In Everything Give Thanks

Sometimes when we are struggling with burdens and circumstances of life, it is hard to find anything to be thankful for. Today I'm thankful for the simple things, like easy access to fresh, clean water. Here's a story that I was recently given persmission to share, along with one reason I'm feeling thankful and reflective today.
And if you are looking for something to do with the abundance of leftover turkey from today's bounty, maybe substitute it for the chicken in this tasty recipe from noted author, Kay Marshall Strom. Her recent release, The Call of
Zulina, is a novel with accurate historical details regarding slavery in Africa.
Below is a recipe and first-hand recollection of Kay's own real-life interactions at
the well in Africa.

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LEMON CHICKEN SOUP SENEGAL, WEST AFRICA
This warm, mellow soup from Senegal, West Africa, can easily incorporate any extra
turkey you have on hand. Just substitute it for the chicken.
You will need:
1 tablespoon butter
1 teaspoon curry powder
2 teaspoons flour
2 cups chicken broth
cup diced chicken (or turkey)
1 cup yogurt
juice of 1/2 fresh lemon
fresh chives, washed and snipped
Melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Add the curry powder and flour and
cook 2 minutes, stirring constantly. Gradually blend in the chicken broth and bring
to a boil, continuing to stir constantly. Add diced chicken (or turkey).
Remove the kettle from the heat and cool the soup slightly. Gradually stir in the
yogurt, a small amount at a time. Squeeze the juice from the lemon half and add the
juice to the soup.
Garnish each bowl of soup with a dash of fresh chives.


The Women at the Well
by Kay Marshall Strom
In Senegal, West Africa, I sat beside the community well, because thats where the
village women gathered. Out of the dusty wasteland they came, from every direction,
their babies tied to their backs and their water containers balanced on their heads.
They were glad to rest beside the well, for they had to walk many miles to get
there. The average woman in the world, we are told, walks seven miles a day in her
quest for water. When you factor in those of us who only walk to the kitchen to turn
on the faucet, you can see that some must trek much farther than seven miles!
At the well, the women have a chance to catch up with the goings-on in neighboring
villages, to air their complaints with one another, and to share their own news. And
so I sat by the well with Obei and Helene, two Christian women in a country 98
percent Muslim, and waited to meet the women as they came for water.
And come they did.
A young woman came, sobbing over her baby son who was burning with fever. We prayed
together in Jesus name that her baby would be healed.
A girl came and whispered her wish to learn to read, but said she could not because
the walk to the well and back took her all day. Obei offered to teach her a little
every day when she came for water. She started with: For God so loved the world.
A woman came with terror in her eyes and confided that her daughter must surely be a
witch. Helene prayed for the girl, but also for the mother. Do not believe what
others tell you, she warned the distraught mother. Believe in the power of God.
And Songa came. Obei and Helene had prayed with her before in Jesus name, and Songa
had seen a miracle as her seriously ill son was healed. Now she too, was a follower
of Christ. My husband ordered me to renounce Jesus, Songa told us. When I would not,
he threw me out of the house, but he kept my children. Please, please pray for my
little ones. Pray that they too will know the God of mercy and love.
This holiday season, I am thankful for the women at the well in Senegalall three of
them, for Songa has joined the other two. Im thankful for the lives they are
touching in the name of Jesus. Most of all, I am thankful for the Living Water that
flows freely for every one of us.


Author Kay Marshall Strom has two great loves: writing and helping others achieve
their own writing potential. Kay has written thirty-six published books, numerous
magazine articles, and two screenplays. While mostly a nonfiction writer, the first
book of her historical novel trilogy Grace in Africa has met with acclaim.
Kay speaks at seminars, retreats, writers conferences, and special events throughout
the country and around the world. She is in wide demand as an instructor and keynote
speaker at major writing conferences. She also enjoys speaking aboard cruise ships
in exchange for exotic cruise destinations. Learn more about Kay at her website or contact:

Kathy Carlton Willis Communications
1324 S. 10th Street Raymondville, TX 78580
WillisWay@aol.com | kcwcomm@rgv.rr.com | 956-642-6319 | www.kathycarltonwillis.com


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Ever read stories like this and feel helpless. "What can I do about the lack of fresh water a world away?" Unrelated to the above book, I recently came across the Mocha Club. The idea is simple. You give up two "mochas" ($7) a month, and instead use that money to help someone a world away have access to fresh water and other life-saving aid! Find out more at https://www.mochaclub.org/how-it-works

The Choice

I've mentioned my sweet friend Holley Gerth more than once here. Today she posted a story I've heard from her several times in the past, but it never fails to move me and challenge me in my choices and perceptions. Please enjoy with me Bitter or Better from the (in)Courage website. :)

Breast Cancer Support Resources

I must be honest and say upfront that I don't have personal experience with, nor even personal recommendations for, any of these resources. But having known several friends who have survived, and having the reality brought home even more personally as I've talked with chemo patients while visiting the hospital for weekly infusions, I have been searching for resources offering support through the battle of cancer. Many of the links here are specific to breast cancer (though some are general cancer support resources) as that is the journey many of my friends have faced. Simply by being born female, my "odds" are 1 in 8 of facing breast cancer at some point in my life as well.

