You may have never heard of the Herdmans, especially if you haven’t read, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. It is a novel targeted towards younger children that I used to read aloud in my earliest years of teaching to my classes in the days leading up to the Christmas season.
It was always a wonderful read aloud story because the main characters were high spirited and dramatic. These spirited and unruly characters added to the fun.
I haven’t thought much about that book until this past year. Our local movie theater, The Liberty, featured a free movie, portraying the story, so we went to see it during the Christmas season. I laughed and I cried. It was a beautiful movie which I will add to my watch list each Christmas season.
The movie, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever, was a beautiful story of Christmas, and how “Everyday Angels” are alive and well. These Angels walk among us offering gifts of kindness, compassion, and understanding and SO much more… You know these folks… they are the ones who are always there for you… your “Everyday Angels”.
The Herdman children desperately needed an “Everyday Angel” in the book, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. They had worked super hard in keeping all people out of their lives. They were tough, dirty, physically rough, bullies, and simply hard to deal with in most situations.
The movie we viewed revealed how the “Everyday Angels” who were patient with these highly spirited characters, empathetic, and had a determined willingness to teach The Herdmans children about the Christmas story.
As a result of that very small community of people who exhibited considerable efforts, these “Everyday Angels” in the movie, created a significant change in how The Herdman kids viewed others. This kind offering by “Everyday Angels”, gave The Herdman kids a chance at redemption, a chance at a new beginning, and an opportunity to live within their community in a more peaceful, positive manner.
Thank you Libby Brooks for my Guardian Angel 💕!!!
My cancer surgery is now a few weeks behind me. I’m slowly regaining my strength and stamina back. As I approach early February, I will learn more about my next phases, radiation and future medications moving forward.
I’m very thankful for my team of “Everyday Angels”. These individuals have made my day by simply doing the little things… texting or calling to check in, sending a card, offering a smile, prayers, or even sometimes, a bit more. Thank you!!! Your kindness has been greatly appreciated.💕💕💕
Handmade Angels… an Everyday Gift of Love and Kindness. These beautiful gifts flew off our shelves this past Christmas made by local artist, Kim Reid at Wilkes County Hardware.
That’s the thing about Angels, they often appear when you least expect them. The Herdman children were initially looking for free food and snacks at church when they first arrived on the big screen. Over time, their mission evolved into become more involved with the Church Christmas play. The Church snacks were secondary. Eventually, they learned about the story of Jesus’s birth and much more.
One of the youngest Herdman’s, Gladys Herdman served as The Angel of The Lord in a unique way in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Christmas play. She yells out to the audience and tells the Wisemen to get going using a large sense of urgency.
Likewise, This Cancer Journey has revealed to me a host of “Everyday Angels” in my midst… like those medical professionals who consistently give 200 percent of their daily work towards helping oncology patients find answers to their ongoing medical care needs. I’m truly blessed with an amazing medical care team!!! Thank you 😇 Angels!!!
Until Cancer comes calling, you don’t realize how many different medical professionals you will encounter. I have been blessed so far with Angels, doing their everyday work in a very gentle way.
Let us not forget those “EverydayAngels” who walk among us in our daily lives who have the ability to sense those who need immediate care, and offering kindness and assistance where it is needed.
I’m extremely thankful for my small little host of “Everyday Angels” that have appeared to help me during this difficult time.
My closing question to you today…have you taken the time to notice who your Angels are OR can you recognize/know who your “EverydayAngels” are??? If so, take time to say Thank You!!
As I continue this Cancer Journey, I’ll never forget the Angels that have surrounded me with love, kindness, prayers, endless encouragement, and support during my journey … from all over my greater community… family, friends, hardware store community, and my new Cancer Medical Team. 😇😇😇
“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” – Hebrews 13:2
In Early November in 2025, I went to Winston Salem for my usual 3D imaging mammogram. For those of you who are regular readers of my blog, several years ago I had written a blog post entitled, “Waiting” after finding a lump in my right breast. I went regularly every 6 months for scans for a couple of years solid until the radiological team had enough data evidence to show that the micro cysts were stable enough to move me back on a yearly mammogram routine. So, my “worry” had subsided somewhat because everything was fairly normal… well, for me that is.
Fast forward to November of 2025… I was stunned when I opened up my mammogram results online to see the radiology report read very differently from what I “normally” see… the words “Architectural distortion of the left breast” looming large in my mind. The verbiage was just very different from my “usual” mammogram summary. I was worried.
