Picture me sitting across the table from you drinking coffee together. If you could ask me any question, what would it be? Would it be about my cancer, and the way I am facing it? Would it be about homeschooling 2 kids while juggling chemo? Would it be about Emma Grace and her health? Would it be about my relationship with Christ? Whatever it is, leave it in my comments and I will answer it. I will choose one question a day (or every other day) and answer it in a post.
Here is my only requirement.
If you have been blessed by this blog, please tell me why. I am struggling right now with continuing this blog on a regular basis and I want need to know how it has touched your life. You may have noticed that I didn’t blog much last week, although I tried, the words just wouldn’t come. I debated over the weekend whether I wanted to continue writing, and I came to the conclusion that I would ask you your thoughts and opinion. Its not that I don’t enjoy it, I very much enjoy writing, I really don’t know what it is. So if you would do that for me, followed with your questions, It will help me get back into writers mode 
Ask away 
Hi Heather,
Well I think your blog is such an inspiration to all of us that read it. You are touching many, many lives. My question is…….what is God doing in your life through all this? How can you be a testimony of how God is working in you, your family’s life even though you are going through such a trial. How do you keep your strength, faith….? All I know is “your” touching lives by just being you…We love you and know through this blog how to pray for you and your family. Blessings!!!
Robyn
I just started following your blog (can’t remember where it was linked from) and I immediately added it to my favorites. Something about your writing drew me in. I don’t have time to sit and read novels like I used to, so blogs are my intelligence for the day
I am a stay at home mom to 3. I just started homeschooling this year. I think I am intrigued with the homeschooling. To find moms that are like me. Because we are alike in the fact that we have children and obviously love them very much to have them at home with us always. So I will ask you a simple question. How do you incorporate God into your homeschooling? What curriculum do you use and why?
When I read your writings I recognize the Holy Spirit’s inspiration behind every word. I also write that way and it is great to be used in that way. The only problem is that when that anointing is held back you suddenly find yourself sitting with fingers on keyboard staring at a screen and wanting to be used once again.
The awesome thing about that though is that God sometimes gives you a “vacation”, some time off to just bask in His goodness and allow others to pour into you. There is nothing wrong with that Heather. Last week I was given three days off by my “boss” and the first day I just kept coming back to the computer waiting for the things I needed to write to come forth. The second day I felt nothing again but had a deep sense of peace about spending the day not thinking about the next deep spiritual connection I needed to make with my “audience”. By the third day I wasn’t even thinking about writing and was able to totally relax in my resting time.
God orders the steps and stops of our lives and maybe what you are sensing is a break. We will be here praying and waiting. Maybe it is time for us to write to you, the questions are a great idea.
I guess my question would be, how do you strengthen your faith when feelings and symptoms can sometimes be so very overwhelming? How do you make faith a “substance” in your life and what part does peace that passes understanding play in this?
I am new to the whole idea of blogging and only started with two friends who have their own blogs. However, I have, through their blogs stumbled upon several…yours being one of them…and have listed them as one of my favorites.
You have shared your life….and have been open and honest about where you are. People relate to you. My dearest friend dealt with breast cancer…she was diagnosed 10 years ago, underwent chemo, masectomy, reconstruction and has proceeded with regular well check ups (cancer free!) with a faith that has been completely astounding. She believes in God and dealt with all of it with her faith keeping her strong and focused on what HE wanted for her. This isn’t why I read your blog!
During the time of my friend’s cancer, my husband was in prison for 8 years….a long story, however, God was in the midst of what we dealt with. We were then and are now, blessed by what God has done in our lives. We continue to learn and grow from our experiences here on earth….a training ground of sorts to be better than we are. The reason I read your blog!
I believe you are a tool in God’s hands to be used for each person who knows you, is getting to know you or who simply understands what you are experiencing just by reading your open and honest words. You see, my friend experienced cancer at the same time I was experiencing seperation from my husband due to prison and in that, we understood each other. We understood the emotion of not knowing what God was going to do next, having to be in complete submission to what He wanted from us and to wait….and wait…..and wait. Neither of us would change where we have been placed in our lives…because there has been a design specifically for us and we are blessed to know God is already on the other side of anything we ever go through….and we learned so much more than we would have not having gone through it.
God puts people in our lives for seasons….you may be just the person people reading your blog need for their “season”….who share with someone else…and so on and so on and so on….the ripple effect of human connection. We may not always be here to answer our own questions, but to answer someone else’s questions.
