We all stood to our feet. A song came over the sound system, and I could feel the excitement. Then Jazmin and her dad, Aaron, came slowly walking up the aisle. Jazmin was breathtakingly beautiful in her white mermaid style dress and veil. I turned to look at my son Eythan, and I could see emotions passing over his face as he smiled at his bride with a big grin. Its become a year of hope since that day.
A Year of Hope…
On their wedding day as Jazmin walked down the aisle, I wondered, ‘How long will he have with Jazmin, how long will they be husband and wife?’
I shook the thought from my mind. Today was going to be a happy day, I would have time to think about that question another day.
Here we are one year later…
Did I think they’d make it to their one year anniversary? Well no I didn’t. The night before their wedding, at their rehearsal, Jazmin was having quite a bit of pain due to a cancerous tumour on her kidney. She has stage four cancer.
We had put out a plea for prayer that she could get through her wedding day without pain. Jazmin felt happy, joyful and pretty much pain-free on her special day.
Recently I received a text from Jazmin. She was asking if I knew where the anniversary booklets were that were on the tables at her reception. There was a total of twenty-one books.
Vance’s cousin, Linda, had made the booklets and added them to her decorating at the wedding.
After Eythan and Jazmin were married, I had sat in my bedroom with the books and cried as I went through them and read the messages. I thought to myself, “Jazmin won’t be able to read these.” I honestly didn’t think I would hand them a single booklet.
But I have learned something in the last year:
No matter what doctors say, no matter what science says, no matter what Jazmin’s body is doing…God makes the calls.
I have watched Jazmin’s faith in God grow tremendously in the past year. She already had a beautiful relationship with God. But somehow this past year it changed. She went from- “I believe God is going to give me a miracle” to “Whatever glorifies God more, life or death, I am at peace with the decision.”
Jazmin is only twenty-one years old. She has a fatal disease in her body yet she lives with an enormous amount of hope. She still talks as though she might get a miracle, and this is the best way to live. “When we have kids one day” “When I feel better and can work” “When I am an auntie.”
We don’t know what God’s master plan is. Jazmin could live a few more months or fifty more years.
We visited her and Eythan last week, and I told her she looked like she had gained some weight. “I’ve gained six pounds in two weeks, my appetite is growing.” Okay, this completely baffles me, and I whisper a thank you to God.
We’ve watched their marriage bloom this past year.
We’ve seen my son grow into a man. I’ve witnessed this couple serve each other in the most heart-warming ways. Each putting the other before themselves. I’ve seen my son fall deeply in love with his bride, to the point he can’t imagine life without her.
We witnessed their up’s and downs and growing pains of newlyweds as they adjusted to living together, moving multiple times, visits to the hospitals and almost losing Jazmin one week when her body seemed like it was failing.
But God had other plans.
A couple of months ago I sat in the living room as Jazmin’s doctor came to do a home visit since the emergency room had reported to her that Jazmin had been deathly ill. During the home visit, the doctor talked to Jazmin about when she dies and what Jazmin wanted that to look like. Did Jazmin have everything set up? Home care or hospice?
The visit was serious and yet her doctor was wonderful and sensitive. At the same time, she said to Jazmin, “It doesn’t look like you’re dying today.” She was surprised Jazmin had recovered from such a bad ordeal of pain and breathing difficulties due to her lungs being filled with cancerous tumours.
That was a beautiful weekend. It was when Jazmin’s mother, Sherie, came to peace with letting Jazmin go and being okay with God taking her if this was his plan.
Sherie felt a sense of peace fall over her mother-heart.
*Read Sherie’s story here: Life With Sherie
We have events coming up we want Jazmin to be around for, a baby in December for Charity and Dan, two more weddings in our family when Aryanna or Devyn get married. An improvement in Kyle’s life if a medical team can help him with autism and epilepsy. Jazmin and Eythan’s 21st wedding anniversary.
Jazmin is planning on being at all those events. This is how she lives as though there is more life to be lived.
Every day is a miracle in itself to her.
Our family has fallen deeply in love with Jazmin. She has become one of us, and we are hoping to throw a huge 21st wedding anniversary for her and Eythan one day.
God makes the plans, we are just the children who love him no matter what he decides.
Happy first anniversary Jazmin and Eythan!!! May your next year be filled with more love and joy than you can ever imagine!
*Read Jazmin’s own thoughts on God’s plan and her life: HERE
Thank you, Cindy for the wonderful ministry that touches my heart and many. I am always sharing with others your words of encouragement. How great to see you using so many role models to share what God is doing in their lives. You are truly a Titus 2 gal!
BTW have you thought of having Marsha or your Mom write sometime? Also, I was wondering if you could list Emily’s article with the other ones, it seems to be missing from the list.
God Bless you as you follow His Lead, Lila
I’m glad you brought up Emily’s article. I noticed this week a few were missing and it’s because they went into the wrong category. I will go in and fix that! I feel honoured to feature all these lovely ladies to share God’s goodness! I haven’t had any relatives share in my Inspiring Women…yet🙂 Thank you, Lila for encouraging me today💕