My new glasses......

A few days after my last blog....I found out that I needed surgery. I needed not just any surgery but breast surgery. Gasp! For years, most of my 40 something years...(keeping it real ;-)) felt that my appearance made me who I was. If people thought I looked good, then I must be a  good person, worthy of love. If someone insulted my looks then I must be ugly and unlovable. Pretty sad, right?

I really spent years trying to make myself acceptable to others only to find myself exhausted...worn out and disappointed. This lead me to make a "change". I thought that if I didn't have small breasts then maybe I'd be beautiful. Get the attention that would lead me to believe that I was beautiful. After nursing my 2nd baby...let's just say what little I had was gone! 

Fast forward 18 years---I had lumps found and made a decision to remove the implants while they cut out a lot of my tissue. Phew.  Ok, it was nothing nice! ;-). I am a few months post op and although I have my moments. I'm good! I look better than before surgery and trust me I'm not tooting my horn. I still struggle with my appearance but not like before. I want to be seen for my walk with The Lord not my breasts. I am wonderfully created (and so are you!). I need to throw away the lenses that I was looking through because they no longer work. I want to see through God's lenses....wow! If we could all see what he sees! Love who you are. Small breasts, big nose, skinny legs, scars all over your body, cellulite.  Ok so I just described myself. Lol. You can make your own lists and when you feel down. Put on new glasses!!

 I remember my affliction and my wandering, the bitterness and the gall. I well remember them, and my soul is downcast within me. Yet this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: Because of the Lord ’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:19-23 NIV)

Quotes...oh how I love you!

MITO WEEK 2013!!!

Mitochondrial Disease Awareness Week!

As most of you know...Mito Disease has affected my family in such a terrible way.
My son Devin was diagnosed several years ago with this terrible disease. He missed most of 6th, 7th, and 9th grade...all of 8th grade and now most of this 10th grade year. It is terrible. He is pretty much homebound this year too. Mito truly depletes your body of ALL the energy. What most people find as easy tasks are completely unbearable for Mito patients.

Devin wakes up every morning trying to live a normal life, eat breakfast, take a shower, go to school, hang out like most (almost) 16 year olds do. Not for my son, mornings are unpredictable. Showers are sometimes the hardest task, and by the time we leave for school...his energy is gone. Which means back to bed.

His friends are able to play sports which he was forced to quit. They are able to hang out at the mall, movies, parks, or at each others homes, but not for Devin. Thankfully he has the BEST big brother ever! He works 65 hours a week but spends every second he can at home and making Devin feel "normal".

I can't explain how necessary a cure is! I was also diagnosed a year after Devin with this same disease. Although I can do things that he can't, Mito affects everyone differently. It's still very hard to run an entire household on my own and some days feel too tired or sick to handle it.

Mito is linked to Autism, Cardiac disease, Liver disease, Diabetes, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's, so on and so on. This is not a disease that should be overlooked.

We NEED A CURE! I have boxes around our local area. The picture is of one of them that are helping raise awareness and raise money towards a cure. Although it will not be likely that you will see one of these boxes. It's only for Mito week! You can always go to UMDF.org and donate to the cause and most importantly PLEASE raise awareness! Help families like ours!
Every 30 minutes a child is born that will develop Mito. More children die from this disease than all childhood disease combined!

Help us CURE MITO!

Commitment

Very few relationships succeed by accident.

 

 

8 year hurricane Katrina anniversary.....

8 years ago today..Katrina devastated New Orleans and the surrounding areas. Lives were lost, homes were lost, our daily life as we knew it was lost, but for me and my kids...hope was found, my faith was tested and strengthened, and I am so thankful for that. Just 4 months later, I was baptized and within a year all of my children accepted the Lord as their Savior and were all baptized as well! The thoughts of what we all endured during Katrina will forever be in my mind but the holes it left in my heart have been filled by the love, mercy and grace of Jesus!

What women want....

Bible in our house, Bible in our heart.

Happy Summer Folks!

I can't believe that summer is JUST now beginning considering how hot it has been for some time.

As usual, I've been busy...won't go into details but life is just plain busy! I have to literally force myself to take a time out and enjoy the journey.

 Lately, I have been reading novels instead of just Bible studies. :-) (They are still Christian novels though ;-))

I've been making an effort to meet my friends at least one night a week for a catch up, and taking the time to connect with friends and family more often even if it's just a quick text or email.

One thing that I feel happens when I'm too busy is that my prayer life and my walk suffers...

Just like a relationship with your boyfriend, girlfriend, husband, wife, friends or children....you must take the time nurture those relationships by spending quality time alone with them...same goes for our walk with Jesus and our relationship with Him.

Today I received this by Rick Warren and what a great reminder of how we can keep our walk fresh and strong. I love the part about a Bible in the house is not going to bless your life, you have to have the Bible in your heart.

I have index cards in my purse and there are some scriptures that are vital for my life, that encourage me, reminds me of His love and mercy, His grace and His promises. I cannot make it each day without these reminders!

Thought that Rick Warren summed it up perfectly! Hope you find it as useful as I did.

.....til next time.....Shawna <><

The Bible says in Colossians 3:16, “Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly” (NIV). Paul is telling us to let the Bible take up residence in our lives in a rich, profound, and life-giving way.

So how do we feed ourselves on the Word of God and allow that to happen?

• Receive the Word with your ears. Commit yourself to go to church and listen to God’s Word being preached. 
• Read the Word with your eyes. As I said, having a Bible in your house is not going to bless your life. You have to have the Bible in your heart. 
• Research the Word with your hands and mouth. When studying the Word of God, keep a pencil in your hand. Write down what God teaches. Talk about what you’re discovering with other believers in a small-group environment.
• Reflect on the Word with your mind. Think about and chew on God’s Word.
• Remember the Word with your heart. You’ll rarely have a Bible with you when you need it. Commit God’s Word to memory.