Can a sister also be an angel?
I don’t know….but the fact is, my sister has been a blessing of immense proportions to me, always, but especially in the last week.
When I thought I was going out of my mind with anxiety and despair, she came to my house and never left me alone. When I went to the ER with a panic attack/rapid heartbeat (on advice from my doctor), she came and did not leave my side until 11:30 at night, when Rich finally arrived back from a business trip out west.
She held my hand, she snuggled with me on the couch as we watched cooking shows, she let me lean on her for advice when I couldn’t think straight, she talked to me and somehow even made me laugh and change into *pretty clothes*.
Big round of applause for SISTERS! Thank you, Amanda, for your love and support. You are my angel. 
(She baked cookies and brownies and took extra good care of my children, too!)
And thanks, Jason, for helping to free your wife, so she could come stay with me.
I love you guys!
“Worry weighs a person down, but an encouraging word cheers a person up.” Proverbs 12:25
So. Family. Wow…..being with them, in the midst of them…MY OWN family, was like
a warm blanket
therapy
rest
comfort
a cup of tea
BLISS.
There were several times in the week leading up to Thanksgiving when Rich and I thought we would not make it, because of my fragile state of mind (um. never ending tears?) but praise God He gave me the strength to put my children (who would have been so sad if we cancelled) and family FIRST, and go. GO.
We met at a beautiful, huge, hotel, by a lake. After eating a delicious buffet dinner (in a big, airy room with lots of windows and natural light and views of the lake) we went outside for some pictures and a little walk.
This is Makayla Lynn, my adorable little niece (who has the same middle name as me!) She turned five on Thanksgiving day. She’s so beautiful and a joy.
This is her lovely Mama, my sister in love~ Melissa:
My wonderful brother Nathan, and Melissa. They’ve been married for 6 years and are doing so well raising their children in the Lord. Thanks for calling me that day, Nate, it was so encouraging. Love you.
This is their son, my little nephew Gregory (named for my Dad)
And Amanda’s little Naomi Isabella, who was a very willing model for her Aunt Shanda.
We were by *a lake* and of course the BOYS all got as close to it as possible.
My little Davy came up to me in the midst of the family gathering and said,
“MOM? Don’t look down.”
But, I did.
We were facing the lake in this picture and you can see the hotel behind us. I thought it was so typical of the men to somehow have footballs on hand for a little game on Thanksgiving day. There was such a nice family atmosphere everywhere.
Siblings, Shanda*Isaac*Amanda*Nathan (missing: dear David, who was sick)
My Mama, and Miss Grace……
Mom, Thank you for all your loving calls to check on me, and to talk to me. You’re the best mama a girl could have.
And, the last picture taking on this special Thanksgiving day was of my precious Dad, hugging his girlies.
I LOVE YOU, Dad! Thank you for being a prayer warrior, father, and friend.
After our dinner and visit, we all parted ways, but happily Jacob and Ethan were able to go home with my Mom and Dad to spend the night and make some memories with their grandparents and Uncle Isaac.
Rich and I took the remaining 5 children to a hotel for the night, we had two adjoining rooms and we put all five kids in one so the two of us could be ALONE in a QUIET room. So, it worked out very nicely.
The next day, we went to visit one of our most cherished family members.
Tomorrow I will share the pictures from that time.
THANK YOU FRIENDS for praying for me as I have been recovering from depression and severe anxiety. Today was the first day in a very long time, that I didn’t cry, not even once, didn’t even choke up.
PRAISE GOD!
(((hugs)))
Good to be Home 
Makayla Lynn could be your child! She is so like you! These are beautiful pictures, and because the eyes are windows into the soul, we can see that these are beautiful people, inside and out. Praying that your depression and anxiety are melting away like late winter snow (wrong season, I know, but it’s a simile, okay?) and that only bright and shiny days await!!
Oh Shanda…I am Happy for you today. I pray more tear-Less days are in store for you!What a Beautiful family you have! What a gorgeous hotel. I’m sure great memories were made that day.Hope the rest of your week is a Joyful one.=)
So glad you’re feeling better today! What a beautiful family you have!! I will be praying for you!
