Believe and Dream

This is Ethan Hallmark. He's 12 and he has been my inspiration for about eight months. Ethan has been battling cancer for pretty much most of his life. He is going for his third remission.

I admire Ethan's strength and faith. Last year was one of our toughest yet. Are the time things got really hard, I found Ethan. He reminds me to believe in a good, loving God and to never give up.

Ethan is on Caring Bridge. I look forward to reading the updates. Praying and believing for Ethan makes life not about me and my troubles. It is a reminder that no matter how bleak, we have to fight. We have to carry on.

Ethan really needs your prayers right now. A LOT! Pray that Ethan's bone marrow improves to the point he can receive the last round of chemo and that the scans after that round will show the cancer has shrunk in his arms.

I've never met Ethan but I love this kid. Ethan Hallmark is my hero.

National Use the Good Dishes Day

Today is National Use the Good Dishes Day

because

Life is too unpredictable. Use the good dishes.

You need to celebrate the people you love and one simple, easy way to do that is to let them eat off the dishes that would cost you an arm and a leg to replace - or are irreplaceable. Because the people you love are irreplaceable. 

Our friend Serenity is a beautiful, young mom of 3 boys who is undergoing surgery today. About 5 years ago, cancer took part of Serenity's shoulder. Today cancer will take part of her lung. The prognosis is great. This is good because Serenity is irreplaceable. 

Today, on National Use the Good Dishes Day, use your good dishes, kiss the ones you love and please say a prayer for Serenity and her family.

Life is too unpredictable. Use the good dishes.

Use the Good Dishes, Life is Too Unpredictable

On Friday evening, I was reading my friend's blog. We've known Serenity for almost 15 years. When we met, she was a sweet, high school girl living at home with her parents. Now, Serenity is the beautiful wife of her childhood sweetheart, the mother of 3 delightful boys, a writer, and continues to be one of the most wonderful, kind, generous, and inspiring people I've ever met.

The first time Serenity learned she had cancer in her shoulder, her oldest son was in kindergarten and she was pregnant with her third son. Today, the baby Serenity was carrying is in pre-kindergarten and she has been diagnosed with cancer in her lung. It is treatable with surgery.

Serenity is amazing and we love her dearly. Her blog had me in tears when J came home with pizza for our family night. Typically, we all eat our Friday Family Night pizza on plastic dishes and the kids use plastic cups. Last night, we used the expensive dishes and glasses. All 4 of us.

Life is just too unpredictable. Use the good dishes.