Mandy Young

It's taken me a few weeks to write this blog but I think it's just taken a few weeks to actually sink in that it actually happened! So a couple of months ago I got an email from a friend of mine , Angela Thomas (www.angelathomas.com). Angela is a very well known Bible teacher; just walk in to your local Christian book store and you'll find her books and Bible studies. It's such an honor to able to call her a friend! I met Angela at an E Women conference a couple of years ago while on the road with Candace. But back to my story...I got an email from Angela about her conference A Beautiful Life. And that's when she asked me if I would share a little of my story at the conference. A smile appeared on my face bigger than I have ever had before; I was giddy with excitement!

For weeks I prepared. The hardest part was cutting my 45 min speech down to 10 mins!! But I did it! As the day approached I started getting nervous which I see as a good thing! I don't get nervous speaking to thousands of people, the number doesn't bother me. The more the merrier! My fear is about losing my words. But it's my life how could I forget my life? Well the devil does an amazing job at telling me I know nothing about ME! And that's what the fear is before I speak...it's the devil trying to talk me out of what God has asked me to do. Luckily I know that so I refuse to listen to him and I just pray and pray through it. I get more nervous when I'm not nervous because then I feel like the devil isn't trying to fight for me. I want him to fight for me because that means I'm doing what God wants me to do!

The weekend finally came! May 31st my parents and I drove to Greensboro, NC to Westover Church. The conference started Friday night with Angela welcoming everybody for coming and then Charles Billingsley leading us in worship! But my favorite part of the whole weekend happened at the next break. I walked over to my merch table to take a picture and someone grabbed my shoulder and said "You don't think I'd miss this do you?" I turn around to see my sister and niece! She had driven 6 hours by herself with her 1 year old to surprise me and be apart of the weekend! I just started crying! It meant so much to me that she be there and be apart of the weekend! After wiping away my tears we jammed out with Nicole C Mullins! Guys if y'all can ever go to one of her concerts GO it's a fun time!

Saturday morning we started bright and early with praise and worship with Charles and his band and a teaching about being the sunshine from Angela. She then introduced me to the 2,500 women who were attending! My video started and I just started praying for His words to come through me! As the video finished, I walked up on stage and the lights came up and all of the sudden everyone stood up and started clapping. I got a standing ovation before I ever said a word and yes the tears started coming again! I gathered my composer and shared my story! It was wonderful!! After another break we came back and sang with Charles, and another speaker Lisa shared her story and then Angela wrapped up the conference.

The whole weekend was just awesome! It was such a blessing to me! It only helped me realize this is what God has asked me to do. He has given me a story to share and that's what I'm supposed to do and I do whatever it is that He asks me to do. Thank you Angela for letting me be apart of your weekend! I maybe the sunshine to you, but you're the sunshine to me!

For years my Dad has been wanting to go to Chicago. He is from IL and I believe that state still has his heart. Well Dad's birthday is in April and Mom wanted to do something big since you know he saved her life and all by giving her a kidney. So we decided to buy plane and baseball tickets to see the Cubs play at Wrigley! But the other surprise was that we invited his siblings to come with us! Jenny (his sister) wasn't able to come but his three brothers were all in! We gave him his gift back in April but he finally got to cash it in this past weekend!

Our weekend started Friday morning with an early flight to Midway! Once we landed the three of us headed to the orange line (which is one of the trains to get you around town). We found our stop and then walked 2 or 3 blocks to our hotel. We stayed at the Congress Plaza which according to the reviews is supposed to be haunted but that didn't bother me I got the Lord on my side! The hotel wasn't ready for us to check in yet so we got our luggage held at the front desk and ventured out to The Exchequer Pub for lunch. And this is where I tried my first deep dish pizza. And I'm not gonna lie....it was super yummy!! Then it was back to the hotel to check in and to get settled in. Mom wanted to rest a while so Dad and I ventured out and took a walk around the city! Chicago is a beautiful! That night the three of us, two of my uncles and one of my aunts went to the Navy Pier. We had dinner at Harry Caray's Tavern. Then the boys and I rode the ferris wheel! It was chilly outside but the view was amazing!

