

I did not go through any totes. ❌

But I got to spend time with Melanie and Lia for the 2nd day in a row. 😁

They helped me pick out new earrings and my favorite bead store! 😍 (Ain’t Miss Bead Haven in downtown Mooresville) its my crack store! 🤤

And later Melanie told me she and my daughter in law Megan have reached out to friends to send me cool earrings. They called it Bald and Beautiful Earring Gifting. She had to tell me about today because someone sent her several pair to give me. Then when I got home there was a package with 4 more pair and a coffee mug. I guess if you can’t let your hair down, dress up the ears! I love it! Thanks Mel and Meghan! That was fun! The day ended with Rylee and I fixing my favorite salad. I call it Cursillo salad because that’s where I had it. You fix a big salad with everything you love in a salad. Cut into chunks one chicken breast per person and pan fry it with no seasoning. When it’s almost cooked through turn the temperature up to medium high and pour the juice from a can and a half of mandarin oranges over the chunk and just keep moving them around. They will get this sweet dark glaze on then and make you wanna slap your…well, not really. But it’s so good. Then I make a rice wine vinegar dressing. I don’t fix it very often but tonight it was needed. Be warned…

⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️⚠️

Now I’m going to talk about something cancer related. Again be warned.

Cancer + chemo = constipation

Constipation + salad (for me) = 💩

But after days of the first equation, the second equation has left me with the hemorrhoid from hell. I warned you twice! My family has been in bed for some time now and I have been in the bathroom 3 times with successful progress and a hemorrhoid that needs its own zip code. I have never in my life been in this kind of pain it that area. Now I’m not saying I’ve never had a hemorrhoid before because I have. I had my children naturally and there’s a point during labor where there’s no turning back so you push until your insides pop out! Literally! But I haven’t birthed a baby lately but I could sure name this thing! I think I’ve discovered why dogs drag their butts across the carpet. Hemorrhoids! There’s no doubt in my mind! I just can’t figure out how to get down there and do it myself and the dogs won’t show me. They act like I’ve never witnessed them doing it. They just cock their heads to the side and look at me all innocent. Ppfftt… I know! So after I drop Rylee off at school in the morning, I’ll be on the phone with my doctor! Help doc, it’s going to take more than preparation H and Tucks to get rid if this bad boy!

My blessing for today was all my earring and another day with Mel and Lia.

Be blessed,

Diana

#standbyme

So that means I have the next 2 days off and a whole lot to get done. When I get a day off and I’m not sick, it’s time to make up for all I didn’t get done last week and then some. The week after chemo is lost. I have no energy and feel sick most of the time. So when I do start feeling better I think I’m Wonder Woman and I try to get it all done in 2 days. That means laundry, grocery shopping, cleaning the house and trying to find time to have lunch with my dad and get him to Walmart to people watch while I shop. It’s the highlight of his week…or bi-week. I don’t take him out on chemo week. Shoot, I don’t take me out. Anyway, tomorrow, after over a month I will be getting my nails done. Yippee! From there I have to take Rylee to help a fellow Scout work on his Eagle Project. Home to clean, sort through one or two of the many totes from my dads house, laundry, clean and oh yea, dinner. AND I have to pick Rylee up around 4ish. Lol I’m sure you really don’t care about all that…I think it was more of a “will I get it done” list to hold me accountable. It doesn’t take much to make me tired these days. Ask Melanie…

My sweet daughter and granddaughter brought me lunch today. After we ate I invited them to come ride along on my daily lock check (making sure all storage units are secure and no ones moved out). We got going on the golf cart, turned the first corner and it died. So plugged it in and walked the rest of the way. Up and down each isle and in each building. By the time we got back to the golf cart it was charged enough to get us back to the office. We walked in and I started sweating like a race horse. I felt like I was going to be sick. I was clammy and yawning a lot. (That’s something I do when I feel sick, but I don’t know why) I drank some of my water and just sat there until the feeling passed. I’m glad Mel was there because when I feel like that it’s kinda scary. I’m no spring chicken ya know. 🤨

