Caringbridge...

Hey All, As I finished reading through my caringbridge and all the guestbook entries I found a few that I want to post back to. There was one not to long ago from someone special (as you all are to me) that said: "Okay Sweetness, do you remember the first time we met and I told you there would be peaks and valleys.... mountains to climb and curvy roads to travel? This is them. You just fasten your seat belt; hang on to the steering wheel; and sing at the top of your lungs!!" How true is this statement? I feel as if I have been climbing a mountain since last August, and it is as if I can see the peak, but I'm not quite there yet. I'm getting there! The curvy roads have been tough but they have at least been semi fun. I've had my seat belt on the entire time, still do. Do you? I sure hope. Life doesn't stop around here. Just keeps on rolling. I'm also not sure if you could hear me, but my lungs are starting to hurt! whew! But, Im not planning on stopping anytime soon. I think its about time to change my tune though. There where lots of comments about how the road is long, and how I must have felt like it was never going to end. That is absolutely correct. In January it seemed as if it would never be over, but the big Guy blessed me greatly and kept it short! What a great guy!! And another one I want to chat about comes from Jori Hume. I have to call you out on this because not only did I wish to mirror your family's strength during my battle, you all where shinning stars while Sam was sick, and I think that is partly where I learned how to face things during the hard times. Also, you said that if there is ever a made for TV movie on lifetime about my life (fat chance) that Miss. Sam would like to play me. If one the off chance that this happens, She's got the part! It would be an HONNOR to have that beautiful young girl play me. And you all call me a rock star. That would be her. I wish that I could go over ever single entry and give a comment back, so maybe I will attempt to do so. It may take a while but maybe that's what I can do. Love and Hugs, -N

Day by Day..

Hey everyone, Isn't that a song? I believe I sang it my freshman year during our final choir production. "Day by day.....day by day..." Its from a musical from back in the day that the name is escaping me, of course. Do you have any idea what I am talking about? Its crazy to me how quickly life changes. I went from "normal" and "average" to a girl fighting cancer with the help of my family, and now suddenly we are starting to settle into our "new-normal." How quickly it has all happened. When it all began I was set that this past year would seem to never end, but it happened so fast (YAY)! Before my eyes fall faded to a Kansas winter with little snow (the one year I can't shovel. Go figure), to a early and beautiful spring, and now look we are back to a typical "Don't go outside" summer in Kansas City. Woah. Since I really don't do much these days besides lounge on the couch or do my exercises, I've had plenty of time to find some good books to stick my nose into. I've also found some great quotes, so I think I will share some of my favorites with you all. but I will tell you all that yesterday I got to drive my car all by myself, I drove to CVS to print some pictures for some people. Once mom got home we went BACK to CVS to get another set of pictures printed and something other things. Then, my best friend, Samantha, came over and we enjoyed some much needed time together, and had some yummy KC pizza with my family. On our way to take her home she needed to make a stop, so we took her to...yes....CVS for some things she needed for work. Yesterday, I loved CVS. It was basically the only place I went, not that I get out much. Alrighty, quote time. Here we go. -- "Life is 10% what happens and 90% how you deal with it." -- "Rain falls because the sky can no longer handle its weight. Tears fall because the heart can no longer handle the pain." -- "I never knew how strong I was; until that was my only option." -- "There's a day when you realize that you're not just a survivior you're a warrior." -- "I believe that your life can be changed in a matter of hours....by people who don't know you at all." Love and Hugs, -N

The Book...

Hey Everyone, Since all my medical things are behind me, I've decided to continue to update you all on everything Natalie on this site. Seems more....Normal? Thats the only word I can think of. This site started out as a place to post things for my "book." Well, Im not sure about the book, but I have been actively been putting a pen to paper to make what someday will either be edited and published(BIG dream) or I will type it up and post it on here for all of you lovely people!! I have to get this important message to all of you before I begin to bore you with my everyday boring college life that is about to begin. At my "celebration" a weeks ago, my sister, Christa and Jeff gave me a book of all the Caringbridge posts and guestbook entires from the past year. I have been slowly going though each entire and last night as I was reading I realized something and I feel as if its something I need to share with all of you. There are post after posts of you kind people telling me that I am your hero and inspiration, and maybe that is true, but you, dear lovely people, You are my Heros. YOU are why I can be here today and type this out for all of you. Attitude is MORE than half the battle and the other half was prayer and faith. You all have instilled a joy in me that makes me feel like the rock star you all think that I am. With my strong faith, it only has gotten stronger over the last year with the help of all of you. Im NEVER going to be able to explain it in the right words, and give enough thanks and love back to feel as if I have given you all what you have given me. I am an incredibly blessed child of God. I know that I have something AMAZING to do with my life, and I have an INCREDIBLE story to tell others. Yes, over the year I had enough bad days to last a life time but it was your kind words that helped me see the light at the end of a very dark tunnel. I didn't need to pretend to have a "sunny" or "happy" outlook about things because you all have believed in me from the beginning. Look at the stock I come from. We are born and raised Fighters. Today, Mom and I watched "Letters to God." Its about a little boy who is 8 years old and lost his battle with brain cancer. His unbelievable faith in God is what kept him as an earthly angel for so long. When I was first diagniosed it was so easy for me to be upset with God and to want to just scream at him with questions like "WHY?" and "YOU CHOSE ME? ARE YOU NUTS" and "WHAT DID I DO WRONG"So, this one scene from "Letters to God" with the little boy, his best friend Sam, and her grandfather really stuck out to me: Her grandfather says to Tyler that he was hand picked by God to be one warriors. Wow, Right? Never thought of it that way. What a fantastic way to look at the not so fun situation. Not only have I been hand picked by God to one of his warriors, I now get to go an share my story with others about my GREAT God who loves me enough to keep me around. Even if it is just to bore all of you with my blog updates :) Love and Hugs -Natalie