forgotten password

ok- so it's been several months since i've posted- and the truth is.....i forgot my password! i was just playing around this morning and typed something in- and well- here i am! maybe i'll remember it more often so i can blog more-hehehe!

a day with my bestie.....melissa hill sands

i awoke early this morning- very excited about my day. i have learned through these last several years that when the children are at their dad's to keep myself busy- as much as possible- and to REST often....i have no choice about that these days. for one really good day- i might need a good several more to rest and regroup.

but today- i did something 4 myself! my bestie melissa and i went to the movies to see my sister's keeper- and we had our snacks-much buttered popcorn, candy, and coke- and we cried, sniffed, cried, and cried some more! what an awesome movie- you could hear us sobbing and sniffing from a good distance.

i've had such a wonderful day with my best friend who i'd lost contact with 4 over 20 years....and somehow- it seems like we've never been apart. it's been amazing- sharing old memories and now creating new ones- and sometimes with our own children- but today it was just us girls!!

Celebrating with the Sands Family

scrappin' away for aaron

these past few days have been sooooo busy. i've been working on a scrapbook for aaron walden which included all his achievements from pre-k to his senior year. i had already started and gotten to 3rd grade when his mom-lisa and our friend michelle pitched in to help. after many many hours our masterpiece was done- all 232 pages!!!!

today, i'm just playing catch up. the kids and i are enjoying our time at home- but it won't be 4 long.

New design

Trying out new blog designs... what do you think?

going back to candler....again....

please don't think i've lost my mind (melissa), but once again- i forgot my password and i've had to wait patiently until i could remember it- so i could blog. i knew i'd remember....eventually. a day in my life is never ever dull!

i've been going to candler in savanah now for the past several weeks visiting someone who's become very special to me- and i decided early on that i wanted to visit 5th floor rehab where i spent 6 weeks after my stroke- and bead with some of the patients. last week we made bracelets and this week necklaces. this has become a very special time for me 1- i get to meet the patients and we share our stories and 2- i get to visit with my former therapists- who i am certain- gave me the jump start in getting me to where i am today. amazing isn't it? i am so humbled that god can use me in this way- even though after doing it it takes several days of rest!

i also visited with charles-my stroke surviving friend-7 times i think. i first met charles at the marks exhibit at the jepson center. i didn't realize it- but he recently had a leg amputated and was scheduled for the other one to be removed today. wow- what can you say to someone going through that? i had prayer with him and shared with him about my 2 years in the chair and about my friend andy. i shared with charles that after being in a motorcycle accident 9 years ago- andy is now in a chair and at the present time facing other challenges- and then i shared andy's strengths- not focusing at all on his disability. i then pointed out to charles that god has left him with a wonderful talent in drawing- and perhaps by being in the chair- god has a specific purpose for which may not be revealed until later.

i now have 2 friends who are in a chair.....and i admire them both for their strength, courage, and determination! kinda gives new meaning to psalm 46:10 where he says....be still and know that i am god- for it's in my own stillness that i've learned some of life's sweetest lessons !

changes with the times

so....my intensions have been good-but my following thru has been another story! but i now have a laptop and wireless internet- but for several days- still not quite sure how to use it. my 11 year old son -on the other hand- has adjusted quite well and is trying to be as patient as possible with me.

back before my stroke-i had just completed intec- which was a requirement for ga educators. and to reward myself once the course was completed- i bought myself a digital camera- that took the hard square looking discs maybe -4x4?

then i had the stroke and was out of the everchanging world of technology. and there i was 3 years later with not a clue. now over 6 years later-here i am quite determined to somehow catch up. so be patient with me.....i'm so very very lucky to have such supportive and knowledgeable friends....thank u much mhs!!! you are a .....superstarrrrrr! hehehe

suffering- some days i just need this reminder!

they say that when suffering shatters the carefully kept vase that is our lives, god stoops to pick up the pieces- but he doesn't put them back together as a restoration project patterned after our former selves- instead he sifts through the rubble and purposely selects some of the shards as raw material for another project -a mosaic-that so beautifully tells the story of redemption.

