| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| julia hayes |
Posted - Apr 08 2010 : 12:53:11 PM
Friends,
As you know, Aria has finished her chemotherapy treatment. I want to thank you for joining me in celebration. Your posts and comments are so powerful..They have always managed to lighten my load. I am so very grateful.
Many of you may not know that I have chronicled every single detail of Aria's journey in the form of emails that I sent to friends and family. I've posted some adapted versions here on the forum and I set up an e-blog as well so people who were not on 'the list' could access the very raw unedited stories. I will be going through that journal and selecting the best essays to compile into a book. This is new territory for me and I'm, frankly, trying not to freak out! I need so much help but I keep hearing that line from the movie "Field of Dreams" "If you Build it, He will Come!" or in my case, "If you write it, Help will come!" I have every confidence but still it's new and different.
It is amazing to be at the end of journey and beginning to embark on the path of the Cancer Survivor. I have just this morning set up a new blog site to chronicle this journey and I'd like to welcome you to come check it out. It is a CaringBridge site, which is a very popular tool for people dealing with life's tragedy. I heard about when Aria was first diagnosed but just couldn't deal with one more thing shouting "CANCER" at me! The rebel in me also didn't want to do what everyone else does so that's why I stuck with the emails.
But now that the crisis is over and it seems like we should pick up where we left off, we aren't. We know why. We know this journey hasn't ended. It has simply changed. I want to honor this change and write about it. I'd welcome you to come visit and leave me a comment there any time!
You can find the site at: www.caringbridge.org/visit/aboutaria. You'll have to sign up but it's easy and above my journal post you can check off a box that asks if you want to be notified via email regarding any new posts. It reminds me of this forum in a way, in that you can read other peoples' comments. It's nice.
Funny thing, a friend commented that she saw the new site announcement on my FB page and told me she was so thrilled. She said, "Those of us who aren't lucky enough to be on the list, still want to know, still want to read your words. We still wonder about Aria and want to know how you and everyone else is doing." I found that incredibly validating because for months and months I've been sending out these emails and hardly anyone says a word about them. Granted they're long so who has that kind of time but still, I'm left thinking, "Well, people have moved on with their busy lives. It's not that they don't care but they either don't know what to say or don't have time to write..." This was followed up with, "Who would really want to continue to read the story about her...about her updates off-treatment and the challenges that we face!" Seriously....My friend telling me that SHE was interested was enough for me. I feel good about it.
So, come check it out when you can. In the meantime, wish me luck on my book. If you have ANY suggestions, advice or feedback I am ALL ears! My plan is to self publish so if any of you know anything about that, PLEASE do share!!
My love and light are yours! ~julia
being simple to simply be
Farmgirl #30
www.julia42.etsy.com
www.about-aria.blogspot.com |
| 11 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| Julia |
Posted - Apr 10 2010 : 08:37:36 AM
You GO Girl!!! I think a book is a wonderful idea. It will be a great thing for Aria when she is older to be able to read and she her mama's heart. I keep dabbling with the same idea about my journey with my hubby's cancer. My mom has saved every email, I did a blog, and journled.
There will be many who will be blessed and encouraged by your book. I know it will be part of my library. Blessings!
For tomorrow and its needs I do not pray, but keep me, guide me, love me, Lord just for today.
St. Augustine
#440
http://www.myfeetaredirty.blogspot.com/
http://www.iglitteredthecat.blogspot.com/
http://www.glitterandgrunge.com/ (turner hill studio)
http://www.etsy.com/shop/TurnerHillStudio/ |
| julia hayes |
Posted - Apr 10 2010 : 08:28:02 AM
Ladies! THANK YOU!!
Sorry to hear that some of you interested in checking out the website are having difficulty connecting.
If you type www.caringbridge.org you will get to the homepage. There's a section that says "Visit a Website" and you'll see a place to enter a name. Aria's website name is
aboutaria. No space and no capital letters. See if that helps! Let me know if there are continued problems. I can pass that along to the caringbride website team!
All your votes of encouragement are amazing. Truly! I have essentially already written the book. I simply need to edit it and refine it. A LOT! I'm a wordy little thing. Sheesh!!
I'm sure I'll be calling on you for more support though. I really am embarking on new territory and I sense frustration tears are waiting for me!!! But let me tell you, NOTHING compares to the grief and anxiety over Aria's initial diagnosis. Honestly, I feel like having survived that, I can do anything! It is so so so sweet to be done and I feel infinitely blessed to be able to write in a way that others going through it feel validated. I've been hearing that repeatedly lately...So many people just don't understand the journey and honestly, how would they? It's so hard to explain because you're in the middle of feeling it and going through it. So on top of dealing with a horrible illness in your child or loved one or yourself, you have to deal with feeling incredibly alone...no one understands...UGH!
