Your back? Honestly, I am surprised. It is like so many other things, I have the intention to blog about so many things. I actually do enjoy writing. And if I did, I would tell you…
Megan finally lost her 2nd top tooth, so she has that cute, toothless smile right now. (Quickly to be replaced with teeth that are meant for her 35 year old face.)
Or that we spent one night building lego creations for a local toy store competition. It was good family time, lots of fun and I won 1st place much to Ethan’s surprise.
I could write about Ethan’s 4th season as Alyssa’s soccer coach and how well he does coaching and caring for those girls. How sweet it is to see some of them give him big hugs and how they are starting to work together to get the mental game of soccer.
I could show you several of the new paintings I have done and say how blessed I am to be able to use my talent for money through Etsy and in my local church. I have been commissioned to do paintings for the wall, decorations for VBS, stage decorating for Sunday mornings and today was asked to be a part of a live performance art on Easter Sunday. (I gently declined that one)
And there is Megan and her obsession with Star Wars. (chalk art of Princess Amidala, R2D2, and Jar Jar Binks)
Probably deserving a blog post would be that all three girls are going to be in glasses. Alyssa and Megan were diagnosed with amblyopia which needs 24/7 glasses and 1-2 hours of patching each day. Audrey is also extremely farsighted and will be in glasses full time. She has to have further testing done with a pediatric optometrist because she was soooo helpful during her evaluation.
But alas, that is not what this post is for. I need your help. I have been asked to give my testimony at my mom’s church’s womens conference in April. Whoah…. right? I mean, I did a public speaking class in college, but I am pretty sure that tensing up my muscles and relaxing them will not make this talk go easy. I have a lot of story to tell, right? And some of you have been here through it all. I have all the comments ever recorded on this blog, so I could go back and spend the rest of my year reading them. But even better, I want to hear from you. How did Noah change you? What did you see about our family as you read the blog? Did any of my events truly change your life? Just a brief thought is all I want and you can email it to me if you prefer at (j the letter D my last name@mac.com – no spaces). Thanks friends.
Oh, my dear, longest, best friend… I’m not sure that I can write everything that needs to be said on this blog! I have been with you since we were babies ourselves. That means almost 37 years. I have been there for all 4 of your children’s births and witnessed the most unbelievable 8 days of Noah’s precious life. I held him, I can still remember it so clearly:) He was supposed to be Mason’s best friend… He still is:) Mason still has Noah’s picture in his room in the frame that we made with Noah’s frog from the hospital sitting right beside it. We still talk about him and how he can’t wait to play with him in Heaven! I was with you multiple times in TN during the cancer. I wanted to be there everyday… I wanted to take it away! You were absolutely the most beautiful woman ever with no hair!!! You ROCKED IT! I watched as you struggled some, but I also watched and read in your writings about the amazing transformation that this cancer had given you in your walk with the LORD! There have been sooooo many ups & downs and incredible amounts of hardships that we both have had to overcome and are still working on…but that’s what life is about, right? Sharing this fabulous, blessed life that God has given us with our dearest friends & family and being able to use our most difficult times to witness to others and share/disciple in our stories and truly giving ALL of our beings to make it be about HIM… rather than ourselves? I know that you have undoubtably, given yourself to the LORD through this. I love you so much for all that you have taught me, are still teaching me, and to the (who knows how many) thousands of people that you have shared the power of our Savior’s Grace & Healing:) YOU ARE ONE SPECIAL LADY and I love you so dearly! My life just would not be the same without you~ I could go on and on and on… you will be fabulous, I will be front row and you will make every heart there feel the Spirit in them like that haven’t ever before:) Just be you and it will be EXACTLY as GOD wants it to be!
You have MUCH to offer… wish I could be there!
XOXO Mel Mel
I was just a few weeks away from my due date with Ethan when I heard about and began following your sweet Noah’s story. As a new mom-to-be, I ached and grieved with you as you endured what no parent should have to, and you did so with great faith and courage. To me, there is nothing more powerful than the witness of a believer who chooses to glorify God even in the midst of tragedy or pain. And then, later on, when you shared your cancer diagnosis, I questioned why God would allow more pain when you had already been through so much. I still don’t understand, but you forged ahead with a strength and gritty determination that left me in awe. I pray that if/when a challenge comes my way, I can face it with the same measure of grace you have shown. As trite as it may sound, you and Noah remind me to not take a single day for granted. And, that God is always faithful. I’m proud of you for continuing to share your journey, and know you will be such a blessing — you’ve definitely blessed me!
You have inspired me with your positive attitude through everything. You amaze me. You ask the tough questions to God, and He can handle them. You are not afraid to share your doubts, knowing that deep down in your soul, you are loved by God no matter what may come. You are so open and willing to talk about what you’ve been through and how it has changed you. I admire that. I miss you!!