Guess where we went this past weekend...

No, it wasn't Africa.

But Faith Wrenn and I did go to Africa last night.

GHANA to be exact. 

We went to VBS at my mom's church, and their theme is missions.  It is based on 1 John 3:18 which says,

"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue
but with actions and in truth."

I tried not to get too emotional, especially when we were learning about the missionary David Livingstone who served in Africa.  The gentleman who was sharing the story ended by saying, "God may be calling some of you in this room to go be missionaries in Africa" and he looked right at me!

More confirmation! 

Okay, back to guessing where we spent our weekend.

I'll give you a hint.  It was somewhere in NC.

But it was not at the same place in NC where I took this tree picture today.

Nope.  This morning, I had a follow up appointment with my surgeon at the Cancer Center in Uptown Charlotte. This picture of RAINBOW colored TREES was in my examination room. It was just a routine appointment that turned into another divine appointment.

When I was checking out, the sweet lady helping me had a prayer calendar taped to her wall.  I asked her what was the prayer request for today.  She said, "COURAGE - Lord, may I always be strong and courageous in my character and my actions.  Deuteronomy 31:6."
("Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”   Deut. 31:6).

WOW!

Then, I looked up and saw a lady checking in.  She was wiping tears from her eyes, trying not to lose it completely.  The Holy Spirit prompted me to go to her once I was finished checking out.  

God didn't waste any time answering that prayer for COURAGE, did He??!!!  He granted me the opportunity to be courageous right away when He prompted me to approach a stranger in need.

Also, the sweet lady who was taking care of my paperwork gave me a copy of her prayer calendar!  This is another answered prayer because I'm going on a mission trip next week to Costa Rica, and I wanted to post a specific prayer request each day on this blog.  God made it easy for me!  He handed me a prayer calendar - a simple one with Scripture!

After I checked out, I went back into the waiting room and approached the crying lady.  I told her I didn't know what was happening in her life, but I felt like God wanted me to give her a hug.  She gladly accepted my offer.

We talked awhile and she shared her story with me.  She said she was ready to quit smoking today.  She had been smoking for about 30 years.  Four years ago, she was diagnosed with lung cancer and she had actually stopped smoking for 2 years.  She has been cancer free for a while but she started smoking again.  Her doctor is not happy and has been asking her at her checkups if she is ready to quit.  Every time she has told him no, she was not ready.  Then she failed to keep her last 2 appointments.

But, today was different.  She was ready to quit smoking and follow through with her doctor's appointment.  And it was time for her to have a CT scan to see if her lungs are still cancer free.  I'm sure this is what had her so emotional. Talk about being COURAGEOUS!

I was able to encourage her and then she allowed me to pray over her.  What a precious, tender time! God is so amazing! 

Okay, okay.  Back on track here. I'll give you one more hint. And this should give it away.

Yes, you guessed it....we went camping in NC with some friends. Every time we I go camping, it rains.  Even during a drought.  Guaranteed.

Here we are with our friends Lee & Angie and their children Daniel & Matthew and dog Rainey.  We have known them for over 15 years.  Angie was Tanner's 2 year old teacher at our church daycare back in Chapin.  We love them so much!  They are very dear to us.

The food was better than a 5 star restaurant....

Fresh garden veggies cooked to perfection and then...

made into a delicious breakfast casserole.  YUMMY!

Faith is eating tenderloin wrapped in bacon.  She couldn't get enough!

For dessert, we had homemade ice cream!

Here's Matthew, Tanner, Daniel & Faith enjoying their Oreo ice cream.

And check out the monster marshmellows!  They were a breakfast appetizer!

We don't eat this good at home!  Now, I'm afraid my family is going to start expecting this kind of food all the time.  Lee and Angie go all out. They spoil us!

Here is my knight in shining armor giving me a ride back from the pool.

Here is Daniel with his blinking Rudolph nose he found at Goodwill.  We did the "Goodwill tour" (went to a few of them) in search of great deals.  I found some "missionary clothes." And I met some ladies looking for missionary clothes too.  Another lady shared her desire to join her son and his wife on their next trip to Haiti or the Dominican Republic.  God had me encourage her to GO! Start making plans now!  Go home and tell your husband! Start taking the necessary steps to make it happen. 

At night, we sing. 

Here is Angie by the campfire with her song book

leading us in a time of praise and worship.

Here's Lee playing the songs on his guitar.

Once the singing was done, everyone went to bed - except me & Angie.  We had not seen each other since April 2010.  We had some catching up to do. 

And it took us until 5:15 AM to do it! 

