Why I'm Thankful....

Giada is healthy and learning new things everyday.
My Husband loves me unconditionally, no matter what.
That even though Shawn and I have been married 5 short years, we have a very strong marriage.
That Mom's body has responded so well to treatment and she continues to heal each day.
We are able to travel and see family as much as we have.
My Sister chose to protect our family by serving our country.
That I have a tender heart because of my Dad.
That I am a force to be reckoned with because of my Mom.
That I have two dogs that think the world of me.
Even though I only had a relationship with my Mother-in-Law for a short time, the love and memories will last forever.
I have amazing Salem Sisters and Friends.
My Pampered Chef Family.
My Heart is so full.
I have been so Blessed.

Peace and Blessings for a wonderful Christmas Season to you all!

xoxo,
Amanda

The dog days of summer....

Oh, to not have a care in the world. I have become accustomed to this sight in our backyard this summer. If they were any more relaxed I would have to check for a pulse.

I love having these pups in our family. They have been so wonderful with Giada and provide her with much entertainment each day. I'm so glad we opened up our home and more importantly our hearts to these little rascals. Not everyday is easy with 3 under one (2 with 4 legs and fur and 1 with two legs and rosy cheeks). It takes a little more planning during the week and for travel time. I can tell you the rewards far outweigh the hassle.

So I will leave you with this thought- What could you open your heart to this week that would not only make a difference for you, but also the greater good???

Until next time...XOXO

"Vicki, you are greatly missed!"

I'm facing a really big week and thought I would take time to reflect on what it's all about. Sometimes it is best to rely on the words of others.

Vicki, you are greatly missed!


Never does one feel oneself so utterly helpless as in trying to speak comfort for great bereavement. I will not try it. Time is the only comforter for the loss of a mother.
-Jane Welsh Carlyle

A mother's love is like an island
In life's ocean vast and wide,
A peaceful, quiet shelter
From the restless, rising tide.

A mother's love is like a fortress
And we seek protection there
When the waves of tribulation
Seem to drown us in despair.

A mother's love is a sanctuary
Where our soul can find sweet rest
From the struggle and the tension
Of life's fast and futile quest.

A mother's love is like a tower
Rising far above the crowd,
And her smile is like the sunshine
Breaking through a threatening cloud.

A mother's love is like a beacon
Burning bright with Faith and Prayer
And through the changing scenes of life
We can find a haven there....

For a mother's love is fashioned
After God's enduring love,
It is endless and unfailing
Like the love of Him above.

For God knew in His great wisdom
That he couldn't be everywhere,
So he put His little Children
In a loving mother's care.
-Helen Steiner Rice, A Mother's Love



A Mother's love is something
that no on can explain,
It is made of deep devotion
and of sacrifice and pain,
It is endless and unselfish
and enduring come what may
For nothing can destroy it
or take that love away . . .
It is patient and forgiving
when all others are forsaking,
And it never fails or falters
even though the heart is breaking . . .
It believes beyond believing
when the world around condemns,
And it glows with all the beauty
of the rarest, brightest gems . . .
It is far beyond defining,
it defies all explanation,
And it still remains a secret
like the mysteries of creation . . .
A many splendoured miracle
man cannot understand
And another wondrous evidence
of God's tender guiding hand.
-Helen Steiner Rice, A MOTHER'S LOVE

"It's malignant"

They say your life can change on a dime...On March 8th, mine changed direction and focus.

The day started off like any other Monday. We told Shawn to have a good day when he left for work. Giada had her morning bottle, I changed her into her outfit for the day, we played with her toys, then we went downstairs to hang-out with the pups and really start our day. So we went on with our daily routine while waiting for Shawn to get home. I put Giada down for a nap and started dinner. Shawn came home and we were chatting while I cooked, then my phone rang. He answered it for me and then gave me the phone. It was my Mom.


