Thanks for Visiting...

This blog was written between Spring and Summer of 2007.

During that time I was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer, treated with a combination of radiation therapy and surgery, and healed.

I felt compelled to write about my experiences.

I have connected with many amazing people through this blog. I know that this serves a purpose in my own healing journey - and it may also serve a purpose in the lives of others.

Today I am 2 years cancer free. Ruthie is now almost 4. We also have a lovely dog named Penny :) Joe and I have been busy promoting our construction business here in the Comox Valley - and I have been busy creating my own little business venture as well.

Life keeps changing rapidly. One thing stays the same.

Although I may not always understand "Christianity", Jesus Christ has remained the solid foundation in my life - in our lives. I like to revisit this blog because when I do I am reminded of just how real my God is. My hope is that this blog will help expose the realness of Christianity in a culture where it has become somewhat cloudy.

Thanks for Visiting!

b

ps. I've been busy! Find me here:
http://www.hand-drawn-heart.blogspot.com/
http://www.capstonedwellings.com/
http://www.comoxvalleyblogs.com/
http://www.comoxvalleydwellings.com/

Healing Up - Wrappig Up

Thank you all for praying about my cheek. It is healing!

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I felt a pull to start this blog back in February. I was diagnosed one month later, so I can see there was a real purpose in sharing my life so publicly. Not only did it help me to deal with all that was happening, but it also enriched other's lives as well. I feel comfortable saying this because the real credit doesn't go to me, it goes to Jesus. The bible says:

"And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28


When I was diagnosed I changed the "About Me" portion of this blog to say this:

"Hi I'm Bethany! I am married to Joe and we have a bubbly little toddler named Ruth. We've just started on a difficult path. This blog will now be filled with my thoughts, prayers, and Lord willing - lots of GOOD NEWS - after being diagnosed with Cancer on March 6th 2007. It's my prayer that God will use this to help me and others come to a greater understanding of who He is."

That was the greatest prayer answered during my battle with cancer.

I am so thankful that the Lord would use this to impact others. There CAN be purpose in our suffering. God doesn't make us sick, but I firmly believe that when he sees potential, he will allow us to be sick so that people will come to a greater understanding of who He is. I feel so blessed that he would see that potential in me, and entrust me with something so huge.

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Just as I felt I was supposed to start blogging, I now feel the same pull to stop. This story has been told. I am going to continue writing, but I am going to pick up the good ol' journal again and carry on that way instead. I am excited to document the impact that Christ has on my life.

Thank you to all my readers. I have been so surprised by the number of you! Thank you for your prayers, your support, your encouragement. I am so thankful for the new friends I have made, and also for the chance to reconnect with some of you through this all. Christian or not, you have all been used by my God in some way to enrich my life.

I survived a type of cancer that typically gives a 50% survival rate. Thankfully I didn't know this until it was all over with. The Lord protected my heart. He gave me peace. He gave me JOY! He upheld me in his hand like he promises in His Word. And... he did heal me. I don't think I will ever be able to comprehend the GREATNESS of the zero cancer cells found.

I cannot imagine my life without Christ. People, he is real. I've never been super pushy when it comes to my faith, especially now. But today, I'm going to ask you to consider that perhaps I am right. Could there really be One God? Did he really make his way down here to earth to get our attention and provide us a way to know him without being perfect?

To have what I have is simple. Come as you are to the living Jesus and tell him you want to know him. Be honest with yourself and God and recognise you need him because, without Christ, we are all slaves to sin - regardless if we live like nuns or criminals. Pick up a bible, ask God for him to help you make sense of it, and read away. It's called the "Living Word" for a reason. And when you want to talk him, just talk. No fancy words are needed. Write it down if you feel weird speaking out in thin air. Be changed by something great enough to make great change.

Wow, it's hard to say good-bye!

If you've never commented before, now is the time to do it! I'd like everyone who visits to comment on this entry. That way this blog still says alive. Even though I'm not adding to it, (hopefully) others will be. (If you don't have a "blogger ID" just click the "other" or "anonymous" box when you leave a comment. )

-b

"bye bye" :)

" In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in
Christ Jesus our Lord."

