This fall was the 5th anniversary of my Remicade infusions! I haven't written a blog post in forever and so I felt like the 5th year anniversary of Remicade and yesterdays completion of the Richmond Half Marathon were reason enough to fire up the old blog!! Where to begin... So much has happened over the last 5 years. I have had 6 surgeries, 51 Remicade infusions, 6 units of iron pumped through my veins, married my best friend, run more races than I can count, ohhhhh and had a baby :). SO MUCH!!! Over the years I have claimed countless verses.. "In this world you WILL have trouble, but take heart because I have overcome the world"... "Come to me all you who are weary and heavy laden and I WILL give you rest"..."Now to Him who is able to do IMMEASURABLY more than ALL we ask or imagine"... "I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me"...these are just a few of my favorite verses. These words have carried me through the last 5 years, and yesterday felt like the most incredible way to praise Jesus for the miracle that the last 5 years has been! We have all prayed for healing... we believe God for healing more today than the day I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. We believe He is able, and we believe that He wrote this beautiful journey of ours. We have asked...and sometimes begged...for him to heal this physical pain and incurable disease or to use it to glorify Him and further His kingdom. Well there have been way too many hosptial visits for me to count, lots of surgerys, 3 cancer scars, blood clots, infections, but God has trumped all those trials with a beautiful healthy baby, a husband who loves me well, friends and family who have come alongside us to help carry this burden, and He has given me the strength to run. These are living, breathing, tangible miracles that have carried me through some of my hardest days. It may not look like physical healing, but He has healed my heart from the bitterness and the sadness that accompanies an incurable diagnosis. God's faithfulness has been magnified more in these last 5 years than in the other 23 years combined. I have been the sickest I have ever been, and I have seen Jesus and felt his mercies deeper than words could ever describe. Yesterday was an emotional day for so many reasons..Running the half marathon was not done in my own strength; it was through His. The Lord has placed a group of girls in my life at the perfect time. They have exemplified incredible determination and perseverance. These girls have seen me at some of my lowest points this past year and they have loved me, encouraged me, and have run alongside me saying.."Beautiful girl you can do hard things".. and "You CAN do this"... I am so so grateful for these girls! When I got to the finish line and saw Dante, Bella and my dad all cheering me on, all I could do was cry...happy tears of course! I cried at so many points in the race because I was doing it...I was running ANOTHER half marathon.. doctors look at me like I am crazy when I tell them how much I love to run. They have cautioned me on countless occasions...and yesterday God showed up! He always does...and I couldnt help but cry and reminiss over all He has done these past 5 years. A blog post, facebook status, or instagram update will NEVER do his faithfulness justice. One of the songs on my playlist prompted me to make a little flipgram, and my prayer is that through these pictures you see past a crazy smile or a funny face and you see Jesus and His answered prayers. Physical healing or not, my life is a miracle. My husband, our healthy baby, and the ability to run half marathons are daily reminders that God is still a God of miracles. God has allowed this incurable disease and along with it He has blessed me with the most incredible people to battle this disease right along with me! To God be the glory!!!!!!! To each of you who have prayed and encouraged me... you are such a HUGE part of our story and I am so thankful for you!!!! I hope you enjoy the pictures :) You have to click the link below to view the flipgram!
http://flipagram.com/f/M36ot3QoD0
