Madison Sanders Writes

Survivor: (n) one who lives through affliction according to WordNet Web. People have different definitions of survivor, but I think it is a person who can persevere through less than stellar circumstances and live to tell about it. As Destiny's Child played out in the background, I began to think about all I had been through. I could definitely relate. When I was at my sickest, I stopped putting on my jewelry. Just getting out of bed was an accomplishment! I was just surviving. Everything was stripped away. No more pretending that everything was OK. No more plastering on the fake smile. My mom knew what a battle I was in, but to the outside world, nothing had changed. Everyday I was faced with the choice of curling up back in bed and drowning in my pain, but I made the choice to keep going. Many people have said that I could quit if I wanted to because I have good reasons, but really I can't. I don't have a choice because God reminds usin Philippians that we h

I've started another step in my medical journey. It's time to come off of more Fentanyl. Right now I'm feeling lethargic and basically like a shell of myself. It's all part of the process, though. I've been down this road, so it's somewhat familiar. My body is having to adjust its pain receptors back to normal. For those of you who don't know, your body's normal levels get all of out of whack when on pain meds. Current Progress To recap an earlier post, I went from 62 mcg of Fentanyl to 50 mcg on 2/16/10 Now I'm down to 37 mcg since 3/19/10 YES! If I can just make it through Monday, I'll be well on my way to knocking another phase out. Don't forget to vote in my poll! Until next time,

Parents were bustling in the back room getting the kids ready for the show. Hairspray was everywhere, clothes were being changed. Kids beside me nervously darted their eyes as people filled the church pews. I was ready. I had rehearsed my songs many times, so I was just waiting for my teacher to give the "Go" signal. Many kids forgot their lines, but I was in my element. Probably a little too much. One of the songs called for posters. Mine said "Do not lie." I didn't believe in silently telling things, so I added my own flavor. "Don't tell lies" I belted out with a swing of my hips and swag of my finger. Lyin' was serious business. I must confess something, though. I had a little motivation. Daddy said he would give me a shiny quarter if I did a good job. Even my teacher stifled a laugh in the middle of the performance. I bounded down the steps after the performance, happy it was over. I ran to the back of the church to meet my family. I stuck

These are just some thoughts that I decided to put on paper. Yes, I said I would post this awhile back, but I wasn't quite satified. It's good to have a reminder to be yourself in this crazy world. I just remembered a song that says the something similar called "Free to Be Me" by Francesca Battistelli. Click the link to watch video. The artist has taken away the option to embed her YouTube video. I mage Credit: Google Be You Whether it’s popular or not, be you When people criticize, be you When others change, be you When times are tough, be you When you’re not feeling well, be you When you frustrated, be you When others lead a monotonous life, be you When living in an unforeseen circumstance, be you When you’re tired of fighting, be you When the world is filled with people who are desperate for different, be you When talking to someone, be you When living…be you You can purchase Free to Be Me on iTunes if you wish. I love it!

I apologize for not getting this up yesterday. I wasn't feeling well. Dad's former girlfriend decided to take my brother and I to the mall. I tucked a few dollars into my blue jeans and waited for everyone to finish getting ready. When we got to the mall, my mind was trying to take it all in. Bath and Body Works to the left, Belk to the right. It was almost sensory overload for a 10 year old, but I was a seasoned shopper. I was just about to dart off to snag a free Chic-Fil-A sample when B said, "Hey, let's go into the Candy Castle!" I turned around mid walk and headed to the candy mecca. Glass jars with M & Ms, gumballs, and other hard candies lined the pristine white walls. I leaned over the red counter casually scanning the merchandise. Dum Dums, Snickers, and York Peppermint Patties seemed to be in endless supply. Just then, I knew my brother had found something good, something that he couldn't stop staring at. I was nosey, so I excitedly skipped over

As I tried out some new motorized wheels (yep, just wheels), I had a little adventure. I rested my hands on the rims, slowly moving to get the feel for how it worked. With a touch of my hand, I went from cruising to flying in a matter of 5 seconds. I wasn't expecting that at all. After a few minutes, the representative explained that I needed to push and let go. Push and let go. It was such a foreign concept to me because I'm used to really working my arms when I push. I constantly had to remind myself to let go! I was working myself to death trying to get it to do what I wanted it to do, but I was actually making things worse. The chair was like a go cart swerving me from side to side as I had a death grip on it. It reminded me of my relationship with God. He wants us to relinquish our control and let Him take care of things. When I finally let the wheels do what they were designed to do, the wheels glided along the pavement with ease. There were some roadblocks along