I can’t tell you to keep writing if you are being led to stop, but I would encourage you to keep thinking and praying about it …. I truly marvel at your revelations or thoughts and am encouraged daily by your writings! You inspire me to think and challenge me to be more….to be observant…to be compassionate…and to seek greater than I am.
My question to you would be (and forgive me if you have addressed this in your blog at one time or another…while I am new to it, I also don’t have great memory!): If you had a chance for a “do-over” in your life and you didn’t have to deal with any of these challenges, would you request it?
My prayers are with you and I will keep checking in ; )!
God bless you and your family!
Heather,
What has drawn me to you is your honesty, your transparency, & your hunger for God. You truly live out your faith. What a testimony!
Blessings!
Bonita………
Dearest Heather…I have no idea just how many lives you have touched with your blog, but I know that your words and experience were, in a sense, critical to me renewing my relationship with Christ. I had slid far and didn’t know how to get back up. Or even if I wanted to. I had read you before when I clicked a link regarding Emma Grace but it had been months since I visited your site.
When I arrived once again I was stunned. It was the day that you first posted about your tumor. I wept for you. I cried out to God for you. Everyday. And I found myself praying for others and myself as well. Again. I hadn’t prayed in a very long time.
About a year ago I shut down my own website. My faith was slipping and I didn’t feel that I could do the site justice to lament and whine about my backsliding. Your site made me want to start mine up again, to share the good news of Christ. Of faith in Christ. Of redemption. Of answered prayers and the unanswered ones that we may never understand until we sit across the porch from God. What a glorious day that will be.
I don’t have a question for you but wanted to chat just the same. If God is calling you to close shop here for a while to spend your time on other priorities, I will understand. But I won’t stop praying for you. And will probably keep checking back to see if you have returned!
As always…Hugs and prayers…
Heather you are a joy and you have shown me how God wants us to live our Life everyday. In his perfect plan you were there with all these challenges and then to let us all know what he would expect a person who knows God so personally can overcome and live with this obstacle that was thrown in along with others things that you have overcome with your precious Emma. Thru you he has shown how you get thru these days and keep believing and praising our Father . If blogging is too hard for you anymore then you should stop but you are uplifting to so many and ask God if this is what he wants you to continue or if he wants you to write a book, you could put your blogs as you have journyed thru this part of your life into a book and then you could reach more people, I believe there is a plan for you and I am in awe of your spirit everyday. What ever you decide I want to Thank Your for lifting me on my journey as we all have crosses and journeys as we go thru life. Bless You
Your blog provides inspiration to so many. Not even just your journey with cancer in this blog, but even with those blogs you have had before with your journey with Emma Grace, your faith and trust in Him, and your wonderful spirit through it all. I take great inspiration from you just to be a mom, a wife, a friend, and so much more from your faith let alone counting your struggles with cancer. I think so many of us do. You have a way with words, my friend. You are blessed that way and in so many others. Thank you for sharing all that you can with us.
As for questions for you – I love to hear all about your children!
Dear blessed Heather,
I think I’ve commented here once before maybe. I read you every time I do the “blog thing,” which I have had to limit. (I could spend all day reading!) I love to read your words. You have the faith that I hope to work into, but seem to struggle with. I don’t have cancer, but do have my own thorn in the side that I struggle with daily (but mine is a sin issue.)
I would ask you how I could help. How can I pray? What little surprise gift would make your day? And then I’m sure we’d talk about kids ( I have 6), and how we’re following (or not) God’s leading.
I pray for peace in your decision to keep this up. And for healing.
Heather, I have been reading your blog since before your cancer was diagnosed. You were a delight and an inspiration then, and now? Well. Watching your faith roll over us all, multiplying as it went, and gathering up so many people on the way, I am lost for words. God must have an awesome plan for you. You feel. You touch us all. Your honesty, and the love I have seen here on your blog is just staggering. Your ministry came out of nowhere and is so powerful, that God must be smiling. This is why I come back every day. This is why I pray for you. This is why my friends here in England pray for you. You matter to us.
I have posted a song from youtube on my blog tonight which I think will mean something to you too. I don’t think you will have heard it before.
So what would I ask you? What song means the most to you? Would you sing it for us? Please?
You have a way of renewing my faith every, single day. I can’t tell you how I’d miss that.
No questions, just had to tell you that.
You really inspire me, Heather. Your faith and your courage as you fight cancer encourage me each and every day. When I was first diagnosed I kept up a positive attitude for about three months and then I really had a faith crisis. Reading your blog and seeing your strength and how many lives you have touched is an inspiration to everyone. God bless you. +
Dear Heather,
Your words have filled me with a burning desire to pray for all who are in any kind of trouble, either sickness or other issues. When I look at your map and see all the hits from all over the world, I know that all those who come here and are Christians are sending a sweet aroma of prayers to our merciful savior.
