My world shattered. But I choose to live with joy.

   The six letter word no one wants to hear, Cancer. I heard this word four days before my 19th birthday, another thing no one wants to hear is that someone in your family has cancer. Well I heard those two words cancer and grandpa. At first they called it prostate and colon cancer. But on May 18 we found out it was stage four bone cancer. This is news no one wants to hear no matter what season of life. But this was supposed to be a happy moment in my life because graduation was coming up soon and so was my grad party. 

   Soon after finding this out, all I did was worry about the possibility of having to celebrate a graduation and plan a funeral at the same time. Now don't get me wrong it's not that I've stopped worrying completely. But after hearing this news, I was angry at the world and I barely would smile and I could hardly look at my grandpa without crying let alone say the words "my grandpa has stage four bone cancer and he's dying but oh don't worry I'm dealing with it, it's okay". Yeah, no it took me a couple weeks to even say that my grandpa has cancer and that I was starting to enter this season with joy. 

   For along time all my grandpa would do was sleep a lot and eat when I was down at there house visiting. I can tell you this once I changed my attitude about the situation and just giving this to situation to God, it's in his hands I can't do anything but enjoy my time with my grandpa. 

Within the last week my Grandpa has gotten a lot better, doesn't sleep as much, watches tv and eats a lot and enjoys time with my grandma and whenthe people that visit.  One of the things I dreaded was my grandpa not being at my graduation, well he and my grandma made it to my graduation. 

  

When I stopped being angry at the world and just gave it all to God. I started smiling again and laughing and I now have this joy that's within in me. I don't know what tomorrow will bring and I don't know how much longer I'll have with my Grandpa but I'm living life to the fullest with a lot of memories being made.

   This last month has been hectic but I can tell you one thing that I am sure of, Jesus has been with me through everything and I will praise Him through everything! I'm reminded that in the midst of this storm I will praise him through it all!

Psalm 63:2-4

So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open,
    drinking in your strength and glory.
In your generous love I am really living at last!
    My lips brim praises like fountains.
I bless you every time I take a breath;
    My arms wave like banners of praise to you.

   Though the last month has been nothing but crazy. I've learned so much through this already. I choose to live with joy!

grandpa and I 

there is hope & his name is Jesus

Happy February!

   I wanted to encourage you if you are going through something, whether it be small or huge. I first wanted to encourage you with this verse. Hebrews 6:19 NLT " This hope is a strong and trustworthy anchor for our souls. It leads us through the curtain into God's inner sanctuary." In whatever storm of life you may be going through there is so much hope and his name is Jesus.  Jesus is our comforter,healer,strong hold, our hope in the midst of a storm. 

  Everything will be okay, even if it is not right now, it will all work out, you just have to believe and stay rooted in Jesus. A great verse about staying rooted and built in Jesus is Colossians 2:6-7, you can check out this verse on your own. If there is one thing I have learned about this crazy life is to stay rooted in Jesus when circumstances get rough, when things don't go as planned. Countless times I've had to say "okay God I trust you I'm putting my hope in you, you said you are my hope and I know you have a great plan from this storm that I'm in." 

  Whatever situation you are in whether it be small as a penny or as big as a box just speak this over your life,

Psalm 27:13-14 NIV 

" I will remain confident of this; I will see the goodness of The Lord in the land of the living. Wait for The Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for The Lord." 

You can speak that verse over your life or you can speak something like this or even make up your own confession similar to this one

" God, in your word it says that no matter what circumstance I'm going through you will have an answer and whether that takes along time or just a day I trust you, I trust your plan for my life and this storm that I'm in. I love you Jesus with all my heart and whatever happens with this storm I will still trust you and I will love you forever." 

Be encouraged tonight friends! Put your hope in Jesus! 

Much love! 

Xo 

-Micaela

Family stays together. Grandpas are key.

together.forever.gramps and me. 

  This is for my Gramps who had surgery today and a post while I wait to hear how everything went. But more because he's such a huge part of my life! 

