Female in Motion

It has been two months since my lumpectomy. I have enjoyed the respite. Spending my time working, exercising, writing, and living my life, I felt normal. Or as normal as you can feel after a cancer diagnosis. Only the occasional doctor's appointment, or a glimpse at my scars, reminds me of the battle. I needed this time to recover. A respite is defined by Dictionary.com as "an interval of relief." The time between my surgery and today has been a haven of rest, an oasis of hope. In the last week, I have slept through my alarm every day. My body is demanding what my soul cries out for...rest. Yes, sleep, but also peace. I visited my mom last week. We spent the day talking and doing a small project. It was just what I needed. The Hubster has helped so much. He encourages me to take it easy and makes sure that I laugh every day. We've watched old, funny movies several times a week. Having dinner with family and friends is a great way to relax. I walk outside in...

(Video courtesy of Samantha LaFantasie)  The Arkansas City Relay for Life event was held last Friday night at Wilson Park. There were five strong women on the Female in Motion team: my mom, Marilyn, my sister, Donna, my friends, Deanne and Samantha, and me. Our support team was there, too: The Hubster, my nephew, Nick, my cousin, Darci, our friends, Mark and Julie, and Sam's husband, Phil.  It was worth it. All the planning, shopping, coordinating, going to meetings, emailing and cajoling people to donate, dragging all the stuff to the park, and stressing...it was worth it. When I put on my Survivor t-shirt and held The Hubster's hand as we walked with everyone who was affected by cancer, I realized the reason I had done all of this. To make an impact in my community against cancer. Cancer is random. It strikes whomever it pleases. To try to make some sense out of this chaotic time in my life, I felt a purpose in organizing a Relay for Life team. It was humbling to...

       Philippians 4:13 (KJV) I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. The Hubster and I talked to an Christian acquaintance a few years back. He was struggling with a sinful habit that he just couldn't beat. "I'm doing everything I can," he said, "I can't seem to stay away from it." We could almost feel his desperation. It was like he had his hands on the steering wheel, holding on for dear life. This guy was white-knuckling it. We've all been there. There is something in our lives that we know is keeping us from a deeper relationship with the Savior. We really want to give it up. Not thinking about it, avoiding old triggers and negative reinforcement aren't working for us. It seems like the tighter we bear down, the harder the temptation is to resist. And so we give in. Again and again. The downward spiral of failure puts us in a tailspin. Our intentions are honorable. We just can't seem to shake that nasty habit....

(This is the final installment of my three-part series on forgiveness.) Hebrews 12:14-15 (KJV) Follow peace with all men , and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: Looking diligently lest any man fail of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you , and thereby many be defiled; The roots of beautiful flowers are underground, hidden from view. If a root succumbs to disease, it can destroy the entire plant, if not the garden. The root of bitterness is spiritual poison to our bodies. We are commissioned by the Bible to strive to become more Christlike. Resentment has no place in the heart of a believer.   The Hubster said once in a Sunday School lesson, "Spiritual wounds do not heal on their own. You have to go to The Doctor." So true! Our humanity yearns to strike back against an enemy. We have to fight our sin nature. What will it profit us? If your brother sins against you, Jesus taught us in Luke 17 to forgive him over an...