Treasures Weren't Hard to Find

I’ve been thinking about how to post this for a very long time. We’ve been working through some challenges for what seems like a very long time. Actually it’s more like 8 weeks but it can seem long when news is uncertain and the future looks scary. I’ve even considered NOT posting about it…after all, the 3 people that read this on a regular basis are already in the loop so really…what’s to tell??

But since this blog is serving as a little piece of Grant Family History, I might like to come back one day when the dust has settled and see just how we plowed our way through…..so here goes…

How to say it…
What to say…cuz really, I hate even typing the words….

my dad has cancer…there, I said it.

He was diagnosed with Multiple Myeloma in mid November. In many ways, a huge relief to KNOW what we’re dealing with and get a firm plan for treatment. He’s been losing energy and just not the Dad I know for quite some time. This kind of cancer is found in the plasma cells which are in the bone marrow. There’s no surgery to remove anything…it’s a little more convoluted than that – it’s in his blood/bones which means it’s everywhere and it’s a painful, very painful disease. He’s beginning chemo right now and this involves a slow introduction of some hard-core drugs to start the journey to what we hope will be some semblance of normal for him.

For my Dad, the lover of the lawnmower, washing cars, eating out and doing whatever is needed at the church he’s been a member of for a gazillion years, feeling tired and extremely weak is no easy adjustment. He is sleeping A LOT and taking meds to manage the bone pain and back pain. Just not a whole lot of fun.

So, it stinks…I mean really, it stinks bad. It feels like a roller coaster already and we haven’t begun the hard stuff yet. It’ll get far worse for Dad before it gets better – we are under no illusion how things might progress.

I could give a laundry list of all the yuck; really, I am naturally more of a “glass half empty” girl – hate to admit it but it’s true. Even a pessimist like me can’t argue with what I’ve seen and felt so often these last several weeks. There have been so many rays of light through all of this,and I am convinced that it’s essential both for my Dad’s health and my mental outlook, that I MUST find the gifts in all of this. In some odd way, I want to be thankful for this whole situation. (See people, I WAS paying attention in our last Bible Study!!).

• The weekend in October with Mom and Dad. We enjoyed a beautiful Saturday on the water in Charleston. Great great day. The “c” word was not a part of our daily vocabulary that weekend 8 weeks ago…no dark cloud looming, only beautiful sunny clear SC skies.
• At least once a day, I get a phone call, voice mail or email message from someone who is holding us up in prayer. Family and friends who love us and think of us a lot. The list of names would be long….you know who you are.
• The meal my parents received from an old high school friend. Since graduation I’ve probably seen her only a handful of times and we don’t keep in regular contact but she prepared a meal and fed my parents and I am deeply grateful.
• The 2 “medical experts” I have in my life – my cousin Jettie and my friend Kellie. They have been nothing short of angels through this -- taking my incessant phone calls, listening to my cries for help and offering answers and information whenever I’ve needed it.
• Some special girls who have taken Winston after school for me this week so I can be in VA and Joe can still be at work. Such a load off my plate knowing he is in good hands until I can return. My deepest thanks Holly and Katie.
• The time we’ve spent recently with my dear cousin Janet….we’ve invaded her home for 2 weekends in a row now and many moments during those visits, the “C” word was not the topic of conversation. A nice and much needed break from our current reality.
• The beautiful and very cold day we just spent with Winston at Bank of America Stadium watching him cheer on his beloved Carolina Panthers. This will be post all its own later.
• Certainly not last and not least…the gift of a man I am married to and the blessings of those little people who call me Mama. They prop me up and keep me grounded every single day.
  
  It’s so hard to be thankful for this situation but I’m working on it and I do know that I am thankful for the moments of light and the reminders I get ALL THE TIME that God is near and He is in control.

Indians and Pilgrims and Rollerskates....?

We are home from a quick Thanksgiving trip to Charlotte. Much more about that later - tonight I must share some pictures of my sweet Tiger Lilly and her alter-ego, Lilly the Pilgrim. She double dipped into the Thanksgiving costume bucket and got to be both this year!!

