Peace Family you have been a huge part of my journey with cancer and I wanted to share with you the good news…As of January 28th, 2019 I am now 5 years cancer free! Here’s a picture of my doctor, Kathleen Schmeler and I at my check up a week ago.

I began working for Bryan Broadcasting in 2013 and three months later was diagnosed with cancer. I was shocked and had the unenviable task of telling my bosses that news. I also had to ask for time off for treatment. In all my career I have never asked for time off the first year I work a new job. It’s not done in radio. One of my strengths is being dependable, showing up on time and working hard. This went against everything in me. I was scared.

The news was met with support and an assurance they would hold my job and wait for me to get better. They would be there with me. It was amazing. I also was only 90 minutes from one of the most renowned cancer centers in the world: MD Anderson in Houston. My doctor fast-tracked me there and 25 days later I went under the knife to removed a 2 cm tumor. Then the hard part started.  Radiation for 6 weeks M-F with a chemo called Cisplatin every Monday to enhance the radiation. Boy did it. By the 4th week I had second degree burns and was begging for mercy.

No mercy was given. Doctors explained that radiation was cumulative and since I had sensitive skin it would be something I would just have to endure. That was the price to try to make it 5 years without a recurrence. That is a difficult place to be in.  I worked years to learn to be present in the moment and not live in the past or future, and now I was asked to reverse that. It pushed me to my limits and drove me into the arms of Jesus. There were some days I was so weak I used a wheelchair. There were times that my prayer was just the word Jesus…it was all I could get out in my suffering.

You never know how you will react to a challenge like cancer but I realized something profound. God is God and he is good even if I had cancer. My faith was solid. I did not ask why or feel sorry for myself. He was my only source of help.  If there was any immaturity in me it was burned away during radiation. I realized that I might not be okay and that was okay. I had lived an amazing life and a gratefulness entered me like I had never known.

I had tests every 3 months for 4 years and then every six months. Now, it’s once a year. To be honest I did not think I would make it to the 5 year mark. There is still no guarantee it will not come back at any time. I try now to live fully each day. And my family and lifelong friends say I have a peace and calmness about me that wasn’t there before. I guess facing death will do that to you. And your priorities get checked really fast.

So, in closing, I am here!! I can’t tell you the joy that brings me. Thank you for your prayers and kindness during this time. It’s been an honor to be with you every day on Peace 107 and be a part of your life. My purpose in life is to encourage others in Jesus name. And I will stay and do that as long as God allows me to.

A while back, I was chatting with an unmarried friend about the demise of my first marriage and he commented, “I don’t know how ANYbody can get married! How can you really know someone enough to marry them? It’s just too risky!”

Those words tumbled around in my head for days. I came to the conclusion that he is partially correct. I completely understand why he feels that way. He said it out of his observations of married friends and family members. No marriage is perfect and it sure isn’t easy!! Marriage probably is the riskiest thing you can ever do in life. Riskier than mountain climbing or skydiving. If you don’t make the right choices… you could lose your life!

BUT… in the risk and the danger is so much good, so much growth… so much that will NOT happen without that risk.

Number 1…

When “marriage experts” say that to be successful, a marriage takes 2 people giving 100%… I think that’s low-balling it. You have to give more than you have! Yeah, I know, it makes me sound math-challenged… oh yeah, I am… but a successful marriage takes two people giving much more than 100% each.

Since “math” says more than 100% is impossible, that extra effort, time, energy, passion, wisdom… etc. needs to miraculously come from somewhere… or someONE. Yes, marriage can be successful without the intentional dependence on Jesus. BUT… without Him, you don’t have access to the strength needed to give more than 100%.

Now, back to the risk and value in marrying someone…

Yes, you are risking everything when you give beyond 100% to another fallible human being. I think that’s what God wants from us, however. No, He doesn’t want you miserable! He wants us to LOVE. 1 Corinthians 13, the “Love Chapter“, isn’t only for married people, it’s for everyone. The beginning of verse 8 sums up what true love really is and does… “Love never fails…” Other things may be tried in an attempt to help or fix, but LOVE NEVER FAILS!

