Saturday, April 18, 2009

What type of life are we building?

I haven't written in the past couple of days; it seems like my days are getting fuller but by evening ,I am too tired to do anything, even to write. I am grateful though that I have been getting more strength and able to look forward to a few things. Today I went to the Hospital for a meeting with the Gift Shop person, he doesn't own it but he runs it. Anyway, I presented to him the gifts that we have been working on for cancer survivors, everything from pillows, seat belt covers to inspirational cards. He liked it and even decided to carry about 7 of our times....I am sooooo excited.

My dear friend Chris is the one who sews and makes all the crazy things I come up with in my head. She has been so patient,during my radiation treatments... I would call her in the mornings and tell her what all my ideas are from the night before. Then she comes over and I explain in detail what I am thinking of. By the next day or so...she has got it already made. She is so talented, it is amazing! My son Bradley designed the logo which is great too. I can't wait to have that logo on every gift. Lauren and Amy are working on the inspirational cards and my niece helped write the story for the children's capes. Yes, it by far has been a family affair.

I now have to find a place to have my tags made and then I believe we will have most of what we need. I am so excited to have these gifts available for other cancer survivors. I truly hope that all of this some how is supported because, it would be wonderful to have these gifts available to all cancer patient, in all the hospitals. It is hard enough fight cancer, at least these gifts could help some with comfort and hope. Each gift will have it's own inspiring quotes. I believe that in a month or so, is when we are going to make the presentation of the gifts in the gift shop. I am soooo excited.

I spoke to a friend today about the choices we make in our lives. How hard it is to see some things, like attitudes and habits that we have created in our lives. Before you know it, how we see life is different... and sometimes very sad at what we are excepting as ...our life! Everyone sees life through their own colored glasses, all the experiences in our life cause that to happen, So even if someone thinks that what they are seeing is perfectly right, it doesn't mean it is. It just means that is how they see things. The crazy part is just respecting each other and trying our best to examine our thoughts and habits and see how CLEARLY we are actually seeing things. It takes a lot of work to examine our lives and check on what we think and believe. So when I found this story tonight it reminded me to pay more attention to my thoughts, actions and attitude and make sure that I am truly trying to make the right ones, because that is what my life is.

I hope you have a great weekend and know how very much I appreciate all your friendship and support. I am truly blessed because of you. Thanks!

The Carpenter's House

unknown Author

An elderly carpenter was ready to retire. He told his employer-contractor of his plans to leave the house building business and live a more leisurely  life with his wife enjoying his extended family.
He would miss the paycheck, but he needed to retire. They could get by. The contractor was sorry to see his good worker go and asked if he could build just one more house as a personal favor. The carpenter said yes, but in time it was easy to see that his heart was not in his work. He resorted to shoddy workmanship and used inferior materials. It was an unfortunate way to end his career.
When the carpenter finished his work and the builder came to inspect the house, the contractor handed the front-door key to the carpenter. "This is your house, " he said, "my gift to you."
What a shock! What a shame! If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have done it all so differently. Now he had to live in the home he had built none too well.
So it is with us. We build our lives in a distracted way, reacting rather than acting, willing to put up less than the best. At important points we do not give the job our best effort. Then with a shock we look at the situation we have created and find that we are now living in the house we have built. If we had realized that we would have done it differently.
Think of yourself as the carpenter. Think about your house. Each day you hammer a nail, place a board, or erect a wall. Build wisely. It is the only life you will ever build. Even if you live it for only one day more, that day deserves to be lived graciously and with dignity.  The plaque on the wall says, "Life is a do-it-yourself  project." Your life tomorrow will be the result of your attitudes and the choices you make today.

"I've learned that it's taking me a long time to become the person I want to be."

"I've learned that we are responsible for what we do, no matter how we feel."

"I've learned that either you control your attitude or it controls you."

"I've learned that two people can look at the same thing and see something totally different."

"I've learned that our background and circumstances may have influenced who we are, but we are responsible for who we become."

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