It only takes one or two

Fours years ago, at the young age of 19, a close high school friend of our daughters' found out she had melanoma on her back.

On June 17, 2008, Michelle Rigney, died from this malignant disease. Michelle co-founded an organization called Miles for Melanoma of Delaware. She made lemonade. She didn't wait for a group to say let's do something, she saw the need and did it herself and others followed.

No matter what our age, we can learn from her experience. To take a serious life threatening issue and use it as an advocate for others to not have to hopefully experience it to the degree that those previously had to endure.

You don't need a large group to make a difference here on earth, you only need to make a difference in your life and choices. Though Michelle had down days, she always had hope, endurance. Her family mentioned that she still had that hope and endurance to the end of her life here on earth.

The ultimate example: God gave His only Son to be the advocate for us to have eternal life with Him. We don't need to hang on the cross for our sins....Jesus did it for us.

Remember, change happens with one person, and that one person is YOU!! Keep the Rigney family and friends in your prayers at this time with the loss of this vibrant young daughter, aunt, sister, friend, advocate!

Check out the website and see the good that has been done already with Michelle and Anna Marie and others.

http://www.miles4melanomade.org/

~Tina

How are you living?

Heather, Denise, Shelley, Leigh are Point of Grace and have a wonderful song out that really has made a great impact on my personal life. Some of the lyrics, "have what you want...but want what you have", " not who you knew, or what you did, it's how you live". It puts things in the proper order that I (we) many times 'forget' or more correctly, take for granted. The group has been one of my favorites since their beginning recordings. They get better selections of songs as they mature as a group and individual Christian women. I'm not sure if you are able to enjoy the song, but I hope I did the "right thing" to allow you to hear the words on the link above. Enjoy the song, but more importantly, really listen to the words.....turn up the music and see just "How you live"!! What a ministry! Have a wonderful day living your lives.

...and call her blessed

You may say, who is this woman and what's so special about her!!!???!!! She is our mom :-D Our family had the privilege to celebrate her 70th birthday together at a restaurant in Harrisburg, PA Friday evening. She was SO surprised and very touched by my sister's family and my family.

Our mom, Gloria Sigafoos, is an inspiration to everyone she meets. She is a giving woman with many skills, with strong character, great wisdom and compassion. She has given me examples all my life on how to be a God-loving, serving woman. We continue to learn how to strive to see the best in all people, how to serve without complaining and to serve for God's glory, not ourselves through her daily living. We are SO grateful for a loving, caring mother and mother-in-law (in-love in our household).

We all are so blessed to have her in our lives.

Proverbs 31:10-31--She strives to be the best she can be with Christ as her center. THANK YOU MOM FOR BEING YOU!!

On the road again

This past week, I had the opportunity to travel with Jim to Indianapolis, IN for a seminar that Jim was scheduled to attend. We had a wonderful visit to a city that we have never been to. Below are some pictures of our time there. We were able to walk the gardens of our 23rd President of the United States, President Harrison. The rose and herb gardens were gorgeous. We weren't able to tour the home due to time conflicts. We had a great opportunity to attend an outside concert and see Cheryl Crowe (3 row seats from the stage). It was a great concert and within walking distance of our hotel. The river and canal walks were breathtaking and full of sites to enjoy. I went to the state museum to view over 65 hand-made quilts from the 1800's made by Amish families in IN. I wasn't able to get pictures in the museum, but I still can recall the detail and even the imperfections in the quilts. Viewing them showed areas of peoples' lives and how special a craft quilt making is. I will share a picture of a quilt that I currently quilting and pieced together. When it is finished it will be used in our bedroom.

Through the years

Today is a celebration for US. Jim and I have been married for 28years today. It was actually a very warm, hot, humid day 28 years ago too. The love that we shared back then we thought "was it", but looking back through the years, we couldn not to comprehend the growth of our love for each other. Jim is my best friend and I am my most comfortable and "mask-free" when I am with him. We have had the blessing over the past 28 years to witness births of our two children (physically and spiritually) and continue to see them maturing and growing in the Lord. We have seen God work in our lives over and over again. We have been able to serve in capacities that we never dream we would of the opportunity to serve. We have also seen how to be help-mates for each other through good and not-so-good times. We have become better because of each other. He is the love of my life, he encourages me in every aspect of my life and I am a better Christian woman because of his love. He is a fabulous Christian man and I thank God every day for allowing me to spend my life with Jim.

Another day of "everyday" blessing living R lives together!