I CAN'T WAIT.........

TO SEE WHAT GOD HAS IN STORE FOR MY SWEET FRIEND.  AS YOU ALL KNOW FROM MY LAST POST JAMIE WENT TO HAVE HER PET SCAN AND TO RECEIVE THE RESULTS A FEW WEEKS AGO.  WHEN SHE TEXTED ME TO LET ME KNOW THE RESULTS AND SAID THAT "GOD SAID, NO" I WAS DEVASTATED.  I CAN HONESTLY SAY I HAVE NEVER BEEN UPSET OR FRUSTRATED WITH GOD THE WAY I WAS WHEN I HEARD THE NEWS.  THE LIVER TUMORS WERE STILL THERE, SOME HAD SHRUNK, SOME HAD GROWN, BUT THE CANCER HAD SPREAD TO HER HIPS, HER BACK, AND WAS IN LYMPH NODES IN HER NECK AND CHEST.  MY HEART WAS BROKEN.  THERE WERE NO WORDS TO SAY, BUT I HAD HER PRECIOUS BABY GIRL SO I HAD TO GET MYSELF TOGETHER AND HOLD MYSELF TOGETHER UNTIL I GOT HER HOME TO HER MOMMY.

WHEN I WALKED IN THE HOUSE TO SEE JAMIE SITTING THERE WITH A SMILE ON HER FACE AND NOT A TEAR DROP IN HER EYE I HAD PEACE.  I COULD SEE HIM ALL OVER HER AND I KNEW HE HAD HER IN HIS HANDS. SHE WAS A TRUE EXAMPLE OF WHAT HIS PEACE CAN DO.  SHE KNEW BEFORE THE DOCTORS KNEW THAT THE CANCER WAS STILL THERE.  SHE KNEW BECAUSE HER HEAVENLY FATHER PREPARED HER FOR THAT NEWS.  SHE WAS AND IS EVERY SINGLE DAY AN EXAMPLE TO WHAT WE ALL SHOULD BE WHEN FACED WITH A DIFFICULT SITUATION.  SHE TOOK IT LIKE A CHRISTIAN SHOULD AND ACCEPTED THE FACT THAT GOD IS WHO HE SAYS HE IS AND HE WILL TAKE CARE OF HER ACCORDING TO HIS WILL, NOT OURS. SHE IS MY HERO AND I HOPE AND PRAY THAT IF I EVER HAVE TO FACE A BATTLE LIKE THIS I WILL HAVE HALF THE COURAGE SHE HAS!  SHE IS ONE TOUGH LADY AND I KNOW GOD HAS A BIGGER AND BETTER PLAN THAT OUR HUMAN MINDS CAN COMPREHEND!

WHEN I WENT TO CHURCH THE NEXT SUNDAY I CAN HONESTLY SAY IT WAS THE FIRST TIME IN MY 31 YEARS OF LIFE I COULD NOT SING PRAISES TO OUR KING.  I WAS UPSET. I WAS MAD AND FRUSTRATED. I DID NOT UNDERSTAND AND ALL I COULD DO WAS WEEP FOR MY FRIEND!  I KNOW AS A CHRISTIAN I SHOULD NOT HAVE FELT THAT WAY AND ACCEPT THE FACT THAT IT IS HIS WILL THAT MATTERS AND NOT MINE.  I SELFISHLY WANTED GOOD NEWS.  I WANTED THE CANCER TO  BE GONE. I WANTED TO BE SINGING PRAISING TO OUR KING THAT SUNDAY FOR A MIRACLE,BUT INSTEAD MY HUMAN SELF CAME OUT.  WE ARE HUMAN. WE CANNOT AND WILL NOT UNDERSTAND WHY GOD WORKS THE WAY HE WORKS BUT THAT IS WHERE OUR FAITH COMES IN AND WE HAVE TO BELIEVE.  WE HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT HE IS IN COMPLETE CONTROL NO MATTER WHAT AND WE HAVE TO GIVE HIM PRAISE AND GLORY FOR IT ALL NO MATTER WHAT! 

SO I CONFESSED TO HIM AND TOLD HIM I DID NOT UNDERSTAND BUT I TRUST HIM AND I KNOW HIM SO I KNOW WE WILL ALL BE JUST FINE!  LIKE MY SISTER SAID, I JUST WISH HE WOULD COME BACK FOR US ALL AT THE SAME TIME.  I AM NOT GIVING UP ON THAT.  I KNOW HE CAN COME BACK AT ANY MOMENT.  I AM NOT GIVING UP ON A MIRACLE.  I KNOW HE CAN HEAL HER BODY AT ANY GIVEN SECOND AND SHE COULD GET UP AND WALK LIKE SHE USED TO CANCER FREE.  I DO BELIEVE THAT WITH EVERY SINGLE OUNCE OF MY HEART AND THAT IS WHAT I AM PRAYING FOR UNTIL HE CALLS ME HOME OR HE CALLS MY DEAR FRIEND HOME.

