Today is my Mom's birthday. She is 70. Wow. I remember sitting in her chair and watching Days of Our Lives while Kay Lynn and Vance were at school. I could turn into this awesome being called Angel Nurse and rub her temples. I actually was rubbing out headaches when I was 5. Angel Nurse was quite a girl. She had it together.

Nine years ago, my Daddy sent Mama some roses to Redemptorist for her birthday. He had a doctor's appointment and called me after. He was worried about his heart and wanted to remind me about Mama's birthday. I remember thinking that he was going to freak himself out about his heart. The next call I got was from him telling me he was going to the fire station because of his chest pains. I thought, yep, he is freaking out. That was the last time I talked to him. The next call I got was from Vance telling me that they were on the way to the hospital and they had shocked him. I knew then. My kids were with me, Scott and Paula came over, and Brad came home from work. I hate death. I got the call soon after and talked to Dr. Ren. Daddy was gone. We were remodeling our house at the time. We left for Baton Rouge and Scott, Travis, Piggy and I don't know who else finished our house. They were awesome. When I came home, our house was done, and Travis wore his loop earrings for me that one time. You would have to know Travis. In the next few months I had kidney surgery and then a tumor removed. I was grieving the death of my father, homeschooling my 5 children, and recovering from pain, and unhappily married. Many people stepped in and saved my life. Melanie Grogan. I will always thank God for her. There are some people that think I am weak or light. They do not know. I have learned that I like goodness. Peace and not sadness. People love me. That is what that horrible time taught me. I am thankful to all of them.

I am rambling a little. I know.


Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.