During my daughter’s senior year of high school, my husband lost his job. The next 20 months were frustrating, stretching, and sometimes fearful, but that season also provided glimpses of really beautiful things. The impact those months had on our future was huge from an emotional, financial, and spiritual standpoint.  

When it came time to plan Hannah’s graduation party, I knew resources were slim, but was still hoping to pull off a celebration that would bless my girl. In preparation, I wanted to freshen up my living room a bit. I decided to enlist the help of my friends, Ginger and Carol, who I knew to be gifted at creating beauty in people’s homes through repurposing decor and adding items they’d found over the years as they shopped through clearance aisles, thrift stores and garage sales. I gave them freedom to utilize anything I already had, showed them a few items I’d collected over the years and stashed in my storage room, and told them I had $100 to spend. It wasn’t much, but it would have to do. I thought it could be enough for a couple second hand items, maybe some pillows, candles, a picture frame, that sort of thing. 

We talked through some ideas, then they were off to dig through their collection of decor and shop. I was so blessed and humbled by the excitement they showed at being able to do their thing. A week later, they returned. I was not prepared for what happened next. 

First, a delivery truck showed up with new living room furniture. A few minutes later, my friends were unloading their cars, bringing in brand new curtains and curtain rods, pillows, pictures, rugs, bedding, and more. In a matter of minutes, my living room, dining area, bedroom, AND bathroom had been transformed. I was completely blown away. After my friends had put the finishing touches on every room, I stood in awe at the way they had lavished love on our family. I know we aren’t the only ones who have been blessed by these two amazing women over the years as they so beautifully stewarded the ministry God gave them. They would probably both choose to remain anonymous and would hate that I’m singing their praises, but I can’t help it. It's time I shared the story.

Before they left, Ginger and Carol prayed a blessing over our home. They prayed it would be a place of refuge for many. They prayed it would be a place where we would welcome people in, meet their needs, and bring joy to their lives. I hope and pray our home has been that for someone over the years.  

Late in 2019, Carol was diagnosed with a brain tumor. She passed away in September of 2020. When I got the news that she was gone, I sat in my living room and wept. I looked around and thought about all the people who had sat on my living room furniture over the years but had no idea how it had come to be there. I thought of the hundreds of pairs of shoes that have been kicked off on the rug in my entryway as teenagers found their way to our house, not ever knowing who put the rug there. Everywhere I turned, there were reminders of how my friends not only blessed our family, but also invested in the lives of the people who have walked through our doors. Carol had left her mark on my home and more importantly, on my life.  

Yesterday, I returned home after spending the morning working at school. I was excited about the writing appointment I had planned for the afternoon, but in all honesty, I was a bit weary. This has been a week when I have felt more like Gina, the cancer patient, than Gina, the human. Doctor's appointments and blood tests and scans will do that to a person. I am receiving awesome, compassionate care, so that isn't the issue. It's just the nature of the beast.

Anyway, as I was pulling in the driveway, I noticed something peeking out from behind my screen door. I parked in the garage, put my things on the kitchen counter and went to go see what it was. I bent down and picked up a brightly colored canvas and a handwritten note. The note was from Carol's daughter, Lindsay. She explained how she was dropping off a painting which her mom had gifted to another mutual friend, Marcia, when she was diagnosed with cancer many years ago. The verse on the canvas reads, "She does not fear bad news nor live in dread of what might happen. For she is settled in her mind that Jehovah will take care of her."  Psalm 112:7  On the back are words of encouragement and signatures from some pretty incredible women, including Carol.  

Lindsay wrote how years later, Marcia gave the painting back to Carol to encourage her on her own cancer journey. Now, she and Marcia wanted me to have it, to remind me of truth and peace that sustains. She also said when I am healed I am to pass it along to the next person who needs it. Their thoughtfulness was exactly what Gina, the human, needed.  

