Dixie Chicks - Wide Open Spaces

It's for Sta.

And God Gave Us Another Story

It seems almost unbelievable that 23 years ago tonight we waited for our second Story to come to us. I had all the reservations that any parent had, but I'll have to admit I openly wondered if I could love the second baby as much as Madison. Madison was our heart. She was full of life, giggles, and wonder. I would wonder how God could take the same two people and create something so totally different. Would this second child have my eyes, JW's nose and cheeks like Madi? Would this child come into the world and show us from the beginning that being left handed was what it was all about? Would he/she love Grover and Big Bird?

The next morning I woke in labor. We left behind our sweet little girl who was my heart to go get her 'My Baby JimBob' at the hospital. Labor was much easier than the first time around and after the epidural it was a piece of cake. At 4:59 pm our little Story made her entrance. JW, with tears in his eyes, exclaimed, "She looks just like Madi!". She immediately peed in the nurses face and I should have known then what a ride this was going to be. They laid her in my arms and I realized that Madi was my heart, but this little baby was my soul. She looked exactly like her big sister except for her tiny mouth. She was practically perfect in every way...just like Mary Poppins. "My Baby JimBob", as she had been referred to for 9 months now needed a proper name. JW wanted her named "Mary Grace", but I knew in my heart that this would be my Staley Truett. She shares my PaPaw's middle name.

I could not have been more wrong about not being able to love that precious little gift. She did have dark hair like her sister's, but her eyes started to lighten where Madison's got darker. She was definitely not a lefty and was very scheduled. You didn't mess with Staley when it came to her sleep.

Staley Truett has grown to be a loving, boisterous, talented young lady. In her blue eyes I see the one for whom she is named. She still loves her sleep and it's best to not mess with her. She has a big voice and loves to sing but only when she's ready. She loves her animals and her Bryan. Madison was a daddy's girl, Staley was mine. She has her daddy's way of not worrying and her momma's stubborn streak.

Where Madison has been my heart, Staley has been my soul. She is truly a gift from God and I thank Him everyday for this gift.

Happy Birthday, Staley Truett!! I love you immensely and forever.

Prejudice

In all of this gathering of information for the book I have come to realize something. The one thing in this world that is not prejudice in any way is the 'C' word. It does not stop at age. It cares nothing about the color of your skin. It shows no remorse for treating a female the same as a male. It never looks back when it affects a family.

In all of this I also see that God shows no prejudice either. That means there's more than one thing that shows no prejudice. He's there for everyone fighting the battle whether it's that cancer warrior fighting so bravely or the family and friends affected. God is mightier than all of Satan's evils...including cancer.

As this amazing journey continues I look so forward to the opening doors that God is leading me to. With each one I am changed in ways that words cannot explain. I see things so differently. Sometimes it's so sad that I melt into a puddle of tears and other times, I feel as though I will burst from the joy that I feel. In all of this, I continue to pray that God will use me as His instrument. I also pray that the stories we are telling will bring encouragement to those who are reading it.

Happy News

This morning when I got up I did my usual morning routine of showering and getting my pups outside and such. I was puttering around when I noticed that my phone was blinking signaling a message of some kind. I listened as it read back the number from the message and then the sweetest sounds came to me. It was my aunt, Deborah. She had received a wonderful report from her doctor. My heart almost burst and, of course, I shed some tears. I thanked God for His great works. How exciting it was to hear her voice so full of joy. I saved the message and then noticed that I also had a text. I checked it to find that Brandi was also sharing the wonderful news.

I am finding in talking to each of these special people who have shared their stories that they can each tell you specific dates like when they were diagnosed, the days that they started certain treatments and drugs, and the day the doctor tells them they are cancer free. I hear from the families of those who are victorious and win the war to go on and live in Heaven about the final weeks, days, and hours. I just realized that I am doing the same.

On November 25th Deborah took Suzanne and I into her room to tell us that cancer had once again reared its ugly head. I know the dates of when she called me to come and cut her hair. I now know that February 18th was the day she left the message with the unbelievable good news that things were improving. It's also the day that I watched as she danced the Purple Glove Dance with Stanly County's DSS. The lyrics to the song we are using says it all and in those three and a half minutes I gloried in watching as she celebrated this small victory in this war.

Today I celebrate happy news. In the words of Taio Cruz,

I throw my hands up in the air sometimes
Saying AYO!
Gotta let go!
I wanna celebrate and live my life
Saying AYO!
Baby, let's go!

God is truly good everyday and especially February 18th, 2011.

Relay For Life Kickoff, 'Faces of the 'C' Word'

The Sunshine Is In Season

With each addition to the book comes feelings of joy and of sorrow. Today I spent a little while with Season Barfield. Season lost her mom to the 'C' word when she was eight years old. It seems so unfair to me that a child has to live without their parent. After a while with her and hearing her story, I began to realize what a strong, loving person Season really is. She has a huge heart, loves children, and in her you can see joy in her big smile. What was taken away from her at such a young age must have only made her stronger today. Without the death of her mom, I may not have ever been blessed to have met this sweet, caring person.

