This internet has changed the world as I knew it. People who I will never meet know my stories. And I know theirs. People in all walks of life, whose paths would never cross mine, cross my mind all through the day. Because I have read about them. Because I feel empathy with them. Because I am praying for them. But, we are not friends, not even acquaintances, really…just blog writers sharing innermost thoughts and cares. Just hoping someone reads and understands what is on our hearts and minds.

I have read, as I am sure some of you have, of a little girl named Cora. She was diagnosed with neuroblastoma a few weeks back and has been fighting for her life since. She went to live with Jesus yesterday. I make no presumption to know this family other than reading their story on their blog. I found their story by reading of it from another blog. You know how we go ‘surfing’ when something catches our interest. Anytime I read of a child with cancer, I immediately go back to 1978 when I found out my own child was himself a victim of this same horrible form of childhood cancer. His diagnosis came out of the blue, just as it did for this sweet girl. But, his story had a much happier ending. Adam is now 34, married, and a son to be proud of. His story is on my sidebar, if you are interested.

There is also a sweet girl from my hometown who is fighting another form of cancer in Birmingham. Her parents attend to her and watch and wait and pray. Her name is Hannah Grace.

And the hospitals are full of those I don’t know. When one goes home, another one takes his place. And it goes on and on and on.

I do not know why God allows children to suffer. I do not know why any child has to have cancer. I think He should do away with it all together. I think that would be a fine idea…and I do not know why He doesn’t think that would be a fine idea, too. It is at times like these that it is easy to ‘lose faith’ and wonder if God is really watching? Does He see what is happening to the little ones? Why doesn’t He heal them all?

I can not answer all the questions. I can only attest to what I know. And this I know. He does care. He loves the ‘little ones’ even more than their families. His heart breaks when He sees them hurting. His heart breaks when he sees a Mom caressing a tiny head, gently brushing the hair back. His heart breaks when He sees a Daddy standing watch, wanting to ‘go to battle’ for his child…but not knowing who to fight.

But, we see through our eyes and not His. We feel with our hearts and not His. We understand with our minds, not His. He is good…all the time. His ways are perfect…all the time.
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When I was a little girl, I used to spend lots of time with my daddy. We both had an affinity for books, and he encouraged me, for which I am forever grateful. But, he also liked to play a card game from time to time, and I would find myself watching with much interest. Time after time, he would bring all the cards together in a stack, then slowly lay out the grid. Then he would begin counting 1-2-3, and turn the cards over. He’d count and move them ever so slightly, then turn them over to see what came up. Sometimes, he would take that card and put it on one in the grid. And, sometimes, the dance of the cards would begin…red 8 on black 9…black 5 on red 6…then move a whole section of cards over to the black jack…then move them again when the red queen would show her face. And proudly watching over all were those fancy Aces…sitting there in all their glory just waiting to be covered over with a whole suite.

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LESSONS LEARNED TODAY:

1. BE HEALTH WISE! Know what you are allergic to…however strange it may be!

2. MAKE THE BEST OF A BAD SITUATION! If you find yourself ‘stuck in the mud…DANCE!

3. EXPECT THE UNEXPECTED! Little surprises that make us smile are hiding in the most mundane of places. JUST LOOK!

This is my little friend, Sophie. You may remember me telling you about my friend Sherrie going to China to adopt her. Well, she is coming to preschool now! She has had surgery, and is feeling well, and quickly becoming a typical 3 year old. My friend Sherrie has been so good for her, and has been God led in her mothering of this sweet child.

We are all so happy to have her in our lives. And we thank God for giving this sweet child a chance to be healthy, happy and loved in America.

It amazes me how quickly bonds can form in children. This child came here knowing no one, knowing no language, and sick. And in a short time, she is well, she is speaking English, and understanding more than she speaks, she is bonded to this wonderful family. And what I think is the most amazing thing of all is the fact that she feel confident enough in the love and security of her family, that she is willing to go places without them. In her little mind, she KNOWS this is her forever family, and she is free now to learn of life, to enjoy new experiences, to grow and become the wonderful girl God planned her to be…knowing all the while that she has a family waiting there to lift her up if she falls, to wipe a tear if she cries, and give her hugs for no reason at all.

Sherrie, thank you for sharing her with us. We are blessed by you both!

I have so many blogs on my favorites page that it’s ridiculous. I only go and read them when I am resting or bored. Since THE CRUD still has me feeling yucky, that is what I have been doing today. I found this link on one of those blogs.

Follow this link and it will tell you the #1 song on the day you were born, or the day you graduated high school or any day you’d like! How fun is that? Mine for the day I was born was “Viya Con Dios.”

Go here and see what yours is and come back and tell me. Unless you already know. Well, you couldn’t know about the one when you were born, but you may remember the #1 when you graduated…I didn’t. But, it was “Brown Sugar” by the Rolling Stones.