cancer · faith · family · fear · Forgiveness · God · Grief · humility · inspiration · legacy · Love · mom · Nostalgia · Ovarian Cancer · pride · redemption · Resilience · this is us · wisdom

Dr. K’s Best Medicine: Take Your Own Advice & Make Lemonade

NBC’s This is Us has been renewed for two more seasons! (Yippee!). But there’s a reason why this show has captivated the hearts of many, including my own. Here’s my take on the latest episode “The Big Day,” although I really missed the grown up Big Three, this prequel to the pilot episode gave us a window to peek into the depth of Dr. K’s grief over the death of his beloved while further explaining to us his “when life gives you the sourest lemon” philosophy.
**Spoiler Alert** Don’t read if you haven’t watched the episode and don’t want to know what happens!**

cancer · faith · family · God · Grief · Live It Well · Switchfoot · Where The Light Shines Through

Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month: The Day(s) I Found God

There are dates in our lifetime we will never be able to re-live or erase as much as we wish and as hard as we pray to God. Today is the second day of Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month, I now live knowing this horrendous disease takes wives from their husbands and mothers from their children with no sense of compassion.

When a loved one is battling cancer, she is not alone. We battle together.

cancer · faith · family · genuine · God · Grief · Switchfoot · Where The Light Shines Through

Oh, Grief is Where The Light Shines Through

Oh grief, do not consume me. I fear to stop grieving because I simply don’t want to forget her, but at the same time, I’m tired of answering everyone’s questions on how we are doing. You’ve become a slow, calculated, and nagging process; but then you wonder why most choose to skip you. Running away from you was enticing, but choosing you was the most reasonable option. You promise faster healing and relief, while running away from you would have led me bitterly back to you anyway.

cancer · Eulogy · family · friends · Live It Well · Memorial · mom · Ovarian Cancer · Switchfoot · Where The Light Shines Through

Sonia, A Life Lived Well

I am my mother’s daughter.

My mom didn’t lose her battle to cancer and we didn’t lose her. Loss describes defeat and misplacement. Ovarian Cancer did not defeat her and she isn’t misplaced. My mom won the prize of Heaven, which she didn’t deserve through her own deeds, but was given to her graciously through the blood of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Through the reassurance of her own faith, we know she’s in Heaven. Ovarian Cancer may have taken her body, but it did not take her spirit.

discipline · faith · family · food · Getaway · God · godliness · naples · restaurant

the getaway

With everything that’s been going on lately, we’ve been feeling like it was time for a small getaway. Since we couldn’t celebrate our wedding anniversary and Kenny’s birthday is coming up, I took my mother’s advice and “surprised” Kenny with going to Naples for two days. (Note: Next time, I must not use Kenny’s Priceline account or else he will find out through an email confirmation and the surprise will no longer be a surprise!)

cancer · legacy · mom

her legacy

About two weeks ago, I received some serious news. After a long day at work on a Saturday night, my mother called me to let me know she’s on her way to the emergency room. I didn’t think it’d be anything to be concerned about because she’s a strong and healthy woman. I look at her and I still see her in her 30’s, raising me and protecting me from evil. The next day, I had a conversation on the phone with my father. In tears, he informed me that my mother might have pelvic cancer. My mom? Cancer?