  

 For as long as I can remember I have always went to my Grandma and Grandpa Harper's house every Saturday for lunch.They live only about twenty minutes away from our house and I am forever grateful for the memories I have shared with them but especially over these past four years. It didn't just start with having lunch it started when my parents both worked so I would spend time with them each day. But this post is about my Grandpa! Bucky Harper what a man, what a grandpa, father and husband. One of the first memories that I can remember is we were in the car on the way back home from going somewhere probably a fish store in allegan and I threw up right there in the back of the jeep, little Micaela felt fine she didn't think she'd get sick and let alone in the jeep. I just remember grandpa saying it's okay, poor gramps had to clean it up.. Then anothe story would be when 9/11 happened I was at my there house after half day pre-school boy what a hard life I had back then. just kidding. I remember it being near lunch time and it coming across the tv and I just stopped. Then another story is in elementary school we have this grandparents day and they came to see me perform, I was such a happy little girl that they loved me enough to come see me perform in the school play thingy. This story happened about seventh grade when my dad had an absess and we were in gobles at another fish store getting some bait and fishing pole line, I have never seen him drive so fast in his life, he likes to drive slow but when it comes to family and needing to go to the hospital he's there. When the times my dad has been in the ER and been admitted he was always willing to have me come to there house just to stay. Then my freshman year he had a heart attack and I freaked out I thought we were going to lose him but he survived the heart attack he just had to have stints put in, and all is okay. 

  In the summer before my freshman year I went fishing with my grandpa, talk about a great time! It was so much fun, I outfished him and my Uncle Bernie, I even can't a bullhead and if you don't know your fish, a fifteen girl usually doesn't catch one. But I did and I was so happy I got to share the fishing experience with Gramps! Then this past year he's really had to slow down and just take it easy.  And today he had to go have surgery and of course the winter decided to hit today but I got to see him pre surgery here is a picture I got with him this morning.

gramps and me 

  I hugged him extra tight this morning! 

We always have such a fun time together and I can't wait to spend many more Saturdays with him and my Grandma! I love pops a lot! I've helped him gut the fish before and kinda fry them, more like keeping them hot in the oven. 

This snapshot was taken a little before thanksgiving 

family stays together no matter what happens! Love my pops and our memories! We'll be making more in the coming days and months! I love you pops xoxo hugs He's always there for me and I will always be there for him and grandma! Here's to more memories than ever in 2015! 

Meet my best friend! But wait she's more than just my best friend!

  Ladies and gentleman this post has been months in the making trying to think of how I truly want to put all the wording and how to describe my best friend and how special she truly is. I'm going to start out with a verse that really lives up to its meaning especially in Kendra and I's friendship and sisterhood! 

Proverbs 27:17New International Version (NIV)

17 As iron sharpens iron,
    so one person sharpens another.

   Let's go back all the way back to my freshman year. Woah four years ago. Okay so it was at the beginning of winter and this girl she said her name was Kendra and she said I should try basketball cheer because she thought I'd love it. Well at first I was extremely scared like seriously I'm the quietest girl you've ever met but not anymore! I went to that cheer meeting and I decided to do Cheer! 

-Flashback to freshman year WOAH!-

  It was amazing,during that cheer season Kendra took me under her wing, now usually a senior doesn't hang out with a freshman but she wasn't just any ordinary girl we hung out. She dragged me to the Christmas dance my freshman year and we went and got our hair done and she did my makeup and it was so much fun! I'm so glad we met and became friends and that she practically drag me to the dance. 

- Kendra&I at the Christmas dance 2011

   Honestly when Kendra and I talk about how we became friends we say what I just said. Then she graduated which I cried as she walked across that stage to get her diploma, oh but I cried even more at graduation party because I had to say goodbye as she was leaving for college. That was so hard for me, now if you don't know me I'm an emotional person so I cry kind of a lot but don't worry I've gotten better! As I gave her a hug before I left  her party I didn't want let go, I didn't want to have to let go! But no worries we hung out before she left and then the true goodbye was picture day for sophomore year and I gave her hug trying to push the tears away because I truly was happy for her I was just scared we'd drift apart.. But oh contrary we are so so close even today! 