I AM THANKFUL AND WILL NEVER BE ABLE TO  DESCRIBE WHAT THIS ANGEL MEANS TO ME.  THERE ARE NO WORDS.  SHE HAS TAUGHT ME HOW TO LIVE LIFE ONE DAY AT A TIME. SHE HAS TAUGHT ME THAT IT IS OKAY TO LOVE OTHERS THE WAY GOD INTENDED FOR US TO LOVE THEM WITHOUT THE FEAR OF LOOSING THEM.  THAT IS ONE THING I STRUGGLED WITH AFTER I LOST MY BROTHER AND NEVER ALLOWED MYSELF TO GET CLOSE TO ANYONE BECAUSE I WAS SCARED OF LOOSING THEM,BUT GOD USED JAMIE TO SHOW ME I CAN LOVE OTHERS WITHOUT BEING SCARED.  I WILL FOREVER BE GRATEFUL FOR THAT AND FOR OUR SPECIAL FRIENDSHIP THAT I KNOW WAS SENT STRAIGHT DOWN FROM OUR HEAVENLY FATHER.  THEIR IS NO OTHER WAY TO DESCRIBE OUR FRIENDSHIP EXCEPT IT WAS A GOD THING AND I CANNOT EVER THANK HIM ENOUGH FOR ALLOWING ME TO BE A PART OF THIS ANGEL'S LIFE AND HER PRECIOUS FAMILIES LIFE! 

KEEP FIGHTING SWEET BABY JAMES!!  YOU WILL WIN NO MATTER WHAT!  YOU WILL BE HEALED ON THIS EARTH WITH US OR YOU WILL BE SITTING IN JESUS' LAP TELLING HIM TO COME AND GET US:)!  I LOVE YOU SWEET FRIEND AND ON MY KNEES FOR YOU DAY AND NIGHT!

For my hero, SBJ!!

I am just blown away by our sweet Lord and Saviour! How can He turn a tragedy into something so big and so much more than I could ever imagine with my human mind. As you all know my dear friend and sister in Christ, Jamie has been battling and fighting with her whole heart and soul and every ounce of her precious body to beat a very, mean and aggressive form of cancer. What blows my mind is the way God has used her to not only touch my heart in a Mighty way, but she has touched so many people around this world with her amazing faith. He has used her to win souls for the Kingdom of Heaven!  Wow, I can only imagine what He has in store for her when she meets Him face to face!  When you see her you can see peace all around her. His peace the peace that surpasses all understanding!

I remember very clearly when God laid this precious family on my heart 2 years ago, but I never imagined what He would do with that. After two nights of God waking me up from a dead sleep to pray for this family and telling me to share her story on this very blog I finally messaged her to let her know I was praying for them and wanted to share her story. Now two years later I can honestly say she is one of my most dearest friends and has taught me the real meaning of Sister in Christ. Not only has she touched my life, but she and her family are truly like family to my whole family. My boys lift her up everyday and her family is now a part of our church family and a part of our Ladies bible study that began praying for her 2 years ago too.  Then they were just a name and a story to us that broke our hearts and we wanted to lift them up.  Now they are so much more than just a name to us.  They are an amazing family to us that we all have grown to love and admire from the bottom of our hearts.    We love to see them walk through those doors at church.  They just light the whole place up and you know without a doubt that God is carrying them in the palm of His hand! Never did I imagine or even think that God was up to something so special and I thank Him for choosing us and allowing us all to be a part of His plan. Jamie has taught us all so much and touched everyone of our hearts with her beautiful smile and beautiful spirit. I promise if you've ever met this amazing woman then you have seen Jesus! He is all over her and His light just shines so bright through her!

 I could write forever on this special woman of God and her precious family, but right now I am asking for you all to join me in praying for a miracle! Jamie goes Friday (tomorrow) for a PET scan to see if the tumors in her liver are gone or if they have grown or shrunk. Pray that God will just cover her and her family with his sweet spirit and give them His peace. Pray that they will all enjoy today and not be anxious about anything, but trust in the Lord with all their hearts! Pray that the doctors are shocked and know that our God has healed her. Pray that if He does not answer our prayer for a Miracle that we all know He has something bigger and better in mind because I know He has her in the palm of His hands! Pray most of all for His will and that we will all accept it and know that He is good all the time because He is God and if we believe in Him then we have to trust in Him with all hearts even when we do not understand!

