5 for Friday

High Five Friday is an idea that I have seen on several others blogs that I'm going to steal and start doing. It's a way to celebrate weekly achievements or successes that we sometimes miss out on because of our busy schedules. Plus it gives me something to blog about other than cancer!

I had plenty of highlights this week but I'm going to change this post up a little and do my first High 5 Friday on my current obsessions because these items are so fabulous they brightened up my week and hopefully you will love them too!

#1 Monogrammed Boot Socks

A monogram and a deal .... 2 of my favorite things. We all know I LOVE a monogram and will put it on just about anything. So while browsing Groopdealz this week, I came across these adorable boot socks. I cannot wait until it's cool enough to wear them! It's still in the low-mid 80's here in Eastern NC.

#2 Jersey Belle

If you know me, then you know I'm all about reality TV .... Real Housewives, Jersey Shore, Party Down South .... the more ridiculous the better. Married to Jonas kept me entertained during chemo and I'm not even a JoBro fan. My newest must watch is Jersey Belle. From Bravo.com, "The new docu-series follows outspoken New Jersey native and entertainment publicist Jaime Primak Sullivan as she navigates life in the upscale Southern suburb of Mountain Brook, Alabama. Surrounded by a fabulous group of girlfriends who want nothing more than to sculpt her into a Southern darling, Jaime tries to fit in to a world that is not ready for an unapologetic woman who likes to speak her mind..." If you haven't see it, you need to check it out! Part of the reason I like it so much is because I can relate. I'm a Jersey Girl at heart but do love my life in the South!

#3 Christmas Gift List App

There are several of these available on iTunes, I recommend checking them out to see what works best for you, but I downloaded The Christmas List to help keep me organized. Since I start my Christmas shopping early, I need to keep a list of what I bought and who I bought it for or I'd end up with multiple gifts for one person while skipping someone else. Having this app on my phone allows me to have my list available anytime I am shopping. I'm also able to make notes when little man starts rattling off everything he wants for Christmas. It helps you track what you spend and can be password protected if you have snooping eyes!

#4 New Bag

I've been looking for a functional cross body bag for a while, when I came across this one at Target, I fell in love! It's big enough to hold everything I need but not so big it's a pain to carry. The strap is long so the bag doesn't fall at an awkward spot since I'm so tall. Plus, Jonathan was supper excited it wasn't Coach and only cost $26.99! I went out of my comfort zone and bought the red one instead of the black or brown. 

#5 ECU vs UNC and the Pirate Crew

Tomorrow the Pirates play Carolina here in Greenville - we are coming off a win at VA Tech, the game is SOLD OUT, and (most of) the Pirate Crew will be here. The only way this weekend could be more perfect was if the entire Pirate Crew could make it. We haven't all been together since 2012 when everyone came to celebrate the end of my chemo treatments at the UTEP game. It's always a great time with this group and I'm so blessed to have them in my life! I hope ya'll had a great week and have a fabulous weekend!

People Are Counting On You

When I came across this video about a week ago, it really hit home. The story is about a mom that continues to plan her child’s birthday in the middle of her cancer diagnosis. When Aiden turned 3, I switched the day of my chemo so that the side effects of treatment would subside before his party. His birthday also ended up falling right in the 2-3 week window where my hair would begin to fall out; four days before his birthday, I shaved my head.

This story is pretty accurate in describing some of things that happen after a cancer diagnosis. In the struggle to find balance between being a cancer patient and being “normal”, I had lots of encouragement and support. I was praised for being strong and admired for the way I faced this new challenge. Some people were in disbelief that I could just carry on as normal as possible. But to me, there was never any other option … People Were Counting on Me.

I had a little boy that needed his mommy. He needed me there every morning when he woke up and to be there to tuck him in every night along with every little thing in between.

I had a husband, that lost his father to cancer 3 years earlier, that needed me to restore his faith.

I had parents that didn’t need to bury a child.

I had family that supported me from hundreds of miles away.

I had friends that needed me to complete our circle and to be their support system.

I had co-workers that needed to go back to doing their own jobs.

I had students that needed a teacher.

I had a God that had a bigger plan for me than I had for myself.

I had myself and I wasn’t willing to give up.