Beautiful song!

What Faith Can Do- Kutless

Everybody falls sometimes

Gotta find the strength to rise

From the ashes and make a new beginning

Anyone can feel the ache

You think it’s more than you can take

But you're stronger, stronger than you know

Don’t you give up now

The sun will soon be shining

You gotta face the clouds

To find the silver lining

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains

Hope that doesn’t ever end

Even when the sky is falling

I’ve seen miracles just happen

Silent prayers get answered

Broken hearts become brand new

That’s what faith can do

It doesn’t matter what you’ve heard

Impossible is not a word

It’s just a reason for someone not to try

Everybody’s scared to death

When they decide to take that step

Out on the water

It’ll be alright

Life is so much more

Than what your eyes are seeing

You will find your way

If you keep believing

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains

Hope that doesn’t ever end

Even when the sky is falling

I’ve seen miracles just happen

Silent prayers get answered

Broken hearts become brand new

That’s what faith can do

Overcome the odds

You don't have a chance

(That’s what faith can do)

When the world says you can’t

It’ll tell you that you can!

I’ve seen dreams that move the mountains

Hope that doesn’t ever end

Even when the sky is falling

And I’ve seen miracles just happen

Silent prayers get answered

Broken hearts become brand new

That’s what faith can do

That's what faith can do!

Even if you fall sometimes

You will have the strength to rise

Enjoying the fall season.................

We had gone on a couple of hikes these past few weeks. Also, we had our local town fair. Below are some photos from those times. I hope you enjoy them.

We are doing fairly well health-wise. I had gotten a little bit of a setback where I may have contracted a viral infection but I am awaiting a test on that.  If not, they will run another test.  I think maybe the chemo I had finished 18 months ago may have affected my immune system and my ability to fight things. 

I am also trying to work at getting my daughter some help in school.  Both I and her teacher believe she might have dyslexia but I heard getting help could be a challenge.

Revamping my blog!

Recently I had the pleasure of going to our church's ladies conference where I learned I need to give God my Rags. I was prompted to rename my blog and revamp my self-image as well.

I wanted to share a post from my friend, Amy, who also attended the conference. Enjoy!

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2010 Ladies' Retreat: From Rags To........

by Amy

Isaiah 64:6 - "All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away".

The theme of this year's Ladies' Retreat was "From Rags to......" and six women spoke of how God has been working in their lives to take their filthy rags and give them clean, beautiful, new fabric.  To give God those rags so that He may provide His renewal in their lives; for His redemption in their lives; for His riches and for His reliability in their lives.

What about the rags I need to give to God?  What about my rags of rejection; my rags of unsuitability; my rags of regrets;  my rags of victimization; my rags of fear; my rags of pain & loss; my rags of shame & failure; and my rags of seeking & putting others before God in my life?


I'm learning day by day to give God my rags and ask Him to give me HIS REALITY.

The reality that:


I'm Accepted
     "You didn't choose me. I chose you.  I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name."  (John 15:16)

     "But to all who believed Him and accepted Him, He gave the right to become children of God."  (John 1:12)


I'm An Over-Comer
     "For whoever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world--- our faith."  (1 John 5:4)

     "Think about what I am saying.  The Lord will help you understand all these things."
(2 Timothy 2:7)


I'm Secure & Loved
     "Can anything ever separate us from Christ's love?  Does it mean He no longer love us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or in danger, or threatened with death?  No!  In all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loves us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anyting else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:35, 37-38)


I'm Not Afraid
     "For He has rescued us from the kindgom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of His dear Son." (Colossians 1:13)

     "For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love and self-discipline." (2 Timothy 1:7)


I'm Not A Failure
     "So now there is no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus.  And because you belong to Him, the power of the life-giving Spirit has freed you from the power of sin that leads to death."  (Romans 8:1-2)

     "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:13)


I Will Choose To Put God First
     "But seek first the Kingdom of God and all things will be added to you (Matthew 6:33)




And so, thank you to the ladies who had the courage to share their stories, their struggles and their Sovereign Lord with us.

And thank you Lord that daily, I am going From Rags To.... a new Reality in You!  

It rained and poured for forty long daysies-daysies......

Remnants of Hurricane Nicole

We had some flooding with Hurricane Nicole. It took a couple of days to go down.

Our Fair Week started today. Nicole got a first and second on her artwork. I will put up some photos when I get them all.

Bump in the road

     We came home today from  the hospital AGAIN.  This time the patient was my husband, Norm.  After some testing, it was discovered he had diverticulosis.  He also had another polyp that they are testing but the surgeon felt  it was normal.  We won't know that for a few weeks.  We came home this afternoon.  Glad to be home again!  I am hoping the rest of the year is QUIET!