Sweet Baby James, Thank you for allowing me to be a part of your life and your precious families life.  There are NO words to describe how much you mean to me and how much you have taught me about life.  You are truly an angel here on this earth and I am so glad that I listened to God two years ago when I thought He was crazy for waking me up in the middle of the night and telling me to write about this family I did not know:)!  I love you all with all my heart and I am on my knees praying and believing in our God! So, "Do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."-Isaiah 41:10 

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[ have been called according to his purpose."- Romans 8:28 

He called you to walk this battle and fight this fight because He knew that you COULD do it and that you would do it and GLORIFY HIM!! 

If we could only all be like you, SBJ!  You are my hero and I am praying you through!!

Life's a Dance!!

Remember that Garth Brooks song, "Life's a Dance"?


That's what I think of when I reflect back on the last few months:)! I've been praying really hard for some direction in my life. What am I here for? What am I supposed to be doing? I know God has a plan for me, but I just want to be sure I follow His plan and not mine.

We just finished up a Beth Moore bible study on the book of James and one of the last video's she was telling a story of her past. It was so funny and I know God was speaking to me because she was explaining all the silly jobs she had been doing while really trying to figure what God called her to do. She said she was a Mother's day out teacher, an aerobic teacher at the church, a Sunday school teacher and maybe a few others. Her point was to just do them, they are stepping stones in you life! You will learn something and they will help you continue to figure what God has called you to do. That made me feel better because I just don't know what God has put me here to do and I am sure I am not the only one who thinks that or wonder's that!

Well, I'm onto my next stepping stone and can't help but to believe my God is behind this. Like I said I've been praying real hard for direction in what I am supposed to be doing and the other day an opportunity fell into my lap. One of my biggest passions is fitness. I love to work out and I feel so much better when I do. I can honestly say I am feeling so much better after all my issues. I still have some bad days, but nothing like before. I have mentally overcome the issue and believe I am on my way to a very healthy lifestyle only because of my Lord and Savior. There were times I wanted to give up,but I kept hearing Him say, "I AM WITH YOU"! I knew if HE was with me, I could overcome this battle and I am well on my way. I have been eating good, exercising, and gained most of my weight back. I even started a boot camp class to change up a few things and that's where my latest opportunity came in.

I even prayed about going to this class and that I would meet some Godly people and that it would be a good group and good teacher. The first day I went I did not know anyone or anything about them. I had seen the instructor a few times at the YMCA,but never really spoken to her. She had just gotten back from vacation and one of her kids got sick with the flu before they left and she knew she needed to call in some prayer warriors so the rest of the family would not get the flu on vacation and they could enjoy their vacation. When I heard that it just made my heart happy and then the next week I met a girl and when leaving she gave me a sample of an energy drink to try and I did and loved it! I ordered it and RJ even loved it too and we both agreed I should sign up as a distributor if not just for the discount on this one product. I began researching and reading about the products and loved everything I read,but when I saw this I knew it was worth a try. The founder developed 10 principles that guide their direction and are the basis of their success and number one was, Honor God through our faith, family and friends. I was so excited when I read that, so I signed up and we shall see!

It may be a slow dance, it may be a fast dance. It may be a long dance or a short dance,but like Garth sings, "Life's a Dance you learn as you go." So I'm gonna dance, I'm gonna learn, and most of all I'm gonna give God all the Glory as I go. I thank Him for this opportunity at doing something I love and am very passionate about while still being able to put Him and my family number 1.!!

I hope you all are dancing in this life and taking each step along the way, twirling here or there, and just living life to the fullest! We only get one chance at this life, so make every breathe count!

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."- Jeremiah 29:11

HE NEVER LET'S GO!

THE OTHER DAY I LEFT THE HOUSE AND IT WAS NOT RAINING AND THEN ALL OF SUDDEN I WAS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF HUGE RAIN STORM.  IT WAS SO BAD I COULD BARELY SEE IN FRONT OF ME AND I WANTED TO PULL OVER, BUT I KEPT GOING.  IT ONLY LASTED ABOUT 5 MINUTES AND THEN I WAS THROUGH AND HAD BLUE SKY'S ALL AROUND ME.

