Lens Artists Photo Challenge #339 – Life Changes

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For this challenge Anne asks us to share what has enriched and/or changed our life.

I’ve had many changes in my life but what changed my life the most was surviving ovarian cancer. In July, 2010 I began a ten month battle with ovarian cancer. I am grateful that my cancer has not returned since I finished treatment.

Most cancer survivors I know say that the cancer changed them. I know it changed me. I look at the world differently now. I have learned that life can change in the blink of an eye and no one knows what tomorrow will bring. I have learned that life is too short to put things off. I have learned it is important to enjoy life every day. I know that every day is a gift.

Two of my passions are travel and photography. One of the things that kept me going during treatments was planning an RV trip to visit family and visit a few bucket list places. We began the trip two weeks after I received the good news that I was in remission.

The RV trip was just what we both needed. We called it the “Celebration Journey”. Every day was an adventure and I was never at a loss for something interesting to photograph. The header image of the two seahorses was taken at the Tennessee Aquarium in Chattanooga near the end of our journey. The rest of the images are of some of the highlights from the trip.

We camped with a view of Cypress trees at Lake Bistineau State Park, Louisiana
We met some Texas Lounghorns at Copper Breaks State Park, Texas
We explored the Petroglyphs at Petroglyphs National Monument in New Mexico with my brother and his wife
We visited the Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado
We saw lots of Elk in Rocky Mountain National Park, Colorado
We saw herds of Bison in Custer State Park, South Dakota
We went to the headwaters of the Mississippi River at Itasca State Park in Minnesota with our daughter’s family

After we returned home I continued to enjoy my photography and we have been on many more fun adventures since then.

Many thanks to Anne of Slow Shutter Speed for this challenge Lens-Artists #339 – Life’s Changes

34 thoughts on “Lens Artists Photo Challenge #339 – Life Changes”

  2. Congratulations Beth, it is wonderful you’re cancer-free and discovering so many new amazing places! 🩷

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  3. First and foremost, congratulations on your cancer-free results! Second, thank you for giving us the gift of life with the beautiful nature photos. I’m in heaven seeing your photos.

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  4. Thank goodness for your remission and what a fun way to celebrate with the start of a new chapter in life – fun RV trips! Beautiful photography too!

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  5. Congratulations on you being Cancer free! Thank the Good Lord!
    These beautiful photos will always resonate with you as Celebrating Photos.
    Your photos are always fabulous. Thank you!

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  6. What an adventure, I think death and near death really does change our perspective on life and it looks like you have grabbed it with both horns and gone for it. So good to hear it hasn’t come back Beth, loved looking at your photography travels.

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    1. Judy, you are so right. I can’t describe what it was like when my doctor told me I might have cancer. Thanks to modern medicine and excellent doctors I am still here. I’m grateful for every day.

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  8. What a perfect way to celebrate your remission. Medical issues sure have a way of putting things into perspective. This is a fun collection of photos showcasing some highlights of your RV adventures.

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  10. Beth, thank you for sharing such a personal story and congratulations on your remission. Good on your and your husband for such a perfect way to celebrate. Sounds like a wonderful getaway and a perfect set of photographic vistas!

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  14. A wonderful reminder, Beth, to live each day to its fullest, and to make sure we include doing the things we love to do. The photos reminded me of the visits to each of the places you visited, except for the aquarium and Lake Bistineau State Park. We will be in Chattanooga next week, however. Grin. My niece lives there.

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    1. Curt, we went to the aquarium the day after my birthday as kind of a birthday celebration. It’s worth a visit. Lake Bistineau was a great find. It was peaceful and a good place for bird watching. We returned there a few years later.

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      1. I have a layover day planned for the Shreveport area on our trip across the country, Beth. Peggy and I both love kayaking and carry our kayaks with us. I’ll definitely check out the possibility of camping Lake Bistineau !

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