It’s been a while since I’ve had a chance to post, merely because I, like everyone else in this world, have barely had a moment to myself to sit and write.  Who knows if I’ll finish this in one sitting?

However, I did want to take a sec during this week of Thanksgiving to just say how truly OBSESSIVELY GRATEFUL I am right now.   And sure, this isn’t exactly my favorite turn of events for my Thanksgiving week, as it is the week of my 4th round of chemo (meaning that I’m just hitting the nausea and over all “yucks”) and probably won’t be joining my family for Thanksgiving feasting this week. Yet, even in the midst of all of the storms stirring around us, I can’t deny how good and how present God not only in His very own spirit, but through the hands and feet of so many around us.

Because (forgive me if this next meme offends ya, but just toss it off to my bizarre humor),  normally in my life, I forget to lean on others and truly trust on God.  Instead, I impulsively attempt to take matters in my own hands like a lil’ control freak without even realizing it! All the time, I think I’m being so helpful when really I’m scary as hell, kinda like this. Haha!

(cue my girl, Madea)

Since that obviously wouldn’t work out too well, Jesus ever so kindly surrounds me with a whole village to keep my crazy self in check.  ‘Cuz clearly the Big Guy upstairs is never too busy. No matter how big or how small our needs.  For real though!

I just couldn’t pass that one up. As Uncle Jesse on Full House would say, “Have mercy!”

BAHAHAHAHA!

Anywho…if no one has gone off and called the cops and is still reading, I’ll continue.

All in good fun, my friends. If ya can’t laugh, whatcha gonna do?

The reality of my gratitude, and my Madea humor stems from a place much more like this:

Shouldn’t that alone be enough? I’m not just talking about myself, but for all of us.

Each morning, I pray with my kids,

“Thank you, Lord, for waking us up  again today.

Thank you for another beautiful day to be together again.

May we be a light of Christ to all we meet.

And may we see that light of Christ in all we meet,

Especially in our own family, in one another.

Amen.”

No matter what’s going on in our lives; no matter how overwhelmed we can be with our own crud; what’s going on in the world around us; or what can start to weigh us down when we start reciting all of the many, many prayer intentions that we hold in our hearts for so many people… we have to LET GO AND LET GOD.  Letting go of each of our intentions and giving it to HIM, allows Him to do what He can with it.  He can’t if we’re still holding on.  Besides, it only keeps us focused on what’s wrong.

Rather than let our intentions  bog us down, we need to let it all lift us up so that we can be that light in the world.   Starting each day with a prayer of thanksgiving and looking through a lens of gratitude of what’s right in our lives helps our family remember that there truly is ALWAYS something to be thankful for and sets us on course to be lights in the world!  At least, we try. (Haha!  That is, before I have to tell someone to stop pinching someone during prayer time.  I mean, we do have 5 young kiddos, ya know.)

My Gratitude List:

-My family (of course!!! They keep me going every day!)

-my AMAZING friends (I love you all!)

-This community who continues to pray for us, FEED us, keep us stocked with donations or gift cards for food and fun, and always let’s us know we ARE NOT ALONE!!! We could never properly thank this community enough.  So we promise instead to pray for you all in return and pay it forward always.

-The many other warriors I continue to meet at the MARY BIRD PERKINS CANCER CENTER, or through my blog, Facebook, etc.  that are such inspiration to me!

-My You Night Sisters and family who are such tremendous support

-Families out there facing such varieties of challenges of all sorts that we pray can share the graces and blessings that we receive in prayer, so that we can all be united in our common thread for HOPE!!

-My DOCTORS, NURSES, MEDICAL TEAM who continue to take stellar care of me and I know will stick with me to kick this thing!  Y’all are amazing!

– The BUNA’s HOPE/TEAM BUNA crew who’ve come together to pack 100+ boxes (all on donations of supplies and service), delivered over 50 boxes to various missions so far, over 35 boxes to individual families in need, and they just keep going.  We are blessing families in need all over, and the reward that this community who are all involved in the process (kids and adults alike) is even greater!  SEE TEAM BUNA FB PAGE FOR  PICS

…………………

I’M GRATEFUL BECAUSE EVEN IN OUR WEAKNESSES, WE ARE ALL STRONG TOGETHER.  WE ARE STILL:

–FIGHTING TOGETHER FOR POSITIVE CHANGES, NOT ONLY  IN OUR BODIES, BUT IN OUR FAMILIES,  & FOR EACH OTHER

-REACHING OUT TO ONE ANOTHER TO SHARE HOPE, LOVE, LAUGHTER, AND FAITH

-IN OUR OWN BROKENNESS, WE ARE FINDING HEALING IN WORKING AND PRAYING TOGETHER.

-WE’RE MAKING WHAT WOULD SEEM IMPOSSIBLE… POSSIBLE!!!

I’m FOREVER GRATEFUL to all of you for being on this journey with me… AGAIN,  and for sticking with me.  It’s been one long and crazy roller coaster ride, and it just keeps going.

But, we’re making every moment count, and I promise, I’ll make sure you’ll appreciate every moment with us.  Not because I’ve got this, but because…

#GodsGotThis

#EveryLittleThingIsGonnaBeAlright

HAVE A VERY HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!