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Happy 2022
I am a huge Dolly Parton fan and one of my favorite quotes by her is “Find out who you are and do it on purpose.” I have thought a great deal about that in recent weeks as I have been trying to motivate myself to get back into writing again. I have considered turning this into a video blog, but I hate my recorded voice, so being on the camera is currently out of my comfort zone. I have made a couple test videos but couldn’t bring myself to post them, so I think at least for now I will stick to the intended purpose for this blog and write as much and as often as I can.
This really started out as a way to follow a journey through keto, our daughter’s cancer, and generally just life as I poked my toe into writing again (this was supposed to be easier than writing a book after all). Then I put it on the back burner, and it has gone nowhere since I haven’t written in over two years now. I have no great excuses although a list of reasons is always available.
So to catch you up on the past couple years…
Our family went on a different path from keto after several months even though my husband ended up losing about 85lbs on a modified version of it. I learned a tremendous amount about food during that time, and even more about reading labels. In the meantime, my daughter Alex battled cancer unsuccessfully using various diets and other naturopathic and non-naturaopathic methods including a modified keto diet, paleo, vegetarian, vegan, and an experimental immunotherapy treatment that became ineffective before she progressed to stage 3 Hodgkin’s Lymphoma. At that point she became eligible for a chemotherapy treatment she trusted at the Seattle Cancer Center, and on July 28, 2021 after 1,217 days of battling Lymphoma and 3 cycles into a 6-treatment cycle, her tests revealed that her cancer had gone into total 100% remission. Praise God! There is really nothing that compares to hearing that news. It had been a long battle.
In the meantime, our son Derrick continued his service in the U.S. Marine Corps. He is still stationed at Camp Hansen in Okinawa Japan (since August 2019). It has been far too long since we’ve hugged that young man! After he was shipped to Japan, our daughter Savannah began and completed her senior year of high school with the class of 2020, enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, attended and graduated basic military training and then technical school, and arrived in Okinawa Japan on Derrick’s 2-year anniversary of his 3-year tour there. She hadn’t seen him in so long that she put Kadena Air Force Base at the top of her dream sheet and got it! She is now stationed about half hour drive from him and they see each other frequently. Of course as their mom, it is difficult to be so far away from them, but knowing they are close to each other is the consolation. She took our hugs to him. Being able to FaceTime may not be the same as being able to hug them, but nothing brings joy to my heart quite like being able to see them both smile and laugh and be in the same room together after so long apart from each other.
In November of 2020 I picked up a bucket list hobby and reconstituted some sourdough from a dehydrated starter I purchased off of Ebay. I am happy to report that for the past 14 months, this killer of plants has kept that starter alive! I have learned and/or modified some amazing recipes along the way that I will be sharing, and I have already shared my starter with some relatives and friends. My husband and I will hit one year of empty nesting in March, and I think we have settled into the life well. We both still work full time but all of my job and most of his is done remotely, and our property definitely keeps us busy. Something always needs to be done! I drag him out of the house for date night about once a week, but otherwise I have more time to devote to the stack of ideas and recipes I’d like to try out and I hope this blog will keep me busy so I can share my adventures along the way. Wishing you blessings in 2022 and hoping that you find out who YOU are this year and do it on purpose!
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A Christmas Poem
I have been working on this poem for my son for Christmas. We just celebrated his one year anniversary of active duty in the U.S. Marine Corps, and it has been quite a journey!! In that year, we have had 24 days together and we probably won’t get to see him again until June. It’s not an easy life, and a big piece of my heart is in Okinawa, but I couldn’t be more proud!
I hope you all have a very Merry Christmas!The Seasons of a Marine and his Mom
We gathered up as a family for a farewell dinner,
A feast for Thanksgiving and celebration together.
Just a couple days later you walked out that door,
Your toothbrush and your wallet but not much more.
The very next morning we had our first “see you later”,
Then you boarded that plane with just a packet of paper.
From that moment forward you were known as recruit,
Forever more you will remember this time as boot.
Our first Christmas went by without you here,
Then we set off fireworks to bring in a New Year.
Those days you spent there seemed to go by so slow,
But through each letter we saw this new man grow.
Challenge after challenge and day after day,
The little boy you once were faded away.
The final drive and push up that long dark hill,
To become a Marine took every ounce of your will.
Valentine’s Day came without you in it,
Then you graduated boot and came home for a minute.
Before we knew you were back out that door,
Your boots and gear packed and ready for more.
The days at M.C.T. came by fast and they went,
Hearing your voice often and many messages sent.
A new set of orders changed your school and your plan,
But you took it in stride as your duty, as a man.
Not at all the job you thought you would do,
I guess your Uncle Sam had different plans for you.
A few months on the beach at Camp Pendleton,
Taught you the meaning of YAT YAS and 21-41.
Your 19th birthday came quick and it went,
A card in the mail and the first care package sent.
It was tough that I couldn’t be there to hug you,
But I have comfort in knowing you love what you do.