     This weekend is our Ladies Conference at our church.  I've been looking forward to it.  They are even having a Lock-in type thing.  

     We were also saddened to have another family issue in my family regarding marriage.  I do not want to mention them by name but I hope you can keep them in your prayers both for them as well as for us as we have to process this and deal with the aftermath.  And please keep their three children in prayer as well. (ages 11-15)

Back into routine.....

     After that hospital stint, we are getting back into the swing of things.  Tyler seems to be healing.  Norm takes him to the doctor for his follow-up tomorrow.

     Yesterday Nicole's marching band went to a competition.  There were 11 bands in their part of the competition and they got 5th place out of all 11.   Nicole was happy about that.

This morning their youth group left for the beach.  Due to a hurricane out to sea, they are not allowed to swim in the ocean so they will be stopping by a beach at a nearby bay.  We heard the waves were huge so I am glad that the state beaches decided not to allow anyone to swim.  

I have created a forum for Ovarian cancer warriors to go to connect.  I am letting it open for a month yet and then will take down if I get no more interest.  It is called Teal Warriors.  You can also click the Button on the left of this page.

You never know what's gonna happen......

Last Monday evening we ended up at the Emergency Room with my son, Tyler.  He turned out to have an infection in his abdomen so we ended up staying in until Friday.  They sent him home with antibiotics.  It seems to be healing but there is a possibility of it returning.  I pray it won't.

On Saturday,we decided to continue with the planned trip with my parents to the beach. (photos below) We went to a beach in New Jersey and then headed over to 6 Flags Safari. Kids had a great time!

I managed to call my oncologist to inquire about my tumor markers. Turns out they are great which makes me very happy!

School and birthdays.....oh my!

Today Lexi, my youngest, turned 8. 

  

It was also the first day of school........

 

I also went back to work.  Unfortunately the dishwasher broke about halfway through the day so tomorrow am we have to go in to work early to wash dishes..... if it got fixed......

Back to school!

Next Monday our school starts again which means I go back to work.  It's been a short summer and I didn't get everything accomplished that I would have liked to but I got a lot of it done.  Monday is also Lexi's 8th birthday.  

This morning I had a Ovarian Cancer Awareness Table at a church clothing giveaway.  I was a little disappointed more women did not stop but I can understand why.  It's something they think they will never have to think about because it won't happen to them.  Two years ago I would have thought the same thing.  So, how do we get women interested.? I was hoping to put the symptoms in large letters all over a board would catch their attention but it didn't.  How do we spread the word to a public who thinks it won't happen to them?  I had thought about shoving symptom cards in woman's hands but I don't like to be pushy.  If anyone has any ideas, let me know! 

Rain......

For a period we had long days of no rain but this past week we've been having a lot more rain.....almost every day.  It's good because we really needed it.  Local crops were beginning to look really bad.  

Yesterday I was getting a baking pan of barbecued chicken out.  I made the mistake of using a loosely crocheted potholder and it burned through to my hand causing me to jerk the pan back causing sauce to splatter on my forearm and hand.  The whole length of my forearm (approx 6 inches long and six inches wide) has a 1st and second degree burn on it and 1st degree on my fingers.  I had some burn cream my doctor gave me last year when I burned myself on the mower, so, with the help of Norm, I was able to treat myself.  If the burn had looked worse, I'd have probably headed for the ER but I figured this I could take care of because I had the stuff to do it anyway and it wasn't as excruciatingly painful as last year. 

I've been struggling emotionally and spiritually lately.  Call it after-effects of post traumatic stress from the cancer.  It is a syndrome that others who have gone through cancer have also experienced.  I know because a dear friend has shared the same thing.  It's like for so many months you are overwhelmed with friendship and it just suddenly stops.  I don't want gifts but it's like, "Where is everybody?"  I don't want to upset anyone by that.  I know it's actually something not even related by like a phenomenon of long-term illnesses.  I guess i am just trying to sort out feelings because that is how I do that.  I write them.  Another thing is that for so many months you are depending on God to get you through and now that it's over I just keep asking myself, "Now what should I do?"  I guess I've been feeling a little lost with that.  I don't know if it's the different perspective but sometimes I just feel like I am treading water.  I've been reading through Isaiah lately but sometimes I just don't feel Him speaking.  And then I wonder what i am doing wrong or what i can do different.  Then this morning our associate pastor had a lady get up to speak and it was almost like it was answer to prayer as she spoke about the burdens we carry.  I was just so touched by what she said.  I just needed to hear what she had to say today.  

I am including below some photos

.

Me

Norm and I

Nicole,16

Tyler, almost 12, and Coby, 5

Lexi, almost 8

Coby