{ Fabulous Friday Feature: Military Pilot }

		Being diagnosed with cancer, it accelerates your life. You appreciate the time you have. It's pulled my family more lovingly tight than we've ever been. It's strange to say, but I feel a little blessed about my situation. I see so many people out there who seem to be wasting their life, rather than using it.

Flying was a way of life for Andy Cayton. He served as an Army pilot, flying special operations helicopter missions all over the world.

His unit, called the Night Stalkers, was part of the 160th SOAR (Special Operations Aviation Regiment) that is depicted in the movie, "Black Hawk Down," and is deployed now in Afghanistan. A Gulf War veteran, Andy Cayton was in top physical condition.

But in 1995 he faced another kind of enemy. A lump in his neck the size of a golf ball had grown hard over four months. Biopsies showed that it was a form of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma.

The diagnosis ended Andy Cayton's 22-year military career.

Read more....

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Today is your last day to enter our Silverdot Jewelry and

Fruit, Nut, and Candle gift basket Giveaways!

Two winners will be chosen tomorrow!

Do you know what I.B.C. is??

{ Quote of the Day }

When the Japanese mend broken objects, they aggrandize the damage by filling the cracks with gold.
They believe that when something's suffered damage and has a history it becomes more beautiful.

~Barbara Bloom

{ Fabulous Feature Friday: Heart of Gold }

Neuroblastoma Survivor a Champion with a Heart of Gold

"You can do anything – if you have the drive and the desire. Whether it's sports or music or school, just keep working hard, and you can never tell what doors are going to open for you." Twenty-five-year-old Emily Hoskins' winning attitude has helped her overcome life's obstacles and taken her to Olympic glory – bringing home 2 gold medals in wheelchair basketball at the Paralympics in Athens and Beijing. Emily, who grew up in Mascoutah, Illinois, has a bubbly personality and a bright outlook on life and accomplishing her goals. "When people ask me, 'Why are you in a wheelchair?' I say, 'I had cancer when I was born on my spinal cord.' To me, it's not that big a deal." click to read more...

Cancer patients learn how to preserve fertility...

Freezing eggs is not the only option available for doctors who are trying to preserve a cancer patient's fertility.

Minimizing the damage to the ovaries during radiation or chemotherapy is key, so some doctors use an experimental laparoscopic procedure to remove one or both of the ovaries before radiation in the pelvic area. The ovaries are frozen, then put back when the cancer treatment is completed.

Read more...

Fruit, Nut, & Candle Gift Baskets GIVEAWAY!! **NOW CLOSED**

Today we are kicking off our giveaway from Fruit, Nut, & Candle Gift Baskets! They specialize in fruit and nut gift baskets, a variety of theme and specialty gift baskets and adorable candle gift baskets and candle sets for every occasion.
I first met Kim when she teamed up with Meaghan to help fight cancer. Since then she has graciously teamed up Nana's Box to offer one of her beautiful gift baskets for our giveaway!

Thank you Kim for your kind donation!!

* We specialize in many types of gift baskets including: Fruit Gift Baskets, Nut Gift Baskets, Anniversary Gift Baskets, Baby Gift Baskets, Birthday Gift Baskets, Candle Gift Baskets, Candle Gift Sets, Easter Gift Baskets, Fathers Day Gift Baskets, Get Well Gift Basket, Gourmet Gift Basket, Snack/Candy Gift Baskets, Holiday Gift Baskets, Organic Gift Baskets, Mother's Day Gift Baskets, Valentine's Day Gift Baskets, Romantic Gift Baskets, Spa Gift Basket, Sympathy Gift Baskets, Tea and Coffee Gift Baskets, Thank You Gift Baskets, Thinking of You Gift Baskets, Wedding Gift Baskets, Gifts for Her Gift Baskets, Gifts for Him Gift Baskets and Bath and Body Gift Baskets.

