“With Hope, The odds don’t matter” - Heather's story

In this life we are faced with many trials. 

Many are small character building trials, while others are life-changing in an instant.

I have had the privilege of talking with a very strong woman who has been given a 

life-changing trial and I want to share her story with you.

Her name is Heather. She is a loving mother and wife.

At 36 years of age, just after giving birth to her beautiful daughter, Lily, Heather was diagnosed with pleural mesothelioma and given 15 months to live. 

Nearly 8 years later, she is here to tell her story of being a SURVIVOR.

-      

Mesothelioma is a rare, aggressive and deadly form of cancer that occurs in the tissue that covers the majority of your internal organs. Most patients don’t live 2 years past their diagnosis.

 The cause: Exposure to Asbestos.  Learn more HERE

Always remember, someone can be fighting a harder battle than you think. 

Be kind, love one another.

Dare to dream

I did one of these lists when I was in college and I loved it. I wish that I would have completed more on that list, but I still did more things that I wouldn't normally because I had a list to look at.

I want to try it again, so here it goes!

Start date October 10th 2013

Finished on July 7th 2016

Goal to complete 70/101

Not in any particular order.                   

1. Come up with 101 things - (10/10/13)
2. Buy a mini van
3. Ride a horse
4. Complete Personal Progress
5. Sell more crochet hats
6. Bear my testimony in Sacrament meeting
7. Finish my first 5k
8. Run a 5k without stopping
9. Learn about eating healthy
10. Be friends with someone I wouldn't normally be friends with
11. Take my family camping each summer
12. Learn to spin a basketball on one finger
13. Make an FHE board
14. Teach someone something new
15. Go out of my way to do something for someone once a month. 
16. Be the happiest and most optimistic person I know. 
17. Inspire someone else to write a 101 goal list
18. Learn how to French braid
19. Make a wreath for our door
20. Create 72 hour kits for the whole family
21. Blog more
22. Take Jade roller skating
23. Host a murder mystery party
24. Watch all of the Star Wars movies {b/c my hubby wants me to}
25. Get to my goal weight and maintain it.
26. Take my family to the Sacred Grove.
27. Go to the beach at least 2 times each summer. (0/6)
28. Cook on the grill more.
29. Host more game nights.
30. Go one month without candy.
31. Buy something from a farmers market once a year (0/4)
32. Try to laugh more at things that frustrate me
33. Teach my young women how to change a tire
34. Go camping more
35. Go to a drive-in movie
36. Hide a note in a library book
37. Do another vacation with the Shaw’s. {my best friend...Ashley!!} :)
38. Take my girls to Disney on ice
39. Family trip to DC Zoo
40. Write letters to my girls to read when they are older.
41. Get a pedicure
42. Buy a new pair of skinny jeans
43. Buy new pillows
44. Donate clothes that don’t fit anymore
45. Blog once a month (1/33)
46. Make dinner for another family
47. Bake a pie
48. Cook a turkey for Thanksgiving
49. Buy/make Corn hole boards for Martin
50. Make a scrapbook of the girls
51. Get a “real” {smart phone} cell phone
52. Make jam
53. Hang the Second Coming picture in my living room
54. Perform 5 random acts of kindness (0/5)
55. Make a funny music video with my YW
56. Go a year without touching my savings
57. Learn how to quilt
58. Make a t-shirt quilt for Martin
59. Let go of a floating lantern
60. No chocolate for a month
61. No soda for a year (0/12)  (start Oct 10, 2013)
62. Crochet and sell more hats
63. Use my crock pot once a month (0/33)
64. Run a 10 minute mile
65. Try new things in my garden
66. Paint our bathrooms
67. Donate my hair to locks of love
68. Drink more smoothies
69. Share my testimony once a month (1/33)
70. Read more books
71. Have a snowball fight with my family
72. Make my bed every day for a week
73. Memorize the Articles of Faith
74. Make a list of 50 things I like about myself
75. Learn alphabet in  sign language
76. Read The Book of Mormon cover to cover
77. Take home videos at least once a month (0/33)
78. Send flowers to a friend just because
79. Start up preschool for Jade
80. Cut the grass more often
81. Learn how to make bread
82. Write in my journal once a month (0/33)
83. More family picnics
84. Watch a parade in person
85. Donate blood
86. Renew CPR & First Aid Certifications
87. Write a living will and have it notarized
88. 100 push up challenge 
89. Answer 50 questions that will free your mind 
90. Leave 50 operation beautiful notes 
91. Attend my 10 year high school reunion
92. 365 project
93. Go apple picking
94. Eat at Café Rio
95. Make zucchini brownies
96. Make a snack bag for my car…to give to homeless person
97. Wear make-up every day for a week
98. Keep the kitchen table clean for a month
99. Do/make 10 things from my Pinterest (0/10)
100. Make homemade ice cream
101. Make another 101 in 1001 list

Now that you have seen my "dreams" for the next few months...

What do you want to do in the next 1001 days? 

Make a list on your blog and then send me your blog link so I can check out your list. 

I am in training...

For a 5k that is!
I decided about 4 weeks after having my second Little Miss that I wanted to run a race. I found one that is several months away so I had plenty of time to train.
Check it out!
I know I have a small voice in the world, but if I can change even a moment in the life of an abused child, I will run to that!

I have other races I would love to do as well, some for great causes others just for fun.

I am one week into training and I can run a 12 minute mile! Go me! :)
I know that sounds slow right?!?! But I mean I did just have a baby 8 weeks ago and my exercise routine has been NADA for well over a year now.

 Is this not the best looking running shoe you have ever laid eyes on?

Well, let me tell you....It's like running on CLOUDS in these babies!

The sad thing, they are a lot of $$$$$$$$$$$$$! So again I say, Dream on Momma! 

I am super excited to get new shoes, lets just hope I like them 1/2 as much as I like these.

I know it!

I love General Conference. 

I love The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

I KNOW my Heavenly Father loves me.

I KNOW that Jesus Christ is my brother and Savior.

I KNOW that my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ live.

I KNOW Thomas S. Monson is the living prophet.

I KNOW that my family can be together FOREVER. {really, for eternity}

I KNOW the temple is the House of the Lord.

I KNOW that blessings come as we are obedient to the commandments.

I KNOW that the Bible and Book of Mormon are the word of God.

I KNOW that Heavenly Father wants us all to live with Him again.

I KNOW that we all make mistakes. {I sure do.}

I KNOW that we are NOT forgotten.

I KNOW that it is never too late for us.

I KNOW we are loved UNCONDITIONALLY.

NO. MATTER. WHAT.