Day 415 - Day 3 of PB1 & Happy Birthday Roxy

Today was the 3rd & final day of the course. I have loved every minute of it. While working & sharing with the group, I've realized a few things about myself. My current situation isn't that bad. Hearing the woes of the others around me, I'm pretty lucky. I've said it before & I'll say it again. I'm the luckiest person I know. Why?

I'm finishing chemo this month. I'm going to be able to travel again. I'll finally be out of my Mother's house. I have the most amazing husband. I'm excited about our future together. I'm taking steps to regain my health & vitality. My 3 year battle with cancer is rapidly coming to a peaceful close. Did I mention I'll be traveling again? Cuba, Florida, Caribbean, Africa, Norway, Africa... 2011 is going to be an incredible year!

I also found the class an incredible way to give. Be it support, love, encouragement... And the coolest part about giving these things? I NEVER run out of it! There is an endless supply of love, laughter, listening, support! And it feels SO GOOD to give! I wish the world would experience something like Personal Best - it would TRANSFORM the globe in ways we could not fathom. It's free, People! Sign up! Do it now! Take charge of the 'ickiness' in your life!

The funny part of the day for me was watching people's reactions. The previous two days I've worn a toque & no make up. Today I wore the 'Britney' wig & makeup. I had a few people come up & introduce themselves to me, as they were certain they'd never met me. One lady approached me after graduation - in fact, after supper - and told me that she couldn't figure out why they would let someone new into the course on the last day! Priceless! I love the element of surprise!

Mom2 & I had a fantastic weekend together & we both remembered & relearned some wonderful tools to carry us forward in the direction of our goals & dreams. I am cautious of a lot of self-help/personal growth tools. I want to share my opinion with you & a short story. When it comes to self-help, I believe:
WE ARE NOT BROKEN. We are fine the way we are. We can still learn & grow & evolve & work towards a better, bigger version of ourselves, but we are NOT broken.

One day, a friend & Lymphoma survivor, Fawna Bews, called me to see how I was doing. She beat stage 4 cancer & is 11 years clean. They told her she wouldn't make it & she's here today! She even had another child, after they told her she couldn't! Anyhow, Fawna called & asked me how my healing was going. I told her about the chemo, which was to start soon. She asked me what else I'd been doing. I told her about Mexico, the research, the juicing, etc. I told her I thought I could probably journal or write more too. She asked me, 'Why?' I replied that a lot of other people had told me that was good to do. She said it might help & it might not. She carried on to say the following:
'The way I see it is, we're all children of God. God's perfect. That makes me perfect.'
Those words have resonated with me since that day. Yeah! I'm not broken! I don't need to write out 200 pages & fill 5 journals on Why I Got Cancer. I don't need to write letters of forgiveness to every single person who has hurt my feelings or cut me off in rush hour. And most of all, I don't need to feel GUILTY about any of the things I should or shouldn't be doing according to myself or anyone else's cancer protocol. Thank you Fawna for your words of wisdom!

Lastly, jumping back to PB. I met Jay's son, Wyatt tonight. I've seen a few photos of him on Facebook, but he is so much more adorable in person. Here's this squishable little 5 year old dressed up like one of the Incredibles. Be still my heart! I had to talk to the youngster. I asked him who he was. He told me Dash. I told him I had a friend named Dash, but explained that Dash was just a baby & couldn't walk or run yet, so I didn't know if he was really fast like Dash from the Incredibles. Wyatt's eye lit up when I said I knew someone named Dash. Oh my, he is too cute for words. He danced away the night at our graduation. What a beautiful little soul!

Here are a few photos from the graduation night. Let me know when you've signed up for your Level 1! *wink, wink*

xxxx Maria, Valentina, Oceana & Adios

Jay & Wyatt dancing up a storm! 

Saxon on the left - AMAZING dancer & Dane & his boy, Roman - too cute! 

Vince is an INCREDIBLE Tattoo Artist - award winning! Need Ink? 

Enjoying food & drinks! 

Lance & Morgan - my PB II buddy! 

 Morgan & Britney Shears

Mom2, Morgan & I 

Dance! 

 Lynn & Jeanette

The Gorjuss Jeaninne!

Story writer Shannon! 

Gorjuss Saxon! 

Dan & his main squeeze! 

Brandy & Lesley - all smiles! 

 Cath - what a sweetie!

Trena & Simon - Mr & Mrs! 

Jordan & Lance

Day 301 - Shermanators In The Elbow & Oh Baby(s)!!!!

It was a quick zip over to the mechanics to pick up the car & then to the grocery store... We were having company in a few short hours & we were supposed to be having a picnic! As my timing would have it, we arrived home, only to have our company call - they were 3 minutes away! Oh dear! Panic! Thankfully they were patient enough to wait while we finished getting lunch ready.


Kerry & Shawn, Alina & Mason were coming for a visit today. They have an Aunt & Uncle in Calgary & would visit them after our time together. Doing the traditional 'Tour', we headed down to Elbow Falls & of course, as luck would have it, the weather turned cold as we drove up. That didn't stop Mason! He ran around & raced Alina up & down the paths. Kerry, Shawn, Jaco & I enjoyed more lunch while the kids burnt up energy! We walked the path around the falls & I managed to find a few raspberry patches to share a few bites with the kids. 


After our visit at Elbow Falls, we headed for Forget-Me-Not Pond. We strayed off course to the river & Alina & Mason had a blast hopping over rocks & trying (somewhat successfully) to stay dry. We picked a few wild strawberries along our way & they were deeee-lish!


Naturally, the Tour ends at the Scoops & Snacks for ice cream. Everyone enjoyed a big dip of the good stuff before the Shermans were on their way...


When we returned to the house, I discovered that Collet had her baby! A boy! We were supposed to visit for the birth, but the newest Stephan wasn't going to wait any longer in there! He made his entry swift & there would not have been time for us to get there! Mom was exhausted, but tickled pink with her newest son. 


After my chat with her, Jaco & I skyped with Ross & Krystle & Baby Dash... Awwwh!!! What a cutie pie! I'm excited for all of them! But yeesh, I'm going to have to watch what I eat/drink, all these babies... only means trouble!!! Valentina is enough for now!


Lekker slaap
xxxxx
Maria, Jaco & Valentina 

Elbow Falls!

The Shermans

The Happy Couple

Great to see you!!!

Mason burns off some energy!

Alina strikes a pose

The boys talk shop

Our little monkey for the day!

Mason chases Shawn

Throwing rocks in the river

Mason walks on the water

Blowin' in the wind

Flower feathers

Yum yum on the ice cream cones!