Labor Day - What does it mean?

As Labor Day is approaching, I find that my thoughts turn to "What does Labor Day mean"? Oh, I know the "traditional" meaning, but what has it come to mean through the years other than the traditional meaning? To some it signifies the unofficial end of summer; the beginning of school, leaves changing colors, birds flying south, the coming of winter, football!

To others, it brings a dread of early darkness, no more basking in the sun, no more swimming, the end of baseball.

I for one look forward to the fall. I love that early morning crispness in the air, the smells that come with fall, the magnificent portraits painted on every hillside and in every valley. I love to curl up in a blanket on a Sunday afternoon with a cool breeze blowing through the window. I am one of those who actually enjoys wearing a jacket as football weather descends upon us. I love the multitude of colors of chrysanthemums, the sounds of marching bands, and cheering crowds.

And, I look forward to the first frost, Halloween, full moons, pumpkins, apples and a trip to my favorite childhood apple orchard.

Fall is already in the air. The leaves on my dogwood tree have been changing color for weeks now, and it is already full of those messy red berries. Yes folks, fall is on it's way.

Hooray!!! Sherri

The Joys of Being a Great Aunt

The pictures say it all!

Cancer

Cancer is limited.

It cannot cripple love.

It cannot shatter hope.

It cannot corrode faith.

It cannot eat away peace.

It cannot destroy confidence.

It cannot kill friendship.

It cannot shut out memories.

It cannot silence courage.

It cannot invade the soul.

It cannot reduce eternal life.

It cannot quench the Spirit.

It cannot lessen the power of the resurrection. Author Unknown

Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. (Isaiah 46:4)

Treatment Three and more Thoughts From Barbara Johnson

I had my 3rd IROX treatment this week, and the side effects were the same as with treatment #2; extreme tiredness, nausea, headache, slight diarrhea, the intolerance to cold and just a general feeling of YUCK! But, one good thing, having the treatment on Monday, by Friday I am feeling better. We have been having the most beautiful weather, although a bit too dry. And for those of you who watch the signs of changing seasons, the leaves on my dogwood tree began changing colors at least 3 weeks ago. I guess we are going to have an early fall.

Now as for Barbara Johnson, for those of you who are not familiar with her writing, Barbara is a popular speaker on the Women of Faith conference tour and is considered the best selling female Christian author in the world. I discovered her works years ago and continue to find her inspirational and funny! Barbara was diagnosed with cancer in 2001, prepared herself to meet her maker, and in her words, "Unexpectedly...I kept on living."

So I give you some quips from the above book, I hope you laugh like I did, as I have found that humor, along with faith, is the only way to get through each day.

1. Some days you're the pigeon, some days the statue.

2. Time may be a great healer, but it is a lousy beautician.

3. They say life begins at 50, it begins all right, to disintegrate.

4. I'm not confused, I'm just well mixed.

And a note from Barbara regarding her cancer: People treat you differently when they find out you have cancer, especially people who are acquaintances rather than close friends. They look at you differently, and a lot of the time, I don't like the unspoken words I see in their eyes: Poor you. You've got cancer. You're going to die. It's made me want to follow another cancer patient's urges and a wear a T-shirt that says: Yes, I have cancer. Yes, I'm going to die. And so are you.

One thing I have found, is that some people, even friends, find it hard to accept my candidness and openess about my cancer. So if you someday see me wearing a T-shirt stating the above, don't be too shocked. To quote Barbara again, "The best laughter is the kind that's shared".

Sherri