Love never fails. But humans do.

And even when humanness causes the failure of a marriage, all is not lost! The effort, time, energy… EVERYthing you put into your marriage is worth it. The most obvious gifts from marriage would be kids! But there is much more that is gained! The lessons learned while loving have great value!

What I’ve said so far is simply my “ever-so-humble-opinion”. It is an opinion that’s been educated by a lifetime of experiences that I’ve let Jesus use to teach me. And He will continue to teach me through things that HAVE happened and WILL happen.

A few observations from my experience…

Nothing is wasted!! Nothing, not a bloomin’ thing! I gained a lot during my marriage that I would not have if I’d not been married. My kids and grandkids are the best things that came from it! Also, I learned an incredible amount during my 30 years of marriage. Here’s an abbreviated list of things I learned:

• How to manage a household (although by “managed” I mean “barely controlled chaos”)
• How to fix almost anything… with wire, hair ties, superglue or duct tape
• How to get gum out of clothing, hair and VCRs
• How to get the smell of vomit out of almost anything… even the vents in the car
• How to stay awake all night with a sick or terrified child… without the aid of coffee
• How to set aside wants because someone else has a need
• How to never give up hope that things will get better
• How to let the Holy Spirit lead when you’ve been betrayed
• How to fight for a marriage
• How to let God fight for that marriage
• How to let go when God says it’s time
• How to let God heal when life seems beyond repair
• How to look back and realize none of it was wasted

There is a multitude of other lessons that have been learned… including some about helping children understand about raising animals for food and several regarding the need for steel-toed boots when cutting firewood… I just chose a few and will leave the rest to your imagination.

The knowledge and (semi)wisdom I’ve gained makes the risks well worth it!

Do I have regrets? For sure!! But I try to let Jesus take those and redeem them like everything else. I look back and have to say that if anything was different back then, I might not be where I am right now. And I really like where I am, doing what I’m doing… and LOVE where God is leading me… not that I know exactly where that is and how it will look… BUT I am LOVING the adventure!!

• Annie Nance

The spring of 2015 I had the opportunity to take a long, much needed road trip. Just me, my Jeep and Jesus! Along the way I visited friends and family. Early in April, I left my Aunt Bobbie’s house well rested and lighthearted. It was such a delightful and fun time with her and some of our extended family!! As I headed up into the mountains northwest of Phoenix, I was surrounded by sights I didn’t get to see in Wisconsin… mountains, palm trees, cactus, Joshua Trees and, occasionally, flowers trying to exist in the desert. The road was winding and rolling between the mountains. (Now, if you know me, I LOVE THAT… winding, rolling… up and down, back and forth… sigh).

I had the CD player cranked. I must have had the silliest grin on my face!! I was laughing, and singing, and gasping at the sights, crying, and laughing some more.  I was thanking Jesus and telling Him, out loud (LOUDLY), what an awesome creator He is! I blurted out, giggling; “Oh God! I feel like a little kid!!!” I heard my Heavenly Dad’s voice say… “Yes… I am melting away the years.”

Sigh…

And, like He often orchestrates, this song was next on the CD…

Nothing is Wasted – Jason Gray

“From the ruins, from the ashes; beauty will rise. From the wreckage, from the darkness; glory will shine” – JG

Isaiah 1:18 …Though your sins are like scarlet,  I will make them as white as snow…

God knows I learn better with pictures. Do visuals help you learn His truths? A few years ago He gave me this visual…

I had experienced a couple of really hard days and was in need of one of those pictures!  Tired, I crawled into bed, turned on my favorite worship mix and closed my eyes. 

