"Live Like Your Were Dying" - Update · Nov 6, 08:33 AM

Dear Family and Friends,

Joseph and I just returned from a wonderful time in Ohio. It was in the 40s and 50s and the trees were ablaze with color. I love the seasons!

I had my second chemo treatment on Wednesday and it went well. Some good news is that it looks like the insurance glitch has worked out and they have agreed to pay for the chemo drug (Avastin) that was in question because it is experimental for breast cancer. We had to pay a significant amount out of pocket the first time because we felt we were to go ahead with the treatments. So, from now on I will only need to pay the $35 co-pay and we should be able to get a reimbursement check for the other in a few weeks. I am so grateful to have insurance that will pick this up. I especially thank my employers who are providing insurance for me and standing with me at this time. Please join me in praying for God’s blessing on them.

Some dear friends gave us a small book called, “Live like you were dying” with a CD of a song by that name by Country singer, Tim McGraw. It really made an impact on me when I heard it

The lyrics basically talk about how, when we are faced with a terminal illness, it frees us to live life the way it was meant to be lived—free of fear! I hope you can tap into it, for that is how I feel now—free to laugh, love, have fun, free to walk through open doors such as going to Rio with my beloved Joseph and learning how to dance the Samba.
I am no longer bound by what people think. I know my heart is pure and I seek to please my creator.

I think it is interesting that the scriptures only tell us to fear once…”Fear the Lord, thy God,” but at all other times we are told to “Fear not!” He doesn’t want us to live in fear. He wants us to be free of it and enjoy life. His word says, “He came to give us life more abundantly.” That doesn’t sound like a humdrum existence to me.

So, friends—would you join me on this journey and “live like you were dying”…I am!

Blessings,
Debbie

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Comment

  1. Here are the lyrics. We are all dying…but to come to fully know it is a gift from God. It forces us to measure what is important. My favorite part of the song? “...And I loved deeper, And I spoke sweeter,And I gave forgiveness “ (I’m still working on the sweeter part).

    LIVE LIKE YOU WERE DYING

    “He said I was in my early 40’s,
    With a lot of life before me,
    When a moment came and stopped me on a dime.
    I spent most of the next days,
    Lookin’ at the x-rays,
    And talkin’ ‘bout the options and talkin’ ‘bout sweet time
    I asked him when it sank in,
    This might really be the real end,
    How’s it hit you,
    When you get that kinda news? Man whatcha do? He said…....

    I went sky divin’
    I went Rocky Mountain climbin’
    I went 2 point 7 seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu
    And I loved deeper,
    And I spoke sweeter,
    And I gave forgiveness I’d been denyin’
    And he said someday I hope you get the chance,
    To Live Like You Were Dying

    He said I was finally the husband,
    That most the time I wasn’t.
    And I became a friend a friend would like to have.
    And all a sudden goin’ fishin’,
    Wasn’t such an imposition,
    And I went 3 times that year I lost my Dad.
    Well I, I finally read the good book,
    And I, took a good long hard look,
    At what I’d do if I could do it all again
    And then…..........

    I went sky divin’
    I went Rocky Mountain climbin’
    I went 2 point 7 seconds on a bull named Fu Manchu
    And I loved deeper,
    And I spoke sweeter,
    And I gave forgiveness I’d been denyin’
    And he said someday I hope you get the chance,
    To Live Like You Were Dying

    Like tomorrow was a gift,
    And you got eternity
    To think about what you’d do with it
    What did you do with it?
    What did I do with it?
    What would I do with it?

    I went sky divin’
    I went Rocky Mountain climbin’
    I went 2 point 7 seconds on a bull named Fu Man Chu
    And I loved deeper,
    And I spoke sweeter
    And I watched an Eagle as it was flying
    And he said someday I hope you get the chance,
    To Live Like You Were Dying
    To live like you were dying
    To live like you were dying
    To live like you were dying
    To live like you were dying
    To live like you were dying”

    — Joseph · Nov 6, 10:34 AM · #

  2. Great post. I also have enjoyed this book and the song. It puts things into perspective. You all continue to be in my thoughts and prayers. God is using your life for His glory and honor. Thank you for sharing and loving.

    — Kimberly · Nov 7, 06:54 AM · #

  3. The song captures so much of how we are all supposed to live. We all live under a death
    sentence. Although it’s been commuted spiritually it’s a fact regarding our natural lives. Debbie, you have discovered the secret to real life by facing your situation, refusing to live in fear & embracing life. You are an inspiration to all of us.

    — Dennis & Dee · Nov 9, 11:01 AM · #

  4. You have always been such an inspiration and mentor to me. Your messages speak to me on such a deep level of keeping perspective in a crazy, hetic world. Thank you both for always being the blessings that you are to everyone you meet.

    — kristin · Nov 9, 12:33 PM · #

  5. In the mornings in my time W/ the Lord. He puts you on my heart daily to pray for you and the family. Surely His goodness and mercy will follow you all the days of your life. The Lord’s plan for your life is perfect and he is using you in ways that you will probably never know the full extent. May the peace of Jesus be with you.

    — Jim Busse · Nov 9, 04:43 PM · #

  6. Thanks so much for this update, and please know of our love and continued prayer for you and Joseph. I love that song – it came out at a very significant time in my life and in my family, so it has always had much meaning to us.

    — Stephen Simpson · Nov 9, 06:23 PM · #

  7. thanks all…we really appreciate your prayers… Deb didn’t have a chance to get on here today, but hoopefully tomorrow.

    — Joseph · Nov 9, 08:38 PM · #

  8. Thank you for sharing this. The timing is perfect. I just found out my mom has cancer and pray that I can draw strength from your testimony to encourage her, you are such an inspiration!

    — Paco and Claude · Nov 9, 09:12 PM · #

  9. Dear Friends, I feel humbled by the way you all stand with us. May God get the glory for the story of my life…Debbie

    — Debbie · Nov 9, 09:58 PM · #

  10. Thanks for sharing this post, Debbie! You continue to be in my thoughts and prayers.

    — Kay · Nov 13, 08:57 AM · #

  11. This really hit home with me. Over the last well I guess I would say year or two I have been really struggling deep with this
    “living life to the full”.
    God more recently placed the thought on my heart to live like no tomarrow, and focus on today.

    There is a struggle with being just another worker bee amongst the many, (esepcially I would say in my field) to work hard to become some machine. How does one work hard yet still keep people as the main focus? It seams like there is a mentality to keep running, just work a little moore, make a little more money, just do a little more, then you can rest. Like I am just running to rest, to run again.

    There is deffintly a fear that grips my heart. A fear of missing out on life and what it really has to offer, what God really ment it for.

    Thank you debbie for sharing your heart, it is really helping to speak to my heart on things, to make sense of things, and things deeper that I don’t understand. Thank you.
    Peace be with you.

    — Justin.R · Nov 24, 01:47 AM · #

  12. thanks for sharing so beautifully trust. your words lift me everytime.prayers and peace to you and fam.

    — shari sutherland · Nov 27, 08:54 AM · #

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