My Story is So Far From Over......

I have been so stubborn!  I've been so busy shaking my fist at God these last few years and well, I just didn't want to admit it.  Even though I told myself "I am letting God lead me", and my trust in His promises was still there....I guess I just wasn't convinced. I didn't trust He would give me the desires of my heart...I mean, I was, I am damaged goods.  

When I started to the process to buy my home,  I began praying earnestly for the changes coming in my life.  And for several in particular.   I began praying boldly.   While I am stubborn and take my time getting around to my "ah huh" moments, before I get it, God was busy working on my behalf. He was behind the scenes all the while paving the way and preparing for when I finally did get it! Gosh, I bet there are sometimes He'd just like to smack me upside the head!!!  Sometimes, I wish He would. Sometimes I wish He would put up a sign...a flashing neon sign!   WELL......He sorta has been ever since I threw up my hands and said "God, please take this and you know my heart what my heart's desire is and has been for so long....please stop allowing me to control things and work all things for the good in YOUR time. Help me to see that You are here and working."

HUGE Sign number one: the "What's Your Story Conference"  at my church.   I've known for so long that what I've come through that I one day would have my story to tell and that someday perhaps God could use my story to bless someone else.  When I began seeing the advertisements for the conference, and thought to myself, well I am so not there yet.  I am not ready for a conference like this, I was definitely not ready to share my story, because honestly I hadn't given it  ALL to my Father God.  But God whispered in my ear and said,  "you're not ready to share your story, but ARE you ready to give up and let Me take over now? I want you to share your story next, Marcy"    So why not?!?!   I am SOOOO ready!  Obviously the premise of that conference weekend was women sharing their stories of their faith and how God has used circumstances in their lives to reveal Himself and strengthen and transform their lives into something glorious!  

This was the sign sitting across the way from us yesterday
while I was getting to know someone pretty amazing that I truly
believe that God has brought into my life to
 help me complete
my story.........

The past year has been full of "signs" that have come across my path, sayings, quotes, scriptures, friends, strangers, tell me you have a story, you will someday share that story, and your story is about to change but to change for the better. Just give up and let God do what He's been wanting to do for so long.

I was so blessed by that weekend and filled with hope and encouragement and proof that God is so working on my behalf and all I need to keep doing is allowing Him to continue to hold the reigns.

HUGE Sign number two:    I met someone yesterday that I had met online...LOL (okay, another one of those little signs, cause just about every speaker last weekend met their best friend, and mate online) ....and we went to the local mall to relax and talk.  As we were sitting there chatting and sharing our lives with each other, I glanced across the way and notice a sign for Books-a-Million,  and it said "Your Next Chapter Starts Here"!!!  WOW!!!!  Another God moment!!!!  WOW!

I don't know what God has in store for this new relationship that I have started or the new job I will be starting, or for when or IF  I will share my story at the next What's Your Story Conference, but I do know He is in control.  And I do know He has given my such a peace.  AND I FINALLY stopped shaking my fist at Him for the heart ache I've endured the last so many years....I am not a victim!  I am a survivor and I have a story!!!

Love the Steven Curtis Chapman song,  Glorious Unfolding.....the theme song for the conference AND my life!!  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GKMjEvF2Fkw

My story is so far from over!   I just have to keep believing and hold onto every promise that God has made to me.....  I can't wait to be amazed!!!  

~Wordless Wednesday~ Going Pink!!!

Dare to Dream Again, going Pink for Kate!!!    http://www.thechroniclesofcancer.com/

October ~ Breast Cancer Awareness~

We all know every October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. I try to wear pink every day in order to show my subtle support for a dear friend of mine, Kate, who is currently battling breast cancer and my cousin who lost her battle with it several years back.  My grandmother had it, and I have had my own scare with it. And while I was in the waiting area a few years ago awaiting to undergo my own biopsy, I sat in the hall way with a young lady in her 20's who had just been told she had it.  In her 20's!!!  What the heck?!?!    So many lives are touched by this as well as other cancers!  I hate cancer!  So because breast cancer has touched so closely to home for me, I want to advocate for it as much as possible!

