https://www.christymccloud.com/blog daily 0.75 2021-03-08 https://www.christymccloud.com/blog/2021/3/8/are-you-rich monthly 0.5 2021-03-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a5f7099b078695fbb2eaf28/1615216283098-G9MVK9G2FRTMLTCS55XG/giorgio-trovato-WyxqQpyFNk8-unsplash.jpg Faith + Family - "Are you rich?" https://www.christymccloud.com/blog/2021/2/23/whats-your-kite monthly 0.5 2021-02-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a5f7099b078695fbb2eaf28/1614096799275-X2QLC7NKWGGBG2JDLPXB/david-clode-sQmRZqfvcLc-unsplash.jpg Faith + Family - What's your kite? https://www.christymccloud.com/blog/2020/10/15/how-about-those-sunglasses monthly 0.5 2020-10-15 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a5f7099b078695fbb2eaf28/1602769264671-2I3M28PS4XX2VECZ2TJI/peyton.jpg Faith + Family - How about those sunglasses? This is one of my favorite pictures - not only is my grandbaby adorbs , but it also reminds me of one of my favorite stories that keeps me humble. Growing up most of clothes were home made - not because that was the cool thing to do back them but it was mostly what my parents could afford. Although my mom and grandmother could sew like nobody’s business , I was still dressed a little different than the other kids in school. As I grew older - labels and designers became a huge deal to me. Giving the appearance of seeming having it all together is something that was my philosophy long before image and comparison issues that revolve around social media arrived. My daughter Chelsie reminded me not long ago that we couldn’t leave the house to go to Lowe’s unless when they were growing up with out being dressed, hair done and full make up on - because of course you never know who you will run into. One day, a few years ago, I was meeting a new real estate client. We had a whole day planned of looking at houses as they were moving here from DC and had one day to shop. They had brought their entire family and their mini van seemed pack. On my way to meet them I stopped at the store for a stash of items to keep the kids occupied while we looked - coloring books, crayons, snacks, drinks and car games - you name it I had it in tow to make an amazing first impression for this family. In my book - first impressions are everything. I arrived to meet them at the first home - had my Louis Vuitton hanging from my arm and pulled up in my Mercedes Benz sports coup, with gifts for the kids handing on my other arm. I had this huge pair of sunglasses on that are pictured here with my grand. I introduced myself, opened the door for the family and we started our day. - the sun was shining bright and I felt all glammed up and in charge. After about the 3rd house in, it dawned on my that my new clients seemed quiet and couldn’t look me in the eye - after passing by a mirror I realized why! I had been wearing my sun glasses the entire day and one of the lenses was completely missing!!!! OMG!!! These people, that did not know me from Adam, had walked around 1/2 of the day with me looking at them with one lens in and one eyeball showing!! I suffer from glaucoma - so lighting is sometimes and issue from me. Oh my friend, sometimes we want to give the appearance of having it all together and I know it must be humorous to the Father! Isn’t it amazing to know that in our weakness, with all of our flaws, He still loves. He has an amazing way of reminding me that from time to time. It’s okay to be me with all my insecurities, faults and craziness - He made me! Instead of being so consumed with what others may think if they don’t see me in perfection mode I am learning to cast all those cares on Him, because He always cares for me - isn’t that what really matters? https://www.christymccloud.com/blog/2019/10/1/youre-boring monthly 0.5 2019-10-01 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a5f7099b078695fbb2eaf28/1569941592579-HC4QV13CE5BWEROYLB7O/reed.jpg Faith + Family - "YOU'RE BORING!" I didn’t realize that when I scheduled my oncology check up it was on October 1 - and that today begins National Breast Cancer Awareness month. This is a photo of 3 hero’s in my life in 2011,. Pictured here is my sister, my surgeon, myself and my mom. Little did we know the battle that would lie ahead for the three of us. On April 1, 2011, I was diagnosed with stage 2 breast cancer (meaning it had already left the breast and travelled to my lymph nodes under my right arm). My husband, son and son-in-love were golfing in Williamsburg - celebrating my husband’s birthday at a charity event with plans for an evening out with all of us celebrating his birthday. Things would suddenly change when I received the call from Dr. Reed - a call that no one wants to get no matter your age, “You have cancer.” I was then scheduled to see a genetic counselor - not only due to the breast cancer , but to the cancer