I Just Knew…
I was asked to have a repeat mammogram exam and ultrasound follow up as soon as possible. The medical team was quick to proceed with this and thankfully, it happened quickly.
I knew the protocol already, the results are given to me of the day of the new mammogram/ultrasound findings. I would know before I went home from my appointment, which is a small blessing in disguise. This time the results discussion was different. The radiologist who read my new mammogram and ultrasound results, came in to speak to me in person. After he began to go over my results, I knew then it was cancer even though he never used the words cancer directly to me as he began to discuss next steps… MRI and Biopsy.
My next few weeks were filled with upcoming appointments in between daily life and work. “The Big C” was looming large in all things… my diet was changing a bit more to defeat my new enemy, The Grinch.
This “large” manual has been a wonderful resource for me over the last few months… and will continue to be as I move into next steps after surgery recovery
Choosing To Focus On Essentials…
I have a few good friends who have been through cancer treatment in the last few years and I was aware of how intentionally they had switched up their dietary habits to combat the cancer itself AND aid in healing. I wanted to start small, so I began to push away sugar, starches, pasta, and breads in my diet. Ugh… the holidays were fast approaching and those holiday goodies were absolutely everywhere… it was a battle worth fighting for and during the holiday season, it was a must do.
I’ve added mushroom coffee into my daily lineup, the benefits of different types of mushrooms are tremendous for cancer patients
Choices made. I decided to focus on eating a variety of Whole Foods… a more intentional emphasis on fresh fruits, vegetables and a nice portion of protein on my plate. I’ve left the processed foods off my plate all together. The health benefits of a Whole Foods diet would definitely be a greater advantage to me.
What I have learned … Cancer cells thrive in a glucose rich environmentand in my case as well, having an estrogen positive cancer… maintaining a healthy weight will be a beneficial outcome in my Cancer Journey. Breast Cancer, by its true definition, is the uncontrolled growth and division of cells in breast tissue, which can typically lead to the formation of a tumor. Knowing all of these factors, I didn’t want cancer to thrive within me. A healthy approach to eating and food should hopefully make a remarkable difference as I continue to confront this disease head on for years to come, not just a temporary fix.
Bowl full of fresh fruit for breakfast, full of blueberries, blackberries, oranges, apples, and often strawberries
One Day At A Time…
Looking back on those weeks, it’s all a big blur. The biopsy confirmed what I already knew internally, it was Cancer. Specifically, Invasive Ductal Cancer, a very common form of Breast Cancer, now a real part of my daily existence. 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with Breast Cancer. When I heard those statistics, I was stunned and a bit surprised.
According to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Breast Cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer in women worldwide, with over 1.84 million new cases of Invasive Ductal Carcinoma occurring in 2022. The US has estimated last year, in 2025, that 316,950 women were diagnosed with Breast Cancer. What do all these numbers tell us? Early detection and regular screening is imperative for all women across the globe. I should also mention that being proactive with our health concerns as women should be top of mind. If you are unhappy with the answers you are getting, advocate for yourself and find other solutions when it comes to your health.
This sweet gift, a pink cross is never far from my sight. Thank you Ruth 💕
The last few months have been a blessing and very humbling for me. So many people walk the cancer journey unbeknownst to others in their greater community without vocalizing their needs. I have talked with several people who have personally experienced cancer that I had no idea that they had cancer before. These “silent soldiers” who have defeated cancer under their own terms making strides towards full recovery. These cancer survivors have offered tremendous support, and encouragement as well as my friends and family.
Meeting My Medical Team…
More appointments followed in early December and I met my surgeon and my medical oncology doctor, with whom I feel very lucky to have in my corner. Their constant positivity was not only contagious but they also indicated that the cancer findings were fixable. A “road map” for my cancer journey was in progress for my recovery and I felt very grateful to have them navigating the way. My new medical team has created positive connections with me, for which I’m thankful, as they have addressed all my concerns and questions. As a result, I feel highly confident in their ability to provide the best and upmost care and support for my recovery.
But, still looming large in my mind…was the upcoming holiday season. It was only a matter of a few weeks before Christmas and I couldn’t let Cancer ruin my holiday. My doctors had quickly begun to map out the next steps on my “road map to recovery” and finally, it was becoming more clear to me and my family how the process would take place. I felt good about my prognosis. I also felt lucky… my yearly mammogram screening had caught the cancer early!!
The New Year rang in and I waited patiently for my surgery date. As you read this today, I have turned a page on a new chapter in this journey . My surgery to remove the cancer was completed. Healing is now in progress, and my pathology results are really good. I’m so thankful! My margins are clear, no signs of cancer in my lymph nodes, and The Grinch, (my cancer tumor) size 14mm , has been extracted!
