The Big Event!

I finished chemo on Tuesday and had to get ready for a big family night at school on Thursday that I was in charge of having everything ready for 700 people.  Needless to say by time Thursday was over I was exhausted but I had to keep up my energy because Saturday was my big event.  And BIG is was!  I cannot believe how many people came to support our family!  It was so fun to see so many of you and visit with you.  I hope that all of you had as great of a time as I did.  I know I wasn't able to visit with everyone and if I did get a chance to visit with you it wasn't for long but I hope you still had a great time shopping and visiting.
I don't even know what to say.  I am so grateful to all of you who had anything to do with that night in any way. Whether you were a part of  the planning or one who attended.  I am so humbled by all of you and your generous hearts.  You were all so willing to give of your time and money for myself and my family.  It's overwhelming and humbling to feel so loved by all of you.  Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!    It was a wonderful night that I will never forget!!

I have to give a special thank you to those of you who put in countless hours to prepare for that night.  Many of you have told me you have been to other fundraisers but never one as wonderful and as organized as this one.  Well let me tell you that didn't happen by accident.  It took many great men and women giving up a lot of time to pull that off.  I will not start naming names because I am sure to leave someone out and I would never want to hurt any feelings but you know who you are and so do I.  Thank you doesn't seem like enough but it's all I can say.  So, thank you for all the blood, sweat, tears and time you put into planning this amazing evening!!   Mark and I can only pray that in your time of need you to will be blessed and hopefully we will be a part of giving back to you someday in some small way.

Our family hopes we will now be able to pay it forward by helping those in need every chance we can get.  I know that there are many who are suffering far more than I am and I hope I can know which of those people I am suppose to reach out to and help.  I know we cannot be there for everyone but we can be there for one.  I pray I listen to the promptings to know who is the one I am to help each day.  I know it doesn't have to be as grand as my event to change someones day.  It's the little things that matter most.  When you think of how that event happened it was by a lot of people doing a lot of little things.  It wasn't by one person doing something grand.  It took many people donating a few items, making a few phone calls, putting all those things together in baskets, etc. to make something wonderful happen.  I feel like it's the same way when we are inspired to help others.  We may feel prompted to make a phone call to someone or send a note or a text and we think how is that going to help them?  Well from one who has been on the other side of these small acts of kindness I can tell you it makes all the difference in the world some days.  All of those simple things can heal broken hearts, bring hope back to someone who has lost it, or just simply help someone find a little joy in their journey.  So I challenge you today to find that one person who needs something simple that you can give and give it to them!  :)  The great part is it will only bring you more joy!

Thanks again to all of you for loving me!  I will forever be grateful that you are a part of my life!   XOXOXO

P.S. If anyone got some photos of the event Mark and I would love it if you emailed them to us at:   angie.s.jones2013@gmail.com     Thanks!

Round 6 - The final round!

I don't even know where to begin...  I completed my 6th and final round of chemo on April 22nd.  Yeah!!  It's such a great feeling to know I have made it through one more phase of my journey.  It was another fun day.  Julie, my sister-in-law whom I love, came and went to lunch with me before and then came to be a part of my final round.  We had such a great time laughing and talking at lunch that for a small moment I forgot I was on my way to go in and get poisoned again.  Thanks Julie for making me forget about my cancer for a moment and just feel like my old self again for awhile.  Love you!

Julie, however, was not the only one who decided to join me for the big day.  I ended up having a ton of people there.  It was great!  Mark and the girls came, my mom, my brother-in-law Dan, my niece Hillary, my cousin Heather (who had to leave before I got to see her but I still count her as being there to support me) , my cousin Heidi and Michelle, a friend from work.  It was so fun!  Lucky for us I was able to get the only private room they have so we didn't disturb the others there that day.  We just laughed and talked and enjoyed each others company.  Thanks to all of you who were there to support me and to all of you who wished you could have been there as well.  I know plenty of you have been cheering me on even though you haven't been able to be with me.

When you are done you get to go and ring a bell.  So my girls and Mark and I took our picture as I rang the bell.  They also send you with a bottle of sparkling cider to celebrate.  It was great to finally be able to say goodbye, ring the bell and be done with chemo!  :)  Yeah!  I made it!!  I am looking forward to the month of May and beginning to feel like myself again.  I know it won't last long since I start radiation in June but for now I am just focusing on the good days in May that are mine to be had!