There won't be anymore Writer's Alcove posts....for awhile at least. After much consideration, I decided it just wasn't fun anymore. I intended for Writer's Alcove to highlight some of the creative talent here in the blogger world. I am only one person, so I relied on my readers to get involved. I looked at the participation I was getting versus to the time I put into each feature, and it didn't add up. When something becomes a chore, it's time to reevaluate things. I'm a firm believer in using your energy and time on things that are worthwhile and enjoyable. I'm not saying everything in life is enjoyable because it's not. I want this blog to be a something that my family and friends enjoy reading. I'm thankful for those of you who have decided to follow my journey. Sometimes it's good to get back to the basics, not concerned with numbers but writing for the pure enjoyment of it.

The sun was shining through the pecan trees. The breeze was gently blowing as I skipped outside. I needed to find something to do. The round black tire swing in the front yard was calling my name. I gripped the well-worn rope in my hands letting the roughness envelope my hands as I slid back into the tire. That was "the sweet spot". I could swing there for hours and never leave with a blister because I was cradled in. As the wind swirled my hair all around my face, I got lost in the moment. The tire swayed back and forth, round and round. I leaned back letting the sun hit my face. I could have stayed there for hours basking in the quietness of nature surrounded by stately pecan trees. The trees provided a canopy overhead like no tent could. No zooming cars were around, no pesky little brothers who make it their mission to annoy you at any time or place. It was just me and my thoughts. It was so freeing to know that I could move sideways, twist around, or do whatever my

When the days are seemingly never ending , I know God is faithful When I don't have the strength to move another inch, I know God is faithful As the world is enveloped in the cold dark night, I know God is faithful When I don't see a way to do anything productive, I KNOW God is faithful. Sure, we know these things, but are we really aware of them? Do we stop and thank God for His grace? Let me tell you, sometimes I request God to deliver it by the truck load. Sitting here thinking about the present while setting my sights on the future, God hasn't left me. He's still here. He might be in the form of an elderly woman with a genuine compliment. He might be in the child whose eyes are filled with wonder at the excitement of a new toy. He could be in the form of a teacher. Do we just aimlessly look for God and jump for joy when we see Him at work, or do we anticipate Him, blocking out the world and all of its chaos to see Him? In all honesty, this is something al

Today we get to learn more about Lenay from LG Photography . She's a military wife who loves to shop. Her son Gavin is the light of her life. She's also started a personal blog called The Life of Lenay. It chronicles the ups and downs of juggling motherhood with a passion for all things creative. Head on over to check out her personalized onesies and more! 1. How did you meet your husband? I met my husband at W@l-Mart. We both worked there and he persued me and was pretty determined to be my man. It was sweet and so is he! 2. Who was a style icon that you admired as a young girl? I wasn't really into fashion as a young girl, which is why I think I come up with so many different styles of my own. 3. If you had to put together a complete outfit for less than $100, what stores would you go to? What would the overall look be? Oooo I love to shop at Rugged We@rhouse, Ross, Tj Maxx, target and drjays.com . The overall look would be prob just be me and my style. When I se

My Memaw had all of the family pins and memorabilia put in a frame instead of the box that I mention in the story. I didn't know this when this was written. I haven't gotten a picture of the rings yet. Use your imagination. :) Everyone had gone outside to play. I went back into the house for something. Not just anything though, I was on a mission. Ms. Sparkly was my name and playing dress up was my game. I crept into Memaw's room, careful not to make a sound. There was the box of jewels. Old fashioned brooches and necklaces from days gone by. I peered into the box being careful not to touch it because Memaw would know I had been there. She kept the rings in a slender wood box with many drawers. I slowly pulled out a tray to admire them a little closer. If I was going through all that trouble, I was determined to see those babies up close and personal. I spotted an elegant blue topaz ring that I just had to try on. My small fingers paled in comparison to that ring. I put i