My question would be this. ….Are there times when you absolutely cannot feel the presence of Jesus? I ask this because in another life situation, I sometimes feel that I’m not sure He is right there with me.
You, your kids, your husband and all your family are now people I feel that I know and can pray for. Selfishly then I would love for you to continue and know what to pray for and about.
Nancy Jinks
Panama City, FL
Heather,
I too like the other commenters check in regularly and pray for you. Having experienced brain cancer in my family, I feel a connection with you and what you are going through. I continue to be amazed at your strength and optimism in the midst of such a trial.
My question for you: How are the kids handling this? How do they respond to having a sick mommy, especially on the really bad days? How can we pray for each of them specifically?
Heather,
I’ve been reading your words for some time – well before your diagnosis. I almost wrote you this past week to tell you this: Your journey touches me in a fundamental way and has been instrumental in leading me back to a relationship with God.
I have been fighting some hard battles of my own, and my heart had become a frozen hurt-filled place, but for whatever reason, I was able to pray for you. And I still do, every day, pray that you will have sufficient unto your needs for yourself & your health, and for your family. That the doctors will be wise and the medicines will work. For whatever reason, the way you have honestly shared your faith, your fears and your hopes has touched me and opened my heart.
Maybe it is God’s way of telling me that if I will have faith, that things can get betteror that I am not alone. But it comforts me to pray for you and wish you well, and so there is healing there for both of us, I think. I have no answers and I don’t even understand this journey, so for now I will continue this new conversation with God and follow the bidding of Paul and “pray without ceasing.”
If you need a break, then take it. Do what you must to care for yourself. But never doubt that you make a difference to those who may never meet you. The only questions I would have for you is this: what can we do for you? What needs attention in prayer?
Sincerely,
Ellen
If I had brain cancer, or any condition that threatened my life, I wouldn’t be asking the invisible bloggy world what they needed of me, but rather thinking ahead to the day I wasn’t here to tell my children what I want them to know.
Oh wait! I do have a condition that is threatening my life: sin. We are all dying. Some tomorrow. Some with warning. Some not.
My suggestion has always been to–more often than not–project yourself and your thoughts down the road 5 years or 25 years, when you want to come along side your children and teach them to find Christ in the practical day-to-day things of life–and maybe your shell isn’t living here anymore to do.
And then write. Because it is what you do.
God’s blessings on you this day, Heather.
No questions or anything from me, I just wanted to say that I check your blog every day for updates. I’m scared at what is waiting for me in the future, I just started Temodar for my grade 2 astrocytoma, and reading your blog is reassuring that even with this horrible diagnosis that it’s still possible to stay strong.
Sweet Heather, your blog DOES bless countless people. Of course the great liar and deceiver wants you to believe otherwise. BECAUSE YOU ARE IMPACTING THE KINGDOM! You are making a difference in people’s lives today and for their futures. So many of us who read your blog WILL face a horrible diagnosis for ourselves or someone we love. Your words will ring in our heads and make a difference in how if we look at our lives. Even now, without a horrible diagnosis, you impact how I look at my life. I appreciate my health more. I hug my children tighter. I love my husband better. I love my Lord even more because of your testimony.
I’m praying now that your heart and mind are guarded against satan’s attacks in this area. All that said, if YOU need a break from blogging, girl, you deserve it!!!
So, if we could chat, I’d ask you like what is your latest, freshest word from your Father? And a zillion other things…what can I do for you, what’s your favorite ice cream, how did you and Mark meet, how does Mark process through everything, what is your most constant prayer?
I’m another lurker who reads you regularly but rarely comments. I found you back when they were seeking donations for you. I donated, visited and stayed. I read your blog because I worry about you and also because it reminds me to be thankful for all that I have.
Oh Dear Heather,
How has your blog blessed me? It’s your faith. It’s the evidence of “Christ in you” that is such a blessing. How else could anyone in your circumstances glorify God in the manner in which you have, if it were not for the fact that He is working through you to be a testimony to so many people. I think most of us know that if we were facing such tremendous circumstances on our own, we’d probably crawl in a corner and wallow in hopelessness. I don’t see that with you. I see someone who truly desires to use this most difficult trial as an opportunity to glorify her Lord. My guess is that the Lord is extremely pleased with the testimony His faithful servant has displayed in such a trying time.