A quick flight home for the 4th of July,
Seemed like just enough time for hello and goodbye.
Another month went by, you were ready to roll,
Your training completed and eager to go.
So glad you were able to come home again,
Before heading out on your orders from Great Uncle Sam.
Those ten days flew by more than fast,
All of us wishing each moment would last.
Another “see you later” with just you and me,
Holding back tears until I thought you wouldn’t see.
Flights that would bring you six thousand miles from home,
But I was so thankful not to some war-torn zone.
Months go by that start out as days,
Moments and memories go by in a haze.
One month turned to two, then to three,
And November snuck up, how can that be?
Thanksgiving came and family gathered again,
We gave thanks for you and all servicemen.
The snow is falling again, it’s a beautiful sight.
I’ll pray for you again like I do every night.
We put up the tree and your Marine ornament,
The lights and decorations, but your stocking gets sent.
Hoping that 3 weeks is plenty of time,
To send off my love to your box from mine.
Christmas never did come from a store,
But if I could buy it, I would choose a day or more.
To spend it with you during this season of joy,
To have my Marine son, for a moment, just a boy.
The journey of a Marine son and his Mom,
To be continued in seasons as our lives move on.Original work by Sherry Green 12/02/2019
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This Might NOT be Easier than a Book!
Apparently, I’m not meant to become a great blogger because I just can’t seem to keep up with it. I have the same problem with journaling. I have some great looking journals that I have held onto through the years, but so many of them go months or years without ever seeing another word. Truthfully, all of them have so far. I’m certain I’ve never filled one, so to say I really can’t believe it has taken me several months to get back on here and write something would be a lie. I am quite aware of what’s kept me away. I can’t be entirely forthright with all that has occurred, so I will just say that the past few months has been a bit of a struggle in what to write and say on here, so I’ve just put it off until now. I really hope I get better at this!
I wrote in the beginning that I didn’t want to make this ALL about Keto and recipes. DiDi is still battling with the Lymphoma and gaining ground on it with treatments. She never really did pick up the Keto torch, but that is her story to tell. God willing, she will come out of this stronger. My husband and I kept up with Keto for many months after DiDi moved out of the household. We just felt so great, and my husband managed to drop around 75lbs. Men! I only lost about 15lbs in the very beginning, but then just plateaued out. About 3 months ago I got discouraged with Keto, started eating everything, and gained that 15lbs back. Go figure! Weight really is just a number though because in the last couple months, I’ve stayed the same weight but have been doing some workouts (Zumba, push-ups, squats, leg raises, etc.) and definitely notice everything tightening and strengthening. Beyond that, I’ve been adding in some stretching and I can now touch my toes without a struggle hahaha!!! Savannah still tells me my legs aren’t completely straight. Brat. Although we haven’t necessarily stuck with Keto, we have stuck to a mostly natural diet, staying away from most processed foods, refined sugars, etc. Now we just have quite a few more cheats, and we don’t turn down homemade rolls from Mom!
Derrick, Mother’s Day 2018 In other news, our son, Derrick has launched successfully into the big wide world!!! He graduated High School with the Class of 2018 in June. At that time, he was already in the delayed enlistment program for the U.S. Marine Corps. He left for boot camp in November and graduated on February 22, 2019. We don’t leave the mountain often, but we flew down to San Diego to watch him graduate. I can’t begin to tell you the amount of pride I had to see him march across that parade deck with Platoon 3226. He was honored as his Platoon’s High Shooter and qualified as a Rifle Expert. He became a Marine, and I became a MoM (Mom of Marine), joining the ranks of other Marine and Military moms across our great nation. To say I’m proud would be a vast understatement. Sometimes the pride wells up so much that it leaks out of my eyes and rolls down my face. Semper Fi.
This was the closest I got to a Christmas picture.
Taken on December 26, 2018 (During Week 4 of Boot Camp)Following 10 days home on leave, our new “Private Green” reported to Camp Pendleton for a month at Military Combat Training, graduating from this portion of his training on April 2nd. He has remained at Camp Pendleton for further training at his Military Occupation Specialty school. He should finish up there in August, but it will be at least a couple more months before he receives orders for his permanent station. His first preference as Okinawa. I think that would be great for him and quite the adventure, but it’s hard to say what the USMC will think about it. On May 1st, he received his first rank promotion to Private First Class.
Savannah is finishing up her Junior year in high school and 1st year of running start. That one sure keeps me on my toes! Teen girls. Other moms of teen girls understand what I’m going through. I’m pretty sure boys are harder to keep alive, but girls are just… brats… LOL… Prom is tomorrow, and it seems this year just flew by!! Next year my BABY will be a senior! Like sand through an hourglass, time has slipped by. With any luck, you’ll hear from me before she graduates!!
Thanks for hanging in there through my long update. I’m working on a care package to send off to Derrick for Armed Forces Day on May 18th. I’ve seen some really cool ones, so if it turns out great, maybe I’ll post some pics of it!!
As always, my best to you and your family!!
~Sherry~