I saw Jesus sitting on a bench. I didn’t see His upper body or His feet… just His lap. He was wearing His pure white robe, the same robe I always picture Him in.  I smiled and sat down next to Him. All that was in my view was His lap and my lap next to each other. 

I was admiring His white robe and I looked at mine and it was white too. I squinted a little, tilted my head and, of course, I had to argue that point. I started to imagine smudges on my robe. I even said to Jesus, “After all we both know I’m not perfect…” and He stopped me. A question hung in the air.  Again I tried to say, “Well, you have to admit… (I was thinking about my sins)” and He stopped me again… with the same question…  with a smile to His voice, “Oh really?” I gasped! My eyes popped open as I realized what He was trying to tell me! That’s what He did on the cross… and He did it completely… I’m forgiven! I’m clean! 

I closed my eyes again and looked back at our laps… they were still next to each other.  I smiled as I felt His arm around me. My robe is as pure white as Jesus’ robe. 

That’s what “It is finished” meant!! How cool is that?! How white is that?!

• Annie Nance

Peace Family one of the joys of holidays is going through old photos and remembering.

Once you stop laughing at this one, I will tell you it’s my 2nd Grade picture. I was 8 years old. It wasn’t pretty…I was losing baby teeth, forgot my socks that day and my mom pulled my hair back in a ponytail instead of rolling it. I was skinny but an athletic tomboy who was determined to do well in school, because I had a rough home life. My father had abandoned my family when I was 4, and my mother went on to marry 5 times looking for love. My sister, brother and I just felt in the way.

This could have been a tragic story but something amazing happened. My maternal grandmother took me under her wing. She was a strong Christian woman who saw a bit of herself in me. She had been the captain of the basketball team in high school and head cheerleader and she saw athletic and social potential in me and nurtured that. She knew I was lost as a middle child often is, and she wanted to fill in the gap. She began attending all my sports games and choir concerts and was an excellent role model of what a nurturing, strong woman should be.

Years later I would have a counselor tell me that my grandmother saved my life. She believed in me and gave me confidence. She taught me to love Jesus. And she was a career woman all through the 1950s, 60s and 70s, which was rare at the time. She and my grandfather were married 52 years and were a great example of staying with something even when it gets hard. If there’s any good in me it is because of Dessie Mae and Jesus. I am ever so grateful. She died in 1994 but I wear her wedding ring every day on my right hand and think of her. Especially during the holidays.

So don’t be afraid to get out those old pictures and remember the past and where you came from. And build these kind of memories in your kids and families and stand in the gap when you see a need. It can change a life!

By the way, I’m the one on the second row, first on the left. With one front tooth. Stop laughing! 🙂

From a young age most of us have what is called a Fear Of Missing Out or FOMO.  When we’re young we yearn to be older and when we’re single we yearn to be married and on and on it goes. Now that we are in this tech-dependent world it’s hard not to check your phone every few minutes. Or at least several times a day.

Instead of living in perpetual fear of missing out, many people are embracing a new approach to our always-on lives. There are people now who don’t want to be a slave to their tech gadgets and computers. They are taking time to tune out.  It’s called the Joy Of Missing Out. Amid growing concerns over our digital habits, a growing number of companies have begun to take steps to encourage people to disconnect.

Google and Apple have both jumped on the bandwagon, adding features to their mobile operating systems that help users track their use. The challenge is REAL: On average, adults spend four hours a day with their social feeds. And 70% of employees say they do not disconnect from work even when they are on vacation, according to a Linked In survey.

With the holidays right ahead of us, I encourage you to take ‘time out’ and really enjoy some face-to-face time with your friends and family. Enjoy a healthy conversation with them and look them in the eye like we used to years ago. You can makes some great memories that way and after all, the only thing we can take with us is our memories. I can’t tell you the number of times I have been in the hospital and reliving memories have comforted me and calmed my nerves.

So here’s the challenge: Only use your phone for directions, ETAs, and taking photos. The rest of the time BE PRESENT in the moment. You will be glad you did!