Breaking News...

NO...I'm not pregnant! Ha, ha! On with the news....nine years ago, we lived in Atlanta, GA. We went to the most amazing church we had ever been a part of and we met our very best friends. After September 11th, the start-up company Deryl worked for went under. He searched so hard for work there were just no technology jobs available there. He ended up getting an offer here in Texas and we had no choice but to take it.


We absolutely hated leaving Georgia, our church and our best friends. Deryl has attempted many times to look for a job back there over the years to no avail. Some of you may know that at the beginning of February, Deryl & I hit a very rough patch in our marriage. The roughest that we have ever faced. Facing the physical side of cancer was the easy part. The real challenge started when my treatment ended. It took its toll and the enemy used it in a major way against us in ways neither one of us could have ever anticipated.


Last week out of the clear blue, Deryl got a phone call from an old boss. He was calling Deryl for prayer. Through that phone call it came up that they were looking for a sales manager and asked Deryl if he might be interested. Within a matter of days, he had two phone interviews and was offered the position. The day before, we found out that we would be losing a big chunk of our monthly income. Literally, within 24 hours the offer came in and it covered the amount we were going to lose! Oh God is so faithful!! 


In my last post, I mentioned how things can appear so horrible, so tragic just before your breakthrough. And oh how prophetic that was!! The job is in Suwanee, GA just outside of Alpharetta. Deryl starts on April 19th and we leave NEXT FRIDAY!! We couldn't be more excited. God has opened doors, provided abundantly, my insurance will be covered with all my pre-existing cancer totally covered, and so much more. 


Please forgive us for everyone who is having to hear this news here on our blog. But this has always been our way of keeping everyone "abreast" of what is going on in our lives. This has all happened so fast that we have not had any time to stop and contact our closest friends. I had surgery a week ago today, he got the offer last Friday and we leave next Friday. We are trying to get in visits to our family before we leave, pack, prepare for the move, get the kids ready for a new school and so much all at once as I am sure you can imagine. 


No doubt, there are many we won't even be able to say goodbye to which truly breaks our hearts. But there is just no way for us to accomplish the proper good-byes everyone deserves. We will miss all the wonderful, wonderful friends we have made here. You will never, ever be forgotten and we owe you so much for all you have done for us the past 12 months. 


We will keep blogging...no doubt about it! When we get settled, we plan to start blogging about our lives after my treatment ended and what all God has and is doing in our lives. We both feel this is tremendously important and something that needs to be talked about. No one and I mean NO ONE prepares you or warns you about this side of the story and we promise to be as raw and candid as we always have been on our blog.


Deryl & Kelley

I've been sitting here this morning spending my morning with the Lord. I try to do this most days but not like this morning. This morning has been different. Today I prayed over my home, my current battles in life, my children, my church, my leaders, and many others. Before getting into his word I asked "What do you want me to hear from you today". Not long after I felt lead to just worship him. 


When I heard about the earthquake and Tsunami in Japan, I was in Oklahoma with one of my very best friends in the whole world trying to comfort her for she had just lost her baby. A baby she spent years trying to conceive. And by years I mean YEARS. She has endured tests, procedures, medicine, waiting, and finally all the money it took to do In Vitro Fertilization. She got pregnant with a sweet baby boy named Zachary Aaron. For some reason, he went to be with Jesus when she was 6 months pregnant. 


I too have had earthquakes in my life that have been followed by Tsunami's. Have you as well? Can you relate? You know, when an earthquake or any major disaster occurs, mass panic and chaos follow. We can't really think straight and can't see past what is happening at that moment. We might make some really poor choices mainly because we just don't know what to do but SOMETHING must be done. 


I am finding in my own life that after the dust settles and we are still brokenhearted and still don't know what to do, we have to turn to God. Sometimes that can be so hard when the enemy wants so desperately for us to feel hopeless. No matter what you may be enduring today, just start to worship God and praise him. You might not be able to start out strong even. Just lift your hands in surrender to him and lay your burdens at his feet. God can take the truth, our sadness, our anger, our bitterness, our grief, our fears and turn them around. If we fill ourselves up with God, with praises that pour out to him, then when disaster strikes, God and praises are what will spill out of us instead of fear, anger, despair and such. 


I don't know what your struggles are today. Maybe you were just diagnosed. Maybe you have no idea where your next meal is coming from. Maybe you just lost someone you love dearly. Maybe you have wondered far from the Lord. Maybe you have had a recurrence. Whatever it is, all you do know is that it makes absolutely no sense for it to be happening. I believe that God gives us friends to help carry our burdens. But I believe with all my heart that true healing can only come when we go to the true friend that is closer than a brother (Proverbs 18:24). The one who knows our innermost being. God is the only one who KNOWS us. He made us! He loves us more than we can ever imagine. The love he has for us is something we will never be able to fathom. I know some days our circumstances might make it appear like how can God love me and yet let me go through this? I understand. I have felt like that many, many times.


