Psalm 119:28

My soul is weary with sorrow, strengthen me according to your word.

Tomorrow will be a week since I have been with my mom. At 94 her face lit up when I entered her bleak hospital room. Unable to stand due to several strokes she is battling - I saw a sparkle in her eye, a sparkle of determination to walk again, a sparkle to walk or if possible to run out of this facility she is basically imprisoned to, in this season of her life! 

Last week she could barely shuffle her feet. Yesterday she took steps!! I have introduced her to ear pods, blasting Big Band music, while I give her a daily make over with eye shadow, blush and lip stick. This has been good therapy. I am hopeful. Though her age is challenging. 

She will never drive again, which is a difficult reality for her. I’m assuming a walker or perhaps even a wheelchair may be a part of her day to day. Yet, she is still bright and even ornery! She’s not allowed to drink coffee quite yet due to swallowing issues. My mother is very much aware of that, and still grabbed my sister’s cup of coffee to down a few sips before all three of us caught her. Mom’s face looked like a guilty 5 year old grabbing a cookie before dinner. 

My brother Michael and my sister Michelle rotate hours / taking shifts so we can be with my mom all throughout the day. I usually take the morning hours after walking the beach. My mother’s condo is a block away from spectacular sunrises, warm waters and long walks/talks with Jesus.

Those early strolls on the sand have kept me sane. 

Contemplating the speed of life. Thumbing through dozens of photo albums privately reminiscing in my thoughts the times of yester-year . Melancholy attaches to my heart. What is life? What’s the meaning of this all? 

Jesus is kind and gentle. His truth’s alive, encouraging and full of not only wisdom, but guidance. We have a choice to live for ourselves and the ‘pleasures’ this world has to offer, which will leave us with memories and photos. 

…OR we can live for God and the purpose He has given us. Our purpose isn’t a HUGE mystery, His purpose is to use what you love for His kingdom! Do you love children, chaos and laughter? Sign up for Sunday school. Do you love to instruct or teach - open your home for Bible study. Do you love entertaining- hospitality is a GIFT from God, open your home, invite those who can’t reciprocate for dinner.

I love to write. I am a bundle of scrambled thoughts 24/7 - but if I can use this ‘gift’ to help the poor, the sick, the lost, perhaps life has purpose! Eternal purpose. 

Katie’s cancer journey robbed my daughter of a childhood. At nine years old your biggest concern should be the spelling bee on Friday - not whether the nurse can find a usable vein or if you will survive the night with stem cell therapy. How grateful I am to a nurse on a late night breakdown, who took me aside, wiped my tears and gave me advice that changed both Katie and my life.

“Our hope is Katie will beat this. You as a mom will obviously want to shower her with everything she desires as she suffers. Be careful though, not to raise a spoiled self centered survivor. Start serving! Get Katie’s mind off ‘her’ and onto others immediately.”

At first I was taken back, thinking Katie has every right to be self centered - this life sucks and she deserves anything and everything she wants. But doing that I would have taught her seeking ‘pleasure’ was more important then seeking ‘purpose’ ~ God’s purpose.

So she, Melanie and I created S.O.S Stuff Our Slippers - and still every six months to a year bring up adorable fuzzy, children’s slippers to the cancer ward.

By 11, I started taking Katie with me to the Motel Church. This ministry gives to working homeless. These families have jobs, but are unable to make ends meet. We would make warm breakfast, bring up clothes and bags of fruit. Katie would color with the children and we would gently speak hope into those we met.

Kind of a funny story, we were told to dress extremely causal. I guess I took it a step too far, I was approached by the pastor. He thought I was homeless and offered me a cup of coffee and 20.00 bucks. Still feel bad about taking the cash$ (ha just kidding) - but we did have a giggle over it. 

Katie and I have so many stories, I will share more next Friday as this post is taking on a life of its own. 

Training my sick child to notice others who were struggling changed the direction of her life. 

Now we did enjoy the ‘pleasure’ of Disneyland and Dave and Busters - however I did my best to balance her focus with ‘purpose’ as well. 

Purpose began to outweigh pleasure. Doing the will of God brought more joy and peace then riding Goofy’s roller coaster. So much so that Katie turned down a job with AT&T where she would have made A LOT more money ~ to follow her heart and God given purpose to serve the less fortunate with The Orange County Rescue Mission!

I’m asking you this Fun Five Dollar Friday to consider using 5 bucks not for the pleasure of a Starbucks - but use 5 dollars for the purpose of helping the poor. Every single dime you Venmo me will be 100 percent donated to the Orange County Rescue Mission in honor of Katie for God’s glory!!

I’m not asking you to do anything I’m not willing to do. Together we can make a difference. Let’s use our resources to help those who have none. I’ve included my Venmo link - we are presently at 333.50 - those who know - KNOW! My goal is a thousand.

If each of you would just send five dollars, we could easily reach that goal! Being a part of PURPOSE has sweet benefits, not only for the recipient but for us. Give now and you will see what I’m talking about.

I love you my generous friend! 

Keep our Katie and Andrew in prayer. Keep my precious mama, kind hubby Bob and beautiful Melanie is your prayers too. 

I’m heading to the beach and will be praying a blessing over my CaringBridge readers! Excited to see what God will do through us to change the world.

Love you,

Until she sees her children’s children- let’s use of days for HIS PURPOSE, in honor of Katie for His glory!

MK