Author: Allie Zottola

Resurrection Sunday

Celebrating Resurrection Sunday is one of the most important Christian holidays. We celebrate the fact that Jesus rose from the dead and is indeed the Son of God. Since Resurrection Sunday is in spring, it also personally reminds me of new beginnings. When I became a Christian and was baptized, it was springtime. Everything was starting to grow again outside, and I began a new life in my walk with Christ.

Just thinking about that time in my life makes me so happy. It was the ultimate fresh start, and while I will always sin and make mistakes on this earth, I know I can be forgiven if I ask. I also know that every day as a Christian can be a fresh start as I to die to self every day and live for God instead. It’s an ongoing process, and an amazing journey!

With that said, Resurrection Sunday is one of my favorite holidays. This year, the whole weekend leading up to it was pretty busy, but it was a good kind of busy. I feel like I say that constantly?! I worked the whole weekend (my regular job on Friday and Saturday and pet sitting from Friday-Sunday), but still had a wonderful holiday spent with family.

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Jimmy and I had my family at our house for lunch after the morning church service. My brother and sister-in-law brought their dogs and we also had a dog I was pet sitting with us, along with Lola. So, we had seven people and four dogs in our teeny tiny house and I absolutely loved every second of it! Having a full house makes my heart feel so full, you know?

We spent the day eating, playing around, and walking the dogs down to a nearby creek to swim. We don’t let Lola swim (because she would literally swim across the creek and run away… lol), but she tried to! Unfortunately, she almost pulled me into the water and I fell on my hand when she pulled away from me. I honestly thought I broke my wrist for a second, but I’m a-okay, just a little sore. She’s so strong!

Some pictures from the weekend…

Parents Jax Dogs

We had too much fun with the dogs! We pet sat a dog named Allie, and every time someone said her name I kept saying “what?” haha. It was a little confusing to say the least. It’s funny that since there are no grandchildren in the picture yet for my parents, most of our get togethers revolve around our dogs.

Mom and Lolafamily

The food was great, too! I think Jimmy and I have enough leftovers to last us a few weeks! Ah, the perks of hosting ;). On the menu was: roasted turkey, meatballs and sauce, pasta, dinner rolls, broccoli, mashed potatoes, baked beans, veggies and dip, peanut butter banana muffins, cheesecake, and banana strawberry cake with lemon strawberry frosting. Waaaay too much food, but when is that ever a bad thing?

IMG_4096 cake

After the feasting and family time, we headed back to church for the evening service. Our church’s choir presented a wonderful cantata and Jimmy and I recited some scripture during the breaks between a few of the songs. We were both nervous, but it went well and the cantata had a beautiful message. All in all, it was a very blessed day celebrating Jesus’ Resurrection!

Asbestos Awareness Week

Hi guys! Today, I want to talk about something super important. April 1-7th is Asbestos Awareness Week. I recently had to opportunity to get in touch with Heather Von St. James, a courageous mother and nine-year survivor of mesothelioma.

Heather

In 2005, Heather was 36-years-old and had just given birth to her daughter, Lily. Three months after giving birth, Heather began to feel sick and started to lose about 5-7 pounds a week. Progressively, it became hard for her to breathe and her doctors really began to worry. Heather was diagnosed with malignant pleural mesothelioma and was given just 15 months to live.

Exposure to asbestos, a set of six six minerals that form fibrous strands and are often used in building and electrical insulation, is the leading risk factor associated with mesothelioma. So how did Heather develop this rare form of cancer?

When Heather was a child, her dad worked in construction. He would come home from work covered in dust, so much so that his jacket would actually be white. The white dust on her dad’s jacket was from the drywall he sanded off walls. Guess what drywall is commonly made of… asbestos. Heather grew up wearing her dad’s asbestos-covered coat when she want outside, and that’s how her exposure happened.

Heather was sent to Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston to have surgery and be treated for her mesothelioma. Her daughter went to live with Heather’s parents while she and her husband, Cameron were in Boston for her treatment. Heather recovered at her parents house in South Dakota for a few months, and Cameron was only able to see their new baby for three days during that time period.

surgery

Today, Heather is cancer-free, and Lily has grown into a young girl. Their family is together and thriving. Heather said that she and Cameron don’t hide from Lily the fact that she had cancer when Lily was a baby. Heather also said that she is extremely optimistic and that she was absolutely determined to beat mesothelioma. She now encourages others not to give up, not to take a diagnosis as a death sentence, and to always have hope.

Heather has made it her mission to share her story so others are aware of the dangers of asbestos and mesothelioma. She hopes that by spreading awareness, no one else will have to endure what she and her family had to go through. She’s fighting not only for better treatment of mesothelioma, but a cure for it as well.

heather-family

If you’re anything like me, you may not know much about asbestos or mesothelioma. Before learning Heather’s story, I had only heard about it from my dad telling me that he would always advise his real estate clients not to work on a house with asbestos. The sad thing is that asbestos is still used today, even in schools.

Heather sent me the infographic below to help others become aware and educated about the dangers of asbestos and the severity of mesothelioma.

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You can also learn more about mesothelioma here, asbestos here, and read about Heather here. She is truly inspiring! I have also embedded a video below of Heather and Cameron discussing her experience with mesothelioma from before diagnosis to present day.