Laughter TRULY is the Best Medicine!!!

Just had lunch with my "bunch" and laughed so hard that I am in the best mood EVER!!! Just has made my afternoon. Hope the sewing machine crew doesn't turn us in!!!

My Friend Brandon

I have been fortunate in my life to be blessed with good friends. Not "acquaintances" but true, dependable, loving friends who care about me and my family. I have also worked very hard to be a loving, dependable friend to the people that God has placed in my life. I do not believe that anything happens by accident. I believe that there are no coincidences. Therefore, I believe that God placed Brandon in my life for a reason. To inspire me in my faith, to give me hope, and to make me grateful for the blessings I have that most people consider "everyday" parts of life. I thank God daily for my family, but also for my health and that of my loved ones, my house, my job, clothes on my back, food on my table, bills paid, and my friends. I use to never think about my health unless I was sick. But now I know that it is a gift and one for which I should be grateful. I thank God for it everyday. Which leads me to my friend, Brandon Clark. He has been battling (and it has indeed been a valiant fight) against two primary cancers since February of 2006. He has used his illness and the treatment as a ministry tool to try and reach people for Christ. To point them to God. And in huge ways, he has succeeded. He has changed and touched so many lives. Not just those of the people he knows but countless that he has never met. He has demonstrated such grace and courage in the face of this horrific disease that has ravaged his body but has not and could not rob him of his hope and faith. In fact, he embodies what I want for my life. To live for faith, family and friends........in that order. We all knew, including Brandon, that when God was through with him, He would call him home. That day is approaching and I am sad. But not for reasons one might think. I am sad for his family who will no longer have this amazing man in their midst. His legacy of love and laughter will live on in the hearts and minds of those who love him, but his physical presence will be sorely missed. I am sad for Brandon because I know to leave his family behind is something that breaks his heart. He has NO doubt about his eternal security but we all want to see our children grow up and be there to mark the milestones in their lives. I feel sad for his friends who will no longer get to spend time with this funny man whose main goal is to illicit laughter from those he is around. And I feel sorry for myself. I love him and I will miss him. I don't know how much "time" he has but I know that instead of dying from cancer, he will live with it until God calls him home. I am honored to be his friend. I pray for strength and God's grace and mercy for Brandon and those of us who love him in the difficult days ahead.

I Lost A Friend Today

When you hear that statement you almost always assume that someone has passed away. Well when someone close to you is no longer a part of your life it feels like a death sometimes. I have always been blessed with many friends and quite a few GOOD, CLOSE, DEPENDABLE, NO MATTER HOW MUCH TIME PASSES I WILL ALWAYS BE THERE FOR YOU friends. I lost one today. And they don't even know it. I think a great deal of responsibility comes with being someone's friend. Unlike being an acquaintance, whom you smile or wave at, or engage in small talk with, a FRIEND is someone much more. You can always be honest with them and they with you no matter how painful the subject is. You might not agree but you aree to disagree and the relationship continues. Friendship is a gift from God. Our Lord was the friendliest human on earth and extended His precious hand of friendship to people of both sexes, from every financial class, and from all walks of life. He knew how important it was. Man doesn't do well alone and for those who don't have spouses or families, God created friends to stand in the gap. I take my friendships very seriously. Today, I have decided to end one. It is not something that I did lightly nor is it something they will probably ever realize. Because you see, I was their friend and would KNOW right away if something was wrong or if they felt differently about me. But perhaps they were never really mine. They could just not continue to do the same thing over and over that they KNOW is hurtful to me if they were truly my friend. Or at least they would talk to me about it and try to make me understand. Or perhaps just say, even though we don't agree on this, I want you to know that I care about you and am sorry if you are upset. Instead...........NOTHING. So, today as the reality of our TRUE relationship settled in on me, I said out loud (because for me, that makes it seem more viable when you vocalize your feelings)"I am no longer so and so's friend." And I feel sad about it.........and they probably won't even notice. I lost a friend today........they did not. Because now I have to painfully admit that they were never as invested in me as I was in them. Therefore they were never a TRUE friend after all. And with that being the case I should not feel so sad. Sigh............