We had such a good time with our dear friends.  We plan to do it again in October.  I've already put my raincoat in the camper :)

Loving HIM with all my heart & soul,

Nancy

Radiation Day 2

My friend Cindy and I were able to resume walking this morning before I went to work, and the exercise made a noticeable difference in my energy level today.  PRAISE!  It wasn't until 8:30 p.m. that I felt really tired, and my body started shutting down. 

But before I go to sleep, I want to blog about a few things God did today.  I'll make it quick - yeah, right!

On my way to radiation today, I prayed for God to please give me an opportunity to share Him with someone while I was there.  When I walked into the office, I was greated by the 2 sweet ladies who work at the front desk.  Super Sweet Ladies.  One of them said "Mrs. Swicegood, you always have a big smile on your face."  My response, "That would be the JOY OF THE LORD on my face!"  She gave me an "AMEN!" and said, "You keep right on smiling!"

In the waiting room, I actually met 3 new ladies today.  We each shared our "cancer detection" story in 30 seconds or less.  (It reminds me of college when you ask each other "what's your major?"  LOL!)  I was able to tell them about the miraculous way God uncovered my cancer, and how He has blessed me through the medical care I've received.  I prayed for 1 opportunity to share today, and God gave me 4 (when you include the lady at the front desk)!!!  ONLY GOD!!!!!

"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen."  Ephesians 3:20-21

I sense God wanting me to spend more time with one lady in particular.  She is about halfway through her treatments so I should be seeing her everyday for the next 3 weeks.  Please pray for us to have time to talk everyday.

*****************************************************

The radiation tech came and got me out of the waiting room, but asked me to sit in a chair in the hallway right outside the treatment room while another patient finished up.  While sitting in the hallway, I saw 2 tree pictures on the wall - one to my right and one to my left.  (Sorry I couldn't take pictures.  My camera was in my locker.)

As I looked at the 2 pictures, God spoke to my heart and said "What do you notice about these 2 tree pictures as well as the other tree pictures you have seen in this office?"

I thought about it for a minute, and then God revealed it to me.  None of the pictures are of just ONE tree by itself.  Every picture has SEVERAL trees in it.  And just like these trees, we were not meant to be alone.  We need each other.  God designed us to do life together.  From the very beginning, God said it is not good for man to be alone!  So, He created another person.  WOW!

Thank you for going through breast cancer with me!!!  Thank you for not leaving me alone!!!  WHAT A TREMENDOUS BLESSING YOU ARE!!!  

Ironically, earlier today at work before radiation, I was listening to the radio.  The DJ announced the next song was by TREE 53.  Of course the word "tree" caught my attention, and I wondered what this band's name meant.  I automatically assumed that the "tree" part referred to the cross Christ died on for our sins.  As I thought about the crucifixion, God spoke to my heart and said "the tree (cross) that Christ died on represents the place of TOTAL SURRENDER.  Jesus gave up His will for My (God's) will.  Are you totally surrendered to Me today?"

Ahhh, the lessons we can learn from trees!

Loving HIM with all my heart & soul,
Nancy   

THANKFUL THURSDAY (& Friday, & Saturday, & Sunday, & Monday, & Tuesday, & Wednesday...)

I have been sharing with you the many, many thoughtful and delicious things people have blessed me with since I have been diagnosed with breast cancer.  Due to the holidays, 4 family birthdays, and grieving the end of Christmas movies on the Hallmark Channel (just kidding - mostly :), I have been a little slack.  So, I want to share some more with you now - better late than never, right?

 *Disclaimer:  I have taken pictures of everything so I can always remember how gracious God has been to me through YOU.  But, something has happened to the way my camera stores the pictures I take.  The pictures do not come up in chronological order when I view them.  I have tried to correct it, but haven't figured it out yet.  With that being said, I may have overlooked a picture or two.  That is the only reason your gift would not be included on the blog.  BUT I HAVE NOT OVERLOOKED YOU!!!  I have prayed for you and asked God to bless you for your kindness.

This one-of-a-kind bracelet was made by my friend Cindy.  It was the very first pink breast cancer item I received.  THANK YOU CINDY!  I wore it this weekend, and my friend Rene saw it from a distance and thought the ribbons were the Christian fish symbol.  Then she mentioned being fishers of men.  From now on, when I see the breast cancer ribbon, it will remind me to be a fisher of men!!!  Breast cancer is a HUGE ministry opportunity.  So many people with cancer are longing for HOPE.

My friend Shawna Lee actually gave me the shirt off her back out of her closet!  But not before she sent me this very encouraging e-mail after learning I had cancer... "Got up this morning and put my "Fight like a Girl" t-shirt on for you.  We will be praying, sweetie.  GOD is good, ALL the time!!"   She also made me the yellow bracelet.  THANK YOU!!!

