Hope | Be Not Afraid

Savor the Moment: All Things Made New

June 1, 2012 by allisonbenotafraid

Almost six years ago, I lived with my sister Rebecca in New York City. I was a new graduate of Notre Dame out to change the world and find my purpose in life. My sister was an actress striving to share her talent with the world and her big heart with someone with equal passion for life. I was a nanny for a family dealing with quite a few difficulties – a toddler who often struck out violently, the possibility […]

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Categories: Faith, Parenting, Relationships • Tags: Christianity, Family, Hope, Life, Motherhood, Sisters

Savor the Moment: The Joy of Merely Being Alive

May 25, 2012 by allisonbenotafraid

Today, while John Paul took an unusually long afternoon nap, I went on a vacation. That is, in my backyard. I set up the baby monitor on the patio, and with the sound of my sweet boy’s steady breathing in the background, I sat in a rocking chair and drank a glass of wine. I subdued my desire to either check email on my phone, call a friend, get up and clean the house, or run to the front door […]

Categories: Cancer, Faith, Parenting • Tags: Happiness, Hope, Life, Wine

In My Garden

May 24, 2012 by allisonbenotafraid

One year ago, my dad planted flowers in our backyard. Some of them bloomed right away, and like his visit, they brought much-needed beauty into our tumultuous lives. But some of the flowers he planted needed more time. They needed water to fall and sun to shine before they could thrive and grow. Almost overnight, the flowers I’ve been waiting for have bloomed in our yard. There are yellow ones, purple ones, and magnificent ones with orange and ruby swirls […]

Categories: Cancer, Faith • Tags: Christianity, Flowers, Gardening, Hope, Life, Suffering

The Path Is Wide Open…

May 18, 2012 by allisonbenotafraid

One of the positive aspects of having cancer is the people you meet. It happens in the hospital, at cancer happy hours (yes, they exist and yes, they are awesome-the first time I went I asked Mike, “Where do you think the group is?” as we entered the bar. He responded, “Well, I’m not entirely sure, but you might check with the group of baldies over there…I mean, it’s just a thought…”), through mutual friends (“You have cancer? Oh! My […]

Categories: Cancer • Tags: Adventure, Christianity, Happiness, Hope, Inspiration, Life, Love, Prayer, Stem Cell Transplant

Pressing On

May 13, 2012 by allisonbenotafraid

Last week, my sweet boy stood on his tippy toes, reached further than I’d ever seen him reach, caught the hook of my mug that was still sitting on the Keurig machine, and attempted to drink the freshly brewed coffee. In horror, I watched as the mischievous smile on his face turned to an open-mouthed scream. In shock, I rushed to his side and tried to soothe him. And in grief, I cried steadily for the next six hours as […]

Categories: Cancer, Faith, Parenting • Tags: Christianity, Hope, Mother's Day, Motherhood

Seeking His Reflection

April 2, 2012 by allisonbenotafraid

I’ve been having trouble sleeping ever since my biopsy in January. What started as a reaction to pain medication mixed with an uncomfortable numbness of the left side of my chest, seems to have become a bit of a bad habit, one I’d desperately like to break. During one of my recent sleepless nights, I started looking up local retreats. I felt like God was calling me to spend time with Him — uninterrupted, quiet time, something that’s a bit […]

Categories: Cancer, Faith • Tags: Anxiety, Beauty, Christianity, Fear, God, Hope, Life

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