Thanks Giving

Since I last wrote we had my father-in-laws service, I ate a turkeyless Thanksgiving and we watched Taryn run at state. All first time experiences for me. Sewell did a beautiful job at giving the eulogy for his father. I know his dad would have been proud. It was a perfect day and we had a view of the ocean from where we sat during the service. I know that would have pleased dad since he spent so much of his life on the water. It was a sweet time of remembering a man who poured his life into ours.
Thanksgiving came and in spite of not eating turkey and all the trimmings I have so much to be thankful for. As I look back at these past few months I have been surrounded by friends and family that have loved me and supported me. Without them I don't know what I would have done. I am especially thankful for my youngest sister Sani who flew out from New Mexico to help me during this time. For the past 3 months I haven't gotten anything done on my to do list and she helped relieve my stress by doing a good majority of them. Thank you Sani and to all of you who have prayed for me, sent cards, fixed meals, juiced carrots, gave me gifts, bought books for me, worked in my yard and loved on my family during this very difficult journey. I am rich because of you!
The day after Thanksgiving we drove to Fresno to watch Taryn run in the state meet. There were 198 girls in her division and she placed 97th. We were very proud of her. It was by far the fastest race she has been in this year and she ran a tough race.
Yesterday I received an email from someone I don't know but who is a friend of a friend. She had battled breast cancer 10 years ago and was healed going a nutritional route. She outlined what she did and then she said something she went on a "just say no program". Meaning she stopped going and going. She stayed home at night and allowed her body to rest and heal. She removed every stress she had the power to remove. She went on to say stress is a killer.
As I thought about that I realized how much stress we all allow and have in our lives. Over and over I read how stress is so damaging to the immune system which is our greatest source of protection from disease and illness. I hope you will embark on a "just say no program" and begin to eliminate the stress you can from your life. It isn't healthy for any of us. Since reading her email I gave back a responsibility I had taken on at school. I am going to ask God to show me any further stresses I could get rid of. I am no longer doing things out of a sense of obligation. Time is precious for all of us and we need to learn to invest our time, not just spend it. If this is difficult for you to do ask people that love you to help determine what things you could get rid of in your life. An outside perspective is always helpful. I know Joni and Sani have helped me in this area this year. I pray you will not wait until you are sick or diagnosed with a serious illness before you slow down. Learn from those who have gone before you. You can say No! He will give you the courage. There are always others that can do what you are doing, even if you don't think there are. Pray more, stress less!