To perform like a "star," to steal the show….take the stage and do the dance, be the spark! Stir up the gift of God which is with you. 2 Timothy 1:6

Journey

A journey is defined as traveling from one place to another, usually taking a rather long time; trip. For me being an ovarian cancer survivor has been nothing but a journey. You see ovarian cancer snuck into my life with illusive persistence. Now, almost four years later I am the happiest I have ever been with myself (inner and outer). Sure, I still have some really bad days. Days when I fear getting sick again and days when I feel that my friends have no burdens of their own. I know I have climbed mountains and everyday gets a bit easier. I continue to move further and further away from those horrible days four years ago. I realize how truly blessed we all are to have life. I realize how lucky I am to be in this world, to have my strong, supportive, and sometimes loving family (LOL) and so many old and new totally amazing friends. So for me this ovarian cancer has been a journey with some side “trips” and some hard fought “wars” won and lost. And I wouldn’t take anything for it!

When Jesus heard that, he said, This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby. John 11:4

Ovarian Cancer National Alliance Power is Teal Conference

I really enjoyed myself at the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance Power is Teal conference, my first one.... I'm already planning on going next year. The Doctors gave out excellent and easy to understand info on the latest breakthroughs in ovarian cancer and ovarian cancer research. I met a group of the most wonderful, knowledgeable, and inspiring women ever. Jenny Allen’s play "I got sick and then I got better" was amazing. Awareness is my passion and breaking down the myth that there are no early signs of this BEAST of a disease is my goal (patients and doctors). I stayed the extra day for advocacy day on Capitol Hill and a new friend from Georgia and I did a one two punch on our reps. (lol) I met some very inspiring, wonderful and beautiful women. I had an AWESOME time and will be at next year’s conference with bells on.

Thank You!

I want to thank You for what you have already done. I am not going to wait until I see results or receive rewards; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until I feel better or things look better; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until people say they are sorry or until they stop talking about me; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until the pain in my body disappears; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until my financial situation improves; I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until the children are asleep and the house is quiet; I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until I get promoted at work or until I get the job; I am going to thank you right now. I am not going to wait until I understand every experience in my life that has caused me pain or grief; I am thanking you right now. I am not going to wait until the journey gets easier or the challenges are removed.

I am thanking you right now. I am thanking you because I am alive. I am thanking you because I made it through the day's difficulties. I am thanking you because I have walked around the obstacles. I am thanking you because I have the ability and the opportunity to do more and do better. I'm thanking you because FATHER, YOU haven't given up on me. Amen

GOCA 2010 Walk

                                    Lets do it in 2o10!!!


Join my team "Shades of Teal". Breaking the silence on the cancer that whispers!!

 http://www.gaovariancancer.org/

Meditation

"Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate." Proverbs 31:30-31

Life is a Gift

Each moment of your life is a gift. Learn to relish it. Learn to be in it. Even during your tough times, take a moment to breathe, ground yourself and become present and in the moment. There is much more to your life experiences than you realize. Be aware of your living, the possibilities for discovery, and the appreciation of your connection with humanity.

Watch your words…

Your words, your dreams, and your thoughts have power to create conditions in your life. What you speak about, you can bring about. If you keep saying you can't stand your job, you might lose your job. If you keep saying you can't stand your body, your body can become sick. If you keep saying you can't stand your car, your car could be stolen or just stop operating. If you keep saying you're broke, guess what? You'll always be broke. If you keep saying you can't trust a man or trust a woman, you will always find someone in your life to hurt and betray you. If you keep saying you can't find a job, you will remain unemployed. If you keep saying you can't find someone to love you or believe in you, your very thought will attract more experiences to confirm your beliefs. If you keep talking about a divorce or break up in a relationship, then you might end up with it. Turn your thoughts and conversations around to be more positive and power-packed with faith, expectation, love, and action. Don't be afraid to believe that you can have what you want and deserve. Watch your thoughts, they become words. Watch your words, they become actions. Watch your actions, they become habits. Watch your habits, they become character. Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny. Watch how your circumstances and situations begin to change when you change the way you speak. The minute you settle for less than you deserve, you get even less than you settle for. The tongue can be your worst enemy!

Assessing

Having a disease like ovarian cancer provides an opportunity to assess one’s life. It also affords an opportunity to think about one’s relationship with God. I grew-up a Southern Baptist, but being told you have ovarian cancer put new meaning into those prayers and rituals that can sometimes become customary. Someone once asked me to explain to them how I could believe in God. As I sat thinking hey that’s not something I could or can do. If you’re looking for the logic in belief, it’s not there, but I do know that God cares for me and that He has a good place awaiting me when it’s time to go. I credit Him, my medical care givers, and my own stubbornness for my survival of disease. I truly believe that this cancer journey/war has been a blessing. I have been blessed with more friends than I realized that I had. They have provided visits, phone calls, cards, prayers, and undeniable love. My biggest supporter has been my husband of 14 years, Erik. He has been with me every step of the way from connecting up my IVs, driving me here and there, and pushing me at times when I had no will. All of this has not been without a few choice words from both of us, but no one has been privileged to have more love than I have. When I think about this four year cancer journey/war, I realize that even with the ups and downs, the surgeries, and the chemotherapy side effects, that I’ve gained many blessings out of this journey/war. This cancer journey/war is mine, no one else’s. I’ve fought it, I own it, and I’m going to keep fighting it as long as God allows me to do so.

“When I die, I will not be guilty of having left a generation of girls behind thinking that anyone can tend to their emotional health other than themselves.” Ntozake Shange [“For Colored Girls Who Have Considered Suicide/When the Rainbow Is Enuff...” Writer, Playwright (1948- )]


RIP Phyllis Hyman