I had talked to a friend about doing a short term disability Leave of Absences instead of Intermittent Leave because it takes nothing to make me feel like 💩! So I decided to call and see what it would take to do LOA and I was told I didn’t have short or long term disability insurance. I’m not sure how that happened because I know it’s something I intended to sign up for and now I’m not able to get it until mid November. I know at my age to get ALL thats offered, medical, optical, dental, long and short term disability. So for now I will just continue to work when I can and when I can’t, I can’t. I just hope my boss understands. He’s been awesome so far. I know it puts a strain on him when I call out but I don’t know what else to do. I’m doing the best I can.

So I’m going to keep it short tonight, get some sleep and tackle that list up there in the morning. I’ll let you know how it goes. Terry would read this and tell me to take it easy but easy doesn’t get stuff done! Bless his heart. He works 9 to 10 hours a day, takes care of 40+ bee hives, takes care of me, with the help of Rylee, he’s been trying to get his garage ready to extract honey and take care of the house when I can’t. The man deserves an award I swear! My hero!

My blessing for today was having lunch with Melanie and Lia. Thanks Mel. I love you!

Be blessed,

Diana

#standbyme

Today was the first time I went to Church with my new hairlessness. I got up and got ready and put on the short wig. With my head freshly shaved it was pretty uncomfortable but I wasn’t ready to just wear a hat or scarf. So I came out in the wig, tugging and scratching and Terry said, you will look fine with just the hat on. I wasn’t sure I was ready but I went in just a hat. I can’t begin to tell you how uncomfortable I was. I’m not sure why. Vanity I guess. I should have know of all people my Church family wasn’t going to see me with or without hair. They just saw me as me. Terry has been telling me from the beginning that I’m the only one who’s having a problem with me not having hair. The people who care about me don’t care. The people who don’t know me probable realize what’s going on and I might even get an extra prayer or two. But it was still hard. I wasn’t myself. I felt uncovered…almost shy, if you can believe that! I’m not sure how to describe it. But after Mass several people stopped to see how I was feeling including my ex-in laws. Even the choir director who just had knee replacement surgery came across the Church to see how I was doing and to give me a hug. I know it’s just me but when the only thing you really liked about yourself is stripped away, it’s hard to handle. I’m really going to be screwed if my eye lashes fall out! Lol just kidding.

After Mass it was off to work. Terry and Rylee brought me breakfast. Honestly the only thing I wanted was ice and milk. Some times it’s the only thing that makes me feel better. I wasn’t like nauseous but just feeling a little punk. So when they came in with breakfast, the ice and milk was the first thing I went too. I know people think I’m crazy but all my life if I’ve not felt good, ice cold milk and saltine crackers were my go too. When I was pregnant and had morning sickness, I went through a gallon of milk every 2 to 3 days. After breakfast I went to check out the property before it got too hot. Nothing going on so I came back to the office and a man walked in asking about renting a unit. He said he owned a local business and just needed it for a couple of months. We got to talking and he said he’d moved down from Corning NY. I laughed and told him my dad was from a small town close by and that I have family from Corning. I asked if he knew any Grimaldi’s and he said, like Larry and Sue Grimaldi? And Peggy Grimaldi. I’m bug eyed now and said they are my cousins. We talked for several minutes and even took a picture together and sent it to Larry. It’s a small world is what he kept saying. He was such a nice man. It was obvious to him that I was bald and he offered to pray for me. I just thanked him. For the rest of the day I couldn’t help but think of old times visiting my grandparents in Savona, NY And visits to my aunt and uncles house in Corning. Wow it’s been a long time! My cousin Toms wedding was the last time I was there. I think my daughter was 2 and she’s 34 now. Good times.

After work, it was home for dinner. We watched Mauna and ran to the grocery store. Now I’m in bed and ready to go to sleep.

My blessing today was meeting Bryan and the flood of memories that wouldn’t have happened if I hadn’t met him.

