We have all seen the slogans for Breast Cancer Awareness…   - Save the TaTas~ - Fight like a girl! - I’m here for the Boobies :) - Feel for lumps, Save your bumps! - Big or small, Let’s save them all   There are so many that I could fill up an entire page with them!   We all see them and we chuckle at the cute ironies. We all realize that October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Some pray for those that are fighting and some donate to the cause. We take it seriously but our brains say “It can’t happen to me”. It can.   My story:   I tell my story not because breast cancer defines me and not because I feel like my breast cancer fight makes me any different than anyone else fighting their own battles.  I simply tell it in an effort to save one more wife, sister, mother, daughter or friend.     Seven years ago, I was floating in the lake with four of my girlfriends.  It was one of those all girls weekends that you leave your phone in your purse and your worries at the house and just relax.  We caught up with each others lives, floated till our skin puckered, laughed till our sides hurt and prayed for other friends going through a hard time.  Casually breast cancer was brought up and we shuddered at the statistics that one of the five of us would battle the disease in our lifetime.  Little did we know three of the five women floating in that lake would battle breast cancer and WIN.  We each have our own, unique stories with one common thread...Early Detection.   In August of 2012 I scheduled a long overdue mammogram. I had been having a weird sensation in my left breast that was not quite pain but also not comfortable. When they took me back and asked if there were any areas of concern I mentioned the sensation. They squished that area more (oh the joys of being a woman).   They called me first thing the next morning and asked me to come in for a sonogram, assuring me that 80% of the time it ends up being nothing. Immediately after the sonogram, the radiologist spoke to me and said that he was 90% sure that the spot he was seeing was benign but he scheduled a biopsy to make sure. Three weeks later, the doctor performing the biopsy said he would be “shocked” if the matter he was extracting was cancerous. So imagine my surprise three days later…”You Have Cancer”.   My amazing husband, who has always been strong, stoic and protective, collapsed as soon as the words were spoken. This is a man that is solid as a rock. He doesn’t respond to situations with emotion, he rarely gets upset and he never cries.  His reaction scared me worse than the doctor's statement. Many people have asked what my first thoughts were when I was told. I love my kids immeasurably, however my very first thought was “I’m only going to get 20 years with my husband and that’s not enough”. I wish I could say that I had an epiphany or some kind of selfless reaction. NOPE!  I was really, really angry. I was angry that I wouldn’t be with my husband anymore. I was angry that I was leaving my kids so early in their lives that it would leave scars on their hearts. I was angry that I wouldn’t travel with them, see their weddings, meet my grandkids. I cried.I shook. I threw up. I held my husband’s hand. I heard no more words the doctor said. All the while, getting angrier and angrier. And then I snapped and said ‘No! I’m not done being here with my family yet”.     I won’t bore you with the details of surgery, chemo, radiation, shots, blood draws, handfuls of medications, endless doctors appointments, etc. What I will bore you with is the proverbial silver lining. My marriage is stronger now than ever (didn’t even know that was possible). My kids are happy, healthy, beautiful, successful people that positively impact the world. Our family is closer now that we have been through this experience, and it has helped us all deal with the other devastating experiences that life throws at us. I have a new attitude about life. This new outlook helped me start an amazing career that I never dreamed I would love this much. This new outlook is basically to live a fabulous life (that includes pink feather boas)!     Because of early detection, I was able to fight hard and beat this battle. I’ve heard all the reasons why women don’t go for mammograms.  What reason even comes close to the reward of being with your loved ones? Your significant other...your kids...your friends....your dog...they all need you. Let them be your inspiration to schedule that appointment!     Warmly, Jenny

By the time I met my husband, I was very aware of life within the fire service. My brother is also a fireman and I had become immune to the idealistic notions that accompanies the profession.  This is not to underplay their status of being heroes! I am a proud wife and sister to extraordinary men that are putting their lives on the line to help others in extreme emergency situations! After 10 years of marriage, I’ve learned quite a few things about being a firefighter wife. Some I knew to expect and others I have discovered along the way. First, having my husband away for 24 hour shifts is a normal part of our life. He spends a third of the year at the fire station with his work family. This schedule has it challenges, especially with a little girl, but we have grown accustomed to this routine. It’s hard work to manage everything with him away, however I have always been independent. Where there’s a will there’s a way especially with my ‘I can do this' attitude.  We have a great support system with family that lives close by. I have found absence makes the heart grow fonder and we embrace all the moments of the life we live. Second, holidays and special occasions spent together are never guaranteed. He may be home with us to celebrate but more likely he is away making sure other families are safe. We make due and we try to plan around it when we can. Vacations are also difficult to plan and many times, he has had to join us later due to a training or not being able to get time off.   