 WHEN GOING THROUGH THE RAIN STORM IT SEEMED LIKE FOREVER, BUT LOOKING BACK IT WAS ONLY FOR A FEW MINUTES.  I THOUGHT TO MYSELF ABOUT HOW MUCH THIS REMINDED ME OF HOW WE ARE SOMETIMES WHEN GOING THROUGH OUR ON PERSONAL STORMS.  IT SEEMS LIKE FOREVER AND WE CANNOT SEE THE END , BUT WE AS CHRISTIANS KNOW THERE IS AN END IN SIGHT AND OUR GOD IS WITH US.  IT MAY NOT SEEM LIKE IT AT THE TIME OF THE STORM, BUT WHEN LOOKING BACK WE CAN SEE EXACTLY WHERE HE WAS AND WHAT HE WAS TRYING TO TEACH US.  EVEN IF THE STORM LAST FOR DAYS, MONTHS, OR EVEN YEARS WE KNOW THERE IS AN END IN SIGHT BECAUSE ONE DAY WE WILL NEVER EVER GO THROUGH ANOTHER STORM,BUT SPEND ETERNITY IN HEAVEN WITH OUR SAVIOR. 

UNTIL THEN WE HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT OUR GOD IS WITH US THROUGH THE STORMS AND HE KNOWS EXACTLY WHAT HE IS DOING AND ALL WE HAVE TO DO IS LEAN ON HIM BECAUSE WE KNOW HE NEVER LET'S GO!  HE IS ALWAYS WITH US!  WE MAY LEAVE HIM OR TRY TO GO THROUGH THE STORM ON OUR ON, BUT HE IS RIGHT THERE WAITING ON YOU TO REACH OUT, GRAB A HOLD OF HIM, AND NEVER LET GO!!

 I HAVE HAD THIS SONG IN MY HEAD EVERY SINCE THAT DAY AND WANTED TO SHARE!  ENJOY AND HAVE A WONDERFUL WEEK AND KNOW THE STORMS WILL COME AND THE STORMS WILL PASS:)!!

STOP AND PICK THE FLOWERS

YESTERDAY WAS A BEAUTIFUL DAY AND I SPENT ALL DAY OUTSIDE WITH MY BABY BOYS. WE GOT UP AND THEY PLAYED "HOOKIE" FROM SCHOOL. I KNOW BAD MOMMY,BUT WE HAVE JUST BEEN GOING NON STOP WITH SCHOOL AND BALL AND THEY WERE TIRED AND I JUST COULDN'T WAKE THEM UP:)! SO THEY SLEPT IN AND THEN WE SET OUT ON OUR JOURNEY FOR THE DAY.

WE PACKED A BAG FULL OF SNACKS, A BLANKET, AND MY CAMERA OF COURSE. I HAVE TO HAVE A CAMERA WITH ME AT ALL TIMES BECAUSE I AM SCARED I WILL MISS A KODAK MOMENT. THE BOYS WERE IN PLAY CLOTHES WITH THEIR BOOTS ON AND TOLD ME I HAD TO WEAR MY BOOTS TOO:)! SO I PUT MY BOOTS ON AND OUT THE DOOR WE WENT. THEY WERE SO EXCITED TO BE GOING ON A "HIKE". WE ARE BLESSED TO HAVE ABOUT 40 ACRES WITH LOTS OF TREES, CREEKS, AND MUD PUDDLES. WE WENT THROUGH THE WOODS AND THROUGH ALL THE MUD PUDDLES TO MAKE SURE OUR BOOTS WERE DOING THEIR JOB AND COLLECTING ALL THE MUD. THE BOYS WOULD LAUGH WHEN THEY GOT STUCK BECAUSE THEIR LITTLE FEET WERE NOT STRONG ENOUGH TO WALK THROUGH THE TOUGH MUD. I ENJOYED LISTENING TO THEM AND WATCHING THEIR FACIAL EXPRESSIONS. MY YOUNGEST, JAX DID NOT LIKE THE MUD AS MUCH AS WE DID SO HE WOULD TRY HIS BEST TO MISS IT. WE WALKED ACROSS THE CREEK AND FOUND A PERFECT SPOT TO PULL OUR BLANKET OUT AND SIT DOWN TO SNACK.

WE SNACKED AND TOOK PHOTOS AND THEN HEADED BACK HOME. ALL THREE OF THE BOYS STOPPED TO PICK ME FLOWERS ON THEIR OWN AND THEY WERE SO EXCITED TO GIVE THEM TO ME. OF COURSE IT MADE MY HEART HAPPY,BUT IT ALSO MADE ME THINK OF ALL THE BUSYNESS WE ALL HAVE AND SOMETIMES IT IS NICE TO JUST STOP AND PICK THE FLOWERS OR JUST SIT AND TAKE IN GOD'S BEAUTIFUL CREATIONS. IF ONLY OUR LITTLE MINDS COULD BE LIKE LITTLE CHILDREN ALL THE TIME. NO WORRIES, NO WATCHING THE CLOCK, NO CARES IN THE WORLD JUST HAVING FUN AND TAKING IT ALL IN:)!

