One Year ago today

One year ago today I posted this: Sommer has been keeping us all in suspense but Christmas morning she announced her decision after she graduates in June she has decided to go into the AIM program. She does not make this decision lightly she has been thinking and praying about this for over a year and has decided that this is what she wants to do and believes that this is how she can best serve God right after high school. Arnold and I are very excited about her decision we know she will have such a memorable two years. We will miss her so much but we know that God will guide her and take care of her through the AIM staff. Thank all of you who have encouraged her and inspired her to do this.

When we left Sommer in Texas back in August I thought I would die from a broken heart. I missed her so much. It was a very difficult time for me. Josh had moved out, my mom was going through chemotherapy, and I was getting ready for the biggest surgery that I have ever had both physically and emotionally. It would have been so easy to say "no I don't want you to go, just stay here". I knew that God was calling her and I would not stand in her way. When Sommer told us last year, on Christmas morning that she had decided to go to Texas to the AIM program, Arnold and I were so excited. But Satan got busy real quick trying to discourage and distract her. Family and friends not wanting her to go, my mom getting sick, then with myself finding out that I was going to need to have a mastectomy. I remember when I told her I was going to have the surgery I told her don't even think about staying home you made your decision and you are going. That may be one of the hardest things I have ever had to do because it would have been so easy to tell her just stay I need you! But it has been such a growing time for her and for me.

I am sure that she can tell you it has not been easy. It has been a growing, molding time the last few months and there has been times when she wanted to come home. Times when she felt she could not do this anymore. Times when she wanted to be here for us and felt so confused.

I see the girl that came home for Christmas and she is motivated, she is excited to be doing work for the Lord. She tells me things she is learning in her classes and I hear stories about the other young kids leaving their families just as she has. One of the toughest things for these young people is when they put together the mission teams. Sommer had her top picks and top people but was committed to praying about where God wants to use her and who he wants her to go with. Before she left for Christmas break she found out that she is going to Scotland with three other girls, Ashley, Cassey and Jessica. Please keep these girls in your constant prayers. When they go back to Texas on January 11TH they will be moving into an apartment together and starting what is their "mission term" part of that is to get them ready for the field. They will not be using technology like cell phones, computers, or any of their electronic devices and will be walking or riding the bus and no fast food (I kinda like that idea). They will be in Texas until April 15Th then will go home to try to raise support for their field time and leave for the field sometime in June.

Fresno State student needs donor

Kavon Mamon, 23 yr old Fresno State student needs help

This young man, Kavon is a very good friend of my niece, Jessica. If you or anyone you know can help please tell them about the blood drive today at the Save Mart Center.





By Margot Kim

Fresno, CA, USA (KFSN) -- A Fresno State student is hoping someone in the Valley holds the key to his future.

He needs a donor who's willing to go "down to the bone" to save his life.

A hospital bed has been Kavon Momen's home away from home for the past two weeks. The Fresno State student is recovering from the latest setback in his fight against aplastic anemia.

It's a rare condition in which the bone marrow stops producing new blood cells, including platelets and white blood cells needed to fight infection.

He started noticing something was wrong, two months ago, just before his 23rd birthday. Kavon's doctor, Fresno hematologist and oncologist, Dr.Ravi Rao said Kavon may never know.

Dr. Rao said in some patients, aplastic anemia could result from exposure to a virus or toxin, but he's concentrating on finding a cure for Kavon instead of a cause.

Kavon gets regular blood transfusions because his body isn't producing blood cells, but he needs a bone marrow transplant his rich ethnic heritage makes it more challenging to find a match.

Family members are the best chance to find a match, but so far, none of Kavon's loved ones are a match. This predicament is leaving him to find a bone marrow donor somewhere in the world, but they are starting with his own community.

A week ago the Islamic Cultural Center of Fresno hosted a blood drive and bone marrow donor registry sign-up to help Kavon. People of Iranian and Hispanic heritage were encouraged to donate but anyone in the community was invited to give life-saving blood to help Kavon or someone else.

Monday at the Save Mart Center in North Fresno, a community-wide blood drive and bone marrow registry event will be held to help Kavon and many others. The gift of life from family, friends and total strangers gives Kavon hope for Monday.

Bring The Rain by MercyMe

Wednesday was my surgery for the implant reconstruction. It was such a long day, once we got to the surgery center we found out there was a problem with the insurance coverage and our out of pocket was going to be $600 more than it should have been, because of a mistake that someone made and everyone was blaming someone else. I was very irritated. Not good right before surgery. Arnold was trying to help me relax by telling me in the end it doesn't matter. True, he is much better at dealing with these situations than I am.

Then they called me back to get me ready for surgery. Because I have had so much chemotherapy and because I have had lymph nodes removed on both sides, there are limits on where they can put the IV and they can't put it on the left side at all. Usually the anesthesiologist ends up getting it in the end. I still don't understand why I just can't have him do it to begin with, does every nurse have to try to poke me first before they understand that it's too difficult for them. I lost count of how many times I was poked but they were calling me a pincushion by the time I was being rolled back to surgery. I remember as I was being poked for I guess the 5Th time. I looked over at Arnold with tears in my eyes because I was so frustrated. Then finally the anesthesiologist came in and guess what he got it in! Why did they not send him in 1 1/2 hrs ago is beyond me.

