Readers Delight Christmas Contest!

Go to this link and read all about it!!

All you have to do is leave a comment here playing a little game called, "What I Don't Want for Christmas." 

You might be chosen!

...to all the colors of ribbons that are worn in support of a cause. I found this on this site:  Cause Keepers after finding it via a homeschool site called: Home School Spirit

Pink and Blue Ribbon:
Meaning: This style of ribbon is a symbol for the March of Dimes and its efforts in fighting premature births, saving babies, and finding a cure for birth defects.

Pink Ribbon :
Meaning: Most commonly associated with breast cancer awareness, this ribbon is also a symbol for birth parents, and childhood cancer awareness (alternative color: light blue)

 
Yellow Ribbon :
Meaning: We've all seen this symbol used to support our troops, but it is also a symbol for MIA/POW, suicide prevention, adoptive parents, amber alerts, bladder cancer, spina bifida, endometriosis, and a general symbol for hope. A yellow ribbon with a heart is used to represent the survivors left behind after a suicide.

Pale Yellow Ribbon :
Meaning: This color is a symbol of spina bifida

Red Ribbon :
Meaning: Most commonly associated with the fight against AIDS and HIV, this ribbon also is a symbol for heart disease, stroke, substance abuse, MADD, DARE, Epidermolysis Bullosa, Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy

Burgundy Ribbon :
Meaning: This color is a symbol of brain aneurysm, Cesarean section (worn upside down), headaches, hemangioma, vascular malformation, hospice care, multiple myeloma, William's syndrome, Thrombophilia, Antiphospholid Antibody Syndrome, and adults with disabilities

Purple Ribbon :
Meaning: This color is a symbol of pancreatic cancer, domestic violence, ADD, alzheimer's, religious tolerance, animal abuse, the victims of 9/11 including the police and firefighters, Crohn's disease and colitis, cystic fibrosis, lupus, leimyosarcoma, and fibromyalgia

Lavender Ribbon :
Meaning: This color is a symbol for general cancer awareness. It can also be a symbol for epilepsy, and rett syndrome

Periwinkle Ribbon :
Meaning: This color is a symbol of eating disorders and pulmonary hypertension

Blue Ribbon :
Meaning: This color is a symbol of drunk driving, child abuse, Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI), the victims of hurricane Katrina, dystonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), alopecia, Education, Epstein-Barr Virus, Save the Music, colon cancer (alternative ribbon color: brown), colo****** cancer (alternative ribbon color: brown), and anti-tobacco - particularly anti-second hand smoke (in Canada; alternative ribbon color: brown), I Love Clean Air/ILCA Campaign (Japan) 

 Dark Blue Ribbon :
Meaning: This color is a symbol of arthritis, child abuse prevention, victim's rights, free speech, water quality, and water safety

Light Blue Ribbon :
Meaning: This color is a symbol of childhood cancer (alternative color: pink), prostate cancer, Trisomy 18, and scleroderma
Gemstones: Blue Lace Agate, Blue Quartz

Teal Ribbon :
Meaning: This color is a symbol for ovarian, cervical, and uterine cancers as well as sexual assault, polycystic ovarian syndrome, and tsunami victims 

 Green Ribbon :
Meaning: This color is a symbol of childhood depression, missing children, open records for adoptees, environmental concerns, kidney cancer, tissue/organ donation, and worker and driving safety

Orange Ribbon :
Meaning: This color is a symbol of leukemia, hunger, and cultural diversity

White Ribbon :
Meaning: This color is a symbol of innocence, victims of terrorism, peace, right to life, bone cancer, adoptees, and retinal blastoma

Pearl Ribbon :
Meaning: This color is a symbol for emphysema, lung cancer, mesothelioma, and multiple sclerosis

Black Ribbon :
Meaning: This color is a symbol of mourning, melanoma, and gang prevention

Brown Ribbon :
Meaning: This color is an anti-tobacco symbol as well as a symbol of colon cancer (alternative ribbon color: blue), colo****** cancer (alternative ribbon color: blue) 

Grey Ribbon :
Meaning: This color is a symbol of diabetes, asthma, and brain cancer

Silver Ribbon :
Meaning: This color is a symbol for children with disabilities, Parkinson's disease, and mental illnesses such as severe depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and anxiety disorders.

Gold Ribbon :
Meaning: This color is a symbol for childhood cancer

Jigsaw Puzzle Ribbon:
Meaning: This style of ribbon is a symbol for autism

Lace Ribbon:
Meaning: This style of ribbon is a symbol for osteoporosis

Flag Ribbon:
Meaning: This style of ribbon is a symbol for both the victims and heros of the 9/11 attacks. It is also a symbol of patriotism and support of our troops. In addition, it is a symbol of fireworks safety.

I'm starting to really feel good! Haven't gotten into a car for anything longer than 5 min. one-way trip to the nearby 7-11 for a concoction of Cherry & Coke Slurpee in the last 5 days. That was a success, but throughout this whole health deal, it's always been when I was in a car for more 10 minutes and more before I started really hurting. Thursday, we'll head to my dad's and that's a good 20 min. trip, so we'll see how well I do with that. I'm hoping to make it to church this Sunday. (That's close to a 30 min. drive and then there is a lot of walking to get to where we sit, plus we sit on folding chairs that have never been that comfortable. So I know "going to church" might be a bigger challenge, and that's why I've not gone as yet.)

Every month, I have three newsletters to create. I did two yesterday, which is fairly amazing, since, generally speaking, one usually takes at least a full 10 hour day, if not two days. One of those needs to be tweaked today, but only slightly. I have the third to do, but probably can allow it to slide til next week, but I'm waiting on word from that particular group to know which way to jump on that. I have this week's column (and all of December's if I can) to write. At least I have a few general subject ideas for each week. Just need to write them.

It feels so good to feel so good though! It's been too long! I know, as the gyn told me last week, that I will have good days interspersed with bad days. So this may be a spat of good days---but that's A-OK with me! LOL I'm ready to take what I get. God is GOOD, all the time!!

Saw my gyn yesterday and I'm "in the clear" and can resume all normal activities, as I feel up to them. She said it would be another 3 to 4 months of "good days and bad" before I suddenly wake up one morning and realize I'm back to normal (or even better than normal). Right now with the changing temperatures, I'm dealing with a lot of congestion. We've been hitting the upper 30s/lower 40s at night, with highs in the 60s in the days (which is very pleasant). I have a feeling that it's the lows and all the wind blowing in this cold front (as well as whatever mold or spores, etc.) that is to blame on my sinuses.

God is good! Dh has been called for contract jobs fairly consistently. He's been "unemployed" since the day I found out I would need surgery, back in July. We're still needing the unemployment checks, and it's more month-to-month survival, but we're at least getting enough to not worry too much about food and such. ;) In fact, we're considering (if he can get on with enough companies), to not necessarily seek a full-time "normal" job, but to continue with contract jobs. Glenn's been crunching numbers and it appears that this could work, and perhaps even give him 3-4 day work weeks, giving him time for other projects.

Heading for my second cup of tea for the morning and something to eat... Oh, check out PRMama's column today where I wrote about my experience in writing my book.

Was a success, but also told me it's not time to go gallivanting in the car as yet!

I'm at 4 weeks and 4 days post surgery. I turned a major corner on Monday this week -- like in the difference of night and day. The last 4 weeks were pretty hard-going. Small incremental steps of progress, but in pain, and not "fast enough" for me!

I see the gyn on November 16th for my post-surgical appoointment, hopefully to be released to drive and to lift things, and whatever else I may need to do...