As you can imagine, it wrecked me. Partly because of their gesture of kindness, but also because I was overwhelmed seeing how Carol was continuing to impact my life and grace my home with beauty. I don't know if Lindsay and Marcia had any idea that what they were sharing with me would add to a collection of items in my home that are symbols of joy and hospitality, friendship and hope. But for as long as I need it, the painting will be another sweet reminder of how we are comforted in our trials so we can be a comfort to someone else. When the day comes and I pass the painting along to the next person who needs it, Carol will leave her mark on their home too, as her legacy of beauty lives on. 

Apparently 2020 wanted to leave one more mark.  

When our family left 2019 behind, we already knew this year would have it’s share of troubles. We had moved Perry’s mom into our home on December 31st, and after several weeks on hospice, she passed away on February 11th, 2020. Just a month later, the world turned upside down.

Like everyone else, we learned to navigate the changes and grieve the losses the year would bring. In spite of the tough stuff, I also had more time to write, more time at home, and believe it or not, I found a way to actually enjoy a slower pace of life, which is a huge accomplishment since for most of my life, I’ve really only had one gear - full speed ahead.  All in all, we made it through 2020, inconvenienced, but relatively unscathed compared to what so many others have endured. 

In an attempt to enter 2021 from the healthiest possible place, I scheduled as many appointments as I could squeeze into the last few weeks of the year: dentist, general physician, physical therapist, gynecologist, colonoscopy, and mammogram.  It was the last one that got me.  

After several scans and a biopsy, I found out on New Year’s Eve I have breast cancer. I mean, seriously...could 2020 be a bigger jerk?

I’ll know more when I see a surgeon and oncologist next week, but right now we are hopeful it was discovered early and will be very treatable. I would appreciate prayers for a full recovery and for my family as they wade in these waters with me.  

I trust in a God who I know to be faithful, and He has shown His kindness to me in countless ways including unexplainable peace. I expect Him to be unchanging in the days ahead - loving, gracious, and so, so good.  

Between my faith in an unshakeable God, my access to good medical care, and a mom who prays, (you do not mess with Lois) I am confident this is all going to be okay. So take that, 2020. And 2021, just so you know, I am not afraid of you.  

Isaiah 26:3 “The steadfast of mind He will keep in perfect peace, because he trusts in Thee.” 

 

Today seems like a good day to fly.
  
So, let me introduce to you, What If They Fly? Raising Creative Kids to Believe They Can Soar. This has been a labor of love like no other creative work I've unleashed. I am so excited to share this with you, and as usual, it comes with all the emotions that accompany every release day: joy, exhaustion, anticipation, self-doubt, hope, and relief. Mostly, I'm just happy to finally be able to get it into your hands.
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In this book, I've shared a glimpse into our family's life, but there is much more than a gushy mom in these pages. I've worked with kids and parents for years in a variety of capacities so I'm sharing some thoughts from those experiences as well. And, I have some incredibly wise and talented friends who contributed so much to the book. I hope it encourages you, and any kid in your life, to dream, work hard, enjoy the moments, and to recognize the incredible gift of creativity. This is a book for parents, grandparents, teachers, mentors, coaches, and anyone who influences the life of a child. It is also a book to help anyone, regardless of age, rediscover their creative self.

I am over the moon that I was able to enlist the help of two of my kids as well. My oldest son, Hunter, wrote the foreword, and my daughter, Hannah, did the illustrations. I mean, come on. How fun is that? 

Writing this work has been incredibly rewarding. I've been able to walk down memory lane a bit in the process, and for the most part, it has been a joy. It's been challenging, too, as I've had to face down the memories of all the moments I completely did a nose dive in my parenting. Lots of crashes and burns for this mom. Thank God for grace. And therapy. 

You can find the book on Amazon.  Here's a link to WHAT IF THEY FLY?

I'm also releasing three songs that accompany the book and you can find two of them available now. Here are the links to the youtube videos:
WHAT IF YOU FLY?
LEARNING TO LAND

​Happy reading, listening, and FLYING!  And thank you for your support and encouragement. I appreciate all of you who take the time to stop here and sit with me awhile.