One of the most amazing gifts you all have given me is your words of encouragement & prayers.  I have saved every single one of your encouraging e-mails so I can go back and read them any time I need to.  THANK YOU!!!

This book and a few others have been loaned to me by my friend Sally from church.  She is a breast cancer survivor herself and has answered lots of my questions.  THANK YOU SALLY!  You have really helped me.

These 2 gifts (above and below) are from my friend Susan.  When she gave me the "Facing Cancer" cards, she told me to be sure to pass it on when I was finished with it.  There are lots of cards with Scripture on one side and practical encouragement related to cancer on the back.  THANK YOU SUSAN!   **We really enjoy Olive Garden too! 

Also, THANK YOU TO THE LADIES AT MY MOPS TABLE for the Carraba's gift card.  It did not last long!  THANK YOU!

Check out my RAINBOW cup and the pretty bag it came in.  THANK YOU MENDY & SEAN!!!  I use this cup all the time and am reminded of God's presence and promises.  THANK YOU!

This creative gift came from my friend Faye at church.  All 7 of these things were wrapped, and she told me to open one a day for a week.  The reason: so I would know she was thinking of me and praying for me every day.  How thoughtful is that??!!!  THANK YOU FAYE!  *I almost bought a puzzle book for myself at the Dollar Store a few days before I received this one from Faye.  Isn't God amazing??!!!  He cares about everything in our lives, even a puzzle book!

Amen!!!  This is from my sister.  THANK YOU COLE for bringing me more joy!

Here are my friends Angela and Jeannine.  We had a DELICIOUS lunch together at Angela's house, along with lots of laughs.  Spending time with you guys was so much fun!  THANK YOU!!!  And THANK YOU JEANNINE for sending dinner home with me that night too!  And THANK YOU ANGELA in advance for the pedicure!!!

Joy & Hope - I got not 1 but 2 ornaments in the same gift box at our Tuesday Morning Bible Study ornament exchange.  Joy is "my thing" and Hope is "my friend Cindy's thing."  She wasn't able to come that morning, but she still got her ornament!  God is so awesome!!!

YUMMY! What a treat to come home and find this waiting for me along with an uplifting note from my friend Ruth!  THANK YOU RUTH from me AND my family!!!

This is another one of God's unexpected blessings.  I had been craving pears for several days.  I had a jar of home canned pears and couldn't wait to eat them.  I was so excited (I know, it doesn't take much!)  But when I opened the jar, the pears were bad, really bad.  Air had obviously gotten in.  I was sooo disappointed.  Then a day or 2 later, the doorbell rang and look what was delivered...... PEARS along with lots of other goodies!!!  This was from my friend Angie and her family!  THANK YOU ALL SO VERY MUCH!!!  This is how God works through one person to bless another.  WOW!!!   

I'd been wanting a candle that smelled like Christmas.  At Tanner's birthday party, my aunt Robin gave me this.  Guess what it smells like??!!!  CHRISTMAS!  That's my God!  THANK YOU ROBIN! 

Check out this necklace....it was a special surprise from my friend Jacona!!!  The word "LIFE" is imprinted around the tree too.  I love this necklace!  THANK YOU JACONA!!!  THANK YOU!!!

This is our youth group's name & symbol - gotta love the tree!  This weekend, our youth will be having their annual Disciple Now weekend.  About 2 weeks ago, we had a parents' meeting about this event where we completed paperwork and provided payment.  While I was there, my friend Gail looked at me and said she wanted to pay for Tanner.  What??!!!  She insisted.  I cried.  O-V-E-R-W-H-E-L-M-E-D.  THANK YOU GAIL!!!  More than you will ever know.  This is how God works through His children, for His children.  He is AMAZING!

This delicious meal was delivered today by my friend Tracy.  The plan was to freeze it for next week when I start radiation.  However, I started work today (I do bookkeeping during tax season) and was tired.  It's tough using your brain all day!  Anyway, I had planned a meal for dinner but soon discovered I was missing some ingredients. TRACY, YOU SAVED THE DAY!!  THANK YOU!!! WHAT A BLESSING!!!!

I can't thank you all enough - for everything!  You are absolutely wonderful!  I am asking God to blow your minds with His abundant blessings!  Watch out, because He will!

"At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me (with Epaphroditus.)  They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God.  And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from His glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

Now all glory to God our Father forever and ever! Amen."  Phil. 4:18-20
Loving HIM with all my heart & soul,
Nancy





What a great weekend! What an AMAZING GOD!!!

God really spoke to me this weekend!  

I told my husband that I needed to get away by myself just so I could process everything and figure out what God wants me to do with it all.  So God did this......