(((Hugs))) to you my friend! So sorry that you’re having a difficult time right now. I’m praying.
So happy to hear you are doing some better. I will continue to pray. It is so scary to feel this way. Not knowing when the cloud will lift. Just hanging on to what you know is true. But, none the less those scary feelings of doubt reappearing once again. Praise be to our Father who loves us during this precious times that bring a healing that only He can touch in His time. Thanking you for being so honest with us. What a gift of family what a blessing from your Father in your time of need. I can smell the cookies and hear the sweet voice of your Mamma making sure that the gift God gave her so long ago was aware that her shoulder is always their for her. Love you Shanda!
What a beautiful family and so wonderful to have a sister like that!! Praying for continued waves of healing for the depression/anxiety you have been walking through. Hugs, friend.
Beautiful. So so thankful you have your amazing sister, I think she’s pretty awesome, too. 🙂 Glad that God has used all these different family members in your life to lift you up. So thankful to hear you’re doing better, I’ve been praying for you a lot, and love you, too. Xoxoxoxo
Love, love, love this post and the pictures of your beautiful family! The one of you, Grace & your dad is precious! I’m thankful that you are seeing a close to this “season”… Brighter days are on the way. I am reminded of Psalm 30:11~12, You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy, that my heart may sing to you and not be silent. O Lord my God, will give you thanks forever.Much love to you…
I’m SO glad I stopped in to read this! Sisters can be angelic, but, we rate higher than angels! So, I think Jesus definately came through her and ministered to you. What a beautiful thing….your whole family looks like a great bunch of people and I LOVE the photo of your mom with Grace’s hair in her hand. I also love the one of you and Grace with your Dad! I love that you got dressed up and that you’re smiling and that you and Rich got to spend a night ALONR in your own room. You probably need a few more like that…( 8 I recently came through a depression (I think I told you) and it is the PITS to be down deep in that sad place. And such a relief to come up out of there and find reasons to smile and laugh and love and hope and you kind of feel like you’ve come through a door, out into the cool fresh air. Keep hangin’ on, Hunny Bunny.
Love all the pics, looks like you have a wonderful supportive family! Your one niece with the brown hair and big eyes reminds me of you. Glad you had a better day.
I saw these photos on FB, and imagined you at a hotel by the lake. How fun to find out that is true!! So good seeing all the individual photos and seeing the shining eyes and smiles. I agree with American Janet, you can just see how beautiful through and through your family is! I love thinking of you wrapped in all that love. I am blessed and happy to hear today was a good day. I felt such a strong, strong need to pray for you last week. I hope it helps to know that the Lord stirs up our hearts to cover you in prayer dear one. He will work something good out of those tears. Praying for you, and the Lord to free you and heal you. Having just a taste of this myself in pre-meno days I will be interceding for you constantly!So blessed to hear of your dear sis being the best, nurturing, loving friend. Lots of love and hugs dear one! Jenny
Beautiful family!! Seems like they’re a fun group of people – I agree with Janet- the eyes are the window to the soul and you all have a brightness shining through.I know this battlefield of the mind well 😦 Seems so hard to get out of some days – YOU WILL WIN! I believe you will become so much stronger spiritually and mentally through this time of warfare for your mind. Continue to put on the mind of Christ, the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God. And pray in the Spirit in all occasions… Eph. 6:16,17 I pray that the joy of this Christmas season would overtake you.
Davy and his shoes is the BEST! A sister can indeed be an angel and I am glad you have such in your life.
Such a beautiful family…inside and out. I’m glad you are feeling better. 🙂 PS: All of the best people have the middle name ‘Lynn’. 🙂 Hoping and praying that your days continue to get better and better!
Beautiful photos of your family. It was so good that your sister could support you in the way she did. I am sorry to hear that you have been through such a rough time. You will come out of it and there will be better days, like Tuesday and I trust the rest of the week will be better for you. I have had depression and my husband had many years on and off with it and God has delivered him from it,which is so good to see. Praying for you.