Saturday morning Dad, Spike, Terri and I walked around some more of the city and had breakfast. Then it was game time! Mom, Dad, Spike, Terri and I loaded up on the red line to meet the rest of the family (my uncles Rick and Rod, my aunt Anne and my cousin Niki) at Wrigley! Now I'm an Atlanta Brave at heart but I tell ya being in Chicago with the Cubbies made my heart start to drift toward the windy city! But after they started getting beat so bad I realized how many times my dad's heart was broken by the team he loves so much! I just can't go through that; haha!! So the Cubs will stay my second favorite team! The Cubs got beat by the Pirates but we got to sing "Take me out to the ballgame" with a famous Cubbie!

After the game we met up with another one of my cousins (plus a cousin to be) and the whole group went to dinner (back to Exchequer Pub). A great night with family! Talking about an upcoming wedding and just catching up on life. And then Sunday was just spent at the airport; but I did get my first Chicago dog there! Another yummy goodness.

Chicago is a beautiful city and I'm so glad that we got to go!

It will be 23 years this July 4th that I decided I would do anything and everything that a two legged person would do, it might have to be tweaked from time to time but I was still going to do it. Over the years I've taken gymnastics, played softball, swam, and pretty much anything else that I've wanted to do. So I think I've kept that promise to myself.

But then this past January my sister and one of our best friends had signed up for The Color Run. Soon my all of my Bella's (my bible study girls) were signed up to run too. The Bella's and I have an on going text message and through this text was all of this excitement about everyone running in this 5k together. But inside my heart was breaking...I was the only one NOT signed up. Now normally I tell people that I'm glad God made me one legged just so I don't HAVE to run. I have a wonderful excuse. Although in this case it was taking me back to when I was 9 years old and realizing I would never be able to run, jump or skip every again. I had these thoughts of walking it but 3.2 miles is a long way to walk on crutches. Plus I didn't want to hold anyone back.

I finally spoke up through this on going exciting text and told my girls that I was sad. The next thing I know my sister had sent a text just between us telling me that she wants to push me in a wheelchair and I need to sign up! I told her no! Alex has been running 5k's lately and the last thing I wanted to do was hold her back from her latest time. She then said "Mandy you travel around telling everyone how you said you would do anything and everything that a two legged person would do; it might have to be tweaked from time to time but you were still going to do it. Let ME be your tweak." That hit....that hit hard! She was right. I had to set my pride aside and do this.

Luckily one of the Bella's mothers is a physical therapist and was able to help me find a place to borrow a wheelchair from. Whom I'm now ordering a wheelchair through! Alex and I trained a couple of times to get ready for the run. Even though sometimes I questioned if we were going to be able to pull this off.

Finally April 6th arrived!!! There were 15 of us on team "Lovin Life" ! For the Color Run everyone dresses in white (or at least a white T-shirt). While you run/walk/ride through the 5k there are color stations where the color team throws different colored powder on you! By the finish line you are a colorful work of art!! We all kind of ran/walked/rode at our own pace and just decided that we will all just meet back at the finish line. Alex and I kept a great pace the whole time. We jogged, talked and giggled our way along (even though she had already given me instructions that she doesn't/can't talk when she runs). As we got closer and closer to the finish line Alex started crying. Which is saying A LOT because the girl doesn't cry. But she started saying that this is something she didn't think that we would ever do together and it just meant so much to her. But I had to change the subject or I was going to start crying too! And as Alex wiped the tears from her eyes we crossed the finish line! Our group slowly but surely started coming together where we became a beautiful rainbow of colors!! It was a wonderful day with my girls!!

Plus one of the best parts is who the fundraiser was for! Children's Health Care of Atlanta. Which is where I spent almost 3 months when my leg was amputated but also MANY other times in my life! So I was so happy to be apart of raising money for them!

I'm so glad that I over came my stubbornness and my sister didn't let me just say no. And couple of us have already signed up for our next race!! Electric Run here we come!!!

Two years ago I got invited to be apart of a small group bible study. I've written about my Bella girls on here before but this time I wanted to share an answered prayer praise with you! This group of girls have become such a blessing into my life. Some girls I've known others I didn't until we started our group. But oh my word, how we have bounded over the past couple of years!

Casey was the founder of our this small group; the link that brought us all together. We after week we would dig more into our study but we always started off with prayer requests (which we have now decided to do at the end because we get off on different topics and it's 2 hours later and we haven't even started our study, I'm sure other study groups know what I'm talking about hehe). During these prayer requests we have each and everyone poured out our hearts desire. I really don't think there is one person apart of our group that hasn't shed a tear at some point or another during prayer requests. And week after week Casey's prayers were always the same....I want a baby.