that seemed to have been taking it’s toll on several members of our family. While waiting for the results, I was scheduled for surgery to remove the cancer , a double mastectomy, chemotherapy, plastic surgery and a hysterectomy. The report came back right before my surgery that I had the BRACA gene mutation (which in basic terms means I had a mutation that doesn’t let me to fight cancer cells in my female organs and increases my chances of getting cancer), this meant the mutation came from one of my parents. When my surgery finished Dr. Reed went into the waiting room with my family and told my mom and my siblings that she wanted them in the office ASAP for genetic testing. Needless to say, my mom and my sister were tested and both had breast cancer (even though they had a mammogram a few months prior that showed nothing). They both followed in my steps within two months of each other with the same procedures. It was a crazy time in our life and I am not sure how my husband, children and dad didn’t lose their mind. My children were all tested, none of them had the gene which was truly a miracle - the surgeon actually cried with all of us when she gave the report as this was such a strong gene in our family history. Once this gene has stopped it has completely stopped for future generations. Did I get angry and ask God why our family again? Of course! I am human, but could quickly hear the words, “Why not you?” You see, just because we are a believer doesn’t mean we don’t go through life’s ups and downs - we were only promised that He would go with us. In the moment, you can’t see goodness sometimes, but looking back - I would not be doing now if I had not walked through this life changing battle. Beauty for ashes! When our daughter was diagnosed at age 19 with stage 3 brain cancer, we began to take trips to make memories…..you know the song “I went sky diving, rocky mountain climbing….” not knowing how our prognosis would turn out we grasped to making every memory possible. We still carry on this tradition today, which has lead me to be such an advocate for the family unit of oncology patients. Realizing that we are not promised tomorrow and how quickly life can change with one scan - it has become my mission to allow as many families as possible to make memories and to restore joy on their journey. When the ultrasound tech told my surgeon today “She is boring!” (after being in remission for 8.5 years) I was overwhelmed with joy! My surgeon did say back to the tech, “I follow her on FB she is far from boring?”. Jeremiah 29:11 - only He knows! https://www.christymccloud.com/blog/2018/10/4/heart-posture monthly 0.5 2018-10-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a5f7099b078695fbb2eaf28/1538648578186-JZBPD6T19T4SXP1Z8A1Y/luis-galvez-635869-unsplash+%281%29.jpg Faith + Family - Heart Posture https://www.christymccloud.com/blog/2018/3/30/long-friday monthly 0.5 2018-03-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a5f7099b078695fbb2eaf28/1522428053821-CZ6UXND9YW09UNPFVDTP/photo-1492052722242-2554d0e99e3a.jpeg Faith + Family - Long Friday Sitting here having my devotions this morning and I began to reflect about this amazing weekend. In Denmark today is called, the "Long Friday" - how appropriate is that! Thinking back to the agonizing pain and brutal beatings that Jesus bore on this day - it probably did seem like the longest day to not only Him, but those that truly loved Him. This weekend has taken on a whole knew meaning to me over the past several years. I have had to quote the scripture "by His stripes you are healed" for not only my life but other family members and friends as well. The power of the cross became not only for salvation, but for complete healing from stage 2 breast cancer as well as my daughter who had stage 3 brain cancer. I remember watching the movie The Passion during the Easter season while on treatment and thinking Jesus you did that for me - for my healing, my salvation, my peace and my hope. A few years ago, on this very day, my aunt who was like another mother to me passed away with cancer. As hard as that was on all of us and still is to this day, the end of her story with us is only the beginning of her story in eternity. What an amazing promise the resurrection brings! To be absent in body is to be present with the Lord. My friend, let's not rush through another holiday ritual of easter eggs and ham dinner, but pause for a moment to truly thank Him for the cross. No matter what you are facing today He came to save, heal and deliver - won't you trust him today - He is the hope of the world. https://www.christymccloud.com/blog/2018/3/8/did-hgtv-really-just-ring-my-doorbell monthly 0.5 2018-03-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a5f7099b078695fbb2eaf28/1520539722676-MA6O2XNFRVFLPB1ENPB1/IMG_1855.JPG Faith + Family - Did HGTV really