Mellette Berezoski Design

Yummy

2008-03-11T15:38:00.004-05:00

...is what I call the new idea book by Autumn Leaves. The Designing With Recipe Book includes 100 inspiring pages with a step by step 'recipe' to follow for creating each layout. Once again, Autumn Leaves delivers a beautifully photographed publication full of great tips and techniques to get your creative juices flowing.

As an added feature, the DW Recipe Book is spiral bound and lays flat, making it easier to follow the recipes without the pages turning while cooking up your creative masterpiece.Another bonus: the chapters are divided according to the number of photos on each layout. So it's simple to find just the right recipe you're looking for.

I have two copies of Autumn Leaves' new Designing With Recipe Book that I'd love to share with you! Just post a comment on the link below anytime from now until Sunday evening. I'll randomly draw two names and announce the winners here on my blog Monday morning.

Good luck everyone! Don't forget to post!

Congratulations

2008-03-17T19:14:00.004-05:00

...to Heather

...and to Liza!

You are the winners of the Autumn Leaves idea book drawing! To receive your copy of the Designing With Recipe Book, please click on my profile and send me an email with your address and phone number. I'll ship the books out this week. Thanks for playing and congratulations!

The Graduate

2008-05-21T12:25:00.013-05:00

Hi there! It's been a while since I've posted. The end of the school year is always pretty crazy around our house. My parents are visiting for the summer and we are all so excited that they're here! I've been working on some projects for Autumn Leaves using their Clear Stamps, which I love. If you're new to stamping or just need some fun, clever ideas for your stamping projects, check out AL's Perfectly Clear book. It's full of inspiring and creative ways to make the most of your clear stamps.

On another note, we attended our nephew's graduation a few weeks ago. Nick is the younger brother of our niece, Becca, who passed away in February. Despite a very emotional and trying semester, Nick graduated Summa Cum Laude from Lamar University with a degree in Electrical Engineering. No doubt he has an incredibly promising future ahead, and we look forward to watching him discover and fulfill the great purpose God has for him.

And I do believe Becca was cheering the loudest as he walked across that stage and received his diploma.

Congratulations, Nick! We are so proud of you!

Meet Kellie

2008-06-07T12:48:00.005-05:00

This darling layout was created by Kellie Hirohata of her adorable son, Bradley at 3 months old. I love how the large pattern paper heart grounds the sweet photo. And being the flower fanatic that I am, I love that she wasn't afraid to use flower embellishments on a boy page. Awesome job, Kellie!

Materials used:
Cardstock: Bazzill; Pattern paper: BasicGrey (floral), Crate Paper (black), and 7 Gypsies (tape measure); All flower embellishments: Mellette Berezoski by Design; Metal photo corner: Maya Road; Metal label holder: Stampin' Up; Rub-on alphas: American Crafts; Clear plastic and small alphas: Heidi Swapp for Advantus; Acrylic paint and tag: Making Memories; Ribbon: BasicGrey; Epoxy letter sticker: Prima Marketing; Black pens: EK Success and Sharpie; Metallic gold dots: Crystaline; Other: thread and embroidery floss.

If you've created a layout that uses products from my Etsy store and would like to share, please email me a scan or digital photo. I will feature a new layout every few weeks, and if your page or project is chosen, you'll receive a little gift from me:)

Meet Linda

2008-07-09T15:40:00.008-05:00

This adorable layout was created by Linda Auclair from beautiful New Hampshire. I'm loving the way she used one of my button flowers as a tag pull for the cute journaling pocket. Very clever idea, Linda! The sweet photo of her oldest daughter after getting her long hair cut into a darling bob is one of Linda's favorites. Linda is a mom to three kids (a son who is 21 and two girls ages 8 and 6) and has been scrapping for six and a half years. She has designed for several websites over the years, but makes her online "home" at A Peek Into Yesterday. She is also a proud member of the Creative Imaginations design team. Fabulous work, Linda!

Materials used: Patterned paper: Crate Paper (birdie) and Sassafras Lass (lollipop); Library pocket: Bazzill; Button flower embellishment: Mellette Berezoski by Design; Alpha stickers: Pink Paislee; Tiny alpha stickers and paper flower with brad: Making Memories; Bird stamp: Imaginisce; Glitter glue: Stickles, Ranger Ink.

