Monday, January 24, 2011

our little adventure.

about a month ago. well it really started back in august when my sister in law was in town right after we got the cancer diagnosis. i told her i was having a real hard time sleeping. so she decided to set me up with a little google reader and added some of her favorite blogs. something for me to read at 2am or 4am when my mind was racing. one of the blogs was enjoying the small things. a blog by kelle hampton. check it out. its big. and inspiring. begin with the birth story. needless to say i started reading it. loved it. and found joy in her writing, pictures, and her story. so when cancer was not that fun to talk about sara and i would text, chat, or email about kelle's blog posts and it began to be something we enjoyed to together although states away. so a month or so ago when kelle mentioned her daughter's upcoming birthday...sara texts me with...wouldn't it be fun to go to nella's party (kelle's daughter. who is ava's age). to which i respond...i will email her. and sara says...okay if you get us invited to this party i will fly us to there. so i decided to casually send kelle an email. and i did not tell sara or justin. in case i never heard back from her or whatever. well when i woke up the next morning at 7:30am there was an email from kelle. i was shocked. this women has thousands. maybe millions reading her blog. no joke. but she said come. with open arms she invited us. not knowing us. or whether or not we were crazy. she got us. she understood it. so we went. the floyds and the ryders flew to naples. to help celebrate nella. meet family. meet friends. share in it all. and man...did we share.

we have great husbands. they willingly took off work. watched the kids so we could hang out with kelle, meet her friends, and go to isle of capri although it was a little cold and mostly just a girl thing. they helped make this entire weekend possible. as soon as we received the email from kelle justin said...we have to go. i have not seen you this excited about something in a while. we need to go. and we will make it happen. and we did.

it was a great combination of our family sharing an unexpected wintertime vacation together and sharing in the festivities of the weekend with kelle, her family, and her dear dear friends. we shared a hotel suite with the floyds. that was a little crazy with ava and jack and isabella running around. but we laughed. and we laughed hard. ate good food. and just spent time together. it was so nice. and i did not feel sick at all. writing that made me cry. i like not feeling sick. i like that the only thing that reminded me i had cancer this weekend was my hat. and meeting new people where in turn i shared our cancer story a few times. and i felt loved. and strong. and it was good.

thanks for a really special weekend.

 isle of capri 



34 comments:

  1. omg omg. i found kelle's blog about a month ago & am in love with it. i tell everyone about it & make them read nella's birth story. this is nuts.

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  2. i follow her blog and read her post about you coming. and i just happen to follow your blog as well. very small world. i am so glad you got to meet her...she is incredibly inspiring!

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  3. I just saw your picture of Kelle's blog and recognized you. I wondered what you were doing there. I love Kelle and would have loved to meet her one day too.

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  4. Aw, Libby! I am so happy for you!

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  5. I am so jealous and yet so thankful that you got to do this. How totally awesome.

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  6. OK. Seriously, I was just kidding last post when I said "If you have any Kelle Hampton sightings let us know" I had NO IDEA you were going there to see her! Then I saw her blog tonight and then I saw you, and it was awesome! So happy for you! I wish I could have given little Nella a snuggle. I'm so glad you had a wonderful time and didn't feel sick!

    Krysta

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  7. Wow! What an amazing thing. God works in wonderful ways and this blog world is one of them!

    I am glad you had a great trip and I hope you continue to feel refreshed and rejuvenated so you can face your last bit of chemo with as much strength and joy as possible.

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  8. It was an awesome adventure indeed! I am so happy we went...so happy to have shared the experience with you (and with the Hampton crew.) I enjoyed every second of it and I thank God that you didn't feel sick...because we didn't think of you as sick. You're so close to really NOT being sick and that is such a blessing!
    Let's never forget this weekend...
    Love you.
    PS we're happy to have a little more space to move around in now that we're home...but missing the 3 of you already!

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  9. I've been following your blog for awhile now - well since early December when Kelle asked what we wanted for Christmas where I answered with materialistic things... and a family more sane than mine. And, as I do with every post of Kelle's, I read every comment. Most were like mine, materialistic asking for ipads and white christmases... And then I came across yours and suddenly I felt foolish asking for anything at all ...
    But as I was looking through Kelle's pictures on facebook I saw a picture and thought "Hey, that looks like Ava!" shrugged it off and kept flipping through the pictures. Turns out it was =) Kinda weird that I 'know' your daughter!! Sounds like you had a great time in Naples. I'm glad you laughed a lot with your friends and felt well throughout your entire visit! Pretty cool story -asking not expecting to hear back from her and getting a response so quickly and getting to meet Kelle, Brett, Lainey, Nella & family! Goes to show that it never hurts to ask!!
    Just thought I'd share =)
    ~Beth

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  10. Haha too funny! Just wanted to say hey to my fellow VA momma ... I'm off to read the rest of your blog, but wanted to share that my best friend is battling leukemia right now ... I'm so sorry you have cancer. :( My friend was diagnosed this past July, just after the Down syndrome convention in Orlando (you might have heard Kelle talk about going there ... LOL) ... off to read! :)

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  11. Oh, and I meant to say I totally get what you were saying about not feeling sick, and how emotional that made you. Get it. 100%. My friend recently had to stop oral chemo because she bottomed out, her levels that is. She was off it for 2 weeks and never realized just how badly she had been feeling. :( They started her back on a little lower dose, which has helped. But 'tis an ugly thing. :(

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  12. HOLY MOLY. SO-I'm just doing my nightly blog reading and low and behold-there you are on Kelle's blog! Funny thing was...I was heading to your blog next-only to find your recap of visiting naples, and attending Nella's big bash! How amazing! I've been following both of you for so long now-and it made me giddy to see your worlds collide. How fun!!! So glad y'all enjoyed your time time in naples :)

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  13. I am super jealous, I ADORE her blog. So amazing and encouraging. I know you had a wonderful time, and you deserved every second of it. So happy for you, sweet girl :) Glad you're feeling okay at the time!

