The "Double D" Family: December 2008

I have always liked the phrase “*%#@ happens”. I have had my fair share of “*%#@” over the years, just as many other people have. However, I am a person who is always waiting for the “*%#@” to happen, and for the “bottom to fall out” of everything I hold dear. I am often pessimistic about what is to come, and I worry about the “what ifs” in life that I have no control over. Well, during 2008 the “bottom fell out” of just about everything in my life.

Now, looking back, some of the things that happened seem so insignificant, like the month of July in which just about everything in our house fell apart-the van broke down, the brakes in the car went out, the central air went out (might I add on the hottest day in July), the T.V. quit working, and Addy blew up the microwave by cooking popcorn for way too long! Most of these things have been repaired and/or replaced, although I am very tired of watching a 19 inch T.V. that requires me to wear my glasses in order for me to see anything! July was rough, financially. Today, in the economy that we are facing, I am just thankful to have a job. As I see neighbors, friends, and family members dealing with the realties and/or possibilities of losing jobs, the month of July seems like no big deal.

The “bottom” did fall out in some pretty significant areas of my life. In July our beloved dog (for non-dog people this may seem like not a big deal) had a cancerous tumor removed from her leg. We were told that there was a 95% possibility that the tumor would reappear within 2-3 months, much larger and deeper into the tissue of her leg.

My dad was diagnosed with lung cancer at the end of September. This shouldn’t have been a huge shock to me, considering that my dad has smoked since he was 13. But it was a shock. I spent two weeks at the beginning of October at a hospital in Anchorage, Alaska by my dad’s bedside, as many life & death decisions had to be made concerning his health.

At the end of October Addy complained about her neck hurting. You have to understand that Addy often complains about things hurting, and being the good mother that I am, I often dismiss these things! This hurting, however, turned out to be something real. After two days of testing we were told that Addy had two tumors in her neck, and the doctors were calling it neoplastic lymphoma.

As of today, the dog’s tumors haven’t returned. My dad recently received treatment for his cancer at an alternative cancer clinic in Mexico and is planning on returning to work at the first of January. Addy’s “lumps” disappeared on their own without any type of treatment almost as fast as they appeared.

After these experiences I think I can change my “*%#@ happens” to “life happens”. Yes, some bad things have taken place over the course of the past year, but good things have also happened. My relationship and faith in my Heavenly Father and his son, Jesus Christ, have been strengthened. My relationship with my earthly father has been strengthened. My love for my children has been strengthened. My outlook on life has been strengthened. Life changing events have occurred in my family over the past couple of months, but life has not stopped! I have endured the “bottom falling out”, but I am still standing. My goal for the new year is to not be afraid of “*%#@ happening” or the “bottom falling out”. LIFE will happen and I am going to enjoy the good and do my best to endure the bad!

I recently saw my brother write the word "Mexifornia" on my dad's cancer blog (http://caringbridge.org/visit/jerrybradford), and I really liked the word! So, I am stealing it for this blog entry. It is appropriate, considering that about 1/2 of each of our days was spent in Tijuana and the other 1/2 was spent in California.

I love this picture of Addy and my dad. Dad has always had a deep love for Addy, but I think the cancer thing has brought the two of them a little closer together.

I know this is a "cheesy" picture and that I could possibly have the PETA people after me for posting it, but I really like it! We thought we had found such a unique way to remember our day of shopping in Tijuana, only to discover that there were about 15 other zebra striped donkey stations within 1-2 blocks of each other.