Be blessed

Diana

#standbyme

Hello, sorry I was missing for a few days. I just haven’t felt good and was either sleeping or working. Neither of which are exciting things to write about. So to catch up, Thursday I slept all day and Friday worked all day and wished I was at home in bed. I’m not sure why this round has made me so much more tired but even Friday at work I couldn’t keep my eyes opened and slept again during my lunch break. Talk about a quick 30 minutes! I think it should be mandatory to have a 1 hour lunch break. I was dragging Friday when I got home. I called in a take out order at Red Robin’s and could almost not eat I was so tired. I even bit a huge hold in the side of my mouth which of course I have revisited several times since. 🙄 If it heals as slowly as everything else I’ve bumped and bruised, it will be there forever. The joy of chemo, slow healing.

So Saturday, aka yesterday, I went to work. Still feeling fatigued but somewhat better, thank you nausea drugs, I was sitting at the desk and put my head down for a few minutes. All of a sudden I feel this pinch or twist or pulling in my neck. Right where the tube from my port goes down unto my vein. (Visit old posts for graphic) I sat up really fast and figured I had just moved wrong. I laid my head back in my chair and it happened again. I got up and walked around the office. I swept the floor and cleaned the bathroom and just walked around in circles for about 20 minutes. When I sat back down, it happened again. This time it was worse so I called Terry. He suggested I call the oncologist office and talk to the Doctor on call. So I did and he called me back within 5 minutes. He said because it’s in the area where my port goes into the vein that leads to my heart, he wanted me to go to the ER ASAP to rule out a blood clot. So I called Terry and told him. Then my boss and told him. By the time I had everything put away, Terry was pulling into the parking lot. Off to Huntersville we go.

Now when your going through chemo treatments, one thing they tell you is to stay away from sick people and here I am sitting in the busiest ER I’ve ever seen. Every time someone came in and sat near us, sneezing or coughing we got up and moved. One guy came in and they rolled him to where we were sitting. He was yelling that he was in pain and telling his dad to make them give him something for the pain. Yep…we moved. He was filthy and very thin. We guessed he was looking for a fix. So we played it safe and moved. Next a sick little girl and her mama came and sat near us. She had a fever and was coughing and so we moved again. This time Terry put me way out of the way and stood waiting for them to call my name. We’d been there about 2 hours when I told Terry that we should just go. It hadn’t happened again and I just wanted to go home. We stopped at the registration desk to tell them and the lady said she wanted to see what the doctor suggested we do. We explained to her that it hadn’t happened again and that we weren’t comfortable sitting with all the sick people. She came back and said the doctor wanted an EKG and X-ray and by then they should have a room for me. So we stayed. They were very understanding and put us in a waiting area away from everyone. EKG done. X-ray done. But when the X-ray tech had me put my arms over my head to do the shot, it felt like it was going to happen again. I put my arm down and I guess he got the picture ok. Still no room ready. So we waited and finally they called me back. We saw the doctor and he said there wasn’t any sort of blockage or kink in the port and he thinks it was a muscle spasm of some sort and thank you, get dressed and have a nice day. So 3 +/- hours later and no real answer we leave. No sooner had I sat in the van and yawned and it happened again.

Next stop was Walmart. While we were in the store it started to pour. We did our shopping and checked out and as soon as I got in the van and yawned, it happened again! We went home and ate dinner. Now you remember Tuesday my friend shaved my hair off? We it was driving my nuts with the stubble so after dinner I went to the bathroom to shave my head. But because I was having trouble, my sweet husband finished the job for me. Here’s before and during. No after yet!

With the stubble…

Removing the stubble.

We ran back to work to get Terry’s truck and I came home and went to bed. So here it is almost 3am and I’m awake and blogging. But that’s it for tonight.

My blessing for tonight was finding out there was nothing major wrong today. And my sweet husband!

Be blessed,

Diana

#standbyme

It wasn’t as bad as the Wednesday after my first treatment. Probably because I took my anti nausea meds correctly this time. But with that came dizziness and lots of sleep. What time I was awake I tried to help Rylee with a merit badge he’s working on and I took a phone call from an insurance lady who was assigned to be my patient advocate. I’m not sure what all she’ll be doing to help me but what the heck. Help is help.

