So you may have noticed that I have been gone for a long time. Well let me tell you, that last few months have been crazy. Just before my family and I took our trip to Indonesia we learned that my mother had been diagnosed with breast cancer. You hear about people having breast cancer all the time, but it shouldn't ever happen to anyone you know and care about.... let alone your mom. Well, as I have just pointed out, that is exactly what happened. It was frightening to know that you could lose someone you love so easily. I have been through some awful losses and I am not quite ready to go through that with my parents. But then again, when are we ever truly ready?

Shortly after returning from Indonesia, my girls and I packed our bags and headed to Utah so we could be with my mom and help her out as she recovered. It turns out, she is so resilient she could have probably done without us. Although I would like to think that she enjoyed our company. It was really difficult to keep the house clean and I felt bad about that, but I think my parents actually didn't mind as much and even enjoyed listening to the giggles and bickering of my little ones.

I have always had a lot of respect for my mother, but watching her as she went through the surgery and process of removing the cancer has opened my eyes and I have even more respect for her and all people that go through this process. It isn't painless and it isn't pretty. I am simply amazed at the grace in which my mom handled everything. I am so grateful that my work and home situation is such that I was able to be with her as she went through all of this.

My family and I deeply appreciate the prayers and positive thoughts from all of those of you that knew about our situation. I got a flood of concerned emails and calls from many of you when you saw that my July classes had been canceled.

I am glad to say that they believe my mother is cancer free and doesn't even need chemo and most likely won't need radiation. What a blessing that is. We have heard awful stories of chemo and I am so grateful that she will not need to go through any of that.

So thank you again for the prayers and healing thoughts.

With all that said, I am now back in Ohio and things are getting on a roll. My class schedule has been posted for August and I am going to start working on the September schedule soon. If there is something you would like to see offered, please let me know and I will get it on the schedule. You can see the current class schedule on my website: http://www.melissamuir.com/classes.htm. I will also get it posted here on the blog when I return home tonight from our youth activity.

I will be adding more pictures of our Indonesia trip also. I know you have been waiting a long time to see them. But it is coming I promise. I will also be addressing my website and online store within the next couple of weeks. I have many new items I will be adding and old ones that I will be removing. So if there is something in the store you would like to have, now is the time to buy it.

Until later tonight, or tomorrow morning, have a good evening.