Casey and her husband Matt had been trying to get pregnant for years. Trying to over come health obstacles, the stress of work, and just the desire to be a mother Casey was about at her wits end. Our hearts would break and our prayers were over flowing for her, Matt and their situation. She knows that God is faithful but it's all about His timing, but sometimes waiting for what your heart truly longs for is the hardest.

One day God laid it on Casey and Matt's heart that maybe they should look into the adoption along with all the other avenues they were utilizing. They started spreading the word by mouth and brochures. And then one day their brochure got into the hands of an angel who picked Matt and Casey to be the parents of the blessing growing inside of her. They traveled back and forth to TN during the pregnancy and to check on their soon to be little girl!

On January 17th (a month before her due date) Ella Grace couldn't hold her excitement any longer to meet her parents and entered the world! Weighing in at only 4 pound 10 ounces this little miracle was healthy and strong and didn't even have to visit the NICU. And after all i's were dotted and the t's were crossed sweet Ella Grace got to make her journey home to GA.

Last Saturday Alex and I got to take Matt and Casey lunch and got to finally meet Ella Grace!!! Our eyes filled with tears as we gazed upon this little miracle and listening to the stories that her parents told of her birth. Plus listening to Casey talk about how she had always wanted to be the one pregnant but now that she has been through this she wouldn't have it any other way. And this is really when my eyes filled up because that was a specific prayer I had been praying for her; asking God if that was His will for them to please lay it on her heart and boom! I am so overjoyed for this little family!

This is when I'm reminded of my life verse again; Jeremiah 29:11. God has AMAZING plans for us. They aren't to harm us, but to prosper us....to give us a hope and a future! We have to trust in God's plan and His timing, no matter how badly we want it. He knows what's best for us. We might think we know but honestly we don't! But I hope next time you're going through a hard time (even if you're in the middle of that storm right now) remember to never give up on God and pouring your desires out to Him; just like Casey did. He truly does care, He wants what's best for you and if there is a way He will make it happen!

I am so excited to watch this little miracle grow we have all been praying for Matt and Casey's baby for 2 years (who's only 2 weeks old) grow. I'm blessed to have been apart of such an answered prayer!

Yes I know it's been a while since I've blogged.....bad Mandy!! There I have smacked my hand! Life has been a little all over the place and I've been mixed right up in there with it. So let's see if I can catch everyone up a bit! It might be a little long; so either skip to the topics that you like or just bare with me

MY JOB- This is one reason I've felt a little upside down. I started a new job in August. I've been in real estate for the last 12 years. I started off as the receptionist, then got my license and sold for almost 5 years and then when the market when down I took my job back as the receptionist. But I like change and needed it so I decided to leave and look for something new. In the meantime of that two agents from my office and I started talking and they ended up hiring me! So technically I'm still with the same company but I'm doing something COMPLETELY different. I handle marketing for our team! Although this is a very new job for me. It's hard because I'm doing something different yet it's frustrating because I've been in this business so long that I feel like I should know everything and that is NO where close to happening. Luckily I have amazing boss' who do know the insides and outs of this business and I get to be amazed with their knowledge every day! But it's been three months now and we are working together great and getting settled in.

TRAVELING-It seems lately like I am racking up on sky miles I've been going back and fourth to Maryland for check ups; which have all turned out good (thank you Jesus)!! I only go there once a month for a day or two. I was supposed to be there this past week but because of that crazy Sandy I couldn't go! So I guess I'll be heading back up there soon. Plus I have a friend that is a speaker and when she is on the road I'm her on road assistant. And since she's had some speaking dates lately we've been traveling on the weekends. This fall we've been to AL, VA, Savannah, this weekend we were in IN, and later this week I'll be flying out to Cali for an event this weekend! Plus I've had some speaking events myself. I spoke in Saint Simons,GA a couple of weeks ago and I have three other dates coming up! I love this life!! I wish that it was a full time job, but I'm blessed to be able to do it as much as God allows. He knows my wants, my needs and everything in between. So what ever He allows me to have I will take

MY MOM- And this topic is the longest but the biggest!! In the last two months we found out that my mom is in need of a kidney transplant! You know what, I'm going to write a separate blog about this because it's a pretty big deal and deserves to have it's own blog. So stay tuned for that!!

