The Sunday Savoring #11

Waiting is the hardest part.

I didn’t intend to have a tree up before Thanksgiving again this year.

Last year, I was heading to the hospital for a month-long stay in November. Chemotherapy and a stem cell transplant, designed to rid my body of leukemia and allow new cells to grow that would keep my body clear of cancer, had recently been added to my holiday checklist. 

I wanted our tree up before I got home in mid December. I knew my body would be decimated by the process so I got everything done in advance. All gifts were purchased and wrapped. All decor in place. 

It solved two problems. It kept my mind and body busy, not focused on the future and what it might hold and it ensured Christmas would still come in our home no matter how tired I was.

I celebrated the one year anniversary of that stem cell transplant on Thursday. I didn’t actually celebrate, it kind of just came and went. My mind focused on the bone marrow biopsy scheduled the next day to find out if my stem cell transplant is indeed working and I am still cancer free. 

The procedure went smoothly. It takes around a week to get your results and with Thanksgiving in the midst there could be delays. 

And so I anxiously await the results. Planning and prepping for Thanksgiving isn’t nearly enough to keep my mind and body occupied. The turkey has been ordered, the flowers, the charcuterie and shrimp too. The sourdough is being fed, the cranberry sauce assembled, I’m constantly seeking what to do next.

I can’t sit still. The silence is too loud.  

And so my tree is going up again before Thanksgiving. I’ve added the bows, the balls, the garland and candles. Santa is busy making his way up and down the ladder. The ornaments from years past are out and organized. 

I’ve stopped short of placing the angel on top of the tree. That oddly feels too committed. Instead she sits, like me, full of hope. Waiting. An anxious observer. The decor going up, the excitement happening all around. Caught in limbo, holding her breath, she waits for her cue. A few words sent in a text and then the festivities can begin.

This Quote 
Cling to joy: audacious and unbridled joy, that looks for light in everything, even your waiting. - Morgan Harper Nichols

I’m trying Morgan.

This Angel
My companion in waiting. I am not typically an angel atop the tree kind of gal but she spoke to me in 2022 and I made her mine.

This Commercial
This Amazon commercial that makes me tear up every time I see it. 

This Recipe
Sweet Potato Crostini is my go to appetizer for the holiday season. Savory with a kick. 

This Selfie
I don’t typically take selfies, and especially these days, but I found myself in front of a full length mirror recently at a design project I just finished. As I walked towards the mirror, I had a flashback of the first time I walked into the home.

I had just gotten out of the hospital, was completely bald and down 40 pounds. I was so weak I could barely walk up the stairs. But what I remember most is how determined I was to keep moving forward, to take on this project, to live.

Here I am a year later. A few more pounds, a little more hair, stronger and proud of how hard I’ve fought to get here. And of of how this beautiful project turned out. Some sneak peek photos below.

These Favorite Things
Raindrops on roses 🎶

We had a light drizzle overnight and my beautiful white roses understood the assignment. Now for whiskers on kittens. 

The Reason I Can’t Have Whiskers on Kittens
He would hate me forever. 

These Trivia Questions 
Fun trivia questions to ask around the table this year. Or after dinner while relaxing by a fire. 

This Dad Joke
What was the turkey suspected of? 
Fowl play. 

This Project
In my offline life, I am a designer. This is a sneak peak of the project I referenced above. The one I started when I was just finishing treatments.

This Newspaper Article
I was going through old photos and came across this article from the Daily Beacon News in Terre Haute, Indiana tucked away in an envelope. It’s dated 1936 in what appears to be my grandmother’s handwriting.

My great grandmother was in a car accident with several other people and suffered some significant injuries. The driver was arrested for driving while intoxicated. She later sued him as is all documented in this article.  

This Front Door Decor
Savoring this new front door mat. Ho, ho, ho.  

These Bows
I found this fabulous ribbon at a local boutique. I love the frayed edges. Last night I busied myself tying bows for the tree. This tutorial was my guide.

This Movie I Had Never Heard Of
All my boys have arrived and we rolled into The Ministry of Ungentlemanly Warfare directed by Guy Ritchie. It’s loosely based on a true story and it’s fabulous. We can’t stop talking about it. 

This Santa 
This guy with his bowl full of jelly and bag of lights is bringing me enormous amounts of joy.

Tell me friends, what are you savoring this week? And I mean really tell me. I want to read them all. Tell me a joke. Tell me a story. I am grateful for and welcome all distractions this week.

Please hit the 🤎 if you enjoyed it and forward to a friend (or two) you think would also love it.