Remember, if you've created a layout or project that uses products from my Etsy shop and would like to share, please email me a scan or digital photo. I will feature a new layout every few weeks, and if your page or project is chosen, you'll receive a little gift from me:)

A Soldier's Words

2008-10-10T17:49:00.002-05:00

I am incredibly grateful for this young man, for Sen. John McCain, and for all of the men and women like them who unselfishly put themselves in harm's way to keep us safe. Freedom is never free, but those willing to pay the price should always be respected and regarded as the pride of our country.

Crop For a Cause

2008-10-18T10:17:00.004-05:00

The third annual Crop For a Cause, an all-day scrapbook event to benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, is being held today, Saturday October 18th at Elkhorn Hills United Methodist Church (20227 Veterans Drive, Elkhorn, NE 68022) WHAT FUN! If you are in the area, they are still accepting walk-ins on a first come, first serve basis. The cost is $50 and that includes the 12-hour crop fee, lunch, dinner, goodie bags & door prizes! And I hear the goodie bags are AWESOME! As part of the Crop, additional events include:

*A Scrapbook Garage Sale—find bargains on new & gently used scrapbook items like paper, rubber stamps, stickers, albums, embellishments, idea books & more!
*A Bake Sale—enjoy tasty homemade treats prepared by talented local artisans. Besides fresh-baked goods like cinnamon rolls, cookies, breads, brownies, pies & cakes you’ll also find candies, jams & jellies, salsa and snack mixes galore.
*Silent Auction items—local & regional artists have generously donated their original works to be auctioned, with all proceeds going to the JDRF. Be the proud winner of these one-of-a-kind pieces of art!
*Local Scrapbook Stores will have retail booths on-site—these companies have made monetary donations to the JDRF to be at this event. NEW this year: we will have consultants from various home-based businesses at our event. Please support them as they support us!

Here's a little something I made for their silent auction and/or eBay auction:

For more information, please visit the Crop For a Cause Website
Or contact Becca Sutton at paperedwife@cox.net, or call 402-289-3843

*All proceeds will benefit the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.*
Because we’re dedicated to finding a cure!

For Becca

2008-03-05T23:12:00.001-06:00

Hello family and friends! Welcome to my blog. After years of resisting the power and popularity of the blogging movement, I have come to realize that at the core of this revolutionary advancement in technology is simply the ability to stay connected. And isn't that why we're here, after all? To connect, to move and inspire, to understand and care for each other. My niece, Becca, spent each and every day touching the lives of others, and it is because of her that this blog now exists.

Four weeks ago, Becca passed away at the young age of 25. When she was just 10 years old, she was diagnosed with Type I (Juvenile) Diabetes. Joe and I often expressed our sadness over the huge burden Becca had to carry during the majority of her life. Her death has been especially hard for my husband. Becca was the middle child of Joe's older sister, Maxine. He was still in college when Becca was born, and eagerly took on the role of the doting and playful Uncle Joe. He is pictured here with Jessi (Becca's older sister), Becca (center) and Missy (their cousin, holding on to Joe's neck) .

Becca was, and will forever be, one of the most kind-hearted and incredible human beings I've ever had the privilege of knowing. Despite all of the challenges that manifested because of her illness, she accomplished more than most people do in a lifetime. In a way, I think she knew her time here in this life would be limited. And I believe that motivated her to make the most of every single day. Regardless of the effects of her Diabetes; the bruises that covered her legs, the infection in her foot that never seemed to heal, the discoloration in her fingertips, and the countless trips to the hospital, she graduated from high school as the Valedictorian of her senior class, earned a college degree in education, and taught special ed classes in the elementary school setting. She was more concerned with the welfare of the children entrusted to her care, the stray pets that managed to find her, and all of the family members she made a point to stay in touch with. As her sister, Jessi, described, Becca was the glue that held everyone together. At any given time, Becca always knew what was happening in each of our lives. And no matter how you knew her, what you'd see in her was the same thing everyone else saw in her: goodness. Her constant was her love for others.

The title of my blog makes reference to the Biblical account of David before his well-known battle with Goliath. That is how I remember Becca. Even in her youth, she managed to face and conquer all of her giants, the struggles life constantly threw at her, with just a sling and a stone. Her funeral service was attended by a mass of people she touched, lives that she changed ... a true testament to the kind of person she was and to the way she chose to live her life. In the end, her frail little body just couldn't keep up with all her heart wanted to do.