O.K. I am supposed to learn something from everything that happens so I'm thinking what am I supposed to learn from this? What came to me was how Arnold looked when he saw what I was going through. He was in pain for me. At one point one of the nurses said WOW you have been through so much how do you deal with it? I said, as I was looking at Arnold, "he's my rock" and he said "but this rock crumbles sometimes". I am going to be honest I had a bad attitude Wednesday. I think that God allows things to happen in my life so that I will be grateful and thankful. God has truly blessed me with an amazing husband. I don't think anyone truly understands how difficult this is for him. When I looked over at him with tears in my eyes, I saw the pain and the fear in his eyes. He has watched me go through so much. The last few months he has been taking care of me, the office, the house, and dealing with the kids being gone, with me being down. I know that this is stressful for him. I love this man so much. Last night I couldn't sleep because, (don't tell him I told you) he was snoring so loud. I was getting frustrated and then I thought what if he wasn't here? or I wasn't here to hear it, and then it was the most beautiful sound to me. But it still kept waking me up so I asked him this morning for earplugs for Christmas!

I thank God today for blessing me with someone that makes me a better wife, mother, daughter, friend and most of all a better Christian woman. Arnold truly is my best friend in this world.

Josh & Sommer find your wings

Sommer while you were home for Thanksgiving a friend of mine asked me how things were going. I said that it was good to have you home just different. She asked me what I meant. "She's different", I said. "She's not a little girl anymore and I know that is how it's supposed to be, it's just that I miss the little girl". She said "my mom used to tell me give them roots then give them room to fly". The next day was Thanksgiving. I was in the kitchen baking listening to Christian radio station when this song came on. The tears just came and dad asked me what was wrong. I told him to listen to this song and told him what my friend said. I was crying because this is exactly what I wanted to say to you and Josh, my young adult children. Here is the song-Find your Wings

One of the toughest stages is being the mother to young adult children. It also is so rewarding. I am so happy Josh that you finished the income tax course and will be getting your certification. Dad and I are so very proud of you and excited that you are back in school at Fresno City and working with dad and myself.

There you go again Sommer! Back to Lubbock, Texas. You are off to learn more about the bible, to learn more about life to be the change you want the world to see. I was emotional as I watched you walk away, thinking of the faith that you have and how you are allowing God to mold you. You are a beautiful example, not only to others around you but to me. I know that you will look back on your life with no regrets because you are not perfect but you are striving for what it is that God wants in your life. So I have tears in my eyes as you take off but I am cheering you on.

I am here for you both as you find your wings. I pray that the love that Dad and I have for you has given you the roots you need to find your wings. That your faith gives you courage to not only dream but to do great things. As I have told you both so many times. Your walk with God is the most important thing to me. I love you more than words can say.

So very Thankful

Yesterday, Thanksgiving was a very special one. My mom had a chemotherapy treatment on Wednesday but still insisted on having dinner at her house. This has been such a tough year for my mom and dad. It was so special to see mom and dad smiling and having a good time yesterday.

When mom found out in January that her breast cancer had returned in her lung it was very tough. Finding out that you have to have chemotherapy after going through it before is so very hard because you have experienced it before and you know what's coming. I cried so hard the day that I found out. Sometimes I have a much harder time dealing with her being sick than myself. The original prognosis did not sound too bad. They would start chemotherapy to shrink the tumor, then some high dose radiation then send her to a surgeon to operate. She had the chemo, the radiation than went to the surgeon only to discover that the tumor was in a spot that was way too dangerous to operate. The surgeon said that he would not do it and that he doubted she would find a surgeon that would. In hearing that she was convinced that surgery was not an option. Back to chemotherapy until it is dissolved. In February they will test to see if the tumor has shrunk or best case scenario dissolved.

Please pray for my mother and for my dad. This has been especially hard on my dad, sometimes we forget cancer does not just effect the patient but the whole family.My sweet little niece, Hanna, made us all smile!

Sometimes I forget

Sometimes I forget how fortunate I am. Really it's not that I don't remember it's I need to be reminded. The last few months have been some of the most difficult times in my life and at the same time I have seen so much answered prayers. I saw answered prayers in Sommer, when I saw this young girl I left in Texas in August on Friday night (I think it ended up actually being Saturday morning after all the flight delays.) and all I could do is just look at her and think God is so good look at what he is doing in you! I can't even type this right now without tears in my eyes. To hear her say do you know? and she was talking about scripture or I didn't think I would make it through this! but I was praying.

This past year was such a tough one for us and Josh. I thought I would die at times from a broken heart. What I was able to do still amazes me. I prayed to see the situation and those involved as Jesus would. Today we have an awesome relationship. He is not where I would like him to be in his walk with the Lord but Josh is trying to find his place in the world and that involves finding his own faith. I will continue to pray for him everyday. I know that he has a soft heart so that he will find his way back.

Looking forward

I was reading Jim's blog this morning and was bummed that he would not be preaching this Sunday at WWP. Then I read on and saw that Stan Williams will be here and be preaching. I am so excited, I can't wait to see Stan, I missed the Workshop this year and missed seeing Stan. Stan baptized Arnold and myself back in 2000. I absolutely can't wait for this weekend. We will pickup Sommer Friday night in L.A. spend the day on Saturday hanging out at the Santa Monica Pier, taking in the sunshine and shopping. Then on Sunday we will be at Woodward Park where Sommer is so excited to see everyone.

