Posts
Mandi's List:
I'm thankful for two healthy legs. As I posted on Monday, I ran a half marathon on Sunday. There was a man on the bus to the start of the race who I overheard talking. He told the woman next to him that he has done several half marathons, "some in my chair, and some with my cane," he said. I sat there feeling so blessed. I was getting caught up in what time I would get, while this guy was going to do the whole thing with a cane, like the freakin' man! Several times during the race, when I felt my legs dragging or my knee hurting, I stopped and thanked God that I had two healthy legs carrying me.
I'm thankful for my friend at Paradise Bakery. I've switched my coffee drinking alliance from Starbucks to Paradise Bakery for a myriad of reasons. But one big one is the sweet cashier. She is the cheery face I see every morning between 6 and 7. I look forward to hearing her tell me a story from the morning. She gives Mckenna the sweetest smile (and sometimes cookies) if I have Mckenna with me. She works so hard and is so sweet, and I look forward to telling her "don't work too hard today," as I leave. I wait for her laughing response before I walk out the door. I'm so thankful to start my day that way every day.
I'm thankful for my parents. I'm always thankful for them, but I am especially thankful for that offering to watch Mckenna this last weekend for Ronnie and I to have a weekend kid-free. I was blessed to have them raise me, and I'm doubly blessed to have them help us raise Mckenna. She will learn more from those two than I could dream to teach her.
Ronnie's List:
I'm thankful for new music. I've been trying to discover new music/artists in two different genres of music recently and I'm liking what I've been finding. I've been really into country music and Christian rap lately. I've always been into rap, but not Christian rap until recently. As a teen, I thought the beats and lyrics of Christian rappers were pretty corny. Now that I'm older and have moved away from secular rap (got tired of the subject matter and the language used), it's been refreshing to find that Christian rap is really good!!
I'm thankful for cloudy days. At a certain point during the summer in Arizona, it hits a time when you simply cannot plan on doing outdoor activities after a certain time in the morning. Well yesterday, given the overcast day, Mckenna and I were able to hit up the park later than normal and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
I'm thankful for text messaging. It's crazy how easy text messaging makes communication among family and friends. It's also awesome to be able to send photos and videos to family members who aren't on FB and want to keep up with Mckenna :)
Logging you in...
Jeremy Parks · 606 weeks ago
The radio station is called NGEN radio. It's based out of Texas. ngenradio.com is where it is found. I posted a few of my favorite Christian artists in my post this week. Any you have that you really like? I'm always looking for new music.
Here's the link to our TT: http://jeremyparks.blogspot.com/2013/08/thankful-...
RunSickboyRun 96p · 606 weeks ago
Kelly · 606 weeks ago
My thanks go to you because a little less that a year ago I was diagnosed with stage 4 throat cancer. Quickly it became all about doctor visits, surgery, chemo, radiation. It was a vicious battle and I have the scars to show it but I'm still here. I read and watched your story a lot over these months because it was so inspiring, helping me get through the absolute hell of treatment. You are fine people and sharing your story made a huge positive impact in my life when I sorely needed it.
Thank you again and I hope God blesses you with many more happy memories!
RunSickboyRun 96p · 605 weeks ago
Kelly · 605 weeks ago
This is what I looked like this time last year: http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a517/agutgopo...
Yeah, I'm about 300 pounds but I'm SO happy! Great church, wife, job, kids. Then I found a lump in September in my neck.
Now I look like this: http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a517/agutgopo...
I'm getting close to half of my former weight. My neck is heavily scarred from the surgeries and the treatment took my taste, my teeth, and my ability to swallow well.
Here's a shot of the aftermath (this one is a little blunt and somewhat unpleasant so be forewarned before you click through) : http://i1281.photobucket.com/albums/a517/agutgopo...
So anyway I show these so you can see what the battle was and to share back a little bit with you. Treatment for head and neck cancers is simply brutal. You get a lifetime dose of radiation, chemo during the whole thing, and in my case had my throat rebuilt. A couple of times it was simply God carrying me through things because my own strength wasn't enough.
In those dark days you try to surround yourself with positive thoughts. Your story was one of a handful that I returned to often as a way to keep myself motivated by watching and reading uplifting things. You may view it as just a silly little project but I know it helped me more than words can convey. Don't ever doubt the power of what you are doing, it has effects far beyond what you might think.
But isn't that how God is supposed to work? :) Peace and love from my family to yours Mr. Sharpe.
RunSickboyRun 96p · 605 weeks ago