WELCOME

Hello,
Welcome to my Blog! Yes, I have been in the fight of my life against Leukemia, insomnia, depression, side effects of medications, molting skin, pooping my pants and this list goes on.... however, I still love my life, and that's what this blog is about Real Life. I hope to meet others who trails have brought them closer to the Lord and molded them for the next step in God's will. In January 2011 , my family, physician, and Be the Match was featured on a Fox 5 news story about bone marrow donors and transplants. In March, I was interviewed on Atlanta and Company along with Be the Match. I was chosen to sing the national anthem at the Be the Match Run last year and will also be doing it this year, along with some other songs. My team, no thanks to me, raised over $4,000 and raised more than any other team! Please join my team this year or consider donating here at the Run those Stem cells out ! Team I was also chosen for a patient advocacy panel for the international council meeting at Be the Match in MN in November. How exciting!! I ended up not being able to attend due to the relapse. I had hoped I could help raise awareness about how easy it is to sign up to be a donor and how many people need your help! Please go to bethematch.org and sign up! I was able to have my bone marrow (same as stem cell) transplant at the end of March thanks to a 22 year old donor oversees that I hope to meet her one day. As I came up on my 6th month mark and continued to add more normal activities to our lives, I relapsed, meaning that the that the cancer had mutated and the leukemia came back. I spent 2 more weeks at Emory and some other nights here and there and now I'm on a drug from the FDA. I have a compassion waiver so I am able to get it. I have to take it day by day sometimes hour by hour. Time keeps moving and my little girl is growing up. I'm lucky that I'm getting to see it. I continue to praise God for his wonderful blessings he has shown us including my wonderful husband Jonathan, baby girl Evalyn Rose, supportive family and friend, great medical care, new readers, and the chance to make a big difference, even if that means being a Lab Rat.
God Bless You!

Please read, comment, enjoy, learn, grow, LOVE LIFE.

Most Recently I have started a booth at a local consignment store with handmade jewelry from friends, crafts, and my own art from recycled materials. It is called DAY by DAY. God was very clear with me starting this. Please look over to the right of blog and click on Day by Day to see some pictures. I'm just getting started but I am taking orders from people that I know. You will be able to personalize items, etc. I just haven't decided how I will be selling them via internet yet. But for now, the jewelry is at A Weekend A'fair in Athens, GA and will hopefully be at some stores downtown soon.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Daily Devotional 3/14- the Bible Side

Random thoughts this morning. It's Emory day,always a little nervous. Couldn't decide if I wanted to listen to the beautiful birds and continue to insist with Jonathan that there has to be an AP on that fancy phone that picks up bird calls since there is one for music, or day dream that I kinda feel like a very plyable gummy bear floating through space and and God touches me every once in a while to mold me or send me spiraling into another direction, or run into someone. Then I thought, why don't you just eat me, there's a lot of gummy bears. This is while I'm doing my compression eye ritual and can't move or do anything else. Then I prayed and told God what I was thinking about.... he says I repeat myself, but it's ok.

We are studying Romans in our small group on Sat. Unusually, I feel like a zombie by the time I get there, if I drive to Emory, come home, eat, take care of Evalyn, and get there. I hope today that I get out early and can rest some so that I have something to add besides eating and asking for my brain to function properly.

I read Romans 5:1-5 this morning. I think I'm going to like this chapter better. So far, I have learned way too much about circumcision and come up with why to many sacrilegious "far side" cartoons, that I think I will call the "bible side". Weird stuff... but it may sell. Got to have some sense of humor when going back and talking about the old testament and the things God had them do. Don't get me started on Abram and Sarah cartoons.

Romans 5:1:5      NIV
1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a] have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] boast in the hope of the glory of God. 3 Not only so, but we[c] also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

I like how the Message puts it also.... I need things a little dumbed down sometimes.


Developing Patience
 1-2By entering through faith into what God has always wanted to do for us—set us right with him, make us fit for him—we have it all together with God because of our Master Jesus. And that's not all: We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that he has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand—out in the wide open spaces of God's grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise.
 3-5There's more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this, we're never left feeling shortchanged. Quite the contrary—we can't round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit!


Glory in our sufferings? I can see that now. My Granny told me yesterday that I had such a good outlook and that made me feel so good for her to say that. I don't always for sure, who could. I'm logical, I'm statistical, but all this has changed me to be more patient, understanding, compassionate, emphatic, proactive, forgiving, and I believe a better person. I think the people around me are better people, they have told me themselves. Do I feel short changed, sometimes. Especially when I can't do something I plan or do something I enjoy. Ahhh, my fellow disabled, down hearted, laid off, sick and elderly how I do understand how you feel now. Please look toward God to see what other doors are open, there is one there.

8am, time to start the morning ritual of eating, meds, and flying to Emory. Carol and Frank are coming today... they are so much help. Pray for good news. Got my "In case they admit my ass bag almost packed" and "my a thousand things to do" in there, and my med bag, and my pillow, which I should name one day. I'm trying to get my turtle back, get this swelling down in my feet, and talk Dr. Khoury into 2 weeks off again. Will probably start back the oral chemo today, boo, just pray I get to come home, that's most important. 

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