THIS IS LOVE:
NOT THAT WE LOVED GOD,
BUT THAT HE LOVED US
AND SENT HIS SON
AS AN ATONING SACRIFICE
FOR OUR SINS.
1John 4:10
I've been here a year already and I still love this place!! I've felt so welcome and made so many friends!! I live in Wenatchee, Washington ~ on the east side of the Cascades from Seattle. (About 2 hours) I'm a Secretary/Office Manager by trade, but life threw me a curve ball and now I'm a Homemaker. In 1992, after a painful divorce and working for a company who had no scruples or morals, I became agoraphobic. I came home from work one day and couldn't leave again for about 6 years. I've loved Jesus for as long as I can remember, but I never really knew Him. Well I believe He used this period in my life to begin nudging me. One very desperate day I called out to God and asked Him to please show me that things were going to get better. I just needed a sign from Him. That was in January, and as is typical for this area, it was miserably cold and cloudy and had been for weeks. I asked God to please let the sun shine, just as a sign. Several minutes later, the clouds parted and the sun shone through the window across my lap. I don't have to tell you the joy and relief I felt in my heart. From that day on I had hope and I knew that He was with me.
Unfortunately it took the deaths of my Father in law, my adored Grandmother, and then my Mother in law to finally get me back into life. I was needed to help when each one became ill (several years apart) and that forced me to venture beyond my "safety zones". Through the pain, God was making me stronger.
In 2002 I was diagnosed with fibromyalga (and a lot of the 'fun' stuff that goes with it). It's meant a lot of pain, fatigue, and frustration, but I've never lost sight of God's love for me. This past summer I was diagnosed with a rare illness called Dercum's Disease. It causes a tremendous amount of lipomas (like cysts) throughout the body that are painful and multiply like rabbits! (LOL) It's degenerative and there is not much research, so I don't know what this illness has in store for me. What I do know is that God has my back, and as my favorite saying goes, "what doesn't kill you, makes you stronger". I have no doubt that God strengthens us through adversity, and because I know that, I can make it through each and every day. Our God is an awesome God!!
I'm remarried to an awesome guy named Jack, who has supported me through so much in our 16 years of marriage. He is my rock, my shoulder and most of all, my best friend. Not all men would put up with or deal with what he has had to with the emotional and physical problems I have been through. Jack has two boys, aged 20 and 25. I never had any children of my own, but I have nieces and nephews to spoil. I didn't think it would be fair to try to raise a child with the illnesses I've had. If I was going to be a Mom, I wanted to be a healthy one.
My pride and joy is my small business, "Memories 'n Stuff" I make stuffed animals (mostly teddy bears) for grieving families from the clothing of their loved ones. I refer to them as affectionately as 'huggable memorials'. I made my first one after my father in law passed away, for his youngest daughter (she was pregnant at the time). It just took off from there. It's been slow going, but I hope one day, to reach a lot of broken hearts and help them heal.
So that's enough about me. I am so thankful for all the wonderful friends I have made here, and I look forward to the new friends I'll make in the future.
May the good Lord bless and keep you all.
