Dear friends and family,
Today is a new day. I am feeling much better than yesterday morning. All of you have lifted my spirits. You are all so beautiful. It showed with every comment you typed out for me yesterday and all that you shared. It showed with every word you spoke in prayer.
Over the last couple days I have begun meeting survivors. I have met two thus far, one at my church and one yesterday. I cannot begin to tell you what an encouragement they have been to me. The fantastic woman I met yesterday named Evie kept telling me over and over again I was beautiful. I didn't have to tell her where I was at or what I was feeling. She just knew. I believe meeting these survivors is another Godincidence. He has brought them into my life to help me get through and I am so thankful for it. They are so beautiful.
Today I would like to share something else from the Pep Moms Retreat a couple of weeks ago. Marla Delong our speaker included a handout about Attitude.
ATTITUDE by Chuck Swindoll
The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life.
Attitude to me is more important then education, than money, than circumstances, than failures, than successes, than what other people think or say or do.
It is more important than appearance, giftedness, or skill.
It will make or break a company...a church...a home. The remarkable thing is we have a choice every day regarding the attitude we embrace for that day! We cannot change our past...We cannot change the inevitable. The only thing we can do is play on the one string we have, and that is our attitude...
I am convinced that life is 10% what happens to me and 90% how I respond to it. And so it is with you...we are in charge of our attitudes.
Thank you all for giving me back my ATTITUDE. I'm going to get my movie star glasses and the next time I walk into that plastic surgeon's office I will stick my chest out, hold my head high and let my true diva out! Lots of love,
Kerry
Hey Sweet Kerry,
ReplyDeleteNothing long, just writing to let you know I'm thinking about you and praying for you. I am praying that the side effects of your chemo session this week will be minimal. I continue to marvel at how God is using you through your journey and how you are letting us walk through this with you. Your spirit is contagious, and although we can not all be with you physically we cry with you, we laugh with you and we hurt for you. We are your prayer warriors, your sisters in Christ and we love you so much. We will continue to fight this battle with you and uplift you every day in prayer. I saw this quote and thought of you and how you are sharing your story with so many people and allowing them to be open as well.
As we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our fear, our presence automatically liberates others."
By : Marianne Williamson
You are a treasure my friend, never forget that.
Love
Lorrie
Dear Kerry,
ReplyDeleteI couldn't get this on the blog ARGGGGG, but wanted you to know that I am sending you a big sis hug via email. I think that anyone would have left that office insecure!! It sounds like the reality of all this is getting you down and that is totally understandable. Don't be down on yourself for being upset!!! This is a really tough, traumatic journey you are going through so give yourself some grace :-) You know you would give it to us if the situation were reversed :-) Hang in there and know that when this is over all the cancer will be gone and you will still be beautiful and loved deeply :-)
I was so touched by what you wrote today that I cried when I read the loving, supportive and humorous comments that friends and family wrote in :-) It has been such a blessing to me to have you share so openly and honestly what you are going through!! Don't censor what you are feeling because we can't share that part of the journey with you if it is hidden from us. We want to be able to pray and have our love lift you up when you are going through a loss, no matter what it is. Thank you for trusting us in this valley you are in.
When I think of you I think of Proverbs 31:25 and 26. "She is clothed in strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue." Kerry, I so wish you could see yourself as we see you :-) You are a beautiful, strong, honest and courageous woman going through a valley that is deeper than many of us have ever been in. You have faced it with faith, hope, courage and a desire to minister to others in the midst of your personal struggles. Allow yourself to grieve when it is time to grieve, but always remember that God is with you always and we're all in it with you too.
On a lighter note, I too remember that perm!!! I tried to make you feel better by telling you it wasn't that bad. But, I confess, I told a lie :-) Mitzi is right, there is no where to go but up:-) With your wig, those movie star sunglasses, a scarf, and some really high heels those women will be completely speechless!! I think you need to take a picture of yourself before your appointment and possibly a group picture if some of us go with you. I know I would like to go. I confess that I don't have anything remotely movie starish, but maybe Mitzi has something black, glittery and splashy I can borrow :-) If she doesn't, I'm sure she can find just the thing at the store :-)
Remember how much we love you Kerry. We will cry, laugh, grieve and pray you through this!!!
Your big sis,
Shannon
Dear Kerry,
ReplyDeleteI am so excited, I got yesterdays blog message to you on the site!!!! Mitzi called me with a tip to getting messages on and it worked!!YEAH!! Now I get to respond to todays words from you. I can send you two messages in one day!!!! I have been trying for days to get my messages on, oh well, now I will curb my excitement and reply :-)
I am so thankful that you gave us the opportunity to prayerfully help you find your ATTITUDE!! If you hadn't shared that yesterday, we wouldn't have had the joy of having that prayer answered today!! Prayer is such a powerful thing :-)
These Godincidences are so amazing and I just love how God is providing them for you when you most need them!! I love the power we have as Christians to pray for someone and know that prayer does change hearts and lives!! It is also wonderful when christians we have never met before are willing to be a support and comfort like Evie is.
