I came across a blog about 6 weeks ago that I just can't stop thinking about. I check it several days a week for updates.
This is an amazing mom whose husband sings with Selah. They have twin daughters, another younger daughter, and they just lost a full-term baby girl named Audrey in April. Her faith is inspiring, her honesty refreshing and her story compelling. I hope it encourages you as much as it has encouraged me. She is an incredible writer.
http://audreycaroline.blogspot.com/
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Five Year Survival Celebration
On Friday night, we celebrated 5 years of me being cancer-free! We threw a big party with awesome Mexican food, great friends, and family. It was so much fun. I took the opportunity to say a few words – this is what I shared…
A Word of Thanks…
To those who rejoiced over a second pregnancy, then mourned with us over a supposed miscarriage, only to find out later it was a malignant tumor…
To those who stood by us and waited with us for more than a month for a definitive diagnosis…
To my parents and brother, who supported us in so many ways with prayers, visits, pep talks, research, and care of Anna Claire…
To our friends who picked up Anna Claire and returned her later, bathed, fed and in fresh clothes – even when I was not aware of it because I was so sick…
To my girlfriends, C. and D., who refused to let me abandon my faith and insisted that I hear God’s promises each day…
To my girlfriend D., who promised me that God would use this for good someday, and for all your help with feeding Anna Claire dinner and helping me get her bathed and in bed while Gary was in graduate school classes…
To K., my 12-year survivor girlfriend who identified so deeply with what I was going through because she’d been to hell and back herself, and who gave up her precious family time before Christmas to care for Anna Claire around the clock while I was in the hospital, then picked me up and dusted me off when I emotionally crashed several months later…
To D., my maid of honor, who organized the most incredible delivery schedule of meals for Gary, Anna Claire and my family during the entire 4 months I was in treatment…
To my girlfriends at work, who made me laugh, covered for me when I was out, celebrated my new hairstyles, eyelashes, and eyebrows, and provided much-needed emotional support…
To C&J, our next door neighbors, who brought food, came to visit me in the hospital, planted tulip bulbs for me in October to enjoy in the spring once I was all better, mowed our grass, and arrived on our front porch in their pajamas on Christmas morning to bring my mother and Anna Claire a treat…
To all the faithful ladies of St. Stephens, the church where I grew up 25 years ago, who surrounded my mom with love and support while she was here taking care of us for 7 weeks, and to their husbands, who also prayed and supported my dad…
To D., my longtime boss and friend, who charged me with the task of “just getting better,” never asking when I would be back, never giving up on me, and who volunteered to babysit Anna Claire on Christmas Eve so Gary and my mom could both come to visit me in the hospital at the same time…thank you from the bottom of my heart. I want to especially honor you tonight, because you went far and above the call of duty. Thank you also for your understanding and support of my deep passion for walking alongside and ministering to other Sunrise co-workers who are facing cancer. I will always be grateful for the special role you have had in this season of my life.
To all our friends and family who celebrated with us in the arrival of our little miracle baby, Leah Natalie…
To the Warner family, who so lovingly cared for Leah when I came back to work…
To our new friends, who didn’t know me when I went through treatment, but who celebrate my health with me now…
To my incredible husband, who shaved my head then told me I was still the most beautiful woman he knew and stood by me through the really tough times. It's my greatest pleasure to be married to him and I can't wait for the next chapter of our life together...
And finally, but most importantly, to the Lord, who lifted me out of the pit and set my feet upon a rock, allowing me to praise Him and give Him all the glory…
THANK YOU!
A Word of Thanks…
To those who rejoiced over a second pregnancy, then mourned with us over a supposed miscarriage, only to find out later it was a malignant tumor…
To those who stood by us and waited with us for more than a month for a definitive diagnosis…
To my parents and brother, who supported us in so many ways with prayers, visits, pep talks, research, and care of Anna Claire…
To our friends who picked up Anna Claire and returned her later, bathed, fed and in fresh clothes – even when I was not aware of it because I was so sick…
To my girlfriends, C. and D., who refused to let me abandon my faith and insisted that I hear God’s promises each day…
To my girlfriend D., who promised me that God would use this for good someday, and for all your help with feeding Anna Claire dinner and helping me get her bathed and in bed while Gary was in graduate school classes…
To K., my 12-year survivor girlfriend who identified so deeply with what I was going through because she’d been to hell and back herself, and who gave up her precious family time before Christmas to care for Anna Claire around the clock while I was in the hospital, then picked me up and dusted me off when I emotionally crashed several months later…
To D., my maid of honor, who organized the most incredible delivery schedule of meals for Gary, Anna Claire and my family during the entire 4 months I was in treatment…
To my girlfriends at work, who made me laugh, covered for me when I was out, celebrated my new hairstyles, eyelashes, and eyebrows, and provided much-needed emotional support…
To C&J, our next door neighbors, who brought food, came to visit me in the hospital, planted tulip bulbs for me in October to enjoy in the spring once I was all better, mowed our grass, and arrived on our front porch in their pajamas on Christmas morning to bring my mother and Anna Claire a treat…
To all the faithful ladies of St. Stephens, the church where I grew up 25 years ago, who surrounded my mom with love and support while she was here taking care of us for 7 weeks, and to their husbands, who also prayed and supported my dad…
To D., my longtime boss and friend, who charged me with the task of “just getting better,” never asking when I would be back, never giving up on me, and who volunteered to babysit Anna Claire on Christmas Eve so Gary and my mom could both come to visit me in the hospital at the same time…thank you from the bottom of my heart. I want to especially honor you tonight, because you went far and above the call of duty. Thank you also for your understanding and support of my deep passion for walking alongside and ministering to other Sunrise co-workers who are facing cancer. I will always be grateful for the special role you have had in this season of my life.
