Brightness

There have been a few times in my 32 years that I have had shall we say a "moment of glory". The range from probably junior high through the birth of my son. Each one special in it's own right and those brief moments of glory have changed my life and made me the woman I am today in their each unique way. I had yet another "moment of glory" this past weekend that will forever change my life. I got an email from my friend Gina McMurtrey about 3 months ago. She said that she had seen on facebook how I was running and was I interested in running a half marathon with her in St Louis in October. Well unknown to her one of my dreams that for a very long time I thought was unattainable was to run a full marathon. But I had always been heavy (since I got married) and thought there is no way a fat girl like me can run 26.2 miles. When she asked me run half of a marathon, 13.1 miles, the thought once again popped into my head, I can't run that far, I barely can run ...

So these last few weeks I've been plagued by a burden for a little girl that I have never met. Her name is Lanie Ann Watkins. She is the niece of two amazing women that I knew in college. She just turned 2 and about a year ago was diagnosed with cancer. Her family has been bravely fighting and doing everything they can do for little Lanie but the cancer is just too strong. About a week or two ago the doctors at St. Jude told Lanie's Mom and Dad that they could do no more. Lanie didn't have much time left. So Lanie's Mom and Dad brought her home to be around friends and family. I have struggled these last few weeks with this. I love God, I don't understand Him but I KNOW He only wants the best for me and for His kids. So how could losing a 2 year old child be His will and the best for Lanie's parents. I also look at my own 3 year old, vibrant, happy, healthy child and I don't understand why Lanie and not us. Not that I would wish this on my family or my pre...