Happy Birthday to the son....hard believing he will be 20 years old this month. 

I love you son and I am proud of you. 

Livestrong Day 2013

This year for Livestrong Day here in the Upstate of SC, we are asking that you reach out to someone you know that's in the fight. Brighten their day in someway, somehow.

Oh, and be sure to wear your brightest yellow.

Unite and reach out!

We love you, Boston!

My son was featured on the Savannah News concerning a film contest he is now competing in at SCAD. Winner will have a great opportunity...one being a trip to the Canne Film Festival in France. 

We are so proud of him.... he has worked hard.


http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=ef4e993b-23e5-41e9-9425-e65926e6df9f

Watch "The Bible" Mini Series, History Channel (Sunday nights w/finale Easter Sunday)

http://www.history.com/shows/the-bible/videos

C4YW "Conference For Young Women" affected by breast cancer.  If you were diagnosed between the ages of 19-45, these are your 'sistahs'...

This year's conference was held in Seattle, WA.

C4YW will return to Orlando in Feb 2014..

Hope to see you there..

Click the link below to see what 650 young women breast cancer survivors/caregivers/supporters look like that met up in Seattle, WA for this year's conference.....

http://vine.co/v/bgbqtO2EUXX

                                                                        This month, Millie Jean Suttles turned ONE.
      She was adopted on NewYear's Eve (Belated celebration) and she is the best friend a girl could ever have. 

                                    MERRY CHRISTMAS & HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2012: 
Two metastatic breast cancer tumors removed from my head...hospitalized eight (plus) times....home water pipes burst, flooding the home in three places....car was totaled while I was in the ICU....purchased a lemon to replace the car that was totaled - dealt with that for weeks....business truck wrecked twice, including a hit & run....a family situation that was difficult for us all to say the least....mother-in-law passed. 

We will always refer to this year as the most challenging of years for our family. We were tested, tried and faced great tribulation but we can also say, God released provision and our greatest days are ahead of us. It is my prayer that 2013 will bring your family hope & healing and peace & prosperity....but most of all, 
love.

As a 'believer' and a 'friend of God,' I feel it is a responsibility to set this record straight. It's unacceptable to sit by quietly and continue to let these, well..the only word I can think of is - "FOOLISH" men speak such 

ignorance. 

Mr. Dobson,

Do you really believe the God Who knew we would all sin and fall short of His glory and yet sent Jesus anyway to die on a cross for us would pour out wrath on six year old children? We have been failing Him since day one and yet He loves us anyway and He sent His son to redeem us from an eternity without Him. We do not deserve grace but not only does He offer grace to us but He prepares every new day with new mercies for an imperfect people. I don't know the god you serve, Mr. Dobson.. I do, however know the God I serve and He, my friend..will never be the God in which you claim to speak of. It is my prayer that you have not been a stumbling block in your double minded comments. A double minded man is an unstable man. 

I would suggest before you speak - SEEK!

http://www.rightwingwatch.org/content/dobson-connecticut-shooting-was-god-allowing-judgment-fall-upon-us-turning-our-back-him

I'm home now and well. We are awaiting to hear from the discussions to be held next week where fifty plus specialist will be meeting concerning my "unusual case." 

I want to thank you all for your prayers 

"That's no mountain for a climber? I know what awaits at the peak? Jesus is waiting on me"http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWhjefc8vHg&feature=related

I told someone today that just before the two brain tumors this year, after a nine year battle with metastatic stage 4 breast cancer to the bones and five years of stage 4 Vulva cancer...that just before this last tumor would be removed and the doctors would put me under once again..asking me to count backwards...my words to my God were all I could think about...that's all that mattered to me...that's when life comes down to moments, not five years plans or months or days.

What I said to Him would mean more to me and not because I was insecure about where I would go if I were not have awoken but because I want Him to understand how much I love Him here and now in this hard place. I said to my Creator, "God, I commit my body and my soul as I have my spirit...as I have my life...You have forever kept me and if I wake to see Your face, then so be it...all I desire is to be swept away for eternity in Your glory. Just continue to hold my family and friends until one day, they meet me there."

