Real Connections

Last night I opened my phone before heading to bed to learn it was national daughters day. I felt this overwhelming sense of failure for not posting about my wonderful daughter. I was about to sit with my phone to find the right pic to post and the right words to write about her, but instead I...

paused. breathed. prayed.

And recognized where I needed to be was offline, beside my daughter, wishing her a national daughters day.

I share this with you today in case you can relate to how I felt last night. We see something online and feel like we need to post something. The pull of social media can rule my heart.

If you can relate, I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.

May we not allow what is on social media to rule our hearts but instead allow God’s peace, truth and love to rule our hearts. May we know that we are not less than, nor is the relationship less than, if we don’t say something on social media. There are so many of the national “days” we will inevitably miss some of them. That doesn’t mean our love for those people in our lives in less than if we don’t post about it online. The real connections we need most are the offline, in person connections. May we never forget to make those first. And if we choose to share online, may it be from the peace in our heart, and not the expectation of what social media is calling for us to be and/or do.

With love and hope,
Shawn

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts. - Colossians 3:15

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

#bravelikegabe

Thank you @bravelikegabe for keeping @gigrunewald ‘s legacy alive, and for all you do for our ACC community💕🙏💕

Repost with @make_repost
・・・
In 2017, Shawn, a mom of three, was diagnosed with Adenoid Cystic Carcinoma when a tumor was found in her nasal cavity and upper palate. She underwent a surgery to remove the tumor, which included removing her palate. She now wears an artificial palate called an obturator. “My experience has given me great compassion for others with invisible wounds. I realize we all walk around with them, in some way shape or form. I am truly grateful to be able to use what I learned with my walk with ACC to come beside others, and encourage them through whatever they may be walking through.”⁣
⁣
Shawn is an inspirational author and speaker who dedicates her cancerversaries to helping others. On the one year anniversary of completing treatment, she launched her book, Our Struggles Have Purpose, which describes 55 life lessons she learned through her walk with cancer, from diagnosis through the end of treatment. “I wholeheartedly believe my struggles have led me to my deeper purpose; to love others beside me, from family to strangers, and to encourage those next in line.”⁣
⁣
Shawn’s husband helped her stay active throughout treatment, arranging a place for her to stay where she could walk 3 miles to and from treatment every day. She found nourishment in the fresh air and routine walk in nature. Shawn describes this as finding what her body is able to do to take care of her mind and spirit. “Find what you like to do, and what you are able to do, and go and do it. By doing what we are able to do isn’t just for our body’s wellbeing, but will help nourish us within as well.”⁣
⁣
Shawn, thank you for sharing your story and lifting up those around you. We can be #BraveLikeShawn today by walking, wheeling, or running some miles for ourselves and for those we love!

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

The Most Beautiful View

Are any of you feeling a little resistant to life getting a busier again?

If you are, I get it.

This fall has me reflecting on something I learned after my treatments ended. We had a lovely summer as a family full of quality time together. Cancer stripped away everything that was nonessential & we were left with one another, & found joy in the simply things.

That fall, when school, sports & the busyness of schedules started, it was a shock to my system. During cancer, I felt like God had pulled me off of the trains we were on as a family & sat me on the countryside with my loved ones and I saw the most magnificent view of life.

Joy wasn’t in the busy, but in being present with others.

That fall I sat on the countryside resisting hopping back on the trains that were running that could take away this renewed view of life we had been given.

Although I resisted, I stepped back on the trains, because it’s what we do, right?

A number of months after hopping back on the trains I continued to feel the resistance within. Then in a quiet moment of prayer, I realized Stephen & I are the drivers of our family’s train. No one else is in control of our speed or the stops we make but us.

This renewed view freed me to do things in a way that fit our family best, even if it wasn’t in line with how others were driving their trains.

I felt compelled to share with you what I learned after cancer in case some of you can relate to the resistance to getting busy again in this season of “reopening.” I wanted to encourage you to join me to

pause. breathe. pray.

Even though things are starting to move forward, may we all remember we each drive our own family’s train. We get to choose the pace & frequency of stops along the way. Whatever we do, or don’t do, may we not lose sight of the beautiful view we were given when all that was nonessential was taken away & we were able to focus in on who & what is most essential in our life.

Whatever pace we choose, may we never lose the view from the countryside we were given. The view of who matters most; it’s the most beautiful view.

With love & hope,
Shawn

The mind governed by the Spirit is life & peace. - Romans 8:6

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

Celebrate Small Joys

🎈🎉Today is Stephen’s birthday🎉🎈

“Many people lose the small joys in the hope for the big happiness.” Not this guy. I am forever grateful how he always keeps us grounded in the small joys🎈

☀️Here’s to another adventurous trip around the sun🍺☕️

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

Speak Life

First try: After holding onto the first bar, Matt said, “Wow. I forgot how this hurts my hands, I can’t do this,” as he jumped down.

The next thing I knew he was circling back to hop on again.

Second try: “I can do this,” he said aloud as he went across with ease, surprising himself, and me.

Third try: “I keep getting better at this” he said, as his speed and confidence increased.

I was inspired listening to our youngest talk his way past the negative thoughts and into truth. This isn’t an easy thing to do. I know from experience. Maybe you can relate.

If so, I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.

Let’s absorb this lesson I learned from Matt; that words have power. When we are at the edge and challenged, may the words we choose be ones of life and truth. May our thoughts and words not talk us out of what we are able to do. Instead may we remember that God made us more capable than we think we are. What often stops us from meeting our full potential are the words we speak to ourselves. So let’s move forward today speaking truth and life into our own hearts, and into others, and see what we are able to accomplish.

With love and hope,
Shawn

“My mouth speaks what is true, for my lips detest wickedness.” - Proverbs 8:7

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

An Unexpected Gift

Sometimes an unexpected gift becomes the divine appointment you are needing.

The past few days have been wavy. I have had unexpected pain which lead me to having drs appts, labs and tests this week. Over the days I felt myself grow weary. I am tired that if something is off, I cycle through in my head wondering if the cancer is back somewhere else.

I think you all get a glimpse of it now with COVID, with a simple cough, you may find yourself asking, do I have COVID?

Well that is the life of many cancer survivors. With the new pain, or lump or bump, the question becomes, “can the cancer be back?” It admittedly sucks. Some people are past it, I pray I will get there at some point but am honestly am not there yet.

I knew my head was in a rough place this time. The physical pain was louder than my conversation with God, and started consuming my mind. I knew I had to shift my thoughts. I started with thinking of all I have to be grateful for. And although I told myself how grateful I was for my incredible, thorough doctors, having access to healthcare and insurance, my family, fresh air, and more, the words I spoke were true yet the feelings of gratitude haven’t been flowing as easily.

Then I arrived home to an unexpected gift from a friend. We haven’t spoken in a while and I was taken back seeing her name on the package. When I opened it I read her thoughtful note and pulled out this beautiful bag she made which reads...

“For every breath that you’re taking, it’s all in His hands.”

The timing of this gift and message in it couldn’t have been more perfect. I held the bag and read the words over and over again.

This truth was what I needed to hear.

Every breath I take is in His hands. Worrying doesn’t add one moment to my life, may I rest in His presence and care, once again.

I share this with you today in case there is some wrestling going on in your heart. I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.

May we all receive these words as the gift they are. May they get below the surface and into our hearts to pulse life and truth through us and rid us of fear and worry or anything else we are carrying.

And when we get that inner nudge to send that note, or gift, to someone, even if we haven’t spoken with them in a while, let's write it or send it. What we give may be exactly what their heart is needing in that moment💕🙏💝

With love, gratitude and hope,
Shawn

Ps Thankfully all the labs and tests have come out clear and am feeling better day by day💝

Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? - Matthew 6:27

Never Forget

May we never forget...

The day where everyone looked beyond the surface and felt each other’s humanness in our hearts.

The day where all barriers were laid down and our love for one another united us.

The day where selfless men and women ran towards the danger to help their fellow humans.

The day where people walked beside one another in their brokenness.

The day where hatred killed yet love prevailed in our hearts for one another.

The day we mourned together the loss of so many innocent lives.

The day courage showed its stripes and compassion shined bright.

The day we held each other close, and came together as one.

I invite you to join me for a moment of silence today to...

pause. breathe. pray.