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  14. I love Kelle's blog!

    And you know what the crazy part is?!?!?!

    When you posted on your blog that you are going to Naples for a vacation without any other details, the first thing that came to my mind was, "she NEEDS to meet Kelle Hampton Kelle lives in Naples!"

    And then I read this blog post and just about laughed!

    So neat and I am truly happy for you! You deserve it and I am standing with in 100% healing!

    Many blessings to your family,

    Z

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  15. This is incredible to read! I am so thrilled you were able to meet Kelle and join in on the celebration of sweet Nella's day.

    I am so sorry for what you are going through health wise.

    I am a mother of a miracle, there are only 5 other women in the world with my disease, Cystinosis, who have been able to bring children into this world. I don't have cancer, but I do have serious health battles. I'm in pain a lot these days and sometimes I don't know how I will be a momma up against all of this, but I do it anyway. Thank you for making me feel less alone.

    xo

    http://020110.blogspot.com

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  16. I just want to say - I love that you thought it up, took action, and went.
    Best.
    Sending you love.
    Laura

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  17. It's awesome to see just how many people also read Kellee's blog. I too read her blog and did the ugly cry reading Nella's birth story.. :) I'm glad you had a great time!

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  18. Tears. I love that you didn't feel sick. I'm so freaking glad you didn't feel sick. More not feeling sick to come, Friend. xoxo

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  19. Oh my goodness that is so awesome! I love her blog too- so totally inspiring and real life. Glad you were able to make it- and that you did not feel sick!

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  20. Found her blog a few weeks ago and been catching up on her story, just found yours through hers and now catching up on you! What a perfect day for all of you!

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  21. I love Kelle's blog, have read it for months. How cool to see you 2 connected. I found your blog thru a co-worker and between you and Kelle-check the blogs everyday :) Glad you had a wonderful time!

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  22. Good for you. For putting yourself out there and feeling all the love in return. Sounds like a much needed pick me up (and a great chance to make memories with new friends and family). Love the picture of you and Ava on Isle of Capri.

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  23. i've never read kelle's blog (but just did, at my desk at work, which was a huge mistake, major tears!) but my girlfriends and i in southern california feel the same way about you that you feel about kelle! we talk and text about you, ava, and justin like you're our friend! we're inspired by your writing, your story, your love for your husband and daughter! thanks!

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  24. Well, thought I'd check your blog a minute, thinking you were probably still gone - but no, you're home and after reading your blog, thought I better check out the one you referenced. Oh my! That was about 2 hours ago, I think! What a wonderful experience for you! So glad you could go.

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  25. This is the first time I have been on your blog via Kelle's. I have been working through the emotions of having a little boy with Down Syndrome. But hey, what you are dealing with is far greater. I do hope and pray that the Lord will heal you and that you are spared to continue with your wonderful family.

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  26. How awesome that you got to get away for a little while and while away meet Kelle, Sweet Nella and Laney! (I act as if I am on a first name basis with them). I do love reading her stories. I hope you are having a not sick day today too.

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  27. It was SO nice to meet you and your precious family. I will continue to follow your blog. Just know that I am praying for you and am inspired by you.

    Joann Cryderman

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  28. Love that you and Kelle spent time together...I read both of your blogs :)

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  29. Sitting here reading the comments on your blog thinking, at this time tomorrow I will be sitting with you. So glad you had a "cancer free" (minus the hat) weekend. Goodnight and I love you little sister. Thursday you will check off more. Can't wait to see you and just love on you and sweet Ava. Tell Justin I'lll have a hug or 2 for him!

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  30. Libby,
    so glad you were able to get away and make some new friends! I can't believe that I was in Naples the same time - too bad we didn't know that!
    i'm glad you live each day intentionally! God keeps putting people in your path, and i'm confident that he continues to use you and your story to bring us all on our knees.
    when we are weak, God is STRONG!!
    LOVE YA

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  31. I agree with all the other posters but just wanted to say you look absolutely stunning in these pictures. You really do.

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  32. I met Kelle in December when she was in Utah. We went to Park City together. I was in shock when I received her email as well. And then her cell phone number. I thought the same thing. She doesn't even know me. I could be crazy! :) But it was a day I will never forget and feel so lucky to be able to call her my friend. I can only imagine what an amazing weekend you had in Naples. And LOVE that you didn't feel sick! And love that your husbands made this trip possible for you two!

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  33. Soo so sweet!!! I too loved that you didn't feel sick and now, you have a whole new group of people cheering you on!!!

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  34. Okay this is kinda weird. I just found kelle's blog this morning through a friend of mine and I noticed that she had the same group picture of you guys at Isle of Capri. So I was trying to figure out the relation, came back to your blog and actually read the post this time (my time was cut short when I tried to read it last) and figured it out. How crazy is that? I just so happened to stumble upon her blog and see a picture of you! And, yes, her birth story is AMAZING!!!! Absolutely beautiful!

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