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Friday, January 13, 2012

"Celebration Of Hope Give-Away!"

“Celebration Of Hope Give-Away!”

What is HOPE?

Webster’s dictionary definition: A feeling that what is wanted will happen; desire accompanied by expectation.

Emily Dickinson’s definition: Hope is a thing with feathers that perches in the soul – and sings the tunes with out the words – and never stops at all.

January 16 th. marks an anniversary of Hope for me. 2012 is the sixth anniversary of when I had surgery to remove advanced stage uterine cancer from my body. The plan of attack was a complete hysterectomy followed weeks later with several rounds of chemotherapy and then radiation treatments.  It took months for all the treatments to be completed but I have always felt that God guided my Oncology Surgeon’s hands and he removed all traces of the cancer during the surgery. The team of oncology specialists could not be sure the cancer was gone and highly recommend the additional treatments. I agreed to their treatment plans and we will never know for sure if they were needed. I know what I believe. I believe God, prayers, and the support of family and friends carried me through the battle.
For many people after being cancer free for five years they say you can call yourself a survivor. When I reached my five-year anniversary I thought I would be in the clear, however my oncology doctor told me that I am a survivor but perhaps after another five years have passed I may be in the clear. So every year in the spring I have an MRI or a CT-Scan. I cling to the HOPE that the cancer will not return. You may think why doesn’t she wait to celebrate until after the yearly test. Because I believe it was taken care of on January 16, 2006.

Let’s get on with the celebration! I’m giving away a $10.00 gift certificate, like the one pictured below, to “The Shabby Cottage Studio.” Many of you are familiar with Gail and the Shabby Cottage Studio. She has an awesome collection of images and mixed media supplies, and on-line classes to purchase. I would love a gift certificate from her store and I think you would too. To have a chance at winning this fantastic prize you must be one of my followers and leave a comment on this post. Sweet Gail is going to mention my give-away Monday on her blog and if you would like a second chance to win my gift visit her at Shabby Cottage Studio blog and leave a comment on her Monday post, click here. You have until January 31 to enter. I will collect the names from the Shabby Cottage Studio post and from my post to pick a Hopeful Winner. Good luck everyone!

I hope you win!


The  digital collage at the top of the page is one I did about my cancer journey some time ago when Gail use to have the Mind Wide Open Challenges.
The collage at the bottom I created for this post. I used three images from Gail's shop. They are called; Orange Roughy Paper, Sheet Music, and Fairy World.  I changed the color of the background sheet, Orange Roughy to a more pink hue, I added the music and the fairy image, and the quote from Dickinson, I adjusted filters in my Photoshop Elements 7 program to merge the different images and achieve the final effect. I learned how to do this by taking some of Gail's on-line digital classes. She is one of my angel friends who contributes to my art therapy without even knowing how much joy she brings.

I'm also linking this post to Beverly's Pink Saturday Party at "How Sweet The Sound"  click here.
One more thing, Hope you all have a Happy Pink Saturday! 

30 comments:

  1. I was so touched with this post. You have an amazing attitude and I am glad you are doing so well!
    I am happy to celebrate your success!
    I would love to be entered!
    Keep the spirit!
    Jil ♥

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  2. Congrats on your 6th anniversary of hope. It is indeed a special day to celebrate. I wish you many, many more decades of cancer free living, and many, many more anniversaries to celebrate. Happy Pink Saturday! ~Marti

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  3. Linda this is a beautiful share of your life walk. Prayers that you continue to be blessed with His healing hands.

    Have a beautiful weekend ~
    TTFN~
    Hugs,
    Marydon

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  4. Linda your post made me smile and tear up at the same time. Smiling becasue you ARE a survivor! And tearing up because you said such nice things about me. I'm happy to call you friend. And once again, Congratulations on your anniversary!
    ♥♥♥
    Gail

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  5. Just visiting today from Pink Saturdays. Happy weekend.

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  6. I'm so glad you are that survivor Linda, coz we would never have had the lovely friendship we've now had for all this time, but I do expect to see you in another 5 years with CLEAR stamped all over you! lol.
    Such a lovely giveaway in celebration though, and Gail does have some gorgeous things in her shop, esp all those fab graphics!
    I remember that MWO piece of yours! It's really lovely. x

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  7. Dear Linda,
    You are TRULY an angel friend~and I am so grateful that you survived...This is the most fabulous giveaway--but as I design for Gail, I won't enter! BUT, I am wishing everyone luck and more than that, I wish you a healthy and creative journey for many, many years to come!! You are one special woman and I'm so grateful that you are my friend.. XO Cindy

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  8. I love love love your Angel Friends piece - it's wonderful! And congratulations on getting through that awful experience and getting back to full health again. I just know those angels are helping!