When Terry came home we went to get something to eat, then went to get my head shaved. Sitting outside the salon I started to cry and both Terry and Rylee assured me I was going to be fine. As we sat in the van we watched a storm rolling in with a lot of lighting and decided to go in the salon and wait my turn. Barbara was just finishing up with someone else when the storm came through. The wind was blowing the rain so hard sideways it looked like a wind tunnel. I said, see the gods are angry that I have to get my head shaved…it was just a joke but it was one wicked storm.

Next it was my turn. I sat in the chair and she put the cape on. I tried to hold the tears back but I think I cried the whole time. I asked Terry to record it on my phone and I might watch it one day and then again I might not! And with 7or 8 minutes it was gone. Rylee handed Barbara my new wig and she put it in for me and then turned me to the mirror for me to see. Still kind of emotional but she played with it and told me she thought it looked awesome. Terry and Rylee both liked it too. To me I look like Mama from Mama’s Family. But it is what it is and I will move forward. At least I won’t be shedding more than the dogs now.

We ended up at Neighborhood Market and I got to see Melanie, Joe and Lia. That always brightens my day. So for now I’m going to say good night. I still haven’t looked in the mirror and I’m not sure I will for a few days. I just need to get use to it I guess. My stomachs still queasy so I’m going to take a pill and go to bed.

My blessing g for today: all the people, my family, friends and especially Barbara, who told me I’m beautiful! I love you all!

Be blessed,

Diana

#standbyme

So today was pretty mild. I still had a bit of a headache and the steroid kept me up until 2 am and I was up at 6am to go potty. I never really went back to sleep. My hair is so thin right now I can feel the air on my head. So tomorrow night at 6:15 I’m going to have my head shaved. 🙄. I’m not happy about it but standing outside tonight with the wind blowing I could see my hair blowing right out of my head. It’s time. Will I cry… probably. Rylee wants to be the one to shave my head. He’s talked about it all night. He even got a merit badge done hoping I’d say ok. Ha, he must think I’m crazy! Maybe with the supervision of my hairdresser, I’ll let him take a pass, but I’m not sure why he wants to do it so bad and that’s what makes me nervous.

So today started out with me selling some coffee to my team member Raveena. So is so sweet and is trying her had at several different businesses. But when we met she gave me a big hug and told me she was praying for me and that I looked good. So told her I’ve lost over 30lbs and that my hairs falling out fast. She said really so I pulled on a chunk of hair and it just came right out. Her eyes got huge and she said please don’t do that again. The strange part was that it shocked Rylee and I too. I had pulled on strands of hair and a few pieces had come out but this was the whole clump of hair. So I left my DNA in that parking lot and bid sweet Raveena good bye.

Rylee and I headed to the wig shop to find a wig with shorter hair. I tried on about 7 or 8 wigs and the one I liked the best was the one Rylee picked out. One more walk around the store and I found a secret place that had a few wigs and there was a pretty curly, auburn wig and I tried it on. It was the one. It was a Gabor marked done from $300 to $150. Sold! And when I get a few minutes, I’ll be calling my insurance company because I have a prescription for a prosthetic for my head. I don’t care how they word it, a free wig is a free wig. And now I have a long one and a short one. A Raquel Welch and an Ava Gabor. Hmmmm

The severed head hanging in my closet…or the long wig.

After wig shopping we went to McAllisters for lunch. While we were eating the assistant manager stopped to see how our lunch was and I mentioned that we eat at the one in Mooresville frequently and always have the same sandwich. But the one here was so much more appealing to the eye and had meat in every bite. The restaurant in Mooresville all the meat was rolled up in the middle of the bread so there was no meat on the edges of the sandwich. She said her district manager was in the building and would I tell him what I just told her. I agreed. Then she came over and said, I’m sorry but it’s the mom in me and she was pulling hair off of my shirt. I smiled and thanked her and told her my hair was falling out due to chemotherapy but that I appreciated her efforts. She said she was sorry to hear the news and she would pray for me. A few minutes later she came and asked me for my ticket. I asked if something was wrong and she said no, she just wanted to treat us to lunch and she was going to put the money back on my card. Now how sweet was that?

