Here’s My Story…

I am the wife of a real-life Superman.

He rode in on a red Jeep many moons ago and changed my life. He has been rescuing me ever since. No capes required. He loves baseball and and oatmeal chip cookies. Mike is a man of few words, a stickler for the rules, and a warrior of what is right. He is my gift from God and I am grateful for him every day.

I am the mother of two amazing kids.

My daughter loves art and music and softball. She has an unmistakable giggle and more than a touch of attitude. She loves sunsets like her Mama and she feels things deeper than most. She leaves a little bit of joy, and a whole lot of mess, wherever she goes. People say she is my ‘mini me’, but to me, she is my “Sweet Pea”.

My son loves playing games and being outside. He loves baseball and karate, collecting rocks and whittling sticks. He has an awesome sense of humor, and his brain is wired for math, just like his Dad. He gives the best hugs ever. He is quiet and shy, but he will talk nonstop when he is comfortable. He wants to change this world. That boy is going to do great things one day, but he is always going to be my “Bud”.

I am the daughter to the best Mom in the whole wide world and a father who watches over me from heaven.

My Mom is the sweetest person you will ever meet. She is generosity and wisdom and strength and grace. A kinder, more gentle soul you will never find, but she is one of the strongest women I know. She is the Mom I was blessed to have and the Mom I aspire to be.

My Dad was bigger than life. My Dad was funny and smart and strong. My Dad loved to read and cook and garden. My Dad was loud and outspoken. My Dad was my hero. He was the man who taught me to be strong and positive, no matter what came my way.

I am a friend to an eclectic circle of amazing women.

I have friends I have known since childhood and friends I have recently met. I have friends who make me laugh when I want to cry, and hold me up when I want to fall. I am blessed with strong, unique women who bring color and light and beauty to my life. My circle is small, but my circle is solid.

I have cancer, but that is not what defines me.

I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer and then three years later, stage 4 metastatic breast cancer came back for me. Some call me a metavivor, or a metster, but I prefer just “Jen”. I ignore sad statistics and the limitations that go along with my terminal diagnosis. I know that my hourglass is no longer top-heavy, but I make it my mission to enjoy every moment and to focus on the good stuff. Because, even in my situation, there is still loads of good stuff.

I write straight from my heart.

I write words that pour from my heart. God gave me the eyes to see the beauty in the disaster, and the joy in the things that others miss. God puts words on my heart that help others to see the good when their own eyes might be clouded by all that’s wrong in this world.

It only took 40-some years, a terminal cancer diagnosis, and a life of ups and downs, … but I finally know, and am totally comfortable with, exactly who I am.

I have an unwavering faith in God, a personal relationship with Jesus, and a desire to dive deep into the Word. I know I am not perfect, and I am okay with that. I am a work in progress and I know God is still refining me. I fiercely love my family and friends. I love people, but I will not chase them. I will focus on those that choose to stick around. I prefer deep conversations to small talk, solitude to crowds. I prefer when people wear their flaws on their sleeves, instead of cloaks of perfection. I probably forgive people more quickly and easily and more often than most. I will turn the other cheek when people do things to me, but I will jump all over them when they hurt those I love. I expect people to have the same heart as me, and get hurt all the time because of it. If ‘everyone else’ is doing it, I will probably stop. I love all things chocolate and peanut butter. I believe a cup of hot tea can soothe the soul. I admire blue-sky-and-puffy-white cloud kind of days as much as rainy ones. I love baking and make the best chocolate chip cookies, so say my children. I love flowers, but prefer daisies to roses, and hand-picked wildflowers to fancy bouquets. Some chase storms, I chase sunsets. My pet peeves are miserable people, wet sleeves, and cluttered counters.

At times, my life is a little sad, a little scary, and a lot of crazy.

Most of the time, though, my life is a whole lot of joy.

But no matter what comes my way … I will always choose joy.

So, what is LifeConfetti all about?

It may sound crazy but as dreadful as cancer is; in a lot of ways, my life has actually changed for the better. My priorities changed. My outlook changed. I got a late start but I am actually living now. I promised myself and God that as long as He let me stay on this Earth, I would devote my life to sharing what I learned with others. I will gather up all the confetti I can find and I will sprinkle it all over the place.

I want people to stop dwelling on all the bad stuff. I want people to count their blessings. I want people to spread joy to each other.

So, I am going to have my say. I am going to write about life and hope and celebration. I am going to do what I promised, even if I don’t know what the future holds. I have always loved to write. When I write, I cleanse my soul of “stuff” I need to get out – so that’s what I am going to do.

Thank you for hanging out with me.

I am plugging along, trying to navigate this pretty awesome life while living with metastatic breast cancer. I am far from perfect and I don’t have it all figured out. But by the Grace of God, I am still here; and for that, I am forever grateful.

Every. Single. Day.