Fact:  Did you know that 50-75% of breast cancers begin in the milk ducts.  10-15% begin in the lobules.  A few begin in other breast tissues.  This and other breast cancer facts and statistics can be found at: http://ww5.komen.org/BreastCancer/WhatisBreastCancer.html 

I want to share with you my friend Kate's Story....Kate is my hero!  

There was a girl named Kate. And a boy named Steve. They were both firefighters and EMTs that worked together and they fell in love. Kate found out she was pregnant, and life was good. Kate and Steve went for their first ultrasound and found our that their baby, a daughter, was very sick. Kate and Steve named their baby girl Shannon. Shannon was born and went straight to the neonatal intensive care unit where she lived for 3 beautiful days. Kate and Steve's hearts broke and they started to try again but were met with more heartache when their pregnancy ended in miscarriage. Then Steve decided to follow his dream of becoming a police officer. As Steve started the police academy, Kate found out she was pregnant again. They welcomed a set of twin girls, Grace and Lily, 6 weeks early. Grace and Lily spent 2 weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit before they came home. Life was good again. When Grace and Lily were almost a year old, Kate and Steve found out they were expecting again, and to their dismay, doctors said they would lose the baby because of two pregnancy complications. The baby held on, and they named him Stephen Jay (SJ). Stephen was born nearly 8 weeks premature after Kate nearly hemorrhaged to death. Stephen had a rough first year, and had many health problems but Steve found a full time job at a great station, the family moved to a wonderful neighborhood and life was good yet again. When SJ was almost 3, he was diagnosed with a plethora of conditions that required intensive speech and physical therapy 6 times a week. Kate noticed a mass in her breast but was focused on SJ and getting him on track. Just when the family started to adjust and life was good again, Kate started to notice a lot of changes in her breast and decided to make an appointment to get it checked out. At only 28 her biopsy revealed breast cancer and Kate was sent to have scans of the rest of her body. Only a week after her 29th birthday Kate was admitted to the hospital. Then Steve and Kate received the worst news of their lives: Cancer was found in both of Kate's breasts, her liver, right shoulder joint, right ribs, and three places in her Thoracic spine down through her Lumbar spine in to her pelvis. Kate was officially fighting Stage IV Metastatic Breast Cancer and had a less than 5% chance of her ever being "cured". A couple months in to he treatment, Kate was diagnosed with Li-Fraumeni syndrome, a rare disorder that greatly increases the risk of developing several types of cancer, particularly in children and young adults.

Please follow Kate and her journey at:

http://www.thechroniclesofcancer.com/

Recipe ~ Nothing Says Autumn Like Football and Some Sauerkraut Chowder!!!

I LOVE fall!  I love football and soup!  Today on this brisk Sunday what says home comfort more than a good bowl of soup, snuggled up on the couch watching your favorite team...in my case, the Pittsburgh Steelers!!!

Sauerkraut Chowder!!  A co worker of mine had some at work that  she had purchased from a fall festival about a week ago.  So I decided to Google that...and find a recipe and try it out for myself!!  YUMMMO!!!


Recipe as follows:

4-5 russet potatoes, peeled and chopped
1 large can of sauerkraut
kielbasa (optional) or I saw recipes that used ham...
1 block of cream cheese, I used reduced fat cream cheese
1 can of evaporated milk
Season of your choice, I used onion, salt and pepper.

Boil potatoes until soft, add other ingredients cook for about half an hour!

EASY PEASIE!!  

I thought of adding corn, maybe next time I try this I will do so.  But seriously there are tons of recipe ideas out there online or just use what you've got!  I'm all about using what ingredients I can find in my cabinet and making it work!!


What a great recipe for a cool autumn day!  OH!!!  And my Steelers won!!   GO STEELERS!!!!  

Happy Sunday!