The other day Skyler and I were at the store when I noticed a couple little kids running around in the same isle as us looking at the cereal.  Their mom was getting so frustrated and angry with the kids because they wouldn't hold still and get in the cart.  I'm definitely not judging because I don't know what her life is like or what is going on, but I wanted to shake her and say "Your kids are running, isn't that wonderful?!"  Right before that as we were walking down the isle Skyler saw a little hop scotch thing on the floor.  He looked at me with determination in his eyes and asked "Mom do you think I can do it?"  I told him I knew he could.  Next thing I knew he was hop scotching and so proud of himself.  I was in that cereal isle almost in tears while I watched my son do this.  I wanted to say to that mom "Don't take the little things for granted.  Take a step back and be grateful for your kid's health and strength."

Cancer has changed my perspective on everything.  I look at life so differently now and I'm so grateful for the little things in life that we are blessed with, like hop scotching.  Before cancer I'm sure I would be that mom yelling at my son to stop running around.  I didn't know how lucky I was that he could do that.  I didn't know that there was a world where kids are too weak to walk, let alone run.  I also didn't know that there are so many kids that have lost limbs to this monster and go through months of therapy to be able to walk again on a prosthetic.  I hate cancer with every part of my being, but there is one thing I am grateful to cancer for and it is this new prospective on life.  I can never take the little things for granted again.