I WISH EVERYDAY WAS LIKE YESTERDAY. AFTER OUR HIKE WE CAME HOME AND DADDY WAS OFF WORK EARLY AND GOT OUR FISHING POLES READY. WE FISHED AND PLAYED OUTSIDE TO THEIR LITTLE HEARTS COULD PLAY NO MORE. LIFE IS SHORT AND I WANT TO SOAK IN EVERY SINGLE MINUTE I HAVE WITH MY FAMILY. I WANT TO REMEMBER THE SMALL THINGS THAT MATTER THE MOST. I WANT THEM TO KNOW HOW MUCH I LOVE THEM AND ONE DAY LOOK BACK AND REMEMBER THESE SPECIAL MEMORIES.

SO YESTERDAY AFTER WE WERE ALL PLAYED OUT I GOT MY RUNNING SHOES ON AND WENT TO THE TRACK ALONE. WHEN I RUN I LISTEN TO MY WORSHIP MUSIC AND ALL I COULD DO WAS THANK GOD FOR THE MANY WONDERFUL BLESSINGS IN MY LIFE AND THANK HIM FOR ANOTHER DAY WITH MY BEAUTIFUL FAMILY. I WAS IN TEARS BY THE TIME MY RUN WAS OVER BECAUSE MY HEART WAS SO FULL OF JOY AND REALLY MADE ME REALIZE THAT I NEEDED TO STOP AND PICK THE FLOWERS MORE OFTEN.

SO MY PRAYER IS THAT WE ALL SLOW DOWN. ENJOY THE SMALL THINGS AND THANK GOD FOR ANOTHER DAY HERE ON THIS EARTH BECAUSE WE NEVER KNOW WHEN IT WILL BE OUR LAST!

MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL AND GO AND ENJOY THIS BEAUTIFUL WEATHER AND THANK GOD FOR ALL THE MANY BLESSINGS IN YOUR LIFE!

"This is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it"-Psalm 118:24

A SPECIAL GIRLS DAY OUT!

LAST SATURDAY JUST A FEW OF MY DEAR SIP'S (SISTER'S IN PRAYER) TOOK OUR DEAR FRIENDS JAMIE AND DEBBIE OUT FOR THE DAY! IT WAS A FUN FILLED DAY WITH LUNCH, SHOPPING, AND A TRIP TO GET A TATTOO:)! JUST A HENNA TATTOO,BUT IT WAS SO FUN AND A DAY I WILL REMEMBER FOREVER! I LOVE MY SISTER'S AND I AM THANKFUL I HAVE THEM TO CALL ON ANYTIME DAY OR NIGHT AND I KNOW WITHOUT A DOUBT THEY WOULD BE THERE FOR ME. IF I ASK FOR PRAYER, I KNOW THEY ARE PRAYING WITHOUT CEASING! WE WERE MISSING SOME SIP'S,BUT THEY WERE THERE IN SPIRIT AND OUR LEADER WAS WITH US,BUT I DON'T HAVE A PICTURE OF HER! I LOVE THESE WOMEN AND THANK GOD FOR THEM ALL!

JAMIE AND DEBBIE ARE IN THE TOP PICTURE AND THEY BOTH ARE FIGHTING CANCER. I KNOW YOU HAVE READ A LOT ABOUT MY DEAR FRIEND, JAMIE AND AS YOU CAN SEE SHE IS AN AMAZING PERSON AND YOU CAN JUST SEE GOD SHINING THROUGH HER! DEBBIE IS MY OTHER DEAR FRIEND AND I LOVE DEBBIE BECAUSE SHE IS "DEBBIE". SHE IS ONE OF A KIND AND CRACKS ME UP ALL THE TIME! SHE IS HOPEFULLY FINISHING UP HER LAST FEW TREATMENTS OF CHEMOTHERAPY AND WILL BE DONE WITH CANCER FOREVER! THEY ARE BOTH VERY SPECIAL TO ME AND I LOVE THEM TO PIECES. PLEASE CONTINUE TO LIFT THEM BOTH UP!

I HOPE TO WRITE AGAIN SOON! I HAVE A LOT IN MY LITTLE HEAD AND YOU KNOW I HAVE TO WRITE TO GET IT OUT:)!

HAVE YOU SEEN THIS?