Your transparency is appreciated, because we can see the raw human emotions and how the Lord ministers to you and meets your needs so faithfully. It gives us confidence that He will do the same for us when we desperately need it. I can only imagine what a blessing you are to those who are facing similar circumstances. They can relate to the daily struggles you face as a cancer patient. They can see how the Lord is building you up and carrying you through this trial. They can draw strength and courage from you. Never, ever under estimate how the Lord is using your life….this blog to glorify Himself first and foremost and then to minister to others. You are a willing vessel. You haven’t been so consumed with the weight of this trial that you were not able to be used of the Lord.
My question for you: Recently, when you’ve felt overwhelmed with the magnitude of this trial, specifically how has the Lord shown himself faithful in meeting your needs? Has He sent someone at just the right time to pray with you? Has he distracted you by sending someone your way who needs the encouragement that only you could give? Or perhaps, has He given you Scripture to hang onto that you’re convinced was written just for you and this specific time in your life? I love hearing how God meets us in our darkest hour and pulls us up out of that darkness into His glory.
May the Lord continue to bless you, keep you and use you for His glory.
In His Grace,
Diane
I’ve never left a comment on any blog. I just wanted to let you know that your blog is a huge blessing and you are frequently in my prayers.
I am not a blogger but since you are my friend I read yours! So many times I have been touched by your words and your faith. Maybe you need a break or maybe others who are bloggers could be guests bloggers on your blog on the days you can’t or don’t want to be blogging. You are an inspiration to so many others and you would be missed. You will know what to do and remember “balance” is always something to strive for.
Chris said “No questions or anything from me, I just wanted to say that I check your blog every day for updates. I’m scared at what is waiting for me in the future, I just started Temodar for my grade 2 astrocytoma, and reading your blog is reassuring that even with this horrible diagnosis that it’s still possible to stay strong.”
There it is Heather.
You are an encourager and your faith is rock solid.
Nuff said.
XXOO
hi heather,
i have no questions, or wisdom, just sending you *love* from new zealand… people blog (or don’t blog lol) for many reasons… i admire you sharing your heart so deeply here… i love what stevie nicks says: “I tell people all the time that they should keep a journal, even if it’s just, ‘I had a terrible day today and I don’t want to talk about it, love Stevie,’ or ‘I dreamt last night…’ Even if it’s just three sentences because at the end of five or six days, you would have created a habit and you will find that over a month that you have a whole story growing…”
thanks for sharing yours, and of course, it’s ok to take time to find your muse again…
love, kate X
Oh I do hope you continue blogging, Heather. I can’t think of a question right now, but I like the idea. A reader recently told me to do a 20 questions type of thing, like this I guess. I was considering it, and I think I might give it a try.
When you pop up on my blog tracker, you’re the first one I click on. When I have difficulties, I think “what would Heather do?”
I love reading your words and love reading about your intense commitment to Christ and His will for your life. I hope you will continue…I know you’ve touched many lives, not just mine…as evidenced by all of these comments!
Preach on sister.
Heather, I read your blog b/c you are real. You are an inspiration to me when I feel that I can’t deal with the situations that surround me. I am encouraged by your blog and more importantly, it causes me to think of you and others who are struggling with illness and to lift you all up to our Lord. It causes me to take the focus off of myself and think of others, which in turn, grows me closer to God.
You are amazing, Heather, but we will understand if you decide to quit blogging. But, PLEASE, don’t stop!!! It helps us to know how to pray for you and your family and also to see how God is working in and through you.
You have shared the light of Christ through this blog to me and so many others. Thanks for being honest and real!
Heather – I have been continually touched by your blog. I lost my godson to cancer when he was 4-years-old. I watched the process bring out a spirit in my friends (his parents) that I never knew existed.
Since then, my immediate family has been through some pretty tragic circumstances. Not myself directly, but our family is so close that it hits pretty close no matter which of us is hurting, we all hurt. I count this a blessing.
Anyway, while not affected by cancer or even personal tragedy, so many of your viewpoints and insights hit home with me. I can portray your outlook onto my own life, onto things going on in my family, and many days I can find light where there might not have been any before.
Just the same, the days your writing refects a downturn in your spirit, I can still come away blessed. Blessed by the opportunity to pray more fervently for you that day. Blessed by your very “humanness” – because everyone will have down days, and watching your love for Christ turn that back around – whether it is in the next post, the one after that, or a week after that – is amazing to behold.