Soon I was home to take a nap before Princess Lia arrived. I felt like I had just laid down when Rylee came and woke me up. We sat and visited with Mel and they ate their lunch then it was back to the oncologist to get my white blood cell boosting shot. We were home by 4 and I was starting to feel sick so I took a nausea pill that makes you dizzy and realized we didn’t get anything for dinner. Oh well, can’t drive now! Joe came and got Lia and I just rested until Terry came home. He was out mowing a couple of his bee yards so he can extract honey next weekend. There was something going on down town that had to do with back to school so we went down to see what was going on and enjoyed free hot dogs, chips and a drink. I’m not a big hot dog person so I just ate 1 but everyone else was walking around with fists full. I told Terry and Rylee to get a couple, everyone else was.

All in all it was a good day. I didn’t have the energy like I did after the first treatment but at least I’m not feeling really sick either. We shall see what tomorrow brings. I’ve already started the nausea medicine so I’m hoping to not have to deal with what I did last time. But it is what it is and this too shall pass. I have a lot of people holding me up and for that I am grateful. I love you all.

My blessing for today was: wig shopping with Rylee and finding one I really like on sale!

Be blessed

Diana

#standbyme

Well today didn’t start off so good. I got up a little early to pray and settle my nerves. I took a shower and fixed my coffee. Time to blow dry my hair…and it started. As I was curling the front of my hair forward a big clump of hair came out on my brush. If you’ve been following me you know this has been a big issue with me. I like my hair. Rylee was standing there and he didn’t know what to say so he said something but I don’t remember what. I just know he was trying to make me feel better. Needless to say I stopped drying my hair and just sprayed it in place…as if that would help! Melanie, my daughter had chemo duty today and got here early. She was chipper and said good morning as I was almost throwing my coffee cup into the microwave to reheat it and I said something back and started to cry. She hugged me and said it was going to be ok. I thank GOD she didn’t say it’s only hair because I’ve heard that statement a hundred times and it’s not only hair damn it it’s MY hair. Truth be told it is only hair and it will come back. I was just hoping to have one more week with my beloved locks!

We ran through McDonalds drive in for breakfast and got to the oncologist office right on time. I don’t think we even waited 10 minutes and we were called back to the room to talk to the doctor. The nurse weighed me…yep still 110 (inside joke) and all my vitals were great. The doctor came in and asked a few questions about my last treatment and I told him in more words but basically it sucked. He said I could start taking the meds the day before anticipated nausea so I wouldn’t have such a hard time with it. I think I shall give that a try!

Now it’s 11am and we are waiting for the party to get started. Madison is off today so Lisa is my nurse. She access my port and does the blood draw and we wait. Around 11:30 she giving me the steroid & anti nausea cocktail. That took forever it seemed. I looked up to see Terry walking in. He had taken an extended lunch to come see me. He makes me smile! It means the world to me that he wants to be with me. I adore you Terry Pupp! He didn’t stay long and that’s ok! And when he left he was kinda teary eyed which made me well up and I could tell Melanie was touched by his emotion. I’m married to a great man!

After each dose of anything is a 25 to 30 saline drip.

My first cocktail of the day.

My companions for the day.

I’m not sure what time Lisa, who’s picture I forgot to take, brought me the popsicles but Mel and I enjoyed the cold treat. I had one almost gone when Lisa started the “PUSH”. The first dose of chemo is push injected into my IV line going into my port. This time I ate the popsicles slower and only needed two. Time for the flush. It was going on 2 and I told Mel to go get Lia from the sitter and grab lunch because it was getting so late. While they were gone, I took a nice nap! Mel brought back Arby’s and I ate what I could. By this time is was 3:30, Lisa was taking everything apart and cleaning my port. Time to go. I think we got home around 3:50. Oh…and I didn’t pee red again! They said most people pee red because if the “PUSHED” drug. Not me…🙄 I gotta be different!

