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Sunshine, Friendship, and The Week - Friday 5

March 14, 2014

TGIF, friends. This week has actually been a great week. I have never longed for Spring and Summer so much in my life. Maybe it is because I feel so much better about myself now, but I am becoming so impatient. We were given a tease Saturday through Tuesday here and I took advantage of it as much as I could! However, I am irritated because I have been so sore, all week long. I love it for the first day or so, but now I am off over it. My thighs better be shaping up good after all of this!

Monday was my off day from the gym. I came home and made a new recipe (which by the way is out of this world delicious), did some cleaning, and (1) I had a fabulous new workout top arrive. Not only is it pink, the best color ever, but I love the saying on it. How freaking true? It is so motivating and the perfect saying for when you're hard at work at the gym. The shirt is from Blessons Apparel!


(2) Tuesday was the most beautiful day and I soaked up every second of it. I left work a little early, put the top back, and drove home. I did the Hot Mess Express for half an hour then Kelly and I ran two miles on the Greenway. I am so lucky to have my gym, LA Fitness across the parking lot and a beautiful 4 mile Greenway to run on. If that doesn't keep someone on track, I don't know what could! Great thing I picked my particular apartment complex - I just knew it felt right.


After our awesome run, Kels and I walked to Hickory Tavern for a bottle of Pinot and patio time. Because, duh - we exercise to drink our wine, ha! The weather was beautiful and we work out butt's off, so we deserved it. We had the best time. 


Wednesday, I received some bad news about my father. Luckily, the rain stopped and turned out to be another beautiful, warm day. My best friend was there for me the whole evening. Kelly and I went to the gym, had a killer work out, then she and her dad took me to a delicious dinner. (3) I am so thankful for friendship. We of course had to snap a a sweaty, post workout picture. Our more glamorous state. Ha!



(4) Thursday morning my cat was on another level. He ran around all night being psycho. Marty definitely has the biggest personality of any cat I have ever seen, but this was crazy! I woke up to him going through my medicine cabinet! Ha! I love him more than anything, he is nuts.


(5) My dad. I feel like I talk about him all of the time on my blog, but his cancer really affects me. I have never had to deal with a terminal illness like cancer nor have I lost a close family member before. This is all so new to me and difficult to swallow. I talk about the pain sometimes on my blog, because writing is my therapy and outlet. Plus I feel like you can never ask for too many prayers. I received a call that my father was rushed to the ER at Duke. There is a hospital 10 minutes away from my parents in my hometown, why did he have to go 2 hours to Duke? Turns out the cancer is eating away at his bone. The doctors attempted to do surgery and couldn't. Nor could they do radiation. They sent him home with a morphine drip. My dads battle with cancer is tearing me apart. I can only imagine how he feels. The cancer started in 2006 in his kidney, which was removed and he was cancer free until 2011 when there was a tumor found in his brain. That was removed and then we found out that it was in his leg bone and pelvis as well, so it had been in his blood stream. Thus it is not curable. My family has been on this terrible rollercoaster ride of good news, bad news good news, good news, and everyday it gets hard. My father has fought so damn hard and for so long. And there is not much I can do for him. I wish I could take it all away from him and put it in me, but I can't. I visit my dad when I can, I call to say I love him, and I made a picture for him that can hopefully cheer him up.


My dad is a really hard person to buy gifts for. He doesn't really have any hobbies or any likes, besides the Beatles. I have gotten him so much Beatles stuff that I lost count. I thought the picture of he and I and our favorite song may help him. He used to sing "Butterfly Kisses" to me all of the time. I cried like a baby while trying to make this for him last night. Until a few months ago, I really distanced myself from my dad. I rarely saw him, rarely talked, and I pretended that the cancer didn't exist. Any time someone would ask me about him, I would reply that he was receiving his treatments and doing OK. I would never talk about it because I was living in denial. I did not want to believe it, because I don't feel strong enough to handle it. However, I have slowly changed myself over the last few months and realized my selfishness will not help him. I try to be a better daughter everyday and realize this is not about me, it is about him.

Have a great weekend everyone.

25 comments

  1. I watched one of my best friends fathers battle cancer for most of our childhood. It is a heart wrenching thing. You've both got my prayers.

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  2. I can't imagine how difficult that would be :( I am praying for you and your dad... Love you, friend!