You have consistently put into words many things I know some of my closest friends and loved ones have felt in recent times – that helps me minister better to them and have a better understanding of where they are coming from. Thank you!
i asked it on another post, maybe you saw. what is belief? more specifically…what is belief when it comes to your prayers being answered. i am praying for healing. not for me, for someone else. do i need to believe that God can do it, that God will do it, or that God has already done it? maybe it doesn’t matter, but i wondered anyway.
i love your blog. you give us all hope. thank you for sharing your faith in your tough circumstances. please keep writing.
Honestly I think I’d ask how you are doing and how you feel about the things that have happened in your life, how they’ve shaped you and what things look like on this end now. I have been through rough times with my oldest son and watched as many friends didn’t know what to say or do for me so they just left me off all alone. And then now that he’s well it’s like nothing ever happened. But to me, I am still affected. Not necessarily in a bad way, but I don’t want to ignore that these things happened to my family. I continue to learn from it all every day, more & more even as the years go by.
And mostly I’d love to just talk to you about nothing in particular- like what your favorite tv show is or where you like to shop or if you get to have moms night out… etc!
Steph
Heather-
Let me first tell you what I love about your blog. I love how you’ve relit the fire in my soul to daily seek God’s face in everything I do. How I now remember to pray for my friends (many I’ve never met) and family in the quiet moments. I love how you are so real with your feelings. I love how you leave prayer requests for us, knowing that we, people you’ve never seen face to face, will lift you up in prayer every. single. day.
You are such a blessing to me I can’t even start to express. Somehow God allowed me to stunble across your blog right when I needed to know I wasn’t alone in this fight. Even though I am not the one with cancer, my husband is, I can understand your struggle to stay positive. I’ve been the strong one for almost four years now. I know my strength is what DAvid draws from, but I find myself now, as you said “stuck.” I’m tired of this fight, I’m tired of my entire life being about cancer, and more than anything, I’m tired of being the strong one. I do understand your feelings of being stuck. I understand you feel a need to stay positive for your readers, but we both know some days you can’t. To me, I’m glad to know I am not the only one that’s has bad day. I often feel guilty for feeling less than positive about everything. It affirms me to know that even Heather the Rock has bad days too, BUT she keeps fighting. It’s ok to be real. However you feel like dealing, it’s your choice. If you need to vent about how cancer has invaded your life..be real and vent. If you prefer to take a few days off and deal in your own way, then so be it. Remember, this is your story and you can tell as much or as little as you choose. I look so forward each day to check your blog just to see how you are today. I pray for you daily…blog or no blog. You’ve inspired me more than you can imagine. Thanks you from the bottom of my heart.
Heather,
I started reading your blog about 4 months ago I guess. My Grandmother has had inoperable lung cancer for about 2 years now, she’s slowly dying of it. You have given me great insight into what someone with cancer is truly feeling on the inside. It has changed me as a person. I am alot more aware of those around me who are hurting, both emotionally and physically. Reading has made me truly thankful for my health for the first time in my life and it has humbled me. I have started a mini-prayer chain from my blog that lists 6 people, including you, who we are praying for on a daily basis. You really have been an inspiration to us all, even in your dark times, that just shows that you are HUMAN. There are plenty of people in the Bible who went through “dark” times and had many, many questions for God. It’s OK! It’s normal.
Don’t feel you have to keep blogging for US though. This is all about YOU. We come because we truly care about YOU, how YOU’re doing/feeling, and so we can pray for and encourage YOU. If it is not serving you then don’t continue on just for us….
In Christ’s Love,
Jen
Heather,
I know you have a lot of people posting to this, but I am going to add my little bit. I’m not a religious person, and I don’t even remember how I got to your blog in the first place. Oh wait! I remember, it was because of Emma Grace’s autism, and I was interested in her progress. And I really wanted to hear what happened with the whole “parking lot chain thing.”
Then you got cancer. And now I check your blog every day. When I log on to my machine, I find myself thinking “I’m going to see how Heather’s doing today.” I really care about you. And not only do you not know me, you probably never will. But I feel like I know you a little bit, and I am following your progress and caring about you and your family very much.
And for my question– how do you deal with Emma Grace’s activity level while you feel so ill. Do you have outside help?
All the best to you! Fondly,
Heather,
It would be great to read a post from you every once in a while if it is becoming too much for you that is understandable. You are a woman with a lot going on and then you also have your illness to contend with. But to be honest with you, I find myself checking in daily to see how you are and it’s hard when you don’t post for a few days at a time. It is nice to know how you are doing and what is going on in your little corner of the world. Even if it’s a quick little note, please jot it down. Your words and you are an inspiration to many.
