Thankful Thursday - 10/1

UPDATE TO #1 - My follow up went well. Yay! Re-check in 6 months, but all looks good. Thanks to all.

5 Things I'm thankful for this week:

1. Praying friends (yes again!) I had a "routine" annual exam come back with a blip, so this afternoon I'm having a follow-up. My gal pals are praying, calling and emailing me like crazy. I love these ladies. I'm sure it's nothing, but boy does it feel good to have prayer support.

2. Wednesdays at church! I don't have to cook dinner, and I get fed physically and spiritually! Woo! And my kids have fun learning and doing crafts. Yes!

3. Date night! My husband and I have a date night...a black tie event no less, this weekend. I'll post pictures next week of us in our finery. Very excited and thankful that we'll have some couple time.

4. Validation. Who doesn't want that? I got my first examiner payout on my "Tips for Moms" site. If you'd like to find out how you can get paid to write about things in your area, email me! I love my blogging...but to get paid for writing is icing on the cake!

5. Books! I love reading, and this reviewing thing is bringing more new and free books my way. I love to read, I love to give my opinion, and I love free stuff! What could be better than that?

What are you thankful for this week?

Book Review: Perseverance

Perseverance: True Voices of Cancer Survivors is a book about young cancer survivors. Filled with hope and courage, Perseverance tells the story of twenty young people diagnosed with childhood cancer. Each chapter is a different person's story.

Each chapter is a first person account of that individuals diagnosis and cancer fight. The stories were all so different, but they all shared the same perseverance. Some persevered through their faith. Others through family encouragement. Some battled through alone, as their friends seemed to disappear during their trails. Others took their friendships to the next level, by the love and support shown.

I really enjoyed the conclusion of each chapter, which shared what the survivor was doing now. To read through the story, and then learn that they've married, or are in college now answered my "where are they now" questions.

The only aspect of the book I didn't like, was how each chapter was introduced by the author (Carolyn Rubenstein). Because her introduction was first person, then the story of the survivor was first person, it was a bit confusing. I don't think her relationship to the survivor, how she met them, or how she felt about them was in any way relevant to their stories (which is what the book is about), and by removing herself from the book, it would have been a much tighter story. (it was a very long, nearly 400 page book.)

I do admire the author, who since age 14 has worked with children with cancer, and who offers a scholarship program for childhood cancer survivors. However, I think she could have covered herself in an introduction in the book, and then let the stories each stand on their own.

The book concludes with a list of organizations that help kids with cancer and a medical glossary. I think these additions were very beneficial to the book.

Jamie Saunders, diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in her freshman year of high school, said, “I know I would not be the person I am today if it weren’t for the fact that I had cancer.” Nearly all of the survivors shared that belief.

Overall, I enjoyed the book. I will note that it is not a faith-based book, and that while some of the survivors credit God, some question their faith or faith is not a part of their story. But it is an inspiring book that shows that cancer can be beaten, that young people are resilient, and that trials and tribulations bring opportunities for triumphs.

Finding Cici, Finding God

It was an unusually hectic football game. My six-year-old daughter was cheering, while I was coaching her squad. It was “bring a friend” day, so instead of the usual eight girls, we had 16…and the assistant coach was absent. I was on my own with 16 six-year-old girls!

I was also trying to keep one eye on my 19-month-old daughter that my husband was “watching.” She’d toddle over to me and I’d send her back to her daddy so I could concentrate on the game. After the game, I was busily handing out drinks and snacks when I noticed my husband walking back from the trashcan…without our younger daughter, Cici.

I looked over at all the cheerleaders to see if she was with them. She wasn’t. I quickly glanced over the football field. I didn’t see her. That anxious feeling every mom has experienced started up my throat. My eyes again darted from the cheerleaders to the field. By this point I could hear my heart pounding, and I thought I might start screaming.

I grabbed one of the other moms by the arm and screeched, “You have to help me. I can’t find Cici!” She looked confused and asked, “What do you mean?” I gulped, barely able to talk by now, “I can’t find Cici!” I yelled at her. She looked at me and responded softly, “You’re holding her.”

I looked in my arm and there was my daughter, oblivious to my peril. I was holding her all the time! She must have toddled over while I was handing out the snack. I scooped her up and kept on working never even realizing I had done it. I fell against the other mom just for a moment, my adrenalin failing now. “You must never tell anyone this.” I said, half ordering and half begging. “Okay,” she responded, “But if you don’t get off me, people are going to wonder what’s going on.” I straightened up and finished the rest of my duties as gracefully as possible under the circumstances, and then went home and cried. How could I have not even realized I was holding my own child?

Later I realized something bigger. On those hectic days when I’m making dinner, and the children are bickering, and my husband calls to say he’ll be late, I call out “God, where are you? I’m looking God, but I can’t find you!”

I don’t realize that He’s holding me. Like that day at the football field, I am just too busy to realize it. Psalm 121:1,2 says “Where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

We all have hectic schedules. Sometimes it feels like we don’t have any help. We do. God is holding you! You can feel the same sweet relief that I felt that day: “What once was lost, now is found!” Amazing. Grace.




This article by me is a reprint that first appeared in Vista, Journal for Holy Living, 8/16/09. This is a true story that happened in 2005. The "other mom" that helped me find Cici (in my arms) was Sue J.

Go tell it...

Have you heard the song "go tell it on the mountain (over the hills & everywhere!), go tell it on the mountain, that Jesus Christ was born." ?