This time was not like the first time. When Lisa “PUSHED” the first drug in, I got a very strange sensation across my chest. It didn’t really hurt, but it startled me. It was like someone/thing was pushing their fingers across my chest with a lot of pressure. I don’t know any other way to explain it. It happened and was gone. Maybe it was the Hands if God! I started to not feel well. I was dizzy and my head hurt.

Mel and Lia stayed for a little while to make sure I was ok. We FaceTimed with Joey for a few and when she left and I went to bed.

I’m not sure what time I got up but the guys had left for Boy Scouts and I was just laying there. I had to go potty so I got up… ⚠️ graphic but truthful…and I couldn’t control my bladder. What the heck? On top of trying not to wet myself the puppies were glad I was up and wanted me to know it. I couldn’t get around them and I didn’t want to yell. It was almost funny except I was wetting myself! I will be asking what that was all about when I go in for my shot tomorrow at 3! No it wasn’t a complete empty of the bladder on the way to the bathroom but enough that I had to clean up and change. Sorry to be graphic! Just telling you the way it is!

I got a phone call from a lady another acquaintance referred my number too. A lady who has had BC and survived. We talked for about 45 minutes and she was so helpful and I was very grateful to have someone else to talk to who has been there done that, survived. Thanks for calling Coleen! I’ll be in touch soon.

The boys came home and Terry went to bed. I went to my craft room and started cutting stuff out on the Cricut for Rylee. It’s going to be a long night with no sleep…thanks steroid. I told Rylee I might cut my hair off tonight and he asked if we could do one more picture together first so here it is.

Well, it’s midnight and I’m going to try and get some sleep. I took 3 G-clear so I’m feeling relaxed. Maybe I’ll turn on my thunderstorm and sleep for a while. Thank you to everyone who reads my rantings. I’m sending you all big hugs. I also thank you for your prayers. If my posts are too graphic or TMI, I’m sorry but like I’ve said before if one person finds something that helps them not feel so alone on their journey then this blog has been worth it. The next few days will be unpredictable so I’ll write when I can. If I’m not writing, I’m probably napping and could use an extra prayer!

Let’s see, my blessing for today was to have Terry come sit with me for a few minutes during his lunch. Of course Mel and Rylee too!

Be blessed,

Diana

#standbyme

Got up and went to Mass this morning and the prayer before the readings started was this:

Draw near to your servants, O Lord, and answer their prayers with unceasing kindness, that for those who glory in you as their Creator and Guide, you may restore what you have created and keep safe what you have restored. AND DIANA SAID AMEN! Restore me O Lord!

I hate that I have to run out as soon as Church is over to go to work. I use to be able to go to breakfast with my family, then we’d go home and take a nice long nap…I usually napped too long! But it was nice. Then I’d fix a meal for an early dinner and we’d spend the evening watching something dumb on TV and preparing for the week ahead. But for the past 2.5 years, my schedule has me working ever Saturday and Sunday. Oh don’t get me wrong, I’ve has several weekends off but I’m usually gone to a training for my coffee business and not with my husband and son. Don’t get me wrong, I’m thankful for my job, it’s just hard because the only time Terry has off is the weekend and I’m off Tuesdays and Wednesday’s. We don’t spend any time together and that’s hard. I adore my husband and I miss the fun we use to have. I hope when this bump in my journey is over, I’ll be able to get back to my coffee business full time and make my own hours and do what we want to do for us and not making money for someone who already has more than they need. It’s time for my family to have financial and time freedom to do what we want, when we want, where we want. My coffee company will take me there! Watch and see.

So remember I told you my customer, Benny, was going to put me in touch with a BC survivor? She called me today and she and I are a lot alike. She even said she took the wrong pills when she was sick from the chemo and couldn’t figure out why she wasn’t feeling better too. She was actually pretty funny and got me through a day that was somewhat stressful. So if you read this Anne, thanks a million!!

