For all things . . .

"speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father." Ephesians 5:19-20

sunday, almost a week after my surgery. i cannot stop thinking of how thankful i am for what has been given to me. . . my thoughts are not fluid but i am able to list a few of my favorite things to be thankful for this week. some may make sense, others may not. i pray that in all things, regardless of circumstances, i am able to give thanks!

no one tells you what wonderful "things" a cancer diagnosis can bring into your life. i have never felt closer to my Lord, my family and friends. i wish we could all experience what i am experiencing on a day to day basis with or without a diagnosis. i do know that one day, we will truly live like we were meant to live, until that day, let us press on . . .

i am thankful for:
my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ who promised that He would never leave me or forsake me-and He hasn't, a husband who sees me as beautiful, sons who are walking with me as they never have, longer hugs, tender kisses, lots of i love yous, a precious daughter in law who is "real" with me, the most beautiful granddaugther who makes me "forget" my circumstances with a little kiss, having a mom who is my "armor bearer", number one fan, protector as well as calf massager, having a brother who speaks and shares God's truth with me when he knows my heart can deceive me, having Cami who looks me straight in the eye and tells me to hide nothing from her even though i know it may cause her pain, having a brother who affirms to me that i am one of the most feminine women he knows, having grown up nephews who can say "i love you auntie," peace, a pink ribbon bracelet, having a "personal candy striper" who delivers onion rings and fries to my health conscious family during my surgery, love, joy, a "comfort box" made by the most awesome little friend, friends who are weeping with us, friends who want to rejoice with us, psalms that are read to me by my man, email prayers, text prayers, in person prayers, pizza party prayer meetings, prayers that continue to sustain me, blog responses, watching Godly men and family encourage Bruce, compassionate doctors and nurses, candace's homemade apple pie, mastectomies that rid my body of cancer, nuclear medicine, cards, letters, notes, flowers, pain killers, meals, desserts, golden spoons, friends who stick closer than a brother, hearing caleb play guitar, laughter, renewing times of worship, being stripped of modesty and vanity, new mercies each day, biopsies-18 out of 20 lymph nodes CANCER FREE-Hallelujah, watching friends return to Jesus and praying, cards like justin's that remind me that there is a precious, tender young man behind the tough 16 year old exterior (you know i love you) new friends, reconnecting with old friends, that being a daughter of the King is what defines me-not the external, God's promises, His presence, being barefoot-and loving it, dying to self with all "my" brilliant plans and agendas, that i can trust my Savior when i say "take my life and do with it as you please."

from a favorite hymn, "oh praise the One who paid my debt and raised this life up from the dead-Jesus!"