So I've set up this blog with the hope of staying connected; to hold fast to the bonds of friendship and family, and to form new friendships with those who have similar interests. I'll leave you with a scripture reading from Becca's funeral service:

Lord, let me know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may learn how frail I am.

You have given my days a very short span; my life is as nothing before you. All mortals are but a breath.

Mere phantoms, we go our way; mere vapor, our restless pursuits; we heap up stores without knowing for whom.

And now, Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you.

Deliver me from all my transgressions; let me not be the taunt of fools.

Psalm 39:5-9

For more information on Juvenile Diabetes, please go to http://www.jdrf.org/

Under Construction

2008-11-17T23:34:00.002-06:00

Hi everyone! Please excuse the mess. I'm still formatting, adding, and trying to get everything to work on my new set-up. It's been fun playing around, but it takes up SO much time! Let me know what you think of it so far. I welcome your comments! Anyway, should be good to go by the end of this week (I'm hoping). Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!

Humbled and Honored

2008-07-23T14:22:00.002-05:00

Hello everyone! I hope everyone is having a great summer. Last week was hard for me...my parents left last Thursday to go back to the Philippines. They had been here since May. Doesn't matter how many times you have to go through it, good-byes are always so hard. I miss them already.

On another note, my daughter, Maysie, is in Washington DC this week attending Girls Nation. We are so proud of her. As well as learning about our government, she will also have the opportunity to meet President Bush this week. I can't imagine being a senior in high school and going on a trip like this! But it is well deserved...I love you, Lovebug.

Lastly, a bit of exciting news. In celebration of Scrapbooks etc. magazine's 10th anniversary in 2009, they have chosen an All-Star Creative Team: 12 scrapbookers picked from past creative teams to work with the publication in the upcoming year. I am truly, truly humbled and sincerely honored to have been chosen as one of them. The editors and staff of Scrapbooks etc. are just the nicest people, and I am so grateful to have another opportunity to work with them.

Here's the complete list of the 2009 Scrapbooks etc. All-Star Creative Team:
Cathy Blackstone
Vicki Boutin
Mellette Berezoski
Kim Crothers
Irma Gabbard
Sande Krieger
Amy Licht
Jennifer Perks
Erin Roe
Lisa Storms
Janna Wilson
Shannon Zickel

What an honor. Thank you, SBE!

Bittersweet

2008-12-03T17:26:00.029-06:00

Bittersweet is defined as producing or expressing a mixture of pleasure and pain or regret. Although it's a common term used often to describe memories, movies, book endings, and such, I don't think I ever truly felt the definition of the word until today.

Today I received this in my mailbox:

She is a Senior. She will be graduating in June. She is my baby girl.

I found myself today staring at this picture, feeling a range of emotions that surfaced in the wells of my eyes.

Proud is an understatement.

Many words formed in the deepest part of my heart; amazing, beautiful, unique, blessing, miracle, joy... but one overwhelmed me more than the others: bittersweet. Bittersweet. Pleasure mingling with regret. Joy and pain occurring at the same time.

They grow up much too fast. By the time you realize that this cliche is actually true, they are ready to change the world, and you are desperate to keep them in yours. Not that I would change a thing. Being a mother is undoubtedly the most fulfilling, most rewarding of callings. It is an honor, a gift. To be entrusted, chosen, to be needed. But the heartache comes when you're not quite ready to let go. When you realize that this day is coming much sooner than you anticipated. And there was never anything you could do to prepare yourself for the avalanche of emotions that comes with seeing a butterfly emerge from its cocoon.

This was my little caterpillar.

She is a gift from God. She is a blessing given to me at a time when I needed her as much as she needed me. There is not a day that passes that I don't say a prayer of thanks for her. For all that she has brought to my life. For everything we have shared together. For all of the happy and joyous moments of motherhood...

...and for the bittersweet ones too.

She is a Senior. She will be graduating in June. She is my baby girl.

