Dedication

G

lorified Un-Expectations is dedicated to my mother, Kathie Cecile Eaton.

My mother has been battling cancer for over 20 years. As I am about to release this book, she has fallen victim again to this nasty illness as the breast cancer has metastasized and begun to spread. Mom and dad are on yet another journey as the chemo continues. Mom is simply grateful for every day and wants to enjoy each one to the fullest. Every new day is another new story to be written, to share, because Jesus is always going before our trials and preparing us by filling us with His Grace and His Mercy.

Christmas is my mom’s favorite time of year. Every Christmas my mom and dad include in our gifts some kind of jewelry. This past year, her eye was drawn to a sterling silver bracelet with two words engraved into it. She knew immediately this was the perfect gift, yet something inside her

spirit spoke to her and said to just hold off and tuck away these two gifts for another time.

When we received the unexpected, heart-wrenching news of mom’s prognosis in February 2018, mom knew within her spirit that now was the time to present my sister and me with these meaningful gifts. My sister had just returned home from visiting her in the hospital, and as she walked toward me with tears in her eyes, she handed me this unexpected gift wrapped in Christmas paper and said, “Open it.”

I opened the box, and inside I saw a quote, “Stay strong, know that you can, believe that you can overcome anything, and remember that you are loved.” My sister raised her arm up and smiled as she showed me the identical bracelet that was in her box and it read STAY

STRONG.

If ever there was a time, I cried the hardest, I believe this was it. These words describe how my mom continues to rise above and overcome. My mom’s faith remains strong. Her hope overcomes, and her love rises above in Jesus. Her message is; “Stay strong in Jesus Christ, and know that when we are weak, HE is STRONG!” Mom, I

thank you for showing us how to find our strength in Jesus Christ. It’s not only engraved on our bracelets, it will forever be engraved in our hearts, souls, and minds.