As most of you already know, anytime Shawn has to go out of town for an extended period of time, I pack up Giada and the pups and we head to Nonno and Mamie's for a visit. On one of our last visits in February, Mom discovered some discoloration on her breast and a knot at the center of it. I told her she needed to find a Dr. in NC and make an appointment to be seen. She did. They did a mammogram and a ultrasound and saw a calcification. Well, they wanted to know if this calcification was on her last mammogram films so they sent off for them. While waiting, they treated the discoloration as a mammary gland infection with antibiotics. They received the films and the calcification was new so they wanted to do a biopsy. They told her they would have the results back on March 10th.

No big deal that Mom was calling, we talk twice a day normally. I said hello and she asked what I was doing (again, routine) I told her I was making dinner and she said "I'm glad Shawn's home" (now a little odd). I asked her what she was doing and she said they just left the Dr.s office (silence) she said "it's malignant" , I swallowed and said the first thing that came to my mind "It is what it is and we do what we need to do." This has become my mantra. I say it everyday!

Mom and I finished our conversation. I put the phone down and finished dinner in silence. Shawn broke the silence when he said "that did not sound good" I said "Well, because it's not" I explained that Mom has Inflammatory Breast Cancer which is rare. They needed to do a scan to see if had spread and then they were going to start chemo and radiation. She will need a Mastectomy, but with this specific kind, they are not able to do it right away. They need to get it to 'freeze mode' before they can operate on it. I could tell he was pretty shaken. He wanted to know when they were going to start treatment and wanted it all to be now, now, now. Shawn knows what it feels like to lose a Mother. So if there was anything that could be done to save mine, he wanted it done YESTERDAY! I explained that some things are going to take time and then put dinner on the table. We ate and then I told him I was going to take a shower.

I turned the water on, got in, slid down the wall onto the floor of the shower and just fell apart while the water enveloped me. After about 20 minutes of breakdown, I wiped my eyes, stood up and told God it wasn't too much to handle and that with him by my side this disease was NOT going to beat my family. I'm still going strong, no breakdowns- just talks.

I'm not saying dealing with cancer is easy, emotionally it is very hard. I drove my Mom to get her head shaved. Giada and I both witnessed it. Giada smiled while it was happening and then she looked at my Mom with her shaved head and laughed. To Giada, she was still Mamie and to me she was still Mom. I guess you can say I'm choosing to look at this with "Rose Colored Glasses" As a mother, I do not have time to dwell in negativity because I want to teach my child about the positive aspects of life. Life is not always pretty but I want Giada to know, it is how you deal with what is dealt to you that makes you who you are. I want her to know without a doubt life is worth living no matter what kind of life it is.

I love my family life and cancer does not define us!

until next time...
xoxo,
Amanda

"Why don't you just make it!"

When I received my Grandmother's Gumbo Pot I never imagined it would come in handy because my Husband was going to throw me under the proverbial bus!

Last Friday night we headed out to the St. Lawrence Fish Fry. This was Giada and Shawn's first Catholic Church Fish Fry experience. The parking lot was packed when we arrived and the Knights of Columbus were already frying fish. We headed inside and found the order station. We were looking at the menu and trying to decide on our sides when the Knight who was taking our order told us about the 'special' he said, "We have Fish Gumbo tonight" I heard Shawn chuckle behind me. I smiled and jokingly said "I'm from New Orleans so I can't wait to taste it" his face twitched and he followed laughingly with "Oh, then we have Fish Soup" I told him to add a bowl to our order. They gave us our number and we went in search of a table. We met several nice couples while waiting on our food. The fish and the 'Gumbo' arrived and we started eating. Our fish, hush puppies, french fries and corn-on-the-cob was very good. I looked at the 'Gumbo' it was chunks of fish, okra, celery and tomato in a clear broth over a bowl of white rice. Now, please don't get me wrong, it was perfectly edible it just wasn't Gumbo! The Knight who sold us our food came by to check and make sure everything was okay. We told him it was all very good and we were really enjoying ourselves. He then asked me if the Gumbo was what I was used to. I explained to him that it was not what I was used to but that it was good. He asked what the difference was between this and Gumbo and said he was going to go and get the cook.

