Make yours a masterpiece and frame it with faith."

Suzy Toronto

My family is spread all over the country; at times, all over the world. Each of us is uniquesly different (just like everyone in the world is uniquely different LOL). There are times we don't always understand each other's choices, understand each other's actions, motivations or thought processes. Because we are human we make mistakes. When we know better, hopefully, we do better.

If push came to shove (What the heck does that saying really mean??? LOL) bottome line, I wouldn't swap my family with anyone elses. We may not always like each other's actions everyday in every situation; however, me and God we love each and every member of my family. Today, I am missing them a little extra and hope they are each warm, safe, healthy and have reasons during the day to have fun.

As 2013 was coming to an end, Treasure Island and St. Pete Beach were given an order to boil water. It gave me an appreciation of having fresh water available at the turn of a facet. Never again will I take it for granted.

On the Saturday before Christmas David had to work. I drove over the Skyway and met him. We decided to drive south (one of my favorite things). We contacted David's brother Mickey to see if they were busy, out fishing or headed to a holiday party. His wife Tanya's daughter was visiting them and we had wanted to meet her. I had been running errands for Hascall-Denke all week and hadn't had the opportunity to visit them. We were told they were going out with friends to see a holiday boat parade.

As we were driving we came upon a traffic jam. Two or three miles later we discovered the reason for the back-up. A truck load of food had fallen off a pick-up truck and two ladies were trying to gather the spilled food from along the highway. We stopped to help.

I should mention that we were wearing Santa Hats as we drove in the convertible. People had been taking pictures of us as though Mr. and Mrs. Claus were enjoying the Florida sunshine.

You can imagine the number of people that honked and took pictures of us as we joined in picking up the busted bags of food that had spilled along the road. Twice police stopped. First a state trooper and then local police; neither helped but each said that we needed to hurry up we were distracting traffic.

Back on the road we felt good that we stopped. We pulled over at the Cracker Barrel to wash-up and try to remove the Crisco and corn meal that had gotten on our clothes. It was then I discovered my favorite silver bracelet had come off and was lost. It probably was now in the bottom of a garbage bag headed to the dump. Oh well.

When we were nearing Punta Gorda we sent a text to Mickey and Tanya. We alerted them that we were going to stop by and collect hugs. I don't like to miss opportunities even when they are brief. It was nice to see them and meet Amy. Their home was beautifully decorated for the holidays.

When we left, we headed to Pro Bass Shop in Ft. Myers to check out their Santa. He was terrific but the one at the International Mall in Tampa was better. The best picture of a Santa can still be found on Coca Cola advertising. I love watching Santa arrive at the Thanksgiving Parade at Macy's in New York. I was even there one year in person. It was awesome.

I have already posted about Christmas Eve so I will move on - fast forward to the Friday following Christmas. David woke up and discovered bleeding from his rectum. He went on to work but contacted the VA. His doctor said that he should go to the VA Hospital ER. Hours later he was told it was probably a bleeding hemorroid and they would schedule him a future appointment to discuss a colonoscopy. Despite being late in the afternoon David returned to work. They are trying to meet an important deadline and he didn't want to leave anyone in the lurch while he went on vacation. That is the reason he also went into work that following Monday.

Arrangemnts to take advantage of a 2 night stay I had won at the Renaiiance Vinoy in St. Pete for Dec. 28 & 29 had to be postponed. That was okay because I was looking forward all year to joining in the celebration of my nephew Josh's wedding to be held in Charlotte January 4th.

It was an awesome weekend. I enjoyed the rehearsal dinner. It was fantastic to see Josh and meet his lovely Annie. I had the chance to collect hugs from my neice Amber and her husband Josh as well as from my brother and his wife.

Josh's birth mother had died when Josh was three. It was wonderful that her mother and sisters were able to come to the wedding. It was great to see them too.

Early on the wedding day my son JIm (who had been in Charlotte) took us to the U.S. National Whitewater Center. It is an awesome place. I hope to return when it is much warmer. They have mountain biking and running trails, a climbing center, zip-lines, flatwater kayaking, a canopy tour and whitewater. We also visited a kennel. I love seeing all the dogs. Wish I could take them all home.

