My heart will choose to say

Blessed be the name of the Lord

These last couple of weeks have been a mix of highs and lows to the absolute extreme. I always try to bless the Lord, whether in victory or in trial and these last few weeks have definitely tested that. One thing is always true: God is good and is always to be praised. Even when I don't understand. Even when his presence is so true and so real, and even when it's hard to know if He's even here. Blessed be His name.

"Blessed be the name of the LORD now and forever." Psalm 113:2

The Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit's prompting

2 years ago today, I had my biopsy of the lump I found in my breast. I remember waking up and everyone telling me, "It's fine! Benign!" Everything looked great.

I had such relief. Little did I know that 3 days later, I would get the devastating news that everything was not fine and I was about to undergo the fight of my life.

The best day I've had in YEARS!

Saturday October 5, 2013

Have you ever had one of those days that is just a "stand-alone" kind of day?! A day that you just think, "Wow, today was a great day!!!" Yeah, well I haven't had one of those in a long, long, long time. Situations may have predicted a good day, or my emotions my have been in a good place one day, but never both at the same time in the last few years. 

Well, I had one of those days this Saturday. Yes, one of those "stand-alone" days.

Keeping my eye on the prize

Race for the Cure 2013...then and now

I am SO disappointed that I will miss race for the cure this weekend. I ran in it a few weeks before my diagnosis in 2011, and then ran in it last year, so to miss it is a HUGE bummer for me. But I have something WAY more important this weekend: my amazing friend, Kelly's baby shower. I am a hostess and will be in Baton Rouge celebrating her and her upcoming arrival. I can't wait to have my 4 best friends (Kelly, Katie, Ainsley, and Margot) all together. The truest of true friends!!!

Stories

What's your story? Seems like an easy question, right? But so many of us, including myself feel like we wouldn't know what to say, or that no one would want to hear  our story, or that our story isn't good enough...well, this week has been huge for me in realizing my story.

Our Amazing Week in Vail, Co.

We were in Vail, CO this week, as we attended a conference on maximizing business. We were attending mainly for Josh to learn more entrepreneurship and business, etc..., but we have been overwhelmed by the amount of information that applies to ME. To my story! I have learned so much on how God has given me a platform, an audience, a people to share my story!

Post-cancer thoughts...check your SPAM!

-Aly-

1. I forget I don't have my breasts any more. The other day someone was talking about having to wear a really supportive sports bra. Before I knew it, I was agreeing and telling her which kind I wore. Then, I quickly realized, that isn't true anymore!!! Crazy how I can forget these things. I go to buy a shirt or a bra and realize I have to look for a different size/fit, since my breasts are so different. 

2. I still scratch my head like I have a wig on. Ever seen people with a weave or wig and how they kinda put their finger on top of their head to try and scratch it, but they really can't? Yeah, I still do that from the 6 months I wore Raquel.

I know RELIEF!

As Josh's aunt has said, "Our famous God does it again!" I'm sure most of you have heard my good news by now, but my scans were clear- PRAISE GOD!!! It was a crazy, relaxing, anxiety-filled, wonderful trip to Houston, with the best ending possible. God's love and care for me overwhelms me at levels I didn't even know were there!

We got to Houston on Thursday for my reconstructive procedure. It was about a 2 1/2 hour surgery, but they used local anesthesia so I was awake the whole time. It was crazy. They also allowed Josh to stay back there while they did the surgery, so it was really cool for him to watch. Music was playing and Josh, Dr. Villa, Alisha and I just chatted the entire time. That was surreal to just be having normal conversations and to know they were cutting on me--ahh!!! I only looked one time, but it made my stomach churn. If anyone has ever questioned what the human body can do and how amazingly intricate God created us, just watch a surgery- Incredible!