Post #17 - What all my "waiting" turned into...

Grateful Hearts provided me the distraction that I needed during this chapter of my life. Everything changed on Feb. 11^th for me. Starting at that moment when I heard those words that completely changed my life. After hearing those words - I was no longer who I once was. In the days, weeks, months to follow – there was a lot of new experiences for me and also a lot of waiting. Waiting for my next appt to come up… waiting for mammogram results… waiting for my phone to ring… waiting for biopsy results… waiting to get scheduled for more biopsy tests…waiting to get more results…waiting for onco score and genetic testing to come back.... waiting for my team of doctors to develop a treatment plan for me once all the results were in. Then after my double mastectomy, it was recovering from surgery.... sitting helpless in a recliner chair for days which turned into weeks because of the pain and also the worry that came along. Waiting to hear results from my pathology reports to see if the margins were clear, were they able to remove everything? did cancer spread to my lymph nodes? would I need chemo or radiation after surgery?.... what would happen next???? I don't do good with waiting.... my mind goes everywhere and during these months it would go to dark unchartered paths of worry and 'what ifs'. So I needed a distraction. I needed a reason to get thru the pain and find a purpose during those months of uncertainty and helplessness. I found it one morning when God literally talked to me and gave me the idea to gift something special to my amazing team of doctors. THAT started everything.... one idea of gifting something special to my doctors, my initial ornament, the Grateful Heart, steamrolled into more ideas... After experiencing so much love and support from friends during this chapter, I wanted to give gifts to recognize those special friends who were incredible for me, this deep gratitude developed my second ornament - My "Pod of Friends" dolphin. After this - the incredible moments of divine connection and moments of feeling God and all His power, lead to my "Faith over Fear" Cross ornament. I hold this ornament so dear to my heart because of the amazing power of prayer that helped me get through this chapter in my life. I have never felt more connected to God than I do now. I wholehearted know that God was with me every.step.of.the.way since Feb. 11th. I saw signs of Him every step of the way. He is the reason I was able to get through this... and I will forever be grateful for Him.

The apparel is something that is fun for me... I want to be more present with my faith and express it openly to all who want to experience it with me. I find great fulfillment with certain bible verses and love creating designs around them. I plan to continue to grow this line as well. Long story short - I'm not sure why this chapter in my life happened.... but if Grateful Hearts is part of the reason, I'll take it. Grateful Hearts has been a work of passion for me during the ups and the downs, during the days I couldn't bare to the nights I couldn't handle... Working on my ideas and website have been what I turned to when I needed to take my mind off reality. Grateful Hearts has been with me since the beginning of this chapter in my life and I am very proud of it. It still is a work in progress - I still have a lot more to do, but I think I'm ready to share. I hope others find appreciation in my Grateful Heart line and can share with others!

Proberbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.” — New King James Version (NKJV)