Christians and pumpkins....

A christian is like being a pumpkin. God picks you from the patch, brings you in, and washes all the dirt off of you. Then He cuts off the top and scoops out all the yucky stuff. He removes the seeds of doubt, hate, and greed. Then He carves you a new smiling face and puts His light inside of you to shine for all the world to see."

I am so thankful everyday that God picked this "Bad Pumpkin" and removed all the bad seeds from my life. Jesus didn't have all the seeds we struggle with day by day. Yet he paid the ultimate price for us and our bad seeds. It was such a horrible price to pay. I just hope the people around me see the light of Jesus shining in me everyday.



But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7

When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, "I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life." John 8:12

Something to think about..

I was going through some of my files and ran across this poem a former Pastor had read in one of his sermons. I liked it and had him get me a copy. After reading it again tonight it made me think about my own "DASH". I just pray God will give me the wisdom to be more mindful of how I live my life and how I treat others. I want to spend the rest of my "DASH" seeking God's will in all that I do. And I want to live a life that will be pleasing to Him. I want others to see Jesus in me.




"DASH"



I read of a man who stood to speak at the funeral of a friend.
He referred to the dates on her tombstone, from the beginning ...... to the end
He noted that the first came her date of birth and spoke the following date with tears,
But he said what mattered most of all.. was the dash between the years (1959-1999)

For that dash represents all the time that she spent alive on Earth...
And now only those who loved her, know what that little line is worth.
For it matters not, how much we own: the cars... the house... the cash.
what matters most is how we live and love, and how we spend our dash.

So think about this long and hard.... Are there things you'd like to change?
For you never know how much time is left , that can still be rearranged.
If we could just slow down enough to consider whats true and real,
And always try to understand the way other people feel, and be less quick to anger,
And show appreciation more, and love the people in our lives like we've never loved before.

If we treat each other with respect, and more often wear a smile...
Remembering that this special dash might only last a little while.
So, when your eulogy's being read with your life's actions to rehash...
Would you be proud of the things they say about how you spent your dash?

5 things I'm thankful for today

1 My family whom I love very much!!!!

2 spending time with my granddaughter Rhianna. She has been so sick. We made " pumpkin" biscuits today. lol Biscuits in the shape of pumpkins. she's so creative and she loves to cook even though she was feeling bad

3 getting the dishes washed FINALLY!! 3rd time today! I hate to handwash dishes, I miss my Dishwasher!! now if I can just get laundry done.

4 not having to cook dinner (I started it and Tosha and Nate finished it for me tonight)

5 wireless routers ours is finally working again

Biopsy,"Tattoos", and Reality

After Being admitted to hospital I was moved to the cancer center wing. I was given 2 units of blood during the night. Anyone that's had a blood transfusion knows that it's a slow process. It only takes 2 minutes to have your blood drawn. But it takes hours to receive it back. I can barely remember being brought into the room. Must have been the affects of the sedative I was given. I have a low tolerance to medications. The next morning when I woke up I was still kind of confused about where I was. But as I started opening my eyes things started coming back to me. I remembered I had been told I had cancer. I was taken to have my biopsy that morning. The biopsy show the type of cancer I had. This allowed them to decided what treatment I would have. It was decided I would have a combo of chemo and radiation. Much of the day was spent having blood work, talking to the oncologist, cat scans, etc. I think I was still in shock because at times they would be talking to me and I could see their lips moving but it wasn't registering with me what was being said. I felt like I was in a dream because everything was happening so fast. All I wanted to do was wake up! Only I was awake. I finally let Roger tell everyone what was going on. I had not wanted my children to know. I have always tried to protect them. But I realized this was one thing I couldn't control. The oncologist had told me I would be taken to radiation to have other scans and be prepared for my first radiation treatment. It ended up being late in the day when they finally came and got me. I was taken to the Radiation Dept where I had other scans and received my wonderful "tattoos" (friendly reminders of the radiation) The target marks would allow them to place me correctly for my treatments. Afterwards the technican wheeled me out into a small waiting area to wait for my Radiaton Oncologist. It was very Dim and quiet I was the only one there. It was the first time since this whole ordeal had started that I was completely alone. As I sat there I was so numb. I felt so alone. I was so scared. Could this really be happening to me. On the table beside of me was pamplets about cancer and radiation. Everywhere I looked I saw something about cancer My mind started racing. I just wanted to leave. I wanted to forget it all. Reality was starting to creep in. Was I going to die? I wasn't ready to die. I had a 3 year old grandaughter I wanted to see grow up. I wanted to see my daughter get married one day. I had so many things left undone! I just wanted to go home. I wasn't ready to face this. I wanted to know why this was happening? I started crying out to God to Please Help me!! Please Help me!! I can't do this. I told him I was scared I wanted it all to go away. I needed his help. I needed Him to give me the strength to face it all. I started to pour my heart out to Him. I told him I wanted him to make it go away. But as hard as it was I began to ask Him for his will to be done. Not mine. I told him I wanted to face it but I needed his help. What ever the outcome would be I would trust him. I realized that when I stopped asking why and began to start asking for his help. I started to calm down. By the time the Oncologist finally came I was able to discuss treatments, complications, and what she thought the outcome might me. It was really hard but I knew I wasn't alone. God was allowing me to finally listen and to ask questions even if they were hard. I was finally willing to accept I had cancer. And I was ready to start the fight. It was my first step in learning how to live with cancer. When the time came to sign my consent form I was able to sign it with a new sense of strength. God had given me the ability to put my signature on the form. And I knew I was ready to start the fight!! With his help I knew I would make it!

