Hi Ladies and Men,

I began this thread a long time ago and I think it's time to resurrect it.  I looked for the old thread but it didn't come up in my search.

It's meant to help us find the joy in our lives in the midst of this horrible disease and what it tries to take away from us.  I try to live in the moment -- and this moment - right now - is good.

Let us know what made you happy today -- a sunrise, a sunset, family, friends, good food, ice cream,  whatever gave you joy and share it with us so that we can look for the joy in our lives as well.

Thanks everyone -- 

Hug,
Elaine

 A person's greatness is the power to stand alone;to be able to make her own choice; in action,to write anew her own law; to choose her own sacrifices; run her own dangers; win her own freedom; venture her own destruction; to choose her own happiness 
 

Hi Elaine!
 
I'm sorry we haven't had a chance to meet-up again!  I will try harder :)
 
It's kind of cloudy here in So. Cal, but I opened the balcony door this morning and breathed in the cool AM air - such joy, such peace washed over me - sigh....
 
Dana

age 49 (HB, CA)
IDC & DCIS R/breast, ER/PR+ HER2-, no nodes!
BiLat Mast. 2-1-08 w/immediate reconstruction
4 rounds A/C, done 6/11/08
Strong Family Hist.
carepages: doodlebuggy
Nothing is more important than this day.

The rain is giving me joy today and my new scarf in a beautiful spiced orange color!

Dx @ 42 yrs old, IDC R/B
Lumpectomy 5/1/08 w/node dissection
1+/9 nodes, 5cm area removed
ER+/PR+, BRCA1-/BRCA2-
Stage IIb, Grade II
TAC 6/5/08,6 rounds,completed 9/17/08!
34 rads 10/9/08 completed 11/25/08
Lymphedema r/arm

My two amazing boys, and just being able to have another day with them.  
 
Susie 

43@ DX 7/18/08
No primary breast tumor
only found by biopsy of axilla lymph nodes
er/pr+ her-
Chemo 8/08 4 a/c 4 taxol finished 11/24/08
Bilat mast 12/08. w/ tissue expanders
5+/23 nodes
No signs of tumor in breast after pathology
pet, ct, and mri all negative for primary tumor 
 28 Rads started 2/2/09 finished 3/13/09  YEA!!!!!!!!!
hysterectomy April 24, 2009
 expander exchange for silicone 11/19/09
Aromosin May09- 5 YRS

Great idea Elaine.  For me just coming from a three-month check and having a printout of normal lab results in my hand.  Still waiting on my CA 27/29 results later today so hopefully that can be tomorrow's reason to smile.

Amy D. dx 8/6/08 @ 42
Upstate NY
Loving husband and two beautiful daughters (13 & 15)
IDC; Stage 3A; grade 2; 5.5cm; E+P+HR-; 2/13 +
LM 8/21/08; chemo 9/29/08 AC x4; taxol x12;
Avastin 9/08 thru 9/09; 28 Rads;Tamoxifen 5 years

I bought a beautiful new spring bag today, and I can see spots of  grass beneath the snow... happy, joy 

dx ILC/dcis excisional biopsy 5/30/08
r segmental mast (partial) snb 6/4
node neg stage1 gr ll
er+/pr- Her2 - Oncotype Dx 11
R mast 9/22/08 w DIEP
tamox,now AI 
BRCA 1 & 2 NEG
davinci hyst/bso,  

I live about 40 miles down the road from Cheryl, and we're also having the rain--LOTS of it--and much needed!

Rena age 63 California Central Coast
26-year survivor
BRCA2-positive
Dx 1986 IDC ER/PR negative 22 positive lymph nodes
CMFVP chemo weekly for one year, 7 weeks radiation
October 2007: New chassis and spark plugs!

I had one of those good to be be alive days days today Elaine.   We've had a rough winter but beautiful spring sunshine the past few days.   I took my usual walk on the beach and the water was sparkling in the sunshine and the birds singing:)  
Simply beautiful and made my day, I even found the energy from this to begin some spring cleaning!!  xx

Tricia Keegan...From Ireland Dx July '05 IDC 3/9 nodes pos..triple positive..a/c x 4..Taxol/herceptin x 12
Herceptin 1yr ..rads x35 oophorectomy Aug '06
Currently taking Arimidex /Zometa 1 x yearly
Carepage- survivortricia

Beautiful sunshine!

DCIS4+CM,IDC/ILC 2.5CM Nov 2007 Bilat Mastectomy, SNB, -! (Except 2 isolated tumor cells smaller than grain of salt)A/Cx4 Taxolx4 Done! Clear scans x4! No vascular invasion, Tamox. Zometa 2011 AI
reconstruction x2

Elaine,
 
I love the idea of resurrecting the Diary of Joy.  I found joy today by telling my supervisor I will be retiring the end of May after 34 years on the job.  After putting so much thought into the decision, it felt so liberating to finally tell him.  He commented how relaxed and happy I seemed!  This was a very joyful day.

Toni
LI NY
DCIS 10/05 
Surgery & 6 1/2 weeks of radiation 
Tamoxifen for 2 1/2 months and stopped
due to vision issues