Oh great! Now I get to try not to offend someone, how perfect......

As promised, he came back with the cook and before she even is within 5 feet of me she is already apologizing and says, " I cooked it but it was his recipe" as she is pointing to a man at the next table. She then follows with "Next time I know I need to add a lot more pepper." I told her there was nothing wrong with it is was good and that heat does not make it Gumbo. I told her to just add more "seasoning" to it.

Now, my husband is deep in conversation with a couple at our table while I'm having this conversation with one of the Knight's and the cook. As I'm explaining "seasoning" to the cook, Shawn turns and says out loud "Why don't you just make it!" and then goes right back to his conversation. Boom Boom Pow....welcome to the underneath of the bus!

The Knight asks me if I would mind making the Gumbo for the next Fish Fry then turns to the cook and says "how much did you make?" She replied with "13 quarts" and then just walked away. I rush to say that I don't want to step on any one's toe's and the Knight acts like it's no big deal. He wants to know all the ingredients I need and how much fish I want for the gumbo.

Side note- In New Orleans we use Shrimp, Crab and Crawfish in our Seafood Gumbo....never fish! Welcome to Georgia!!!

So after exchanging phone numbers and me apologizing, probably more than was necessary, thank you Catholic guilt, it is decided that I would make the Gumbo for this weeks fish fry. So a chopping I will be....and don't think Shawn is walking away from this one either......He WILL be chopping with me, we have loads of onions and garlic to dice-up.

Laissez le bon temps rouler

until next time..xoxo

"Are you insane?!"

A few weeks ago a little pup, white with black spots, showed up on Mom and Dad's back porch. He had no tags and was extremely friendly. Mom and Dad took him in and he started living in the basement. They took him to the vet to see if he had a chip and for an overall health check. They kept checking for signs to be posted around the neighborhood as I checked the all the major lost dog websites. The vet said he was a healthy little pup around 6 months old and probably a mix between Jack Russell and Beagle. Well, where have we heard this before.....

Flash back to the end of August 2009. We were having a really bad storm. The rain and wind were so fierce it was coming down in sheets sideways with major flash flooding. You could not see to drive most of the time. Shawn needed to head to the airport but needed to make a quick stop at the office first to pick up some CAD Drawings for his trip. We thankfully hit a lull in the weather. We pulled into the work parking lot and Shawn ran in to get what he needed while I stayed in the car. I was seven months pregnant at the time. While sitting in the car waiting on Shawn I saw a white flash out of the corner of my eye. Then I heard the sound that would melt any heart, well, especially mine. I heard whimpering and crying. I turned to see where it was coming from and underneath one of the work vans was a white pup with black spots. I didn't think, I just got out of the car and went over to the van. The puppy ran out from under the van and jumped up on me. I immediately scooped her up and she nuzzled her head in my neck. I dropped Shawn at the airport for his week long business trip and headed back home with the pup. I made all of the proper phone calls, took her to a vet to have her checked out, she had no chip and she came with no collar or tag. The vet thought she was about 11 weeks and a mix of Jack Russell and Beagle. So, I had this puppy, I was 7 months pregnant and most people just wanted to know "are you insane?!" when I thought about keeping her. After a week of searching and looking for posters, the vet said "look she has probably been dumped and was very lucky you were in the parking lot to find her" I agreed and thought I had been sent a special little blessing to care for. We named her Fleur De Lis Anne Harmon. She goes by De Lis.

Back to February. I had just left Mom and Dad's after a visit when I got a phone call asking if I was sure De Lis was with me. I told Mom and Dad I was staring at her playing with her toys and asked why. Mom said " well, there is a De Lis look alike on my back porch" I asked her to send a picture. Dad went out to see if he had tags so he could take him back home. No tags. They took him to the vet to see if he had a chip. No chip. Surely, lighting was not striking twice?????

