Cancer & the Story of Your Life: Yvonne Ortega
Today’s Topic: What happens to the story of your life when news of a serious illness disrupts your life?
If you have experienced this, or know someone who is facing it today, I hope you’ll take the time to hear Yvonne’s story. It’s powerful.
Suzie: Hi Yvonne, I’m excited to hear your story. I’m also a cancer survivor. When I found out that I had cancer, I was only 32 and it changed the direction of my life immediately. Can you share with our readers your story? How did you find out that you had cancer?
Yvonne: In December of 2000, I stood in front of the same bathroom mirror I always did. However, that time my left breast was contorted and turned to the right. A lump protruded from my breast. It felt hard as a rock, and I knew it was cancer.
I raced to the telephone and called the doctor. I insisted I be seen the following morning. After all, two of my cousins had died of breast cancer. The next day when the doctor examined me, she seemed quieter than usual. She ordered an immediate mammogram and ultrasound and scheduled an appointment with the surgeon. As is sometimes the case, the mammogram showed nothing, but the ultrasound did. (more…)
Posted by Suzie @
1:48 pm |
Twentysomething quote
January 10, 2008 | quotes
Basically, we’re coming out of a period of fortressing Christianity. When so much was sweeping into our culture, our parents felt compelled to shelter and protect us maybe, rather than equip us to handle the world as followers of Christ. I also am not convinced that one of the spiritual laws, namely, that God loves you and has a plan for your life was interpreted by its hearers very well.
That statement, by its very nature, conveys an idea of cushiness or maybe an unstated promise that everything will turn out well. when in fact, Jesus says ‘follow me’ and then heads straight for a pile of wood and nails, namely, the cross. So if you think you’re signing up for a cushy faith and get the nailed-to-a-tree kind of faith, then you can’t help but feel like there was a little bait and switch going on, resulting in anger. Anonymous twentysomething believer
From article, Inside the Anger of a Generation by Margaret Feinberg
Posted by Suzie @
4:37 pm |
My “Bucket” List
Today is a birthday. Not mine, but the guy I love. Richard is 49 today.
50 is a number that once seemed ancient but now is only one year away for Richard, and two for me. A wise man once said, “Old is always 15 years older than you are”.
I feel young. I feel healthy. I feel plugged in to life and to God and to purpose. I still love roller coasters and ministering to teens and hanging out with my family and adventure.
Maybe that is the key. We become old when we fail to notice and enjoy the small and wonderful opportunities all around us. This weekend I plan to see the movie, The Bucket List, with friends. In the movie, two guys meet in the hospital and decide to do all the things they’ve always dreamed of before they kick the bucket.
What is on my bucket list?
- travel to China
- travel to South Africa
- jump out of an airplane
- visit every state in the U.S.
- ride in a hot air balloon
- host a radio show
- hold a grandchild in my arms
- take dance lessons
That’s the just the beginning. There are other very personal dreams that I have that involve loved ones, and for now those remain private, but I want to continue to believe and hope and pursue life and all that it holds.
What about you? What is on your “bucket” list?
Posted by Suzie @
10:53 am |
Pastor to the Homeless, Rudy Rasmus
Pastor Rudy Rasmus is not your average pastor. His church is filled with 9,000 people, and a third are homeless. This is an excerpt from a recent press release:
The Rasmus family planned to rebuild the church and awaken the spirits of street dwellers who were otherwise forgotten, jobless, impoverished and addicted. Instead of shunning them away, Rudy and Juanita invited them inside, offering them a safe haven and a place of refuge. Many who suffered from mental illness, drug addictions and AIDS were offered hot showers and nourishing meals.
“The biggest misconception many people have about homeless people is that they’re lazy…There is no way you can be lazy and survive the streets. (The streets are) harsh, cold and brutal. Imagine this: You don’t have any money; you don’t have any resources; everything you own is with you and you’re literally moving your apartment every day. That is not a lazy person’s practice. A lazy person is a person who has resources and doesn’t use them.”
The downtrodden, once mistakenly identified as lollygaggers, found a friend in “Pastor Rudy” as he opened his heart and mind to them, listening attentively to their stories. He and Juanita soon founded Bread of Life, Inc., which currently feeds 7,000 men and women monthly. They eventually added Daybreak Community Health Facility, which provides rehabilitation for drug addicts and AIDS patients. St. John’s Academy for the inner city’s at-risk children and Touch 1 followed suit.
From Suzie: Go to Pastor Rudy’s website to find out more about Pastor Rudy, his church, and his anti-hunger initiative, as well as listen to stories from those changed by God’s love.
Posted by Suzie @
6:18 pm |
Hearts at Home, Escondido, CA
Today I got to spend a half-day with the Sand Springs, OK MOPS group. It was less than 90 miles from me, a beautiful early morning drive. But more than that, it was awesome spending time with moms as I shared a 90-minute workshop “The Mom I Want to Be: Rising Above Your Past to Give Your Kids a Great Future”. I am grateful for new friends, and for the stories shared by these beautiful moms.
If I met you today, welcome to daretobelieve. I loved sharing time with Sand Springs MOPS today.
Later this month I’ll be in California. If you live near San Diego, Hearts at Home, an International moms group and conference, will offer a one-day Moms Day Out conference for 1,000 women in Escondido, CA. Here are the details: (more…)
Posted by Suzie @
8:00 pm |
What are you known for?
I’m meeting with two smart and God-filled people this month, and one of them asked this question: What are you known for?
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11:53 am |