Rules to enter are:

1. Visit Fruit, Nut & Candle Gift Baskets - then come back here & leave a comment telling us what kind of gift basket you would love to order for someone else.

2. For a second entry become a follower of Nana's Box. (entry subject to verification)

3. For a third entry subscribe to Nana's Box.
4. For a fourth entry post about this giveaway and then leave us a comment letting us know where we can read about it. (entry subject to verification)

Better hurray.... giveaway ends February 28

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Be sure to enter our Silverdot Jewelry Giveaway as well!

{Fabulous Friday Feature: fighting cancer one box at at time}

Nana’s Box is a nonprofit service committed to providing a photo box to cancer patients who are undergoing treatment. Nana's Box offers this service to the individual patient with the help and support of families, and those volunteers interested in the emotional support of cancer patients.

Last week some wonderful friends of mine came over to help me do some cutting, gluing and sorting. I have had lots of Nana's Box requests and needed all the help I could get to stay on top of all the orders. These lovely ladies volunteered their time to help me out.

Thank you so much for your kindness!!! Love you guys!

My friend Michelle- who was last weeks feature Friday... go read her story.

The pile of cancer quotes that go inside each Nana's Box

The hand cut-out cancer ribbons that go on the back of each Nana's Box- Thanks to my wonderful friend Beth, for cutting out each and every one!

Newest recipient...

The newest Nana's Box recipient is a women named Shelly.
Is is married to a man that I knew in High School. A friend ordered this box for Shelly, shortly after she was taken home from the hospice, because it looks as though her days are numbered. She is married with no kids and was diagnosed with cancer as a child. The cancer came back about a year ago.

She is in her late twenties.
May God be with her and all her loved ones at this time.

Do you know someone who could use a Nana's Box?? They are free for cancer patients.
Go here to order one.

{ Life Lessons }

If you are an Oprah fan, like I am, then you will have heard the name Randy Pausch. He is the professor who gave his "last lecture" after he had been diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
I was brought back to this lecture today and it once again, had a huge effect on me.

In this life we never know what is going to happen. We can do many things to prevent cancer and other such terrible diseases. In then end, it just happens anyway. My mom was very active.... VERY. She was always exercising, she ate fairly healthy and was wasn't overweight. However, she got cancer. Cancer doesn't discriminate between the active and the non active.... the healthy eaters and the junk food lovers.... the black or the white.
We just have to take each day as it comes and live life to the fullest EVERY DAY. I learned a new meaning about HOPE today......

"Hope is not just about wishing that the outcome will be good. Hope is understanding what is happening to your life.... and living it anyway."

In the News...

Private Health Insurance Doesn't Protect Cancer Patients From High Costs, Report Illustrates:

Despite having private health insurance, cancer patients are running up large debts, filing for personal bankruptcy, and even delaying or forgoing treatment because they can't afford care, a new report from the American Cancer Society and the Kaiser Family Foundation shows. (to read the full article go here.)

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Have you enter our Silverdot Jewelry Giveaway?


Wan to order a Nana's box for someone fighting cancer?? It's FREE!
Go here to get started!

{Quote of the Day}

"Hope"

~ Crystal T

"Its Magic & Its Free
Its not in a prescription
Its not in a IV

It punctuates out laughter
It Sparkles in our tears
It simmers under sorrows
and Dissipates our fears

Do you know hope is?
Its reaching past today
Its dreaming of tomorrow
Its trying a new way

Its Questioning All the Answers
And always seeking more."

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Have you entered our Silverdot Jewelry Giveaway??

