When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.

No matter how I feel, I get up, dress up, and show up for life. When I do, the day always serves up more than I could have hoped for. Each day truly is a slice of heaven. Some days the slices are just smaller than others.

When you hear the word 'cancer,' it's as if someone took the game of Life and tossed it in the air. All the pieces go flying. The pieces land on a new board. Everything has shifted. You don't know where to start.

If you want to lose 40 pounds, you order salad instead of fries. If you want to be a better friend, you take the phone call instead of screening it. If you want to write a novel, you sit down and write a single paragraph. It's scary to make major changes, but we usually have enough courage to take the next right step.

Choas will come, calm will follow, and then it will start up all over again. The secret is to savor the ride.

Your children get only one childhood.

Baking happens with ingredients that last for months and come to life inside a warm oven. Baking is slow and leisurely.