I know I will be with my Lord and Savior one day...maybe I won't have the opportunity to grow old but my opportunity is not the lesser. I have the chance to declare His goodness and I will proclaim that for the rest of my days. That said, I still and will always continue to walk in the healing of my precious Lord as He took those stripes on His back for me, for us...for every disease that we would come to know here in this sick and fallen world. 
I know that one day, I will climb a final mountain...we all will...there is a time and a season for us all...but when I reach the top, that peak, He will be there waiting on me. He is my source and my strength and He will not fail me. 

I wanted out of the house today for a while so my mom took me up town where I ran into a church family member. So many memories raced through my mind of teaching children's church and volunteering in Bible school with her so many years ago. My spirit leaped and it was if I was quickly reminded of how deep my walk had grown through the trials and tribulations that has tested my life and my service. See, it's easy to get caught up in all the "churchy" stuff we do and teach our kids but please understand that in this life, there will be great troubles, 'big mountains'...it's at that time, you will have to decide - will you trust Him? Will you roll over in fear as the enemy would hope or expect you to or would you pick up the sword of faith and swing? 
Understand that faith is built daily through His Word, through relationship with Him...the miracle of the Bible...which holds the truths for how we are to govern our lives and in turn what we can expect from Him and we can be sure of this one thing...that He is faithful, the One Who promised. But I want you to understand that there is nothing difficult about a relationship with the Father. God only wants you...all of you. He loves you and there will always be a peace you will find in Him that will surpass all the challenges of this life. I would suggest to you to hold to Him...there is no greater love...not just for your sake of survival but for Him. He paid the price of a son in exchange for you to freely live and freely receive. And He loved you this way before the day you were born into this world. 

He has loved me through it all and I will forever worship Him. What He has promised is a 'closedbook' and cannot and will not ever be undone. No man can add or take away from what He has faithfully promised us. Allow His promises to sweep over you and overtake you with blessings you could never contain on your own. There is nothing greater than the peace of God...over these years, I have learned more about my God and in it all, my life has become completely His...less of me and more of Him. 
He is the giver of life and I want Him to have my life back to do with it as He wills, I want to serve as His vessel, proclaiming His goodness until everyone I can reach even if it only be one, would ask Him to come into their heart and show them this peace, this love, this hope. 

I'm still here and I still have a work to do but it's only by His grace and His mercy that is sufficient and never-ending. 
Friends, There will come a day....will you climb trusting in the One who awaits at the top, the One who watches you to assure your every need? Do you know the One who awaits you faithfully? His name is Jesus. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise - He loves you no matter where you have been or what you have done. He knows you. He loves you. 

I love you, my friends.
Thank you for all you have done for me....I know that every single one of you were placed in my life for a reason by my God. I know you lift me up in prayer and there is no greater love than the love of a neighbor, a friend.
I pray for you, you pray for me and we all win.
God Bless You,

 Cup of Tea?

 Happy Livestrong Day

(I was at Whole Foods a while back when I ran into George Hincapie at the salad bar with his child. He's a regular guy and Lance is a regular guy - 'Human.' Everyone makes mistakes.. we all have at some point or another in our lives. I think we all agree as 'Livestrongers,' it's our turn to offer encouragement and hope. I am grateful to be a part of this yellow family that began through the passion

 of Lance Armstrong. Thank God for him and what he has done for us as cancer fighters. I don't know details and don't have to know.. I do know that LAF and the opportunities they have given me as a two time survivor of two different stage 4 cancers over the years to serve has empowered me and offered me solid ground in which to take a stand. This yellow family has only just begun. No, it's not about the bike but it is about a man on a bike who looked on 28 million people with compassion
and done something about it. Thank You, Lance and LAF.)