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  3. oh liz, i'm so sorry to hear about your father. it's incredibly hard on everyone to see a loved one go through that. big hugs xoxoxo

    -kathy | Vodka and Soda

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  4. Liz girl you are such a sweetheart! I am so sorry to hear about your father, I wish him all the best! That picture you made for him is amazing, kind and I bet it will bring those happy tears to his eyes. xx
    On a happy note, I love that tank. Makes you look super hot & I love the quote too! Have a great weekend girlie!

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  5. I'm sorry about your Dad. Cancer is awful for the person who has it and the family who has to watch.

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  6. So sorry to hear about your father. Thinking about you. I hope you have a good weekend.

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  7. Keeping you and him in my prayers! You are stronger than you think! Hugs :)

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  8. So sorry about your father! He is in our prayers!

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  9. UGH that sunshine in those pics is something I've been longing for over here in Chicago!! I'm also LOVING that pink tank! I have to hop on over to that site asap!! And my dad LOVES the Beatles too!! The very reason why I'm obsessed with them as well. :) Happy Friday, lovely!!!

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  10. Oh girl I'm sorry about you're dad. That is hard. And words can't express how bad I feel for you.
    On a lighter note wohoo for sunshine!

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  11. THAT SHIRT!!! I want it! Praying for your dad too!!!

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  12. I am so sorry about your dad :( Cancer is hard for everyone and it never gets any easier. You and your family are in my thoughts.

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  13. Love the shirt but you knew that! I can't wait to order more too. Sounds like a wonderful week and makes my heart tug reading about your dad. I am praying for you and your family. Butterfly kisses was my father/daughter song at my wedding, I can remember sitting in the car when I was like 7 on my way to school and my dad telling me that was his song for me. Hold your head high beautiful.. remember God doesn't give you anything you can't handle.. he must think you are super woman strong!! Love youuu

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  14. Keeping you, your dad and your family in my prayers. Hugs!

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  15. The shirt is great! I'm so sorry to read about your Dad- cancer sucks!! Your Dad will definitely be in my prayers.

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  16. I am so so very sorry Liz you and your family are going through this right now. I am glad you have good friends to help get you through it and take your mind off it even for just a few hours. You and him will be in my thoughts and prayers.

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  17. I watched my best friend go through this with her Dad. It's so hard and cancer just sucks all the way around. Hugs to you!!!

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  18. I loved this whole post until the very end!
    It breaks my heart to hear what you are having to go through.
    I am so very sorry sweet girl..
    I am sure it is super hard for you!
    I hope he can get a little rest with everything that is going on!

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  19. I'm so sorry about the bad news with your father. I will pray for him, you, and your family.

    On a more positive note, that color pink looks great against your skin! Great job with soaking up this beautiful weather. I can't wait to do the same! Have a great weekend, Liz!

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  20. Aww sweetheat Iam SO sorry!!!! Will be praying for your sweet Daddy!!! That is a precious picture!!! I know he is so proud of you!!! That stinker Marty is a cutie pie for sure...he was just looking for some good moisturizer!!! heehe Love these gorgeous days in the Carolinas for sure!!!

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  21. Oh sweet girl, I am so sorry to hear about your dad. My dad was also diagnosed with cancer in 2006 and it was a rollercoaster ride as well thinking the cancer was gone, nope it came back in another place, thought it was gone again, came back but was in remission and then it came back with a vengeance, and he ended his battle with cancer 2.5 years ago. It is the hardest thing to watch someone who has been so strong and such a rock in your life start to get physically weak and feel like there is nothing you can do to make it better. I am so very sorry you have to go through this, and I am praying for strength for you right now. Even though it seems like I've been through something similar, I know we are all different in how we feel and respond, but I just want you to know that if you need to get anything off your chest, you can email me! :( So sorry.
    Eva Marie Taylor

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  22. Hahahahah... nosey kitty is so cute/funny! :)

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  23. Im so sorry about your dad.... prayers to him. ( HUGS )

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  24. I absolutely LOVE that shirt. How cute, and did I spot you wearing it on Wednesday as well? :). So sorry to hear about your dad, thinking of you.

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  25. Your new tank top is the BEST!! Of course because its such a pretty bold pink, but also the saying is great too. And as for your Dad, I am so so sorry. *hugs* I wish I had more words I could say, but words fail me at times like this and all I can say is I am thinking of you and your family.

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