  So sophomore year came around and we did a lot of Skype FaceTime calls and a lot of texting! Also she came and watched me cheer with another one of our best friends Lauren Jackson! It was great to see them come cheer me on!

    Then near the end of sophomore year Kendra came home to stay and go to college in town and we ended up hanging out over spring break and just watching a terrible movie it was so terrible that it was funny! Then junior year we hung out a lot she did my hair for the Christmas dance, it was so pretty I loved how she curled it and did my makeup I was real fidgety and then I couldn't stop laughing so it was really hard for her to put it on my face but I finally calmed down per se and she could put the make up on my face!  Junior year she was really busy and so I was I with school and sports and homework and the ACT! Then spring break came and she told me some news that was pretty shocking. But you know what, I never left her side and I'm never going to she is more than my best friend she has become my sister. Best friends and sisters never leave eachother when things get tough you stick together forever!When she told everyone, yes I stood by her. No matter what decisions she makes for the rest of her life I'll stay by her and back her up 110%! Okay so prom came around about a month later and Lauren and her helped me get ready for prom it was an absolute blast having them get me ready for prom! 

  So this past August some of her closest friends came together and threw her a baby shower for her and sweet baby Peyton 

-Kendra&I at her&sweet Peyton's baby shower 

   We loved on her so much showing her that we are here for her and Peyton for the long hall!

But i didn't do it because I know it'd look good I did because she's my sister,my best friend. I stand behind her and her choices and she now is the best Momma to Peyton and it makes me so happy to see her show love to her sweet daughter! Seeing her begin motherhood was such a sweet moment when I got to meet Peyton for the first time it was such an amazing experience watching her do what only a mom can do, loving her daughter and just seeing her love on Peyton and even in feeding her the bottle. I was just in awe of seeing a mothers love, it was so so precious. 

   Kendra I am so blessed with you in my life our friendship and for being my sister! I'm so proud of all of your accomplishments and your being strong and never giving up! Your such an amazing mom to Peyton it's so sweet to see you mother her! You are amazing,shining star,bright light,beautiful,gorgeous ,funny,strong,courageous,beautiful,caring,sweet,best momma ever, fabulous,daughter of the most high King,loved by so many, sister,daughter,friend, loved,loving, a rock.You are amazing I love you Kendra Michelle Brown thank you for being my best friend and sister! You've helped me so much and been there for me and I'm so happy that I get to be on this journey with you and Peyton! I'm so blessed to do life with you, I was even more blessed when you said that Peyton would love her aunt Kayla that literally brought her to tears because you know that meant the world to me that you'd pick little ole me to be her adopted aunt! I love you and miss Peyton Michelle so much! I don't know who I'd be if you hadn't come into my life 4 years ago! You are loved and so special to me and to everyone else in your life! I love you bunches Kendra! So blessed by her and our friendship she's so amazing!

This woman that I just talked about she is my best friend and more than that my sister! Love you bunches Kendra! Can't wait to see where our friendship and sisterhood goes and to the heights it goes! I'm going to end with the verse I started this post with. Love you xoxo 

Proverbs 27:17New International Version (NIV)

17 As iron sharpens iron,
    so one person sharpens another.

Speak Love&Lets all be Brave

These two things have something in common... The same author, her name is Annie F. Downs and goodness can she write and she has a huge heart for The Lord and she is absolutely funny, I spent a lot of time laughing in this book and a lot of crying not because it was bad but because it touched my heart so much!

   In speak love you hear Annie talk about how your words matter and how what you say is very powerful. Also that God loves us and He speaks love to us! Now if you want to know more y'all should go pick up Annie F. Downs book speak love at your local store! You won't regret it!