Third, I ask if he slept at the station the night before when he comes home. This might be sneaky, but it tells me if he had a hard night. Everyone needs time to get even keel. I just need to know how much time it might take before I start in on things I need to tell him that happened yesterday or other stuff that has come up that we need to talk about. I do not ask him about his day or the calls he went on. I feel if he wants to give me the spiel, he will and that is RARE!  Firefighters are special people. They are not usually very emotional and they deal with what they see differently than most people. It’s what makes them able to do their job. Fourth, I do not call or text him much when he is at work. Occasionally, if I have to tell him something really important or just send him an 'I Love You' text, I certainly do!  I never know if he’s on a call, in a meeting or training.  I don’t want to distract him from his focus. I do love that most nights when he is at work, he and our daughter will FaceTime to say Good Night! My husband, Josh and daughter, Carly Kate   Last is to brag on the hubs! He is the calmest force I have ever met when it comes to stressful situations. I sliced my finger once on a garage door rail. He took my hand, knew if I saw it that I would flip out! Unruffled, he wrapped it and told me we were going for a visit to the emergency room for stitches.  I’ve also watched him at a parade, where he literally sprung over the crowd to help a lady that was run over by a float.  He talked to her, gave her the care she needed until paramedics could make it there and told her she would be ok! I will leave you with some great information.  As you may know, October also marks fire prevention month.  As the temperatures grow colder, home related fires are much more common.  EVERY SECOND COUNTS!!! Draw a map of your home with all members of your household, marking two exits from each room and a path to the outside from each exit. Practice your home fire drill twice a year. Conduct one at night and one during the day with everyone in your home, and practice using different ways out. Teach children how to escape on their own in case you can’t help them. Make sure the number of your home is clearly marked and easy for the fire department to find. Close doors behind you as you leave – this may slow the spread of smoke, heat, and fire. Once you get outside, stay outside. Never go back inside a burning building. Visit The National Fire Protection Association for a free download of a Home Escape Fire Plan or Coloring Sheet. Sincerely, Renea

Fall and Winter gardens typically are associated with barren trees, dead grass and blah.  I am THRILLED (yes, I am aware I am thrilled about a vegetable/flower, and no, I'm not running a fever!) to introduce you to the best thing to happen to Winter gardens since a pansy!  The story goes... In early September, I took to Pinterest to plan my self watering window box (you can buy it at Plow and Hearth for around $129).  I expected to see varieties of white pumpkins, glittered pumpkins, gourds and burlap.  Meh.  Instead, I was not only surprised, but I became enamored with this year's Fall annual collections! I digress... Three years ago, I had given up hope that I would ever be able to keep anything alive (other than my family), although I did love buying flowers.  They seem so full of hope!  I can almost hear them say, "Pick me!  ME!  No, MY bloom is better than yours!". I scolded myself each time I saw the seasons change, and promised to only purchase from the Hospice cart at Lowes (HINT!  check the perimeters at Lowes for plants that are less than perfect or needing a good drink of water for at least 60-75% off!).  Surprisingly, when plants needed a little love, I actually tended to them.  These same flowers, which, if purchased from the main aisles, would have died because I forgot to water them, were flourishing!  Finally, I was not a failure at keeping plants alive!  Back to perusing Pinterest... I happened to query "Fall Window Boxes", when I stumbled  upon the best thing since sliced bread:  Ornamental Cabbage and Kale!YES!  It was beautiful!  It was Lucious!  It was different than anything I had ever seen!  But...where on earth do you find it?   On the off chance the Queens of Mums, aka Myers Greenhouse, carried this oh so original vegetaflower, I decided to pay them a visit.   Myers Greenhouse, located on Stratford Road between Winston and Clemmons, has the most helpful ladies who gently share their suggestions and educate you on the care of the plants they raise from seed.  It is an unpretentious greenhouse, and frequented by those who share the love of flowers! (Cash or check only).  It truly is an pleasure to visit this place and have a virtual Pinterest board with those who work!  They make it their life to enjoy planting flower gardens! They educated me on this ornamental cabbage...The beauty is in the barren!  In order to truly get the lovely colors as seen on Pinterest, the purples, lavenders and pinks are brought out AFTER the chilly frosty morning tickles their leaves.  Up until the first frost, it looks the same as the cabbage we are used to seeing. BORING! Then, the magic happens!  THAT is why I can't get enough!   I have gone back (ahem) FIVE times since to get more...and more...and more flowers.  The last visit (I promise!) on Wednesday completed my collection for the finishing touches of my precious window box.   The ladies at Myers coached me in understanding the spiky grass in the middle will create interest.  The large cabbages on each side are to be planted sideways (!) and then accompanied by smaller kale and finished by trailing pansies (yet, ANOTHER item I didn't know about!).   I have big plans for the Spring...but for now...Go buy some cabbage and enjoy the magic!