Day Fifty-Three with Cancer

Day Fifty-Three with Cancer/Day Thirty-Four without Cancer:

Last night was awesome!  I honestly was a little worried about how my "health" was going to be, so I wasn't expecting to have as much fun as I did.  The weather was very cooperative, which was wonderful.  It was pretty warm, but not too hot and it didn't get cold like I thought it was going to.  I never even had to put on my hoodie.  It was a pretty good game.  We were close for the majority of it and then toward the end pulled ahead.  It's always nice to go to a game and have your team win. :)  There were some stinking fantastic fireworks afterward.  I was really impressed.  I don't know what I thought they were going to be, but I didn't figure they'd be as big as they were.  Since they were paired up with 80's music, they were even better.  It was fun to hear everyone singing along with them and commenting on which fireworks they liked the best.  After the fireworks we walked back to the truck.  We ended up sitting in the parking garage for probably an hour-hour and a half.  Thankfully, even that was entertaining.  The plan was to go and eat ice cream afterward, but since it was so late at that point, nothing was open.  We ended up going to Giant Eagle and picking up some small things and spoons and having a tail gate party.  It was good fun.

This morning I was a little slow in getting up.  I knew that I had plans with my sister one way or another, but I was still pretty tired.  I called around 10:30 and shortly thereafter we decided we'd still go to the zoo with the boys.  When I got to the house the boys were so excited.  I don't think Caleb realized I was going to the zoo with them.  We stopped at McDonalds before we went.  I got nuggets.  I also realized how much better Wendy's is than McDonalds.  We got there and were unsure of where to go when we got there since this was the first time as members.  The first thing we saw was the new elephant exhibit.  I've missed them since they had been gone.  We then intended upon going up to the cats, monkeys and fish, but we got on the wrong tram and went to the other side of the zoo.  Needless to say, that changed our plan of action.  We saw the wolves, polar bear, and then the seals and sea lions.  We were able to watch all of them train.  It was kind of awesome.  I'm a big fan of sea lions.  They're just so sweet.  They're like giant dogs.

We worked our way over to the fish and cats one exhibit at a time.  We stopped for some photo opps and went to see the giraffes and butterflies.  We then saw the flamingoes, which were cracking me up.  They were all standing in the mud and one just kept doing this little dance.  It was so interesting to watch them.  They were making their nests, covering up their eggs with the mud and packing it down.  I found it very interesting.  Sarah and I weren't sure we were going to make it up the hill, but we did!  The boys made us take the stairs as well.  I told Sarah we were going to have nice rear ends after we were done. :)  The boys had so much fun watching the fish and the monkeys.  Some of the commentary was just too funny for words.  Caleb found the little dance floor area and started busting a move.  We went to see the gorillas and then hopped the tram to ride down the hill.  Yes, we were lazy this time.  We got a few more pics and then started back to the car.  We stopped at Old Navy on the way home, hoping to find some inexpensive summer dresses, but there was nothing except the $30 ones.  Boo for that.  I was really looking forward to finding something cool and flowy to wear.

After we got back to Sarah's, I left to go to Jason and Jenny's.  They won't be at church tomorrow, so I took her Pampered Chef stuff over.  She also said she had a surprise for me that she seemed to be pretty excited about.  Syd was hilarious.  She was way snuggly.  She kept saying "Ali" and at one point she even said "auntie".  What a funny little girl.  I love her.  They had me sit down in a chair and Jason got out his movie camera.  I'll admit, that scared me a little bit.  I wasn't sure what to expect.  I was so pleasantly surprised.  One of the vendors who have donated for the benefit, The Saddleback Leather Company, not only donated a piece to auction off, but sent me a tote bag as well.  At first I was thinking that Jason and Jenny got me something and I was about to hurt them, but they told me what happened and then I read a three page letter that was included in the bag.  The CEO's wife had colon cancer and wrote about some of her experiences.  Praise God for those people.  They are blessed and freely bless others with what they have.  That is inspiring.  I only pray that someday I can be in the same position.  I have to write a lengthy thank you letter to all of them.  I spent a while longer with Jenny and Syd.  Jason had to leave for some OT.  I am blessed to have such a wonderful, loving family.  When the time comes where God wants me somewhere else and working on music, being away from them is going to be the hardest thing for me.  I love them very much.  At least I have them and I have this time with them.  Thank you, Jesus.

Song of the Day: Single Ladies (This was what we were dancing to on the way home from the zoo)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4m1EFMoRFvY

Verse of the Day: Proverbs 19:20
Get all the advice and instruction that you can, so you will be wise the rest of your life.