I went to a meeting last night to hear our Co-Founder Rhonda Anderson from Creative Memories. She is a wonderful example of a Christian woman who keeps her values and priorities in order - God, husband, children, and then her business. She was talking last night about the “bumps in the road” that we can see as problems or hardships, but to take a step back and see them as God’s gifts to help us build character and to learn to be more like Him.

Wow, that’s the lesson I have so been trying to learn this past 2 years - and to brag on myself - I think I’m doing great!

In the past 2 years, I have had to move away from my “home”, learn quickly how to create and implement an entire children’s ministry, how to swallow my pride and ask for free lunches for my children and go grocery shopping at the local food bank, how to realize my “deformed” body is a gift for the parts all still work, to feel alive during chemo when I know I’m filled with poison, and to realize that the whole cancer thing has blessed me by giving me a new outlook on living and has introduced me to some wonderful people.

I could easily take anyone of those things and pout, get depressed, and feel like giving up. I could do the “life isn’t fair” routine - and it’s not! I could give up or withdraw. God has so blessed me by holding my hand through this all and showing me the life lessons I’m learning! The lessons I’ve learned and the person I am today is well worth the hardships. I LOVE my heavenly Daddy like I never have before! I have a crazier faith than I could have ever dreamed I would achieve. I truly CARE about people! I see their needs and instantly want to know how God can use me to help them - much less self focused!

The key though is to realize that God may not always be able to show us the lessons we are learning as we go through the hardships. We need to dig deep and find that faith if the lessons or outcomes are not shown to us! My prayer for my self, is that the biggest lesson I learn is to find joy in everything - even the unknown!

Think about it… How do you handle your “bumps in the road”?

If you have to get some illness, let me advise that you don’t pick cancer. I just got my bill for my first 4 treatments of chemo - $20,669.42! Yep, that’s just for the first 4 treatments - I have 4 more to be billed for. My insurance only pays 70% leaving me a balance of $8,075.42 so far for the chemo, dr. visits etc. We’ve already paid over $8,000 to hospitals and surgeons etc. So far, this cancer has costs over $50,000.

Now, I’m not going to loose sleep over this - maybe my home if that’s God’s wishes - but I just thought I’d let you know the fun that cancer has to offer!

Just when Lon and I thought we were seeing the light regarding our money issues the world can pile on more. I’m just glad that my heavenly Daddy is bigger than the world!!!

So, here’s to watching how God plans on paying this bill! At least I know God has worked in my life - instead of crying and feeling anxious about these bills, I’m just handing it over!

I read this today and just loved it ….

“Often, in the midst of great problems, we stop short of the real blessing God has for us, which is a fresh vision of who HE is.” Anne Graham Lotz

May I look for that ultimate blessing in my hardships!

May I see GOD!