Thank God a new week!

Last week was a tough week. That is why I did not blog. I was praying and I was in the word. I am not even sure where to begin. Well I guess that Arnold put it so clear today when he said "so much has happened this year, sometimes it is a blur". Just when you think there is no more tears, here they come. O.K. I will be honest because you know that is all I can do because God already knows. I had myself a pity party this past week. I was frustrated with everything. Times like these I really have to give it to Arnold because he does not say too much about this crazy woman that he is living with, and if that's not bad enough he has to work with her too. I really was tired of it all. I was trying to get back to normal I just wanted things to be normal, whatever that is!

I was missing this body part that cancer stole from me. I was missing my energy. I was feeling sorry for myself because this is not how it was supposed to be. I was so happy when I woke up today and my first thought was thank God it's Sunday. A new week, a new start. So I made a choice that I would pick myself up and stop feeling sorry for myself and I would focus on bringing glory to God through it all. You see that is what happened this past week I lost my focus and started listening to the wrong voice. I was tired and stressed and started listening to the enemy. I lost focus of my purpose in this world. I started focusing on all the problems instead of all my blessings. I am such a blessed person and God has brought me to this time and place in my life for a reason.One of my biggest blessings in life will fly in to L.A. on Friday night! God has taught me some valuable lessons through this young woman. Please continue to pray for her as she continues to stretch herself. It would have been so easy for her to stay home with all that was going on and not go to AIM but she was willing to go because she feels this is where God was calling her.

Where are we headed?

Where are we headed as a Country? I don't know, you don't know, nobody knows except for God. We can't control things but we can pray. No matter what happens it does not change the direction of my life. I am still committed to God. I know we have hope and joy as Christians even when things don't go well. As Christians we are to keep pressing on toward the goal. I have talked to people the last couple of days that are depressed because of the election. I have thought that if my life was about just here and now. I would get so depressed. Not just what is going on in the election but personally. I have had so many people ask me why do you keep on fighting most people would have given up by now. I keep fighting because I believe that God is not done with me yet, I believe that there is so much more he needs to accomplish in me and through me. When it is time he will call me home but I won't give up. We as Christians cannot give up or give in. Nothing changes because things are different in our government. God is still in control! I have hope and if you are a child of God than you have hope too. This is not our final destination. Let's live everyday as if it were our last. Our goal is to get to heaven and to take as many others with us as we can. Let's make sure that we don't take our eyes off of the prize!

Do you wonder what is going on inside of you?

I just wanted to share this with you today. I believe it answers some of your questions about surrender.

Becoming a Mom

Every year about this time I start get very sentimental because I am remembering the day my baby boy was born. November 1, 1986.

Saturday we celebrated Joshua's 22ND birthday. Twenty-two years ago we saw each other for the first time. I know that he can't remember but I remember like it was yesterday. My life changed that day forever. That was the day that I became a mother. That is when I looked at this helpless little baby and I knew that Arnold and I were responsible for someone besides ourselves. It was so scary and so exciting at the same time. I was only twenty and Arnold was twenty-five and I look at Josh as he turns 22 and realize how young we were. I see him starting out in his adult life. I can't help but be thankful. When Josh was five, in kindergarten I had my first diagnosis with cancer and I honestly didn't think I would be around for his adult years. I am so thankful. I am and proud of the young man that he is.

One of the hardest things as a parent is to see your child make decisions that you know are not in their best interest. I have had to watch Josh make some decisions this last year that broke my heart. I had a harder time with them than with anything else that I have gone through this past year. I have learned so much. One thing that I have learned is that he needs to make his own decisions and that he is still my child and I don't love him any less. Isn't that how God is with us? Sometimes I make decisions that are outside of his will for my life but he doesn't love me any less. As we celebrated his birthday on Saturday with his friends, as I sat talking to one of them about life and the topic came up about if there is a God and he told me that he does not believe in God. We talked for a while, he told me he feels like he is a good person and that is all that he needs but he was listening when I told him about faith and just to start reading the Gospels. We we were finished talking he said well maybe there is a God.

I thought about this later on and realized how important it is to be around people that don't know God, people that don't even know or believe that he exists. I pray for this young man that his heart will be open to God and that he will keep searching. I pray for Josh everyday he has such a big heart and when he commits himself to something he gives it his all. I believe that he is searching for his place in life and he will discover how important his relationship with the Lord is but I have to keep praying for him and let him find his own faith. As a parent that loves her child so very much it is one of the hardest things to do. I trust God and I know that he will give me the strength and his wisdom each day how to handle this journey.

Letting them grow up

It is so hard to let them go! I guess I never really thought much about how it would be with both of the kids out of the house and not knowing what they are doing every minute. I never thought that they would both be out on their own in the same year. Having 3 1/2 years between them you just figure it will come someday but don't think it will be at the same time. Yes I know the plan is that Sommer will be back after she is finished with AIM.