Okay one lets get to Let's all be brave oh my gosh, such an amazing book I am now more brace because I read this book, I let it and God speak to me in a way I had never felt before. You've known your whole life that your never alone but sometimes it just feels like that but reading this book and putting scripture to it, it meant a whole different thing. In Isaiah 41:10 " So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand." I really like how the message it puts- it gives me chills, here it is " don't panic. I'm with you. There's no need to fear for I am your God. I'll give you strength. I'll help you. I hold you steady, keep a firm grip on you." Hearing this and just speaking this over and telling myself that I'm not alone that God is always there for me! If you want to know more about how to let's all be brave. You should pick it up at your local store or order it online. Y'all should seriously read it!

  Y'all will love reading Annie F. Downs books you feel like your actually sitting at a coffee shop with her! 

Be brave my friends! 

Xoxo 

I was a Preemie & this is my NICU Story

Hello my name is Micaela Ryann Ziegler and I am 18 years old. I live in a little township within Kalamazoo County and I survived being a preemie and this is my story.

Almost 18 and a half years ago I was born, May 1st 1996 changed my parents lives forever. Little did they know that there little girl was going to make an appearance that day to be born none the less a preemie born at 26.4 weeks and to spend 84 days in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Bronson Hospital. Now let's get to the nitty gritty details.

May 1,1996 at 1:35 p.m. A baby girl was born at 1 lb. o.7 oz. 13 3/8 in. As I was being whisked away my mom got a quick glance and then I was whisked right away my mom didn't get to really see me until that evening. I was hooked up to a breathing tube, venalator, IV's oxygen and pulseoux. Still that day of May 1 I almost lost my left leg because of a really bad blood clot. 

This picture was from the day I was born.

Then fast forward to Mothers Day it was my Moms first Mother's Day and she couldn't even haver her baby girl home with her and I almost died that day because my heart almost stopped. Then I almost died two other times because of water getting in one of my tubes and the other time I turned completely blue. 

Then slowly but surely I began to gain strength to where I was pulling out my breathing tubes apparently I was trying to tell the doctor I didn't need help anymore! 

Finally it came to the day I could come home so we thought.. I had been having problems with my eyes and I had, had many eye surgeries and low and behold the eye doctor whisked me right away and I went into surgery on the day I was supposed to come home. 

It finally came to the day where I actually did come home and my parents couldn't have been more happy to bring me home  the days were going on and I grew and grew and became a very active little girl you wouldn't have even thought I was in a fight for my life. 

Low and behold I started preschool and I did great in my classss. But today I am happy to say that I am a Senior in High School and I cheer on the varsity team and I throw shot put and disc for our track team! I survived being a preemie and the NICU.

From 1 lb 9.7 oz to 154.7 lbs. 

I live life with so much joy and happiness! I can do anything I put my mind to with hard work and determination!

Psalm 16:11 "You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever."

This is My NICU Story! 

Good luck to those running the 5k today for the Bronson Children's Hospital NICU. Thank you so much to those of you that are it means a lot to the families that your doing this to raise money for the NICU &families! It means a lot to me that people would do that for us NICU families,especially with us being a NICU family 18 and a half years ago! 

•college is approaching soon•

   Most people don't know where they want to go to college or they have this high fetched idea that there gonna go to some great college or university. I'm that one in a million person who knows where they want to go to college, what they want to major in and that they know they still want to play a sport in college. 

  I know that Grace College is the college for me it has all what I'm looking for in a college, with there academics (elementary education) and there athletic program (cheer program). I see myself growing great friendships in college and I can see myself growing spiritually so much! Now alls I have to do is one apply and get accepted and two tryout for there cheer team and hopefully make it. The verse that makes it even better is Jeremiah 29:11 "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." 

So alls I have to do is do great when I get ready for this tryout! 

  For one some of you may say, you seem really quite Micaela and I don't see you as a cheerleader. Well think again cheerleading has brought me out of my shell and made me less shy if that's how you want to put it. It's made me go for things, you can do something if you put your mind to it, work hard, and determination!  I love cheering and I really do see myself cheering in college! I can't wait to get accepted and get on the cheer team especially if and when it's Gods plan for my life! Soon I'll be a Lancer but until then I'll be a future Lancer!