Courage

I've come across a new and awesome website called (in)courage. It's a blog site meant to (in)courage christian women created my Dayspring (the Christian equivalent of Hallmark). I love it! They have (in)couraged all bloggers to write about what courage means to them. I'm not the greatest writer, but I will give it a try.


I see courage through the eyes of an 8-year old little girl. An 8-eight year old girl that was diagnosed with cancer. After hearing her diagnosis, this little girl (might I remind you again...she's EIGHT) says, "I'm gonna be okay. With God and my great doctors, I'll get through this." Oh, the courage and faith of a child. Throughout a surgery, chemo treatments, shots, losing hair, feeding tubes and throwing up, I NEVER saw this little girls courage waiver. I never heard her complain. In fact, most of my visits to see her involved laughter and jokes. She taught me how to fart with a bendy straw and my armpit (a trick she learned from the nurses on her floor at the hospital). If people looked at her differently, she had the courage to tell them what was wrong with her, before they would even ask.

An 8-year old girl taught me what courage really is! I don't think courage is necessarily about being brave. I think it is about a CHOICE. In life, we will all be faced with hardships at some time or other. Some peoples tough times will be tougher than others. I think the choice you make can make these hardships easier or more difficult. I also think courage is about FAITH in God. He tells us to have courage and He will not leave us or forsake us. Will you have the courage of the 8-year old girl?

Most of you know that this girl is my cousin, Kristin. She is now 10 plus years cancer free. Praise God! This sweet girl, her sister and mom and dad are wonderful people. In fact, her sister Kelcee was just baptized this past Sunday. Congrats Kelcee...love you girl!

I know I am not the most eloquent writer, but that is what courage is to me...it's about making a choice and having faith. I (in)courage you to check out this new website and blog about what courage is to you. I have been blessed and hope you will, too.

Hero

The CyberSisters topic this week was to tell a little about your hero or your inspiration. It is probably no suprise to most of you that my hero is my younger cousin, Kristin. She is a cancer survivor. Her testimony is powerful and will bring chills all over your body! I will never forget the day she was diagnosed. She cried for quite a while (what 8 year old wouldn't have!), but then she stopped and told her parents it would be okay because she had the best doctors in the world and God would take care of her. Talk about FAITH!! When I think of Kristin, I think of this passage fromthe bible, and am reminded of the kind of faith I should have...

2He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. 4Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Matthew 18:2 - 4

Thank you Kristinl, for your boldness and your faith! You are such an amazing person!!

Kristin's Sr Pictures

Last night, we braved the weather and took some of Kristin's senior pictures. Many of you that read my blog have read previous posts about my awesome cousin, Kristin. Gosh, I can't believe she's old enough to graduate. It sure doesn't seem like she should be. We are planning to take some more this week if the weather cooperates, but still, we got some really good ones, considering we were a bit rushed. Kristin, you are beautiful inside and out, such a joy to be around and an inspiration to me and so many others. I am so proud of you!! I had a blast with all of you last night. I always seem to laugh so hard when we are all around each other! Thanks for a fun evening!