GIRLS TRIP to the BEACH HOUSE

Hey Everyone!


I am so excited to be writing to you all today. For our next bucket list adventure we are going to a BEACH HOUSE!!! Yeah! So, heres the plan... Let's take an all-girls trip (#6) to a beach house (#7) and party like it's 1999! And I don't like Prince, but I find that I could not help a bit of cheesiness in my excitement. If you have ever seen my sister, aunt,mom and I get together it's non-stop, pee your pants comedy hour! OK, sorry about the lack of accessible bathrooms reference... I promised my sister I would never tell on her. :D (see Tammy, told you I would get you back for that time when you told Mom that I snuck out of the house when I was 15!)


I must admit, the pressure to get just the right beach house was all put on my shoulders by.... well myself. But think about this, it will be my mom's first time staying in a beach house. And unless life alters dramatically, it will be her last one too. This has to be a special place that is beautiful and peaceful. Somewhere that we can just sit and stare at one of God's most powerful earthen gifts, the ocean. 


Last weekend I hunted for just the right place on one of my favorite sites (vrbo.com) and guess what? For about $500 or more per night, I found the perfect place! (envision me choking right about now) Yeah right, we just don't belong to the $500 a night set. I tried to downgrade my desires for my mom's adventures just a bit.


Short story long, I sent off several inquiries for houses along the central coast area and prayed that God would put on someone's heart to be warm and kind and generous, without me even having to ask. Perhaps someone would give us a break if we went mid-week? I did not have to wait long for His blessing.

On Sunday we had finished an exciting and somewhat painful day of bowling with our friends from church. You may think that being as tall as I am and having played High School and college sports that I would be good at most sports. But I plead that bowling is NOT a sport! It is a painful exercise of hurling an 11 pound rock down 30 feet of vast nothingness, trying to hit 10 pins that are little more than a mirage when I am not wearing my glasses all the while trying not to fall on my rear with those disease-ridden slip-n-slide excuses for rental shoes! My 9 year-old son even beat me... This "sport" has no dignity!


But all is well that ends well I suppose. I hobbled home to a cheerful message from Cynthia Haines, the owner of the Sand Dollar Beach House in Santa Cruz. I immediately called her back hoping that this would be the one. 


During our conversation she asked what occasion we were renting her house for and I told her about the bucket list and how special this trip was to us. We had a wonderful conversation and shared out thoughts and struggles about health issues in loved ones.  As we got to the point of discussing the rental, do you know what that kind lady did? She gave us an impressive discount to rent the house on a prime weekend!

I was so grateful that I bounced around for the entire day (even with my sore "you know what!" I called my mom right away and told her the fantastic news and so we are all geared up now to travel the eight hour drive up to Santa Cruz, stopping at every travel station for all things essential on a girl's road trip: Starbuck's, Peanut M&M's and Dr. Pepper.


Our adventure begins on the 12th of February and I hope that you will continue to join this adventure with us. Pray that my sister, Tammy, gets the time off from work and that my mom will have the strength to go and enjoy her first stay in a beach house.


FROM A VERY EXCITED DAUGHTER...
MUCH LOVE!

It's her decision

Hello friends...


Last week I wrote to you that my mom was going to give the City of Hope clinical trial two more months to see if there were any better results than she has had so far. She has given this a lot of thought and prayed fervently about her decision and has decided to stop treatments immediately. 


The entire process of rigorous chemotherapy and experimental drugs has been too much for her and there is just no quality of life to make the possible results worth the pain and suffering. For the past few months she has been very sick and has rarely felt like doing much of anything. She misses her children and grandchildren and considers the people in her life what living is all about.


I feel as if we are back to where we started in October, 6-12 months to live and our family wondering what a person is supposed to do when their beloved mother, sister and wife is dying. We still pray for her and for God's decision to be made known in our lives. The one thing I do know is that there has never been a moment when we have not felt His love for us.


I spent the entire day with my parents yesterday and it was truly a fantastic time. I have to admit that the reality of this decision has still not fully hit me yet, perhaps I am waiting on more scans to give me more definitive results, who knows? The important thing right now is that my mom is happy and what a joy to see her in such good spirits yesterday. She was showing off her new digital photo frame (thanks Kay and the crew!) and we were starting our garden plans (more on this project to come). 


Please continue to join us in our bucket list adventures, as always we are focusing on living and loving and there is plenty of both to be had right now. This bucket list has been an adventure and a blessing to my mom. I cannot thank you all enough for being a part of this.


