I must admit that I am happy to see the end of 2017. It has been the hardest, scariest, most heart breaking year I have ever lived through.

2017 started with trouble, having to bring my older children to homeschooling due to multiple behavioral issues. What ensued was a homeschooling horror story. Which led us to online schooling, which has actually been wonderful.

In early May we learned about two precious new lives that had begun in our family. May 28th we lost the first one, and endured our first death in the immediate family. Tiny Alain Peace Cash went home to be with God at just over 6 weeks.

His twin stayed strong for a little while longer. On July 24th, we lost Japeth Peace Cash at nearly 15 weeks. This time, saying goodbye would mean a trip to the funeral home, and having to hand the body of my tiny son into the gentle hands of a kind undertaker who was willing to see him as a human being and treat him as such, when others wanted to throw his body out with the medical waste.

On that fateful day I made a Facebook post that changed my life, and made a huge impact on many others. Suddenly, I found myself in the midst of the abortion debate.

As Japeth’s Story spread like wildfire across the web, women from all around the world reached out to me. Some to offer comfort, some needing comfort, some begging for guidance, some mourning poor choices in the past.

I found that I now had a ministry. Over the next few months I was able to see 3 babies saved from abortion through Japeth’s Story. I was also able to help other women who were struggling, and see minds change on the abortion issue.

Losing my twins is the hardest thing that has ever happened to me. But knowing that so many lives have been changed through their story, has been a balm to my soul.

As we neared the end of the year, our family suffered multiple sicknesses. We haven’t been healthy since before Thanksgiving.  Christmas week, flu tore it’s  way through our home, taking us out one after another.

At 2 in the morning December 30th, my 4 year old son went into seizures because his temperature spiked. A panicked 911 call brought an ambulance to take him away to the hospital. Wes (my husband) brought him home a few hours later.

At 8 that same morning, our little one (not yet two years old) seized. Another call, another ambulance. This poor mama is scared stiff.

Last night, we spent our New Year’s Eve medicated. No one made it to midnight or even tried.

I pray that 2018 will be more kind than the year we have left behind, and if not, that God will give the strength we need to endure the trials set before us.

New Year’s day and fevers are beginnng to break. Praise God. Welcome 2018.