Seeing the Flowers

Now that I made a list of each step down into the valley that is 2025 for the Cains, it is only fair to share how the Lord used each step to build our strength.

One day at dinner my best friends and I were talking about how everyone has a different size “plate of life.” I always try to think about this when I am overwhelmed, or see others becoming overwhelmed. We all have different plates. Our plates are all different sizes. Some people become overwhelmed with very small inconveniences. In this particular season of life, we can’t handle much. Our plates are small. It is fine. We all have different plate sizes. I like to think that I am constantly holding a tray of plates. One massive tray, holding plates FULL. Multiple plates.

Coach Cain is actually right next to me carrying all of the weight. He is the strength carrying my plates of life. Every single step down into the valley, Coach was there to handle it all. My biggest flex in life, I married the best human ever.

As for each event that has happened that ended with, “It’s fine, it’s just money, we still have our health!” I can’t even explain how big of a blessing Two Hidden Gems and this corner of the field of online social marketing has been. Truly. I would go to sleep each night saying, “Thank you Lord, for Two Hidden Gems.” It’s a mental break and a creative outlet. It is a circle of friends that are true gems. Brandi is the best person to have in my corner in every step. Two Hidden Gems has been a gift.

New head coach? Just to be real life. We are staying on staff. Coach Cain was able to go to his admin that he feels very supported by and they were the ones he said, “My wife has breast cancer.” for the first time out loud. We know this admin team knows our family by name. We know they know our children. We know they are praying for us daily. Could you imagine if he was at a new school for this chapter? When you teach, you become family with your building. God kept him with his school family for what will likely be a really hard season. THANK YOU, LORD.

I didn’t get the job. I have said this two million times in the last month: Can you imagine if I DID get that job? A new school? First week of meeting a new school and I had to say, “Oh, at the beginning of the year I will be doing 6 rounds of chemo.” Ummmmmm…. Thank you, Lord for going before me and knowing where I needed to be during this season. At the Castle. With my Castle family. A new job, all new expectations, and chemo? Carley. God is SO SO SO good.

I’ll be doing chemo but while this is going on, Brittany Campbell is down the hall to ensure my children are taken care of at all times. I’ll be doing chemo, but my team knows my lesson plans are ready and secure. I’ll be doing chemo, but my whole work family is there. I’ll be doing chemo, but my baby will be having his first school experience in a school where my best friend is the AP. I’ll be doing chemo, but my children have their family surrounding them during the day.

He goes before us. He knows what we don’t.

In the coaching life, this April-June is full of big changes. God placed us where we needed to be for a season of cancer. My best friends are down the road. My house is newly updated and cozier than ever. Our church is our happy place. I have the closest group of friends that my children feel safe with that I know I can call at any moment. I have the closest group of friends that show up daily just to sit on the porch with me at any moment. Our neighbors are literally the best. My gym, whew, my gym friends are sent from Heaven for this very season.

New team teacher. Augs knew my every move. She knew reading and writing were taken care of fully. I knew math and science were secure. We trust each other. I have a new team teacher. Her husband coaches with my husband. I can’t even put into words how this all worked. It is like God handed me something that I needed for a season of chaos to ensure I still have that trust. I know my school babies are going to be very well taken care of each day. It has been the absolute perfect fit.

God is so good.

Cancer has been a real doozie. But my doctors are all pure joy. LITERALLY, the BEST. I feel so so so confident in every choice they make, every decision they make, every change that has been presented, I feel good. God handed me the best team.

Sure, each step deeper in the valley has been so so hard. However, with each step we have seen God’s hand perfectly guiding us.

See the flowers, friend. God is planting them. They even grow in the valley.