Tag: Children

Wax, Patience and a do over

The weather has been unstable to say the least over the last week or so.  Yesterday it stormed off and on all day rainy very heavy at points.  We went to the movies to see Monsters University.  It was good.  The kids loved it and Frank and I were both pleasantly entertained.

Today it was rainy from the time I woke up.  I knew we would need to find something to fill the day so the girls and I did something different.  Before the girls were born I played around making candles.  There has been a bin of supplies stashed away on a shelf in the garage for the better part of 9 years.  Early this morning I pulled it down and we did a quick inventory.  Then we headed to the craft store for a few needed things.  The girls were so excited.

Strawberry and Ocean Mist
Strawberry and Ocean Mist

Once we got home a marathon of wax melting began.  We made both jar candles and pillar.  We started with the jar candles and things went very smoothly.  The girls each chose a color and scent and both turned out wonderfully.  The morning was going so well we decided to push our luck and go for the pillar candles.  For those who had never tried candle making these take much more work and patience.

Things started well, wax melted, molds set up with wicks and ready. The girls were so in the groove we made three.  After sitting for several hours we decided to try to remove them.  Now, this is where that patience thing comes in handy, something that is just not a strong suit for me or the girls.  They

Lavender and Cranberry
Lavender and Cranberry

would have been better off if we had let them sit over night.  Two came out with little to no effort but one does have some cracking running through it.  Gives it a little character I guess.  The third, well that is a totally different story.  We will not have a lovely round Vanilla candle since after multiple attempts at removing it I just pulled the wick clean out.  A very frustrating turn of events. Tomorrow we will chisel out the wax melt it back down and try again.  Next time I guess we will not skip the step recommending mold release spray :-).  It was still a very nice day spent with my girls.

And a year passes.

Sunday, a year ago today, I was preparing to change my life.  I was to be at the hospital by the crack of dawn Monday morning to prepare for my 12 and 1/2 hour marathon surgery.  A bilateral prophylactic mastectomy and DIEP flap reconstruction. Over the year I have discussed at length the who, what and why’s.

One year later I look back and am still very surprised and how much this decision changed my life.  Clearly the fact that cancer markers were found and I reacted before cancer, is an obvious reason as to why I would be happy with my decision.  It is the rest that really has made me a happier person.

I enjoy every minute.  I know that sounds ridiculous and of course there are the normal issues during the day that get on my nerves but as to my family I really can not wait for the next thing.  The next wonderful thing that comes out of Madison’s amazingly advanced 6-year-old mouth.  Watching my extremely talented Megan as she raises the bar of what is possible with each god given day.  My wonderful husband who deals with the frustrations of thankless non caring bosses and the daily grind that allows me to still be home with my girls.  I take nothing for granted, I thank god for each day.  That may sound strange to many who are close to me since they know that I am not a very religious person.  Raised Catholic, non practicing for more years than I can count, I can not deny that a higher being in involved in many of the things that have happened in my life even if I do not always buy into the norms of structured religion.

Unlike my mother and so many woman around the world, I was able to avoid  breast cancer.  I remember when the most important thing in my life was the next work ranking report, the next inventory, the next meeting blah blah.  How small that seems now.  Today the most important thing to me in ensuring that I hug my kids daily.  So many people do not understand.  Many never will , other just do not care.

I am no longer defined by what others think….another change that has come over the last year.  Tomorrow we have no set plans.  My girls and I will take the day as it comes.  I am sure that the events of a year ago will be on my mind often this week.  The pain, the struggles, the frustration, the relief that I did not have cancer, the realization that after many years of hate just maybe someone is watching over us.

I guess my mind will be a little full this week. Looks like it will be a great week.

The Phantom

IMG_4539Sunday was the big day, Megan’s piano recital.  She has been practicing for weeks and could not have been more prepared.  She walked out on stage confidently, sat at the piano and played perfectly.  We could not be more proud of our little girl!  She played The Phantom of the Opera…if you have a minute have a listen!