It’s already 10:45pm and I have to answer a couple of emails so I’ll say good night. Please keep me in your prayers tomorrow. At 10:30am, I’m back in the chemo chair. I have my daughter Melanie taking me tomorrow and Rylee wants to go and Terry might join us for a few minutes. I hope this week goes better then the week after my last treatment.

Be blessed,

Diana

#standbyme

It’s amazing to me how God puts people in your path at just the right time and sometimes for just a few minutes. I had a woman come in today who was just looking for a few boxes. Her and her husband had just sold their home of 18 years but had not been able to find something in time so they were going to have to rent. I’m not sure how the subject came up but I told her about my diagnosis and that I was going for my second treatment Monday and then I realized she was crying. She said, I just had a biopsy done yesterday. I asked if I could hug her and I asked her name. I told her I would be praying for her and good results. We talked for just a few minutes and she left. I sat right there and asked for God to heal her. Her issue is in her Uterus. Please pray with me.

Then a little while later my German customer came in. He makes me laugh, he’s the only person I know who can say the f word with a beautiful smile on his face. And he says it a lot! Except with his accent, it’s not as harsh sounding. He loves America and has been here since 2001. He hates Trump, blames him for everything and uses that f word mostly when talking about him. He told me he had just come back from visiting his mother in Berlin. She lives alone in their family home of 6500 sq ft. 3 stories, 10 bed rooms, 7 bathrooms and 2 kitchens. He says it looks like a museum and he wants to turn it into a bed and breakfast. He’s going to bring me pictures soon. I’ll not hold my breath…he was supposed to bring me a red convertible VW too. He buys cars here and ships them to Germany for quit a profit! That’s how he makes his living. So what’s one little 🐞 for me gonna hurt? Lol He told me he liked my hair and I said the next step will be bald. His response was what the F. He said, I go to Church every Sunday and I will be praying for you. Turns out we go to the same Church just different times. In my head I was saying and I will pray for you to loose the language. God does work miracles! 🙄

Next we’re 2 of my favorite customers, John and Leeann. They have been teaching me how to cook delicious vegetables. John does a lot of the cooking and he suggested a coconut oil that doesn’t make everything taste like coconut. He even brought me a sample. I normally use olive oil so I was excited to try it. It was amazing and so I ordered it. They use the oil and a little butter and spices and onions and garlic and soy sauce and ginger and they’ve even sent me pictures. Leeann said when they slow down she will send me some great vegetable recipes. I can’t wait! They are such a sweet couple!

My last customer of the say is so sweet. She always comes in toward the end of the day and we talk for a good while. She is one of my favorites too! She knows what’s going on with me and asked how I was feeling. She asked about my support system. I told her how awesome everyone’s been and she was glad to hear it and said but what about your husband. I told her about my first chemo when he asked me if I was ok and I started to cry and he cried with me and she started to cry. She was glad I had a great husband to stand by me. SO AM I!

I’m telling you God has placed some amazing people in my life! Some I see every month and some just for a few minutes. Some make me laugh and others have touched me and made me cry. I can see if I were too become too focused on the bump in my journey how I could miss some amazing people. I don’t think of any of the people mentioned today as FRIENDS, but each one has touched my life today. Now I bet you’re thinking, boy does she tell everyone she has cancer? No, I don’t but if God opens the door for me to bring it up, I do. I want all the people I can praying for my family and I. And like the lady who bought the box today…maybe she just needed to know she wasn’t alone and that there was someone else who was going to pray for her. One of my customers, whom I really like came in the other day and he asked how I’d been. So I told him. I know Benny’s a believer and I know he’ll pray for me. But what I can’t figure out is why he came in. He’s paid up until the end of September…but said he just wanted to make sure his account was ok. So after I told him he said he had a good friend who was a BC survived and asked if he could give her my number to call me. I said yes please. I don’t have anyone to talk to and it’s really kind of scary with no one on my call list who’s been there, done that…survived! We haven’t gotten the chance to chat yet but do you see what I mean when I say, God puts people in our paths at the right moment. There are no Coincidences! Only GODcidences! I am so blessed!

Y’all be blessed too!

Diana

#standbyme