She was an Indian a few weeks ago in her class' Indian Pow Wow....it was really cute. She and her teacher came up with a most perfect Indian name...Tiger Lilly. Very fitting considering, well, her name is Lilly and also we are quite the Peter Pan fans around this house. When the parents arrived, we walked into the find the Indians sitting by a "campfire" ready to seranade us with Indian songs. I am just savoring these moments...they are so bittersweet as I realize more and more that my baby girl is growing up fast.

Last week she changed roles and costumes and came as a Pilgrim for her Thanksgiving feast at school. She actually liked the homemade butter they made in class (I was ready for the gag reaction that her dear brother had 2 years ago when he sampled his mad culinary skillz in action -- to put it mildly,he was not a fan).

All in all, lots of Thanksgiving happenings at school - for Winston too...he spent this past week doing a "1st Grade Turkey Trot" and loved it. He came home with a handpainted totem pole he made, an picture of Indian Corn made of his fingerprints and a tee pee made from a tortilla!! Quite a fun week for the boy too.

We had our official end of season gathering for the Bantam Packers....also a first for the Grants. It was a party at the roller skating rink. Winston and Lilly roller skated for the first time -- it was fun to watch. Winston came home with some more football hardware for his shelf....a bobblehead trophy was the icing on the cake of a very succesful and fun first season.

I relived a few moments from the Glory Days of the late 1970's....I spent many a Friday night skating around Skatetown looking for L.D. Hudgins to come skating by - oh, it was quite a crush!! Thank the Good Lord for his protection as I can say looking back....Mr Hudgins was quite a cutie and oh yes, I did believe strongly at the time that he WOULD marry me someday, but in all truthfulness, L.D. was not the brightest, most motivated dude in town.....I think his first name was very fitting if you know what I mean. I should have known my smart handsome husband wasn't the skating rink type!!

Last big happening before Turkey Day...a big enormous surprise for the Lilly Girl. Her bestest buddy EVER came to town for Thanksgiving and she got to spend a few precious hours with her on Tuesday afternoon. I didn't mention to Lilly until we got to Chick Fil A....it was quite the surprise when she walked in to see Ella waiting for her! The girls didn't miss a beat, they picked up where they left off and played like they'd just seen each other the day before....AWESOME. It was short but so very sweet and we were thankful for the time with our Monahan girls.

So more about Thanksgiving in due time...there's a bit going on in our world and I'll share when I can formulate an appropriate post about that. In the meantime, we're thankful....

Thankful for family, friends and yes, even rollerskates.

Ever So Thankful

Once again very behind on the family news....will get back to it after the turkey has been carved and the smell of a beautiful evergreen is filling the house here on Marshside. We at least let our turkey digest before we run off to find the family Christmas tree....but we do love a lengthy Christmas season around here so it'll be up FOR SURE when I post again.

In the meantime, may you spend this holiday weekend thankful for God's blessings, which for everyone I know are simply too numerous to name.

Be safe
Be blessed
Be Thankful ....we surely are.....

Love
The Grants

What shall we name him?

I'll pause for a moment...mostly so my friend Julia in Lexington KY who might be reading this can collect her thoughts and decide FOR SURE that I might have an unhealthy attachment to the elf boy in the picture. She has long since thought I was crazy for my affection towards what she described as a "deranged Christmas elf"....I beg to differ.

Cuz ya'll....I cannot even tell you how much I love this elf boy Advent calendar....I mean I LOVE him. He has been taunting me for the last 3 Christmas seasons because he knows that I just cannot bring myself to pay $70 to own him. And in case you're wondering, no the girl elf just doesn't pack the marketing punch that the boy does....don't ask me why -- it's the boy, I must have him.

Yes, it's true -- I own up to the sad fact that I paid $100 on Christmas pajamas last year for the children (Linda, start breathing again please).

100 bucks....

on Christmas Pajamas.....

it's insane isn't it (that is for 2 pair thank you very much)

Why can I pay that for pajamas and yet $70 seems like a might much for a crazy looking elf boy who would hang in our home for less than 30 days a year.

I opened up the Garnet Hill catalog back in 2007 and there he was and I seriously gasped at the cuteness....and I look for him every year when the Garnet Hill Christmas catalogs start rolling in. He's always there...just waiting for me to buy him....and one day....I will. And maybe that one day will be in 2009....or 2029 when I have some grandchildren running around our home...but one day...he will be mine....mark my words. For now, I'll just visit him on page 12.

