I snuck away for a minute...

to wish you...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Today, I am grateful for a lot!

Rach

Confession

Sorry! I have been getting so many wonderful holiday cards this year and well, I do not send holiday cards (yet). I think that will come next year after I have a new last name...we'll see what next year brings so to all of you reading this...

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

HAPPY HANUKKAH (belated)!

HAPPY KWANZAA!

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!

and HAPPY WINTER :)

Today, I am grateful for: friends, family, God, sleep and another day of rest...the 'not feeling good' feeling just won't leave me alone ;) but I guess I should be used to that-it's still early in the day.

Love,

Rachel

Let Freedom Ring!

Finished with the semester. I survived! Heehee. I think I got all really good grades too which is amazing with the relapse scare at the beginning of the semester, the intense pains all over in the middle and then the nasty cold when I was trying to wrap everything up, amongst everything else that life brings. Whew.

The break will be filled with lots of stuff I have been putting off (wedding, prepping for a huge speech in April, applying to the college I'm hopefully transferring to next fall, christmas gifts, looking for a place to live, making art for my art portfolio for art school, ETC!) and lots of fun and catching up with people, I hope, too.

Don't get me wrong-I am SO grateful to be privileged enough to go to school again. It had been many years that of stopping and starting or just not having a stable health life to be able to commit to full-time credited school. Instead, I traveled, did artwork, worked at a job that was great about everything, volunteered and took continuing ed classes amongst other stuff. I was blessed and it led me to this point where I really appreciate the joy of learning. I see all these other people-all ages- complain all the time about this and that at school and I just want to say something but of course I don't. Sure, complaining/venting has its place for all of us, but some people, it seems, that is all they know how to do. I also want to say, if you do not want to be here, you have a choice and you do not have to.

To everyone reading: the blog's been a great motivator and distraction, so thank you for your prayers, comments and inspiration! I truly appreciate all my new and old friends- haha, reminds me of Girl Scouts..."Make new friends...but keep the old ones...".

Today, I am grateful for: fresh homemade smoothies (one of my new favorite things-yum!), friends, family, breaks to refresh my body and soul and God.

Lots of love,

Rachel

PS-I'm starting to feel better. Thanks for all your messages, prayers and everything else!! Truly appreciate it :).

I Need Help with Holiday Gifts!

Help!- I need some ideas! I am trying to think of inexpensive, thoughtful holiday gifts-they could be homemade (I'm pretty crafty and artsy), bought, whatever...any ideas?? This year my mind has been foggy and lacking for ideas!

An idea for you: last year I did little baskets with candy, microwave popcorn and a DVD of a movie specific to the person I was giving it to :)!

I'll share all the ideas in another post if you'd like!

Thanks so much :).

Back to studying-1 test down, 1 to go and 1 presentation. Wish me luck!

Today, I am grateful that I am functioning and feeling some better today, I am almost done with the semester, I am thankful to be back in school in general after so many semesters where I could not go, for family, friends, God and my study date yesterday with D ;).

Love,

Rachel

5 of Rachel's Random Tips

Well, today I have some random tips and believe me, they are RANDOM!

1. The first one is relatively simple and I'm sure you have all heard it before but packing a lunch the night before is SO much easier. I am not a morning person at all-I feel gross, crabby and sluggish, my pills haven't kicked in, etc. so the extra 10 minutes in bed are a big deal and when I'm running or rather, walking fast stiffly out to door, I can grab my lunch and go.

2. My massage therapist told me to do this a couple weeks ago after my massage and since then I have done it about 3 or 4 times and have loved the way it makes me feel...Baths for at least 15 minutes with epsom salt (I got lavender scented epsom salt at the drugstore). I just leave the water running, drop about 1 cup into the flowing water, turn off the water, wait for it to be a good temp, put on some soothing music, light a couple candles and there you have it! I also recommend rinsing off in the shower afterwards and maybe even a little body scrub or something to get all out the toxins that maybe have been released :).

It really helped me get through this week with so much work to do and being sick with a bad cold or something. It relaxed my body, made me go to sleep better, (temporarily) cleared out my congestion some with the steam and stuff and my bathroom STILL slightly smells awesome, in a good way (I'm sensitive to smells). It also gave me something to look forward to.

3. Go on dates with people you love and like. Awhile back, I scheduled a lunch date with my Dad today. It was lovely! Highly recommend it :). It's good for you and for them and you get to enjoy some food, drink, whatever together!

4. Speaking of my dad, ever since I was little, if I was up coughing in the middle of the night coughing, he would bring me his 'special tea'. Now, I usually make it when I have a cold or something. It's simply hot tea (I like green tea), a little lemon juice and a little honey. It usually helps with coughing or just another relaxer. I also combine this in conjunction with Tip #2 :).

5. Lastly, don't feel bad if you aren't in the 'holiday spirit'. There's something that happened in me after cancer, maybe it was along with growing up, but the holidays just haven't been the same. I really try and think of the reason for the season. Sometimes it's ok and sometimes this time of year is depressing and people get cranky and everyone drives crazy and on and on.

Today, I am thankful that: I got to sleep in some and skipped an appt. I can reschedule, lunch with Dad, I got my big project done on time, family, friends and God :).

Love,

Rachel