Sanctuary ….. The Golden Hour

Sanctuaries can be places, they can be a specific event, they can even be an act to which you can become a part of……but for me, I have created my own little sanctuary, in my own little oasis filled with candles and plants and furniture that is warm, soft and memorable of enjoying on a warm summers night.   The underused and almost forgotten space which was occupied for too many years by an outdated Jacuzzi, now has hummingbirds in all their glory, along with overflowing flowerpots of succulents and daisies…….my own little sanctuary, where at the end of the day, I find my own little peace and calm. With the news from the past few weeks, Randy and I have needed to find our own sanctuary, our own calm before the storm.

My tumors have metastasized from the outside lining of my lung to my spine. There is a silver lining if that is even possible. The cancer is focused on the spinal bone and not the chord. So, with this new glitch in our path, we travel forth…….there are numerous spots of cancer throughout my spine…….it just totally sucks!!! We are in need of good news for a change…….so we start with another procedure–the beginning of July through August started out with cryo-ablation the first week of July…….by all approaches a very successful procedure, which was done up in LA.

We have also had a plethora of visitors………… love, love, love all those visitors. Thank you— Karen and Cheri and Mary, my Mom, Karlie, and others, Del Mar Days and more………you all help me survive when I didn’t know when survival is all that I need. We have been drawing short straws for way too long—we found out that I did not qualify for genetic immunotherapy, which was quite the bummer…..we also got the news from the Kaiser thoracic surgeon that I was not an eligible surgical candidate because of the growth of my tumors.  We are moving forward…..because there is no going back.  And Randy, Karlie, and I were in Los Angeles yesterday for another procedure – with good results! — and I’ll update you soon!

If not for the love and understanding and compassion and did I not say the LOVE of my most fervent supporters, and that would be Randy and Brian and Elisa and Tommy and Katie. I could not have traveled this journey nearly as pain free as has been possible! There has been new love and shall I say New Life!! That’s Right. I now will have grandmamma as the favorite moniker of the day– That’s Right — A Smerik baby is on the way!!!!  Way to Go Brian and Elisa!! What world problems to have to deal with. Just another miracle that I can’t wait to be a part of!!!

The Golden Hour…….has become that time just before sunset….I call it the golden hour which falls from 7:00-8:00 in the evening. This is when I glorify in the golden hour in my sanctuary. I find my calm before the next storm that comes across our path.

Lots of photos — all of these were taken since my last blog post – lots and lots of fun visitors and adventures: