Jumping in with both feet!

I have wanted to blog for a while now but have avoided it thinking, "What do I have to say, that anyone would want to read?"  Well, I am jumping in with both feet and will see how that question gets answered.  Maybe nobody will ever read this except me.  That's okay.  Maybe many people will join me here and thoughts will flow.  That's even better.

Who am I?  I am a wife of 27 years, a mother to two grow sons, a daughter to a breast cancer survivor, a sister to a breast cancer survivor, a mutant with BRCA2, a nonprofit executive director, a Pastor, a counselor, a friend, a sinner and a believer in Jesus Christ.

I have faced trials in my life that some of you may relate to. 
My mother and sister have both battled breast cancer and survived! 

I discovered through genetic counseling that I am a BRCA2 mutant, which means I tested positive for the breast cancer gene. I choose to be proactive and had a bilateral mastectomy with DIEP reconstruction.  My pathology from that surgery showed I had abnormal cells in both breasts and it would have been just a matter of time before I would have had breast cancer. 

I have had to leave a church because of legalism and sin that went unrepented; in the leadership.  It was devastating to my family but my faith grew stronger in the process.

I have found an awesome church with a Pastor who is a true Shepherd for his flock and have been part of the congregation for 11 years.

I have dealt with suicides and clinical depression in my families history.  I have been diagnosed with clinical depression and have been on antidepressants which help me to lead a productive life.

These are just a few of the trials I have dealt with in my 49 years of life and I have found hope and peace in my relationship with Jesus Christ. I refused to "eat the ashes" that the enemy wants to serve me and I prefer to focus on the banquet that Jesus is preparing for me.

Through all the trials of life that have come and will come, I hold on to Jesus.

Pastor Debbie