So this is what has been going on with my life! And these are just the abnormal things, all the other stuff is still there. Plus those other lovely surprises that seem to pop up! So there are days that I feel completely over whelmed but then other days that feel normal. I've just been on the go go go! Which is what I love, I would much rather be busy then be bored. So that's what's been going on with me, what's been going on with you??

Growing up I always had guy friends. I felt like girls were whiny, catty and honestly just too much drama. Guys are more laid back. You can fight about something and 10 mins later you're asking "what you want to grab for dinner". I've just always seemed to make easier friends with guys and when I had girlfriends it was because they were dating one of my guy friends.

In the last couple of years all of that has started to change. And I'm sure that's just apart of growing up. These girlfriends of my guy friends started to become wives. And not that I'm not friends with those guys anymore but relationships change. And I get that. A mans best friend, especially with the opposite sex, should be his wife. So I know I'm always going to take a back seat and I'm completely fine with that.

And in the last couple of years I've gotten more girlfriends; some married, some dating and some single. My friend Candace has always wanted me to get into a small group. Candace is also a speaker and while speaking at conferences she sometimes starts talking about small groups and how important that group of women are in her life. And about a year and a half ago a friend of mine started a small group and invited me to join. There were about 20 people invited to the first meeting. The girl who started the group was a friend of my sisters that I knew and had invited a bunch of her friends; a couple I knew but a lot more that I didn't. There were about 14 or 15 that came to the first meeting and week by week another would drop off until it came down to this group of 10 of us. We range of the ages of 25-32. Some are married with kids, some are married, and the a couple of us are single. We all have different kinds of jobs, we all go to different churches, we have all kinds of different back grounds and we all live pretty close to the same area but one thing we all have in common is that we love Jesus. I knew 3 of the girls really well (one being my sister, hehe); but the other girls I was either acquaintance with or I'd never met before.

In our first meeting we introduced ourselves and picked out a Bible study that we wanted to start. During the week we would do our homework and then every Tuesday night we would meet and do our group lesson/discussion and have prayer requests. Week by week was the same thing and when one study was over the next would begin. Each week our prayer request would get more personal and we'd start opening up a lot more. We have poured our hearts to each other. But then there have been times where we would take a week or two off and wouldn't meet and it was funny how those couple of weeks we would each feel like something was missing. It felt like our lives were throwing curve balls at us and we didn't know how to handle it because we hadn't been meeting. But then once we'd have that first meeting after not it seemed like our lives just seemed to fall back in to place.

Over the last year and a half we have laughed and cried together. We have celebrated and mourned together. We have grown so much together. It's amazing how God puts certain people in your life for a reason. I love seeing this group of girls in my life. He placed us there and it's amazing how when one of us is going through something another one of us had already been through it or is going through it too or helps you deal with it now and then when you go through it later she's there to help you. I know God knitted this group together and I love them so much! They are a huge part of my life! I look forward to seeing them and knowing that I'm going to see them every Tuesday! I always seem to tweet or Facebook about them on Tuesdays and express my love for them. Candace got so excited when she found out I was in a small group and said "Seeee now you understand what I've been talking about". And I do.

It's so important to have people from all different walks in your life. But as a Christian it's so important to have other believers around you. Not people that call themselves Christians and then turn around and do something dishonoring....but true Christians that are walking the walk and talking the talk. Now I'm not saying that these people are all perfect and I'm perfect yada yada yada, we are ALL human and we are going to make mistakes but I'm talking about people who are out there knowing sinning but call themselves Christians. I hate to sound so cheesy but you are who you hang around with. So if you are hanging around with those people then it's going to bring you down. You need to surround yourself with people who lift you up and make you want to be and continue to be a better person! And that's what these girls do for me! We hold each other accountable and we love each other for who God has made each one of us to be.

So I just want to encourage you if you aren't apart of a small group; get in one. If you don't know of one, start one; I am sure that you have girlfriends that would love to be apart of one. I honestly didn't realize how important these small groups were. We are helping each other learn more about Jesus, develop our walks with Him, helping each other through our daily lives, and making ourselves better people. Thank you Casey, Alex, Mallory, Morgane, Lauren, Meghan, Amber, Blair, Ashley, Ashlee, and Chelsea for loving me, encouraging me, laughing with me or being my shoulders to cry on. You've each helped me so much through the last year and a half and I love each and every one of you so much! I don't know what I'd do without you girls and I hope to never have to find out! God has put each one of you in my life for a reason and I'm so blessed to have you!

