L to R: Me (and my crazy, windblown hair), Mitch (my rock star husband that can make a conversation with anyone), Liam (our intelligent comedian), and Austin (our kind-hearted warrior)
[photo credit: BHP Imaging]
Hello there!
My name is Cassidy Lynn, and thank you for popping into visit River + Bee! It’s great to have you here!
River Blaze, the peppiest pup that has an occasional napping problem.
So, bear with me as I get right to it… Life is hard. It’s complex. It’s unpredictable. But, it’s also beautiful. As a mother of two vibrant, energetic boys, a snuggle-buddy to a sweetheart of a pup named, River Blaze, and a wife to a committed, honest, and equally energetic husband; I find myself obsessing over the tiny moments that just come and go. With every marker mishap or silly dance move, I have a lingering thought of “oh shoot, I hope I never forget that.” With every moment that my heart feels overjoyed with gratitude, I feel the need to document the smile that comes with it, whether it be mine or another’s. These tiny moments give so much meaning to life and to be honest, this hasn’t always been my perspective…
When cancer entered the lives of those I love dearly, my view became clearer and my need to find the good in all things turned into my daily driver. Of course, the tiny moments were there before cancer, but my appreciation for them wasn’t as deep or all-consuming. With every low, I’ve had to purposefully find the light that is buried down deep and ultimately, this is where two of my passions collide. Through writing, I have found the freedom to express myself and live in a space that grieves but celebrates. And with photography, I can bring even more life to the meaning behind the expression.
So, there you have it. This is me (in a tiny nutshell) and if you read on, I’ll tell you more about how the name River + Bee…well… came to “be” (ha ha…I just couldn’t help myself).
The Story Behind River + Bee…
As a native of the beautiful and mountainous region that is Laramie, Wyoming, many of my family memories include a waterfront. Whether it was boating on the lake near Guernsey (so many sunburns) or sitting on a rock, listening to music by the rivers of Arlington and Woodslanding; water was always there. Today, “woodsriver” is a second home to my family and it is a place that connects us. Whether we are fishing, floating, skipping rocks or sippin’ and sittin’; the river is our heaven.
Now, this is where the “bee” comes in…
In 2015, our 5-year-old son Austin was diagnosed with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, a cancer of the blood and bone marrow. As a mom, the worry and the fears were never ending. But with the fear, there was also pride in the fight and endless appreciation for each smiling moment that life gifted to him. After 40 months of chemotherapy and ten rounds of radiation, our son celebrated remission and the end of treatment in July of 2019. We didn’t do it alone and with the love and support of family and friends, it was a journey that blessed us beyond words.
Austin and Liam at diagnosis in 2016 (Children’s Hospital Colorado)
Through the ups and downs, the challenges and the fears, my mother Debbie was my constant. Her empathy never wavered, and she was there every step of the way. On March 20th, 2019, only a few months before Austin’s end of treatment, she was asked to embark on her own journey. Diagnosed with Anaplastic Thyroid cancer, a rare and terminal cancer of the thyroid, she was given only months to live with very few treatment options available to prolong her life. My world and the lives of many others was turned upside down. With her diagnosis and with my son’s end of treatment approaching, she wanted nothing more than to live to see her grandson finish treatment. That was her life’s mission and it was all that she wanted. Thankfully, the day arrived, and she was able to celebrate the milestone from afar, ultimately seeing her grandson beat cancer! From then on, she fought hard, with a smile on her face and an abundance of love in her heart and she did it until she couldn’t do it anymore. September 9th, 2019 came, and it was the day that my mother gracefully gained her angel wings, with her family and friends by her side. She was a fighter, an optimist, a lover, a friend, a beautiful soul and a “worker-bee” (Debbie means “bee” in Hebrew). She was my best friend and she too had a love for the river.
With her legacy, I will forever admire her drive to live and her ability to love. She knew how to take care of those around her while still making time for herself. She knew how to balance it all and every day, she is who I hope to be.
In 2017, we decided to donate blood in honor of Austin’s cancer battle.
My mother, Debbie and Austin during a chemotherapy treatment at Children’s Hospital Colorado
Austin and Liam, 2019 Pitching Machine champions!
Austin and Liam, supporting their Grandma Debbie as she undergoes treatment and hydration during her battle with cancer in 2019.
Through the challenges, the fears, the deep breaths, and the triumphs, writing and photography have given me strength. I’m not one to sugarcoat things and I am not one to just scratch the surface. I dive deep into life and I search and celebrate the beauty that comes from the hard and the unexpected. Through my reflections and perceptions (especially when it comes to parenting), I hope that this space can lend you some encouragement and light and also serve as reminder that life is too short and that it is…
all about perspective!
And, that my friend, is the heart behind River + Bee! Come and join me as I share my perspective on life, and hopefully hit a few chords with you. Oh yes, and please bring a cozy blanket and a warm cup of coffee, because well… it’s just that kind of a space.
With love,