just ring my doorbell? https://www.christymccloud.com/blog/2018/2/20/1ixajuk5k3dyena7ololjniv6xq7gr monthly 0.5 2018-02-20 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a5f7099b078695fbb2eaf28/1519136977118-CMX8T7UBVYMHA7U62MOA/18221777_10202977858444138_5122999506181184576_n+%281%29.jpg Faith + Family The greatest gift outside of salvation and my amazing husband is this group right here - plus the newest member, Harper Mae. People always ask Bill and I, "how do you keep your family so close". There is an amazing unconditional love that has been shown and given to them. No matter what the blessing or storm that life brings, we face it together as a team. If you were to pause for a moment and think about your circle of friends this year - compared to your circle 5 years ago you will more than likely think about how that circle has changed. Relocating, life choices, growth, and maturity bring new seasons and with that a new circle of influence. One of the things that we have taught our kids from a very young age is that your friends may come and go - but one thing that will be with you forever is the gift of family. Your parents, brothers, sisters and children should be your greatest fan club. For some, that is hard because you may come from an extremely dysfunctional family but if you allow God, He will surround you with right relationships that will bring healing and joy. One of the things that we practice as a family, is to be intentional with making time for each other. Once a quarter we will take a weekend to get away together, those breaks don't have to be major, the getaway is the best part. My heart was so full this week when my middle daughter Chelsie called and let me know that she had invited her brother and sister over for breakfast. She felt like their lives have been busy and going in different directions lately and she wanted to make sure that even in the chaos life brings that their relationship with each other has value and utmost importance, I began to think, isn't this the way that our heavenly Father is? He so desires to have a relationship with us. Your thoughts, your goals, your desires - they all matter so much to him, yet we get busy and often leave him out. He longs to be that friend that sticks even closer than a brother. My friend our challenge today is to spend more time with Him, make Him a priority in your life - I promise you will not be disappointed. James 4:8 (NIV) - Come near to Him, and He will come near to you. https://www.christymccloud.com/blog/2018/2/5/show-me-your-friends monthly 0.5 2018-02-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a5f7099b078695fbb2eaf28/1517836913800-H9P6Q39ZLYLPAI7WRHB5/becca-tapert-357541.jpg Faith + Family - SHOW ME YOUR FRIENDS....... https://www.christymccloud.com/blog/2018/1/22/dont-pack-your-bags-and-live-there monthly 0.5 2018-01-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a5f7099b078695fbb2eaf28/1516637459670-7ELR84Y1X0ZY8MVIJJIX/michal-parzuchowski-260084.jpg Faith + Family - don't pack your bags and live there "Can I have fear and still be a believer?" These were the words that a mom asked of me a few months ago. Her son had been diagnosed with a brain tumor at the age of one and after all of his surgeries, radiation, and chemo he was now in remission. This little one was preparing for his six month check up, which meant he would have a scan where the cancer once was to make sure there was no reoccurrence after being off of treatment. Although his mom was a prayer warrior, she found her self afraid and nervous of the unknown. When she approached someone in her church she was told that something could be spiritually wrong with her.....that as a Christian she could not have faith and fear. Psalm 34:4 (ESV) - I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all of my fears. David is one of the giants of our faith and in this scripture he is saying that he had fears - but he was delivered from them. Let me break down a little bit more - we are human! We are going to have fears, have nights when we lose sleep, and are frightened of the things that we have no control over. Whether you are in a financial situation, having marital problems, facing medical crisis or any other battle, the problem comes in when we pack our bags and live there. I encourage you today to cast your cares on Him - he cares so much for you - you are his beloved. Feel free to share, comment and subscribe! I would love to hear from you. https://www.christymccloud.com/blog/tag/%23Adipsy+%23oncology+%23breastcancer+%23wearefamily monthly 0.5 https://www.christymccloud.com/connect daily 0.75 2018-01-22 https://www.christymccloud.com/home daily 1.0 2021-02-23 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5a5f7099b078695fbb2eaf28/1614097131418-EVITQRL4YYGKN4IXM2SN/101565355_10207216160559042_7175253582529167360_n.jpg Welcome