I have to say that I'm one of the luckiest girls in the whole wide world. If you have ever met either one of my parents then you know I'm truely blessed! God always knows what he is doing but He went far beyond when He picked my parents for me.

I still live with my parents but honestly I rarely see them. I basically just sleep at our house. I get up in the morning, I head to work and then once I get off there is always something to do, I normally get home around 10 or 11 and then I'm back in the bed to start the next day. So even though we might live under the same roof I don't really see them that often. But here's the awesome thing...I love my parents. They are awesome. I love that at 31 I love to be with my family. Every Saturday night my parents have mexican food for dinner and I sometimes get mad if I have plans and don't get to go with them and talk. I really just enjoy them. I look at typical 31 year olds who barely know or talk to their parents; and I feel sorry for them.

But one thing my dad started when Alex and I were young is daddy daughter dates. We always loved them and still do! So for Father's Day I plotted my own. In the 23 years that we have lived in Atlanta my dad has never been to The Fox Theater. (If you don't live around this area and don't know what it is you should look it up, it's awesome) My dad likes theater and doing different things so it's always shocked me that he hasn't been there. I have been there lots; shows, weddings, movies and that's actually where both of my Proms were. For his birthday back in April my mom bought us tickets to see Jersey Boys at The Fox. But our seats were so far back that he didn't even get to enjoy the Arabian sky line ceiling. Then along came Father's Day....so I looked up what was coming to town. One really cool thing that The Fox does during the summer is show movies, sometimes new sometimes old. And they were showing The Princess Bride (a classic). I knew he enjoyed that movie and thought it would be a fun night; so I bought tickets.

Last night my dad finally got to cash in his Father's Day gift. We went to Chow Baby for dinner, one of our favorites! Then headed over to the PACKED theater. We were able to find seats under the sky so that he could take it all in. I didn't really know that this movie was such a "cult" movie. There were people dressed in costume, the theater would recite the famous lines as the actors said them, and then the cheering and clapping during certain scenes! I loved it!! So much fun! I haven't seen this movie in over 15 years so I felt like I was going to see a movie I haven't seen before; but I LOVED seeing it with all these die hard Princess Bride fans! And I'm so excited about going to see a movie there that I love like that! But we had such a good night.

If you're a father and you have a daughter (or even a son) it's important to do things together. You don't have to do them all the time; maybe a couple of times a year. And it doesn't really matter what you do, it's about being together. And this is important for moms to do too. I have dinner with my mom a lot during the week (my dad works nights, so it's easier for us to see each other) but it's nice to sometimes have time like this with my dad. Plus after just losing my Bompa it is just another reminder how important relationships are (with my parents, sister, friends, extended family or just people I come in contact with on a day to day basis). Don't forget to cherish the time that you have with the people that God brings in to your life. They are in your life and you are in their life for a reason. Make the most of it!

Now to start planning our next Daddy Daughter date!

This is the eulogy lthat I wrote and gave at Bompa's memorial service. I just wanted yall to get to know the man that I was blessed to have as my Bompa! Oh I'm going to miss him so much!

Today we are here not to mourn but to celebrate the life of a son, a brother, a husband, a father and a Bompa! I'm sure my cousins would agree that when we talked about grandparents with our friends growing up everyone had a grandfather but no one ever had a Bompa!

He was the kind of man that was kind, gentle, sweet, loving, and patient. Even though he acted like he didn't he loved to be doted over. Bompa was the type of guy who never met a stranger and loved striking up a conversation with who would ever talk to him! And who ever he met fell in love with him. And I'm sure this was one reason he was so good at his job as being a sales man and working at the Hampton Inn & Best Western. He loved his work family and felt like they were all his adopted kids and grand kids. Bompa also loved sports. And even though they broke his heart more times then not he was a die hard Chicago Cubs and Chicago Bears fan. He was a collector of wheat pennies and when the new quarters came out he wanted to collect every state! He had amazing talents like eating an ENTIRE apple, seeds and all. The only thing ever left was the steam. He remembered every ones birthdays. You name a month and he would just rattle off dates. He always sent birthday cards and called on that special day. And he always made sure he and Grandma had updated pictures for their annual Christmas card. And I know we all looked forward to see what that years theme was.