Visit 'The Grill Man' for the best meal of your life during the month of October. The Grill Man will be supporting 'Upstate for Livestrong' (Upstate's local group that supports/benefits The Lance Armstrong Foundation) and helping us raise awareness and funds. Livestrong Day being Tuesday, October 2nd, please remember to wear yellow ...also, visit me here on Facebook to place your bid for the limited Livestrong dishes by Chantal (8 place settings with tea set). At 'The Grill Man,' We will be raffling a yellow 10' Kayak (Old Town with flex seat and dry storage) - paddle and universal vest included (valued right around $475)...raffle tickets for the boat will be sold for $10 each. You will be able to purchase tee shirts for $7 each and wristbands for $1 or more "In-Care Donations," as well. Please remember to pick up our brochures or visit www.Livestrong.org to find out more about The Lance Armstrong Foundation. Thank you for joining us to raise awareness and funds for Livestrong Day 2012. This year we will use the funds raised to purchase toys for local children battling cancer and gift cards for the parents of those children. We thank you ahead of time as we know you will support our efforts as you always have.

'The Grill Man' address, phone and hours of operation:

1500 Providence Church Road, Anderson, SC 29626

Phone: (864) 222-2022

Hours: 

Mon-Thu Closed

Fri 5–9pm

Sat-Sun 12–9pm

The bid is now at $350 for the limited Livestrong Dish eight piece place setting and tea set by Chantal. We would like to inform those who are bidding on these dishes that we are asking the winner of this auction to agree to cover shipping as we hope to keep all funds raised for the beneficiaries. 

Thank you

https://www.standup2cancer.org/



I will never live life like I was dying.

Don't misunderstand me, I do understand the artist intent within the song but what I want is to live every day, every hour...moment by moment as if it were

the first breath I had ever taken, the first time I had opened my eyes to the beauty of this incredible creation called life. I understand why we make those bucket list but I prefer life list. My vision, my focus is living...breathing, until one day, it runs out and new breath fills my lungs -celestial air and it fills my soul to capacity and I see the face of my sweet Jesus standing before me and He takes me into this place where cancer does not exist. There is place, a time ...where we will no more worry about cancer, about sickness and disease, death. I pray you will allow the stories of this night and the hearts and spirits of these courageous people who I understand the hurts and pains so intimately with to move you into compassion and stir your hearts for the hurting. The suffering pulls you so far away to a place that dreams of sky diving and Rocky Mountain Climbing seems so great at this moment..but when asked how many more moments would we want, would we ask for if given the chance...is there indeed an answer to such a question?...when just to step from the bed to the bathroom is the conquering quest of the day. I know how that feels. i know the anticipation of another day full of new mercy but another day of pain so great that you long to die. But I also know the greatest Hope that ever walked the face of this earth and He makes my path straight. He brings joy that no check on a bucket list could ever offer me. My bucket list, my life list ..is to share Him with you..all the days of my life until they are fulfilled. I love you, my friends and I want to share the greatest joy I know..the only peace that is real, my life list - My God.

Please support Stand Up 2 Cancer....Shop, Give...Stand Up!

Stand Up, Upstate!

