30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 13

Day 13: I am thankful for being blessed with such a great extended family! Thank you all who have been a part of my life before my accident, (especially) those who were there for my family and I when I was in the hospital, those who have visited me since my accident, and those who are there for us today. Your love and thoughtfulness mean so much to me! Happy Thanksgiving family! Love you!

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 12

Day 12: I am thankful for my amazing friends - those who visited my family and I while I was in the hospital, those who knew me before my car accident and have been a part of my life these past 8 years, and those friends who God has brought into my life (or back into my life) since my accident. You all are such blessings to me, more than you know. What words could I form to express my gratefulness for you? Your love, compassion, kindness, prayers, faith, support, and time . . . Not just anyone can be the type of person you are and the friend that you have been to me. No, you are special. You each have an amazing heart. I praise God for all of you, especially those who are there for me today and help me when necessary! With all sincerity, thank you.

WALK LIKE MADD

I have teamed up with Walk Like MADD in raising money for MADD's mission to stop drunk driving, support the victims of this violent crime, and prevent underage drinking. MADD is at work passing legislation, taking their mission to state and national officials, and creating safer roads. MADD has done so much for me and many others. I have been personally impacted by the devastating effects of drinking and driving. Now paralyzed, I have a new outlook for life and for the future of our society.

Walk Like MADD is in 7 days and I have a goal of raising $475!
Please help me reach my goal and stand up against this social problem!
Donations of $20 or more receive a complimentary Walk Like MADD shirt!

You can access my Walk Like MADD page at
http://support.madd.org/goto/tonyawinchester.

If you cannot or do not wish to donate, please do not feel pressured but rather keep this cause in your prayers! Prayer is a powerful and effective tool worth more than any donation. “The earnest prayer of a righteous person has great power and produces wonderful results” (James 5:16b, NLT).

Thank you for your support!!

God is at Work

God’s presence has never felt as real to me as it does in this moment. I can for the first time see Him working through my prayers in my life and in the lives of others. I have prayed for months, maybe even years for God to open my eyes to His vision and let me feel Him, see Him, and hear Him with all of my being. As I pray for the broken relationships in my family to be healed, for my family members and caregivers to know the Lord, for everyone I know to be delivered from addictions and be blessed with friends who are strong in their faith, and for God to work in us and through us, He has shown up and began moving in mighty ways. The veil that has blinded me all of my life and allowed me to only see the bad in any given situation has been lifted and I now am able to see what God can do, will do, and is doing through the unexpected twists and turns of life.

Through my Aunt and Uncle’s house fire, God is healing the broken relationships within our family, opening their eyes to His love and grace, and letting them know that He does exist, has a purpose for their lives, and works good through all things.

Through my massage therapist, an opportunity was presented for one of my caregivers to attend a spiritual retreat which focuses on renewing the mind and life of an individual. “SOS at Zac’s Ridge is a powerful program designed to help you make dramatic shifts in yourself and empower you to live the life you desire all in just 2 weekend classes” (http://www.sosinc.org). Because of the retreat, my caregiver is a completely changed person and is transforming into the woman God created her to be.

Through a friend, I have learned that another friend’s drug dealer moved away this week to another state, completely removing this drug connection from my friend's life! There is always the possibility of another drug connection becoming available but I am believing for more!

Through a car accident with an 18-wheeler this Monday, God is changing the destination of the life of my boyfriend’s best friend. I have prayed for this person to receive an awakening from God and to be saved. I see how much God can work through this situation for the better - that this person will be saved, healed, that his eyes will be opened to God's vision, that God will use Billy through this situation and show his friend God's love, grace, and spirit; and that Billy and his friend will be transformed into the men God created them to be.

God is so good! Thank you God!

Please keep these people in your prayers as well as my Nanny (has brain cancer) and my Boyfriend (frustrated with his job and uncertain what to do next).

Thank you for your continual support! XO