"Little Things" A Guest Post from Marie Wikle

Little Things

When my sweet friend Brenda asked me to do a blog article for her, I was honored. She is such a sweetheart with a huge desire to make a difference for cancer survivors.

I’ve never had cancer, but have loved and now miss several that have. The one thing you come to treasure is the little things with them. Those little things are suddenly hurled into the lime light as you reflect on love lost when cancer has finally taken its toll on them.

The time spent together, the priceless moments of laughter, the belly laughs from someone, somewhere doing something completely unexpected and silly. The little, priceless things such as the whispers, I love you and the kisses on the cheek or forehead are now treasures that the heart will never forget.

Treasures of the heart….have you ever thought about treasuring the little things now. Don’t wait until you find out someone has cancer to treasure them. Give the extra kiss on the cheek for no reason. Give the extra smile or phone call just because. Stop by the store and spend your lunch money on a $10.00 bouquet of roses for someone special, even though it is NOT their birthday. Make those precious memories on purpose.

Those many of us rely on the memories to carry us through as we miss loved ones that are no longer with us. Those memories are no longer little things. They are huge, priceless and can never be replaced. Others rely on pictures to help keep their memories alive, displaying them with pride and honor.

Work on making memories today. Don’t put it off. Stomp through the puddles with someone, laugh till you cry and don’t care if your makeup runs. (or who is watching) Spend time sitting quietly, while your heart speaks volumes with someone that you love. Display the pictures now and lots of them. Bring out the good china for lunch one Sunday. Eat dessert first one Friday evening.

Enjoy the precious moments and the little gifts that make your heart soar.

Don’t wait.

What memories are you making?

What little things are you enjoying with someone you adore?

What will make your heart soar today?

"There's no joy like Spreading Joy"

http://www.spreading-joy.org

http://twitter.com/spreadingJOY

www.facebook.com/spreadingjoycorp

Reminding you to enjoy the little things that make life big!

A blog full of confused thoughts and heartache.

.Nothing worth doing is completed in our lifetime,
Therefore, we are saved by hope.
Nothing true or beautiful or good makes complete sense in any immediate context of history;
Therefore, we are saved by faith.
Nothing we do, however virtuous, can be accomplished alone.
Therefore, we are saved by love.
No virtuous act is quite a virtuous from the standpoint of our friend or foe as from our own;
Therefore, we are saved by the final form of love which is forgiveness.- Reinhold Niebuhr #quote

As I write this blog to be honest I don't know where to begin.
Several month ago through twitter I met a family the Potvin family.
on twitter I know them as @LiftupEllie. Ellie is a beautifull talented brave 8 yr old struct by the beast we call cancer.  It was just a few months ago I watched a video of Ellie up in her hospital bed playing with friends even playing hide n seek it was a beautiful site. And now Ellie is at home with her family her lungs now overtaken with tumors and a tumor on her hip that ruptured a few days ago. But You see if any of you have experienced Ellie, you know that Ellie is not your average 8 yr old. Ellie is brave, Ellie loves Jesus, Ellie is NOT affraid of Heaven But Ellie is a fighter. Just yesterday she bravely told her mom as I spend hours following both @LiftupEllie as well as her mom @AmyPotvin her mom tweeted that Ellie kissed her arms n said to her mom "don't worry  I'm tough! I sit right now as I did most the night with a candle lit to honor Ellie and let her know just how much she is loved. The last time I signed Ellies guestbook on her journal I told her I was NOT going to say goodbye...I was saying untill we meet again. For this place here earth its only our temporary home...HEAVEN now HEAVEN that is our forever home and we will all meet again.Oh and I did ask her for a couple of small favors..to say hellp to my son Shane and my great nephew Jacob n tell them I love em. I know Ellie she will do that for me because thats the person she is. So still lost I just needed to say that stuff about Ellie. By the way Ellie has a twin sister Grace, her mom is Amy, her dad Tim. Say a prayer for all of them and pray for Ellie as she is getting her wings to Fly away to HOME where Jesus waits for her.

RELAY For Life JUNE 12th Donations needed.

Hello, Where to begin. This year has been crazy and were only half way through. By now most of you know that I am fighting to KEEP HOPE ALIVE  for people fight the beastly monster we call cancer. As we know its not picky as to who it attacks.
What is important is that we realize also is that cancer does NOT just affect the person who is diagnosed but it attacks everyone involved in thier life, other family menbers, friends, caregivers, co-workers, classmates, the list goes on and on.
While I can proudly say my 84 yr old mom and my sister Jenny are both survivors. (Mom twice) praise God, I can also say as a young girl I watched my little cousin Lisa fight ever so bravely w/leukemia and I sat with her just the night before she past painting. When it was time for me to go home, I gave her a kiss and siad I'd be back the next weekend to paint again as that had became mine n her time together. As I stood up (I still see her as plain as day saying this) Lisa said to me "Thanks for being with me today. I don't think I will see you next week, I'm pretty tired." I told her "oh sure you will see me, I'll be here no matter what." That night she drifted off to go to Heaven.
In my older yrs, 20s etc I lost 2 uncles to cancer. 2002 came around n My mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, as she was in treatment 1 month to the day my older sister Jenny was also diagnosed with cancer. And a couple yrs later mom relapsed and was diagnosed this time with lung cancer. I am one of the lucky ones that can say she again beat the monster.
Then 2006, moms closest &favorite brother n my favorite Uncle Clyde was diagnosed with colon cancer. NOW one would think ok really, this family has had enough. Nope as my uncle battled colon cancer his wife my Aunt Jackie was diagnosed with breast cancer. Unfortunately Uncle Clyde lost his battle with colon cancer, however his wife Aunt Jackie was able to beat cancer and she is doing well.
Think the story ends there? NOPE also in 2006 our best friend Scott was reading to his 5 yr old son when he got a severe headache.  He finally went to the ER, next thing we knew he was being life flighted away to a larger hospital. A CT had found a large brain tumor. To our sadness he was diagnosed with brain cancer that had metastisized to his lungs. Scott fought till the very end but we lost him about a yr after he was diagnosed.
Now to 2009, our Dear friend Mark, Mark thought he had an abcess tooth, so he kept taking antibiotics. By the time Mark went to the doctor he too had Brain Cancer that had spread to his lungs. He is going through treatment now and while he is weak he will be jjoining us this year as we walk in the Relay For Life.
My granddaughter Gabbie is one of our biggest fundraisers and she to is being impacted by cancer as she has a little girl in her school that has leukemia.
So in closing I am asking you, we walk JUNE 12th in RELAY FOR LIFE to #kickcancer. Could you be so kind to donate even as little as $10 for us to donate to the American Cancer Society.
Together we can beat this disease. Here is the ACS link to donate. I Pray that you will find it in your heart to donate. http://main.acsevents.org/site/TR/RelayForLife/RFLFY10IL?team_id=555407&pg=team&fr_id=22164 I Pray you will find it in your heart to go donate.
Your donatin could save a life.
Thank You and God Bless.