If you know of other resources, especially ones from a Christian faith-based perspecitve, please share with me and my readers!!! I am also looking for resources available for other cancers, in general or specific kinds, as well.

Outreach of Hope Dave Dravecky's ministry "to serve suffering people, especially those with cancer and amputation, by offering resources for encouragement, comfort and hope through a personal relationship with Jesus Christ."

The Lydia Project "Spreading faith, hope and love to women facing cancer." This is a must-visit resource! I have a soft spot in my heart for women's ministries named after strong Biblical women, so this website caught my attention from the get-go. But when I realized what their ministry did, it brought me to tears. What beauty from ashes! I won't try to describe it, just go see for yourself.

An Uninvited Guest: One Woman's Journey from Cancer to Hope (book by Jeana Floyd)

Finding the Light in Cancer's Shadow: Hope, Humor, and Healing after Treatment (book by Lynn Eib)

Cancer: Longterm Survivorship Issues message board forum through the Rest Ministries Sunroom, offering supportive understanding and dedicated to issues of long-term cancer survival

Stepping into the Ring: Fighting for Hope Over Despair in the Battle Against Breast Cancer (book by Nicole Johnson)



Nicole Johnson has also written three short "pieces" on breast cancer that are well worth the time to read:
Stepping Into the Ring: Round 1
Stepping Into the Ring: Round 2
Stepping Into the Ring: Round 3

Laura Jensen Walker Christian breast cancer survivor and author of multiple books including Thanks for the Mammogram!: Fighting Cancer With Faith, Hope, and a Healthy Dose of Laughter

Lump to Laughter, "a ministry-driven, non-profit organization committed to conquering breast cancer and supporting those affected by it."

Cancer Resource List from Focus on the Family

Hope Navigators - Cancer Support Blog This resource is helpful for "burden bearers" longing to come alongside a friend with cancer, while the parent website offers resources for cancer fighters themselves.

Cancer Patient Advocate "is dedicated to helping people provide emotional and spiritual encouragement to patients and their caregivers, especially those facing cancer."


Breast Friends, "a non-profit organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for breast cancer patients." Please note that this resource does not seem to be faith-based and may or may not be "faith-friedly". I am adding it to my resource list because it does seem to offer extensive support information both to patients and their supporters.

Have a story or resource you want to share? Please let me know!

Helping a Friend with Cancer

Nicole Johnson has put together a creative list of 15 Ways to Really Help a Friend With Cancer that's right on target. With October being Breast Cancer Awareness Month, her focus in on breast cancer, but the ideas suggested can really be applied to any kind of cancer and many other chronic illnesses as well. I've been blessed by some of these tips, such as a friend picking up my dirty laundry and returning it clean and folded, or another friend swinging by with a bag of grocery basics and the wonderful gift of paper plates!

Pregnancy & Infant Death

Sorry I'm a day late in actually getting this posted :( but all those impacted by the death of a baby at any time from conception through early infancy are continually in my prayers. I hope this link recognizing Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness Day helps you feel just a bit more "validated" in your loss and comforted as you grieve.

"According to a 2004 National Vital Statistics Report issued by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2000, 15.6% or 1,003,000 of the 6,401,000 pregnancies in the United States ended in either a miscarriage or stillbirth; the CDC also indicates that in 2003 the number of live births in the United States was 4,093,000; of those births, 27,500 ended in the death of an infant under the age of one."

You are not alone in your heartache. Visit October15th.com for more information on this awareness day, and Hannah's Prayer Ministries for comforting support resources as you learn to live a "new normal" without your sweet baby. A wonderful book that may also be a blessing to you as you process your loss and cherish your memories is the beautiful devotional journal, Grieving the Child I Never Knew by Kathe Wunnenberg - this book was a lifeline to me in the aftermath and midst of two of our miscarriages.

Noel, Joel and Hannah, you will forever be a part of my heart. Looking forward to meeting you face to face in Heaven some day, my sweet children. :)

Prescription of Hope

I'm struggling today. My heart hurts. I am overwhelemed.

I needed this reminder today from Heather at Prescription of Hope: Be Strong. Be Courageous. Heather, thanks for taking a moment to remind me where my hope comes from. :)

"Now may God, the source of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you believe, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit" Romans 15:13 (NIV).

New Discovery Offers Hope for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)

Today's announcement of the discovery of the XMRV retrovirus' link to to a debilitating neuroimmune disease that affects more than one million people in the United States, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), is of particular personal signifcance to me, offering such hope for answers and eventual development of reliable treatment for those of us living with neuro-immune illnesses like CFS.

I will be posting more on my own involvement with this research study and why I am so excited on my personal blog in coming days (today has been a very bad day for me physcially, and I'm just not up to posting much at the moment) but in the meantime, please find out more about this amazing breakthrough research at http://www.wpinstitute.org/xmrv/index.html and be sure to read through the excelent FAQs they have posted for you there on the Whittemore Peterson Institute website.

Edited Oct. 10 to add link to my ongoing thoughts processing this news.

Other links related to this research:
NIH press release

http://www.stuff.co.nz/life-style/wellbeing/2948457/Virus-isolated-in-chronic-fatigue-sufferers

More links to come...