Bompa loved the beach and being tan and even got the nickname Bahama Bompa. He also loved sitting on his back deck soaking up the sun. While he was in the hospital he even talked about how if he only had a nickel for every time the nurses talked about how tan he was; he acted annoyed but we all knew he loved it. He loved Friday night Zaxbys chicken wing night and Rock Port shoes. He carried his brown shaving kit with him where ever he went. He loved game shows like Price is Right and Deal or No Deal. He always had Tic Tacs, Werthers Originals or any type of hard candy.

And I think that we can all agree that he loved jokes! He loved hearing them and telling them! He always seemed to have a new one but didn't mind telling you an old one that you had heard 30 times before. He loved telling us how the biggest joke he ever played was getting Grandma to marry him on April Fools day and how the dog bit his pinkie off.

Growing up you would walk in Bompa and Grandma's house and it was always full of food and the garage was packed full of soft drinks. And Bompa would always say if you can't find anything in this house to eat or drink in this house then you aren't hungry. He ALWAYS spilled food on his shirt EVERY TIME he ate. He would quickly try to clean him self up but we would always wait for it to happen and once it did we'd say "Who forgot to feed Bompa".

One of his favorite things was to have his head rubbed. He'd always ask whoever was standing by to rub his head. He'd toss his head back and take off his glasses. We'd rub his forehead and the bridge of his nose he'd always say, that hurts so good. When we were little and would be unhappy and crying he would always say I'm gonna count to 3 and you better not smile....1.2......3 and still to this day I can't get to the count of three without smiling! He always talked about how we a GOOD looking family (and he and grandma started it all).

He was always the first to play any game! His new love was Wii Bowling. But he loved Bochee ball, horse shoes, and cowboy golf. But most of all he loved cards! Texas hold em, Rummy, Bridge, Spades but our family favorite Knock 31. When it was time to play he would get his seat ready and then head to his bedroom to get his money bag. Bompa was always the bank. When we were younger we would need our dollar changed into quarters and then when we were older our bills needed to be broken down to singles. And 7 out of 10 times Bompa was always in the finale. During these games he would start telling his jokes and at some point get the giggles. His face would turn all red, he'd have to take his glasses off and then tears would start rolling down his face. And once they started they just got worse and it seemed contagious.

Another one of his favorite things was to read the obituaries. He would always say "As long as my name isn't in here it's gonna be a good day." but then he'd say he's got one foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel. He always talked and joked about death but I guess that's so this day came it would be easier for us.

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, no crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away" Revelation 21:4

And you know one reason I believe that Bompa could talk and make so many jokes about death is because he knew where he was going. Heaven was his home, not here. A place with no more diabetes so he can eat as many sweets and desserts that he wants. No more ailing body so he can walk around pain free. No more medication, no more worry and no more fear. He knew God and Jesus was his Lord and Savior, and because of those two things and God's promise He knew that he was going to a much better place than this place of here and now! He gets to live in eternity where every day is an awesome day. Think of your greatest day here on Earth.....well Heaven is that day times 50 and you get experience that every day. So we can't be mad at Bompa for going there we just need to be jealous!

We are selfish human beings and want our loved ones to stay here with us but then when you know about the never ending bliss of Heaven and living in God's presence everyday how could we ask him to stay here. We need to strive to live the lives that God intended for us and know that one day God will call us home and that Bompa will be apart of that cheering section waiting to welcome you! Just like Zack was when Bompa arrived at the pearly gates.

Thank you God for putting such a man in all of our lives. We have been so beyond blessed to know Roland Young. Thank you for the amazing man he was and for all the memories that we have be able to have with him. Thank you for the promise that one day we will get to see each other again and live in bliss together forever and ever! So today we wipe away our tears of sorrow because we are sad for us. But we cry in tears of happiness for the life that you now get to live. We love you Bompa!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME! HAAAAAAAAAAPPY BIRTHDAY DEEEEEEEAR MANDY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!

I'm sitting here with tears streaming down my face for all the love I've already recieved from Facebook this morning. I mean if Facebook is good at only doing one thing (even though we all know that we love it for 1,000 reasons) it sure knows how to make you feel awesome on your birthday. Sure a lot of people only know it's your birthday because it pops up on the side of their screen when they sign on, but it really doesn't matter, they have taken the time to click on your name and say something to you! Last night I couldn't even sleep just knowing that today is my birthday. I felt like I was 5 years old all over again waiting for Santa to come. It's not even like we are doing anything big today, it's just the fact of knowing it's my birthday!

