Friday, October 9, 2009

find magic in the moment

It's been a long couple of weeks, people, after I had a mammogram (it's breast cancer awareness month, by the way!!) and a small lump was detected. My parents and husband rallied round. I am so thankful to have such a loving family. A biopsy was performed last Friday and then a long wait over the weekend for the results. Monday evening- the call from the doctor's office. Thankfully, thankfully- benign. Of course me being me, I assumed the worst from the start and my mind raced with fear for a week and a half in between mammogram and biopsy and then over the weekend until the good news. I literally felt frozen with dread- a new and terrible feeling. I was so glad to have my family here (they canned the first leg of a long planned vacation to be with me) to help keep fear at bay. It's definitely a reminder that we're not here forever. I still feel a bit strange now, like I should have some new lease on life or something, although it is indeed something that literally thousands of women go through every day. Still I am trying to figure it all out. Otherwise, as usual, creating things makes me feel good, satisfied and purposeful.

After the storm passed, I made this. It's available in my etsy shop http://jenniferstumpf.etsy.com.

This pendant is in the current issue of Stringing magazine, page 40. It's also in my etsy shop. These orders, piled and ready to be boxed and shipped, kept me sane during the last two weeks.

As always, Lucy and Maggie keep me laughing and loving. My lovely parents have resumed their journey north. I hope they have a wonderful time and see glorious leaves, blue skies and stunning scenery. My husband and I keep on keeping on, here where the skies seem just a bit more blue than usual.

7 comments:

stregata said...

Congratulations on the good news! I know how you feel - takes time for the relief to really sink in.

TesoriTrovati said...

Wishing peace in your heart Jennifer! I am thinking of you and you are in my prayers. Enjoy the day! Erin

Karen said...

Wonderful good news, Jennifer. I am so happy for you. What an anxious weekend you must have had. There oughta be a law that all medical test results are delivered by Friday, don't you think?!
I love your new creations. What a beautiful thing to do with all that lump/biopsy/waiting fear.

Gberger said...

I'm so sorry you had to go through this. It's happened to me before, too. Rejoicing with you that it's benign, and enjoying what a creative burst you had afterwards - that necklace is GORGEOUS.
Here's to a much better weekend!

lunedreams said...

whew! so happy for you that you got good news! terrible little passage to go through, I'm a total worrier too (like to be prepared for the worst you know) so I know how that goes--Lllooong days waiting for the news. Good for you that you got your mammogram. you're an example! LOVE the pendant.

Stories They Tell said...

So glad your storm has passed! The waiting is the worst part--been there, done that. Great that you had family and dogs to see you through. Wouldn't want the world without you in it! My sis, visiting from Berzerkly, and I made a magical necklace with the crane pendant you made for her with the labradorite briolette. I'm working on my version but had to order some copper embellishments (just another excuse to buy, he, he!)

Yes, no one has promised us tomorrow so "seize the day" has a lot of wisdom in it, for such a tiny phrase.

Linda-B said...

I've been through this scare as well -- I know exactly how you feel. I am thankful that the lump was benign.