    Hugs and Happy Pink Saturday!

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  9. I'm so happy for you ... can only imagine what you went through and believe you are blessed .
    Happy PS (())

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  10. Without hope and faith, there is nothing.

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  11. Linda
    You have touched my heart today. I only knew you through your art and being kind enough to take the time to visit and comment on my Blog, little did I know of your personal battle and what a battle and what a warrior you are.
    An incredible story to say the very least and yes, hope is all important, take hope away and what do we have.
    You are most definitely a remarkable woman, not only for facing this head on but the strength of character required to face health battles day in day out and all those uncertainties.
    To celebrate hope with a giveaway shows what a generous woman you are.
    Wishes to you
    Lynne

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  12. Congratulations Linda! I've always love that quote by Emily Dickinson. Both your collages are beautiful!! Happy Pink Saturday!

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  13. Linda~ thank you for this post..and most of all.. I am so gld you are doing AOK!!!
    I am in the process of losing my father to a GBM...and I can only imagine if I myself had cancer....You are truly blessed and I will still send prayer for you upstairs...
    Smiles~
    Cricket aka Gypsea Nurse

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  14. She's a pretty angel friend. Thank's for sharing.


    Visiting for Pink Saturday! Here's my share-hope you can stop by:)

    http://www.loveablecassandra.com/2012/01/pink-elephant.html

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  15. Happy happy Pink Saturday :)

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  16. HPS!

    This is such an inspiring post! It's good to hear that you are doing much better now.

    Gabriela

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  17. I am so happy to hear that you are a survivor, what a frightening journey, and yes, hope is the thing that gets us through it. Thank you for sharing your story, and good luck to you! Happy Pink Saturday!!

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  18. Great post, Linda - and praise God for His healing hand in your life! Hope - so necessary in our life of Faith. Hopeful for making more of my own "random creativity" this year - I'll be mentoring women in "tickling the muse" !
    Joy!
    Kathy

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  19. Inspiring post, to God be the glory!! Happy Pink Saturday.

    My PINK is here. Please come and see.

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  20. I'm celebrating with you, Linda - what a wonderful story of hope! I love that word! Oh yes, enter me too. Hugs to you!! Happy Pink Saturday!

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  21. Dear Linda, You have reason to hope because you have faith, you believe in God's healing power! It's so beautiful that you live your life celebrating hope and creating such beauty to share with others! Your collages are so pretty! God bless you!

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  22. Wow Linda, what a post! We just never know what other people are going through or have been through. I pray that you continue to be Cancer free. God does indeed have a HOPE and a FUTURE for you...Jeremiah 29:11. I'm so happy you are here today to tell us all about your journey. You are also a very talented artist. I love the collages you have done on this post...ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.
    Hugs,
    Mary

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  23. What a beautiful post. You are truly an inspiration.God bless and may you make it to that 10 year mark in no time at all! Happy Pink and have a great week!

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  24. Linda, I am so happy for you that you have made such a recovery! Yay! Six years is fabulous! May your next six years go smoothly and may you stay healthy : )
    (((hugs)))
    Terri

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  25. WOW Linda I had no idea you had been through all of this. Hope is a Good thing. You are Blessed that you have beaten it thus far and Prayers and Hope sent your way onto the 10 year mark!
    Hugs Lynn

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  26. I am so glad that you are a SURVIVOR! You know you are, so just say it, you don't need to wait ten years after the fact, that's called Faith.
    My daughter and her husband are both survivors, and God is GOOD!
    Have a wonderful day,
    Hugs, Cindy

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  27. Linda, very touching post and without HOPE we have a hard time moving forward. You made it happen and serve as a fantastic example for others who are faced with life threatening challenges. WAY TO GO!

    Big bear hug,
    Carolyn

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  28. Oh I LOVE that quote. I'm going to have to copy it and save it. Thank you and blessings to you!

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  29. Praise God for your healing!
    Your give away celebration is so sweet,
    Your being Cancer free is a blessing.

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  30. We celebrate with you, dear Linda. I love the quote.

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