Ok, now my question to you would be “What would be the best night out on the town with just you and your husband – if your husband could plan the most ultimate surprise for you?”
Thanks Heather! Take care. I say a little prayer for you everyday.
“Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.â€- Isaiah 46:4
HI Heather,
I have written to you a couple of times before. I can’t remember how I started reading your blog but I have been doing so now since just after you were diagnosed. I have been all the way back to the very beginning of your journals and read everything.
I think I actually came across your journal when Chris Jordan from “Notes from the Trenches” was helping to raise funds for you to go to the Mao (sp?) Clinic for tests and possible treatment. I was totally amazed to read that strangers from all over the world were prepared to put together to help someone. It gave me faith that there are still a lot of good people around, especially after you read of so much violence and unrest in the world.
I would love to be able to come and have a Coffee with you, but geographically it would be a rather expensive coffee that is for sure. What would I ask you, I don’t know what I would ask you specifically, I think I would just be happy to be able to chat with you about your everyday coping mechanisms for everything in general.
You see, you don’t have to have cancer to have to be on Chemo although a lot of people out there would not know that. Over the time you have been having chemo I have been able to give you ideas and suggestions on how to cope with various apsects of your chemo but at the same time being able to keep in mind that everyone is an individual and reacts to things very differently. I have now been on Chemo now for 15 years, I have an Autoimmune Disease (a rare un-named one, I’ve always had to be different) where basically my Immune System is rejecting all my major organs and vessels and in the process doing a lot of dammage, some of it permanent. However unfortunately one of the side effects of one of the Chemo drugs that I am on is that it can cause Bladder Cancer and apparently the longer you are on it the risk factor rises exponentially. Well after 15 years, you’d think you would be past that hey. This past week this is what I have been having tests for and I have to go for a Cat Scan this afternoon. I had a Cystoscopy and Biopsies last week. In all the 15 years, my hair has managed to survive all the Chemo, Ok so it started out that it was very thick and below my waist so I had it cut short thinking that if it was short it might have a better chance of hanging around. Yes after each 6 weekly cycle of one of my drugs I do get an increased fall out but it still hung in there. I think I wrote and told you we were going away on a holiday around Australia ( we have just come back from that and it was brilliant, it was in celebration of my 50th Birthday so now I’m going to aim for 60 and see how we go ). During that time however we had to do an added cycle, this cycle was for 2 weeks but on a daily basis. It wasn’t until we had been home about 2 weeks when I noticed there was a lot of hair around the place and it didn’t all belong to my dogs. Yes, this extra cycle was just too much for my hair to handle. By last Saturday night 8th Sept it had got to the stage where it was so scrappy and untidy we decided on the Sunday morning to bite the bullet and shave the remains off. Do you know, after all these years of many hurdles and knocking on that other door several times, it has been the loss of my hair that has impacted on me the most. Yes I know, when people stop chemo their hair grows back and I believe sometimes it is thicker, stronger and nicer than the original. My concern is will it grow back when you are on ongoing chemo forever????
Heather, I admire the way you have coped with everything that has been put in your path. I really enjoy reading your journals and I do check your site everyday, sometimes several times a day. I have my computor on all the time and check my e-mails everytime I walk past it just to see who is around and who may have written.
I would say there are many people out there who take inspiration from you in the way that you cope, not only for yourself but for your fanily and children too. I most certainly admire anyone who Homeschools their children, this must be a daunting task in itself, let alone be unwell and believe me I know what you must feel like somedays and to still soldier on is admiral.
You are one amazing young lady, I really do hope that you find the strength being sent to you from all of us to be able to continue your journal. Believe me you are touching one hell of a lot of people out there in many different ways and I hope you find the strngth to continue doing so.
I would love to hear more about your family, your Husband, Children and Parents as they too are a very close and integral part of your day to day strength.
Take Care
Please continue your journal.
Lots of Love Carolynn xxxx
Wow, 133 comments, way to go.
On to the question.
Your blog has been very inspiring to me. I could never imagine what you are going through. I get little aches in my body, and I feel so ‘blah’, then I think of you, and I realize how much I focus on me to much. I’m sorry I don’t always comment, but I have you on my reader, and I do read all your blogs. I guess I don’t always leave comments because I feel so inadequate to. I mean, I know nothing of what you are going through, sometimes I just don’t know what to say. I remember when my sister’s husband passed away she said she was so tired of hearing “I’m sorry.” Even though she knew the people meant well, it just irritated her so much. I guess I just don’t always comment because I don’t want to irritate or say something goofy. But I am always encouraged by you. And I would miss it if you stopped writing but I would understand if that’s the direction you take. OK this has got to be the longest comment I’ve ever left anyone.
