We Will Survive

Celebrate...Celebrate...Dance to the music...

Those words keep echoing through my brain today. They are words from a song from my teen years and oh, so, appropriate...I have reasons to celebrate...

I have freedom! The Lord Jesus Christ gave me freedom the day He hung on the cross and paid the price for my sins. He made THE greatest sacrifice of life that could ever be made, and He did it out of LOVE. It was the ultimate sacrifice of giving His life for me. Oh, it was a battle! He fought the greatest battle. Satan tried so hard for ages to stop Him. But He did it. And He gave His life for us all! He set us free! And I've been celebrating ever since!

I have freedom! Today is the 4th of July. A great day in America. It is a day of celebration commemorating our independence from Great Britain. The words of the Declaration of Independence were penned and signed on July 4, 1776 declaring our freedom. It is the birthday of the United States of America. And we've been celebrating ever since!

I have freedom! Yesterday I saw my oncologist for my 6 week "after chemo" checkup. After the exam, he looked at me with a beaming smile and said "Everything looks great, and your scan is clean..looks like you're free!" All I could do was smile. God is so good! He has taken us through so many hurdles in this battle. He is the victor...and we've been celebrating...We are dancing to the music of His love!

Celebrate with us. Click on the link for a display of fireworks..turn your volume up and celebrate! Dance with me.

http://www.maylin.net/Fireworks.html

There are several people writing on this blogsite who I would really like to post a comment to, but you haven't enabled the "comments".

To "Walking a Fine Line", I would say just tell God how you're feeling - you might as well tell Him cause He knows it anyway because He knows you. Just like your own children come to you - He's waiting for you to go to Him -- He's your Abba, your Daddy. He wants to hear YOUR voice. He probably just misses you. I'm praying for you. Remember, He's thinking of you...

Another friend asked me today to pray for her...her family is in crisis...

I believe in prayer. I cherish prayer. I cherish just the thought that He wants me to speak to Him. I cherish Him.

I cherish what He did for me. I treasure His love for me. He thought of me so very long ago..even before He died for me. In John 17:21-26 He prayed for me! He spoke to His Abba about me! He also included you! You need to read it for yourself...

Watch this video and remember...He thought of me...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4iuGKn7LuEQ&feature=related

Cancer is a fearful thing. Some people can't even say the word. They call it the "c" word. But from the very first time my doctor told me "It's cancer," I decided, I mean, I really decided in the depth of my soul that I would beat this thing -- this invader in my body.

I saw cancer not as a death sentence but as an invader trying to overtake the life in my body. Remember the old pacman game? That's how I see cancer. I see it going along gobbling up all my good cells and spitting out junk behind him -- distorted cells that do nothing to sustain life.

So I asked my Life Giver to intervene, and together we're winning the battle.

I've used the internet to learn all I could about this disease and how to use the wisdom of the medical field as well as cancer survivors to do what I could to take back the control over what I put into my body both physically and spiritually.

My Lord has truly been my Rock through all this. What would I do without Him? He has made me stronger. He has helped me to see what is really important.

So many people spend their days trying to fill their life with material stuff. They are driven to obtain more. They fill their house, then their garage to where their cars and SUVs sit out in their driveway, and then they put a storage shed in the back yard because the lawn mower can no longer fit in the garage! Meanwhile, even their families get squeezed into smaller spaces of their heart as they work and work to get more. And they try to justify their need by saying they're doing it for the kids to have more. How sad!

The hearts of people have drifted further away from the heart of God. People all around us have a great need for God, and they don't even see it! It's for us to show them God in our lives and as they see what we have in Him, they will want Him, too.

People have told me how courageous I am, how strong I am. Only God has given me the courage and strength I've needed. And then it's my responsibility to use it -- to face any fears I may encounter along the way.

Eleanor Roosevelt once said, "You gain strength, courage and confidence by every experience in which you really stop to look fear in the face. You must do the thing that you think you cannot do."

Proverbs 3:25-26 says, "Be not afraid of sudden fear, neither of the desolation of the wicked, when it comes; for the Lord shall be thy confidence, and shall keep thy foot from being taken."

He is my confidence.

What are you afraid of?

Today is a beautiful day! It's full of life all around me. Trees, grass, birds, a toad hopping over my lawn, even grasshoppers. The sky is clear blue, the sun is shining brightly. The very air smells of life. Life IS in the air!

Then why when I came in and checked my emails did I get that feeling in the pit of my stomach just reading the headings from a message on a webpage about ovarian cancer survivors where someone wrote about her doctor visit?

