New York, NEW YORK!!! (Yes, you are singing it too, aren't you? ;)

Well if Andrew and I aren't the Green Acres song :) Yes, he went with me to New York City, but I'm more the Darling' I love ya but give me Park Avenue, and he's more Green Acres is the place for me, farm livin' is the life for me. Keep Manhattan, just give me that country side.  Needless to say, I LOVED NEW YORK!  Yes, even the hustle and bustle....and let me tell you, that is some SEROUS hustle and bustle at Christmas time!  I told him if I had a lot of money, I could live there.  But in all honesty, I love my country side just like him.  So New York vacations are just fine with me :)  I hope my pictures can give you an overview of everything, but this trip was a bucket list dream come true.
So we drove there on Monday, and here is our story.....

Andrew DRIVING on 34th St.! He did great! The Empire State Building is the tall one and  the  world's largest store, Macy's, is to the left.  I was shaking as we were driving through I was so excited!

I took this picture hanging from the sunroof.  I did BELIEVE and we made it to NYC!

The view of Manhattan from our hotel room in Queens.

                                                                             DAY 1

The 9/11 Memorial. A must see, very neat but I wouldn't go until this September when the museum is open too.  

The future 9/11 museum that will be filled with artifacts and stories.

We didn't exactly Occupy Wall St, but we did walk through it! And think we saw Donald Trump's son  outside his building!

The Brooklyn Bridge on our water tour of NYC

The Wall St. area of Downtown Manhattan...the tall black building will be the One World Trade Center building.  When it's finished it will be the tallest building in America. 

The Empire State building.

Yup, it's cold and Andrew needed my scarf...but that's us near the Statue of Liberty!

This is Lombardi's Pizza in Little Italy, it was named one of America's Top 10 pizzeria's 

Oh my...YUM!

We saw a few window displays, but Macy's was my favorite! It was the story of Virginia, you know, the 'Yes Virginia there is a Santa Claus.'  What I loved was that only a few days before our trip, I watched this exact movie on Netflix!  They did a great job and it looks like the exact replica of the characters!

 Unfortunately, it started to DOWNPOUR rain with winds of 45 mph starting at 3:00 and it didn't stop until midnight.  So we went to Macy's and then had to cancel our night in SoHo.  We ended up heading back to our hotel and ordering in sushi!  All in all...GREAT FIRST DAY...and it only gets better!

                                                                           DAY 2

I had to go in FAO Schwartz...what grown up child wouldn't?!

I even got to play on the BIG piano!

Oh me and my Captain :) What an awesome toy store!

Diamonds are a girl's best friend....

Andrew wanted to go in Trump Tower so we did and it was beautiful!

This wall had water running down it and the hole place looked like it was lined in gold...it was heavenly :)

St. Patrick's Cathedral...it was HUGE inside and just beautiful.  

WE MADE IT!!!

The BIG TREE at Rockefeller Center! I can mark this off my Bucket  List now :)

30 Rock = BIG!

Where they tape the TODAY show.  Somehow I just couldn't convince Andrew to see Hoda and Kathy Lee ;)  

Yes, I had to Andrew ;)

We did an NBC Studio Tour and although we couldn't take pictures, we were able to see the Dr. Oz set, Late Night with Jimmy Fallon set, and the Saturday Night Live set! Awesome!!!! So here's the story...for almost 2 months I called everyday for Jimmy Fallon tickets.  They only booked a month in advanced and I wanted to make sure I got tickets.  So as Nov. 28 get closer and closer, I kept calling and getting the same recording...'We are booked up until Dec. 23, please call back for future tickets.'  So I finally called the operator after hearing that for 3 days straight.  And of course, what do I hear when I ask if they are taping on Wed, December 28, I hear 'Oh I'm sorry, everyone is on vacation the week after Christmas.' NOOOOO! So after my devastating, almost crying moment, Andrew encouraged me by saying he likes Conan O'Brian better...so we just have to go to California next to watch him instead!  Cali...here we come!

Grand Central...another WOW moment!

The tree at night! This was the BUSIEST place in the entire world I think! Can you tell I'm just a BIT happy :)

We then went to the Top of the Rock and was able to see Manhattan from WAY up high.  Our  plans kinda got screwed up when I thought our vouchers were our tickets to this, so we didn't get to see it at sunset like I'd hoped and had to save ice skating for the next day.  But it turned out great!

That dark spot in the middle is Central Park.  We went to BLT Steak for dinner,  the head chef is the winner of the TV show Hell's Kitchen.  Andrew and I have always wanted to eat at the real Hell's Kitchen (and hey, we may just get to in California), but this was good enough! The steak was GOOOOOOOD!  

                                                                          DAY 3

Ice skating at Rockefeller Center!

Heading into Central Park!