How do you stay so focused on the Lord and your family and not start feeling sorry for yourself? I can start feeling sorry for myself with just the smallest thing hurting or not going my way. How do you do it? I know it’s the Lord in you, but how do you let Him show Himself in you like that?
Thanks again for your honesty and openness in your blog. It has always been such an encouragement and a blessing to read. Thank you for sharing it and allowing us into your life.
JoAnn
I thought of something else…I am often curious what I should and should not tell my children regarding someone with cancer or whatever their ailment may be. I want them to treat everyone the same…so when they ask questions, I am generally VERY honest with them…could you give me some insight as to what would be appropriate to tell them if they want to ask questions? Also, I remember reading you wanted to talk about ANYTHING other than cancer when meeting up with people…do you have an opinion on the curiosity that comes with meeting someone with cancer? These are very strong questions, PLEASE know I am only asking because you said I could,
Normally, i would keep all of this to myself…LOVE!!! Tam
Heather, I can’t say whether you should continue to blog or not. But I can tell you I know God is honored and pleased with your testimony. What you’re going through hurts. It’s scary, and not something any of us would choose. But that you continue to trust His heart and love and honor Him in your pain — wow, it blesses all of us and teaches us, in turn, how to respond when we have trouble in this life.
God’s blessings on you and yours.
Ok, my son pressed submit before I was finished…
My questions for you would be about your decision to keep homeschooling. I can’t imagine being able to keep it up with that kind of exhaustion. At the same time, I understand your desire to keep your kiddos close to you as much as possible. But that’s what I’ve been thinking about lately.
You are blessing so many people every day with your message. But if you feel that God is leading you somewhere else, then follow! His way is much better than ours.
Heather,
Please keep your blog going…your posts have pushed me to know God more, to make my personal relationship with him more important than it has ever been before, to realize that God always has a plan for us – even when we don’t get it and even when it is painful. I have also been able to SEE God’s goodness and love through you and a lot of your readers…bloggy world is FULL of Christians who love Jesus with all their hearts, and it’s refreshing to be able to plop down at the computer and be part of that world, without the normal inhibitions that sometimes come with being a Christian. Blogging has encouraged me to step outside of my comfort zone and proclaim my faith and beliefs to others…just as Christ commands us to do.
Ok, now my question…the answer may be somewhere in your archives, and if so, just point me in the right direction. I would love to hear the story of you and your husband…how did you meet, how did your relationship progress, how did you know you were “meant to be”?
Your Sister in Christ,
Sally
Dear Heather,
You have so many people out here who care about you and are praying for you! We enjoy reading your inspirational blog. But we understand when you want to be honest and tell it like it is. Bless your heart, I felt you were having a rough time. I pray God will lift your spirits and minister to you. I think you have too much to do, as sick as you are. It is enough to get you down. God bless you, dear Heather and your family. You don’t have to blog all the time, just with updates, or when you feel like it would be alright. I have only been blogging since July, and I have listed your blog as a favorite.
I want everyone to pray for you. We have faith in our miraculous God and will not give up.
In His Love,
Cathy
I’m just a lurker from Louisville, KY, but I check your blog on almost a daily basis…I don’t even know you or your family, but I have truly enjoyed experiencing daily life with your family…whether that be homeschooling stories (I’m from a homeschooling family) or that you are having a bad, yucky day. You are so real with your writing and if being even more real is what you need to help, then knock our socks off!! You are a true picture of a Christian in that others can see the good and see the bad…the Christian life isn’t all peachy keen and if you are able to convey Christ to someone by being a real person with real problems as well as real praises and a real God, then go for it!!
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but A WOMAN WHO FEARS THE LORD IS TO BE PRAISED.
Give her the reward she has earned,
and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.
–Proverbs 31:30-31
Heather~
Your faith-filled spirit is a blessing to me. I’ve gone through some struggles in my own faith recently over some relatively minor events in my life. Reading about your deep faith in the face of your many challenges helps me to keep some perspective on things in my own world. Your faith is genuine and a part of you… you’re not some faceless person simply quoting scriptures and telling people what to believe. You live a true Christian life.
Your blog has also blessed me with Christian music. I’m a country music fan, but now I’ve found some Christian groups that I enjoy, mainly thanks to you.
