There are rainbows after the storm!

If you couldn't tell by last night's post, I was really struggling yesterday. But, just like we have been promised by the Lord, there are definitely rainbows after the storm! Today was a beautiful day and even though it was just as busy as the day before and just as exhausting, I was able to see the beauty that was right in front of me all along. (oh, and I took a nap today too, that helps)
I am sooo blessed to be able to have the doctors that I do, and that my prognosis is good. This will just be a short time in my life and someday when I look back, it will seem very miniscule. But I am sure I will always look back and feel that I grew A LOT during this time. Today in the car as the kids and I were driving to my Radiologist appointment, Lund asked me why I was given cancer as a trial. I told him that if you had a good player on your team and you were the coach, would you want them to practice? he said that he would. I told him that the coach is just practicing me right now. he seemed to get my crazy analogy, baseball is something that he and I both have in common. And yes, I realize that I am a girl using a sports analogy to answer life's biggest questions, isn't that what guys do?
I am posting some of the awesome stuff that has been going on in our lives lately. Because there really are many, many awesome moments....
We have joined the YMCA and the kids are really enjoying the swimming pool. Almost as much as I am enjoying trying to get back in shape. I have a long way to go, but it feels so great to be started on the road to recovery.

Cassidy under the water mushroom thing.

Lund throwing a water ball at me, I am pretty sure I got wet right after this shot was taken.

Lund and Will playing together with his fishing net and little plastic fish. These are the moments I treasure... when they are actually playing together. This is the kiddos right after my Radiologist appointment. The wonderful nurse told them that if they were good while mom was back in the room, they would get a surprize. And boy were the kids surprized when they each were given their own chocolate bar. Man, I wish I got a chcolate bar too.... All I got were three painful tattoos on my chest. That is right, I now I have my first tattoos, and last!

On Sunday we ate dinner at my parents house and then my dad took us over to the Reparian Preserve right by their house. The kids loved it and Cassidy and Lund were taking pictures of the birds like crazy. Their new thing is taking pictures, but I not sure where they get that gene from..........hum...........

The whole gang. We left Will back at home with Grandma and Ryan. He didn't even realize we had left him until a half hour had passed and then he said to Grandma..."Hey I forgot to eat dinner, where is everybody?" (He didn't forget dinner at all, we had dinner a half hour before that)

Some residents of the preserve.

Lund taking pictures of the birds and Sarah asking the birds if she can join them and be a bird forever. (She is in a "bird phase" where all she wants to do is be a bird and fly)

I love this picture because my dad is teaching Lund how to use his camera and his "monopod" (A one-legged tri-pod)

Grandpa playing a game with the kids. Grandpa's are great, aren't they???!!

Will's new thing lately is building. He will build with whatever he can find...Legos, K'nex, blocks like the ones in the picture, playing cards, toothbrushes, sponges..etc, etc.

Here is a beautiful picture that Cassidy took in my parents backyard. She enjoys taking pictures and when we were walking at the Preserve, she took a picture and showed my dad and he said, "That looks great, you're really good." then Cassidy piped up, "I think the word your looking for is talented!" (humble too)

Sarah also loves building at Grandma's too. She also won't let me cut her hair, (Arggggg) and she usually takes out all the hairdo's that I do by this time of day.

We also took the kids to Krispy Kreme the other day because we found out that they get a doughnut per A on their report cards. Will and Sarah just got donuts that we payed for because Sarah doesn't have her report card yet.

But Cassidy and Lund were in heaven. Cass had three A's and Lund had two A's. Way to go kiddos!!!

Will really enjoyed the donuts and kept trying to hoard them, what a goof!!

And here is a picture of what we have been doing a lot of lately.... driving in the car. The kids don't enjoy all the driving (to the YMCA, to doctors appointments, etc...). They think everything is "really far away", or they will say, "we drove for an hour!" (not really). I think they are still used to a small town where everything is just right around the corner.

p.s. Another reason why this day was so great was because of all of your uplifting comments and support. And because I got two phone calls from friends I haven't heard from in a long time. They told me that they were thinking a lot about me lately and finally just decided to call. I think what they didn't understand was that they were actually an answer to my prayers. What a loving Heavenly Father we have!!!