{ Fabulous Feature Friday: a Mothers wish}

The Little Prince Written & Drawn By Antoine de Saint-Exupery To me, this is the loveliest tale ever told--- The Little Prince. There are many small lessons that speak volumes in this book as the Little Prince leaves his home and travels from planet to planet, eventually landing on Earth. Discovering characters along the way that leads him to the answer of his search... a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly;
what is essential is invisible to the eye. I thought about this because a year ago today, I traveled to Europe with my mother and company to celebrate her one year remission from cancer. Her battle with cancer led her and all of us who surrounded her during that time, to always remember the the lessons of love and our responsibility for one another (John 13:34), and to live the life God meant for us to have (Romans 8:11). So, when I am busy with daily things that I may think are "matters of consequence", I remind myself that they are mere idleness (Colossians 3:2). At the end of the day, my goal is to have the peace of mind that I have served a purpose, whether that would be my service to my husband, family, friends, workplace, and home. We are a walking testimony of God's love. (Haven't read the book? Pick it up and you'll know what I mean...)
I met Michelle when she became one of my hula students. We have since then grown a great friendship.... it only grew stronger the night she shared with me that her mother was a cancer survivor as well. The kind and loving person that Michelle is, she planned a trip to Italy, to take her Mother to meet the Pope... fulfilling a deep dream and wish of her Moms'. They were accompanied by sisters and cousins.... and shared what soon became a very memorable and celebratory trip- they went after her Mom's one year anniversary of being in remission.

To read more about Michelle visit her at her blog 2000 Miles Away

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Have you entered our Silverdot Jewelry giveaway?

{ How you can help }

Nana’s Box is a nonprofit service committed to providing a photo box to cancer patients who are undergoing treatment. Nana's Box offers this service to the individual patient with the help and support of families, and those volunteers interested in the emotional support of cancer patients.
I started this project in an effort to support and honor my mom as she battles Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma.

Nana's Box is funded through donations..... 100% of proceeds and donations go to the Nana's Box project.
If you would like to donate to my fight against cancer, I have set up a Paypal account to make donating easy. Just click HERE.

I am also in need of supplies. Do you have extras lying around that you would be willing to donate??
Here is a short list of things that I am currently in need of:

* adhesives (glue sticks, photo corners, glue dots, etc)

* cardstock (any color)

For a more complete list click HERE.

** Silverdot Jewelry Giveaway ** NOW CLOSED**

Today I am kicking off the Silverdot Jewelry Giveaway!!

Judy, at Silverdot Jewelry, has graciously donated this beautiful Crystal Rose Necklace!

A faceted rock crystal quartz briolette is accented with a

lovely pink rose and suspended from sterling silver chain.

I love to mix metal components, and this is a really beautiful combination.

The necklace measures 18" in length inclusive of clasp.
The crystal briolette measures 1" in length and .25" in width.

All components are sterling silver and rose gold vermeil.
Rose gold vermeil is 24kt rose gold over sterling silver.

Rules to enter are:

1. Visit Silverdot Jewelry - then come back here & leave a comment telling us what your favorite earrings are.

2. For a second entry become a follower of Nana's Box.

3. For a third entry subscribe to us.

4. For a fourth entry post about this giveaway and then leave us a comment letting us know where we can read about it. (fourth entry subject to verification)

Better hurry. Giveaway ends February 28th!

What Cancer Cannot Do....

WHAT CANCER CANNOT DO

~ anonymous

Cancer is so limited that:

It cannot cripple love
It cannot shatter hope
It cannot corrode faith
It cannot destroy peace
It cannot kill friendship
It cannot suppress memories
It cannot silence courage
It cannot invade the soul
It cannot steal eternal life
It cannot conquer the spirit

{ Newest Recipent: How to move a mountain }

This box was ordered by a good friend of mine from High School. She has a dear friend from church, Kris, who is currently fighting Multiple Myeloma cancer. In August o7 Kris and her Daughter went on a two week Humanitarian expedition to Peru. They worked in a mountain village and toured some of the sights. They also climbed Machu Pichu and Waynu Pichu. Which is the inspiration to why her blog is titled 'How to move a mountain'.

My prayers go out to Kris and her family at this time. And many thanks to Amera for giving me the chance to make this wonderful box.

For more info on Multiple Myeloma go here.