My day had some pretty rocky places in it and I could tell that Satan was trying his best to intervene in what I know is God's work. Season was God's way of saying, "It's all good, because I'm in control". I am so blessed to have met this bright ray of sunshine. She is a part of our Relay committee and now she's a part of my 'C' word family. Thanks, Season. Who knew that God could show me something way out in Cottonville? There may not be cell phone service there, but God sure is. I love you, girl. I know your mom looked down from Heaven and smiled.

More Threads in My Tapestry

The words to the Carole King song, Tapestry echo in my mind tonight as I reflect on today. Everyday and every person adds to our lives just like the threads that are woven in a tapestry. Some threads are bright and vivid while others are dark and dreary. The colors of purple, yellow, and orange are there to represent my precious Short Storys. The bright blue sapphire threads are there for JW. The soft browns are for our pups.

Through the building of 'Faces' I see so many more colors being added. The pinks are for the ones who have looked into the face of breast cancer. The bright lime green is there for sweet Tonia. The crimson threads grow more and more each day as I hear of everyone's faith in God. The crimson is for the color of the blood that Jesus shed for us. When I started this and had I reflected on the tapestry, I probably would have seen lots of black. I would have been so wrong. Through the blackness of this horrible disease shines the brightest colors, but the brightest would be the purple. Purple is the color of a survivor!! It's the color I would give to courage.
On Saturday when I spent the day with Miss Stanly County 2011, Brittney Summers, and her princess, Raeanna Eudy, I saw the colors of silver and gold added to my tapestry. It's the colors of the crowns they wore.

Today I photographed a lady who is honoring her uncle in the book. We did it after the dedication of her sweet little grandson at their church. After a little fussiness, we got the perfect shot with so much meaning behind it. What a blessing. I stand amazed that God somehow does the posing. As I have said before, it's His project. I'm just here to be the instrument.

My life has been a tapestry of rich and royal hue
An everlasting vision of the everchanging view
A wondrous woven magic in bits of blue and gold
A tapestry to feel and see, impossible to hold
~Carole King

What A Day!!

Today started with a bang. I had a wonderful session this morning with the new Miss Stanly County, Brittney Summers, and her sweet princess, Raeanna Eudy. They were full of life and participated in both the purple glove dance and 'Faces of the 'C' Word. My heart was so full to be around these two that give so willingly of their time and talent. God blessed me with this morning. It was dreary outside, but so bright inside. Brittney has devoted her platform to Relay For Life. Stanly County could not have a better person to represent us at Miss NC in the spring. I'm so thankful to Connie Goins at Jumpin' Jacks Coffee for letting us use her upstairs space for a bit. It was a door opened by God when we were desperately searching for a space.

I also photographed a wonderful lady who is a wife, a mom, a coworker, a friend, but most of all a survivor. She has a wonderful story that will no doubt show how courageous she was in her battle. She was 'sportin' her pink rhinestone breast cancer shirt. Wait until you see her beautiful picture!!!

After those two sessions I had the awesome opportunity to photograph a person who has been a long time friend. She taught my children at Millingport when they were young and our children all went to AHS together. Cheryl Edwards and her husband, Don, came into our home full of smiles and happy vibes. Cheryl now sports a new 'do'. It's the look of a survivor. I LOVE it!! Cheryl is a breast cancer survivor and her husband is also a survivor of the 'C' word. What a joy they are. It was nice to catch up for a bit and to learn that they still have some of Staley's artwork hanging in their home. No home is complete without some Story art.

My final session today was really, really special. I got to photograph Todd Coley and his little buddy, Brayden. Just 3 weeks after Todd's diagnosis of prostate cancer, his daughter found out that she was expecting her first baby. Todd is now cancer free. When you watch Todd with Brayden, you can see that cancer seems to make their relationship a bit sweeter. Every move that little Brayden makes is carefully watched by PaPaw. Todd and his wife, Brenda, have been dear friends for many years. I watched their children, Emily and Daniel, grow up. Every weekend is spent with their kids and that precious little gift known as Brayden Todd Russell.

As I say my prayers tonight, I will lift up those who are suffering from this wicked illness. I will praise Him for the blessings of each of these that I have gotten to know through His project.

Ice Is Not Always Cold

A year ago a friend of ours mentioned preparing and organizing meals for her best friend. Her friend had been diagnosed with lymphoma. She had 3 very young children and a husband. She mentioned her name, Tonia Icenhour. She was a teacher who her students affectionately called Mrs. Ice. As time passed, I heard that name several more times. There were churches praying for her and a 5k race was organized in her honor. I did not know this person but kept her in my thoughts and prayers.

When we held kickoff for Relay in January our speaker was a vivacious young woman with a bright smile, a lime green t-shirt, and a cute bow in her short, curly hair. She spoke of her battle with the illness that threatened her life. She told about her treatments and how now she is cancer free!!! That sweet little soul was Tonia Icenhour.

Tonia approached me about being a part of the book. She was just full of life and in her you could see that God was in complete control. After several emails and phone calls I could feel a connection with Tonia. We decided that sunrise would be when we did her photo session. Sunrise and sunset are her favorite times of the day.

