Hope & Living

It's February over at CSI and we're kicking it off with Love... romance and hearts.  We have a new sponsor this month, 2Crafty,  who are offering some wonderful goodies to a random winner at the end of the month.  They also have a terrific blog that has wonderful inspiration!! 

My evidence includes:
Hearts:  One simple heart made with muslin and my Tim Holtz heart dies.  I spritz it with water and then let my Distress Stains "bleed" and shade it.
Flowers: I used a floral pattern paper from Pink Paislee from the London Market line, crochet hearts from a sale bin at a big box craft store, and stamped a floral/vine pattern on my tag with my TH FairytaleFrenzy CMS058 Stampers Anonymous stamps.
Leaves and Vines:  I used an acrylic stamp of vines on another tag and used a sizzix die for some dimension.
Solid Backgrounds: I used Bazzil to represent the "On Cloud 9" White and "Candy Heart" pink.
Die Cuts:  I pulled out more of my favorite TH dies... for the "Hope" tag and the heart.  The leaves are by Sizzix.

My testimony was inspired by the "Document a Love Story"... but it's not the typical love story one thinks of.  It's tucked under the tag (This is Living by MME) which is adhered to a glassine sleeve.  The little green arrows in the photo hopefully show this...

My journaling is quite lengthy, so if you're up to it... settle in..maybe grab a tissue or two...

Cancer : Words you don't want to hear in your life.  Words you don't want to hear in ANYONE'S life.  Once you've heard the word, you hope it's the first and last time you hear it.  That's not the case in this family.

Betsy, your grandma, is a two time cancer survivor.  We didn't know her during this time in her life, but your dad and aunts were beside her.  Cancer leaves marks, not just on our bodies but in our lives.  And while there was some fall out, your grandma, dad and aunts came thru, stronger and closer.

Aunt Virgina, Aunt Floyce and Mimi were also affected by cancer.  We were so fortunate and grateful that Virgina and Floyce won their fight.  But with Mimi; myself, my daughter and the rest of the family saw another side of cancer.  The real ugly side.  The reason commercials and spokespersons implore us to be diligent with self exams and early detections.  For me, Mimi was my first glimpse into cancer.  For your dad and aunts.. not so much.  We lost Mimi in October 2002.  

Since, (and before and during) we've all done our things to fight cancer.    Cancer walks, scrapping for the cure...we girls, we're on top of our self exams and annual visits to the Dr.  So, when Marcy called to share she had found a lump, we were.. "Okay, it's early.  Biopsy and lets move forward." The following week after results the phone call wasn't what I expected.  Even anticipated.. "Breast Cancer"  What the??  But we're on the watch!!!  She's been crying all day..I'm suppose to make her smile.  I want to cry.. I want to rant and rave and yell.  This is my "little sister".  It's Dave's little sister.   SHE isn't suppose to have breast cancer.  Our family has had it's full and fair share of cancer.  Leave us alone. 

So now, here we are... fighting cancer.  She, up front and in person.  Us, here on the side lines far from there.  We have our pink t-shirts.  (I hate pink).  David says he'll shave his head.. sorry sis' his hair is already falling out.  I, feel, useless.  I, feel, like I should be helping some how.  I can't even babysit my own nephews, run her around or even give her a hug.  I absolutely hate this.  And worse, it's not about me.  There shouldn't be sentences starting in "I".   But here I go with I again.. I'm scared for my daughters, I'm worried for my husband... BREAST CANCER does not discriminate.    How do I end this entry?  Where do I stop?  I'll "pause" for now and breathe.  We'll see what tomorrow brings and be ready to "be there" for Marcy...

If you're curious about how my SIL is doing, want to lend support or prayers or offer to share your experience, please feel free to visit her blog.  She'll be sharing her journey with us and I know she'll need all the support she can get.  I'm going to leave with this... if you're not already doing self exams... START.  If you don't have a history of cancer in your family, DON'T even think you're immune to this disease.  YOUR risk is just as high.  MEN can get breast cancer and even if they don't get it... testicular cancer is just as nasty.  Support your local cancer walks, drives and screenings... be an active participant against this.  Not a bystander.