Comments for Punk Rock Mommy http://punkrockmommy.org/blog (Andrea and the Great Cancer Swindle) Fri, 26 Feb 2010 01:32:52 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Comment on Memories – A New Project – You are invited to participate by Maureen http://punkrockmommy.org/blog/?p=660&cpage=1#comment-50588 Maureen Fri, 26 Feb 2010 01:32:52 +0000 http://punkrockmommy.org/blog/?p=660#comment-50588 I don't know you, and I didn't know Andrea, but I know OF you. A couple months ago I went to get a tattoo, and had a great conversation with Kelly. He told me about this blog. Tonight my dad called to tell me my cousin (37) just found out she has breast cancer. So, finally I checked out the blog. The first thing I read was about your dream. My boyfriend was killed in an accident a couple years ago, he died in my arms. Sad yes but we all have our sadness. Anyway your dream brought me to tears. I had a very similar dream about him like a year after he passed, in which we were at a party with all our friends. He had his guitar (the only thing he really needed), and he was leaving. It was so serene... he told me he wanted to say goodbye, and gave me the biggest hug (as if he were my best friend- not boyfriend or lover). That's it. The only dream I ever had of him. I hope you are all coping ok, it seems like you have a fantastic support system. I don’t know you, and I didn’t know Andrea, but I know OF you. A couple months ago I went to get a tattoo, and had a great conversation with Kelly. He told me about this blog. Tonight my dad called to tell me my cousin (37) just found out she has breast cancer. So, finally I checked out the blog. The first thing I read was about your dream. My boyfriend was killed in an accident a couple years ago, he died in my arms. Sad yes but we all have our sadness. Anyway your dream brought me to tears. I had a very similar dream about him like a year after he passed, in which we were at a party with all our friends. He had his guitar (the only thing he really needed), and he was leaving. It was so serene… he told me he wanted to say goodbye, and gave me the biggest hug (as if he were my best friend- not boyfriend or lover). That’s it. The only dream I ever had of him. I hope you are all coping ok, it seems like you have a fantastic support system.

]]> Comment on A Kind Thank You by Madness http://punkrockmommy.org/blog/?p=655&cpage=2#comment-47482 Madness Tue, 19 Jan 2010 07:52:27 +0000 http://punkrockmommy.org/blog/?p=655#comment-47482 I think of Andrea and her family daily. I came here just a few weeks, if that, after Andrea left this life. I have spent collective days mourning her loss and wishing her family and friends peace. I believe that Andrea would have wanted this blog to continue. She created it at a time when her life and the future of her family were unknown and in jeopardy. It is evident that she put everything she had left in her; body, heart and soul into this place. The entries I read most, first .. are her final entries. The entries she made when all questions had been answered and the future was clear. Andrea never swayed in her dedication to this place, its potential, and its meaning. Andrea Collins-Smith Family, come back to us. We are here for you because Andrea called on us to be. We are all .. still .. here. ~Samantha I think of Andrea and her family daily. I came here just a few weeks, if that, after Andrea left this life.
I have spent collective days mourning her loss and wishing her family and friends peace.
I believe that Andrea would have wanted this blog to continue. She created it at a time when her life and the future of her family were unknown and in jeopardy.
It is evident that she put everything she had left in her; body, heart and soul into this place.
The entries I read most, first .. are her final entries. The entries she made when all questions had been answered and the future was clear.
Andrea never swayed in her dedication to this place, its potential, and its meaning.
Andrea Collins-Smith Family, come back to us. We are here for you because Andrea called on us to be. We are all .. still .. here.
~Samantha

]]> Comment on Benefit Flier… by kim arnold http://punkrockmommy.org/blog/?p=667&cpage=1#comment-46727 kim arnold Sat, 09 Jan 2010 01:16:38 +0000 http://punkrockmommy.org/blog/?p=667#comment-46727 I just read the whole story. I am shaken to the core. I will be praying for the entire family. Please put her blog together into a book when God gives you the time and energy. In Him, a sister in Christ I just read the whole story. I am shaken to the core.

I will be praying for the entire family.

Please put her blog together into a book when God gives you the time and energy.