Jesus, himself, said that we are to go & make disciples of all nations. Yet, many folks don't know what to say or how to say it.

I think there is a reason he said let the little children come to him too. They get it! If evangelism isn't your thing, listen to my 5 year old simply sharing the good new of Jesus. If she can, I know you can too. (and try to have the excitement that she has about the Holy Spirit, can you?)





Matthew 28:19 -- Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Matthew 18:3 -- And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

Thankful Thursday - 9/24

5 things I'm thankful for this week:

1. I'm thankful that my new Bible study group is going well. I love the leader, she is so nurturing and caring, and I am happy to be in the group!

2. I'm thankful for my cooking co-op which started back up last week! Meals delivered to my door 3 nights a week. Don't know what a cooking co-op is? Visit my link here.

3. I'm thankful to get back to the gym. (I'm hesitant to write this. Every time I mention the gym, it gets cancelled). But I'm glad I'm starting to go again and work on getting in shape.

4. Thankful for coffee dates with friends. This week with Sue J., next week with Sonya, the following with Patterson 5. So nice to catch up and fellowship.

5. I'm thankful that David sang his praises to God in the Bible, and that from that we have beautiful praise songs so we can sing too. I love singing praise songs to God!

What are you thankful for this week?

Random Dozen Meme for Linda

1. Please share one middle school memory. It can be good, bad, ugly, funny. Pictures or words, I don't care, just share. This is from my eight grade graduation, it is my dad and me. Thankfully I grew out of this stage. Does anyone had positive memories from middle school?

2. What's your favorite Beatles song? I don't like the Beatles, but my favorite song by them is Long & Winding Road, performed by David Archuleta.

3. If I asked you to describe your most comfortable outfit, what would it be? Cotton PJ Pants and a cotton t-shirt.

4. Would you rather host a party or be a guest? Be a guest! What time should I be there?

5. Do you think we will move completely from traditional books to digital ones, and if we do, are you OK with that? I love holding a book, underlining key phrases, and everything about it. I will miss books.

6. Do you learn best by reading, listening or experiencing? I guess by listening. I'm not sure.

7. If you are (or when you were) single, what is the kiss of death for you concerning the opposite sex? (That is, what is one trait or behavior or habit or anything at all that immediately turns you off from considering that person a potential match for you?) Well if I can remember back that far (!), I like cleanliness. Clean nails, well dressed, just a lot of care about personal appearance. (Like who knew right, I am the germ-freak.)

8. Snacks. Salty or sweet? Sweet!!!

9. Look around you in a four foot radius. What object is around you that you didn't realize was there or forgot was there? How long has it been there? There is a wrapped graduation gift I bought for my kids former sitter when she graduated from high school 2 years ago. I always meant to give it to her...never did. I need unwrap and regift I guess.

10. What is your favorite Tom Cruise movie? Days of Thunder. Although Rain Man and Jerry McGuire were both good too. "Show me the money!"

11. You buy a bottle of shampoo and discover that you don't like what it does to your hair at all. What do you do with that full bottle? Give it away. I usually ask my sisters, and one of them will use it. However, I've been using the same shampoo (Redken Fresh Curls) for a long time and love it.

12. Your favorite Fall comfort food? (Last week it was beverage.) I love a good stew or soup. And BREAD!! Give me a hot roll and a bowl of soup and I am a happy gal.

Alligator Scars

Some years ago on a hot summer day in south Florida a little boy decided to go for a swim in the old swimming hole behind his house.

In a hurry to dive into the cool water, he ran out the back door, leaving behind shoes, socks, and shirt as he went. He flew into the water, not realizing that as he swam toward the middle of the lake, an alligator was swimming toward the shore. His mother - in the house was looking out the window - saw the two as they got closer and closer together. In utter fear, she ran toward the water, yelling to her son as loudly as she could.

Hearing her voice, the little boy became alarmed and made a U-turn to swim to his mother. It was too late. Just as he reached her, the alligator reached him.

From the dock, the mother grabbed her little boy by the arms just as the alligator snatched his legs. That began an incredible tug-of-war between the two. The alligator was much stronger than the mother, but the mother was much too passionate to let go. A farmer happened to drive by, heard her screams, raced from his truck, took aim and shot the alligator.

Remarkably, after weeks and weeks in the hospital, the little boy survived. His legs were extremely scarred by the vicious attack of the animal and, on his arms, were deep scratches where his mother's fingernails dug into his flesh in her effort to hang on to the son she loved.

The newspaper reporter who interviewed the boy after the trauma, asked if he would show him his scars. The boy lifted his pant legs. And then, with obvious pride, he said to the reporter, "But look at my arms. I have great scars on my arms, too. I have them because my mom wouldn't let go."

You and I can identify with that little boy. We have scars, too. No, not from an alligator, or anything quite so dramatic. But, the scars of a painful past. Some of those scars are unsightly and have caused us deep regret.

But, some wounds, my friend, are because God has refused to let go. In the midst of your struggle, He's been there holding on to you. The Scripture teaches that God loves you. If you have Christ in your life, you have become a child of God. He wants to protect you and provide for you in every way.

But sometimes we foolishly wade into dangerous situations. The swimming hole of life is filled with peril - and we forget that the enemy is waiting to attack. That's when the tug-o-war begins - and if you have the scars of His love on your arms be very, very grateful.

He did not - and will not - let you go.

(Author Unknown)