I have to confess. I rarely felt this way myself. I think I was lucky. I was determined to understand it so that I could find a way to explain it to others. When I did, they knew and I felt like people were right there with me. It was immensely comforting. I'm learning that not everyone can, will or desires to do this...
I'm babbling....Just a whopping thanks for the encouragement and support!!! Let me know how the webiste goes and write me a message if you can!!!
Sending so much love and cheer! ~julia
being simple to simply be
Farmgirl #30
www.julia42.etsy.com
www.about-aria.blogspot.com |
| patchworkpeace |
Posted - Apr 10 2010 : 04:45:56 AM
Julia, you have so much to share. Best to you and your writing.
Judy
Success is measured not by the position one reaches but by the obstacles one has to overcome to reach it. Booker T. Washington |
| classygram |
Posted - Apr 10 2010 : 04:34:45 AM
Julia I also have tried to visit your website and it says I'm not putting in the correct site. But it says about Aria. Could you help I really want to keep up on your journey.
Hugs,Brenda
"What lies behind us, and what lies before us are small matter compared to what lies within us."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Seek reasons to Love..In every sigment of everyday-look for something that brings forth within you a feeling of Love-Abraham Hicks |
| dutchy |
Posted - Apr 09 2010 : 11:10:35 PM
Julia, you rock girl ! I tried to visit your website but it says it doesn't exsist. I guess I am doing something wrong (nothing new there;) ). But writing the book is also a part of healing for you and I just KNOW it will be a treasure for you and everyone who (has been) going through the same thing.
Love and many hugs to you and Aria
Hugs from Marian/Dutchy, a farmgirl from the Netherlands :)
My personal blog:
http://just-me-a-dutch-girl.blogspot.com/
Almost daily updates on me and mine :)
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| Bear5 |
Posted - Apr 09 2010 : 8:40:58 PM
Julia:
Good luck with your book.
Marly
"It's only when we truly know and understand that we have a limited time on earth- and that we have no way of knowing when our time is up- that we will begin to live each day to the fullest, as if it was the only one we had." Elisabeth Kurler-Ross |
| Sheep Mom 2 |
Posted - Apr 08 2010 : 11:18:06 PM
Julia, I know your book will flow as soon as you give yourself over to it. So much of the good soulful writing is a channeling of spirit. I have every confidence that the words will flow onto the page in a touching, insightful way and will become a beacon of light for many. We all have soul contracts when we come to the Earth plane and I do believe with all my heart that this is one of yours. Know that we all support you whole heartedly in this endeavor. I look forward to reading it. If I can be of any help please don't hesitate to ask.
Blessings, Sheri
"Work is Love made visible" -Kahlil Gibran |
| classygram |
Posted - Apr 08 2010 : 6:27:17 PM
I say go with it Julia, I think often of you Aria and how things are going. I agree, put it straight forward, all the stuggles and victory's. There will be someone that it will connect with at just the right time. And it will be help for them in their journey. I believe there is alot of us that would love to contiune on with your journey with you and watch little Aria grow into a beautiful young woman. Were all still her for you Julia, just waiting to hear all the little girl things shes able to do now. God is Good!
HUGS~~~Brenda
"What lies behind us, and what lies before us are small matter compared to what lies within us."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Seek reasons to Love..In every sigment of everyday-look for something that brings forth within you a feeling of Love-Abraham Hicks |
| 1badmamawolf |
Posted - Apr 08 2010 : 4:54:40 PM
Julia, let your heart and soul do the writing, just let it come, don't force it, and if you hit a block, walk away for an hour or a few days if needed. Stories like this are not meant to be rushed, and usually your first thoughts are the ones to put to paper.
"Treat the earth well, it was not given to you by your parents, it was loaned to you by your children" |
| CountryBorn |
Posted - Apr 08 2010 : 3:42:40 PM
Julia, I cannot tell you how happy I am that you have decided to go ahead and write your book it is just wondeful news! I have all a long felt that you could write this book so well, with that personal touch of yours that I have not seen anywhere else. You are true and honest, you don't sugar coat your feelings or the ordeals that your Aria and you and your family have dealt with. This book will be read by so many, and it will help so many. I for one am very proud of you for taking on this challenge. I know this is going to be a very great thing for yourself and your fellow readers. People need to know that others have followed in these footsteps and truly understand. God Bless you on this new pathway. I will be so watching and waiting...
Hugs, MJ
There can be no happiness if the things we believe in are different from the things we do. Freya Stark |
| Laila |
Posted - Apr 08 2010 : 1:03:07 PM
Julia,
I know you will do an excellent job with your book. You have a gift with words. I always have a problem putting words on paper. It seems what is in my head and what comes out on paper are 2 differnet things but you are truly gifted. Good luck!
Laila |
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