Skip to main content

The Summer of Storms

The Summer of Storms.
The title says it all. This season of life started about two months ago with a phone call from my mom saying your aunt has breast cancer. I asked a lot of questions, mainly about medications (because what else would I be asking about), but I made a conscious effort to stay strong in the moment. But the minute I hung up the phone and said the words out loud I lost it. I questioned so many things and constantly wondered why. As I began to accept what was happening, the rain came again.

About a week later one of my best friends called to tell me about a lump she had found in her neck. Not long after that she texted me to say she has cancer. Once again I asked many questions but continued to wonder why. I asked God why this was happening to everyone around me and what did they do to deserve this.

Fast forward a few days and my parents are talking to me about an antibiotic my dad started taking so of course I asked questions. He had found a lump in his neck, which we thought was an obstructed salivary gland. After two weeks he decided to see another doctor after no substantial progress. My dad had a scan that really didn't reveal to much (to my knowledge) and that was all I really knew. No one mentioned anything else so I didn't really ask many questions. This past week I had a week off from school so that's when we decided to take our family vacation. We were all sitting in the living room of the condo together when my dad started telling us about what had been going on. The day before we left for the beach my dad had a biopsy of the mass and all he could say was that it didn't look good. I immediately lost it. All I could think was that this could not possibly be happening. When would this ever end? Today we got official confirmation that my dad now also has cancer. To say I've been an emotional wreck is the understatement of the century.

I was directed to a sermon to listen to that was something I so desperately needed to hear. Acts 27:22 says to keep up your courage and tonight that is what I find myself clinging to. The message talked about not getting stuck in the reason why the storm is happening because you'll miss the revelation that God is trying to show. I now have shifted my perspective and my prayers that He will reveal His purpose and use me in a way that will help others. I ask for prayers and positive thoughts as we take on this next phase together as a family.

xoxo

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Grace

Wow, where do I even begin? So much has happened over the last couple of months and to say that I have been tested is an understatement. Trying to juggle school, food drive, pageant preparation, among other things has been a true testament of my faith. However, at the end of the day I am always reminded of God's grace and know that He has a plan.  Hunger is a very prominent issue in my community, our state, our country, and our world. A lot of us don't really think about this, but I have grown more and more passionate about the issue while serving on the Beat Bama Food Drive. Many children in our area eat at school on Friday and don't eat another meal until they return to school on Monday. I can't even fathom what it is like to have to like that. Our goal this year is to raise 315,000 pounds of food for the East Alabama Food Bank. If every student at Auburn University donated $6.18 our goal would be meet. This is such a minuscule amount when you look at the big pictur...

The Loveliest Village

Tomorrow marks the first day of my last semester at Auburn University (well kinda). It seems like just yesterday that I packed up all my things and moved to Auburn to start an incredible journey. A decision that would cause constant turmoil at Thanksgiving continues to prove to be one of the best ones I have made. I am so thankful for all the friendships and memories I have made along the way, and I wouldn't trade them for anything. In October, I was given an opportunity to continue my education at the Harrison School of Pharmacy. I am so excited about getting to spend three more years in a place I have grown to love so much. Through my time here I have been able to give back to a school and community that has given so much to me. I encourage each of you to find something you are passionate about and to give it everything.  xoxo If you have good thoughts they will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely. -Roald Dahl If you don't go after what...

Whoa

The title I think says it all. WHOA. I feel like so much has happened that I don't even know where to begin. This semester was a wild ride but I couldn't be happier through all of its ups and downs.  I had the opportunity of serving on the Beat Bama Food Drive that ended on November 19th. I remember the exact place I was when my phone was BLOWING up the next day. I was at Taco Casa (any Tuscaloosa girl's favorite) eating lunch with my mom and brother. The only thing in the message was a picture of a sticky note with two numbers on it; our total and Bama's total. When I finally realized what I was seeing I was so overcome with emotion. Not only had we won, we also raised the most amount of food that any food drive committee in Auburn's history had. I am so blessed to have been a part of this amazing experience and words can't even describe how thankful I am for it and the people that I have met through it. The number 273,650 will be with me ...