In honor of all those amazing women and men who have battle breast cancer, you are all my HEROES! Your strength, your tenacity, and your power to push on amazes and inspires me. Always in my thoughts and prayers, you all are simply examples of HOPE.

So this month, as many times as you can, wear the color PINK proud and know we are all fighting for a cure!

October, oh how I love the weather and beautiful skies that October brings. It is seriously one of my favorite times of the year. The change of the colors everywhere you look reminds you that like in the Spring, you can start a new in life. Change is the way we evolve, learn, and grow in so many ways.

This month for me will be a change in my health routine for my MS. I have been on the same treatment for the past 9 years. And I am beyond grateful for the drug these past 9 years and how well it has done for me and my MS. However, the one rather serious issue with this drug I have been blessed to avoid, has now taken over and must be prevented to get any worse, so no more treatment of this drug anymore.

For the past 9 years, every month I have seen my nurse, Mary, who I have come to adore. We have gone through so much seeing each other that often for 9 years. I am super sad to not have that monthly date with her anymore that is for sure. For 9 years, I have had this two hour infusion that kept my MS stable and made me gain my fight back. My body always knew a week before that it was time for the treatment. My body had come to what I say addicted to it and wanted it every 4 weeks for sure. So to all of a sudden have to stop has been challenging. My body, mind, and spirit doesn’t really know what to feel or think some days, but I keep pushing forward the best I can. It is no joke to have your body “out of whack” like I like to call it but trying to get old medicine out of body before new has to be done.

So now onto a new treatment. When discussing this with my Dr. I told him, ” Just tell me what treatment to take to keep me an ABLE MOM as long as I can, and I will do just that.” I remember the look in his eyes (masks only let you see that now darn it) was like “Okay, well that answers that one and we don’t have to go over many options then.” So done and done. I say with confidence in God and in my Dr. that I will do what needs to be done to be ABLE as long as I can, so tell me what to do. God knows that is my goal in my MS journey and I know he is helping me do just that.

So now starts a new treatment that is every 6 months. That is so crazy to think only twice a year for a treatment after 9 years of every month and 4 years of every week. I think this will be a weird but good transition. This new treatment will be for 6+ hours a time, but again only two times a year. I am praying and trusting God and Dr.’s in this and pray it will be the answer to my next MS journey.

I hope you all have a wonderful month filled with fun times, hay rides, and lots of pumpkin everything!

Stay happy, kind, and well!

xo

September is here and who is not excited?!? Typically, I am the only one who likes summer to be over. Which if you live in the Midwest you know, summer weather can last well into October. I love Fall for the change in temps to cooler, the blue skies are always so vibrant in the fall, and fall colors. I could go on and on actually! But when the leaves and colors of things change, it reminds me of how change is a good thing and God is making this change for a purpose in each one of us. How lucky are we? New purpose, new growth in Christ. Love, love it all! Plus, anything pumpkin spice smelling, thank you God for creating that goodness! So enjoy the start of Fall this month and hope everyone’s schooling, whatever it may be right now, is going well!

” Ah, September, you are the doorway to the season that awakens my soul.” Peggy Toney Horton

Do any of you have a Gratitude Journal? If so, don’t you love writing all the things you are grateful for each day? If you do not have one of these, I encourage you to do so. It doesn’t even have to be a journal, just a piece of paper to write things down or even in your head at night before you fall asleep.

Here is what you do…

Think of at least 5 things you are grateful for, for example- your children, your family, your home, your faith, your friendships, etc. You can think of more than 5 but think of at least 5 and why you are grateful for them. I promise you, realizing how many things you have to be grateful for each day will truly change your way of thinking and your life.

Try it out!

xo

How did the Summer seem to go by so quickly when we really have been on a “break” since March? And now comes more uncertainties of if or when school will start, what will school even look like or be like if going back, will the virus get worse, are we close to going back to anything like before, and so many more uncertainties. It almost makes your head hurt, am I right?

I go back to this every time I get my mind going a hundred miles an hour of all going on…. God is in control. And I will put my trust in Him to show me the ways to keep moving forward. He is the one who knows it all, so trust in Him, and do your best. Easier said then done, I know, but it gives me a peace/ comfort that I need and is best for myself and family.

So in this last month of summer, enjoy your summer days and nights. Capture your summer memories and be still. Life is crazy so be still when you can. You will be happy you did. Trust me.

With all the new changes and challenges this upcoming School year may bring, I am offering a Virtual Reading of my book, The Brave Duck Patti Saves the Day! I will send over a voice over reading the book, then a LIVE Q & A after video. Just like in person reading, children can ask any questions or share thoughts about the book. I will also drop off to the school any book orders, labeled and ready to deliver to students.

This is going to be so much fun and a new, exciting way to spread the love during the school year, in any way we can!

If any school takes interest in this, please contact me at marciviland1218@gmail.com

Stay happy and healthy my friends! xo

“The time has come to turn back to God and reassert our trust in Him for the healing of America” – Ronald Reagan

4th of July has a whole new feeling this year for me. Normally, it is the time of year where everyone is proud to be an American. Everyone is united as a country. Definitely NOT this year and it gives mixed emotions, mixed hope, mixed sense of security, and so much more. Above all, it makes me so sad and down about all the HATE we have in our country. Being a mom, this is all too much to want my children to witness, hear, or be a part of. I respect people’s beliefs just not with hate or malicious behavior. I pray it will end, our country will come together again. It has all gone way, way too far in so many areas, it is time to get it better for our children’s future.

Let us all turn back to God to help heal America and all the people in it.

“Fight for the things you care about but do it in a way that will lead others to join you.” -Ruth Bader Ginsburg

Happy Father’s Day to all the Dad’s out there! I for sure am blessed with the best dad and my children are blessed with their best daddy.

My dad has taught me many lessons and is always there for the fun and inspiration. Thanks Dad! Love you!

To my husband, watching you with our children is simply the best. They all adore you and love you so much!

So enjoy YOUR DAY and make those memories always!

xo

In times like this when the world and everyone in it is hurting in someway, what can we do. I struggle with this question right now but always come back to one word…LOVE. We can always love, show love, give love, and be love. After all, LOVE CONQUERS EVERYTHING. So today my friends, just LOVE. Put your differences aside and LOVE. This world needs it, we all need it. Hate will not bring anyone peace or love ever. Let’s together show MORE LOVE!

This book is very special to me. In a million years, I never thought I would write a children’s book. And now I can’t wait to write more! It is so funny how God works in our lives even in ways we never saw coming. Isn’t that pretty cool? God puts plans in place and passions we didn’t even know we had.

Are there any pulls in your heart that God is telling you to follow? Take time to listen, truly listen, and clear your mind of all the garbage you do not need to fill it with. Just be still. Let the good times roll then my friends!