Bethesda Fountain! 

I called Andrew the bird lady from Home Alone for feeding the birds :)

Central Park is just breathtaking.  I loved it! And I would definitely ice skate here next time! 

Heading over the bridge, The Plaza Hotel is in the background.

TIMES SQUARE! 

And something really cool happened! As we were walking down Times Square, we started to notice that the ball was dropping! They did the practice round and we got to see the ball drop and change all different colors! I'll take that over standing for 12 hours :)

We then ate a place called 'The View Restaurant and Lounge'.  The restaurant rotated 360 degrees every hour so we were able to see different views of New York City.  And I had Scallop Lemon Risotto! Checking off another thing from my Bucket List :) 

Going to...YES, a Broadway show! Andrew let me go! 

And my last picture of NYC...what a trip!

So as you can see, I kept us very busy and 3 months of planning was very much worth it (as well as 500 pictures, so these are just a few ;)  The thing is, I loved planning out this trip! Andrew was willing to do everything I had my heart set on doing (besides a few things...but that just gives me a reason to come back again with my mom!)  I told Andrew that if we pulled this trip off, I was going to be pretty darn proud of myself.  I have never planned a trip like this before, to one of the biggest cities in the world (taxis, subways, and tall buildings were a foreign subject to me).  So I was scared.  But you know what, some of the scariest things I do in my life, the things that have my stomach in knots, end up being the things that I love doing!

New York City was a goal that I have had for a long time, and you know what, it wasn't coming to me, so I had to go to it.  And no one was going to do it for me, so I had to.  But what was more satisfying to my surprise was not making it to see that great big Christmas tree, but that I fulfilled such a big goal.  So this year, I challenge you...pick a goal and fulfill it.  For me, I want to do the things that I have only thought about doing.  God willing, in 2012, I'm going to let my creative side come out again. :) God gave me some gifts in my life, and I'm ready to sharpen them up a bit.  I have a couple pieces of piano music I got a few years back, and played them only so so.  I memorize music better than I read it, and always stumbled my way through it, so I never got really got good at it.  But my hope is to change that. I'm going to take some lessons again from a very good friend and fulfill that goal!  I'm also going to paint again...you can see it on my dining room wall this spring!  You see, on my bucket list, I wanted to frame my own artwork and display it in my house.  I'm going to get that done this year.  I also want to do one more thing before 2012 ends.  I'm going to do Encore Theater again.  I haven't been on a stage since high school, but I'm going to do it again!  Letting my creative side out again this year is my plan!  I'm still taking Graduate classes at University of Dayton, and still building my relationship with the only one who can truly make me happy and fulfilled in this life, my Jesus :) Oh and yes, going to doctor's appointments are something that I can't quite avoid yet, so I do have a neurologist appointment in two weeks, and my 4 month cancer appointments in 4 weeks.  Wow, time is flying!  I better get busy on this list :)

2011 Christmas Card Poem!

I know this is a week late, but my picture is why :) If you remember, I used a picture from the internet of Rockefeller Center last year on my blog as the Christmas picture.  Well, here's my picture this year...only I took it :) Stay tuned for more pictures of my adventure to New York City!

2011 Wrap Up Poem!

The year started out, with radiation everyday.

It got old pretty fast, but I knew it would go away.

I drank my Ensure, cause that’s all that went down.

And put on my lotion, until the last round.

It was all over soon, and I waited for THE word.

But only ‘disease free’, that was all that I heard.

I stayed busy until then, with work and my health.

A flooded basement nightmare, a new necklace for myself.

My port came out in March, and it was good for a day.

But nerve pain set me back, in the worst kind of pain.

After doctors and scans, I was ready to be done.

But back to my neurologist in Columbus I went, who said I was a ‘rare one’.

A surprise party in May, made my celebration of Life complete.

I finally heard Remission…it’s cancer I beat!

With hair growing back, back to Iowa I went,

Remembering my diagnosis, what a time that meant.

Summer started with Relay for Life, an event I’ll never forget.

Dedicated to ‘the club’, it’s something I’ll never regret!

I then went to Marblehead, with a broken leg too.

And then off to Texas, my Pursuit isn’t through…

My summer not over, a new motorcycle was bought!

Some camping, some boating, more lessons were taught.

And then a final trip, to New England none the less.

A road trip that ended, with a New York trip for Christmas!

My fall was awesome, a hot air balloon ride and all.

I even RAN a 5K, something to me that wasn’t so small.

We had a Halloween party, with the family all there

And a Thanksgiving with games, a special prayer unshared.

Andrew stayed busy too, with the fire department and crew.

He hunted and fished, and took care of me too.

He installed all new white doors and the whole house with white trim,

When Yuengling hit Ohio, his face had a grin. :)

My year has flown by, and I mean that for sure.

