The testimony of one woman can be an encouragement to another. A dear friend of mine has agreed to share her testimony believing that someone will read it and know God is real and cares deeply about where you are right now.

Many years ago, early in our marriage, we almost got divorced. I wanted to reconcile but my husband thought there was no point. The day he went to court to finalize the divorce, I did not even go. I was praying every moment that God would intervene. I was very desperate and called our church to get an appointment to talk to the pastor. The church secretary said that he was busy but she could connect me with someone else. At that moment the pastor picked up on the line and said that God spoke to him to talk in person to the person who was calling.

I went in to talk to the pastor, we prayed and I left with such sadness over the situation but joy in my heart knowing God was with me no matter what. At the very time of the meeting was the time of the hearing. My husband told the lawyer that he had decided not to go through with the divorce. The lawyer was very surprised because my husband had been adamant about no counseling or reconciliation attempt. We worked things out and we are together—30 some years later and I thank God everyday!

It has been 1 month today since my 8th and final chemo treatment. What
a
joy & relief to have that behind me. I stand in faith that the chemo
drugs
did their job in attacking and destroying any cancer cells present in
my
body. For those of you who were able to come and celebrate with me at
my
Pink Party hosted by my sister, Debbie and brother- n-law Barry, I
thank
you! It was a wonderful, memorable evening for me.

From the onset of my journey 8 months ago, my surgeon said to me that
attitude would make the difference on how I endured the process of
multiple
surgeries, chemotherapy and the side effects. I decided at that moment
that
I would perservere and my attitude would be one of HOPE! In Romans 5:
3-5,
we are told that suffering produces perserverance, and perserverance
produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not
disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts.
Now
that is not to mean that everyday was a victory - I had my pity party
days,
but without fail on those days, I would receive encouragment from one
of you
by the way of a card in the mail, a package would arrive at my
doorstep, a
phone call or an email. Each of you, at one time or another, were one
of
God's ministering angels to me!

The next step is reconstruction surgery, the 1st of 2 surgeries will
take
place this Friday, September 7th at Plano Presby Surgerical Center @
10:00am. I will be home recuperating for 2 weeks before returning to
work.
Going forward, I will continue follow-up visits with my Oncologist
every few
months and will be on hormone therapy of Tamoxifen for 5 years.

I want each of you to remember that when difficult times come, and they

will, none of us are exempt; You're strong enough to rise above any
troubled
time...tomorrow you may encounter a mountain but you were born to
climb!

Blessings,

Rhonda