Hello my sTORIbook lovelies! I know it’s been a while since I updated everyone on my health and stroke recovery and so I thought it was finally time to write again. To be honest, I finally had to just STOP writing about it. While writing was therapeutic for me in many ways, I also found that I was having a hard time letting go and moving on. Writing brings everything to the surface for me. “All the feels” as they say. I didn’t want to allow myself to be defined by my health struggles or to become one of those people where that was all I talked or thought about.

Because you know what… there are SOOOOO many more important moments in my life. Yes, that was a pretty big time in it but it didn’t need to be the ONLY time. SO instead of being “hung up” on it – I moved on (and up)!

Frequently, people ask me things like, “How did you get past having a stroke?” or “How do you do what you with all your health issues?” And you know what – the answer is pretty easy. I just keep going…keep on truckin’. I’ve always been a pretty driven person but I allowed that moment in my life to light a fire in me. God has blessed me in so many ways and I intend to make the most out of those blessings. And it could be a heck of a lot worse.

When I talk to others going through health obstacles I just tell them two things. One – give it TIME. Two – give it to GOD. Between TIME and GOD it will work out every single time if you allow it. I promise.

I’m not saying I didn’t have bad days when I felt sorry for myself. And I’ll always have to deal with these health issues from a million doctor appointments constantly, to medications and more. But on those bad days I push harder, played a little bit more with my boys or hugged Daddy Russ a little tighter.

And then one day I realized the fear was gone and the rewards started coming. Some rewards were really big like the honor of winning San Antonio Fashion Blogger of the Year again, meeting George Strait or the position with The Society Diaries Magazine. But I started finding rewards all around me. From watching Luke learn how to read to Foster starting to say new words. God gives in abundance.

Two weeks ago I drove to Houston to the hospital for my Big Checkup. I decided not to write about it the night before because I didn’t want to give voice to my fears. Instead the night before I MC’d the “Hope on the Runway” fashion show for women suffering from breast cancer. If you had asked me back in August if I’d be able to MC a show in front of 300 people I would have broken down crying. I was struggling with my aphasia and wasn’t sure how long or if I would recover from it. BUT through the grace of God (and a whole lot of pushing myself on camera) I was able to proudly welcome those beautiful, inspiring women to the stage. And I didn’t give one single thought to what the next day might hold.

Then I got up on Friday and drove to Houston to check on my implant. They do a “Bubble Study” and send bubbles through an IV to see if they pass through the hole in my heart. I watched and watched to see any bubbles and guess what… NO bubbles passed through! Now I wait three more months and they check again but everything is looking great!

I love the scripture in my daily devotion today (Isaiah 49:15-16). Remember – we are never beyond His sight and reach. He’s been with me every step of the way – as He is with YOU.

Glory to God and thank you to all of YOU! For reading my story, for praying, for celebrating and for your love. I’m one lucky gal. Happy Friday!

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Words of Encouragement

Letting Go

Breathe in Peace, Exhale Worry

Making It To Tomorrow

Stroke Recovery

The Day I Had A Stroke