And remember all the lives lost in NYC, PA and D.C., for all those we’ve lost since because of illness resulting from that day, for their loved ones, and for all the survivors who continue to live beside us.

May we never forget, September 11, 2001.

With love and hope,
Shawn

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

Thank You, Specials Teachers

This morning as I drove our son to school I watched one of the PE teachers carrying equipment outside. As we sat in line waiting to drop him off, my heart extended to this teacher and all specials teachers. As a previous Health and Physical Education teacher myself, I have first hand experience of being spoken of as less than as a teacher, when we were not in a pandemic. Since March, I have heard many comments about specials during this time and see how the specials teachers, and the content taught, continue to be thought of as less than.

I will be real and share when everything went down last spring, I improvised for specials some days, just trying to adjust to everything, I too put specials on the back burner. Yet specials aren’t less than, they are a different way to engage our kid’s as learners. So I chose to put myself in those teacher’s shoes, and saw how they are doing their best to teach our children considering these unique circumstances. I soon got back on board with what the teacher’s assignments were and emphasized to our kids that these were important parts of their education too.

I feel compelled to share this with you today because with our kids being back in school, in person, or remotely, I invite you to join me to...

pause. breathe. pray.

And whether you agree with what the specials teachers are doing or not, or whether it is a necessary part of our children’s learning, may we put ourselves in their shoes. These teachers are doing what they can with what they have to best show up for our kids in these unique circumstances. May we give thanks for these physical and creative outlets given to our kids during their day that help teach the whole child. And if we find ourselves thinking of these people or subjects as less than, consider if someone was to treat our own careers the way these teachers and fields are treated at times. Then may we choose to treat them the way we’d appreciate being treated as professionals and remind our kids of the teacher’s, and subjects, value.

With love and hope,
Shawn

“Treat others the way you want to be treated.” - Matthew 7:12

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

A Prayer for Teens

Our girl starts high school tomorrow. As she stands on the edge of this new beginning I pray for her, and all who stand beside her...

May you walk confidently into this new adventure, taking another step of faith forward into who God made you to be.

Look out at those around you, and seek to meet them beyond the surface at their heart, and I pray they do the same for you.

Be yourself. Your true, authentic, beautiful, visible you. If others accept you for you, those are the people to keep beside you. If others judge, know that weight of judgement is something on their heart, and not something for you to carry.

Choose friendships wisely. Choose the ones who will stay beside you through the good, the bad, the beautiful and the messy moments. And be that friend to others too.

Remember u’s are better than circles in friendships. With a “u” there is always room to invite someone else in and a space to leave if you see that is most beneficial.

Be the person who is present with who you are with, and not looking over to who else you could be talking with.

Express what you have to be grateful for daily, to keep your eyes on who, and what, is a blessing around you.

Walk beside people. Not in front of them, or behind them, but beside them. The best friends, and leaders, find themselves there.

Make wise choices, yet know there is abundant grace and forgiveness for mistakes. Be sure to receive those, and offer them to others, when needed.

Know you are a part of something bigger than yourself. That doesn’t mean that you are less than, but an important, valued part of a larger community.

Community matters. If you find yourself feeling like you are lonely on a island reach out.

It’s okay not to be okay. Asking for help when you need it is a strength, not a weakness. Be sure to ask for it when you need it.

Have fun. Laugh a lot. Find yourself on the dance floor having the time of your life.

Unveil your true potential, in the classroom, on the court, or in whatever else you choose to do.

Take time to rest, your mind and body.

Pause, breathe and pray.

Seek wisdom, be courageous, do what is right, even when it’s hard and may cost you something. - @andystanley

Speak the truth in love so that your words will benefit those who hear them.

Know you are fully known and loved by God, your family, and your friends. May that love fill you, and give you the source of fuel you need to grow into the person God made you to be.

Go shine the light of love God’s given you, and enjoy this new adventure☀️

“(May God’s) word be a lamp to (your) feet and a light to (your) path.” - Psalm 119:105

LET'S STAY CONNECTED

Do Small Things With Great Love

Simple yet proud truth for our hearts and minds to meditate on as we enter this new week💕🙏💕

With love and hope,
Shawn

“Do everything in love.” - 1 Corinthians 16:14

LET'S STAY CONNECTED