Hello Dear Friend,
You may have already heard the good news, but in case you haven’t here it goes. Gamma Knife worked!! Andrew went from 12 tumors in his brain to 1 (which we believe is still shrinking). Having this surgery work could possibly give Andrew way more time! The spirit and energy around our home has dramatically shifted since the good news. There’s nothing like a little HOPE!
I’m so proud of how Andrew has responded to every bit of news he has received. I truly enjoyed watching his face light up when he finally received some good news. I love seeing Andrew full of hope, life and dreams. Thats how I’ve always known him and exactly what I love about him.
Recently, we’ve started making some decisions as a family to eat healthier meals, make exercise a priority, and prayer/meditation as a family a daily practice. It’s amazing when I make the important things top on my priority list how much clarity and energy I receive.
I started reading a great book the other day called “The One Thing” by Gary Keller and Jay Papasan. The book has really revolutionized my life. It talks about finding the one thing that if you did that one thing every day it would have the greatest impact on your life. I spend so much of my energy and willpower on things that never get me where I want to go (i.e to do lists). Those things keep me busy and occupied, but at the end of the day I truly feel like I wasted my willpower on things that didn’t really matter.
The book is helping me to let go of the daily menial tasks and focus my energy on the things that are really important and going to give me the greatest return. I’m not going to lie, it’s not easy for me to let go of my to do list because I enjoy feeling like I’ve accomplished something by checking off a list. The amount of energy I’ve saved since laying down the check list and picking 1 to 3 important things to do has been life changing. Right now it’s really important for me to have as much energy as I can to be present for my family and applying this new philosophy has really helped.
Do you feel like I often do, exhausted from checking off a long list of to do’s and unhappy at the end of the day because you’re nowhere closer to your goals or dreams? What is the one thing in your life that if you reserved all your willpower for you would see the greatest shift in your life. What could you delegate or drop from your list to free you up to focus on your One thing? If you’re willing to share your One thing, I would love to read it in the comments! Thank you all so much for the love, prayers and encouragement my family feels from you. You blow us away! Love you so much.
So excited to hear the good news. God continues to use Andrew and Bailey as a blessing to many.
Ok Bailey!!!:-) so your blog post really got me thinking! I don’t even know what my one thing would be or is? I’ve just been so caught up in being a mommy and wife that I never stopped to think what are my dreams and goals. Of course I always think about my boys future and how my husband and I can help them accomplish their hopes and dreams(when they are old enough to figure them out;-)) but I don’t really have anything “I” want to accomplish. Is that a bad thing? I think as blessed as I feel everyday to be a mommy and a wife….their is a part of me that thinks if I had one thing I wanted to do and accomplish it would make me a better mommy and wife. To have something for me. So thank you! Ill be praying about what my one thing is or will be:) Always praying for y’all!!!
Lauren;-)
Bailey, your blog has blessed me in so many ways. Thank you for reminding me what is truly important in this short life we get. My precious husband has not received the attention and encouragement he deserves because I am always so busy trying to be the perfect housekeeper and mom. I am reminded that our relationship came first and should stay that way after our relationship with God. My one thing has always been ministry with young girls who do not have a good home life. There are so many lies Satan tells them and many of them end up believing. I have not made it a priority to get involved outside of Liberty, but I know He has been quietly reminding me where I can serve best in His Kingdom. Thank you for the challenge and encouragement. You are a treasure!
Alicia Insinna (Finholt)
So excited to hear this amazing news! Somehow I missed it on fb!! Praise God From Whom All Blessings Flow!!!! We will continue to pray for your precious family!!
My one thing is too eat healthy and exercise, it something I have to do because I am diabetes 2.I read something on Andrew’s blog,he said everyday do one thing towards your goal and one day you will get there. To me those are words to live by and I tell everyone who will listen, what it has done for me.In the beginning those two things i wanted to do seemes impossible , how was I gonna do that when I was always fatigue, back pain , knee pain and after trying to walk, pain in places where the hadn’t been pain before.And I knew little about nutritition.So okay one day I talked to someonewho has diabetes about what kind of foods to eat, and I bought them . What i couldn’t eat that was already in my house i gave away. This was done in one day! About a week of eating healthy I felt better. No sugar in my house , no dr. pepper in my house.Giving up Dr/ pepper i though would kill me , it didn’t I.m still here and every once i a while i’ll have a slice of cake and a dr.pepper. I started walking up and down my front side walk a little each night , One day i took off and now i walk like 20 minutes twice a day. my dog loves it and on some day we walk farther seems like my body loves walking.I now go to the store and it seems like my brain has changed , I buy the healthy food without even having to think about buying healthy, I don’t ever for get to walk , my dog will remind me haha! About a month ago bought a belt. a few days ago i realize i was buckling it in the last hole , whaaaat! I wasn’t on a diet so I never got on a scale. So to the scale I go and I have lost 10 pounds! Yes Thats my good news by I also have bad news…I smoke yikes!!! One day at a times sweet Jesus that all I’m asking from you…Remember the song? I am asking everyone to please say a prayer for me/ I am just one prayer away . Pray that God will take my desire to smoke away Pray just one prayer and then go on with you life and know that God heard you. Thank you Bailey for just being you as for the list, keep writing it but don’t give yourself a time limit . It will all work out , God is listening., and will give you the desires of your heart , Glory to God!! God bless everyone.
Love hearing about the MIRACLES in your lives!! GOD has HIS arms wrapped around you all! Love & Light & continued prayers to you & Andrew, Dear Bailey.
Bailey ( and readers), I think for all of us, the most important “one thing” we should have at the forefront of our day is time with Jesus. This one moment/act of the heart and will/focus will positively impact every other aspect of our lives. Over the past few years, God has reiterated this to me over and over-He desires me to spend time with Him more than my sacrifices, deeds, etc. As for you eating healthy and exercising…this is so such a key component to healing, getting and staying healthy! Basic rule of thumb- cut out eating anything processed and with exercise you don’t have to be a super athlete, just be consistent with 20-30 minutes of exercise/day (or at least 3-4/days/week). Here a few tidbits on the benefits of exerciseHere’s a few stats of what exercise can reduce the risk of :
colon cancer by 60%, breast cancer by 50%, Alzheimer’s Disease by 40%, stroke by 27%, Type II diabetes by 58%. Exercising regularly can be twice as effective at treating Type II diabetes than with insulin (& save up to $2250/person/year on drug treatment), decrease depression as effectively as Prozac or behavioral therapy, prevent the onset of chronic diseases such as heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, cancer, depression, anxiety, arthritis, osteoporosis, and obesity. It can reduce recovery time from injury and illness and drastically cut medical costs for related doctor and prescription expenses.
Many companies are realizing that for every $1 they spend on wellness & exercise programs for their employees, they see approximately a $6 return on their investment. Thus, they are starting to cover regular exercise programs due to such benefits they experience corporately and individually such as reduced costs of insurance premiums, reduced insurance claims, reduced absenteeism, increased productivity & performance, increased company loyalty and morale, as well as reduced turnover.
All this AND help you look good, feel good, and have a better overall well-being!
No wonder the Lord tells us to buffet our body and make it our slave. Love, prayers, and best wishes for all of you to have a happy, healthy, fulfilling life for years to come!