MONDAY MOTIVATION - A Life Of Service

I read a quote recently by Martin Luther King Jr.  He stated "Everybody can be great... because anybody can serve... You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love."

I love the first thing he said we need - a heart full of grace.  The dictionary defines "grace" as "elegance or beauty of form, manner, motion, or actions."  I believe our actions, when we serve unselfishly, are beautiful, just like the definition says.

I've taught my children many things over the years, but the one thing I feel most strongly about - and that I've hopefully instilled in them - is the important of service.  As our family learned during my cancer treatments... service is LOVE!  So many people helped and served and loved our family, and we want to give back as much as we are able.  Because it is in service that we find the greatest joy...

"I slept and dreamt that life was joy.  I awoke and saw that life was service.  I acted and behold, service was joy."  -Rabindranath Tagore

If you are a member of Lifting Hearts - you'll be happy to know that service is a big part of what we offer to survivors.  We believe the to heal completely, you need to move your focus from yourself to helping others.  We offer many service projects to survivors: making rice warming bags, chemo blankets, and pillows for patients who are going through surgery; the opportunity to become a mentor to someone who is just starting their cancer journey; and, of course, there are many openings in our leadership that will give you the opportunity to serve your fellow survivors.

If you want to help in any way... look in the Contact Us tab, and call one of the board members.  We would love to work with you.

“God does watch over us and does notice us, but it usually through someone else that he meets our needs.” -Spencer W. Kimball

MONDAY MENTIONABLES - We Need Your Help at Michael's Eagle Project for Lifting Hearts!!!

I'm super excited to announce that we have the opportunity to help a wonderful Eagle Scout candidate with his Eagle Project - Rice Warming Bags for our Lifting Hearts support group!  He will be working on chemo blankets, heart pillows, and eye pillows as well.  Here is the information:

Julie Thurman is one of our Lifting Hearts members.  Her son Michael is doing the Eagle Project and wants to donate the items made during his project to Lifting Hearts to give to breast cancer patients.  (How sweet is that?!)

Time:  Come help any time from 6:00 - 9:00 p.m.

 

Place:  LDS church. 1050 N. 600 W., Orem

 

Also, we are constantly in need of these items, so if you want to donate either money, or supplies to Lifting Hearts, we'd be grateful.

 

Supply list:

rice, flannel, fleece, thread, cardstock, ribbon, flax seed, MONEY, etc. ;)

 

I hope to see all of you at Michael's Eagle Project on Wednesday!  It should be fun!!!

 

Thanks! :)

ALMOST WORDLESS WEDNESDAY - Pillows, Pillows, Everywhere!

Here are the pillows I'm working on for everyone to stuff at our meeting this Thursday! Aren't they cute? (my mom and sister helped cut and sew them)

Here is the stack I've finished - around 45! Plus we previously did around 30. So there are plenty for us to work on. Hope to see you there tomorrow night. ;-)

MONDAY MOTIVATION - A Season of Service

This last week, I had the opportunity to help with a Christmas project - my son, Matthew, did his Eagle Scout project - which was providing Christmas for 70 kids. We gathered gifts for each child, and stuffed stockings. We provided clothing - either a coat, pajamas pants, or a winter outfit. And, of course, a book for each one. Our whole family participated. There were several friends and neighbors who helped as well, and I heard from many of them about how privileged they felt to be able to help those in need.

Stocking Stuffers

Wrapping gifts

Tons of presents!

Serving others, as I've said many times before, is something I feel is a necessary part of healing. Part of why I do these kinds of projects is to "give back" - because of the help I received during my cancer journey. Part of why I serve is to show my children how important it is.

During the holidays, it's easy to find ways to serve. Help out at a soup kitchen, gather clothing for the shelters, make small gifts for neighbors, give the gift of time to your children, and so on. There are all kinds of opportunities to serve.

I encourage your to take time to serve, and let that service help you heal. Have a wonderful holiday season!

-Kara

MONDAY MEMOIRS - Service...

Today, I thought I'd share with you what our Sister Survivor group did at the meeting last Thursday. We've been trying to get ready for the big Kick Off that is on October 28th, and Bethanie, Colette, and I really needed some help. Dr. Bishop and his staff have done so much, but I'm finding out that planning and executing something this big takes a bunch of willing hands. So, I sent an email to the members of Sister Survivors, asking them to show up on Thursday to help.



In planning for Thursday night, I started to get worried that we would have too many people, and not enough to do. So instead of just wrapping up all of the silent auction gifts, I thought maybe they could help to change the date on the 1500 fliers that were already printed (we originally had the 7th for the Kick-Off), and then maybe we could make a few blankets for some women going through chemo. As the night drew nearer, I started to worry that we wouldn't get everything done that we had planned. (I worry about a lot of things! Haha!) Anyway, I shouldn't have worried - the ladies came through and showed up (there were 20 there that night!), and worked hard. We got everything done! And I have to say - I think it was the funnest Sister Survivors meeting we've had. I loved every minutes of it. I told Dr. Bishop that many hands make happy hearts, and I believe that. It was so thrilling to see how happy everyone was to be serving others. It was just a great night. Bethanie mentioned to me later, that she had noticed the interaction between the Sister Survivors, and loved the conversations that were taking place. Two of the Sister Survivors brought their daughters along to help, and my sister, Kris, came as well. Kris took lots of pictures - I thought I'd share them here. And, once again, thanks to Colette's brother, Scott, for allowing us the use of the board room at his law offices.



By-the-way, if you are expecting a MONDAY MEMOIRS today, get out your cancer journal and write about ways you have served since your cancer diagnosis - or ways you plan to serve once you feel better. I know I've wanted to give back in some way, just to "pay it forward" - to honor those who helped me so much during my cancer journey. One way I'm trying to serve is to be involved with this wonderful group of survivors and patients - it makes me happy to help those who have to deal with the same monster that I did.



Here are the pictures - ENJOY!























And, here is the result of our hard work:

TUESDAY TIDINGS - Monthly Sister Survivors' Meeting on Thursday night...

All Sister Survivors: We will be holding our monthly meeting this Thursday night at 7:00 pm at the law offices. (look at the left sidebar for the address). We will be getting ready for our Kick-Off, which will be held on the 28th. We could really use some help from all of you. Also, those who aren't working on stuff for the Kick-Off will have a chance to help make some "chemo blankets" for the Sister Survivors who are currently having chemo (like this one that my mom made for me!)...

If you are donating anything for the silent auction, please bring it with you that night.

Come spend some time with us - can't wait to see you!