We are fully vaccinated and have peace of mind knowing that we can be more liberal when visiting our family. So, it was well overdue for our three grandkids to sleep over this past weekend. Ryan and Amy had the night to themselves, but elected to just go home and rest from a long and crazy week. And what did we do? The five of us drove through McDonalds to start. Then, we arrived at our home on the lake, where Emilee, Easton and Everett noticed the most recent changes to our home. Quickly, they all took showers and baths while I washed their clothes, which were filthy from a busy day of baseball. While Dave was putting the movie on, I made popcorn. Within an hour of arriving home, we were all snuggled in and watched the Disney movie, Solo.

Before Everett stepped in the bath, he noticed that I was getting the popcorn and Whirley Popper. I was on a step stool reaching high over my head to grab the prized popper. I then heard him behind me. He said, “Straight up awesome cool house.” From the eyes of our four-year-old grandson, he made this remark while standing in the entrance of our pantry closet. He wasn’t referring to all of the changes. All he saw was that the shelves were packed with really cool things that he doesn’t usually see in his pantry. There were animal crackers, Rice Krispie treats, Ruffles and Fritos. He noticed my canister of Sanders sea salt caramels, Snap’d double cheese Cheez-its, honey roasted sesame chips and Brownie Brittle. I won’t lie to you. I have the mother-load in that pantry right now.

Everett just stood there and kept looking, taking it all in. What he didn’t see were all of the nutritional items behind the goodies. Extra virgin olive oil, peanut butter, diced tomatoes, tomato basil soup, Cheerios, flour and sugar filled in the space behind the “unhealthy” items. That second tier also included apple cider vinegar, pure pumpkin and coconut milk. You get the picture. On the outside, it looked pretty darn inviting, but the inside of the shelves were staple items and not so enticing.

Both Dave and I have written about our three-year journey, and you have seen and read some pretty rough stuff. Sometimes, I updated everyone with the “staple” items because it was easier to tell the story once. Oftentimes, the writing was a form of therapy in an attempt to help me trudge through some life-shattering moments. However, I always tried to find at least one good thing behind it all. There was always at least one shelf filled with the “good stuff.”

A reason does exist why the shelves in the pantry are pretty full right now. Dave has now surpassed Day 612 in remission since his transplant, August 21, 2019. He is doing very well and is back at his “fighting weight” of 208 pounds. He looks and feels great. Still lifting weights and working out, he has also gone out a few times and has run. Remaining side effects are just something we have learned to live with, and they are remnants of the last three years.

So we celebrate 612 days and counting. When we reach 730 days – two years cancer free – we are going to have a heck of a celebration. Not only will our shelves continue to be filled with the “sweet” stuff, they will also be filled with staple items like family, friends and prayers.