Release countdown…
"I want to be like the maple...bending, yet standing tall, ever growing, gracious, faithful, unafraid to let go, still and knowing, welcoming change, filled in abundance, deeply rooted. That last one the most. Deeply rooted I long to be." -wait for the sun ...1 DAY TILL BOOK RELEASE!
"A verse I'd started clinging to hard during that time was Isaiah 43:2. Committed to memory by that point, it was my heart's cry there on the floor.... When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze." -wait for the sun ...2 days till book release!
"blue chair of choice" -wait for the sun ...3 days till book release
"If you sat in that corner chair and watched them inject that poison that's stronger than the cancer (thank God) into that port line... thank you." -wait for the sun ...4 days till book release!
"And with their beautiful, cheering smiles, the awesome nurse navigators (the Jessies') also popped in. They were always warm sunshine on hospital visits." -wait for the sun ...5 days till book release!
"Though I was late, I was grateful she beat me there. Having to be somewhere I didn't want to be and receiving a touch of love right when I walked in, so thoughtful. A big touch of silver needed and savored." -wait for the sun ...6 days till book release!
"The large gaps, 'when I couldn't be mama,' were faithfully filled by so many...thank you. To the village, it took all of you..." -wait for the sun ...7 days till book release!
"The wig was its own kind of lie and I made peace with it for some perceived normal. ... In Pinocchio's voice, often chanting in my head, 'I'm a real girl, look at this hair!' Lies I told myself." -wait for the sun ...8 days till book release!
"I can't know what it's like to have never been told "it's not benign...it's cancer." I can never forget hearing a perceived worst reality come true." -wait for the sun ...9 days till book release!
"The well of my soul was so full in those weeks and months after finishing treatment. There was gladness and also sadness. There were simple moments where all I could (or wanted to) fathom was the world right in front of me." -wait for the sun ...10 days till book release!
"I wore an elephant shirt for treatment number eleven. Not subtle in the least, the elephant's face covered the whole front of my shirt-it was a big elephant... Treatments were very much my elephant." -wait for the sun ...11 days till book release!
"...pause here to iterate, I have really great friends. They show up for me, always." -wait for the sun ...12 days till book release!
"I thought they were fascinating birds to watch. I recall one quiet moment, being captivated and observing one. As I watched, he frantically tried to get to the feeder but seemed deterred and I think frustrated by my presence. I was impressed and amused when he finally decided to dive in anyways." -wait for the sun ...13 days till book release!
"Islands I concede can be quiet and lonely places. Thankful then and now for the bridge I was nudged to build to mine." -wait for the sun ...14 days till book release!
"a special "survivor walk" waiting just for me. Aluminum casserole pan luminaries... My sister's in Christ, my circle...once again showing grace, love and humor." ...15 days till book release!
"...he was the first person to ever teach me the beauty in truly wanting the best for someone else...we couldn't have known we would never, could never, be the same after." -wait for the sun ...16 days till book release!
"My daughter was my ray of sunshine...bright shining light amidst so much darkness." -wait for the sun ...17 days till book release!
"Blessing my heart when passing by, consoling me with little pats, looking me intently in the eyes... Though just a little boy, he was a rock to me in many ways." -wait for the sun ...18 days till book release!
"...everyday was a choice, challenge, privilege, etc. to decide how I would see it and make it fit all together. Life, right?" ...19 days till book release!
"Granny was my first best friend." -wait for the sun ...20 days till book release!
"The precious in my arms, the beauty in front of me, the forever friend by my side. It was a moment of simple things and real gladness to be there." -wait for the sun ...21 days till book release!
"All of His creation meant to contrast in our own way, cancer just happened to be part of mine. My story, written by His hand." -wait for the sun ...22 days till book release!
"...the greatest thing they ever taught me about loving well is "showing up." In all of life, the thing is, either you do or you don't. As simple and hard as that. And they showed up-they always have, and I believe they always will." -wait for the sun ...23 days till book release!
Good morning and thanks for following along ☺️📖🫶🌄 ...25 days till book release!
"...no longer naive. I wished I could reach back and whisper knowingly to myself. This will all pass and it's okay." -wait for the sun ...26 days till book release!
"I could not have known how the moment of not seeing or feeling the cancer was about to end." -wait for the sun 27 days till book release!
"I was getting the lie off my head and taking charge of when and where. But all my puffiness aside, nervous me was also scared because I knew there was no going back." -wait for the sun ...28 days till book release!
5.3.24 | "The before space also found me sometimes swallowed in moments where I felt like I was not enough. Not surprising really...so much all-at-onceness. Life always moving and changing." -wait for the sun ...29 days till book release!
5.2.24 | "I remember us sitting with them in our room one night during all the unearthing. I'm sure we thought our faces were brave, looking in their sweet, confused eyes, delivering our rehearsed explanation." -wait for the sun ...30 days till book release!
5.1.24 | "Yellow Daisy. Yellow like sunshine. That was my pick, and I took the blue chair right underneath." -wait for the sun ...31 days till book release!
4.30.24 | Countdown STARTS tomorrow