To all our friends and family who celebrated with us in the arrival of our little miracle baby, Leah Natalie…
To the Warner family, who so lovingly cared for Leah when I came back to work…
To our new friends, who didn’t know me when I went through treatment, but who celebrate my health with me now…
To my incredible husband, who shaved my head then told me I was still the most beautiful woman he knew and stood by me through the really tough times. It's my greatest pleasure to be married to him and I can't wait for the next chapter of our life together...
And finally, but most importantly, to the Lord, who lifted me out of the pit and set my feet upon a rock, allowing me to praise Him and give Him all the glory…
THANK YOU!
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
I'm Still Alive
I’m still alive and kickin’! I know that all three of my readers thinks I dropped off the planet, but with family visiting for the past 5 weeks, Leah being sick for 4 weeks, working full-time and making a trip to Houston to buy a house, and trying to keep our current house clean because it’s on the market, I’ve barely been sleeping at night.
So, here’s the update…
We bought a house! Gary and I spend Memorial Day weekend in Houston looking for a house and we found a great one – we are SO excited. It has everything we wanted and needed. We can hardly wait. It’s close to Gary’s new job, close to the church we’d like to attend and close to shopping, the pool, etc. It’s perfect.
My parents have been visiting, helping take care of the girls, running things to Goodwill for us, helping us pack, run errands, and anything else we need. It has been so wonderful to have them here not only to help us, but even more just to spend that much time with them. We’ve had a fabulous time! They left today and we miss them already. It’s a good thing they’re coming back in 3 weeks to help us move (and just as I typed that, I started to break out in hives because ohmygoodnessthistrainisgoingfasterandfasterandIcanhardlycatchmybreath). 3 WEEKS! I’ve got a lot to do!
We’ve also had the opportunity this past weekend to see some great friends from Chicago who we hadn’t seen in a long time. It was so nice to just hang out with them and enjoy a meal together. They have 2 lovely young daughters and T. has been a friend of mine since high school. It was treasured time.
G. is wrapping up his school year and is anxious to have some free time to do all the “honey do’s” on the list I gave him. Just kidding, honey. :) Well, not really, but we’ll talk about that later.
Gotta run get some utilities hooked up at the new house.
So, here’s the update…
We bought a house! Gary and I spend Memorial Day weekend in Houston looking for a house and we found a great one – we are SO excited. It has everything we wanted and needed. We can hardly wait. It’s close to Gary’s new job, close to the church we’d like to attend and close to shopping, the pool, etc. It’s perfect.
My parents have been visiting, helping take care of the girls, running things to Goodwill for us, helping us pack, run errands, and anything else we need. It has been so wonderful to have them here not only to help us, but even more just to spend that much time with them. We’ve had a fabulous time! They left today and we miss them already. It’s a good thing they’re coming back in 3 weeks to help us move (and just as I typed that, I started to break out in hives because ohmygoodnessthistrainisgoingfasterandfasterandIcanhardlycatchmybreath). 3 WEEKS! I’ve got a lot to do!
We’ve also had the opportunity this past weekend to see some great friends from Chicago who we hadn’t seen in a long time. It was so nice to just hang out with them and enjoy a meal together. They have 2 lovely young daughters and T. has been a friend of mine since high school. It was treasured time.
G. is wrapping up his school year and is anxious to have some free time to do all the “honey do’s” on the list I gave him. Just kidding, honey. :) Well, not really, but we’ll talk about that later.
Gotta run get some utilities hooked up at the new house.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
A Letter to My Oldest Daughter
Anna Claire -I cannot believe you are six years old today. I know many mothers say this, but the time just flew by. You were not terribly anxious to make your arrival - we waited and waited for you to come. When you arrived, I was overwhelmed, overjoyed and in awe of how perfect you were. It was one of the most amazing moments of my life.
