New name

Hi friends!! ❤️

My new name is actually not new because I use it on all my social media platforms. Vivjoywriter is now my current blog name and for those who don’t know Joy is actually my middle name (thanks mama)!!

Joy is not the same as happiness…it’s so much more. It’s a deep peace regardless of outward circumstances that God gives to us as we journey through life. Joy can be felt on a mountain top or in a cancer clinic. Joy can be given at the worst of moments because Joy is God’s heart pouring peace upon us at any given time and in His providential way.

Do I have Joy? Joy after being diagnosed with a progressive autoimmune disease? Joy after losing my husband of 24 years to a deadly brain tumor? Joy in the bringing up of four kids by myself?

I can honestly say YES!! But this Joy isn’t from me being happy or keeping my head in the sand and avoiding the hard things. My Joy is a gift from God. He alone gets me up out the bed. He keeps me from total despair, loneliness, heartache, and pain 💔 Because He keeps showing up..He’s always there and that my friends is exactly the Joy I’m talking about. The Joy of the Lord is my strength. The Joy in a full fellowship with Him that makes my heart burst with warmth. Jesus is experienced in our deepest suffering because that is when we fellowship with him in the most intimate way because He suffered too.

So here is my new blog name and I hope as I share my heart and God’s love with you, true Joy will be experienced together as we remember this world is not our home and who is walking with us through every trial we face. God bless you friends and keep you.

Much love,

Viv 🤗

Tennessee kitty 😺

Glioblastoma

My husband never gets sick, he never gets colds, flus, or anything. My kids and I get sick and cough all over our small house but Mark……he never gets sick!

Until now.

After 4 and 1/2 hours of a diagnostic brain biopsy we have the dreaded diagnosis. Glioblastoma. Until just recently I couldn’t even pronounce the word and now it’s all I think about. This aggressive cancer is mean and nasty with a grim outlook due to high mortality rates. The prognosis for my beloved is not what anyone can handle hearing. 12 months. That’s all we’ve been given which is more generous than the 6 month life expectancy they gave him if we’d chosen to not pursue treatments.

So we fight. My hubby is a fighter and I am too. We’re not going down without one and we’re certainly not giving up. Yes, glioblastoma is a hard reality but our days aren’t numbered by doctors. God numbers our days. God knows the outcome. God is in control.

Since writing the above there are some changes…..

We’ve made a decision to get another opinion at Duke in NC. Please pray for us! The team at Duke specialises in brain tumors and are known nationwide for their advancements in brain tumor research. We are at peace knowing God is leading us there. And we continue to hope.❤

Much love,

Viv