Well it's June 1st and those of us in the Hendrix gang are itching to get out and sing again! 

Most of you are probably wondering how mom is doing if you keep up with her on Facebook, she is still as feisty as ever!

She was diagnosed a little over a week ago now with T-Cell Lymphoma which is what has been plaguing her body for the past two years. We finally got a proper diagnosis as it is commonly mis-diagnosed as Psoriasis. Miraculously, though, she does not have cancer anywhere else in her body and is extremely healthy otherwise! We have been praising God for the miracle of her arm. She may go into more detail on her own Blog later, but I wanted to give a quick update here!

GOT THE LOCK-DOWN BLUES?: Like many of you, we have been abiding by quaratine guidelines for the past several weeks. If you have ever been in the ministry though, I'm sure you can understand how badly we are wanting to be back in service with you all again soon! While mom has been going back and forth to the doctor, I was reminded last weekend of my own miracle two years ago in April.

MIRACLES STILL HAPPEN: I was discussing some of this with my roommate and girl-friend Dee while sitting out on my porch swing saturday (thank you daddy for the early birthday gift, see below for photo) and it hit me like a  

ton of bricks. I had been battling a serious addiction to video games and mentally I was facing depression as a result of a sexual trauma. After speaking with a few doctors I realized I wasn't crazy and it wasn't all in my head, but I didn't know how to break free of it. Getting out of bed in the morning felt like lifting 300lb bricks...I was lonely, but wanted to be left alone. I was sick all the time and oh my WORD I can't describe to you the amount of pain I was in. 

Apart of me was angry too. I couldn't forgive myself for allowing myself  to be put in a dangerous situation. I was angry and isolating from my family, but they never could seem to grasp what was really wrong and that only fueled my fears that no one would ever really understand what was wrong with me. I was mad at myself for being unhealthy, but food seemed to be the only time I felt "good" about anything. Long story short, I was in that deep pit of depression and helplessness. If you have ever felt it you know exactly what I'm talking about.

I've battled depression almost every day for the past 18 years. I'm "very sensitive" mom says, hehe! I take everything inwardly and tend to blame myself for EVERYTHING! Truth be told I would have never gone out with that evil person had I not felt so unwanted, undesirable, and ugly. From then on... I felt like damaged goods, too dirty to go back to my old life and too ashamed to feel I deserved real love. You could come up to me and tell me that you hated me, and I'm the kind of person who would inwardly question what I HAD DONE to make YOU feel that way.

I Peter 5:7 tells us, "Cast all your anxiety upon Him, because He cares for you." I'm paraphrasing, but the point is... it's not God's will for us to bear our burdens alone. That seems like such a simple concept, however my practice of it still tends to fall short as my Depression and anxiety go hand in hand along with my distrust of others. I have always been an independent person and giving my worries and concerns to someone else doesn't come naturally for me. If you can relate............can I get an AMEN? 

Has is been an easy two years since? Not by any means, but I know have a foundation a rock upon which I can stand. Through all of that turmoil I learned that God's Word is my refuge!

Growing up I used to believe I could never understand the Bible, and so I didn't even try because I felt like I would never be able to interpret it correctly, or my pastor would be able to better "preach" it to me than I could "read" it. Let me set that straight for you right here and right now, that is a lie from the pits of Hell and you will never have a close relationship with Jesus until you get to "know" Him. "The heart cannot love what the mind does not know." 

Side Note: It has been two years, but I finally finished my first read through of the entire Bible!

Even now I battle giving my testimony because I'm afraid i'm too long-winded... or it sounds selfish in some way, but if it helps encourage you in any way... if it points you to Jesus then I would go through it ALL again just to lift you up and that's the truth.

FINAL Updates:

Mom and dad are headed to Ft. Worth again today, daddy is dropping mom off to stay with Aunt Nella (She has been a lifesaver btw and we couldn't say enough to thank her for all her generosity and hospitality, so please say a special prayer for her if you feel led). Dad will come home tonight and work this week until time to go back and get momma again. She is currently undergoing Radiation treatments, 4 times a week for four weeks and the next step is Chemo if the radiation is not effective. 

So, our prayer request is simple - that God will complete His healing of momma before the chemo-therapy and that she will be free of this disease as soon as He is willing!

Please keep Ryan, Ashley and Gracelynn in your prayers also. 

Lastly, I have started going back to school part-time while attempting to get my business off the ground, so please keep me in your prayers also <3

I hope you all have an amazing SUMMER and we hope to be with you all again very soon. 

PS: Please check out our product pages and give me some feedback as to some products you would like to see in the near future!

 God Bless.

Lovingly,

Ranessa H