Mandisa – Out of the Dark
When I read Mandisa’s story and listened to “Out of the Dark” the term “light at the end of the tunnel” came to mind. We all go through tragedy in our lives. There are times when it can be so completely overwhelming that it destroys our faith in God. Yet, God is always there at the “light at the end of the tunnel.” That is what “Out of the Dark” is all about. It is Mandisa’s story of her overcoming her loss of faith and bringing herself back into the light.
This is an awesome CD. It is filled with an uplifting message intertwined with dance beats and beautiful melodies accentuated by Mandisa’s amazing voice. It can’t help but bring a smile to your face and get your feet moving across the floor. This CD is a glorious celebration of life and how God’s grace that can bring us all out of those dark times. Don’t hesitate. Get your copy and feel the love that comes through each track. #OutOfTheDark #FlyBy
Win a copy of Mandisa’s Out of the Dark CD. Fill out the form below. The contest ends May 30th.
Thank you to everyone that submitted an entry.
“Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”): Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway. Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.
Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway. If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days on the same blog, you are not eligible to win. Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again. Winner is subject to eligibility verification.
Celebration of Life
It seems a little too soon to celebrate after losing someone so close to our hearts this week. Yet, it is my sweet mother’s birthday today. She is turning 70 years old, and she deserves to have a celebration of her life.
She hasn’t always had an easy life. Growing up, it was hard what all she endured. The stories she has told in the past make me happy that I grew up with parents like her and my daddy. They were high school sweethearts, although my dad admits when he first saw her, he thought she was ugly. Then, the next year, she wore her hair differently, and he fell completely head over heels in love with her. Her sister really wanted him, but my mom won the prize. ~Smile~ They married and went on to have two beautiful daughters. They struggled some in life and in their marriage, but if we’re honest, we all do at some point or another. They lost their oldest daughter in 2001 when tragedy struck. Life hasn’t been the same since. My mom continues to press on despite the pain, and most days, you will find her smiling, joking, and digging around in my candy dish when she comes to my house. Fishing out the good ole Dove chocolate, she, then, turns to my refrigerator to snack on some cheese. She knows I’ll always have a good supply of both chocolate and cheese at my house. It’s a running joke now as soon as she hits my house, she’ll hit up my candy and cheese, but that’s okay. A woman of 70 years old can do whatever her little heart desires. She’s earned that right! And we just smile.
After the week we’ve just spent burying my mother-in-law, it makes us want to cling tighter to the loved ones that are still here with us. We don’t want our love to become suffocating, but we want them to know, now more than ever, how much we truly love and appreciate them.
During my mother-in-law’s illness, a lot of things got pushed aside while we focused on her. I was fearful that while our focus was on her, we’d lose valuable time with others. I prayed nothing happened to anyone in my family when I was so distant with them during that time. I wasn’t cold at all toward them, yet I wasn’t as close as my heart desired to be with them since I was spending so much time helping my mother-in-law and helping my husband through these months leading up to her death.
I thank God that I can now shift my focus back to my family; that they’re still here for me to do this with. They understand, and they don’t have any ill feelings at all. They would never be that way about it. My dad lost his mom a few, short years ago, and the pain is so new even still. So he, of all people, understands.
When you think about it, my mother has lived a long life! She’s 70 years old! She has out lived her own mother and her siblings, as they passed at an earlier age. I thank God that my mother is still here for us to celebrate with! And, I beg God for more time with both of my parents. Please, God. Please!
Ah, yes. A celebration of life will take place today. Unlike the celebration of life that occurred three days ago when we attended my mother-in-law’s funeral, today we will celebrate the life of a beautiful soul that will be smiling back at us from across the table. She’ll joke with us, she’ll laugh, and we will soak up every single moment with her feeling ever so thankful that she’s here. We can hug her close to us, and we will!
Thank you, God, for 70 years of my mother being on this earth. I pray for many, many more years with this beautiful woman!
Happy birthday, Mama. We love you so very much.
One More Day
The Five Minute Friday word for this week is More.
And so, I set my timer and begin.
My mother-in-law passed away Tuesday, April 25, 2017, after battling cancer for eight months. She put on a brave face as she endured chemo and radiation, only to find that she was not able to tolerate chemo after all. Thus, it was discontinued in October of 2016.
We had a nice Thanksgiving and Christmas with her, and shortly after the new year, we visited with her before she started to go downhill. Leaving the cancer untreated only allowed it to travel to other areas in her body, ultimately consuming her.
Her body weakened, and we were told to prepare for the worst. I’ll never forget her turning to us during one of her many hospital visits and saying, “I thought I had more time.”
When my oldest daughter visited with her alone in her hospital room, she begged her to pray. My daughter assured her that she would, as my mother-in-law told her she was not ready to go yet.
She fought hard and did not give up easily, as she wanted to be here for the birth of her great grandson. And God allowed this, as he was born in late March. She held him, although in a very frail state at that point. They placed him on her lap, and he stretched out across her in her hospital bed.
We were not ready to let her go this week. We wanted more time with her. One more day … one more warm embrace … one more “I love you” … Not in the shape she was in, though, but when she was well and whole. We realize that while she may be gone from our sight right now, she is dancing with Jesus in Heaven right along with her loved ones that went on before her. No more cancer and no more pain, as she was given a new body in Christ.
While there won’t be any more time granted to us this side of Heaven, we will treasure the time God did allow us to have with her. And, we will hug those around us a little tighter, love deeper, and carry her memory with us always.
Her final wish was to have her family reunited. There was a great division in the family for years, and it worried her so. Finally, she can rest in peace knowing we’re trying to honor her wish. That is the only good thing to come from this situation.