I had kind of figured out that you weren’t blogging when you were having a bad day. I’m sorry if you feel pressured to stay positive. Don’t get me wrong, I love your positive attitude, but you know what… it’s ok to be mad, sad, depressed, or whatever else. That just means that you’re normal… it doesn’t in any way reflect on your faith or anything else about you. If you want to share that with the world, go for it… and if you don’t, that’s ok too- some things are just private. I hate that people have made you question your words and worry about offending them. This is YOUR blog, YOUR space… write what YOU want to.
My question would probably be something along the lines of wondering how you can keep your faith through the really dark times. (I struggle with this sometimes, and my dark times aren’t as serious as what you’re facing.) You more or less answer this in your posts anyway, though.
Whatever your decision, you will remain in my prayers!
Dear Heather,
Your life here in bloggy world is a shining example for me of how to face “the giants” in life. You give such honor and glory to our Lord. In your darkest moments you have praised Him. When you are weak you show how to be strong in Him.
I would love to sit with you and have coffee . Oh how sweet that would be.
I would probably ask 10,000 questions about homeschooling. The teacher/mommy balancing act. After that I would just listen……
However, if not on earth, I will be looking you up in heaven.
You must follow your own heart regarding your blog.
Smiles and Hugs to you.
I really hope you continue blogging. This has been such an encouragement to me and so many others. Finding out that I have cancer has always been an unreasonably big fear of mine, and now when I think of that fear, I almost always think of you and the grace and growth you have shown. It seems like a gift, not a curse.
Heather:
Like many readers, I first found your blog by accident. Or, at least I thought it was an accident at the time. Now, I’m not so sure. God led me here, I know that. Reading your posts certainly blesses me in that it serves as a reminder that humans can really have peace with God, no matter the circumstances. Regarding a question, I often wonder how you find your special moments with God. Not that all moments aren’t special! It’s just that you are so in tune with your faith and seem to have so much peace. I’m working toward reaching that in my own life.
Heather. You are a blessing–an encouragement–an example! I don’t know if I really have any questions off the top of my head. I just want you to know that you’ve pushed me to prayer so many times. I know I’ve blogged about you at least 4 times! I just get angry when I hear the word “cancer”. I think you’ve been a blessing to a huge portion of the blogosphere. Do what you think is best–but I think having this blog opens up new avenues of prayer warriors/partners. I love joining with you in fighting this disease! Always praying.
Oh Heather I can not even begin to tell you how much you have touched my life. I began reading your blog a few months before your cancer diagnosis. I was trying to find blogs I could read that were by Christian women. Unfortunately, I had been reading too many “secular” blogs and felt that I really needed to move away from that. I found you to be so very interesting and real.
I have to tell you that I was raised going to church every Sunday. I began going to a Southern Baptist church in the mid 1990′s and accepted Jesus as my Savior in 1996. But, I have started drifting so far away. I still go to church every Sunday (with my husband and two daughters, ages 3 and 1), I help with Children’s Choir, I take my daughter to Awana, I help her memorize her bible verses. But there is this huge part of me that has begun to doubt all of it. I even doubt the mere existence of God. I wish I still felt the way I did 10 years ago when I felt God’s presence, when I heard him speak to me.
Now, how do you fit into all of this? You give me faith that there is a God and that He still does love me and cares about me. You have such trust and genuine faith. I come in here and read your blog and you minister to me in such a real way. I have even begun praying (really praying- not just repeating some memorized words) for you on a daily basis. And sometimes I feel a flicker of what I used to feel. You have done that for me.
If I had any question to ask you it would be- how do you keep that faith alive. What have I done wrong that has made my light go out?
Heather, I respect you more than you know. I am sorry that this is a bit jumbled. I am not as eloquent with my words as you are (and I am crying while I type this- that doesn’t help either). Your words are a ministry to me. Please don’t stop writing.
Thank you.
Hi Heather,
I read your blog when I get the chance (at least once a week) and love reading what you have written. I originally found your blog because of Emma. I’ve worked with children with autism and I found her story from another blog on autism and started reading. And was amazed. So much strength from such a small package, though it’s VERY clear where she gets it from! Anyways, I found Emma’s story about the same time that you were diagnosed with cancer and were flying to Mayo (I live in MN!). And I’ve been reading ever since and praying along with you and even letting others know about you and your amazing family.
As for your question on continuing to blog? Do what feels right for you. I love having the updates, don’t get me wrong! But it’s up to you. No matter what you decide, people will be here for you (even the ones you haven’t met, or the ones that you have no idea are reading!).
As for a question? You have done so much for me, what can I do for you and your family?