I’m still in remission, awaiting THE cure.

But as I wait, and my bucket list gets smaller

I give thanks to my God, for every day and for each new hour.

This next year my goal, is to live out more dreams

It gives Life more purpose, and fulfillment it seems.

So I wish you a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year.

Give your loved ones a hug, and don’t forget to ‘cheers!’

Cheers to 2012 everyone!

The Pursuit: The Laura after Cancer update!

Sorry for my lack of blog posts for those of you that are still keeping up with my Pursuit: Laura after Cancer...actually, this whole Laura after Cancer should be changed...it should be Laura in Remission.  I'm not really done with cancer, I'm still getting checked every 4 months and think about it almost daily...but it's better than every 5 minutes like it used to be though!  Maybe after I hear the word 'cured' in 5 years...then I'll be the Laura after Cancer.  I think My Pursuit: Laura in Remission sounds better for right now :) Wow, I just realized how much of a hold the word 'cancer' still has on me...I'm gonna try working on that for 2012.  I think I just hear stories about people who relapse more than staying in remission...those are the stories that make the news ya know?  I don't want to go through my life without any trials, because I learn from them.  However, this time around...I'd certainly like to remain on the survivors team :)  Uugh...on to better topics...that's just depressing!

With my graduate classes and teaching life, I feel like my writing and creative thoughts have been squeezed out to the last drop.  I finished up my VERY FIRST graduate class with an A and that load has been lifted off of me (at least for the next few weeks until next semester).  Also, I am so happy that my hair is growing out to the point where it's not a pixie cut anymore...I'm moving into the longer than short phase...and LOVING it!  The in-between was driving me crazy!  I'm feeling pretty good lately.  I have a feeling my lungs will never be what they used to be, but Andrew says I need to exercise more to keep them in shape.  I haven't been running like I did in the fall, and I can tell.  That 5K was so motivating and I felt so good that I accomplished something.  Same thing with grad school.  It is me who is accomplishing it and it just feels good.
I have been trying this whole frozen meal thing too...and for me its working! For some reason, cooking just doesn't come naturally to me, and I so wish it did because I love to eat and so does my husband! ;)  So I borrowed a book from my mother in law and in one day I made 15 meals in 6 hours and froze them.  It has saved us money and time, and my marriage! ;) My history of cooking was a bit different than Andrew's growing up...Hamburger Helper was really more like Hamburger Savior for us!  I'm way excited to try this again in January when my meals are up...and even have some friends who are joining me this time around!

Let's see, what else is new...oh my GORGEOUS house!  My amazing husband has been working hard making our house the home we dreamed of (at least for this time in our lives...the country is where our hearts are (with my walk in closet too :).  We now have ALL white trim and new white doors in the WHOLE house. This was a TON of sanding and painting, and he even put in new crown moulding in the dining room.  It looks SO nice!  He's now on to remodeling the master bathroom, trimming up some windows (so we can get rid of our 'temporary curtains' that have been up for 2 years!), and then the big remodeling of the basement.  I am so proud of him!
Here is a look at just one room out of the six...  
                                                         
                                                                  Dining room before...

and after!

I have a project that I am putting on the other wall in this dining room...remember my framed art work on my bucket list...well, that is my winter project :)

Christmas break is coming up very soon for me.  It's good because I'm coming home from work drained in every way and I'm ready for a break.  But only for a few days because our trip to New York City is SOOOO right around the corner.  With Christmas this year I am fulfilling another item that I put on my bucket list last year...to see Rockefeller Center at Christmas...I am happier than you can possibly know that this is coming true for little girl who grew up in Lima, Ohio.  I am living my dreams and I am so happy to finally be able to have the courage to DO it!
Once again, I can see God working in my life by stirring up my heart and showing me He hasn't forgotten me by answering prayers.  I feel like something big is going to happen in 2012 and I'm excited to see where Life takes me!  Oh, and I will have my 2011 Christmas Card on here soon too...so be looking because it's a little different this year.... ;)