My friend, please....in the midst of your storm, worship him. Talk to him. Let him wrap HIS arms around you and give you comfort. When you do this and you feel absolutely nothing, don't give up! You will be getting closer to the Father. Right when you feel like giving up is right when you are so close to your breakthrough!! I want to leave you with some links to my most favorite worship songs. They are the songs I turn to when I desperately need to feel God's presence.



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=THgccy_EyFY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NI_1YliutzA&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t07u56kktMk

My Princess Warrior

My Princess Warrior

I just had to share my devotion from today out of "His Princess Warrior" by Sheri Rose Shepherd

Praise Through the Pain

My Princess Warrior

I will not waste your pain, My beloved. I will

use every tear you have cried to put a passion in your 

heart to do something great for My

Kingdom. You can find comfort in your darkest hour

by praising Me through the painful place

you are in. You will not remain in this

painful place for long, My love. Soon you will see that,

through it all, I carved something in

your character that will draw you and others

closer to Me. You are My precious Princess, and I will 

shake the earth if that is what 

it takes to see your chains fall to the ground.

Love,

Your Lord who feels your pain.

Sewing for Tata's

"Sewing for Tata's"

Just wanted to update everyone on my "Sewing for Tata's" ministry. I now have 5 volunteers to sew and I have had 4 sewing machines donated!! We had our first sewing group last month and basically the majority of the time was trying to help me try to figure out how in the world to sew!! Everyone else are VERY experienced. They were so nice and patient with me. I just really enjoyed myself. 

It takes 3 yards of material to make one gown. I put this info out to everyone and did not have a great response. SO, I started praying and talking to the rest of the group and here is what I have decided. This is basically my dream. I want to share it with you. Below is what I hope to grow this ministry into.

1. I would LOVE for this ENTIRE ministry to be ran on 100% donations.
2. I would like to make www.feelthetatas.com a website that has a link to my blog. On the website I would really like to offer pillows for women to use after mastectomies, bandanas/doo rags, hospital gowns with "www.feelthetatas.com" in the label as well as pockets on the inside and outside of the gown. The pockets on the inside will hold drain tube bulbs and you can't even begin to imagine how helpful this would be for patients!! 
3. I would like to start something like TOMS. Anyone could go to the website and purchase a hospital gown. It would be a buy a gown give a gown to a breast cancer patient. Same on the bandanas.
4. I would also sell Breast Cancer items. When I was diagnosed, I couldn't get enough pink or enough pink ribbon items!

In order to do all this I am going to need some major help!! Do you feel led to help me in this endeavor? If so, PLEASE contact me!!!! Below are some things I need.

1. Any advice on obtaining a copyright for...."www.feelthetatas.com and for "sewingfortatas"
2. Any advice for obtaining a 5013C
3. It will take 18" X 18" - 36" x 36" piece of fabric to make a perfect size bandana/doo rag.
4. It will take, I am guessing about a 16"x 16" to make the pillows. I will give each patient two pillows.
5. It takes 3 yards to make a hospital gown.
6. We can always use extra off white thread.
7. We use double fold bias tape or grosgrain ribbon. As much as we can get!
8. I can also use extra sewing machines and extra sewers!!
9. Any material donation we can get and as soon as possible would be a HUGE blessing!!!!!

That is all I can think of for now. PLEASE e-mail me with any ideas you have or if you want to help out in any way. I would greatly, greatly appreciate it!!!!! kelley@feelthetatas.com

Love to you all!! Sorry for the inconsistencies in blogging and keeping it updated. I am back on track!!!!

Kelley

Judging

Kelley says.....


The absolute BEST way to not judge is to have a different perspective. I mean.....really think about it. To judge someone is to selfishly think about things from you own perspective and "judge" that person accordingly. The word says that GOD and GOD alone is our vindicator. 


Psalm 17: Jesus is our Vindicator

Have people ever misjudged you? Have you ever felt betrayed by those who are in your very own family? God has been putting this on my heart lately for some reason: Jesus is our Vindicator. No matter how dark a situation may seem, know that God is there, and He will deliver those who trust in Him. If God be for you, who can be against you? Remember what happened to David? Saul kept persecuting Him, but the Lord was David's deliverer! Saul eventually died and David became King of Israel. God knows how to turn things around in your life.
Here is the Psalm which I feel will give many comfort, knowing that whoever is against you -- there is a God who is for you!

Jesus is my VINDICATOR! Confess that to others, and pray this prayer knowing that God will deliver you from those who have oppressed you!
I have been hearing this in my Spirit over and over again so strongly that I just had to share this with you:

Psalm 17 (New International Version)

Psalm 17
A prayer of David.
1 Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea;
listen to my cry.
Give ear to my prayer—
it does not rise from deceitful lips.

2 May my vindication come from you;
may your eyes see what is right.

3 Though you probe my heart and examine me at night,
though you test me, you will find nothing;
I have resolved that my mouth will not sin.