And Unto Us, A Child Is Born

2008-12-24T20:25:00.008-06:00

I believe the Wise Men saw the baby boy the angels called "the Son of God". Heaven's child, the great I AM, born to take away my sin through nailed, pierced hands. Emmanuel has come.
Precious child, how can it be, that God's great plan for history would send you to a lonely tree; that you would come for one like me.
I believe in a cross, I believe He came for one, He came for all. Heaven's child became a man, gave his life for me in spite of all I am. Oh I believe. Christmas lives in me. I believe.
~Natalie Grant

So the presents are wrapped and stacked beneath the tree. My neighbor's Christmas lights add a warm glow to my window. It's Christmas Eve, and every year at just about this time I sit alone and think about what all of this means. I think about Mary and how frightened she must have been. Just a young girl, but one with the strength, determination, and faith to carry out God's plan. I think about Joseph, and how he must have struggled to understand the miraculous events that unfolded before him. And I think about the child, the baby in a manger, the little one born in the most humble of places, who would grow up to become the greatest among men.

As always, there are unanswered questions; things that aren't spelled out for us in the Bible. Christmas has become very commercialized, so it's no surprise that skeptics want to analyze the stories of the Gospels against the picture-perfect Nativity scenes on greeting cards and ornaments. But I don't think we were ever meant to find all of the answers to life's many mysteries. To be honest, I don't think the human mind is capable of understanding the divinity of Christ's birth or the holiness of God's plan. It's called faith. To believe in your heart that which you cannot see, or touch, or hear.

So if we take away the presents, and the stockings, and the lights, and the tree ... we're left with Christmas. A celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. And no matter how you celebrate this day, whatever your religious beliefs may be, most (including historians) would agree that no other individual has made such a lasting impact on the world.

The world we live in is unstable at best. For many of us, the possibility of losing a job or a home is very real and truly unsettling. But deep down inside, we all have a sense that there must be something - or Someone - greater than ourselves, and that this life on this earth is not the end of our journey.

Christmas brings hope. Not in the form of expensive presents or lovely decorations. It is in the faith, the belief, the uncompromising trust in the baby born in a manger more than two thousand years ago. A child who would become our Savior, who would die so that we could live. And because of His love for us, we strive to be kinder, more compassionate, humble, and forgiving. We long for a world of peace and goodness. We act with goodwill and a desire to give back. We are inspired to live and love as Jesus did. That is the profound and beautiful meaning of Christmas.

May each and every one of you enjoy this day. May we all live in the spirit of Christmas every day.

Scrapbook Bakery

2008-06-30T22:37:00.007-05:00

I am so honored to be the July Guest Designer for Scrapbook Bakery . If you haven't seen their website, check it out...their kits are fantastic! The July kit I used is called "Firecracker" and I found it to be very versatile. Using only the products in the kit, I was able to create...
1) a 12x12 layout about my son's achievement in school:
2) a decorative box to store my little boy's ribbons, medals, and other keepsakes:
3) a 5x5 card to celebrate Independence Day:
While you're there, check out previous kits and guest designers. You're sure to find a huge helping of inspiring recipes! Thanks, Heather!

Layouts and a Review

2009-01-07T09:08:00.011-06:00

Hi everyone! Happy New Year! Just posting some additional layouts before I add them to a new album. These are pages I've done for Internet sites or just for fun.

My daughter, Maysie, at her Catholic Confirmation with her wonderful sponsor and dear family friend, Denise. This is a page I did for Jenni Bowlin Studio using one her amazing kits.My awesome sister-in-law, Monica, with my sweet little guy, Dayton. I layered and fringed the flowers and then attached them to Autumn Leaves tags.
This was based on a cool sketch from Pencil Lines. My daughter, Maysie, with her lovely friend, Emalee, at Girls Nation in Washington D.C.
A fun page of Maysie and I hanging out at our home with our long-time friends, Denise and Dawn.

Maysie's 14th birthday in our backyard. Still love that frosty numbers paper from KI Memories.

And lastly, a friend pointed out this really, really nice review of the Autumn Leaves book Perfectly Clear. The review is written by Kimberly Winston for The Stampers Warehouse in Danville, CA. Thank you for the kind words, Kimberly!

Meet Sharon

2009-02-24T21:31:00.013-06:00

There is an art to scraplifting. We all do it; see a layout that we love and feel compelled to create a similar one for our own album. Scraplifting can be as simple as copying a page using the same products, colors, and themes. Or, with a little more effort and ingenuity, a scraplifted layout can become a page that is truly your own.

