Surviving Cancer

Tonight, was incredible. It is the normal, family of four night I have been yearning for since all this cancer craziness came about. Tonight was all about family and just spending time together. Naturally, this night came about because “Mama wanted a bloody mary.” I have been craving them in the worst way, and with not many friends in the area, the choice was, to either go somewhere alone and look like an alcoholic downing bloodies at the bar, or, bring my family to a restaurant that serves alcohol and set good examples for my children while downing bloodies in a booth (totally being sarcastic.)

The booth and family choice won, which I am totally cool with. We went to Applebees, and I do believe this was one of our first dinner outings as a family of four without any extras, just us. Crazy to think, because Everett has been with us for over 5 months now. It’s been THAT long. Dinner was amazing (I got steak), the kids were so well-behaved and amazing during dinner. I got my bloody, yes, just one, and it was mediocre. I’m sorry Applebees, but your bartenders could you use training on how to make a decent bloody mary. No salt on the rim, no pickle or any sort of decent garnish. I had a lime (gross), and one olive, yes that’s right, just ONE green olive. Yes, I know I could have asked for more, but I feel like bloodies usually just come with more.

Any way back to dinner. We ate, we each had a drink, and we left. It was fairly uneventful, but so wonderful. Uneventful in that nothing bad happened. It was just us, being a normal family of four on a Friday night out to dinner. So I had mentioned it to Josh earlier in the day, and somehow still had the energy in me to mention it again on the way to the car. I mentioned that we should take Audy to the park. There is this really big park in Sioux Falls that we have never been to before, and I saw someone posted on Facebook that they have some cool new equipment. So, I asked him, and he said yes, let’s go!

The weather was perfect. The sun was setting. It wasn’t blazing hot, and there was a nice breeze. Audy was ecstatic to see so much park at one place. This park had four different jungle gyms! It was so great. I think we dabbled in a little of each. Tonight, I was there for my daughter. I played, and chased, and climbed, and just watched the beautiful and perfect human being that she is. She has so much curiosity, kindness, and fun in her. She absolutely loves the slides, and she recently started taking interest in climbing the big scary ladders, rather than taking the steps. Scares this Mama half to death, but she’s not scared. Why would she be? Mama or Dada are always right there to catch her if she accidentally slips and falls.

Her kindness and outgoing personality she must of got from her dad. At the park, she says hi to everyone! Waves at other kids, says hi, walks up to younger kids and pats them on the back, like she’s saying good job or something. I had to go to preschool twice because I was so shy. This is not that girl, at all. This little girl amazes me, in a new way, every single day, and I can’t get enough.

Today, reminded that life is worth living. This life I have, maybe not so great in some ways right now, it’s worth being here. Why? Because of the beautiful and perfect children that I call mine. Life isn’t always roses and daisy’s, life is messy, and sometimes much messier than we would like, but messes can be cleaned. The mess I’m in now can and will be cleaned. It may take a lot of time and energy to do (similar to cleaning my house) but it’ll eventually get cleaned.

It’s a process that will take some time, but it’s time well spent if it means I get more nights like tonight with my husband and kids.