The wedding was in a beautiful church. The bride was gorgeous. The ceremony emotional. The reception was held in the Mint Museum. It is a great venue; however, maybe not the best for conversation and interaction. When you think about it,when you visit a museum it is usually quiet. When you had lots of people and a band it gets loud. Still despite a few things the reception was wonderful. I especially enjoyed the toasts and watching my brother as he burst with pride watching his son and his bride. It was wonderful to share this celebration with family. My neice Jasmine and her husband Frank were there and it gave me the opportunity to congratulate them on her pregnancy. She is due in June. My neice Dawn also attended with Justin as her plus one. Weather, work and family obligations kept some family from attending but their spirit was there. I enjoyed the experience for everyone.

As the saying goes....a funny thing happened at the reception. I got to dance with David and it was wonderful. I was gloriously happy. My son Jim also asked me to dance. Guess my over-active enthusiasm gland took over because when Jim twirled me I kept twirling and crashed to the floor. (Shiny tile floor and high heels apparently equal danger) I was so embarrassed. I didn't want the attention of the wedding to go away from the bride and groom so I said I was fine. I got to a chair and David sensed something was wrong. It may have been the way my foot was swelling and turning into a rainbow. In any case, we took off my shoe and David and my niece Dawn and her date got me out and back to our hotel. Thankfully, no harm was done to my pretty high heels.

You know the party must have been good when the person who didn't drink has to be wheeled into her room on the luggage cart. LOL

Sunday when we got me loaded into the car (again by luggage cart) and started the car the engine light came on. David turned the car off and back on and thankfully it went off.

We only went partway back to Florida because it was hard to keep my foot elevated on the dash board. We stopped just south of Savannah. On Monday, when we were leaving David once again loaded me onto a luggage cart ONLY he didn't check the wheels and they were sideways. It flipped over and I went splat with all our stuff. Once again I was sprawled on the floor and embarrassed. Had to laugh though. The hotel had a wheelchair - smarter choice - and we used it to get me to the car.

Thankfully, we got home safe and sound. Tuesday David and I had my foot checked out and we went to the VA where he had a previous appointment was scheduled. Unfortunately, when he went to start the car it didn't work. It had gotten us all the way home and broke. We considered that an enormous blessing. The dealership towed the car (it is under warranty) and our friend Mark drove up with David to get another car (the dealership has provided him one to use in the meantime while ours gets repaired - another blessing).

Wednesday David returned to work and I have returned to promoting my book and requesting likes for my facebook.com/cancerandhope page Mostly I am keeping my foot and body iced and elevated. Today my foot is doing better and the pains to my other body parts from the Savannah Flip are feeling better too.

Life is good and 2014 has started out overflowing with blessings. No doubt in many situations things could have been worse. By the way, on the way home from Charlotte - a quick detour - and I got a replacement for the silver bracelet that was lost.

No doubt there were low points, challenges, dissappointments, sadness and concerns throughout 2013; however, overall it was one of the most happy, fun-filled, memory making years that I have had out of the last several.

The Xterra died, people dear to me faced frightening health news, finances remain a huge challenge, people I hope to visit and share time with remain unvisited, relationships changed and unexpected challenges presented themselves. That being said when I look back over the events of the year I smile and say a thank you prayer.

I had the opportunity to spend more time this year with my sons and their families than I have had for a while. I got to see my granddaughter Hope graduate from High School. I learned some tech information from my grandson Noah who is multi-talented. I even got to "Boing-Boing" on trampolines with grandsons Jake and Jonah.

My book, "My ta-tas were fine. I had cancer down there." was completed. It was published and available in paperback the end of March and in electronic format in May. It has been a priviledge and blessing to hear from many who have found the story of the lessons I learned to be helpful. I met extraordinary people who are facing their own cancer battles, people who love them and those that have survived and families of those less fortunate. I have learned much.

I was able to vist and enjoy many of Florida's State parks. I was able to walk the beach and trails of Florida as well as kayak the rivers and preserves.

I was blessed to recieve emails, cards, letters, Facebook messages, calls and communications from friends and family. I was even given the gift of hearing from people I hadn't heard from in years as well as had the opportunity to meet new people.

I have a bracelet that says "Survived". In my case I believe I am not only someone who has been blessed to survive; I am a thriver.

I will forever be grateful to my parents for my over-active enthusiam gland and an inherent ability to find a Plan B and silver lining in most of the challenges that come my way. My life is and has been filled with many detours. I hope to NOT revisit some; however, others have taken me on adventures I never imagined.

Overall 2013 was a year that overflowed with blessings and fun.