MAKING LEMONADE!

{Warning... Long post ahead}

HI FRIENDS! I’m hoping you all had a fabulous Spring Break and Easter.  I got to spend lots of quality time with family and good friends in sunny St. George this last week.  We had so much fun!  Then yesterday I attended church, where I was reminded of the true meaning of it all.  We finished the night with an Easter Feast and the cutest-ever FHE, 100% planned, prepared and given by my sweet little 8-year old Macy.  I’m feeling very blessed and uplifted today. (Indulge me for a minute by letting me share some pics)

Overlooking St. George at the Dixie Rock (with cousin Nicole)

Steve found many trails to ride

Parker and his crew

Summer and Sadie gettin' their ride on 

My girls decorated our Easter table

Marmie and Poppy stopped by for an Easter hug

My Easter bunnies

Now, let me take this opportunity to thank you for visiting and to welcome you to my {new and improved} blog.  I haven’t blogged in years, literally.  Why did I stop?  Well, I tend to start things and not finish them.  There.  I said it.  I’m blaming Adult ADD, which would conveniently explain a lot of my oddities and quirks.  Anyway, I decided to start my blog back up for many reasons:

1.  I actually like to write, it makes me happy.  And I get to write whatever is on my mind.  I also get to overuse parenthesis or start sentences with 'and' or 'but' to my heart's desire! :)

2.  I wanted to keep my out-of-town family and friends updated on the craziness that ensues in the Ellis Household.  My promise: to always be real and uncensored (no sugar-coating here).  Your promise: don’t judge.  Agreed?

3.  I secretly long to motivate and inspire.  You see, I’m a big do-it-yourselfer (pinterest only compounded this problem).  One day I may repaint a piece of furniture, the next day do my own taxes, and the next day attempt to make my own sushi.  I hope to inspire others who may be thinking, “Can I re-tile my kitchen backsplash?” or “Should I sign up for that half-marathon?”  The answer is, Yes and Yes!  You most definitely can and should.  If nothing else, you can learn from my [many] mistakes. 

4.  I simply wanted to journal my experiences - the good, the bad, the bizarre and the ugly.  With me, you get the real story!  Now seems like a good time to start, since I’ve got some ugly comin my way…and I'm not just talking about my messy house and current laundry pile.

Some of you know that I am set to undergo 6 weeks of radiation treatment starting TODAY, April 1st.  The reason?  I have this annoying and rare type of tumor called a Desmoid Tumor.  A little more than a year ago I noticed this hard lump to the side of my right breast (it’s actually on my chest wall, attached to a rib).  So, I went in and said, "whats up with the marble inside my body?"  After an ultrasound and mammogram, they assumed it was nothing but wanted to get it out.  After surgery, pathology reports came back and classified it as a Desmoid Tumor.  Desmoids are non-cancerous tumors and don’t metastasize or spread (the good news).  However, they are fast growing and tend to keep coming back in the same spot, even once removed (the bad news).  Desmoids are dangerous simply because they can overtake muscles and adjacent organs (in my case my ribs and lungs).  And the bigger it gets, the more painful it gets.  Sooooo, long story short… my tumor doc decided that rather than undergo another surgery (which would involve cutting out ribs and a very difficult recovery), we should try local radiation treatment to hopefully stop the growth.  So, there ya have it.  See, I told you… kinda ugly, right?  

But here’s the silver lining.  I decided right then and there in that doctor’s office that instead of having a pity-party and focusing on the negative impact and effects of the treatment, I would turn this into something positive.  THIS IS WHERE YOU, MY DEAR FRIENDS AND FAMILY, COME IN!

{Stay with me here… I’m getting to a point, I promise}

Probably one of my all-time favorite things to do is to go out to lunch.  For me, it’s not so much about where, but rather with whom.  I'm lucky that I often get to go with my cute hubby – who I am crazy in love with (see pic below).  But there’s something about going to lunch with “my ladies" - old friends, new friends, family friends, church friends, neighbor friends – you know, my girls!  Sooooo, my goal during treatment is to go to lunch as often and with as many people as possible!  (Ok, it sounds a little crazier when I write it than when I was thinking it).  For me, lunch dates would serve two purposes.  First, I can have something to look forward to each day.  Let's be honest.  Getting a sunburn in the same spot day after day isn't exactly something to jump out of bed for!  Second, and more importantly, I am looking forward to strengthening current friendships and really hoping to build some new ones.  Who cares if we are not BFF's.  Who says we can't lay down some seeds of friendship and sisterhood?  So, that’s the one and only thing I ask of my friends or anyone who wants to know how they can help… simply come to lunch with me!

{Almost done... hang in there, kid}

Here’s where my {new and improved} BLOG comes back into the picture.  You see, I want to “spotlight” each friend I go to lunch with on my blog that next day.  Yes, spotlight.  I’m calling it, “GUESS WHO CAME TO LUNCH TODAY?”  (Not really. I just barely made that up.  But hmmm, not a bad title, huh?)  So, during lunch, in addition to enjoying some yummy grub (I'll even let you pick the place), I simply want to get to know YOU better.  Let’s chat about your kids or grandkids, your goals, good books you’ve read, current trials you're facing, your upcoming house projects, your latest shopping find, the lesson you have to teach on Sunday, your hubby (I'm a good listener if you need to vent. hehe), whatever happens to come up.  I promise not to 'expose your warts', as my mom puts it.  I simply want to highlight who you are and what makes you wonderful and fabulous.  Oh, and I would love a picture too, no lipstick required.  I'll even tell you if you have spinach in your teeth first.  Hehehe.

So, your suspicions are now confirmed:  Aly is indeed a little crazy.  But, who are we kidding, so are you.  Let's go to lunch and chat about it. :)  It's cheaper than therapy.

If you are up for lunch, but would rather not be spotlighted, sure thing.  Or maybe you're not up for an official lunch date, but just want to follow my blog anyway.  Please do!  I would love to hear from you.  We all go through different trials in life at different times, and it's always nice to know you have a support system.  Even just a kind word or a "thinking of you" can do wonders.  I tend to be one of those people who likes to think I can do it all by myself, that I don't need anything from anyone (which drives my poor husband crazy).  But we ALL have struggles.  No one is exempt.  I have become so much more aware that we never know what battles others are silently and valiantly fighting.  We just plain need each other!  I have become so much more grateful for things like my family, friendships, knowledge of the gospel, a healthy body that is able to run, read, write, travel, etc.  Trials have a funny way of tweaking our perspective... it's our choice as to whether it's a positive change or negative change.  I, for one, am trying my best to look on the bright side.  I truly am blessed!

In the meantime, I'm gonna try to squeeze in a treadmill class before Ray-Day (that's what I'm calling the start of treatment).  Soooo, let the adventure begin. As I always say, "It Could Be Worse."

Thanks for stopping by my {new and improved} blog and I hope to hear from you!

Aly

{Let me congratulate you for making it through that book of a post. I promise future posts won't be so lengthy.}