MERRY CHRISTMAS

22nd to 28th December 2012

May the gift of love, the gift of peace and the gift of happiness not only live in your heart at Christmas but throughout the coming year.  Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and in 2013 may the good times and treasures of the present become the golden memories of tomorrow and may your year ahead sparkle with moments of love, laughter, contentment, joy and goodwill towards others.

As you all know I have been working hard during December working on my final fund raising event for the year, my spectacular Christmas Light Display. 

It was a lot of work putting everything together especially the lights, the entertainment and ideas to make it an extraordinary experience for those who got to see it. 

 

I am so very excited to let you all know that due to the splendiferous generosity of those in the Community my light display raised a grand total of $2126.95 which has already been sent to The Sydney Children's Hospital Foundation Brain Tumour Research Fund.  It was an amount beyond my expectations and I feel so touched by those who donated and together we will make a difference and find a cure for this horrendous disease one day in the future, so a huge thank you.  I have included some photographs throughout this Blog entry for you to enjoy.

Christmas has been such a magnificent time but it has also been a tiring time for me especially with my pain, which torments me each and every day.  But having family and friends around who care so much about me and make me smile helps ease that pain just  a little.

I did some baking on Christmas Eve making some star cookies, absolutely delicious chocolate Christmas Tree cup cakes which had a very special surprise in the middle - a strawberry and very moreish coconut ice.  At night we watched some of the Carols by Candlelight on television before leaving goodies for Santa and the Reindeer and heading off to bed.

Christmas Day was quiet and the weather was also very unseasonal, so we spent much of the day playing Sydney Monopoly which I received as a gift from Tess.  Jarrett was the winner on the day, he played very strategically and edged out a very determined Mum, I came third, Nalani fourth and poor Dad was out quite early.

On Boxing Day we had a second Christmas with Nana and Pop coming over and we opened presents on that day also and having a lovely barbeque lunch together. 

These last few days have been lazy ones, resting, watching some DVD's that we received as Christmas gifts and reading books that we also received as gifts. 

With this year almost over, I have thought back to all that has happened; we celebrated Nalani's 18th Birthday, I had my 14th Birthday then found out that I had tumours on my spinal cord which were incurable,  we went to the Canberra Show as a family, I had some radiation which was so quick compared to my first lot, I had my second book Theodore and Friends - Theodore is Left Out published and all proceeds went to The Sydney Children's Hospital Foundation Brain Tumour Research Fund, I wrote a special list and have got to do things like go for a ride in a classic mini, have a Hummer Ride, compete in the Women and Girls Fun Run achieving a better time and place than the year before, do the School Cross Country in my wheelchair, go up Black Mountain Tower and look out over my splendiferous city, compete at High Noon athletics competitions, have Christmas in July, saw Theodore go Rock Climbing, given Olympic and Paralympic Souvenirs, gone to the Zoo and Aquarium met a Cheetah, fed white lions, tigers and a bear, had an extra special Ferry Ride and Party, received a gold medal from my oncologist, went to a Cat Show, had an asteroid named after me, competed in five events at the school athletics carnival and had a Christmas Light Display. 

I feel that I am so blessed to have experienced these amazing things, in some ways I think I have done more this year than what some people may do in a lifetime, that is why I think that everyone should go out and make the most of every single day of their lives because you don't know what is around the corner or how much time you have on this Earth, so please don't waste it. 

This year I have also continued with what is so dear to my heart and my greatest dream and that is to contribute to helping finding a cure for paediatric brain tumours, I so passionately believe that no children in the future should have to suffer as myself and many others have with this absolutely hideous disease. 

Next year I will continue with my effort to continue to raise awareness and funds, every dollar does count and I know that it is so greatly appreciated by those doing the research.  Helping others gives you a sense of worth, hope, courage, love and lights your heart. 

Another huge thank you to everyone who follows my Blog, to those who leave such inspiring and caring messages, you all really make a difference to my life, giving me strength, courage and determination each and every day.