In 2007 we had significant losses in our family. One of them was our beloved Bailey's Thunder Mountain, our Chesapeake Bay Retriever (He will get his own post later). It was like losing a child. He was our child. We were devastated.

We always said that when we were ready again we would get two dogs. We liked the idea of them having the company of each other and not just us. I think Shawn was probably ready a year ago to get them but my heart was still too broken. I guess you could say that God does work in mysterious ways.

So now De Lis has a little brother. We named him Francois Da Vinci Brees Harmon. They get along great. We now have 9 month old De Lis, 6 month old Da Vinci and 4 month old Giada. I guess if I were going to answer the question "Are you insane?!" honestly, I would say..............Yes, I am, but someone else planned this happy little insanity for me and I wouldn't change a thing!!!!

until next time,
xoxo

"Hey, you have dirt on your forehead"

It's that day again. The day that I will inevitably hear "Hey, you have dirt on your forehead" the day I am referring to is **Ash Wednesday. To a Catholic growing up in New Orleans, Ash Wednesday meant **Mardi Gras was over and it was now time to reflect and give-up something that you felt was a sacrifice. Something important to you-and no, you don't give-up showering or brushing your teeth-or you shouldn't for that matter. Many people give-up chocolate, soda, sweets, alcohol, smoking, coffee and other vices for the entire Lenten Season. The day also means going to church to get ashes on our foreheads and abstaining from meat. From now until Easter no meat on Friday's...Hello Fish Fry Friday's and Seafood Boils!!!! This is when I miss New Orleans and my childhood the most. You can go to church on Friday during Lent for **The Stations of The Cross and stay for the Fish Fry. Now, I'm not talking about some lemon pepper fish or calabash style...nope, I'm talking about thin crispy cajun fried catfish! On Good Friday we all headed to my Grandparents for a huge seafood boil. Boiled shrimp, crawfish, crabs, corn, potato's and yes, more fried catfish. It wasn't just the amazing food that made this gathering great, it was the family. I wish I had a recording of the laughter that surrounded that table. We are a family who loves to laugh and I miss my grandpa's the most.

So, for the next 40 days I am giving up beef. I think the Chik-fil-a cows are really going to appreciate me :O)

God gave up his only son, Jesus gave his life, what are you going to give-up?

If you see me tomorrow, you don't need to tell me....I already know I have dirt on my forehead.

Until next time,
xoxo

-Excerpts taken from www.americancatholic.org

**Mardi Gras, literally "Fat Tuesday," has grown in popularity in recent years as a raucous, sometimes hedonistic event. But its roots lie in the Christian calendar, as the "last hurrah" before Lent begins on Ash Wednesday. That's why the enormous party in New Orleans, for example, ends abruptly at midnight on Tuesday, with battalions of streetsweepers pushing the crowds out of the French Quarter towards home. Mardi Gras literally means "Fat Tuesday" in French. The name comes from the tradition of slaughtering and feasting upon a fattened calf on the last day of Carnival. The day is also known as Shrove Tuesday (from "to shrive," or hear confessions), Pancake Tuesday and fetter Dienstag. The custom of making pancakes comes from the need to use up fat, eggs and dairy before the fasting and abstinence of Lent begins. Carnival comes from the Latin words carne vale, meaning "farewell to the flesh."

**Since Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of Lent, it naturally is also beginning to recover a baptismal focus. One hint of this is the second formula that is offered for the imposition of ashes: "Turn away from sin and be faithful to the gospel." Though it doesn't explicitly mention Baptism, it recalls our baptismal promises to reject sin and profess our faith. It is a clear call to conversion, to that movement away from sin and toward Christ that we have to embrace over and over again through our lives.

**The Stations of the Cross are a Catholic custom of Lent that commemorates the passion of Jesus on Good Friday.