One thing I have learned is that Arnold and I have done our best. That they are a gift. Now it is time for them to figure out their place in the world. We still continue to pray for our children everyday and the most important thing to us both is their souls. That is why I am having a very difficult time. I said when Sommer decided to go to AIM that if that is what God was calling her to do then I could not stand in her way. As a lot of you know Satan tried his hardest to keep her from going but failed. Now it is close to the time for her to choose her mission field. We know that she has a heart for inner city mission work and have known those fields would be on the top of her list. She shared that Utah, Miami, Grass Valley, Mexico were all up there on top of her list. Then yesterday she informed us that she wants to go to South Africa, No absolutely not! was my first reaction. Then this young woman says "just pray about it Mom, I believe this is where my heart is." Wow did I forget that I said I would not stand in the way? I have really been praying about this. Today was the presentation and she is even more excited about it than before. Do I have enough faith to let her go where ever God leads her? I pray that I do. As a mom I don't want her to go. But as a child of God, I know I have to. I trust him and I know that this will change her adult life. I will allow my children to figure it out for themselves with guidance of course but it is not always easy. I don't always have the best attitude about it. I am thanking God for her heart, that she wants to go into all the world. God protect them where ever they are and whatever they are doing.

I think this was the best Race for the Cure yet!

I had such an awesome weekend. It started when I went to the doctor on Friday and together we decided that I was finished with the injections and was ready to move forward with the surgery for the implants. When we walked out that door Arnold and I just looked at each other and smiled because we both knew, it was answered prayer. We were both dreading Friday because we thought that I would have the injection and then not be feeling well for the Race on Saturday. I really felt like I could run the race right then, but Arnold was not too excited about me doing that. Then on Friday night we finally had the chance to go out and see the movie "Fireproof" which is an excellent movie.

On Saturday, I was so excited to be able to be going out to the Race. Not just because I was feeling well and was able. I was excited that my sister, Sheilia would be out there for the first time and my niece, Heather and my sister's two step-daughter's, Melissa and Jessica who lost their mother to breast cancer when they were only three and four. I was excited that I had the largest team I have ever had and a lot of them had not participated in an event like this before. It was impossible for us to get everyone together for a team photo and I was a little bit disappointed about that but I think I still got photos of most everyone (see the slide show). My sister-in-law, Anna did a great job capturing it all! I so appreciated everyone that came out even if I didn't get to spend a lot of time with you just the fact that you were there meant a lot to me.

Then yesterday was Lord's day and I was blessed to hear a great sermon on marriage. Jim gave us homework (which Arnold and I completed). I was able to stay for class for the first time since the surgery. Then we were able to have lunch with two very special people who have been struggling in their marriage for a while. I was able to share what Arnold and I have gone through recently with them as well as some women on Saturday. In March Arnold and I will celebrate our twenty-third wedding anniversary. One thing we have learned is leave whatever has happened in the past and move on. We are so thankful for the time we get to spend together and if you were in our shoes would you treat each other any different?

Then as we were driving home Sommer called. That is the only thing that was missing Saturday. I was so blessed when two of her old high school buddies came up to me and said that they wanted to be part of the race and could they join our team and walk with us. Sommer is right where she needs to be. I must admit I would love to have done what she is doing. She has been in nine states in the last ten days learning more about the bible, fellowship with other Christians and reaching out to the communities they visit. She was excited to see Andrew Gearhart in Alabama and Chris Perry in Dallas. She was not too excited that the bus broke down and they were stranded in Dallas. Looks like classes were cancelled today, so she will be able to get some sleep before the new semester starts tomorrow. I was exhausted when I got home yesterday and feel pretty tired still but am thankful for such a great weekend.

One woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every three minutes, and one woman will die of breast cancer every 13 minutes in the United States

One woman is diagnosed with breast cancer every three minutes, and one woman will die of breast cancer every 13 minutes in the United States..it could be you..your wife, your daughter, your mother. One more woman is too many!

This is going to be my 8th time participating in the Race for the Cure. I first got involved back in 2001 when we ran at Woodward Park. I was so thrilled to be able to run a race when I had just finished chemotherapy the year before. Then the next year they moved the race to Fresno State, I think it was because it had grown so much. The year that I first got involved I thought it was nice that they called all of us survivors onto the stage and they had a song playing and we all held hands. There was such a bond, we had all experienced those ugly words "you have cancer" and lived to be here on stage as a survivor. I continued to run the race every year after that because it helped my healing to be involved in something with some sort of purpose. I am not sure when I started wanting to put together a team. The awareness has grown thanks to events like Komen. If you go out on Saturday and see the survivor ceremony you will see we don't all fit on the stage at the same time, there is a long line of us. I believe it is because we are finding the cancer earlier and we are surviving! We have so much more research that needs to be done. I believe that prevention is going to be the cure. We are going to discover where it comes from and be able to prevent it rather than having to treat with poisons.