Woke up in the middle of the night in pain and doubled over from yesterday's chemo. I was told by the nurse yesterday that I only have one chemo left scheduled. 
Soon I will awaken from this midnight hour as morning is drawing near. My Lord has carried me once again through the valley of the shadow of death. 
Truth is, this has been one of the most difficult couple of years of any of the past years while in this dry and barren land. The enemy set his intentions on destroying my family in every way he thought he could and he doesn't fight fair.. he offers no mercy and incapable of compassion..he's callous and he desires only to destroy and devour the very soul of a man. 
Through it all, my God has been faithful..faithful and true. He reminded me over and over again that no one nor no thing in this world could ever pluck my family from His hand. We are free. Truth for us all is none of us are immune from the hurts of this life. Everyone has their 'cancers' and everyone has a devil to fight. We are all on the enemy's annihilation agenda. Seek the King and allow Him to serve you His living water and you will never thirst again..even in the driest of desert places. 
I haven't blogged or worked on my book for months as the distractions of my family's lives has consumed my every thought..however, over the past months during trials and tribulations as friends and my church family locked arms with me to charge the enemy's camp, I came to realize once again that the windows of Heaven had remained open through it all and all the time, in all of it, God had never moved. His eyes were on us and His arms were surrounding us. It was my focus that shifted to these things that are so temporal.. when my eyes should have remained on those eternal things. But in the presence of the King, my eyes were lifted back towards His amazing grace. I know in whom I have believed and He is the One who fights our battles for us. My life belongs to Him therefore, no man, no disease, no tribulation will ever take me or my family from the embrace of His almighty arms. I am in awe of Him and I have been showered with His favor and consumed by His love. He has kept my family, kept His promises and opened doors to my family that no man can shut and closed doors that no man could ever open. In His presence, there is fullness of joy..there is peace that surpasses all understanding. Lean on Him. The veil was torn and we can come to Him just as we are.. broken and battered. He never expects perfection..that's man's expectations. This is where I choose to live and will for the remainder of my days, which will be long and in divine health as He promised..nestled in His wings. 
Let's be honest..life is never easy and there are times..more so than not..that we don't know how we will find the strength to rise come morning to face yet another day. The only way I have been able to endure all of my adult life has been 'in the presence of The King.'

Remembering My 'Friend Dad'

I'll never forget watching my college best friend's dad teaching his daughter to change the oil in her car. I remember hearing him explain to her how he always wanted her to be independent and self-sufficient, confident. He understood the importance of a young girl's confidence in herself, her self-esteem.. and it was certain that he would instill that in his daughters. He was just one of "those dads." He knew when to listen and how to listen and the importance of both. He paid attention to the details of his family. He encouraged the dreams and hopes of his daughters and they felt secure and assurred of his support ..and the reassurance of his love, daily. I know for me, he has always been and will forever be "that dad." I was just the college buddy barging in on the family on weekends at meal time mostly but he always made me feel like one of his own.

Thank You, Lord
Thank you for the Godly impact this man, this father had on so many. He was a vessel, an example for that most valued roll as 'Father.' You blessed so many of us by the walk of this man. The footprints he has left behind will continue to bless those who knew him. Most would not think that a simple task such as changing the oil in a car would have such a meaninginful impact but I've never forgotten that day as I watched on as my friend's dad would take the time to teach her such a thing. It was way more than learning how to change the oil in a car, it was a father expressing to his daughter that how she thought about herself was of the greatest importance. It was a father gifting his daughter love. He loved his family and would move mountains on their behalf no matter the cost. He didn't display his love for his family for the world to see as to bring himself recognition. No, he expressed his love quietly and gently, thus showing the world around them.

My friend, Pat has been through the same cancer (same diagnosis) I have. She has battled for years such as I have.. we seem to have lived such a parallel life in so many ways. Pat is wise, strong, compassionate, and thanks to her father, one of the most resourceful and independent women I know. She is self-confident. She owns and runs adult day cares in a beautiful community in Georgia, as well as, raising her family now..and I see that same encouragement and quiet, gentle love that was given her being past down now to her son and her daughter.
He will be missed by so many as we carry on in this land of the living but we know we'll see and be with him again one day for an eternity with our Heavenly Father. I just wonder what Bill Powell will be waiting to teach us when we get there. 

I love you, Pat.

I want to sit at Your feet...drink from the cup in your hand...lay back against you and breathe...feel your heartbeat...this love is so deep...it's more than I can stand...I melt in Your peace...it's overwhelming.
(written by Zach Neese) 
(Book: "How To Worship A King")




The heart of a worshipper!


Lord, that we would give You all...
Lord, that we could surrender everything...
Lord, that we would know You like this...
Lord, that You would offer Yourself to us like this...
Thank You, Jesus
We love You, Jesus.
-Angie

John 15:13 "Greater love has no one than this, that someone lay down his life for his friends."