PIG.....as in.....

PIGSKIN......
We brought our first season as a Sertoma football family to a close this past Monday night. The Bantam Packers just missed a shot in the playoffs after a tough loss to the Falcons but it was a full season for sure -- Winston learned alot and had TONS OF FUN which is what matters most. I imagine we'll keep the helmet and pads pretty handy as I predict we'll be at it again next year. Great job Packer Team -- we'll see you at the season-end party coming up. Huge effort by everyone and #17, well we couldn't be more proud of you if we tried!

In more PIGskin news
If inquiring minds want to know, I have absolutely become a Purple People Eater and am cheering mightily for the Vikings this season. I always have and always will have a special loyalty to my Packers but for now, I roll with whatever jersey #4 is wearing. I was even surprised myself at how easy it was to cheer AGAINST my packers this past Sunday when Brett made his way back to the (thawed) Frozen Tundra and ran into a swirling chorus of BOOS!!

I am as loyal a Favre fan as they come and make no apologies for that. I love his story -- the whole thing....his personal challenges, all the ways he's overcome adversity, how he loves to play the game and yes, to agree with something my friend said the other day, he's just a tiny bit cute too!! I have bitten my tongue on more than one occasion listening to everyone grumble about his decision to retire/not retire/retire/not retire -- and hey, I get it -- it's a bit crazy but you know what?? It's HIS decision and no one elses....so BACK OFF BUSTER!! For now, I am riding the wave that is a fantastic 7-1 start....who knows what the rest of the season will bring but I'll celebrate for now!!

PIG=SWINE....flu??
Wish I knew for sure....we may have joined Club Swine today...
I had to pick up my little lovely today about mid-way through her day at Bethany. Vicki called and informed me that Lil had a 101 fever....so off I went to collect her. I walked in the office to find Vicki holding Lilly in her arms and rocking her like a baby. I could have cried...
cried at how badly my girl felt....
and cried at how tender and loving Vicki was with that sweet baby of mine.
That will always be my favorite thing about Bethany -- those teachers and directors LOVE our children in a way that a Mama can understand and oh, how I LOVE that.

Anyhoo....we will probably head in for a test first thing tomorrow to see what we've got brewing. We'll keep our prayers going and our hands washed in hopes that this won't make its rounds through the family. For now, Lilly has rallied a bit tonight - she ate a little dinner and is snuggling with Daddy so we'll see what tomorrow brings.

Nite Nite

Future Foxes

On Friday night,we took the Winston, Lilly and our surrogate son, Hampton, to Future Fox Night at Ashley Ridge High School. It was really fun. The kids had a great time.

The boys thought it was super cool to attend a high school football game at “The Swamp” and see where they’ll go to high school. Lilly was just excited to see the cheerleaders who were dressed in their uniforms but added some butterfly masks in honor of Halloween weekend.

We arrived at the Swamp and went to the BHES First Grader table – the kids got cupcakes and name tags that said Class of 2021….wow, that puts the future in perspective!! Joe and I will be …oh well, let’s not calculate those ages after all!!

We found our seats in the special section for Future Foxes. The boys watched the game and Lilly found her calling….standing WITH the cheerleaders. She spent the first half cheering and dancing with them. It was precious and she was in heaven!!

At halftime, the future Foxes gathered by grades and walked out onto the field. It was really cute – our Beacons were so proud to be honored and it was fun to be a Swamp Fox for a night!!

Go Foxes!!

And in other news…..

Kudoes to our Smarty Pants

A special red plate dinner and congrats are in order for our Einstein Winston. A perfect report card for the grade period. Congratulations Winston – you are one smart cookie!!

Halloween in 'da Hood

Oh yes....it was a night filled with tricks and treats.....

Thanks to the Plylers for hosting another Halloween of fun for all!! Our heart breaks for you Gary....sorry about those Gamecocks. There's always next week!!

Some sights from The Province on 10/31/09.

Until next year Jack O Lanterns.....

Bring on the turkeys and.....

really??

.....Christmas stockings already???