Meet my sweet friend, Sharon Solomons, from Australia. Sharon has a wonderful knack for taking a scraplifted page and adding her own special touches. She has a great eye for combining papers and accents to suite her photos and to enhance the theme of her page. She recently sent me some photos of layouts she created based on a few of my pages:

my page

Sharon's page

Supplies for "Birthday Girl":Patterned Paper: Making Memories Noteworthy; Ribbons: Making Memories and American Crafts; Stamps: Autumn Leaves; Rub ons: BasicGrey and Making Memories; Cardstock: Bazzill; Tab punch and stamping ink: Stampin' Up! (choc chip)

I love how Sharon has combined patterned papers and ribbons here. I especially love how she used the decorative-edged sheet on the bottom right corner, adding a bit of whimsy to her layout of darling daughter, Ava.

my page

Sharon's page

Supplies for "Santa Baby": Patterned paper: Cosmo Cricket; Chipboard letters: Lil Davis (painted with red Making Memories paint); Fabric letter & metal washer: Making Memories; Stitching rub-ons: Autumn Leaves; Chipboard arrow: Janet's Essentials (lss); Brads: Making Memories, Heidi Swapp and American Crafts; Flowers: Making Memories & Prima; Chipboard heart & clock: Heidi Swapp; Definition sticker: Making Memories; Ceramic bird: Craft Matters; Cardstock: Bazzill; Ink: Black Staz-On; Stamp: Autumn Leaves; Negative strips: Creative Imaginations

Here, Sharon worked her magic by taking elements from my son's soccer page and adding her own special touches to create a Christmas baby layout. Notice her one large photo instead of my four photo collage. Also, the addition of the flowers, heart, and clock make a nice gathering that is well suited for the theme of this layout. Because of these additional embellishments, Sharon moved her title over to the left side, helping to balance out the strong reds on the page.

Thanks, Sharon, for sharing your beautiful work. You take scraplifting to a new level, where the lifted page is just a blueprint...but the signature is all yours :)

Holy Week, Monday: Our Ransom is Paid

2009-04-06T18:57:00.003-05:00

Jesus said, "For the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many." ~Mark 10:45

I have to admit, I never fully understood what Mark wrote in his Gospel until recently. Like so many, I have always been quick to judge my own actions and determine my own fate, believing that a difficult or painful event was a consequence of my sins. But I was wrong, because even when we do sin, the Bible says, "The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love". (~Psalm 145:8) It was my own insecurity that stood in the way of truly appreciating the free gift of Christ's death and resurrection. For most of us, it is hard to believe that we would just be given the gift of our salvation without any conditions. But that is exactly what happened: Jesus paid our ransom IN FULL, and that is a truth many of us find difficult to live by.

In The Journey, author Billy Graham explains, "Eternal life is a gift. Many misunderstand this and still think they must earn their salvation by their own good works. But we can never be good enough to earn our way into heaven, because God's standard is perfection. Our only hope is Christ." He continues, "Few things cripple a Christian quicker than a lack of assurance about his or her salvation... Who is responsible for His [Jesus] death? We all are. Because He voluntarily went to the cross for one reason: to become the final and complete sacrifice for our sins. If we had never sinned, He never would have needed to die".

We often speak of unconditional love in our family life, in our marriage, and in our friendships. Truth is, by human nature, we are programmed to expect reciprocity: a mutually fulfilling relationship, needing to feel validated, meeting in the middle, I'll scratch your back if you scratch mine. It's a very wonderful concept to strive for, but one that can only come to fruition through a commitment to Christ. Because His love is truly unconditional. He died for us expecting nothing in return. And if we can place our trust solely and completely in the grace of God, perhaps then we can learn to love others without needing to be loved back.

There are people who touch our lives with a simple act of kindness or a word of encouragement, and yet expect nothing in return. I have some dear friends who have made a difference in my life, and oddly enough, I've never even met them:

Lenni P., Lovely Cee, Ginny C., Dawn in NY, Jen McG, Sharon in Australia, Denise B., Amy M. from Colorado, Jennifer S., and Angela L.

I love you guys. Thank you for being you.

My Take on Sketch #80

2009-04-16T17:28:00.004-05:00

Here is a sketch from the Got Sketch blog and my layout inspired by the sketch. So fun! For more takes on this sketch, as well as other creative sketches, click here.