Up next... the beach house adventure is only weeks away... yes, the next adventure has already been laid out. Join us soon and continue to pray and worship our Heavenly Father for His wonderful gift of the love and warmth that is Wanda.


affectionately...

Sticking it out

Hey there!


In a recent conversation with my mom, she revealed that she has made a decision to stick out the treatment for a few more months. I think that is FANTASTIC! In two months they will do another CT scan and bone scan so she will wait to see those results. She felt that since she has only been in this experimental program for two months, it was not enough time to give any true results. Good call mom!


So we press on my friends. I have decided to cheer her up with another bucket list item over the next few weeks. What will it be?!!! If you listened to me recently and think it might be a beach house, maybe it will, but maybe not. My schedule is a bit hectic for that bit of fun just now. So what other list item are we going to do?


Tune in next post to find out :D


With much love...

Decisions to be make

Hello my sweet friends,


Today my mom met with her doctor to get the results of the bone and CT scans that were performed on Friday. It was time to test if the test phase of this treatment was having any effect on the cancer. The results are... that there really are not many results. The good news is that cancer has not spread any further. And the other news... well it's that the cancer is all still there, in every part of her body that it was before.


The bright and sunny disposition would be to say, "but hey! that's great news! the cancer is not spreading at least." But you see, my mom has been mostly sick for the entire treatment. Combine that with the many hours she spends driving all the way to Pasadena from Victorville for every treatment and the endless chemo side effects combined with experimental drugs. Well, it's not everyone's idea of "living" and perhaps not hers either.


So she is asking herself whether or not continuing treatment if only to keep her alive for another year or so, is it worth being sick for that entire year? Only my mom can answer that. And so she is spending the next few days considering her options.


I ask you all to join me in prayer that God would speak to my mom's heart and tell her His plan for her. That he would strengthen her for which ever path He has already chosen for her and that He would comfort us all.


So I am thinking that a wonderful, "all girls trip" to a "beach house" for her first time might just be in order. It's time we got to planning and putting a smile on her face again!


With Love...

When others care

It is so nice to know that people care about you and your loved ones. To have sympathy is one thing, but to act on it is another. I had the recent experience to see that care turn into action when my mom received the ultimate care package! 

A few days before our fantastic limo ride (see here for that article), my mom received a large box covered with stickers that made it's way in holiday rush hour mail traffic all the way from Oklahoma. Even I admit to being shocked at the magnitude of the care package that some very dear women took the time, effort and finances to put together. Prior to this cancer journey that my mom has been on, these women were total strangers to our family.


Kay my new friend, you are really a blessing in our lives. Our deepest gratitude to you and the fantastic troop of cancer-love warriors that helped you. My mom adores her wrap (as seen in the limo ride pictures) and her fuzzy gloves, the goodies have been eaten with much joy and the gift card is going to excellent use for her to enjoy herself in ways she has never had the opportunity to do.


I wish I could say more, but I seem to always be at a loss for words when trying to convey gratitude. Tears seem so much easier to express how we feel. Tears of joy when our hearts are deeply touched by the kindness of others.


With much love you you all....

What a fantastic way to begin!!!

Hello Friends!

The whole limo gang

I am writing to you today a very happy person! I would like to say that I am always happy, believe that if you want, but today I am especially happy! Of course you should already know why since so many of you have been waiting to hear about our fantastic Limo ride on Saturday (Bucket List item #11). Well let me share with you my friends, this bucket list thing has it perks! I am thinking that I need to start mine now... today... okay, maybe last Saturday.


But some joking aside, we are celebrating the life of my mother, Wanda, and without her as the focus it was just another ride in a extra-long stretch, black, sleek, leather decked, mood lit taxi ride. Umm... with free alcohol. Seriously though, it was a wonderful time with family and close friends. Thank you to the special family who donated the unlimited dream ride for the day, your hearts know absolutely no bounds and may God bless you for your continuous displays of love.


Saturday afternoon, the ride started out with the extra-tall Reid clan wedging ourselves into the limo with my mom's dear friend, Joann and her wonderful grand daughter who just happens to be a complete doll and my daughter's best friend. So the entire "family" set out from Murrieta at about 2pm with our driver, James. YES! Your heard correctly, his name was James! I am still wondering if he made that up for us so that we could bust out with our ridiculous, pseudo English accents and say typical things like, "drive on James" or "have a care James, the old bird is dozing!" For putting up with our jokes he wins the "101 stupid limo jokes" award and he really was a dear man despite his lead foot (more on this later). 