seeds i have planted....

some days are just better than others....and today was definitely a good one. while out and about- i ran into several of my former students. there was tyler the graduate of gt- now an engineer at plant hatch who just happened to be behind me at wal-mart checkout and loaded my car. then- there was jesslyn and her baby girl- chloe- who i ran into at bath and body works. next there was serena- who served me my most favorite drink ever- premium roast coffee from the mcdonalds drive-thru. and last- there was melanie at the salon- who cut up some good looking hair on my kids as well as waxing my crazy eyebrows- (u glow girl-with your pregnant self)!

i am sooooo thankful for my long term memories!!!!

my weekend with melissa

It's been 25 years, but all of a sudden-it seems like yesterday that melissa and i were hanging together in my old hometown of claxton, georgia. when i stop to think about all these "coincidences" that have brought us back together- i am certain that it's all part of god's plan.

although many years have passed- when i see her or even talk to her on the phone- we giggle like little girls and i must say- it feels good! i am so proud of her and happy for her! she not only has a beautiful family and home there in glennville- but she has worked hard and has a successful career.

i had the amazing opportunity to speak there at her church today at glennville first baptist where i met many new brothers and sisters in christ. i wouldn't trade anything for this amazing weekend i've had- melissa-i'm so glad god has brought us back together again- and this time- for good. thank you for listening to my abcd stories.....who'd have ever thought? hehehehe!

Stroke Recovery 2002 - Present

Adam's Baseball Pix 2007

Chloe's Fairy's Pics 2008

My Purpose

I am a survivor- a miracle I prefer to call myself. You see, at the age of 30, I had everything (or so I thought), a college education, successful teaching career of almost 9 years, new home, five year old son and brand new baby girl, (what I thought at the time) was a good marriage- but it all changed....in a split second! I can honestly say today that I would never ever-not for one second- go back to my old life. The lessons I have learned have been priceless! On December 2, 2002 I suffered a massive stroke-affecting both the left side of my brain and cerebellum. From that day I spent 6 weeks in the hospital- where I "relearned" everything-with only the left side of my body in semi-working order. I received excellent care...from the time I was in the hospital up until November 2003 – at which point I experienced (what I believed at the time) complete and total devastation.

The one person I trusted most-and had loved all of my adult life made, perhaps, the biggest mistake of his life. He chose to break his solemn promise to me, despite our sacred wedding vows we had promised to each other back on august 6, 1994 before god, family, and friends. The father of my children left me. And I know that there will be a day, in god's time, when he will be held accountable for those selfish choices he made back then. I have forgiven, as I’ve been commanded to do- but friends I do not have not- nor will I ever- forget! But what I now so clearly realize is that I was never truly alone, because my god-he was with me every step of the way! He has never forsaken me, never broken any promise to me. I now realize that my great love is not found in any man on earth- but in Christ my father! Each day often brings physical pain, suffering, and weariness- but I am found like new in Christ - my savior. He is able to take me (with my broken self-and limitations) - and use me to share with others the love and faithfulness that only he can and does provide. One of the most awesome gifts I have ever been given is my children (two on this earth and one in heaven).

I will always cling to those feelings I first experienced when I had them both in my womb- the evidence of a tiny one inside- moving and kicking... and then first seeing their precious faces, holding them close as they were completely dependent on me - all of you mothers know exactly what I'm describing. But as much as I love my children- they are only a gift from god. And friends- god feels so much more than that about each of us-you and me. Isn’t that amazing? A word of advice- enjoy each day to its fullest. Appreciate what you have and be thankful for what you had-because it can and probably will change-in an instant- despite any control you may think you have. I know because it happened to me. learn to recognize those few in your life who you really can trust- but beware- there will be those manipulative individuals who will try to trick and confuse you- want to make you stumble- for their own selfish gain. There is and has been only one constant in my life- Christ Jesus- my lord! For without him, I truly am- nothing. But with him – I am.