Keep up that ATTITUDE Kerry and let that inner diva shine :-)
Big sis,
Shannon
Hi Kerry,
ReplyDeleteIt has been awhile since I posted, but I have been reading your Blog regularly. It is an inspiration to all of us who (foolishly) let the daily struggles of life (just in general) weigh us down. You have embraced life in a way that sets an excellent example for others. What a wonderful thing to do!
From one of your King George Prayer Warriors...
With Love,
Michelle Chisholm
Kerry,
ReplyDeleteI am so glad that today is a better day. I liked what you wrote on attitude. I always think we can't control some things that come into our lives, but we can control how we respond to them.
I liked the way you have responded. You are very thankul for all the wonderful blessings in your life, but you are willing to share your struggles as well. Shannon is right. You can't encourage people if you don't know where they are struggling.
I am so thankful that you have met fellow survivors. No one can understand how difficult a situation is until they have experienced it. You share a common diagnosis and common experiences. I am so thankful that you can provide support to each other.
I will be praying for you tomorrow during your second round of chemotherapy.
So Shannon remembers the perm too! I don't think I have ever seen such frizzy hair on such a little person.
I am sure that I can come up with something black, glittery and sparkling if you need it. Maybe you should go with red?
Remember how much I love you,
Mitzi
Hey sweet Kerry! I just can't sleep tonight and have been thinking about and praying for you so I thought I'd blog! I must tell you that since I saw you yesterday, Tues., and wished we could've "picnicd" (I don't know how to spell that exactly) in some nice warm weather, I haven't been able to stop thinking about you and the place you are in at this moment in time. I am SO, SO sorry that you have to endure such a difficult challenge, but I know you, of all people, will get through this with grace and a stellar positive ATTITUDE! You have ALWAYS amazed me with your poise and overwhelming calmness, but now, you have really taken that amazement to a whole new level! You must know how you've blessed and affected others in such a positive way and helped us all take off the 'blinders' in some way! THANK YOU for THAT and for YOU!
ReplyDelete"May God be your guiding light, and you, his shadow!"
Love you lots and praying for you always, in Christ,
Di
Hi Kerry-
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to let you know that i've been thinking about you and praying for you so much lately..... i am so so sorry that you have to go through something like this, and wish i could do something to help... but i'm praying, and i know that God will cure you and He will be with you every step of the way... never feel like you are alone. I am so glad that you are meeting others who have survived breast cancer. I know it helps when someone else knows exactly what you are going through. Kerry, I am so amazed at your strong faith and attitude. You are such a blessing to all of us. I miss you girl, and when you are all cured, you will have to take a trip up here to nyc and we can do lots of shopping! hehe also, if you ever need any nursing advice, i am only a phone call away. Eat healthy foods!
lots of hugs!!
-tammy
Kerry,
ReplyDeleteThinking about you and praying for you today and the days to follow. Right now you rank at the top of my list (along with some women here in King George)as one of the strongest women I know! I used to think I was a pretty strong person, but I see I have a long way to go!!! After seeing what you have to deal with and how graceful you are handling it, I am ashamed of myself for all the "little things" (things that at the time I thought were "big things")that I couldn't handle (or at least thought I couldn't handle). You continue to be an inspiration to me and I admire you greatly. Please feel the Lord's presence surround you today and may it bring you comfort and peace.
Lots of love,
Shelly
Dear Kerry,
ReplyDeleteI am praying for you today as you have round 2. I hope that it goes as well as we could wish for.
I loved what Shannon wrote about sharing openly and honestly, and not being down on yourself when you struggle. That is something that I have wanted for you as well, and she was able to put it nicely into words. Permission to fall apart sometimes without judgement.
When Rafe got hurt, I fell apart one night at the hospital, and.....well.....it made me feel weak and faithless, and I didn't like it. Yet, I needed to go through it, I guess. I don't like to fall apart in front of people, but the people who were there formed a circle with me and prayed with me, and that was the start of my climb up. And I am ever so grateful for the people who supported me through it. I have forever given myself guilt that I couldn't be strong through the whole thing. I didn't want to be weak. And I know that is a lot of pressure to put on myself, but....I lay it on myself. I just don't want you to have that feeling. I want you to feel comfortable breaking when you need to. So I loved what Shannon had to say. Those prayers work. They worked in giving me strength that night. And Shannon is right, if we don't know you struggle, then we don't know the best things to pray for. I can't even tell you how bad that night was, and how much those prayers helped. But I bet you understand how bad it is, and yet, how blessed you are through the prayers of others who really do care. I have loved your strength in sharing. It is a blessing to ME. Thank you to both Shannon and Kerry. Today I recieved a blessing.
I continue to pray for you, Kerry.
Love,
Amy