This year when I found out that I was having surgery about a month before the race I thought I would just skip it this year. Then people were asking if I was forming a team this year and not wanting to let anyone down I said yes. Honestly, I still was thinking that I was not going to participate. Then I was looking at pictures one day of my daughter, Sommer and my nieces Heather, Sierra, Hanna and it hit me I have to do something! I don't want them to have to suffer like I have or like my mother, Joan has. I must step up and take responsibility and do my part in helping find the cure. You see I discovered that I have the breast cancer gene. Why was it me? why was I the one that they discovered it in? It has probably been passed on for generations. There has to be some responsibility for me in that. Statistics say that only 5-10% of cancers are inherited. So because they say it is such a small amount it seems the focus of breast cancer awareness is on the ones that are not inherited. I believe that we are going to discover it is much higher than 5-10%. The reason why I believe this is because most of us don't know our family histories and when we are diagnosed one of the first questions that they ask is if you have a family history. I was asked that and I said no. Because I did not know that I did until I had to look back to find out if there was a strong family history. I was so surprised that we had cancer on both sides of the family. How come I never knew this? How come no one ever talked about cancer? I don't want my life to be about cancer but I want to leave those family members that come after me my story that is why I am participating in events like the Komen Race for the Cure that is why I am sharing my very personal experiences with the world. I knew in being open about my experiences there would be emotional pain. I can tell you one thing that I have a very hard time with is the people that want to cry and tell me how unfair things are the ones that I am sure they don't do it on purpose (at least I hope not) bring you down. I absolutely love those of you that encourage me every time I see you. Those of you that are showing your support by helping raise breast cancer awareness. Please don't pity me. I am no different than I was before you knew that I survived cancer, before you knew that cancer has taken parts of my body that important to a woman. I am looking forward to when my daughter and my nieces can say "remember when there was cancer it was such a ugly disease . I am so glad it has been cured". Please join me in praying for the cure! You can still register for the Race on Saturday at Fresno State or you can just make a donation.

Read the Fresno Bee column promoting the Race for the Cure

Mary Lou Aguirre did a great job summarizing my sixteen year battle with cancer!

Interview promoting the Race for the Cure

Cancer is not who I am

I started thinking about what I want my life to be about. October is breast cancer awareness month. I have gotten into spreading the awareness this year more than any other year. I run the race for the cure to help spread the awareness to women about breast cancer, but I am running a much bigger race! I have had a lot of time lately to do some serious thinking. I do not want people to think of me now or after my life here on earth is over as a cancer survivor or as someone who had beat cancer. Yes, I am a cancer survivor and I have beat cancer and I firmly believe that when my life is over it is not going to be cancer that ends my life here on earth. You see cancer to me has been just one of the opportunities in life that some of us are presented with and we can use it to glorify God or we can let it define who we are. I choose to glorify God. I want people to remember me as someone who loved the Lord with all of her heart. Someone that had flaws but did not let that keep her from being about the Fathers business. I believe that God has given me a responsibility by having cancer and I need to remember that it is not about me. I am praying for his direction on how he wants me to use this in my life to bring glory to him.

Register for the Race for the Cure

The race is on Saturday October 25th you can still take part. I am imagining a life for my daughter, my nieces and future generations without cancer. There is still a lot of research that needs to be done to accomplish this. The best that we have until a cure is found is early detection. Will you join me in spreading the awareness. You can register or make a donation to the Komen foundation on their website. Thank you.

KOMEN RACE FOR THE CURE

What is important

I constantly hear people say and I am including myself

IF ONLY I HAD ENOUGH TIME FOR.....

As I am recovering from surgery there has been a lot of things I just can't do so those things that I was always saying that I don't have time to finish well somehow they just are not that important right now. I wonder how much time I waste on things that really don't matter? I talked to Sommer last night and she was so excited as she told me how her AIM class went onto the Tech campus to talk to college students and to plant the seed. She mentioned that she would be having a good conversation and then start talking about God and then most, not all were not interested. Do you think that people are not interested in hearing about God because they are too busy and they feel that is just one more thing they will have to fit into their schedule?

You know when you are faced with your mortality you start thinking about the things that really matter. When I became a Christian eight years ago, that is exactly what I was faced with. What is important? I didn't have extra time to go to Church on Sunday or to talk to people about Jesus my life was too busy. I had to understood that some things were more important than others. What I learned is that having a relationship with the Lord is the most important thing. You know the funny thing is once I put God first in my life things were not so out of control anymore. Yes, I still have a lot to do but those things that seem so important to get done really don't matter in the end. I need to spend more of my time reaching out to others because in the end that is what really matters.

Going Home

I have never been away from home for very long. I can only imagine what it must be like to be away from home and your loved ones. I believe, yesterday I got to experience a bit of what it feels like to go home. I had not been to worship services since the Sunday before my surgery guess that it had been about month. I was able to attend services yesterday. I knew that I missed my church family but did not realize how much until yesterday. This may sound a bit strange but I am thankful for Face book because I was able to stay in close contact with a lot of you. That helped me more than you will ever know. Just to hear your encouraging words and to know that you were all praying for me. I felt very emotional yesterday, not because of what I have gone through lately or what lies ahead. I was and have been so overwhelmed by all of the love and support. I have learned that living a God centered life is such a blessed life. I have appreciated the relationships that my family has developed in the last few years being at Woodward Park Church of Christ but one thing that I had not experienced first hand was how you were there when I needed you. From all of you that came to the hospital, your phone calls, cards, face book messages, all of the yummy food and most important all of your prayers. I honestly don't know how we made it through the difficult times without a loving church family but I do know that having gone through difficult times with a loving church family makes it so much easier to endure. I know that it's not over yet and I will have good days and bad days. I get so much comfort in knowing that I have all of you willing to help me along the way. I have learned so much in the last few months, mainly that I have so much more to learn. I have learned from you how to be a Christian friend to someone who thinks all she needed was God and her family. I think the most important thing that I have learned is how to accept help. I don't always have to be the one giving the help. Thank you for being part of my journey. I love you all!

