Milestones

Today was a milestone for our little family, and while it didn't have to do with CANcer directly, once CANcer has touched your family, you know that in some way, most things have to do with it pretty much forever.

Today we closed on a cute little house in downtown Bentonville.  It isn't much to look at right now, but we have big plans.  Plans for our new home.  Plans to tear down the little house that sits there in ruins and build something beautiful.  Plans for a home without any memories of CANcer treatments inside of it.  Plans that give us hope for the future.  Future.  That has been a bit of a scary word for a while. I remember during Allen's treatments, unpacking holiday decorations and wondering what the next holiday would be like. Heck, some days I wondered what the next week would be like.  But, now we are ready to face that word.  To look years down the road at what we could build together, just how we want it, for our little family.  Because CANcer doesn't stop you living.

Whether we want to admit it or not, CANcer has changed our family in many ways.  But, what it has given us more than anything, is appreciation--appreciation for every day that we have together as a family.  It has allowed us to step back and feel grateful each night Allen is able to give the kids a bath, put them in their pjs, and send them upstairs to bed.  Appreciation for the opportunity to take our kids on fun, family trips where there is no work and no email, just us and them having fun, spending time together, and making memories.  Appreciation for each birthday we are able to celebrate together, each anniversary we are able to mark, and every one of the baby's "firsts" we have marveled over this past year. It has taught us that the every day milestones are just as important as the big ones, and sometimes even more.