The Light Within - Ali’s Healing Story

  It’s Getting Real… Really, Really Real  ✨ Writing a memoir is so much more than stringing words together — it’s pouring your heart, memories, and faith onto paper, then revisiting them over and over until the story feels just right. When I first began this process, I had no idea how emotional it would be to relive some of the hardest parts of my journey — the fear, the surrender, the moments that tested every ounce of faith I had. But I also didn’t expect the healing that would come with it. Each chapter became a mirror — reflecting not just the pain I once walked through, but the strength, grace, and divine presence that carried me every step of the way. There were days I had to close the laptop and walk away, days when tears blurred the screen, and days when I felt completely in awe of how far God has brought me. But I kept moving forward — because this story isn’t just mine. It’s a testimony meant to shine light for others still finding their way through dark places. Then...

  For nearly two years, I’ve poured my heart into this blog—sharing pieces of my healing journey, my faith walk, and the unexpected turns that have shaped my life since being diagnosed with colon cancer. What started as a way to process and connect has grown into something much deeper: a calling to share the full story. So, I’m writing a book. This isn’t just a collection of blog posts. It’s a deeply personal, faith-rooted memoir that weaves together the physical, emotional, and spiritual layers of healing I’ve experienced. From chemo chairs to carrot juice, raw grief to relentless hope, the book will walk readers through the valleys and mountaintops of this path—from diagnosis to divine detours and everything in between. Why write a book? Because stories matter. Putting myself out there has been one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. Every time I share a piece of my heart, I feel that familiar ache of vulnerability—like I’m standing open-handed before the world, unsure how my s...

Every now and then, God places people in our path in the most unexpected places—and sometimes, those people have already played a quiet but powerful role in our story long before we ever meet them. I felt compelled to share one of those moments with you today. It’s a story about a chance meeting, a familiar face, and the importance of telling people the impact they’ve had on your life—especially when they may not even know it. Expressing gratitude, sharing your testimony, and speaking life into others can be a powerful gift—for them and for you.  When I look back at the early days of my healing journey, I remember how weak I felt—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Some days, I didn’t even have the strength to read my Bible. My eyes were tire, and my body needed rest. But even in that quiet stillness, I wanted to fill my mind and heart with truth, with hope, and with praise. That’s when worship music became my lifeline. I would play songs by Bethel Music, Chris Tomlin, MercyM...

Yellowstone Lake May 2025   Two years later....my journey is my inspiration❣️ In the early hours of July 11, 2023—my 50th birthday—Keith took me to the ER. We didn’t know it then, but that day marked the beginning of a journey that would change everything. What we thought was a precautionary trip turned into a 10-day hospital stay, two emergency surgeries, and ultimately, the cancer diagnosis we never saw coming. It felt like the ground shifted beneath us—fast and without warning. That moment shook us to the core. But it also became the turning point. It led to one of the hardest and most personal decisions I’ve ever had to make: to decline chemotherapy. That choice didn’t come lightly—it came through tears, prayer, research, and a surrender I can’t quite explain. I opened my heart to God’s way of healing, and in doing so, found a peace that made no earthly sense but felt entirely divine. It’s hard to believe it’s been two years now since life threw us that curveball—a health scar...