A Truly Thankful Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving 2011

                                                         
                                                 Last year's Thanksgiving 2010

My, oh my, how a year can change...
Just looking back on this photo gives me chills.  I look so sick, and I don't think at that time I really realized how sick I was.  The biggest difference this year at Thanksgiving is that I lost my hat and gained some hair...and maybe another sister one day ;)
I know everyone has said what they are thankful for.  And I know that a lot of things that I am thankful for are the same as yours too.  But sometimes I think you don't really know what to be truly thankful for until it is lost.  Only then do you see the value and truly appreciate it.  This year, I knew I would be thankful for something that I have taken for granted and I know many of you have too.  But I am so thankful for my health.  I am so thankful that my white blood cells have started to act right again and not produce anymore cancer cells.  I am so thankful that I have the chance again to live a healthy life, to fulfill my dreams, to have children, and love more deeply. I am so thankful that there was a medicine to get rid of my cancer and hopefully keep it away so that I can have a long, long life.  But even though I am thankful for my health, I am also thankful that God has given me trials in my life, so that I truly know the meaning of the word thanks.
Beyond just my new health though...
I am thankful for my husband who tells me that I am beautiful...even during the rough days last year.
I am thankful for my sisters (and you too Buddy).  They are my best friends and I am SO thankful that we live just a short car drive away.
I am thankful for my parents and their incredible example of love for their children.
I am thankful for the ability to live a comfortable life style...having clothes to wear and a washer and dryer to clean them in...food to eat at my convenience...and a house to live in that has heat when it's cold and air conditioning when its hot...how often we can forget how lucky we are to live such a comfortable lifestyle.
I feel like I could keep going like a child on Thanksgiving about how I'm thankful for my dear friends, and music, and books, and Oreos, and my pets...but above all else, I am so deeply thankful for my relationship with God.  He keeps me grounded and keeps me pursuing Him.  I am thankful for the cross so that one day when my life on earth is done, I can be more alive than ever in His kingdom up above.  I feel truly blessed to have the life that I do, and I press on daily to live out the life I was called to live.  I feel challenged everyday, but that comes with the territory when I ask God to push me beyond what I think I'm capable of.  My biggest challenge this year is to take on the challenges that God keeps giving me...I know only then will I be content, and possibly more thankful than I can even imagine!  

Halloween Party!

So after last years Halloween when I dressed up as an old man, I said that I was going to have a family Halloween party where everyone had to dress up...well, with the help of my sister, we did it! Before Sarah's party, my whole immediate family came (Andrew was late because he had to take his mom to the hospital) and we laughed during family games and the kids had a blast! My parents came as crayons, the Hefts were a family of gnomes, Scott and Suzy were the wolf and Little Red Riding Hood (can you see his wolf mask in the back?!), Sarah was a nurse and Billy was Shawn from Shawn of the Dead, the kids were a Transformer, Harry Potter, a cheerleader, and Andrew and I were Craig and Ariana (the Spartan Cheerleaders from SNL! We even played the part and did some cheers!) I should be writing my two papers tonight, but instead I thought I'd give you an update on the Life of Laura. :)

I still have a cough that for some reason won't go away, but I'm pretty much 'dried up' for the most part. My family doc said that the hernia should be fine until it starts to bother me, and I get my blood drawn this week to check my white blood cell count again. I've had to wait because I've been sick for so long. Believe it or not, I'm STILL waiting on my TENS UNIT (I will not go to this place anymore, that's for sure!) but meanwhile I've been getting my back pain relief from massages or the chiropractor. My lungs have been treating me better since my inhaler, and cancer is becoming a distant memory. November 4 was a year since I've had a chemo treatment...crazy how time flies.

I've been feeling good lately, the things that are getting me down are the normal things that get everyone down...the stresses of life. But I've learned that without suffering there would be no compassion. Lots of people are going through so much suffering, and showing just a little bit of compassion can go such a long way. Lots of people are on my prayer list this week who are in the hospital...for my mother in law who just spent a week in the hospital (scary for a little bit, but had surgery and will be just fine), for my cousin in law who is in the hospital until she delivers her baby girl (she's only 25 weeks and having complications), for a coworker whos husband has been in for way to long and for my friends who are suffering loss. Lots of prayer time is being filled up this week with people I care about. Which makes me want to thank you all so much again for your prayers for me when I was so sick. You are a huge reason that I came out on top. Thank you for showing me such compassion through my suffering!

On to happier things though! My grad class will be wrapping up soon and this class has certainly challenged me in wondering what I want to do for the rest of my life. My plans for NYC this Christmas is starting to seriously come together...I am more excited than you can imagine! My Monday nights are filled with the Sing-Off with my sis...which reminds me! I think I may try out for a part this year at the Encore Theater! I miss acting and singing and haven't done it since high school! I'm trying to fill up my time with everything that I want to do before children...I'm hoping next year is my year, but we will see! And work, I have been more challenged (and stressed!) this year at work, but Friday I was reminded about why I do this job. If you know any teachers out there, tell them that they are doing a good job, they need to hear it way more than what they do! And vote NO on Issue 2 ;) I'm reminded of my many blessing in life, each night I come home to MY house, cook dinner in MY kitchen, and take a bath in MY bathtub. I have worked hard to have these things in my life. But something I've worked even harder for is MY marriage. I have been so blessed to find a man that loves me for me. The ups and downs. The fact that I get to come home to MY husband reminds me that I have achieved something even far greater than owning a house or having a job...I have received unconditional love from both him and God. And for that, I am surely blessed. What are your blessings?