Sisters really are wonderful and it’s great that you live fairly close to each other! Praise God things are going better and you can see a bit of blue sky through the clouds!
Your story reminds me of the 23rd Psalms. How when we walk through the valley that we fear no evil. God walked with you during tis time of anxiety and depression. He used others to help you.This time of year can trigger episodes for those who suffer from a mental illness. It does not care that we have so many things clamouring for our attention. I am so happy that you have a network of caring family to help you during the darkest hours. I hope this episode goes away soon and I am praying for God to bind this thorn in your flesh and cast it away to the deepest sea. What two or more ask in Jesus’ name shall be granted. Let us all pray for healing for you. Diana
I am so sorry to hear of your struggles and will be continuing to pray! What a blessing that you have so much love surrounding you and a Lord who adores you too! Blessings.
Great pictures, Shanda! Amanda looks great. Tell your mother I love her haircut. It’s very flattering.
Love you!!! You are blessed with such a wonderful, caring family! You’re on my heart today…praying for you!
Oh Shanda! Keep holding the faith (evidence of what IS NOT SEEN). I was going to mention the mind is a spiritual battlefield but noticed someone already did; but you already know that. Thank God for all the resources and loving family you have to lean on for support and encouragement. Better days are ahead! I and some people very close to me have experienced this to the point of hospitalization as well; I really, really do know how it can be. I pray with Diana to bind this in the name of Jesus. Through Him you will overcome!! And He will redeem anything that you feel is a loss (time with children or otherwise) during this dark time. We all love you!!!
Thanks for sharing something so personal, Shanda. My heart literally feels for you as I read your words here. Please know I will continue to pray for you. I believe God can use this you are going through to bring Him glory as you continue to keep your eyes on Him. I know it is not His desire for you to suffer this but He can take what was meant to harm you and use it for good. What a blessing the Lord gave you to have this wonderful time with your family…”like a warm blanker” yes! That is what family is. This was my 17th Thanksgiving not to be home with my family… May the Lord deliver you from every bit of the anxiety and depression. It may take medications and time but trust He will deliver you, and you will be okay….I believe that. In Christ alone… ~Deborah
hi shanda…….prayers and hugs are going out to you my friend!! what a blessing to have family surrounding you and loving you through everything. they are beautiful inside and out. and of course the Lord is at your side forever and ever. by the way, my middle name is lynn, too! and i love the new christmas header. we’ve been using our shamrock and scarlet fiestaware since the weekend. so festive!
One of my favorite Galician word for you and your family “BICOS” (Kisses) from Spain, and thank you so so much for share your life with us…maybe you don´t know it but many times your blog encourage me and my family.We love you!!! Betty
(((HUGS))) Shanda. Prayers and love coming your way from Pennsylvania! Your family is as beautiful as ever!
i think you are so beautiful Shanda…from the inside out.praying this night for you…love,R
I am so sorry you are going through all of these awful feelings. I,too, struggle with anxiety. I had my first (and only) panic attack a few months ago and I really thought I was going to die. It was awful. My doctor is wonderful, though, and she helped me so much.Wonderful pictures of your family.
i’ve always thought your sister was so pretty.. and now i know the beauty is more than skin deep! 🙂 which i think i already kinda sorta knew anyway – but you confirmed it. 😉 how special you have each other~i’m so happy to hear hope in your voice again, friend. i think we’ve all been there at some point or another where the days are so dark and the tears seem they’ll never end – – your transparency and simply sharing where you’re at helps us all keep on keeping on as well!! with wherever we’re at and with whatever we’re facing.. to be reminded by a dear blogging friend, miles away that i’ve never met 🙂 no matter what.. God is bigger! and He sees us THROUGH. {so grateful for that word in the Bible, aren’t you?}love&hugs.
… and. the pictures are all so great. love the one of your little niece! and the last – so precious.
Thank you for sharing these pictures of your beautiful family…you have been on my mind a lot. Praying that you continue to smile and feel the joy that God wants and intends for you. A ton of love from this side of the country!