Love Day

Today is Love Day. It is also the end of CHD Week. Knowing this, I think of my heart. Today, I am especially grateful for the stable beating it performs. Happy Love Day, my friends. Go out and share love today. 

My hand placed upon my chest

and I feel my beating heart

This magnificent creation

beats significant inspiration

No longer of what I was

but what I am yet to be

and I am on on my way

to reaching the Divine Me

God did not give me

a second chance

just for me to throw it out the door

He has proffered me miracles

He has sent Heaven's Light

He has heard my every prayer

He has breathed life into my soul

once again

So I shall love

each day

I shall rejoice

in Him

I shall know

that I am His

and through Him

by Him

for Him

because of Him

I breathe

I live

I love

and I am made

Whole again

Mama Dragon

Love Day 2016

Milestones

Today marks the 2 year anniversary ("Heartiversary" as us heart patients call it) of my heart surgery. Two years ago, I had a failing heart. What a busy two years it has been recovering from a nearly 20-year ordeal of a slowly disfunctioning heart!! Instead of writing my story - again - I would just like to refer you to my heart blog where you can read about the miracle of my heart here.

September 12th is a 5K Run/1K Walk for our Heart Family. Although this year I am a bit tired and rundown, and will only be walking the 1K instead of running the 5K that I did last year, I will still go and participate as an adult CHD survivor. I am a Heart Warrior, grateful to God for giving me another chance at life!! Today I will celebrate that life in ways that bring me closer to Him. 

Celebrating Life,
Mama Dragon

BANACHOS!!

Me with my Superhero,
Paul Cardall

In June 2013, I was diagnosed with a rare heart condition called ARVD. During the summer, I was on strict bed rest as I awaited my pending heart surgery. Day in and day out as I had nothing else to do but read books by Jason Wright and Paul Cardall (fellow heart warrior and composer) and watch "Little House on the Prairie" I tried to mix things up a bit. I loved to cook so I researched some recipes I could try on my good days. 

One day, I had a sudden craving for nachos; yet, I wanted something sweet as well. How could I mix these two great items of goodness, I wondered. We had no chips, nor did I have the strength to make cheese sauce. However, we did have bananas and pecans. Inspired by my husband's campfire stories, I began to brainstorm. Hmmm.... This could be amazing, I thought. Against doctors orders, I dragged myself out of bed and began to create. 

First, I sliced bananas onto my plate.

Wondering what could go better with bananas than chocolate, I added some chocolate chips onto them as well. 

Wanting a little more flavor in the mix, I added a small handful of mini marshmallows and melted it all for 30 seconds in the microwave. (For this picture, I used marshmallow cream, as we were out of marshmallows. It spreads just fine after melting it.) 

Then, for the crunch, I originally added a handful of pecans, although for this picture I used sliced almonds. 

It was the perfect blend of sweet, salty, and creamy. I have since then used walnuts and sliced almonds as well. All are divine. 

Sometimes, you just need to follow your heart (pun intended) and free the Divine creativity that may be locked up inside you. For me, allowing myself to create Banachos was worth the 5 minutes I was out of bed. (They kind of make me want to put on a sombrero, grab some castanets, and yell: BANACHOS!!) To this day, it is one of my favorite sweet snacks. When we unlock our potential, we are given opportunities to share our light from within. 

Creating freely- 

Mama Dragon