07/22/2025
Warning long postā¦.šÆā¤ļøāš„šš»
I just want to take a moment to thank my mom. She bought a pack of these little inspirational notes from the Hallmark storeāshe said at the time she didnāt even know why she felt the need to buy them, but she loved them. She loves Hallmark. And thenā¦ not long after, we found out I had breast cancer.
It hit all of us hard. Total shock. But my mom looked at me and said, āNow I know why God had me buy those cards. They were for you.ā
Because sometimes, as a mom, you donāt have the right words. Sometimes youāre just beside yourself because itās your child. And you wish so badly you could take their place.
She knew I had just started a new chapterāa new marriage, a new baby, and raising two incredible older kids who still have so much ahead of them. I havenāt seen them graduate yet. I told God, āIām not done.ā
Yes, Iāve stayed strong and positive. But letās be realāthere were tears. Me and my husband sat together in silence and cried when we first suspected something was wrong. You try to hold it together, but the fear is real.
Iāll never forget the moment I got the callā¦ we were walking at Oriole Park, as a familyāme, my husband, our one-year-old daughter, and our dog. The phone rang, and it was the doctor. I answered. She told me I had cancer. My mind went blank. I remember her asking, āAre you okay?ā And I said, āYupā¦ just processing.ā
She reassured me, āIām here for you. Call me anytime.ā
She wasnāt even my oncologistājust my regular doctorāand yet she stood by me with so much compassion. For her, and for the incredible medical team that jumped into action with no pressure, just support and optionsāIām beyond grateful.
And here I am. Moving forward. Fighting strong. And Iām doing amazing.
God is good. Always.
The reason I shared one of the cards my mom gave me is because I wanted you to see just how special they are. Theyāre a beautiful way to start the dayāshort, uplifting reminders of hope and faith. As someone who works from home and runs a business, Iāve found that we all need little things to keep us motivated and centered.
At church recently, both our pastor and guest speaker challenged us to focus on one word for the yearāeven though weāre already halfway through. And honestly, where has the summer gone? š
But two words have been pressed heavy on my heart: inspire and minister. I truly feel led to live these words out in everything I doāin my business, with my family, and in every life I touch.
So I want to encourage youāpick a word to carry with you for the rest of the year. Let it guide you. And while youāre at it, take a moment each day to jot down just one thing that brings you joy. A napkin, a scrap of paper, your phoneāanything. Itās amazing how even the smallest joys can shift your whole mindset.
I know what itās like to walk through the deepest valleys. But I also know joy shows up in the little things. And thatās what keeps us going. š©µšŖ½āØ