I thought I was prepared

Last Friday, I had my follow-up appointment with my plastic surgeon. I was so thankful that the pathology report stated "no evidence of invasive cancer". I had the drains removed which I was so happy about. Then he removed the bandages, I thought that I was ready for this. Nothing could prepare you for it. You see pictures of others that have gone through it, but when you are looking at your own body it is so different. After the surgeon was finished he left the room and Arnold just held me and we cried together for a while before I was able to pick myself up and move on. I know how hard this was for me I can only imagine what he was going through in his emotions. Being a man and just wanting to fix it and knowing that he could not. I am glad that we can talk, cry and just be here for each other. We both have good days and bad days. I have read a lot of stories about how women mourn after this surgery and I thought that would not happen to me. Was I ever wrong! When I got home on Friday I had not actually been able to totally see myself until I was in front of the mirror. I saw something that scared me, something that was new, something that I will always be a reminder, as a woman something was taken away that was very special too me. I thought I was so prepared I had prayed about this I thought I knew what it was going to be like. I was going to have immediate reconstruction so I would wake up with something there. Well it is not the same but it is something. I woke up on Saturday very emotional and no matter what I did I just wanted to cry. I prayed God what is happening to me? Is this normal? Am I being vain? So I researched it and discovered that women go through a mourning process like if someone close to them dies. Wow, I could not believe I was mourning losing my breasts how could that be. I knew that this was the best thing to do. I knew that that this body is just a temple that it was not made to last forever. I guess that it was healthly for me to feel this way because after I got over the mourning I was able to pick myself up. I feel like it was good that I just took that time to talk to God about it. I was not having a pity party, I just was missing something that I had for a very long time. Now I have a new set with a warranty! I am going to make the most of what has happened. Sometimes after I go through something I am more compassionate of others. I pray that God will use me to minister to others.

Consider it pure Joy

WOW! I can't believe the surgery is over. As they say the anticipation is the worst. So far I can say it has not been easy but it is no way as bad as I envisioned. I was sitting here yesterday thinking of what an absolute blessed life I have. I have the most amazing husband, two beautiful children, my parents and family close by, an awesome church family. I had just received the mail and I got a bunch of cards which made me feel special and then some meals were being delivered to us later in the day. My Josh was here. My Sommer was in class learning more about the Lord and how to serve him in her life. Arnold was here taking care of the domestic things for us. Why was I so full of Joy. Then I realized this is it. I can be suffering, can be facing trials but my joy does not depend on any of those things my Joy is in the Lord. It is in the relationship I have with him. If my focus is in the right place than I can have Joy. I have realized that Joy is a choice, I already have the joy within me but I must exercise it. I can sit around and feel sorry for myself or I can choose to allow God to use this in my life to bring glory to his name. I never said that I was happy about it, I would give it up in a minute, believe me. My God allows me to have Joy in my suffering I just have to choose weather I will accept it or not. His grace is sufficient. I have also thought of the many people in my life Christians and non-Christians that have told me it's not fair. They are so right life is not fair but God never told us anything about that his goal is to make me more like Jesus and he knows me better than I know myself so he knows what it will take. No, I don't believe that he gave me cancer or that he wanted me to suffer but I do know that he allows things and he knows that what Satan meant for bad he can turn into good. So that is why I have Joy because I have chosen it. If God wants to use a weak servant to bring glory to him all I can say is "Bring it on!" The joy of the Lord is my strength. I will serve him with gladness of heart. My heavenly Father loves me and draws me to Himself. I have His Word that He will mold me and make me what He desires me to be. How can I not have Joy?

My prayers have been answered

No, it's not how I thought they would be answered. It is funny how God works in my life sometimes. In 2004 I was 37 I had two cancer diagnoses been through chemotherapy two times as well as radiation. My doctor was trying to put me into menopause by giving me a monthly injection in my stomach. I had been taking the shots for about four years and it was not accomplishing what he had hoped for. He recommended that I speak with a genetic counselor and consider taking the test to see if I carried the breast cancer gene. Well I spoke with the counselor and she felt that there was a high probability that I had the gene. I felt like I didn't want to take the test unless I was going to do something different if it came back positive. The recommendation was that it was needed information to determine the next step in treating me. I took the test and it came back positive. I was advised by a team of doctors to have a hysterectomy and possible mastectomy I discussed this with my oncologist and we decided together that I should do the hysterectomy but we would hold off on the mastectomy and if I had another cancer in my breast I would have to have the surgery. I have been still praying about this since 2004 and asking the Lord to show me what I should do about this. In August when I took my mammogram and it showed a suspicious spot and then had it biopsied and it was determined that there were some cancer cells but they were confined to the milk ducts. I believe that this was answered prayer. I believe that this is what was needed for me to take this step and do what I need to do. Now as I prepare for my surgery today I know that the Lord will be with me and I know that this is what he had led me to do. I am so weak but in him I have such strength. I would never have imagined that I could have such peace and joy while facing this.

