Flowers on Footprints~bringing you hope and happiness for the journey ahead!
Writer
I have wanted to be a writer for as long as I can remember. From short stories in elementary school to my high school creative writing class and beyond, being able to express myself through writing has been such a blessing.
Speaker
When I published my first book, I was certain it would allow me to travel the world! Oh my, I am laughing out loud as I sit here writing this! If only I knew then what I know now! One thing I’ve had to accept is that many things in this life are out of our control...but EVERYTHING, every place I’ve been and every person I’ve met, served a purpose. I have lots to share on that, but I’ll leave it for another day and time! I’m thankful God is providing me opportunities to share not only my struggle, but also my revival. He’s brought me through so much darkness and I’m hopeful my testimony will lead others to His shining light!
Survivor
I’m going to be brutally honest here. I survived open heart surgery at the age of 34, became a cancer survivor at the age of 35, and now, at age 42, life...and my body for that matter, looks completely different. I’ve learned to enjoy every moment I’ve been given, not to sweat the small stuff, and to choose faith over fear EVERY TIME, which is why we created After Cancer Adventures! Our hope is to offer networking opportunities, mentoring, sunshine boxes, a helpline, as well as fund something we are calling "the NO fear project"--we will choose 1 or 2 survivors/co-survivors per year and fund something they have always wanted to do, but never had the courage to try...like skydiving or ziplining or singing in front of a crowd! There is so much support offered to patients once they've been diagnosed and there's other non-profits focused on educating the public prior to the diagnosis. But I struggled "after cancer" to find someone to help me...everything was supposed to go back to normal, whatever that was. I was depressed, tired, sad, and felt like I didn't have a purpose. We hope to help survivors and co-survivors navigate through this process, empower them to take their own leap, which will hopefully inspire them to chase after their own dream in the making!
This is the day the Lord has made, let us rejoice and “be glad” in it!
This journal right here is full of letters to my family and friends, my favorite quotes, songs, and bible verses, my FEAR.LESS list, plans for my celebration of life, a prologue for my first novel, and notes from those who have loved and supported me each and every step of this journey. Flipping through it makes me all watery eyed and heavy hearted because it is a reminder of all we’ve been through...but in the same moment, it makes me feel proud and joyful because it is a reminder of all we’ve made it through. And for that, we rejoice in this day, the one the Lord has given us, and we will “be glad” in it!
“Work for a cause, not for applause. Live life to express, not to impress. Don’t strive to make your presence noticed, just make your absence felt.”