Church

Watch NewSpring's Christmas Party (week 4) as they recap 2008

http://www.newspring.cc/

Pampers to Depends (or visa versa)

Last night, we went to see The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and all I can say is "got no sense" -
Great story! Full of symbolism about life: what we think about our lives, how we see ourselves, growing old and the end of our lives. There were some great lines in that movie that I find keep playing out in my head. One in particular was that of an elderly male character who kept asking Benjamin if he had ever told him that he had been struck by lightning seven times - he said that God was trying to remind him that he was still here. After the scene where several of the elderly characters were sitting on the front porch of the home they were sharing and the narrator (who was Benjamin) describing these folks as those who had survived life's circumstances just to end up on the front porch talking about the weather - the movie went on to prove that however meaningless this might would seem that we would all just end up with nothing more to say than it's raining and cool out - each of ours lives have a real impact in this life in some way and though nothing last forever and some things will be forgotten - an impact nevertheless. I left thinking about this and how we may never know exactly how significant our individual impact might have been and how even as we are all heading in different directions in our lives that even if we can somehow change the course for just one person to see joy through sorrow and faith through fear then our lives would have been well spent.
Though time passes quickly and memories are short and we can't turn back the clock -
somewhere between pampers and depends, we did live!

This flick truly serves up food for thought!
This is just a small portion of the thoughts the movie left me chewing on - there are many layers with this one and you may walk away having experienced something totally different.

Trained for this

So my five year check up did not go as I had expected....the doctor's report (his facts I might add) says there are some new breast cancer metz on a few places on my bones. He says that I will be needing to go out to Houston to check out their latest greatest chemo cocktails and he will get the party started next month.
Yes, I will be honest with you I cried, I screamed, I punched a few walls and I threw a few things....well I hope you didn't think I would have said oh, how awesome and I am so pschyed. Heck no, this sucks sucks sucks! BUT I know too much about God now and I know that His grace really is sufficient as the Bible says. I stood before family and friends 5 years ago and shared my testimony of healing (which is truth I might add) and I will again.
Praying, reading God's word, going to church to be taught and to draw strength from other believers is all training so when a real problem comes along - you have trained for it.
But note: you never graduate from this training...

Five Years Today

Today I am at a total of 10 years out from stage 4 vulva cancer and 5 years to the very day out from breast cancer. It was exactly 5 years ago today that I was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. I just needed to blog that I have every intention to keep on walking in healing and health. I thank God everyday for keeping me through all of that mess. Though there may be a few little left over thorns in the side here and there for me from this last cancer - I have faith enough to believe (no, I KNOW) that God will never leave me nor forsake me. He who has promised is faithful.
And for folks who often told me that I must be in denial - I say YEAP, I deny cancer and I always will!

Happy Thanksgiving

I truly love Thanksgiving Day...but the real truth is, as all survivors would agree...every day is Thanksgiving Day.
Happy Thanksgiving!

In Color

I have some old black & white photos of my grandparents and parents sitting around my house and often times I find myself gazing into those photos wondering things like what color was my grandmother's dress and what color is that couch my mom and dad are sitting on. I don't know what those shades of gray are covering but more than the color of their clothes and the furniture, I wonder what was on their minds, where they were in life and how were they dealing with it. I often hear folks talk about how much simpler times must have been back then - you know "the good 'ole days" but I don't think that is true at all.
I think my grandparents had to work hard and still often had to do without. I think that between working cotton fields and trying to feed twelve kids, life was hard. In fact, I would bet that in every one of those black and white photos were many many layers of color.
Recession, war, loosing someone you love...all colors of life. But so is love, joy, peace, hope, family and friends. God has painted one awesome masterpiece for us called "life" and I hope to always keep my eyes open to take it all in and never let shades of gray keep it covered. I challenge you to do the same.
Watch and listen to this song"In Color"....
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UBk07l2aKrE

My Son's Seabrook Project

Come Spring, you can "CLEAN & GO GREEN".......................................................We are one of several groups of local high school students who are taking part in the Seabrook Project. The Seabrook Project is an opportunity given to high school students in Anderson, South Carolina, by the Anderson United Way, to raise money for local charities. We chose Upstate Forever, a green organization, because we believe that the next stage of the "Evolution" of our society, the next major decisions we have to make, will be environmental ones. And we believe that the people who will be making those decisions are the youth of the world today. And in a recent culture where "green" is quickly becoming a cliche, the teenage group seems to have been passed over entirely from involvement in these issues. And that seems to be paradoxical because it is our age group who will truly be inheriting the effects. Another danger of the "green"cliche is that it could easily become an over looked fad when true danger exists. (As you will find on our "The Facts" page) This is not something to be taken lightly, and it is something that should involve everyone.

UPSTATE FOREVER: Upstate Forever is a local organization affecting Anderson, Greenville, Laurens, Oconee, Cherokee and many other counties of the Upstate. They have Land Trust programs, they promote sustainable communities, clean air and water, and much more. As you can read on their website: www.upstateforever.orgEVENTS: "Spring Clean and Go Green" is the major fundraising event we are planning for Upstate Forever. All you have to do is drop off your donated items anytime between now and March 20th and on March 21st, we'll have a giant community garage sale. The event location will be The Anderson County Farmer's Market Pavilion located in Downtown Anderson.
We appreciate your donations.
(Note: In-Kind Donation Letters are available from the United Way of Anderson).
To learn more about us, please visit: evolvegreen.org