A 14mm bolt and dime for size reference
The Road Map Continues…
I will soon follow up with my surgeon and medical oncologist and once surgery healing has been completed, next steps will be laid out on the “road map”. Radiation is anticipated, in early February. One step at a time in the cancer process.
On the journey I have noted… Cancer changes your mindset, how you move, how you react to food, and how you will respond to your overall health needs. Rest, I have learned, is important in my day to day life. Literally taking each day, one day at a time. Cancer is a life changing experience and my health will never be the same again without the thoughts of cancer.
Advocacyand Connections…
Connection: The energy that exists between people when they feel valued, seen, heard… when they can give and receive feedback without judgement and derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.
I’m going to take a moment to connect back to the daily life of a business owner. Each day brings the opportunity to make connections with existing customers or creating connections with a new customer. A constant flow of communication can be achieved in several ways by utilizing such tools as social media networks, sending emails, answering phone calls, OR the direct interaction with a customer. However these connections are made, a base network can be made or created. When those connections are positive interactions and those become the norm, successful relationships thrive. A definite goal of any business owner or entrepreneur… or any highly valued professional.
My personal health over the last 6 months has brought me to a new place where I will continue to highly value and creating those positive connections with any medical professionals that I encounter. Even though my surgery was successful, Cancer will always be in my radar for years to come.
Creating positive connections and relationships is the Standard of Care that we all should have. I don’t consider it to be the Gold Standard, but the Basic Standard of Care.
As you are reading this, you may think back upon an encounter where you may have felt the same way at some point… disconnected from your medical provider… were they truly listening to your symptoms??? Did you feel valued as a patient or even was your time valued???? I have felt “disconnected” from doctors that I have met in my past and it was not a wonderful experience.
My Cancer health journey has made me realize that I’m the Gold Standard for my personal self-care and advocacy. What I have learnedfrom those past disconnected experiences…Advocacy is self-care. Personal Self-care is important…Make time for your personal medical, physical and mental health and overall wellbeing. Seek out and find those providers who are “connected” with your health needs and who will help you achieve your health goals. Self -care is taking time to take action and meeting those mandatory health screenings.
This routine mammogram screening in November of 2025 definitely has impacted my cancer recovery. If I had initially cancelled my appointment, or even rescheduled it, my cancer treatment could have possibly look very different.
Personal Self-care is my goal moving forward, along with Advocating for my healing and overall wellbeing. I’m trying to allow myself the grace to live one day at a time and the opportunity to rest when I need it as part of that self-care routine.
Whether Cancer is present in your daily walk, or not, we all need to advocate for ourselves in all situations. Take care of yourself 💕.
Find Time for the Quiet Moments
Dedication Note…
This blog post is dedicated to my Family and Friends who have been by my side from Day ONE of my diagnosis.
To my fellow cancer journey friends and survivors, we are in this together, forever. Thank you for your strength, endless support and endurance.
Richard has been a rock of strength, courage, love, and support to me… following me to each doctor appointment as well as my parents and sister. Benjamin has surrounded me with love and hope for healing from the very beginning. I’m truly blessed with wonderful family.
Friends, you may never know how much I appreciate your love, presence, and kindness with each passing day.
Lastly, to you my loyal followers and readers, I would not want to make this Cancer journey alone without your prayers. The power of prayer and your kind words of encouragement have given me hope as I have begun to navigate this new way of living as a reality in 2026. Thank you 💕
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heavens.” —Ecclesiastes
The four seasons… Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter are all marked a significant changes in how we interact with the Earth. Each season is uniquely beautiful and transformative. The never ending cycle of nature adjusting to each distinctive season.
Daffodils are one of the first to bloom in Spring, bringing our landscape back into full color.
When the seasons begin to change, so do the needs of our loyal shoppers… each of the four seasons can bring a small shift of seasonal sales. Spring begins the lawn and garden season. Summer shopping is marked by a large demand of pool chemicals, and lawn and garden products.
Flowers are in abundance during the Summer season
Fall hardware store shopping centers around the demands of preparing for cooler weather, our customers are looking for stove pipe, wood stove maintenance products, rakes, and more!
Colorful Days of Fall
Winter, the cold months, our customers need kerosene heater maintenance, heating essentials, and Christmas gifts!!! Each of the four seasons keeps us busy with ongoing orders, and resets of seasonal supplies. We shift with each unique season.
Winter can bring cold temperatures and snow!
