c.j.  it sounds like god has braught you through a lot.  great testimony. 
glad you could join us.

my name is jenifer.  my husband jeremy is also on the list.  we've been 
married since november of 05.  God is good!
Jenifer gilley
"Friends are angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble 
remembering how to fly."
Author unknown
AIM: jenibear1998
msn
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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "CJ Daniel" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Wednesday, March 29, 2006 2:39 AM
Subject: Hello Everyone


Hello,

My name is C J Daniel & I'd like to thank everyone who has taken the time to 
welcome me to the list.  It seems that taking a few minutes to post 
something about yourself, as a new subscriber, is traditional.  So without 
more fanfare, I will attempt to do that, without taking up to much of your 
time, but in hopes of covering the most salient points of my walk with Jesus 
Christ.

I, like Phil, was blinded @ the age of nine-years by retinal detachments in 
the early 70's.  I will fast-forward through the next thirty-years, for 
which you can all be thankful, as there is not a lot that is holy or 
righteous to report on during this period.  Generally speaking, I would say 
it was full of the normal amount of stupidity & sin that is found in the 
day-to-day life of the average back-sliding believer.  But, there were more 
interesting "valleys of the Shadow" in my future.

In 2001 shortly after 9-11, my 4-year-old daughter, Sarah, was diagnosed 
with trilateral retinal blastoma.  For those of you who don't know, this is 
a form of the disease that spreads from the retinas to the pineal gland, 
which is located in the center of your brain.  This form of the disease, 
unfortunately, has a nearly universal mortality rate.

I will not detail the year that followed Sarah's diagnosis.  I will simply 
say that in the midst of great anguish there can be great joy & laughter. 
In that year, I saw a little hero struggle bravely with her fate.  She did, 
with dignity & courage, what I doubt I could accomplish with even half of 
the grace she displayed.

The night before she died in our home, I prayed that the Lord would take 
her.  She had already seen so very much, & we had been informed that her 
ending could be extremely uncomfortable.  I didn't want to see her under-go 
anymore suffering.

It was as if I felt a warm and golden light suddenly surround me as I 
prayed.  And, a voice inside me seemed to say, "I've only waited for you to 
be able to let go."  @ that place & time, & in that circumstance, I knew the 
peace that surpasses all understanding.  The next day @ noon with her family 
around her bed, Sarah passed quietly to our Lord in heaven two-weeks in 
advance of all medical predictions.  I learned, later that same day, that 
every adult present had been praying @ the same time as myself, all be it 
separately, for Sarah's release from her travail.

Within months of that passing, our family was dealt another body blow. 
Sarah's mom, who had shared a milder form of the ailment, was diagnosed with 
a recurrence of the disease, after more than 30-years of remission.  The 
disease led to major surgeries, chemotherapy, & many hospitalizations.  But 
most insidious of all, it led to a general erosion of her personality, 
values, & faith.  I learned later that this is not uncommon with cancer that 
effects the brain or, surprisingly, the liver.  In the end she left myself & 
our two surviving children.

I will not speculate overly much about her leaving.  In fact, I believe that 
simply stated she had endured to much.  Her own illness coupled with the 
loss of a much beloved daughter had taken its toll.  Also, my belief is that 
it does, as the old saw says, take two to make a marriage.  I confess, 
fully, that  I bare a measure of the blame for her confusion & 
disillusionment.

However, I bare witness that throughout the time since Sarah's passing & 
that prayer for her final deliverance, the Lord has comforted me.  He has 
made his face to shine upon me.  I have clung to him as a small child clings 
to his father.  And in these last few years, he has blessed me.  He has, 
indeed, led me beside still waters.  He has made me to lie in green 
pastures.  Like Jobe, he has restored me.

A little more than a year ago, I met & married a woman who's first words to 
me were, "can we pray."  We recently had a baby girl named, Juliana 
Katherine Daniel.  Our blended family is a blessing to me each & everyday. 
The Lord continues to teach me through my little flock.

But more importantly, he continues to walk & talk with me.  He led me to 
leave my job as Director of Client Services @ a small guide dog school in 
southern California & move to Tucson, AZ.  Both I & my children have 
benefited immensely, in ways I could have not predicted, by this God 
inspired move.  He has recently opened doors that allow me to share the 
songs of worship that he has inspired me to write.  In addition, I am soon 
to be a community group leader for my new church.

I know that I have gone on overly long in writing this.  But, I am so 
excited about what he has done for me that I just want to share my testimony 
with the world.  Also, quite honestly, it is my way of sharing some of the 
things that I learned from Sarah's passing.  I hope you all will forgive me 
for my verbosity.  I trust, I will not be so lengthy in the future.  I look 
forward to sharing with each of you the love of our Lord.

In Him,

C J Daniel