I've been keeping myself busy doing all the things I couldn't do when I was on chemo. And maybe I've been unconsciously avoiding my other website on ovarian cancer and those still in the midst of their battle. But I must always remember that "it" may never be gone and may show its ugly head once again.

But I have Life in me! Every day IS filled with hope! Breathe Him in!

To start your new day with Him, I share this video with you...

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X43XXpItGk0

Have a wonderful weekend! Enjoy God! Breathe Him in!

"Whereas you know not what shall be on the next day. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away." James 4:14

Do you know who you are? Do you know why you're here? And what are you doing about it?

These past few weeks, some of our neighbors have been feuding -- I mean really bad stuff. And they seem to be enjoying it -- enjoying the conflict and keeping things stirred up. And they seem to think everyone should join them.

Me? I've got too much living to do! I'm taking a meal to an unsaved lady who just had surgery this week. When I called, she seemed astounded that someone she hardly knew would do such a thing. I'm here today to brighten her day!

Another neighbor called today and asked if I'd want to walk a little in the neighborhood with her as her grandchildren rode their bikes. I said "Sure, I'd love to!"

I say, agree with God and make the most of your days -- live for Him and let your neighbors see it and just maybe -maybe want the Life you have. Not because of what we've done but because of who He is!

Here's a video for you.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZGU76is9BuY&feature=related

Ask yourself, "Who am I?"

After I got my last chemo, I thought I was doing pretty good, but after 2 weeks my blood counts started to drop, and by the 3rd week had pretty much bottomed out. When my doctor said I needed another blood transfusion, all I could think was "I have too much to do." Our pastors were coming for their Sat. morning breakfast the next morning, and our friends from Pennsylvania were arriving at suppertime. So I decided to go ahead with my plans. After our breakfast, I went up to Charlotte for my type and crossmatch of my blood. That would take off 2 hrs. before my transfusion time on Sunday.

Our friends came, and we had a nice time visiting. We left our friends at our house at 7am. That way they could take their time getting ready to go south, and we went back up to Charlotte. We finished by 1:30 and made it home by 2:30, just in time for an important meeting in our neighborhood. We accepted an invitation at a neighbor's house for a barbecue with several families afterward even though I was still very worn out. But it was  great to be able to speak of the Lord and what's happening in our world today. One lady is having surgery today and as she was leaving, I gave her a hug and told her I'd pray she'd have an easy time. She seemed surprised and smiled and said "I'd like that."

You know, even though I was extremely tired, I knew I wanted to serve our pastors their breakfast so Lennie could minister the Word to them. Our pastors give it out so much and also need to be ministered to.

I knew I wanted to be here for our weary travelers as they came on business to the south. It was a refreshing time with them.

And I knew I should be here for our neighbors who don't know the Lord. There are always opportunities to be understanding, to be giving of your time or share some of your food with them as we did. It wasn't hard, really. Oh, don't get me wrong. I'm no martyr! I did have the thought of how good it would feel to just go home to my sofa. But I've been praying for my neighbors for over 2 years -- even before they ever had a thought of moving here -- even when their yards were just "woods" that were still undeveloped.

So it was a very long but a very good day. The Lord took care of me through it all. Alot was accomplished. Even though we as cancer patients have alot on our plate, we can always find some place where we can serve the Lord and keep Him first in our life. Even if it's only serving someone breakfast or hugging someone and telling them you're praying for them, God uses us if we're just willing.

So I ask the Lord, "What's next?" Another day to live for Him!

Tuesday, June 3, 2008, a little boy arrived into this world name William Wallace Seyler, our fifth grandbaby. He weighed in at 8lbs. 3oz. and measured 20 1/2" long. Our son, Rob, named him after Sir William Wallace of Scotland. You may know him as he was portrayed in the movie "Braveheart".

Sir William Wallace was a hero of Scotland and a true patriot. His desire for peace and freedom united the clans. He gained the loyalty of the people, struck fear into his enemies and defied the cruel hand of an evil and invading King Edward 'Longshanks' Plantagenet I of England. William Wallace possessed one great strength -- the desire to be free.

This little boy born just two days ago -- will he grow up into a man like Sir William Wallace of Scotland? Maybe. What will his strengths be? Will his name inspire him to be a great leader?

What do we aspire to be?

My desire is to exemplify Christ in my life. To let others see Him in my life and want what I have -- freedom in Christ. He already paid the price. He already set the captives free. He paved the way for us to have peace. He took away all fear of death and set us free from the bondage of sin.

I've been through some hardships these last 6 months, but the Lord has fought some great battles for me. And what good would it have done if I didn't let Him lead me through it? Those around me wouldn't have seen this great victory we shared, the Lord and I. Those around me know I've given Him the glory through all this. It's given me great freedom to share my Lord with my neighbors and friends and caregivers in the medical field. On that note, it's been a great experience, a time of growing closer to my Lord, a time of sharing the life I share with Him with others.