In the Limo we all poured champagne and sparkling cider respectively and took turns toasting Wanda and telling her the one thing that stood out in our minds most about her. Here is a highlight:


Wanda is always there when you need her, so very dependable. She is always smiling, at everyone, at everything, she always has a smile on her face that glows. Wanda is good at taking care of her family and is always performing acts of love for others. She is the glue that holds people together, no matter the cost. She is a woman of great faith and of great love. 

The Reid family and mama Wanda

Needless to say, my mom is a woman who has already made her mark in this world and no matter what happens, she will be remembered forever. 


After the special time of togetherness, and of watching Joann and mom play with all the gadgets and buttons for a while, we finished our champagne and settled in to chat about life and the sweet gift that it is. Mom talked about how much she loved her first limo ride and how nice it was inside. We talked about ministry work and sacrifice and how blessed we are as a nation. I think these conversations never get old, they always remind us of the perspective that God has blessed us so much!

The very beautiful Wanda and Joann

We made it to Mission Bay (San Diego) in record time, 1 hour flat! All that in traffic with a light drizzle. I am quite the indy-driver myself and I am sure he would have beat me hands down. It is definitely a good thing that I was facing sideways, it is less scary when you cannot see the cars that you are careening around and bumpers so close that I could use braille to read the license plates! In the end we are alive and I am here writing this blog entry so, "Jolly good sport James!" In fact, he was so "efficient" in getting us there, we had enough time before our dinner reservations to stop for a stroll along the bay.  Mom just loved it there and I was again reminded of God's glory that is revealed in His creation. 


Dinner was at the divine Firefly restaurant located in the Dana Resort in Mission Bay. Actually, I should call in a Linner sort of meal since we were there and starving by 3:30pm. We had the restaurant to ourselves and took full advantage of the waitresses attention. Mom ordered fried Brussel Sprouts for an appetizer and hearing this I was mentally pitched back to my childhood with memories of all the absolutely awful things my mom made us eat. I suppose as an automatic defense mechanism I suddenly remembered the creative ways to throw out my mushy veggies without my mom catching me. I mean, I have it down to a science, but here 25 years later, I felt a little rusty. Was she serious?!!! FRIED BRUSSEL SPROUTS!  I tried to calm myself down. After all, I was now a grown woman and could just refuse to eat them. Seconds later and probably sub-consciously, I spied the nearest trash can just in case. 

The gang at Mission Bay

Nervously fingering the heavy napkin I held in my lap, I wondered just how many of those dirt-tasting little green sprouts I could fit into there without being seen. As if the words "I told you so!" could be heard on the Mother is Right network, the waitress set down an aromatic plate full of these teeny-weenie Brussel Sprouts swimming in a sauce that I was sure I could lick right off the plate and call it a day! And to everyone's delight, we polished off the now-redeemed little vegetable and even spent a good deal of time trying figure out the recipe. So, the next time I have one of you over for dinner, watch out... and have a little faith! 

Enjoying Firefly restaurant in Mission Bay

As I am sure you are expecting, the meal was delightful and we all headed home shortly afterwards to spend the evening in the euphoric high you get when you have just spent "the best day ever!" It sure is a good thing those days are not limited to one. 


May my sweet mother bless us with many more of these days in her company. As we look forward to the next bucket list item, I am reminded of just how important people are in our lives. As you finish this story, take a few minutes to think of someone special to you. If they were dying, what memories would you want to create? What would you want to tell them? 


Then start doing it now, not later... and not never. Today is here.



All my love and until the next time,


Sarah

Fundraising success!

Hello friends!


It's time to sit down with you all again and share our latest comings and goings. First of all, thank you all so much for asking after my mom these past few weeks. Most of you are familiar with my typical response now, "She's doing great! I wrote on her blog, did you read it?" So there it is, I am committed to updating this blog every week so go ahead and spread the word! 


Our fundraising efforts for October were a huge success! Thank you to everyone who purchased a gift certificate, we raised over $1,400 towards the bucket list! What a blessing it is when everyone participates to help someone's dreams come true. 


And so here we are... all dressed up and nowhere to go. Okay okay, seriously, I am working out a few details still but it looks like we will begin our bucket list within a few weeks with #11. 


Now what is #11 you may ask? I invite you to go back to October's postings to the original list and take a look again. It's my little invitation to reacquaint yourselves with my mom's goals for this year. Settle in and get familiar again with the list because we are on our way my friends!


Many of you still ask what you can do to help. Well, there are still lots of items left on the list that have not been tackled. If you see the list and think that you may be able to help out, please let me know. If you have an idea of a way to compliment the list in a small way, then it's a big deal to us! Just contact me and let me know. My mom and I read every comment you guys make on this blog and it truly speaks of your love.


I will be in touch soon!