Hello dear friends and family!
Things are going well! I had a wonderful weekend spent with relatives, one of whom I feel like I've known forever but just met for the very first time. (Hey Marian!) What a joy that was to spend time with them!
I have my 5th chemo treatment this coming Thursday. After that there will be just one more to go!
Today I am proud to introduce to you two new shirts. One has the cross design with a slighly different phrase "God is so much bigger than ANYTHING." The idea for this shirt came from a dear friend at my coop named Tiffany. I love the shirt because God IS bigger than any trial, hardship or obstacle the world can throw at us!
The second shirt is the design above "God is so much bigger than Multiple Sclerosis." The idea for this shirt came from another dear friend named Brooke whose mother battled MS for many years.
A couple of us will be wearing the shirts in the MS Walk in Knoxville Saturday morning. My side effects usually start Saturday afternoon/evening, so please pray that they don't show up early. I am very excited that the shirts will be making a debut at this event!
Today I'd like to share with you an excerpt from a the book Live Like You were Dying by Tim Nichols and Craig Wiseman, inspired from the song by Tim McGraw. The book was given to me by a Pep Moms friend right after I was diagnosed. I love the following passage:
We're all terminal.
Some of us are just lucky enough to know it.
Life is a spiritual journey.
And sometimes all you have to do is show up
and have a little faith that something
completely amazing is possible any day.
And every now and then,
right when you least expect it,
something amazing does happen.
And you are no more in control
than a feather is of the wind.
All you know is that the force moving you is so strong
that you just hang on in wonder.
There is nothing but the moment and the sense of dancing with angels.
I'm just "hanging on in wonder" of all God is doing in my life and in so many other precious lives I see every day.
Lots of love,
Kerry
Hey Kerry, I know it's been a little while since I had written you. I'm still praying for you everyday. I'll especially pray for the side effects this weekend. You sound great! It's hard to believe that you only have two more rounds to go. Wahoo!!!! I know this has been a hard journey but I'm so thankful God has continued to bless you and has given you strength (both spiritual and physical). You are still inspiring all of us and the blessings from your blog are still touching others. We love you!!!!!
ReplyDeleteHugs from all of us in K.G.
Renee
Hey Sweet Kerry,
ReplyDeleteI have not had a chance to write for a while but you are never far from my thoughts and heart. I will pray that your side effects will be subsided for your walk. I continue to praise God for you and your outpouring love to others. I came across this story from a dear friend of mine and would like to share it with you, because we all are walking on this journey called womanhood.
A young wife sat on a sofa on a hot humid day, drinking iced tea and visiting with her Mother. As they talked about life, about marriage, about the responsibilities of life and the obligations of adulthood, the mother clinked the ice cubes in her glass thoughtfully and turned a clear, sober glance upon her daughter.
Don't forget your Sisters,' she advised,
swirling the tea leaves to the bottom of her glass. They'll be more important as you get older. No matter how much you love your husband, no matter how much you love the children you may have, you are still going to
need Sisters. Remember to go places with them now and then do things with them.
Remember that 'Sisters' means ALL the women...
your girlfriends, your daughters, and all your other women relatives too. You'll need other women. Women always do.
What a funny piece of advice! the young woman thought. Haven't I just gotten married? Haven't I just joined the couple-world? I'm now a married woman, for goodness sake! A grownup! Surely my husband and the family we may start will be all I need to make my life worthwhile!
But she listened to her Mother. She kept contact with her Sisters and made more women friends each year. As the years
tumbled by, one after another, she gradually came to understand that her Mom really knew what she was talking about. As time and nature work their changes and their mysteries upon a woman, Sisters are the mainstays of her life..
After more than 50 years of living in this world, here is what I've learned:
THIS SAYS IT ALL:
Time passes.
Life happens.
Distance separates.
Children grow up.
Jobs come and go.
Love waxes and wanes.
Men don't do what they're supposed to do.
Hearts break.
Parents die.
Colleagues forget favors.
Careers end.
BUT.........
Sisters are there, no matter how much time and how many miles are between you. A girl friend is never farther away than needing her can reach.
When you have to walk that lonesome valley and you have to walk it by yourself, the women in your life will be on the valley's rim, cheering you on, praying for you, pulling
for you, intervening on your behalf, and waiting with open arms at the valley's end.
Sometimes, they will even break the rules and walk beside you...Or come in and carry you out.
Girlfriends, daughters, granddaughters, daughters-in-law, sisters, sisters-in-law, Mothers, Grandmothers, aunties,
nieces, cousins, and extended family, all bless our life!
The world wouldn't be the same without women, and neither would I. When we began this adventure called womanhood, we had no idea of the incredible joys or sorrows
that lay ahead. Nor did we know how much we would need each other.
Every day, we need each other.
Kerry You bless our life so much with your sweet sweet spirit and your caring ways. May God continue to give you the strength and courage you need.
Much love,
Lorrie
Hey Kerry,
ReplyDeleteYou have been on my mind even more then usual. I am praying that the chemo treatment goes well with a minimum of side effects. I am also praying that you will be able to participate in the MS walk on Saturday.
I liked the poem you posted. Time is such a gift, isn't it? It is so easy to take it for granted and not understand what a blessing it is.
It is also easy to become impatient with our time. I want changes, accomplishments, information, and I want it now. It is hard to be patient and wait. I read, "Patience with others is love, patience with self is hope, and patience with God is faith."
I want you to be through these treatment and have a normal life now. I don't want any more of your time to be taken up with cancer. I am going to approach this with patience, Kerry, because I will enjoy each moment more.
I can't wait to see you Monday. We will have five treatments behind you. The cancer is shrinking, and you are getting well. It is hard to see progress sometimes in the middle, but we are making it.
Take care of yourself, Kerry.
Remember how much I love you,
Mitzi
Aunt Kerry,
ReplyDeleteI was really glad to hear that you only have 1 chemo treatment left,that means that you have done 5 out of 6 and that is AWESOME!!!!!!
I pray for you every day and you will be in my prayers until I die!!! :) God will keep you going and he will keep you strong no matter what happens. I know you will keep going until the very end (which will not be for a very, very, very, very, very, very, very, long time.)
I love you,
Heather
Dear Sweet Kerry,
ReplyDeleteI loved the excerpt from the book. "Hanging on in wonder" is a great way to describe the Christian walk. The part about "Just showing up and having a little faith that something amazing is possible any day" really touched me. If I approached each day with that belief I think it would drastically change my attitude towards the things that overwhelm me at times.
The story that Lorrie wrote about "Sisters" was very moving. I feel so very blessed to have two amazing sisters to walk through life with :-) I have often thought of other women without sisters who really desired to have that closeness with another woman and didn't. That is where our dear sisters in Christ have such a huge impact!! I am so thankful that you have so many "Sisters" in your life that can pray, encourage and support you as you struggle with breast cancer. Each one is so unique and special in their own way and a real gift from God. I know how much you treasure them :-) It's neat that God put them in your life before this trial knowing how much you would need each and every one of them :-) From the bottom of my heart, this big sis wants to thank all of the "Sisters" in your life that have lifted you up in prayer and in so many other ways. Not only have they lifted and supported you, but they have me also :-)
Remember how much your "Sisters" love you,
Shannon