Sir William Wallace once said, "It's all for nothing if you don't have freedom".

What does this world need? This world needs a William Wallace who had a love for Scotland who led the people to freedom from bondage.

What does this world need? This world needs all of us who love the Lord to lead the way to Christ to the millions around us who don't know the way. Let your light shine before men -- show the Light of Christ in your life, let it shine bright and sing a song of praise to God before them. Make it your life song.

Watch this video and think...

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vaia32TsPq0&feature=related

What is my lifesong?

Today I had to call AT&T when I realized the past 2 months they were double charging me for my internet. Even though I got disconnected, I called back, and of course, had to start all over again with the automated system to find someone to talk to. I started to feel a bit irritated but stayed calm and found Natasha to be very nice and in fact, solved the problem quite efficiently. I told her at the end of the converstation how nice she was, and she thanked me.

Did you know that people in the customer service arena are some of the most stressed out people because they aren't supposed to "lose their cool" with customers? They hold in all the stress and tend to have more health problems than those working other jobs. Even psychiatrists are known to have one of the highest suicide rates as they constantly hear and have to deal with all their clients problems.

Proverbs 17:22 says "A merry heart does good like a medicine, but a broken spirit drieth the bones." It's unhealthy to not have a happy heart.

So in 1Peter 3:8 Peter writes "be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous." 

We never know what someone else has gone through that day. How much more should we show the love of Christ to someone we meet in Walmart or a customer service representative on the phone?

Here's a short video to watch and then ask yourself as I have "Do I see them as the Lord sees them?"

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LfeXxkbgCVE

"Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom." Psalm 90:12

Doesn't it seem like time goes by so quickly? Since I don't sleep well at night, I usually fall asleep on the sofa in the early afternoon and time escapes my notice once again. Where has time gone?

As I started writing this, I was sitting in a recliner receiving my last chemo. Looking about me, I saw a room filled with others just like me who spend hours sitting in a  chair - some watching tv, some reading, some talking to a family member or friend - and some just sleeping as this life saving brew travels through their body.

It also gives opportunity to sit and contemplate in our mind about this life we live and what is really important to each of us.

This past week was a difficult week for our family. Lennie's dad came home from the hospital and under hospice care. He's 83 yrs. old and lives in Pennsylvania. We decided to wait until Thursday to leave for our trip up to Penna. so I could get over my sick days after chemo. Our oldest son, Rob, flew into Phila. airport so we picked him up on our way up.

It was a busy time visiting Pop and the whole family as well as mine, meals, hugs and kisses and lots of loving. Pop rallied and enjoyed it all. He even decided to go to his granddaughter's house for dinner one night, walked around the yard and even started singing his little jingles known to all the grandchildren and great grandchildren, but by Sunday he was having a very hard time again.

Rob has been working on the family geneology for years now consisting of Pop's army records, pictures, rubbings from family tombstones, all kinds of birth and death records back to the early 1800's, newspaper articles - it's very well done. He decided we should drive around to get photos of the hospital where he was born, the houses he grew up in, my high school and Lennie's, the church we were married in, etc. We also went back to the cemetery to take photos of family tombstones of relatives gone before us.

As we looked at each tombstone and the dates on it, we wondered how they spent their days - what they spent their time doing. From the day they were born to the day they died, what happened between that dash inscribed on that stone? What was important to them?

Something to think about. How will we be remembered? What filled our days? What will our friends and family remember about us?

Watch this short video and think...

How are you spending your dash?

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MPyu4M2di8U 

Well, I missed yet another chemo...my last one.  I came down with bronchitis which in itself whould've postponed my chemo but also had a low red cell count. The doctor's office called and wanted me to have another transfusion, but I asked if we could wait the weekend and see how I do. They said okay. At least I wasn't sick on Mother's Day.

Our boys don't live near us but always keep in touch with me. Our youngest, Josh and his wife called from Orlando where they were vacationing for a week to celebrate their second anniversary.  It's good they could get away together as he travels for his job all week and they only see each other on weekends.

We spent a quiet weekend together. My husband watched me like a hawk always worrying I would get too dizzy and faint (which I only did once)! We went out to dinner with our friends and went back to their house and had coffee and sat out on their back porch and talked until it got dark. It was a nice time.

As for all you mothers, I leave you with a video to watch. You'll no doubt find yourself as this mom sings a song to us all! Enjoy! And Happy Mother's Day!

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYZ7EMoMu64