4.23.11

Easter is a time that we should all reflect on our lives and be thankful for what we have. Thankful for what has been given up for us. Tonight, we went to Easter service at our church. Because of Keith's leg deficit from his surgery, normally we ask to be seated places before everyone else. This is so that no one trips him or he feels hurried. We don't ask for special treatment, just for people to help us out a little. But today, when we walked passed some people in line, an older man with a cane rolled his eyes and muttered something about his handicap "not being good enough to go to the front of the line". Oh man, did that touch a nerve. How dare he criticize Keith, he had no idea what Keith has been through. I took a step back though and decided I really have no clue what is going on in life. I bit my tongue and decided to instead pray for him and the return of his happiness.

Easter is a time for family, for rejoicing, and being thankful for what we have. I can't believe my time at home is already coming to an end. They say things get easier with time but its been 4 years that I've been going away to college and its not any easier to leave home than it was when I was a freshman. Its also been a year since we started this battle with cancer, and it's not any easier now then the day we found out. I guess out of all of this I just hope that everyone will be thankful for what they have every single day. Not just holidays such as Thanksgiving or Christmas or Easter. I believe that God has a plan for my life, and that I should not argue with what happens. So I leave you with this:

faith

 –noun

1.

confidence or trust in a person or thing

2.

belief that is not based on proof

3.

belief in god or in the doctrines or teachings of religion

Χριστός ανέστη

(Christ is Risen)

4.22.11

‎"Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle"

At times, I look back at my life and wonder how the heck I got here. Life is incredibly unpredictable and I never thought that this is where I would end up. The last year of my life has undecidedly been the hardest year of my 22 years yet.

On March 21, 2010 my stepdad, Keith, suffered a grand mal seizure in the Mexico airport. We then proceeded to go on a roller coaster of events that consisted of 16 hours of brain surgery, chemo, radiation, more chemo, and an everlasting fight for my stepdad's life. I couldn't be more blessed to have him in my life and we will continue to fight every day until we beat this cancer.

At times, I found myself angry that my family had been dealt these cards. I didn't quite understand how it happened. But then I remembered that everything happens for a reason and throughout it all at least I still have my faith. Couldn't have made it through this without it. My family is beautiful in every single way. I am so blessed to have the people that I do in my life.

I do have so many wonderful things and people in my life to be thankful for. There are so many opportunities in my life and so many more to come that there is no way to know how this life will work out. I am interning with the Springfield Cardinals this summer, so they pretty much run my days. I wouldn't have any other way. It only further reassures me that I picked the right major and this is exactly what I want to do with my life.

"The more you survive, the more you're able to not let the hurt turn into hate." ♥

Stay tuned for the rest of what is sure to be a crazy summer and what all the ballpark has in store for me.

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