HE BROUGHT SNOW!  And snow shuts everything down in the south!  So, instead of starting work today, I am at home.....processing and playing and praying and playing and prioritizing and playing!

It all started Saturday morning when I went to a ladies' breakfast at church.   It was so good to see friends and meet some new ones.  I was completely surprised by this precious gift from my friend Christina...

 She took this picture in her hometown in Indiana and gave it to me because of the trees.  Isn't it beautiful??!!!  (If you look closely, you can see the reflection of the RAINBOW picture hanging on our refrigerator - it's on the right side just above the snow.  GOD JUST MAKES ME SMILE!!!!!) THANK YOU CHRISTINA!  WOW!  This prompted me to share with the ladies at my table how God has been using TREES to teach me lots & lots of lessons over the past year. (Christina, all because you made the extra effort to go back to your car and bring the picture in BEFORE Leslie got started, a whole table of women got to hear about how God has been using trees in my life.  Sooo, when Leslie made several references to trees during her teaching, including Jeremiah 17:7-8, a whole table of women got to witness God speaking through trees FOR THEMSELVES!)  

Leslie Nease, from HIS Radio & Survivor China, was our speaker.  She lives in our community and has spoken at our church a few times.  She loves the Lord and is very open and real.  It was through her that God began to speak and connect so many dots in my life!  I basically cried through her entire teaching (and tried to disguise it hoping it looked like I had major sinus problems! Obviously, my disguise did not work because Leslie came up to me afterwards wanting to know what was going on.......)

Some of the revelations God gave me Saturday morning are what I am pondering on to see how they will take form in my life.  I need a few days before I post about the specifics - mainly because I'm not sure how to put it all into words yet.  This is HUGE for me!

Check out what I saw when I left my house to go to church on Saturday morning.

Yep!  Dead mums on my front porch.  I thought to myself as I drove away, "I REALLY need to do something about that."  My second thought was, "But I don't know what I can put in that planter for the winter."

LOOK AT IT NOW.....

But GOD KNEW!!!  He had a plan all along!!!

My friend Rene gave me this little "New Year's gift" on Saturday at church!  THANK YOU RENE!  I smile every time I see my planter now!  (Thank you for your thoughtfulness Rene! And thank you for being my sounding board Saturday afternoon! Again God is blessing me through you!)

As I was leaving on Saturday, my friend Jamie who was in charge of the event gave me a beautiful vase of flowers that had been used as a table centerpiece.  THANK YOU JAMIE!

As I turned into my subdivision, I sensed the Holy Spirit saying, "Someone in your neighborhood needs these flowers."  So, I started praying and looking at each house as I drove by.  I kept asking, "Who, Lord?  Who needs these flowers today?"  Then, as soon as I parked, I knew. There is a family here, who I have never met personally, who has a son in 4th grade with my daughter, and he has a brain tumor.  I drive by their house and pray for them daily, but I have never met them - until Saturday.

I took the flowers to my neighbor - a very brave but weary mom of 3 who gives her 10 year old son oral chemotherapy every night and drives him to radiation every day.  I cannot imagine what that is like for her as a mom.  What a blessing to meet her and her family - all because Jamie was obedient in giving me a vase of flowers! (So Jamie, how does it feel to be God's instrument AGAIN??!!!) 

What is God calling you to DO? 

I know HE IS CALLING YOU TO DO SOMETHING! 

It may be big or it may be small, but it is SOMETHING! 

Please, please, please DO IT!!!

Then Sunday night, my family and I went to Winter Jam in Uptown Charlotte.

 We took the light rail train and saw several friends from church along the way.

We ate PB&J sandwiches while waiting in line to get in - Dave Ramsey ("Financial Peace") would be so proud!

 

 We found a good seat...

and worshipped our God with Sidewalk Prophets, Red, New Song, Francesca Battistelli, The Dave Crowder Band, Kutless, and The Newsboys.

 Did you notice the TREES on the screen???  This was one of the backdrops for Kutless.  Honestly, I would have paid the price of admission just to hear the Dave Crowder Band sing "How He Loves" http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GIdvtRcPGBg which is a beautiful song about God's love that mentions being a tree!

We also sponsored a child through http://www.holtinternational.org/.  We will sponsor her until she is adopted.  *She is actually our 2nd sponsored child.  Our first one is through World Vision http://wvi.org/wvi/wviweb.nsf.

***And check out my Bible verse for today..."He who gives to the poor will lack nothing, but he who closes his eyes to them receives many curses."  Proverbs 28:27  WOW!!! God speaks loud and clear!

Then we got back on the light rail train and headed home - CHANGED!!!

Loving HIM with all my heart & soul,

Nancy