Why I Run the Race for the Cure

WHY I RUN THE RACE FOR THE CURE

I have seen that people participate in the "Race for the Cure" for a lot of different reasons. I started to think about this coming up race on October 25 and at first I thought I'm not going to participate this year because I most likely will not be able to run since it will be about a month after my surgery. But then people started asking me if we were going to form a team and do the race this year. At first I said yes because I didn't want to let anyone down. It goes much deeper than that. I run the race because I can and it is not about me or anyone else. It is about bringing awareness and prayerfully to find a cure someday soon. I run the race for my daughter, Sommer, for my sister, Sheilia, for my nieces, Heather, Sierra, Hanna. I pray everyday that none of these precious girls with have to go through what I have gone through or what my mother, Joan has gone through. I run to find a cure or I walk or maybe I will crawl but I am still in the race. It is bigger than just finding a cure for breast cancer it is about staying in the race to get the prize that the Lord offers me. It helped me to think about how in my spiritual life there are times that I run, times that I walk, times that I crawl and there are times that I am just here but I'm still in the race. That is why I run the race and the reason why I form a team is because I have discovered in my life that I can accomplish so much more with the help of others than on my own. We need to find a cure for cancer and I believe that we will. But until there is a cure I do my part and press on to the goal! If you would like to join our team this year than please register on the Komen website at KomenCentralValley.org Our team name is "Prevention is the Cure."

I SEARCHED WITH ALL MY HEART

June of 1999, I found a lump again and it has been six years so I guess that it's nothing because five years and your home free right? After I had cancer the first time I thought that it was over. Then I found a lump on the other breast as soon as I discovered it I called my oncologist who immediately scheduled a mammogram and ultrasound which detected something solid. No time to think too much it was growing so quickly. A lumpectomy was scheduled within two days, just skipped right over the biopsy this time. I remember thinking what if they are wrong and it's not cancer this is unnecessary surgery.

This time I woke up to see my mom and dad they were crying so I knew, no one had to say a word. But maybe just maybe it's early so no chemotherapy or radiation this time. Nope it is stage II again it has spread to one lymph node so chemotherapy and radiation was needed. Here we go again now Josh is eleven and Sommer is eight. Six months of Chemotherapy and radiation again.

Something was happening inside of me this time, I mean deep inside I was questioning my existence I just couldn't believe that this is all there is, you live on this earth for a few years and then it's all over? No there has to be more. So I started searching trying different things I had already tried a lot of what the world had to offer and always came back feeling empty. How about this new age stuff, positive thinking, mediation, how about this I'll try praying Jesus into my heart. No, Something is still missing. I went to church when I was young I will try that. My grandma took me to the Church of Christ every Sunday until I thought I wanted to do things my own way. Maybe I will try that. So I went and there was this friendly preacher, Stan Williams and this one elder, John Ed Clark that kept saying hello to me and to my family like they were really happy to see us. Then Stan asked if he could study with us. I still thought that since I was baptized as a teen that I was o.k. until Stan preached a lesson one Sunday morning he had these chairs up in the front of the church and his sermon was on which chair were you in the one where you are sure of where you are going or one of the other chairs I sat there thinking I really don't know which chair I am in and I don't want to not be sure what if I died? It was that day in September 2000 that I found what was missing in my life. I was baptized into Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of my sins and received the gift of the Holy Spirit. I know that the angels were rejoicing. I searched for Jesus with all of my heart and I found him. I now understood that there is more to life. This is not all there is there is so much more than what I can see with my eyes. I now can also see with my heart. Since then I have seen amazing things happen in me andin Arnold since we have become christians. We were so lost and we didn't even know it but God allowed the "best worst thing" to happen to me so that my eyes could be opened. To this day I thank the Lord that he used something as horrible as Cancer to get my attention. He has brought me so far and I know I still need a lot of work but if he can take a simple country girl and save her from herself he can do all things. I love the Lord and am still amazed at how he works in my life. As I prepare for surgery on Friday, a surgery that I have been praying about weather I should have for the last four years. I believe that God has answered that prayer with a YES. There is no doubt in my mind that he has allowed these cancer cells to surface because he knows that this is the only way for me to do what I need to do to be around for the tomorrows that he has planned for me. I am excited to see what he has in store for me on the other side of this.

YOUR TOO YOUNG

Your too young, that's what I kept hearing from doctor after doctor. I was 26 years old I had a two year old and a five year old. It was Christmas 1992 and I discovered a lump in my left armpit, I didn't think much of it so I would wait a couple of weeks until after the holidays and go to the Dr. I made my appointment but was told that it was not unusual and that I should give it some time and it will go away. I was not satisfied with this because it hurt and it bothered me when I would pick up my babies. I kept pressing it with the doctors and kept getting the same response until one Dr. decided to take some fluid from it to test, but he could not get anything. He advised me to have a biopsy.

It was February 1993 the biopsy was over, the surgeon came in and told me and Arnold, "it's maligiant, you have breast cancer." I was in shock but all the doctors told me "your only 26 it's very rare, cancer dosen't hurt", and this hurt! besides that I don't want to die. The only people I had ever known or known of that had got cancer died. He gave us some videos and told us not to make any decisions today we had time. This has to be the scariest words that a doctor can say to you. Little did I know that this was the beginning of the battle that I would have to endure.