God and Cancer.....

I'm sure anyone reading this knows of someone who's life has been affected by Cancer in some way. Never in my life did I think I would be faced with such a thing. I had a close friend who died of Lung Cancer a few years before I found out I had it. He died only 8 short months after he was diagnosed. I can still remember his wife calling me the day they found out. Only now can I really relate to what he must have been going through. As I said I went to the ER hemorrhaging. My sister in law Angel went with me. I called Roger to tell him I was there. I was seen by an ER Doctor who told me he needed to consult with another Colleague. In the mean time a nurse came in and gave me a sedative as my BP was elevated. Roger got there shortly before the other Doctor came in. I hate to admit it but I had not keep up with my yearly exams. (PLEASE any woman reading this GO!! get your yearly exam.) To my surprise the colleague was the GYN I had not seen in forever. He did his exam. I will never forget him saying those 3 words "You have cancer" and it has spread. NO! It can't be!! At that point I think I was in shock. I felt like I was caught up in a whirlwind of sorts. My life was suddenly spinning out of control. I was told I would be admitted to the cancer wing of the hospital. I needed a blood transfusion I had lost lots of blood. I would also have a biopsy first thing the next morning. Utter fear was all I could feel.
I'm ashamed to say although I was a Christian I had been out of Church probabally 6 or 8 months when I found out. There were several things that happened that lead to me leaving the church I was attending, (I want share those now) I'll just say the enemy is always working to discourage you. But that night in the ER I agreed to let Roger call his Mom to tell her. She said she was calling the Pastor. I agreed to let her. I knew in my heart I needed God to help me make it through this ordeal. When the pastor arrived we talked and he told me God still loved me even though I had not been seeking his will in my life. He prayed with me and I asked God to forgive me for turning my back on him. I asked him to guide me through the journey that was ahead of me. I knew without him I couldn't make one step. After I prayed a since of peace came over me. I realized although I still had cancer. I would not have to face it alone. He would be with me no matter what!

My first Post...

Sooo Here it goes. I'll start by telling a little about my self. My name is Sherry. I have been married to Roger for 18 years. We have 2 adult children. Steven 28 who is married to a wonderful wife and mother name Teresa. They have blessed me with a precious grandaughter named Rhianna. And Tosha 25 who is engaged to a fun loving and great guy named Nate. God has blessed me with a precious family whom I love very much. I am also a Cancer Survivor! Yeah the Big C! I was diagnosed with stage 3B squamous cell carcinoma on May 10 2005. It is a day I will never forget. Funny how life can stop you on a dime. I had been shopping that day in greenville with my daughter Tosha. After returning home I started hemmorhaging and went to the ER. I thought I was having early menopauseal symptoms. Boy! was I wrong!! I spent 4 days in the Gibbs Cancer center. I've had 35 radiation treatments, 4 Chemo treatments, 2 Blood transfusions, and a cessium implant. It is only by the grace of God that I am able to write this today. God's grace is always sufficient!! no matter what the situation. That is one reason I decided to start blogging. I want to share my story. Having cancer has really changed my life. Life has many twist and turns as well as Ups and Downs. I sometimes refer to life as Hills and Valleys. Sometimes we have to walk through valleys before we can climb hills. I have been in a valley many of times since my diagnoses. I'd like to share those times too. Being able to climb out of the valley only makes me appreciate life more. God is great!! With him anything is possible I am proof of that.