What a year it was! I know some of you are going to be amazed that I finally posted on this blog! I think 2010 was the fastest year of my life with alot of it being a blur! We began the year with traveling to Ethiopia to bring home Kidist. I think this was the highlight of the year and we are forever changed because of this trip. God opened our eyes to a whole other world of need and showed us that He is at work there. We are eager and willing to follow where ever God may lead to help these starving people (starving for HIM and for HOPE)
Kidist came home with us the last week of January. This past week we thought about all the things that have been 'new' for her! A home, family and extended family, language..now fluent English, food, church, sunday school, pre-school, underwear (yes..they didn't wear underwear at the orphanage) brushing her teeth, toys, clothes in a closet, sitting in a car seat with a seatbelt (no seatbelts in Ethiopia!), a toilet that flushes, sitting by the table to eat, Chauncey (our dog) ...I will never forget the scream when she was greeted at the door by Chauncey! She has been an incredible Joy and Blessing to our family! She has the best laugh and is almost always happy! She is a trooper too....
After being home for 4 months, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was the week before school got out for the summer. After finding the lump, I was tested for the breast cancer genes which came out the be positive for the BRCA2. With this gene you have up to an 85% chance of getting breast cancer....so surgery needed to be a double mastectomy. This happened on June 17. With Gods grace and support from so many we made it through the next 2 months. Our kids spent the first couple weeks of summer with family and friends. November 3 I had laproscopic surgery to take my ovaries out because of the high risk of ovarian cancer with the BRCA2 gene. Then, on December 10 we were able to celebrate my last reconstruction surgery! I am cancer free!
This year, 2010 has been a year that we have felt Gods presence in a way like never before! He walked right by our side and we felt it. We were covered in prayer by so many and we felt it! We were blessed by the support and love of so many and we have been blessed in being able to truly see each day as a gift.
The Waiting Room by Johnny Diaz
chorus: You have a much better purpose
You have a far greater plan
You have a bigger perspective cause you hold this world in your hands
It is my prayer for 2010 that whatever comes our way, we will know it has passed through HIS hands first and that we can trust HIS perfect plan!
