CANCER---I'M TOO YOUNG!!

So I heard those words no one ever believes she will hear....you have cancer.  Seriously??  I'm only 42.  I breastfed 4 babies.  I had 3 of my 4 children before age 30.  No one in my family has had breast cancer.  It took literally seconds to think through this, and then it all made sense.  The doctor had simply went in the wrong room.  She meant to tell another patient she had cancer.  You know, someone who had a family history, smoked, drank, never breastfed....

Sadly...no....she was in the right room.  So my journey began.  I'm more than 1/2 way through radiation treatments now.  I'm tired, and my skin has a little sunburn.  So very thankful for this journey now.  

Photo Book

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Wishing I was back on the cruise ship today!

Wild Olive Tees

One of my favorite companies to our t-shirts for my girls and me is Wild Olive Tees. They are beautiful t-shirts, but it's the message with them that is really beautiful. I love that they have a scripture on the back. We almost always receive compliments when wearing them. I'm looking forward to seeing what they have for spring/summer this year.

Take a look. There is a great hoodie give-a-way right now too!

http://www.wildolivetees.com/blog/

For the child I lost 18 years ago today....

Ask My Mom How She Is

My Mom, she tells a lot of lies

she never did before.

From now until she dies,

she'll tell a whole lot more.

Ask my Mom how she is

and because she can't explain,

She will tell a little lie

because she can't describe the pain.

Ask my Mom how is she,

She'll say "I'm alright."

If that's the truth, then tell me,

why does she cry each night?

Ask my Mom how is she,

she seems to cope so well.

She didn't have a choice you see

nor the strength to yell.

Ask my Mom how she is,

"I'm fine, I'm well, I'm coping."

For Gods sake Mom, just tell the truth

just say your heart is broken.

She'll love me all her life,

I loved her all of mine.

But if you ask her how is she

she'll lie and say she's fine.

WE are here in Heaven.

we cannot hug from here.

If she lies to you don't listen,

Hug her and hold her near.

On the day we meet again,

we'll smile and I'll be bold.

I'll say, "You're lucky to get in here, Mom

with all the lies you told!"

-unknown

Perseverance

"God knows when something glorious in the future necessitates something difficult in the present. Because He knows the glory will be worth it, God will risk being misunderstood."

-Beth Moore

How thankful I am for a God that wants to walk with me through times I just can't understand. I love Him for being o.k. with the fact that I have questions and want to know why. I have had more than a few times in my life where all I could do was trust His hand in leading me. I remember a specific time where I prayed so hard for His direction and His will in a decision. To be honest, I wanted Him to choose the answer I had already chosen. But I asked Him to close the door in a way that I knew only He closed it if the answer was "no." Was I completely broken-hearted when He did just that--closed the door? Oh yes, I cried myself to sleep more nights than I would care to admit.

But God.

He carried us through to so much more than we could ever have asked or imagined. Clearly He had our best interest in mind and knew we had to go through a present difficulty to have that glorious future. I had the good fortune of seeing a glimpse of why God directed our path in the way He did. Years later I had a defining moment in my life as I realized just how fortunate we were that we did not get our answer in the way we wanted.

Yes, the glory is worth it!

As I help my child go through an experience today where I pray he learns this, it is so hard. The mother in me will experience many tears for him. Yet I know God is shaping him to the man he intends for him. And I know he will have an experience to share of how God used this present difficulty to provide a glorious future.

One of my favorite songs reminds me the when we don't understand, when we can't see His plan, when we can't trace His hand, trust His heart.

Snow in the ATL

We sure have enjoyed these last few snow days! Brent has been able to recover from his surgery longer instead of going back to school 1/2 days. Brandon, Ashley, and Victoria have certainly had fun in the snow!

We've had fun sledding down the hills around our house!

Brent even had the opportunity to stand outside for a little while today.

I thought this one turned out cute--looks like our little dog is pulling the sled!

More than anything, I am thankful for the time we have had to spend as a family.