At 6:00 am last Saturday I got up, showered, threw the backpack in the Buick and headed to Tonia's house. She and her husband, Dwayne, have a beautiful home up on a hill in the country. It was the perfect place to watch the sun come up. Tonia and I chatted and took pictures of one of God's greatest paintings. She told me how sunrises and sunsets look so different since cancer. She told me so many wonderful stories of her struggle while fighting this thing that had invaded her body and her family. They were stories of the kind acts of friends and neighbors. She showed me her beautiful home, her sweet sleeping little boy, her little girl Mollie's bedroom all pink and precious, the quilts that she has collected, family photos, where she sits to watch the birds eat, her sweet little Milas, but most of all she shared her Savior. Tonia's cancer had invaded her chest. She underwent chemo and radiation. No matter what cancer tried to take away from her, it could not take away her faith. Cancer wasn't the only thing that invaded her chest. God had invaded that space many years before. She says that cancer saved her. That's remarkable in my eyes that you can walk away from this thing with that attitude.

As our time came to a close I walked away from the 'Ice' house with a warmth that I cannot even describe. That warmth was knowing that I had not only found a wonderful friend, but that 'The Faces of the 'C' Word' truly is God's project. Those prayers were being answered. He is using me as his instrument and in the middle of it He is reshaping me. I guess I can say that the 'C' word is saving me, too.

Every morning this week I have thought about Tonia and wondered if she saw the sunrise and the sunsets. I will NEVER look a them the same. Those beautiful works of God's art are warmer because of Ice. Thank you, Tonia. I am blessed beyond measure that God put us on the same path. I love you.

The Making of the 'C' Word.

It's so funny how when we look back at our past we see the things that God had in store for us down the road. In 2005 I lost my sweet PaPaw. Hospice was so good to him. In a mere matter of months they were there to take care of my Grandma Forrest. Grandpa Forrest passed away not long after and Hospice was there once again. I had decided that to give back to them I would do a photography book with the proceeds going to their great cause. For reasons I did not understand, the book never went anywhere. I was discouraged, but I never let the idea go away.

In the spring of 2010, I decided to mention it to Brandi, my 'cousin-in-law'. She had just been chosen to be over Stanly County's Relay for Life. She said the best thing we could do was to present it to the committee and see what would happen. I did my homework, practiced what I would say, packed away a special photo that I would use to 'pull their heartstrings', and said a prayer. How was I to know what God had in store? The committee accepted with open arms. I was thrilled. The picture had done its job.

We decided that our best bet would be to create a preliminary book using images and stories of the committee members,including my picture. We're all there for a reason, right? The book became one of those things that I would think about often and work on a little until Thanksgiving. What started out as a wonderful family gathering with lots of noise and laughter soon changed when my cousin, Suzanne, and I were asked go join our aunt Deborah in her bedroom. The door was closed and we both sat at the foot of Deborah's bed. Deborah turned to us and in the bravest voice she told us that her cancer which was defeated 15 year prior had returned. It was in her lung and it sounded bad. She handed us the report she had received and I handed it to Suzanne. She, like most everyone else in our family, is in the medical profession. What was I suppose to get from it? From Suzanne's expression I knew it was not good, but that was ok because we had seen cancer before and had beaten it. After some tears and some words of encouragement from Deborah, we went back to be with the family. My mind could not wrap around what we had been told.

That night I lay awake and in the stillness I came to realize that the book was to become my obsession. I had to tell the stories of anyone and everyone that was willing to put their hearts out there. I created the preliminary book which included that same picture I presented to Hospice several years earlier. I would, in some way, shape, or form, find a way to make this a success. My prayer that night was that God would give me whatever it took to do this. I prayed that He would use me as His instrument to show His mighty works in all of these people. I never knew where that prayer was going to take me.

The kickoff for Relay was in early January and after a brief description of what we were doing, I took my place at the table with that little preliminary book and a video. I could not even start to describe the high I was on. People came wanting more information and to tell me their stories. One little middle school girl came to me and in her sweet words she said, "I think this is a really great thing you are doing. Good luck with it." She touched my heart so deeply. She was there in support of her teacher, Mrs. Icenhour, aka Mrs. Ice. God had put her there because He knew that this hard headed girl needs a lot of prodding. When kickoff ended that night, I left with a handful of forms and so much in my heart I barely slept.

That's been almost a month now. Everyday I hear from someone who has had cancer, someone who is fighting the battle, or a family member of someone who has 'won the ultimate war' and now live in Heaven. God is bringing them out of the woodwork. My life changes with every experience I have with these people. There's not a day that goes by that I don't cry for their sorrows and laugh for their joys and accomplishments. God is doing great things in my life right now and I thank Him so much for the paths He is taking me on. What blessings I have received.

At the end of the day, everyday, I thank Him for His wonderful blessings. I pray for each of these people I now consider a part of my new famiy, the family of cancer. And just before I end my prayer I pray for that strong, precious lady who I love like my own mother, my Aunt Deborah. Without this horrible, terrible, no good, rotten illness I would not have known these people and their stories. Cancer truly is an ugly word, but the faces of it are so beautiful.