Change is Good.

I am happy to report - once again - that life is pretty NORMAL.

Mind you, these photos may display a kind of joy, beauty and peace that is abnormal. We are so blessed to live here, so blessed to know a God who is so much more than normal.

Here are a few photos to summarize that last week:

Cancer hasn't changed everything - but it's definitely changed some things. Or rather, God has used cancer to help us change.

One of the biggest changes Joe and I have both experienced, is finding our identity more fully in Jesus Christ.

Personally, I don't feel like I fit into a particular image of Christianity anymore. I only feel that I know who Christ is. Yes I still go to church, listen to (some) christian music, and pray before meals, but Jesus is so much deeper than all of that.

It feels so FREE to honestly hold my identity in CHRIST JESUS, rather than the North American image of Christianity.

I'm not shy about sharing Jesus anymore. If people want to know me, they're also going to know Jesus. He is my identity.

Big Girl

Bye Bye Baby...



Over the last five months Ruthie has grown from a baby - to a big girl.

Big Girl Hair

She's talking in full sentences, demanding that "Ruthie do it" for many tasks, and playing imaginary games with her Calico Critters family.

She's 21 months old now - and she's been speaking in 3 word sentences since she was 19 months. She also knows how to use plural words, and uses "I" and "Me" occasionally. A recent trip to the doctors office informed me that this should be happening at about 30 months. I can't take much credit for this. She's just a little sponge.



(We now have to REALLY watch what we say around her... she picks up everything. She now calls our cat "STUPID CAT" which she got from.... ME. Guilty as charged. Mommy has to watch her language...)



Although she is a big girl - she loves to talk about how she was once a baby. We look at newborn photos and talk about how little she was, and how she liked to have "NaNa's" (nursing). When she gets out of the bath the night cannot continue unless I wrap her in her towel all snug and show her the "baby" in the mirror.



But of course - as any mom would say - She'll always be my baby.



In getting ready for our garage sale this weekend, I've set up a "Big Girl Bed" in Ruthie's room so that we can sell her crib. She loves her new bed and exclaims "WOW" in her cute squeaky voice whenever we talk to her about it.



I know what your thinking... "so, when are you going to have another one?"



Well, life has been a little crazy (ha!) so we're going to take a break from big things for a while. We'd like to finish our house reno's/re-decorating before we get prego again. We're in the talks of trying for fall 2008. That's the goal for now - we'll see how life changes our ideas on the subject :)

In other news:

Sorry I haven't been writing very much. After all the excitement (or chaos) of cancer treatment and miracles it's hard to muster up an interesting post when life is.... "normal". But let me just say... that I am SO THANKFUL for some normalcy! We have a long way to go before we reach a recovery of any sort - but being a home and having a regular life (kind of) is so refreshing.

We've been having some fun too! The latest highlight was hanging out with some new friends, Jane and Andrew and their little boy Gabriel, on Sunday night. It's been hard to make friends here, especially outside of church. This friendship is a God-send - what fantastic people! ... Plus Andrew is an amazing cook - and we like FOOD. :)

This morning I got up with Joe before work. It was nice to have the cool morning house to ourselves for just an hour or so. I was inspired by an article in "Parents" magazine written by a mother of two who understood the importance of making time for intimacy (not just physical) in a busy busy life. Small sacrifice of sleep - but I hope the rewards will pay off largely.

Elementry Love

More treasures discovered while de-junking:

#1

I was in Grade 3 - and Ryan McDowell was my crush!

Imagine how happy my little grade 3 self was to get this :)

#2

From Luke Van Heusen - neighbour and "boyfriend"
Grade 4 or 5

Didn't scan very well - READS:

"Dear Bethany
Yore the FERST garlfrend that I RELY LOVE! I thingk YOER the perityest gerl in the hole unavers, YOU are SO BUTAFULL I can't get over it, Im glad that you live so neer so we can spend time with echother. I am so GLAD you love me. I thingk it's a privalg having the most butifull gerl the werld love ME!
I love you very very very very.... " (bottom portion was ripped off in a lovers quarrel)