Something special...

Meet Melanie and Jim. This couple have been through a lot over the past year. The story although long can be told in one word... cancer.

A year ago this coming June, Jim was diagnosed with Cancer. Treatments started almost immediately by sending him to Houston, Texas and MD Anderson. While there the treatments were long and hard with the love of friends and family all around. Watching this was both hard and joyful. Why joyful, because it taught me to live everyday to the fullest. Why joyful, because it taught me to treasure the ones I hold closest to me. Why joyful, because it helped me to strengthen my walk with God.

Well fast forward 10 months and here we are, June '06. Jim had a bone marrow transplant that resulted in him being cancer free. He was released from MD Anderson in time to spend Christmas at home with his family and friends. I can't help but tear up when I recall his homecoming. Altough I wasn't there, it is a powerful story.

See on their way home a majority of their town began planning for his arrival. People decorated his home with Yellow Ribbons, Many were signed by those who loved him most. Jim works at the court house and all of his co-workers decorated with yellow ribbons too. Finally, when they were almost home, everyone came out and lined the streets to cheer him home.

Talk about LOVE. Because of his immune system he couldn't come in contact with everyone, but to think that many people would go out of their way just to say, "Welcome home, we missed you!" Wow, that's special.

Anyway, Jim isn't just an acquaintance, he's my father-in-law. IT had been almost a year since his last visit. My wife and I traveled down to Houston several times to see everyone. You may remember reading some of my older posts about this. Anyway, while they were up, we went out to get a few images.

They are a beautiful couple that have so much love for each other. They will inspire anyone to do more and be all they can be. (Stolen for an ARMY commercial...)



As a Mary Kay rep, Melanie just loves pink... or it could be that she's a girl and all girls love pink...



my personal favorite, my son is now spoiled. Thanks...


--jesse