This reflection on the four unique seasons brought to mind the different “Seasons of Life”. We shift from season to season. I believe AGE is not necessarily a factor in these shifts in the different seasons of life.
The beauty of Fall Colors
I began to dwell on the changing of the seasons as we head into a new season, Winter.
Don’t we go through each of the four seasons as we age, possibly over and over again depending on the circumstances of your personal situation?? Hmmm… our lives are seasonal??? Can you imagine which season you are currently living through right now?
Spring… New Beginnings
Spring as a living season is full of renewal, change, new growth, and planting. This season is marked with new beginnings… like purchasing a new home, getting married, falling in love again, beginning a family, a new career, the list is long!!! Feeling of hope abounds in the Spring season.
Summer…Take A Risk and Splash In
Summer is a time of warmer days, time feels endless. The phase can bring more growth opportunities, whereas, harvesting your hard work from the Spring season. Taking risks becomes easier, pushing harder outside comfort zone. Motivation is key.
Fall.. Reflecting
Fall is a time to reflect. Reflection brings the opportunity to learn from mistakes, making plans for next phase, adjusting goals, noticing change, and simply enjoying the beauty around you, practicing gratitude for all things in your life.
Winter… Rest and Recharge
Winter brings rest. Winter is a time to recharge your batteries. If you are in the winter season, you might be experiencing sickness, or grief. With the “stillness” of the winter season, it can often bring clarity or wisdom (looking back and having peace) from earlier seasons previously journeyed through.
“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven.” —Ecclesiastes
Whatever season you find yourself in life’s journey, relish it. If you are currently feeling the depths of the winter season, spring will come.
Footnote: I often begin writing pieces for my blog months prior to publication.
This specific blog piece I began writing and processing prior to finding out about my diagnosis of Invasive Ductal Breast Cancer.
After reflecting on this blog piece, I’m currently in “winter”, looking forward to seeing “spring”.
Whatever season you find yourself in right now, please know that seasons change and each will not last forever. “When your heart is tired, and your spirit is worn, remember God is your rest. He will renew your strength and carry you through the storm.” Isaiah 40:29
Often the Christmas Classics have an unscrupulous or “misfit”character that is central in the story. As the Christmas story unfolds, that unruly character evolves and begins to change over time, reaching a new level of understanding and empathy. The Grinch is no stranger to this scenario. The Grinch has a unique meaning for me this 2025 holiday season.
The Grinch… the neighbor North of Whoville who hated the entire Christmas season.
The Grinch…hated the thought of the people of Whoville experiencing joy on Christmas Day. He stole all of the Christmas presents, stockings, Christmas trees, feasting food and even the firewood logs!!!
The Grinch…hoped the joy of Christmas would be spoiled, every home had been emptied by him as he taken all of their possessions. But, it didn’t happen. The people of Whoville celebrated Christmas anyway.
The Grinch… eventually realized that Christmas had come without all the excitement of Christmas presents, toys, wrapping paper, and all the other components of how we often celebrate Christmas Day. Christmas was about something so much more.
The Grinch… Experiencing Cancer, sickness OR even the loss of a loved one during the holiday season. These life altering events can definitely steal the Joy of the Holiday Season and leave you feeling sad, stressed or “Grinchy”.
The Grinch…personally present for me this holiday season, but NOT stealing the hope for healing, or the joy of celebrating the holiday season with family and friends. Will the holiday look potentially different? Yes. But, so will the next few months. Meeting my care team, Surgery, radiation, and ❤️🩹 begin the process of healing and recovery.
The Grinch… learned that the Whoville community gathered together to celebrate what was wonderfully good about Christmas, ultimately making his heart grow bigger.
The Grinch… has nothing our own hardware community….We are blessed. I always look forward to your smiles, laughter, and conversations as you have continued to shop with us for the last 10 years. You have become a part of our family.
The Grinch… The arrival of Cancer within my own life has made me very thankful and grateful for my community of family and friends who are supporting me daily as I embark upon a journey to find wellness once again. My heart is full of strength, hope, and courage as I continue to live ONE day at a time.
The Grinch… Unable to steal Christmas away, because Christmas is so much more than the day itself. Christmas is more about tiny acts of kindness, compassion, community spirit, and finding Grace in second chance opportunities.
The Grinch… Often when sickness or grief comes, we don’t allow ourselves the opportunity to live in full grace. The daily mantra should be for us all, not just cancer patients to live ONE DAY AT A TIME. When experiencing grief, anxiety, sickness, or cancer, every single day can be challenge with ever changing health conditions, or emotions. Through God’s grace, tomorrow is a uniquely different day. Celebrate the positive days and allow ourselves to rest when we need to.
