12.25.11 CHRISTmas

As I snuggle into my bed this Christmas night, I realize I have so very much to be thankful for! First for my LORD and SAVIOR born this day. Without Him, I would haven't made it one day, one good day or bad or in between. I have made it, 8 months and 4 days from my diagnosis. I have felt good, bad, ugly, beautiful, unloved, loved, alone, and crowded, high and low. And through ALL of this I have been held in the very palm of God's own hand. Second on this Christmas night I thank God for my husband and my kids. I told Bill tonight, you have been my strength, an instrument of God. I love him so much, words...words are just words when I want to express. He has held me up and grounded me, he has protected me and listened to every cry (good and bad). He has guided and sheltered his family in the very wings God gave him. I want to say I love you to Billy, Olivia and Elizabeth. I know NO OTHER children stronger than them. They have loved me through the storm and showed me what a great mom I am, because of what GREAT children they are. Billy you take care of me so much and answer to my every need when I was so very sick! Olivia you encourage me with your words everyday whether I am weak or strong, YOU make me feel so VERY strong and able to fight this fight! Elizabeth, my little Lelly, you have given me a mother's heart and love! You have shown me patience and FUN. You have shown me God's love in your little hands and arms with your hugs! My dad, my dad, my dad, I am BRAVE, because YOU are brave. I only know bravery by seeing it in you! You let me cry and hold it all in for me. I heard once how we see our earthly fathers can shape how we see our HEAVENLY Father, and how I see my Heavenly Father in you! Eric, I know you are there for me and I am so very grateful for the life you live and the joy you bring! Candy, Rachelle, and Sarah, sisters, thankful for allowing me to share and giving me the joy of my neices and nephews! (Props to your hubbies too!) Cristina, God has brought us together and I am so happy to be a living testimony in our relationship of HIS unending love! Okay, okay, getting there! My facebook friends, Sarah, Mindy, Paul, Kathleen, Adam, Mary, Justeena, Tera, Candace, Kristina, Scott, Jeremy, Melissa,Mel, Colleen, Dave and the other 400 of you... I wish I could tell you in words, on my worst day I would log on, and there YOU were going through this with me! To Kim, Kristy, and Wendy, we found each other, because of cancer! Cancer made us friends and we will be FOREVER friends! I love you my Church. YOU have been the instrument of upholding me with unseen arms and prayers that have ENTERED the very throne room of God. You have fed my family, cleaned my home, cared for my children and held me in the biggest of all hugs EVERYDAY! I LOVE YOU. And to my Minto family, your love has been felt and I have heard your very cries for me, and YOU WILL BE BLESSED. THIS I KNOW, GOD HAS SOMETHING BIG PLANNED FOR YOU, WATCH AND WAIT AND WORK! I have so many others you pray on a daily basis, thank you! This is my Merry Christmas to you. To all of you. To those who read once in awhile and those who read each and every post, I love you, God Bless you and Merry Christmas!