4 As for the deeds of men—
by the word of your lips
I have kept myself
from the ways of the violent.

5 My steps have held to your paths;
my feet have not slipped.

6 I call on you, O God, for you will answer me;
give ear to me and hear my prayer.

7 Show the wonder of your great love,
you who save by your right hand
those who take refuge in you from their foes.

8 Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings

9 from the wicked who assail me,
from my mortal enemies who surround me.

10 They close up their callous hearts,
and their mouths speak with arrogance.

11 They have tracked me down, they now surround me,
with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground.

12 They are like a lion hungry for prey,
like a great lion crouching in cover.

13 Rise up, O LORD, confront them, bring them down;
rescue me from the wicked by your sword.

14 O LORD, by your hand save me from such men,
from men of this world whose reward is in this life.
You still the hunger of those you cherish;
their sons have plenty,
and they store up wealth for their children.

15 And I—in righteousness I will see your face;
when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness. 

In Isaiah 54:17, the Lord says the weapon will form, but it won’t prosper, and that EVERY tongue that rises up against us, WE will condemn.  Every tongue or every word means just that!  This includes every lying word, every derogatory word, every false rumor, every condemning word, every ridiculing statement, every bad name, and the list goes on.  Before I proceed, I just want to give a different translation to the same Scripture above:

But in that coming day no weapon turned against you will succeed.

You will silence every voice raised up to accuse you.

These benefits are enjoyed by the servants of the Lord;

Their vindication will come from me.

I, the Lord, have spoken! Isaiah 54:17 (NLT)

Without believing God's word, that it is the truth, we have no hope. I choose this day to believe the He and HE alone is my vindicator!!

My new fave song- Dedicated to all of you

Kelley says...........


When I was younger, I would see other women in church who loved the Lord so much. They seemed so wise, so strong in the Lord, so "perfect". I wondered how in the world someone came to know the Lord in that way. I would worship God, I would pray, I would read the word and do devotions to no avail. I loved God. But I didn't have what they appeared to have. 


I work on staff at a church. Now it seems I am on the other side of all that. I know people who don't know those of us on staff us have thoughts that we are untouchable, we are perfect and have it all figured out. I'm guessing there are people who like me wondered how you get to know God so well and love him so deeply. Let me just tell you that if you ever feel like this or have these thoughts that they are straight from hell. I look back at those ladies and the discovery I made about them is that they not only knew God so well but they also knew their enemy.


I'm sure people love God. I'm sure there are "good" Christians. You know, go to church on Sunday's, don't commit murder, their "good" people so their good, right? Well, what I have discovered is that I am now the person who loves God SO deeply and that he is my everything. And the enemy has tried to take EVERYTHING and I mean EVERYTHING from me in my 41 years of life. He has taken a child from me. He has taken a parent from me. He has tried to take my life and is now trying to take more. I thought after Deryl lost his job in 2009 that nothing could be worse than that. Then in 2010 when I got cancer I said to myself that I wouldn't dare say it couldn't get worse. As it turns out, it doesn't matter if you say it or not. If you are doing God's work and you are reaching out to others.....if you are seeking God with all your heart and being obedient to him, you better watch out. This isn't a game and definitely no walk in the park. If you truly want to be "ALL IN" for God you are going to HAVE to pay a price.


I don't feel like I can go into what is going on in my life right now on a public forum but it looks like I put my boxing gloves up a little too soon. I feel like if you are a sold out believer, you better put those gloves on and KEEP them on. The enemy is out to kill, steal and completely destroy. And he will stop and absolutely NOTHING to accomplish it. So if you have ever looked at me or read my blog or felt those feelings about someone else and wished you could have their looks, job, kid's, marriage, their life because you have them on a pedestal, think again. Most likely they have been to hell and back many times. Most likely they are either currently IN the ring fighting or the bell has just rung and they took a quick breath and are right back to fighting the next round. If you see someone you aspire to be like, PRAY. PRAY with all your might for that person because they didn't become that overnight. Boy would it be so much easier to just live a life that was completely selfish. Just do whatever I wanted whenever I felt like it without any concern if I was living God's way. 


Funny thing is, I have been studying the book of James every single day this year. Right from the start it says to count it all joy when you go through trials and that it is building character in you and making you able to handle anything that comes your way. I know it isn't by accident God lead me to read this chapter and commit to reading it all year. But come on already, when do I get a break. I think maybe it is selfish of me to want a break. Jesus didn't get one. Who am I to expect anything more than the one who paid the ultimate price. 


I can't make it alone. I know people prayed for me regularly last year and maybe you thought all is well and haven't prayed anymore. Prayer warriors, I am asking you to pray for me and my family like you have never prayed for me before. I have had a recurrence. Not physically, but emotionally and an attack on my family like I have never endured before to this degree. Please pray for God to give us wisdom and for a hedge of protection around us. That God would give angels charge over us and that he would go before us as he says he will do in his word in Deuteronomy 31:8...."The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”