In Him,
a sister in Christ

]]> Comment on friendship, love and truth by Jan http://punkrockmommy.org/blog/?p=197&cpage=1#comment-45845 Jan Wed, 30 Dec 2009 07:12:08 +0000 http://punkrockmommy.org/blog/?p=197#comment-45845 Hi Andrea I just read your post I found it when I was looking for pics with the words friendship and love. Any hoo.. I hope you are well, I don't know where you stand at this point with your cancer since you wrote this post a long time ago. I pray that people responded with actions to your post. It is funny that you said that some friends, have left, some have grown stronger... While I was reading it I realized that what you said about your friends is true not only for people going through cancer, but that it happens all the time and in different scenarios. Friends go through cycles, sometimes they return sometimes they leave. You see people in your life are categorized in three different ways I call it the (RSL) which stands for reason, season and lifetime. I don't know if you have heard of the poem, but I will share it with you I hope you enjoy it. Principally I hope it helps you understand why you have a turnover of friends. Your true friends will show you their true colors. Best Blessings, P.S. I guess I would be an (R). Happy New Year 2010! 8) ~~~O~~~ Reason Season Lifetime Poem People always come into your life for a reason, a season and a lifetime. When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do. When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, or to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or even spiritually. They may seem like a godsend to you, and they are. They are there for a reason,you need them to be. Then, without any wrong doing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die, Sometimes they just walk away. Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and it is now time to move on. When people come into your life for a SEASON, it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season. And like Spring turns to Summer and Summer to Fall, the season eventually ends. LIFETIME, relationships teach you a lifetime of lessons; those things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person/people (anyway);, and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas in your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant. Thank you for being part of my life..... Hi Andrea I just read your post I found it when I was looking for pics with the words friendship and love. Any hoo.. I hope you are well, I don’t know where you stand at this point with your cancer since you wrote this post a long time ago. I pray that people responded with actions to your post. It is funny that you said that some friends, have left, some have grown stronger… While I was reading it I realized that what you said about your friends is true not only for people going through cancer, but that it happens all the time and in different scenarios. Friends go through cycles, sometimes they return sometimes they leave. You see people in your life are categorized in three different ways I call it the (RSL) which stands for reason, season and lifetime. I don’t know if you have heard of the poem, but I will share it with you I hope you enjoy it. Principally I hope it helps you understand why you have a turnover of friends. Your true friends will show you their true colors.

