Fabulous Fall!

It's been awhile since I have posted. That's because I have been out enjoying the fun Fall things that were already on my calendar before I was aware that breast cancer had taken residence in my body. I have been blessed to take a weekend trip to Gatlinburg in September along with selling Keychains at my church craft fair. So far in October my Fall blessings include a fabulous Caribbean cruise and next week I am honored to help with a baby shower for a coworkers son and wife welcoming their first child.

Today... I have the pleasure of selling Keychains at the annual Harvest Days Craft Festival at Cannonsburgh in Murfreesboro. Many of you know that I hand make and sell wristlet Keychains to pay for mission trips for my daughter and myself.  My dear daughter Abi has been traveling to LaCumbre Dominican Republic with my church for the past 5 years. That means she went on her first trip at age 12 without a parent and God tied her heart to that community. In January she will make her 7th trip to LaCumbre.  While there the team forms relationships with the community which is made up highly of single mothers who turn to prostitution to provide for their families. In March the team took 8 sewing machines, much fabric and sewing notions. They are teaching a core group in the local church to make items to sell. This core group and the team will in turn work with others in the community to learn how to earn income while being able to turn away from prostitution. This wonderful project is made possible by the contributions of many kind people.

In addition to the DR mission trips, Abi and I both have been able to spend a week in summers past serving with my church at a summer camp for special needs children in Missouri. Camp Barnabas is also near and dear to our hearts where we have met and made special friendships with campers and volunteers.

Thinking back to Harvest Days at Cannonsburgh. It was one year ago at this same event that my attention was drawn to a couple approaching my area. The young mother was a beautiful lady who was wearing a black head wrap and pushing a stroller with a young child. The husband was walking with the older but young child and wearing a sweatshirt that said "Occupy The Altar". For some reason I continued to watch them and admire the beauty of the mom who was obviously in the midst of breast cancer survival herself. As she walked past she turned and spoke to her husband. He then returned to my booth and left a contribution for Abi along with some booklets of "Gospel of John". He explained that his organization travels to different events sharing the plan of salvation. This past Spring "Occupy the Altar" contributed 100s of the booklets to be distributed in the DR along with a monetary donation for Abi' s trip this past Spring.  I don't begin to think that the meeting of this lovely couple was at all a coincidence. I truly believe that it was God crossing our paths to share in the mission of spreading His word and love as well as show me just how beautiful a breast cancer survivor and her family can be through the entire journey.   On that day in October I wondered why I
was so drawn to watch this family and now I know why!  Thank you Lord for preparing my heart and mind for this journey that You will see me through!

Enjoy this beautiful day we are blessed with.
And now the time draws near to surgery day on November 6, 2014