People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered. Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives. Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies. Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you. Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight. Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous. Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten. Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough. Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God. It was never between you and them anyway.
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Words to Live By- This version is attributed to Mother Teresa
Words to Live By- Dr. Kent M. Keith
People are illogical, unreasonable, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.
If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish ulterior motives.
Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
The good you do today will be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable.
Be honest and frank anyway.
The biggest men and women with the biggest ideas can be shot down by the smallest men and women with the smallest minds.
Think big anyway.
People favor underdogs but follow only top dogs.
Fight for a few underdogs anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.
People really need help but may attack you if you do help them.
Help people anyway.
Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth.
Give the world the best you have anyway.
Saturday, July 4, 2009
Hummingbirds
We were excited to see that our mama hummingbird returned to her nest over our door again. We followed the progress of the babies and Larry even climbed up and got pictures of the eggs, which looked like little jelly beans. Yesterday, they were on the outside of the nest. It was WAY too crowded in that small nest. We knew they would be leaving us soon. Larry spent half of the day trying to capture them on video and digitally. He was finally successful! He got some great video which I will post later. Michelle even came over to get some pictures since I knew they would be leaving soon. Ironically, when we got up this morning, the babies were gone, on Independence Day! Hopefully we will see them again! They are magnificent to watch. AND, mama hummingbirds are VERY territorial. We watched her chase off a sparrow and she attempted to kick Larry's butt as well! That is no small task!
Sunday, June 14, 2009
The Man of the Hour
It has been a very long time since I have blogged. Life just seems to keep getting in the way and there aren't enough hours in the day. If I stop for nothing else, it must be for this. June 5, 2009 was a very exciting day in the Garahana household, especially for Dylan. Hectic would also be an appropriate word! Unlike other graduates on their day, Dylan did not get to sleep in. He chose this day (or rather had it thrust upon him) to take his certification tests for A+ in computer repair and help desk technician. So, up at 7:00 AM for him! For those of you who know Dylan, you would think this would have been a piece of cake but, he was so nervous that he wouldn't pass and would waste our money, that he put off taking the tests. Since Dylan had taken GTI classes, there was a price break of 50% off for taking these tests and the bonus of getting an addition 50% reimbursement if you pass. Each test was 90 minutes long. Dylan practiced like a mad man and I had no doubt (had none before this really) that he was ready. Well, he passed both tests easily and in fact aced the help desk tecnician test. These certifications are valuable in the job market. One hurdle down, one to go.
On to the graduation festivities. We went to lunch at Chili's at Dylan's request and Grandpa joined us. Dylan's graduation was at 7:00 PM at the E Center. He looked so nice and was so excited. There were gale force winds to contend with to get inside. We sat behind the Larsen's and in front of the Kennisons. Both have sons that are friends with Dylan so that was nice. There were some amusing moments. At one point, someone had smuggled in a beach ball and hit it onto the floor. It, unfortunately, landed at Dylan's feet and there was NO WAY he was participating in ANYTHING that might get him in trouble! He will forever more be the rule follower. Pretty much everything else was typical graduation stuff. I can't believe the the number of leis handed out and the gigantic pictures people hold up in the stands of their graduates. It looked like an election in a foreign country! I did have my teary moments and I got all choked up watching Dylan walk on stage and knowing that he is growing up!
Now, it is on to the next phase of his life. He is only a few credits away from his Associates Degree so he is going to finish his transfer degree in Computer Science at SLCC. Then he will transfer to the U. I know he has an incredibly bright future and will succeed in whatever he does. He still won't get his driver's license, but I suppose he can just hire Jordan to drive him around!
Saturday, March 14, 2009
IBC- Be Informed
Recently, I got some terrible news. My Aunt Mary, who I absolutely adore and who holds a special place in my heart, was diagnosed with Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC). Yes, I know you have all been told 50 million times to get your mammogram annually etc. Here's the problem, IBC is often not detected by a mammogram. We have all been told, if you have a lump, get it checked out. There is often no lump with IBC. I have done a great deal of research and I want to share some of the symptoms of this aggressive form of cancer, because we all need to be aware. Here's what to look for:
- Swelling, usually sudden, sometimes a cup size in a few days
- Itching
- Pink, red, or dark colored area (called erythema) sometimes with texture similar to the skin of an orange (called peau d’orange)
- Ridges and thickened areas of the skin
- Nipple retraction
- Nipple discharge, may or may not be bloody
- Breast is warm to the touch
- Breast pain (from a constant ache to stabbing pains)
- Change in color and texture of the areola
My Aunt Mary is putting up quite a fight for her life. She has the most aggressive chemotherapy to endure and then surgery, followed by radiation and/or more chemotherapy. She is very brave and I think about her every day and pray for her. When I am faced with roadblocks in life, I have to take a minute and think about what is really important and is it worth wasting energy over. All of the day to day dramas pale in comparison to what my aunt is going through, and for that matter what my mom must be going through as well. She has been her caretaker and her advocate. These are some strong women, and I admire their courage.
Let me also say, if you find yourself facing this disease, MD Anderson Hospital in Texas is the ONLY IBC specific clinic in the world. They have been wonderful to my aunt. We have come so far in our research, but there is so little out there about IBC. Here are some links for more information.
http://www.ibcresearch.org
http://www.mdanderson.org/Care_Centers/BreastCenter/dIndex.cfm?pn=80B5670B-7F3D-11D4-AEC800508BDCCE3A
Below is a video about IBC. Parts of it are a bit graphic, but I feel it's so important to be informed. I have lost too many loved ones to breast cancer. Get the word out. Information is power.
Friday, January 2, 2009
Christmas Day Highlights
I just thought I would share Christmas photos. Among the gifts, Cracker was excited to get a glow in the dark ball. Dylan and Jordan finally got a guitar and Kyle showed Jordan a few chords. I got some adorable salt and pepper shakers that are from the 40's and after eating the popcorn packing, Larry was thrilled to find some vintage shot glasses. Anyway, as usual we go overboard, but what can you do, it's Christmas!
Christmas Eve Festivities
It has been a very busy season, between food drives and endless cooking and family traditions. I wouldn't trade any of it but, it's nice to have some down time. We are a family of traditions, but I won't bore you with the details. The one staple during our holiday is Christmas Eve at Grandpa's house. We pack WAY too many people in his small house (more and more every year) and it is chaotic, crazy, and very Christmassy! I made a Buche de Noel (yule log) and some other goodies as well as my yearly Seven Layer Dip. We had around 40 people there this year. We ate, laughed and just spent time together. It was great, as it always is. I cannot say enough about how grateful I am for this wonderful family I have the privilege of being part of.
