LIVE at 55 !!!! And More Valentine's!!

Okay, this is going to be one of those philosophical posts.

 I am going to "talk" a lot so get ready for it!!

LOL!

But first let me tell you that I was going to show you pictures of my family at my little Birthday celebration Sunday but guess what?
 I enjoyed myself so much, I forgot to take the pictures!!! Oooooops!!!

So I will show you some new Valentine's decorations in my Living Room  instead while I  "talk"......

January 31st was my Birthday.......

Now I really do NOT like to make a big deal out of my Birthday, everyone else's Birthday... YES.... but mine.... NO!
 I hate the attention!

I always work on my Birthday and do not take it off if it is not my regularly scheduled day off.....
again, it is no big deal!

Roses that Joe gifted me for my Birthday!!

 I have made it quite clear to Joe that if he EVER had a party for me on one of those milestone Birthdays, I would divorce him...... LOL!!

BUT

I am LIVE ( Pronounce like FIVE) at 55!!!

Yes, I am 55 years of age. Notice, I did not say years old even though more often than not I feel like I could be 100 years OLD!

 A new purse that Joe "bought" with his Comp points from the Casino!!

 Don't you LOVE the Bling!!!!
Now did I teach him well or WHAT??????

The only reason I am dwelling so much on this particular birthday is that  6 years ago, I was not sure I would live to see this Birthday.

Many of you know that I am a cancer survivor. Some of you know the circumstances of that diagnosis but many of you who are new to my blog ( and I  have so many new followers this year, THANK YOU) may not know.

One of my Pink Ladies in the Thomas Kinkade "Laced with Hope" Collection that Joe gifted me for my Birthday!

Part of the Proceeds go to Breast Cancer Research

6 years ago after waking up from what I thought was a procedure in a Surgi Center to remove a kidney stone, I was told it was a tumor in my right ureter ( the tube that connects the kidney with the bladder) and not a kidney stone.
All I remember was thinking a  WHAT???   and WHERE????

Tumors in this place are very rare!!

The Dr. said that I would have to go to the Hospital at a later date and he would attempt to Lazer the tumor out but if he could not do that, he would have to remove my right Kidney....

All I could think of when he was talking was,

 a WHAT and WHERE??????

Some Little Wreaths that I made hanging on the Mirror in the Hallway downstairs

Long story short......

YES, it was a cancerous tumor- Grade One Squamous Cell Carcinoma

NO, when I woke up after surgery, they did NOT have to remove my right kidney

YES, they were able to lazer the tumor out

YES, I was LUCKY not to need chemo or radiation because the tumor was small, encapsulated and did not spread.

YES, I was LUCKY that I had symptoms because usually one does not get symptoms until the cancer had invaded the Kidney or the Bladder.

YES, I would need to have Cystoscopy done to check for a re-occurance of the tumor every 3 months for a year, then every 6 months for a year then every year until I hit 5 years of being cancer free.

A Heart Wreath that I made over last evening for the Living Room

I hit that 5 year mark in November of 2012! It was then that my Urologist told me he thought the cancer would have been back within a year....

YES, I am LUCKY and YES, I have been BLESSED!

I have been given the GIFT of TIME!

Wreath before I stripped it down and re-did it!

I have been able to live long enough to see my sons grow into wonderful, responsible , caring and independent adults.

Joe- 31 years old

 Jim- 29 years old with Danielle

 They ARE my greatest achievement in this Life!

And for that I am ever so GRATEFUL!

And.......

YES, there was a period of time when I wondered if I would see my 55th Birthday .......

Even after a scare 3 years ago when I needed a breast biospy because of a suspicious finding ( it was nothing!)

BUT

 I have made it, BABY!!!

LOL!!

Plus, I now get a Senior Citizen's discount on Tuesdays at some stores!!
I have made it to being considered a Senior Citizen!!!

WHOA!!

If you knew me personally, you would know that I can't be too serious for too long....

SO I am LIVE at 55!!!

Since the Living Room is decorated with a Red and Gold Valentine color theme, I used red and gold deco mesh to outline this heart grapevine wreath

When you hear that word Cancer applied to you, your life changes. It actually changed mine for the better because I do NOT sweat the small things, I have done things that I do not believe I would have done if I didn't think my time was running out ( like start my little Craft business) , I appreciate those that I love and are important to me more than ever now  and I try to see and find the JOY in every thing that happens to me.

JOY is my One Little Word for 2013!  Since I have hit this 55 mark, I want this year to be the year that I stop and take the time to see all of the JOY in my Life!

And I added some red velvet roses with white baby's breath to the wreath

Sometimes Life passes you by at the speed of Light and this year, I want to try to slow down and try take it all in. Notice I say TRY.

I work crazy hours, I sleep crazy hours and Joe works crazy hours in that he only gets every 6th weekend off. So yes, I do have a crazy life.

Minerva , all decked out in her Valentine Finery

But I am LIVING it and that is what is important to me now!

I hope that you all will also try to take the time to find all the JOY in your lives........

Pretty in Red and White

The boys gifted me a Target Gift Card and Money so I can buy what I want to for my Birthday.
Now do they know their Mom well or what???

We celebrated with Pizza, Stromboli and Wings and NO , we did not watch the Super Bowl!!

I did watch the opening with Jennifer Hudson and Alicia Keys who nailed their Patriotic songs and I did watch the outstanding performance by Beyonce at half time! And the Reunion of Destiny's Child!!!!
These girls rocked the show!!

Who cared about Football?????

Now that I have said my peace about being Live @ 55!!  I want to show you more of what I did to Minerva!!

 I added red ribbon and red roses to her hat.......

 And collar ...
And a red rose pin.....

 And  a red rose sash made out of a sheer table runner.....

With one of my brooches in the middle of the bow....

 Beads on the bottom...

With a red velvet heart candy box at her feet...

I didn't have time to Dabble with it but I will.......

 Ain't she pretty?????

 Now you KNOW that I could not finish without a candlelight picture ......

 Or two, didn't you??????

And I want to show you where I put the sweet Bottle Brush that I won in a giveaway from Jann over at
Have a Daily Cup of Mrs. Olson

 It found a home here in my China Cupboard in my Den.....

 I love it, Jann!!
Thank you!

 And here is my Living Room with my new  "re-done" Wreath and my Valentine tree

It matches the tree well, I think!!

AND Remember

 To seek out the JOY in your life!!!

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Hugs,
Debbie