DAY ONE: The Big C

I woke up early to get the kids off to school and then went to the school myself to read to McKenna's 2nd grade class. I was the "Mystery Reader" and was able to share a great pay it forward book with the kids titled "Ordinary Mary, Extraordinary Deed." What a great start to Day One!

Then, I got in my car and drove to church. 

It wasn't planned. 

I don't know anyone there. 

I just felt like that's where I needed to go. 

I wanted to talk to them about my kids. 

I needed advice on how to share my news. 

It ends up the counselor wasn't there (it was 8:45am - what was I thinking?) But God gifted me with two more angels in my path. I met a young girl named Alyssa Bowman and the Assistant Pastor, Mike Emerson. I shared with them my story and they were wonderful. Pastor Mike read from the Bible: 

James 5:13-16
The Prayer of Faith
¹³ Is anyone among you in trouble? Let them pray. Is anyone happy? Let them sing songs of praise. ¹⁴ Is anyone among you sick? Let them call the elders of the church to pray over them and anoint them with oil in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ And the prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well; the Lord will raise them up. If they have sinned, they will be forgiven. ¹⁶ Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.

And that they did. They prayed over me and Pastor Mike (an Elder in the church) anointed me with oil. We prayed for healing - either miraculously or medically -and for strength. I felt absolutely amazing when I left!!! 

But then I thought...I still need to figure out how to tell my kids!

I looked at my phone and saw I had several messages. One was from my oldest friend. My kindergarten BFF - the friend that I haven't seen in years but I always know loves me. The one that still tells signs off on phone calls with the phrase we used when writing notes to each other in elementary school - LYLAS (Love ya like a sis.) And then boom - it hit me...she's also a Youth Minister!!! SHE is who I needed to talk to. And there she was...just when I needed it. And so I called her back. And she gifted me with all the advice I needed.

You see, God does provide.

So here's the plan. We will see a reconstructive surgeon on Monday. We will follow-up with my breast surgery oncologist on Tuesday. I will be scheduled for a double mastectomy with a sentinel lymph node biopsy sometime in the next few weeks. While I wait for my surgery...

I will cherish my husband and let him be my shoulder to cry on.
I will smother my beautiful children with kisses.

I will lean on my amazing parents and allow myself to be their baby.
I will give lots of hugs to my wonderful friends.
I will ask for help when I need it.
I will try to smile as much as possible.

I will be thankful for each day that comes my way.
I will be thankful to have God’s grace and power in my favor.

I will also pray. 

Because I know that I will cry.
In fact, I know I will totally freak out at some point. 
And I will write...because this is therapeutic for me.
And I hope that this blog will save just one person!
And then, I will go from there.
One day at a time. 

(Continued)