I know that everybody thinks that I'm a little crazy about my birthday. They laugh when they find out that I want a big party ever year and I'm okay with the fact that I'm another year older. I'm not the kind of girl that celebrates her 21st birthday over and over again. And I don't see myself becoming the girl that celebrates her 29th over and over again either. Honestly I love getting older, I feel like I'm only coming more into myself. I love the person that I am and that I'm becoming with each passing day. But here is my actual take on my birthday. I want to make a fuss over my birthday and here's why. I have fought now for 31 years to stay alive. A lot of people don't have that struggle in their life, they don't understand that battle, it's something they take for granted. I have FOUGHT for my 31 years. And it's another year that the Lord has let me live! He could take me away at any time. My life isn't up to me when it's over it's up to Him. And he's blessed me enough to let me celebrate another day of another year. That year behind me is like an achievement. So yes I'm going to live it up!

So in honor of this day, I have taken off work. I will spend it with the ones I love; my family and friends. I will thank God for not another year of 29 but welcome 31 with open arms. It's not about the number (because that's all age is it's only a number) it's about the person you've grown to be. And honestly I'm pretty much done with 30, it wasn't the best year of my life it was filled with struggle. BUT it was a year of my life that taught me more about myself, helped me to grow more in to God, and to make me in to the person I am today. And for those things I thank God. He knows me best. He knows what I need. And I'm reminded on this day of my life verse "For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, Plans to prosper you not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11 He knows what's best and maybe He made 30 such a struggle so I would welcome 31 gracefully, only He knows. But I thank Him for every bit of it. It goes along with His plan for me and His plan is so much better than my own!!

This past Monday, as some of you might know, I went back to Maryland for a follow up on my stent infection. The day was packed full of appointments and everything went well! We should know the final results by the end of this week, although I just got an email from one of my doctors who said so far everything looks clear! Very exciting!

But there is a huge concern with my mom that I would really appreciate your prayers for. About a week and a half ago, through some unrelated, routine tests, we found out that my mom needs a kidney transplant. Shocking, I know. There is a kidney disease that runs on my mom's side of the family, called Polycystic Kidney DIsease or PKD. My great grandmother, my great aunt and my cousin had it and now my grandmother, my mom, a cousin and me all have it. PKD is where cysts take over your kidneys and kills the tissue where they form, eventually killing the kidney. There is no treatment or cure. We have always known that for any of us kidney problems could be in our future but it's one of those things where you could die of old age without it ever affecting you or you could need a transplant at 50! You just never know!

Right now mom's doctor wants her to get on the kidney transplant list. They said it could take years before they find a match. One thing that we are hopeful for is a match within our family. Thankfully each of us has a sibling that doesn't have polycystic kidneys. Mamaw has Cheryl, Mom has Leslie and I have Alex. Usually your sibling is the closest match within the family but then sometimes that doesn't work out so easily and you have to go outside of the family. Hopefully soon we can start the process of letting those 3 get tested to see if any of them are matches for either Mom or Mamaw. Right now Mom's kidneys are only functioning at 17% which yes does seem low but they are still functioning! And she's hopeful that she will be able to skip over the dialysis process and go straight to the transplant. After meeting with a specialist at the NIH and talking to her about everything she really calmed our nerves. It seems like transplant has a high success rate with PKD patients. We know it's not going to be a quick and easy thing, believe me we have been around hospitals long enough to know that's not how things work, but this does seem like the best option. Another positive thing we learned is that with Polycystic kidneys once they are removed and the new healthy kidney is in, you don't have to worry about the disease coming back, once the disease is out, it's always out! That's a huge blessing!

While we were there they checked my kidney function and everything checked out great! So now it's just time to get Mom healthy!

We are very optimistic about this whole process! Mom is handling everything great. She of course has concerns - but she feels very strongly that the Good Lord will bring her through this season too! But we would love and appreciate your prayers! Prayers to keep Mom's kidney function stable until they find her a kidney, for my grandmother's function to remain stable so that she doesn't have to go on the transplant list as well (we don't need to be double duty), to find a donor match for mom and for her to find the right doctor to use during this time. The one thing I thank God for - is that we know Him and we can lean on Him through it all. Luckily with all of my craziness we understand this may be more to handle than most. But we know He has a plan for us and that He has His hands all over every situation that we are faced with. With Him, we can get through anything! He is the one that gives us strength!