Foot Note: Earlier this month, I was officially diagnosed with Invasive Ductal Breast Cancer, my Grinch. This cancer was found after my regularly scheduled mammogram. I strongly encourage everyone to keep all medical screening appointments. It’s so easy to get “busy” in the moment and forget about or delay them months down the line.
My initial prognosis is good and surgery will be scheduled soon. I have two appointments this week in Winston Salem. Please keep us in your thoughts and prayers over the next few months. I covet your prayers.
I know many of you that might be reading this today, have faced similar health challenges whether it was long term sickness, loss of a dear loved one, or a personal battle with cancer and can empathize with my personal situation.
Moving forward, we may find it necessary to alter our store hours to accommodate my appointments. Please be patient with us as we try to navigate this new “un-normal” phase of life for us.
Please also consider that if you reach out to our social media pages that a response might be delayed due to this new phase “unwellness” I am experiencing. That being said, If you need an immediate response to a specific product question, please call the hardware store for further assistance. We thank you for your support and understanding.
Wishing y’all a very Merry Christmas season! 🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄
I had no idea when I began in early September with the idea of focusing my monthly photography blog post from one specific location in mind, that by the end of the month that it would become bittersweet, touching, and memorable. Friday September 27, 2024 was a game changer day in Western North Carolina.
The Western North Carolina landscape has been critically altered due to the forces of nature. The beautiful Blue Ridge has been changed by the devastating path of Hurricane Helene. Towns have been erased by this path of destruction.
My heart hurts for so many families and mountain communities as they begin to try to recover and rebuild. Numb might actually be a better word. Mountain Communities are now isolated from the outside world grasping for all avenues of assistance and support, losing everything they own while helping others all at the same time.
My family, like many of you, experienced several days without power and full internet connection. In our many years of married life, this was the longest stent of power failure that we have ever experienced. I now have two completely clean refrigerators/freezers… all food was not salvageable. But, it’s ok. We are literally several minutes away from a path of destruction and very lucky that our storm damage wasn’t more severe.
During the stent of no power… We had time with family, time to laugh while playing board games, and dinners with friends who had power at their home.
I’m also thankful for the many people who stopped by the hardware store to check to make sure we weathered the storm well , or sent us messages. We simply live in a great, giving community. Thank you!
The news of the storm’s fury was front and center in my social media feed when I had the opportunity for a moment to visualize the aftermath of Helene during the power outage and still almost a week later, it dominates our news cycle. It has been hard to imagine this type of devastation in my mind. Towns and communities are literally gone.
We as business owners, do fully understand the power of water and the force behind it. Flooding is not an experience that we wish share with anyone else, a tremendous amount of empathy lies within.
Last Saturday morning, we began to witness the influx of customers who are traveling down from their mountain homes to find needed supplies. This trek still is continuing into this week. Supplies are selling out quickly and we are trying to reorder as fast as we can to accommodate our customers needs.
Western North Carolina communities need our support wherever you can give it. Do what you can to assist Western North Carolina Relief Efforts. Donate time, resources, or money to those charities that are well vetted where the most money can benefit those in need.
Mountain Communities are requesting that only relief workers be allowed into the area so the clean up can continue and allow for the arrival of much needed materials.
My hope is that this September montage will bring solace to your Blue Ridge Mountain wandering soul and lift your spirits in the coming days. A simple pictorial offering… a remembrance to our beloved Blue Ridge Mountains prior to the devastation we witnessed last week. I present to you, The Blue Ridge Mountains are calling and I must GO! My photographic Blog Journal from September 2024.
An Afternoon Wandering at Doughton Park
Blue Ridge Parkway Sunsetsare simply stunning
Price Lake Never Disappoints
Saturday Evening Sunset Drive
In closing I’m sharing one of my all time favorite benedictions and prayers: The Franciscan Benediction, as we all continue our work to restore and rebuild in Western North Carolina.
MAY GOD BLESS YOU with discomfort, at easy answers, half-truths, and superficial relationships so that you may live deep within your heart.
May God bless you with anger at injustice, oppression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom and peace.
May God bless you with tears, to shed for those who suffer pain, rejection, hunger, and war, so that you may reach out your hand to comfort them and to turn their pain to joy.
And may God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in the world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done, to bring justice and kindness to all our children and the poor.
AMEN
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The Hardware Life - A wife's journey into the hardware business 