Best Blessings,

P.S. I guess I would be an (R). Happy New Year 2010! 8)

~~~O~~~
Reason Season Lifetime Poem

People always come into your life for a reason, a season and a lifetime. When you figure out which it is, you know exactly what to do.

When someone is in your life for a REASON, it is usually to meet a need you have expressed outwardly or inwardly. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, or to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or even spiritually. They may seem like a godsend to you, and they are. They are there for a reason,you need them to be. Then, without any wrong doing on your part or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end. Sometimes they die, Sometimes they just walk away. Sometimes they act up or out and force you to take a stand. What we must realize is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled; their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered and it is now time to move on.
When people come into your life for a SEASON, it is because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn. They may bring you an experience of peace or make you laugh. They may teach you something you have never done. They usually give you an unbelievable amount of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season. And like Spring turns to Summer and Summer to Fall, the season eventually ends.

LIFETIME, relationships teach you a lifetime of lessons; those things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the person/people (anyway);, and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas in your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant. Thank you for being part of my life…..

]]> Comment on Memories – A New Project – You are invited to participate by Nikki Lee http://punkrockmommy.org/blog/?p=660&cpage=1#comment-45531 Nikki Lee Thu, 24 Dec 2009 19:07:53 +0000 http://punkrockmommy.org/blog/?p=660#comment-45531 I knew Andrea at PCOM, where we taught childbirth education classes. She called me when her 6th baby was about 3 months old. She had a persistent mastitis..... I have a slide with her name, death date and a picture of a burning candle in a breastfeeding class that I teach. The slide is about IBC, because everyone needs to know about this dreadful disease. Her name is spoken in the class, and we honor her, even those people that never knew her hear her name. I knew Andrea at PCOM, where we taught childbirth education classes. She called me when her 6th baby was about 3 months old. She had a persistent mastitis…..

I have a slide with her name, death date and a picture of a burning candle in a breastfeeding class that I teach. The slide is about IBC, because everyone needs to know about this dreadful disease. Her name is spoken in the class, and we honor her, even those people that never knew her hear her name.

]]> Comment on A Kind Thank You by WhyMommy http://punkrockmommy.org/blog/?p=655&cpage=2#comment-41725 WhyMommy Thu, 29 Oct 2009 14:58:52 +0000 http://punkrockmommy.org/blog/?p=655#comment-41725 I know you're not here anymore. But I want you to know that I still miss Andrea, and think of you kids often. I hope that you're doing great in college (Alec), school, and life ... your Mom was a wonderful person, and she spread goodness and enlightenment in the world. Sending you love. I know you’re not here anymore. But I want you to know that I still miss Andrea, and think of you kids often. I hope that you’re doing great in college (Alec), school, and life … your Mom was a wonderful person, and she spread goodness and enlightenment in the world.

Sending you love.

]]> Comment on My last blog by Nanci http://punkrockmommy.org/blog/?p=583&cpage=4#comment-37618 Nanci Sun, 09 Aug 2009 19:39:24 +0000 http://punkrockmommy.org/blog/?p=583#comment-37618 I still think of you. I still think of you.

]]> Comment on Benefit Flier… by Linda, Palm Harbor, Florida http://punkrockmommy.org/blog/?p=667&cpage=1#comment-36662 Linda, Palm Harbor, Florida Sun, 19 Jul 2009 01:00:13 +0000 http://punkrockmommy.org/blog/?p=667#comment-36662 Kelly, Where has the time gone? I find it hard to believe it's been a year, and I still think of Andrea, you and the kids so much. I pray that you are all finding piece in all life is giving. Andrea left such an impact on me, and I will always remember her and her wonderful spirit that lives on among all who loved her. Blessings to you all, I will continue to check in on this website and please let us know how all of you are doing. God Bless. Kelly,
Where has the time gone? I find it hard to believe it’s been a year, and I still think of Andrea, you and the kids so much. I pray that you are all finding piece in all life is giving. Andrea left such an impact on me, and I will always remember her and her wonderful spirit that lives on among all who loved her. Blessings to you all, I will continue to check in on this website and please let us know how all of you are doing. God Bless.

]]> Comment on Benefit for the Family of Andrea Collins-Smith – Sat. May 30 by Alaina Koplow http://punkrockmommy.org/blog/?p=663&cpage=1#comment-35914 Alaina Koplow Sat, 04 Jul 2009 01:28:58 +0000 http://punkrockmommy.org/blog/?p=663#comment-35914 Last year I was on vacation with my family when I logged onto the punkrockmommy site to see how Andrea was doing, I had to reread her last post as it took my breath away the first time I read it. I thought I read it wrong. I can still hear her voice. I can still remember the feelings and emotions of one of our late night conversations. I remember us crying together when we talked about our children, husbands and our experiences with IBC and stage IV cancer. I think of her and each of you often. I pray that each of you is doing well. Your lives have touched so many individuals. I will never forget how each of you shared your lives with us and I will never forget Andrea. Thank you to each of you and may God bless you all!!! With much love, alaina Last year I was on vacation with my family when I logged onto the punkrockmommy site to see how Andrea was doing, I had to reread her last post as it took my breath away the first time I read it. I thought I read it wrong. I can still hear her voice. I can still remember the feelings and emotions of one of our late night conversations. I remember us crying together when we talked about our children, husbands and our experiences with IBC and stage IV cancer. I think of her and each of you often.

I pray that each of you is doing well. Your lives have touched so many individuals. I will never forget how each of you shared your lives with us and I will never forget Andrea. Thank you to each of you and may God bless you all!!! With much love, alaina

]]> Comment on Benefit for the Family of Andrea Collins-Smith – Sat. May 30 by Michelle Wienke http://punkrockmommy.org/blog/?p=663&cpage=1#comment-34819 Michelle Wienke Mon, 22 Jun 2009 16:30:23 +0000 http://punkrockmommy.org/blog/?p=663#comment-34819 I too, have had Andrea and the family in my thoughts as the anniversary of the first year approaches. I hope you all know that you are kept in the prayers and thoughts of so many of us- She really did give us the gift of thinking about the important things more- I will be on vacation during the beginning of July-but wanted to express my gratitude, and love to the family and those wonderful friends who helped Andrea and have maintained the site....We should all be as lucky to know such love and devotion! With so many Blessings- Michelle I too, have had Andrea and the family in my thoughts as the anniversary of the first year approaches. I hope you all know that you are kept in the prayers and thoughts of so many of us- She really did give us the gift of thinking about the important things more- I will be on vacation during the beginning of July-but wanted to express my gratitude, and love to the family and those wonderful friends who helped Andrea and have maintained the site….We should all be as lucky to know such love and devotion!
With so many Blessings-
Michelle

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