Amazing Birthday!

I am reminded time and time again how precious life truly is. This birthday was no different from any other birthday that I've had since 1986. You see in September of 1986, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin's Disease. I had a tumor the size of a grapefruit wrapped around my heart and laying over on the chest wall. At that time, my parents were told that if the tumor grew as much as 1/2" to an inch then I would hemorrage to death before they even knew what was going on. What a huge piece of information that they carried with them during that time. I went from graduating high school and dating a wonderful guy to beginning the battle of my life. One reassuring factor during this time was the wisdom of my Aunt Donna. She called me one day and asked me if I knew how to pray. Of course, I said well yeah. She said, "Honey, I want you to talk to God like you were talking to your best friend." And that's exactly what I did. I prayed one night as I was leaving Hollandale going back to Leland. I talked to God and said everything that was on my heart. I gave my life to Him and told Him that I was His to do whatever He saw fit to do with. I can't describe in words that sense of peace that passes all understanding that filled me from head to toe. It was as if a wave of peace had encompassed my entire being. He still fills me with that sense of peace today. Each day that I draw breath is just another day that He is giving me to become the person He wants me to be. Thanks be to God for another birthday!

Another Birthday!

I'm so blessed with another year of life. God has given me so many blessings throughout my lifetime that are too numerous to begin to list. He saw fit to give me a second and third chance at living the life He has intended for me to live. Back in 1986, I was faced with a life or death battle but God knew what He had planned for me. Who would have thought that when I began my senior year in high school that I would have been facing cancer after graduation? It wasn't anything I had ever had to deal with before but would continually think about after the completion of chemo. There have been so many times when my human nature competes with the certainty of what I know is the Truth. I guess that's why we fall short and need God's grace. I recently went for my mammogram and female checkup. I can honestly say that although I know I rest in God's amazing embrace, there are times when I think.. Is this the visit that I find out something is wrong? I don't think I'm alone in thinking these kind of things. However, should God see fit to give me another "challenge" or "bump" in this journey I call life, I know that I am His child and will have the strength to endure whatever is on this journey. I can praise Him thru the storms and the sunshine of my days.

Loving this season of life

A good friend of mine told me that she quit looking at the things that happened as events or time passing by too quickly. She said that everything we have going on puts us in a different season of life. What you may have loved to do years ago may not necessarily be the same thing you enjoy doing later on. I've entered another season of my life with our youngest child, Jenna, being a senior this year at Humphreys Academy. She's enjoying her senior year but also realizes that she too is entering another season in life. It's hard to watch her going thru the changes but I also know that the changes are going to happen. I guess that's the hardest part of being a Mama is having been in a stage of life and knowing that you do survive it but wanting to take the pain away from them. I just wonder if God looks at us and already knows the pain that we may endure but He also knows that the pain must happen in order for us to grow as Christians.

God bless my family and we grow and change together. I thank Him for all my family and friends and praise Him for the many storms that He's weathered with me.

Praying for those that have lost loved ones recently but also know that although we mourn their passing on, the reunion in heaven is one awesome time.

I also have had my Aunt Ann on my mind alot lately. She was a tremendously loving woman who told it straight but also loved with all her heart. She ultimately passed away from cancer that had metastitized throughout her body. There's a double pink Knockout rose planted in her memory in front of my window. I love you, Aunt Ann. I only pray that I love as you did and live my life in such a way that will make everyone proud of the woman I am.