Grateful, Thankful, and Blessed

I have to be honest. I have been praying about the words I wanted to share on Aubrey's blog since she ask me several weeks ago. As a mom, I wanted to make sure what I had to share was meaningful, had a good strong message and was inspiring! I wanted to touch everyone who read it...However, in the end, I decided that what I needed to share is what I've learned. Learning can be fun, but as we all know, it can also be tedious and sometimes down right painful. The lessons are often right there in front of us, waiting to be discovered. Sometimes, the lessons you learn are meant to be shared. I pray that what I share will remind you of what's important, and the Lord will use my lesson to remind you to be grateful, thankful and blessed for all that He has done. Grateful : Feeling or showing an appreciation of kindness I've lived a wonderful life, and other than losing my mother a few years ago, many would say I've had it "easy". I accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior as a young girl in my front yard during Vacation Bible School, and was raised by two loving parents that know Jesus. I lived in the same small middle America town that I was born in until I went to college in the neighboring state of Wyoming. (Go Pokes!) Once done with college, I was married to the most handsome wonderful man of my dreams. I can’t begin to tell you how many times I have been told how lucky I am to have him. After a successful career, we decided I would stay at home and raise our children. We have two beautiful, intelligent girls. They are the light of my life, and I am so happy that I was able to spend all the time I did with them while they grew up. For all of these things and more, I am truly Grateful to the Lord. Thankful : pleased and relieved

One year ago to the day when I started writing this, I was diagnosed with cancer. Non-Hodgkins Large B-cell Lymphoma. The good news I received was that the cancer is curable, not just treatable, but curable. The oncologist explained the plan. It was a standard plan that was regimented for all patients with this type of cancer. The success rate was very high with this treatment plan and after the shock wore off, I was confident and at peace with the way things were scheduled to go. All the while, I did my best to be thankful for the diagnosis. Things could have been much worse. The Lord did miraculous things while I went through the first 6 rounds of chemo and I was able to continue on with life much like normal. At least I tried to keep things normal for all those I love around me. The part that was difficult was that although the Dr’s had told me about plan B, just in case the “normally successful” plan A didn’t work, I had failed to believe that I could be the one that had to go down that road. Well...I was wrong. After an additional two rounds of chemo, I was told that my cancer was still present. Not only was it present, it was growing and in a matter of a week, I would have to have not only more chemo that would keep me in the hospital for several days, but a stem cell transplant that would take me away from my family for around 6 weeks. I have to be honest, it was tough to find things to be thankful for after that kind of news. But, the Lord has a way of helping you find things to be thankful for if you ask. Again, the cancer is curable, the hospital is only an hour from home, my new Dr was a specialist in lymphoma, the nurses were caring and understanding, the treatment side effects were minimal compared to what they could have been, my family and friends were wonderfully supportive, and helpful in so many ways! All of these things made me thankful even at the darkest times.

Blessed : a special favor, mercy or benefit bestowed by God, thereby bringing happiness.

So, where does this leave me? What is the lesson I’ve learned from all of this? What does the Lord want me to take away from the last year? I think there are many lessons, but one I think He for sure wanted me to know is that I am Blessed. I have been given so many things to be grateful for and I am thankful for all the Lord has done for me. It has been quite a year, lots of ups and downs, faith tested, lessons learned and still I am able to see how blessed I am. Even while laying alone in a hospital room far from my family at night with only the sound of an IV pump, I knew I was blessed. Blessings come in many forms, but without being grateful, and thankful, the blessings can get missed. So I challenge you and pray that you can find the things in your life (big or small) to be grateful, and thankful for so that you can know that you are truly blessed by your Father in Heaven.

Before I write each bio I ask if there is anything specific that the person wants me to include. Most of the time I get the response of, "Bro I don't know" or "You choose" or my personal favorite "I don't do anything...". When I asked mom, she said "Just put 'mom'" and I just can't do that because she is so much more than just mom. She is my forever best friend, she is my forever roll model, she is my tennis coach, she is my idol, and of course she is mom. This past year has not been easy by any means, but when you would expect her to be freaking out, filled with fear, nervous, anxious, sad, and lonely, she never was. She was steadfast, strong, powerful, hopeful, smiling, loving, calm, laughing, caring for anyone and everyone around her (even the nurses that had to work on easter). Of course no one ever wants to see anyone go through cancer and all the "fun and excitement" that comes along with it, especially not their own mother, but by watching my mom go through it all and still remain faithful and happy and strong, I have learned more and grown more in my faith and in my relationship with God through her. Through it all she still was able to play tennis herself, coach the Loveland High School girls tennis team, support those around her, be the best mom, and make some killllller meals for her family. I knew that I wanted her to write a blog for me the second that I started it but I was just waiting for the right time and I felt that one year (to the day on July 12th) after her diagnosis was more than the perfect time for her to share what was on her heart and some of her story. I am so so so so so grateful, thankful, and blessed that God has gifted me with such an incredible mother to lead me and guide me through the game of life. I am happy to say that she is almost completely done with all treatments and is back on the tennis courts slaying once again.

Prayer:

Lord I thank you for giving us each an incredible life. Thank you for giving my mother the wisdom and knowledge to be an absolute stud at everything she does. I thank you that you stand beside us and guide us through what ever you bring us to and that no matter what you never leave us behind. I thank you for giving up your thrown to be covered in flesh to know and experience the world. I thank you that you have already defeated every trial and tribulation that could ever come against us. We all are so grateful that you fight ALL of our battles for us. You are such a good good father and we love you with all of our heart. Thank you for all that you have done in the past and for everything that you will do in the future. Amen