Leaving

On August 10, 2008 I left a piece of myself in Lubbock Texas. This was one of the hardest things that I have ever had to do in my life. When Sommer first seemed to be interested in the AIM program I prayed a lot about it. I realized that if this is what God was calling her to do then I had no right to tell her that she could not go, I would not stand in the way of his plan for her life. In making that decision it did not make it any easier on me. Walking away from the Sunset church that day was so difficult not only was I leaving my daughter, I was leaving my buddy. I also knew that I was coming home to change that I did not want to face. The home was different now with Josh gone, now Sommer gone and what I had to face was Dr. appt. after Dr. appt. I did not want to go home. The first few days home were so awful, so quiet I just did not want to be here then something truly amazing happened inside of me. God wanted me to know, don't throw away what you can do with your life today and tomorrow because you are so caught up in yesterday. I thank God that he has blessed me with a truly amazing man to spend my life with and I don't want to neglect that part of my life or have my eyes closed to what the Lord wants to teach me through all of the pain and suffering. There truly can be joy in suffering I know first hand. Yes, I have good days and bad days but I know in the end I will be stronger and closer to God as long as I don't take my eyes off the prize and continue my race. One week from today I will have the surgery that I have not wanted to deal with. This just happens to be something that I have to do and I really don't want to but I know that God has big plans for me in this and he is going to use it in a big way to his glory. So I press on and I am so thankful for all of my family and friends that he shows his Love through each and every day. God bless you all!

I DON'T LIKE CHANGE

I do not like change. I don't believe too many people do. Recently in bible class Matt Phillips asked the class "when do you think it is easier to serve God, when you are suffering of when things are going pretty well? I have thought a lot about that question and I'm not sure which is easier but I believe that It is the times that I suffer that I grow the most.

As most of you know things have definitely not been going smooth this year. It started with my mother getting her cancer diagnosis back in January. Then Josh making some decisions that Arnold and I felt were not in the will of God. We were renovating our house in Madera while going through tax season. In May we moved to the house in Madera and qickley started getting the house ready for and planning Sommer's graduation party. Then it was time to get her ready for AIM in August. One week before we were to leave to take Sommer to Texas I had some bad test results and found out the day before we left that I did have cancer again and that I was looking at major surgery.

No, I don't like change and I don't like to suffer but honestly I can say it has been good for me to be afflicted it brings me back to where I need to be totally, completely surrendered to God.

Taxtime

It's that time again! For me it means long hours but it also means opportunities to see people that I have not seen for a year. The last couple of weeks have been very stressful trying to keep up with my work load and wanting to help my mother. Please continue to keep her in your prayers she started her chemo yesterday.

There is a Reason for Everything

There is a Reason for Everything Our Father knows what's best for us So why should we complain?

We always want the sunshine But He knows there must be rain.

We love the sound of laughter And the merriment of cheer But our hearts would lose their tenderness If we never shed a tear.

Our Father tests us often With suffering and with sorrow He tests us not to punish us But to help us meet tomorrow.

For growing trees are strengthened When they withstand the storm And the sharp cut of a chisel Gives the marble grace and form.

God never hurts us needlessly and He never wastes our pain For every loss He sends to us Is followed by rich gain. And when we count the blessings That God has so freely sent We will find no cause for murmuring And no time to lament.

For our Father loves His children And to Him all things are plain He never sends us pleasure When the soul's deep need is pain.

So whenever we are troubled And when everything goes wrong It is just God working in us To make our spirits strong.

Helen Steiner Rice

My favorite day of the week

Today is Sunday, Lord's day I enjoy Sundays to much. It is my favorite day of the week. I look forward all week for this day. I get to go to worship services to hear the word of God, to sing to God, to pray to God and to be with my brothers and sisters in Christ. Yes, I have my everyday time alone with the Lord and I even get to see some of my brothers and sisters during the week but Sundays they are all of us coming together for one purpose. Also I used to really dislike Sunday, before I became a Christian because the next day was Monday and I was dreading getting back to work and the routine of the week but now Sundays prepare me for the week being with my brothers and sisters being encouraged helps me make it through the week. I thank God for today and I am so excited it is Sunday!

Married to my best friend

I love spending time with my family and friends but it is so special to me to spend time alone with my best friend on this earth I am so blessed to be able to call my husband, Arnold my best friend. Last night we were able to go out for dinner just the two of us. It is so strange how two people that are so different, that are from such different backgrounds and upbringing can grow to be so much like each other. We have been through so much together, some of which we don't like to talk about but even those times have helped our relationship grow. For me it is so easy to love and appreciate what you have when you have not always had it. We have not always had just such a beautiful marriage because we were missing both putting God first in our lives. Just like I so appreciate my health because there has been times when I was going through chemotherapy that I could not even get up off the couch so it is so easy for me to jump out of bed in the morning because I don't forget there was a time when I could not. So I appreciate the relationship that God has blessed me with. I so appreciate that he has turned mine and Arnold's life around.
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Please continue to pray for my mother, Joan she had a lung biopsy yesterday and should have the results by the end of the week.