It has been such a great joy to watch you grow. We figured a lot of things out together, you and I. I
love that you stopped crying immediately whenever I would take you outside and wheel you around in the stroller under the trees. I love that you used to say "I want hold you" whenever you wanted me to pick you up. I love that you peered inquisitively at me in the front seat the morning after my hair fell out and we were on the way to the salon to pick up my wig. I love that you instinctively knew to play quietly by the couch when I was going through chemo and couldn't get up. I love that you would sometimes steal my wig when I wasn't wearing it and 
you'd wear it around the house, laughing hysterically because you had done something you thought was so funny. I love that you used to yell "E-I-E-I-O" whenever we sang "Old McDonald" in the car. I love that you thought that wearing a pair of my black stockings, my white high-heeled sandals and nothing else was a fashion statement. I love that we play I-Spy while cuddling in bed in the morning. I love that you still say "aminals" instead of "animals." I love that you think only in 
shades of hot pink, deep purple and lots of sparkles. I love that you were completely convinced that I was giving birth to your baby sister in a stable with animals, just like Mary did. I love that you showcase your hospitality skills by making 
breakfast for Daddy and me on Saturday mornings. I love that you immediately pray out loud whenever we see a car accident. I love that you sing with your eyes closed, totally lost in the moment. I love how you pray at bedtime, openly pouring your heart out to Jesus. I love that you pray for our friends who have cancer, and then give God the glory for them being healed. I love that you worry about someone at 
school feeling left out, and that you strategically plan how to prevent it from happening.You are an amazing little girl, Anna Claire. I am so proud of you and so honored to be your momma. Don't ever stop loving Jesus like you do, and always remember that your gifts and talents are on loan from God, to be used for His glory and purposes. Happy Birthday, sweetheart. I love you.
Friday, May 9, 2008
Catching Up
So I haven’t fallen off the face of the earth. Since I last posted, we’ve bought two cars, sold two cars, applied for a mortgage, had company come into town, I’ve done approximately 20 loads of laundry and I’ve somehow also maintained a full-time job. So forgive me for not posting in so long – I’ve been busy!
I realized yesterday I am living the dream…I am a wife, mother of two and I now own a minivan. It's gorgeous. A 2008 Honda Odyssey in "Slate
Green Metallic." I HAVE ARRIVED. I know for some of you, this scenario makes you want to break out in hives (Debbie), but if I’m being honest, it’s the life I’ve always wanted. I knew early on I was born to be a wife and mother. I love my life and I realized the other day that I’m proud of all those things. When I was in high school and college, I was always the girl that no one really wanted to date but the one someone wanted to marry someday. Well, I snagged myself an amazing husband and I am LIVING THE DREAM.
Anyway, I am just very content right now. I’m extremely busy as we’re preparing for our big move to Texas – we spend a lot of time looking at houses online, getting quotes for various projects, and wrapping up school for AC and Gary, but I’m in a happy place. My brother and sweet sister-in-law are visiting right now, and we’re heading out for a weekend of fun in Pennsylvania. I’m going to a concert with a treasured friend tonight. Next week is Mom’s birthday and Anna Claire’s birthday. The following week, my parents arrive. The fun is just beginning!!!
So, just wanted to let everyone know that I’m still living and breathing. I’ll post more frequently, I promise. We’ll post some great pics soon of our weekend in PA with Craig and Sho.
I realized yesterday I am living the dream…I am a wife, mother of two and I now own a minivan. It's gorgeous. A 2008 Honda Odyssey in "Slate
Green Metallic." I HAVE ARRIVED. I know for some of you, this scenario makes you want to break out in hives (Debbie), but if I’m being honest, it’s the life I’ve always wanted. I knew early on I was born to be a wife and mother. I love my life and I realized the other day that I’m proud of all those things. When I was in high school and college, I was always the girl that no one really wanted to date but the one someone wanted to marry someday. Well, I snagged myself an amazing husband and I am LIVING THE DREAM.Anyway, I am just very content right now. I’m extremely busy as we’re preparing for our big move to Texas – we spend a lot of time looking at houses online, getting quotes for various projects, and wrapping up school for AC and Gary, but I’m in a happy place. My brother and sweet sister-in-law are visiting right now, and we’re heading out for a weekend of fun in Pennsylvania. I’m going to a concert with a treasured friend tonight. Next week is Mom’s birthday and Anna Claire’s birthday. The following week, my parents arrive. The fun is just beginning!!!
So, just wanted to let everyone know that I’m still living and breathing. I’ll post more frequently, I promise. We’ll post some great pics soon of our weekend in PA with Craig and Sho.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