Leading Him to Christ

2009-05-13T01:15:00.013-05:00

Let me hear Your loving kindness in the morning, for in You do I trust; teach me to know the way in which I should walk, for I lift up my soul to You. ~Psalm 143:8

It seems like just yesterday that he was baptized; a darling four-month-old with quite a set of lungs when jolted from a nap. Two Sundays ago, he experienced his first Holy Communion; a quiet and well-behaved eight-year-old boy who shyly sang with his peers, "Jesus! Jesus! Jesus in the morning, Jesus at the noon-time. Jesus! Jesus! Jesus when the sun goes down."

Yes, of course I cried. I cried at how quickly he had grown from an adventurous toddler to a sweet little boy. I cried with gratitude for the tender heart and affectionate soul that I always knew we shared. I cried at the sound of his quiet little voice whispering, "Amen", before he took the Body of Christ. I cried as I watched his little hand form the Sign of the Cross over his forehead and chest. And I cried when he turned around to find me, smiling proudly as he caught my eye, as if to let me know not to worry anymore because Jesus was with him.

In a troubled and quickly changing world, it's often difficult not to be cynical. It's hard to know who to trust or where to put your faith. Uncertainty can easily take over hope for the future, especially in a country divided. But as I watched my son smiling that day, I realized that there is no reason for uncertainty; there is no reason to search for someone to trust, a leader who can unite us all for the common good. He is already here, and He is all we really need.

The months preceding Dayton's First Communion were filled with games, lessons, and activities that helped explain the Holy Eucharist to 7 and 8 year olds. Ironically, though I tried my best to guide him along, it was he who led me back to Christ. The innocence of a quiet little boy, whose knowledge of the world did not extend past the narrow roads of our small town; who had no worries about anything else...because Jesus was with him.

So I think I'll follow my son's lead and try not to let the world overwhelm me. Because the Hope that I believe in has never changed, and I need not look further than my own heart to find Him.

We found a large mass...

2009-08-02T18:32:00.005-05:00

I will love the light for it shows me the way. Yet I will endure the darkness for it shows me the stars. ~Og Mandino

Hello friends and family. I apologize for not being around the last few months. It has been a hectic and difficult summer for us, to say the least. My first-born and only daughter, Maysie, graduated from high school in June (more on that later). We lost one brother-in-law to a heartbreaking divorce and another to the effects of Alzheimer's Disease. But by far, the most trying event hit us about a month ago and to be honest, I still find myself trying to process all that has happened.

Last month, my mom was diagnosed with stage 3 colorectal cancer. During a routine check-up, the doctor noticed a large mass that was later determined to be cancerous. Because of the depth of the tumor and positive lymph node involvement, she will undergo six weeks of daily chemotherapy and radiation treatment in an attempt to shrink the tumor down prior to surgical excision. Her first week of treatment started this past Monday. Tomorrow, week two begins.

My mom has truly surprised me. She does not complain. She does not feel sorry for herself. She feels fortunate that the doctors found the tumor before it spread to other organs in her body. She laughs much more than she cries. She gets up every morning ready to take on the day. She says love is always worth the fight. She thanks God that she is surrounded by family and friends who love and take care of her. She is affectionate and strong and loving. And she is grateful to be alive.

I don't think there is any way to fully prepare ourselves for all of the curve balls life decides to throw at us. All we can do is say a prayer, keep our eye on the ball, and swing as hard as we can. My mom is a profile in courage. Her optimism is contagious. You would never know that she is a cancer patient, or that she is in pain, or exhausted, or sad. Her winning spirit is what holds our family together; her sweet smile a beacon of hope. She amazes me, inspires me, humbles me. I have never been more proud.

I believe my mom can win this battle. But much like baseball, surviving cancer can't be achieved alone. In many ways, it is a team sport. I am truly grateful for the group of compassionate and competent doctors that care for her. And I know this would be much more difficult for her to endure without my dad's constant encouragement and unconditional love. Our family is completely dedicated to my mom's recovery, but I also believe in the power of prayer.

So I ask of anyone reading my blog, a simple request: please keep my mom in your prayers; that she remain steadfast and strong, and that hope and peace continue to fill her heart.

Thank you so much and God bless.

Then Sings My Soul

2009-10-25T14:43:00.007-05:00

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,

And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.

Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,

And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"

~Carl Gustaf Boberg and Stuart K. Hine

First and foremost, I'd like to extend a heartfelt "thank you" to all who have shared your sweet words of concern and encouragement here on my blog, in emails, and on Facebook. My mom, my family, and I have been deeply touched by the outpouring of love and kindness from relatives, from friends, and from those we have yet to meet. My sincere gratitude to everyone who has lifted my mom in prayer. I cannot fully express how much it has meant to me; suffice it to say that my cup runneth over. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

As for my mom's progress, it has been a trying journey to say the very least. After about three weeks of daily chemotherapy and radiation treatments, we began to see a decline in both my mom's physical state and her emotional well-being. The treatments were grueling. She lost over 20 pounds in one month. She suffered nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fainting, dehydration, pain, apathy, and loss of appetite. She was hospitalized twice, and received a blood transfusion during her last stay.

I can't begin to know or understand what my mom went through or how much she suffered during her 6+ weeks of chemo/radiation treatment. But for those of us who love her, watching her go through all that she did was heart-wrenching, and probably the most difficult experience any of us have gone through. The intense feeling of helplessness is something I'm sure most cancer families can relate to. The last day she was in the hospital, I remember standing near her bed, watching someone else's blood make its way through the plastic tubing and into my mom's tiny, frail arm. I remember seeing something different in her eyes, a dullness, a loss of hope, and I cried as I wished silently that she and I could change places, even for just a day, so that she could find some rest.

Three days later, she was back home at my sister's house. That morning, when I picked up the phone, I could hear in my dad's voice that he was crying. "Your mom", he stammered, "cooked for herself! She fed herself!" The tears of joy were contagious. Apparently my mom, who had grown so weak that my dad had to feed her, felt hungry in the middle of the night and proceeded to cook for herself. A small yet sweetly significant triumph, and one we won't soon forget.

A few weeks ago, my mom, my sister, and I were sitting together talking. She began to tell us about her last trip to the hospital, when she was saved. "I had a talk with God", she said. "I told Him that if it was my time to go, I'd understand." With her cheeks wet with tears, my mom continued to tell us how she had asked for His forgiveness ... and for a second chance. "I made a promise to God", she explained, "that if He could forgive me for all of the mistakes I've made and give me another chance in this life, then I would be a better person and serve Him in the way He planned for me." With a genuine happiness in her eyes, she calmly told us about her intentions to become much more involved in her church, and about all the other ways she wanted to help people in need.

Since then, my mom has not been burdened with any of the symptoms she experienced before or during her chemo/radiation therapy. She cooks every day. She eats regularly. She has gained some weight. She exercises to build up strength for her upcoming surgery. She fusses over us and dotes on her grandchildren. She does everything with more affection, greater understanding, and strengthened determination. And she shows each of us how much she loves us every single day.

In his book, The Journey: How to Live by Faith in an Uncertain World, Billy Graham writes, "God never removes something from our lives without replacing it with something far better. It might not seem so at the time, but later you will understand - and you will marvel at God's wisdom and goodness."

My mom will have surgery on Monday to remove whatever is left of the tumor. But I believe that it's already gone. Last month, I feared that my mom might not make it through the debilitating regimen of daily chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Today, I watch her perform the most mundane of tasks with deliberation and a renewed sense of purpose. It truly lifts my soul.

I have witnessed the true meaning of unconditional love in the way my dad has taken care of my mom; feeding her, reading to her, cooking for her, helping her use the bathroom, cleaning up after her - all without a single complaint. Sometimes, I would worry about his own strength, but he always managed to provide enough for both of them, and when he would kiss her forehead, it would simply warm my soul.

And I am incredibly amazed at the goodness and kindness of strangers; that so many of you would take time out of your busy schedules to send a note or say a prayer for a woman most of you have never met. I think my dear friend, Ginny, said it best in her comment on my last post. "Today the internet seems so inadequate", she wrote, " I wish I could just reach out & give you a hug & hold your hand." The caring, sweet, endearing words that you have shared with my family just fill my soul. I wish I could give each and every one of you a warm hug. Thank you for showering our family with hope, kindness, and sweet friendship. Thank you most of all for showing us the love and greatness of God.