I believe we each have a story.

When we tell those stories, we connect with each other and discover more of God’s story…And His story is ultimately all about His grace.

If life was perfect, there would be no need for grace.

If we were perfect, we wouldn’t need grace. (There would be no sin.)
If others were perfect, we wouldn’t need grace. (There would be no need to give grace.)
If our lives were perfect, we wouldn’t need grace. (We could handle it all in our own strength.)

But we aren’t perfect. Life isn’t perfect. As a matter of fact, it’s often quite messy. And that’s when we need it most, because…

Grace is for the messy times.

It’s for the little messes like sleepless nights and the times we forget to hold our tongues.

It’s for the big messes like when we suffer loss and hear words like “cancer.”

It’s for the normal days and the crazy days

The fun days and the fearful days

The simple times and the silly times.

Because when our messy lives meet genuine faith…There is grace.

It’s not just a one-time gift that happened over 2,000 years ago, but a daily (sometimes moment-by-moment) occurence. A gift for me (and you) when we need it most.

What else should you know about me?

  • God knew what He was doing when He brought me my husband 12 years ago, although we had no idea what we were in for when we said, “for better or worse, in sickness and in health”!
  • We have two incredibly adorable, funny, and talented children (seriously, they are) who routinely fill me with maternal adoration and frustrate me to the point of insanity.
  • I am a two-time cancer-overcomer who has navigated both traditional and alternative treatment.
  • I am the mom of a child with multiple food allergies, which means we have learned to communicate clearly and succinctly with those in the food preparation industry.
  • I love chocolate (probably a little too much) and a good chat with friends over coffee. I am a list-making, type-A, firstborn with a few control issues (OK, maybe more than a few).
  • I mourn the loss of my 20-something metabolism and therefore have developed a love-hate relationship with my treadmill (see my love for chocolate above).
  • There Is Grace is my place to put “fingers to keyboard” and work out my thoughts on faith, family, and finding grace. I’d love to share more of my story with you!

Want to read more?
Finding Hope When Life Sucks
Losing My Hair to Chemo
What Love Is…Really
When You Need Community
Letting Go (a.k.a. Perfectionistics Anonymous)

27 thoughts on “Welcome!

  1. Hi there! I’m visiting from the (in)courage group today and I’m so happy to have found your blog. I hear so much about your story that I resonate with. I’m a cancer survivor too (my tumor was declared ‘benign’ but the type it is is still “cancer.”). I’m also a Mama and a lover of grace. It’s so nice to meet you!

  2. Hi, I popped over from the Ultimate Blog Party 2013. While I haven’t dealt with cancer personally, I am praying for several loved ones with different forms of it. And as a caregiver for decades, I can join with you to say – no matter what, for real and for true, there is grace from God no matter what we are going through! Thank you for a lovely and encouraging visit today. Blessings to you and your family!

  3. Your name alone is what lead me to click on your link at the UBP. There really *is* always, always, always grace. Grace is “my word for the year”, as well as an underlying theme of my blog… I write about living an intentional life in light of God’s grace. I’d love to have you visit my little corner of the web sometime: http://www.domesticblissdiaries.com.

    God Bless!

    1. Thank you so much for stopping by, Alana! My husband will be glad to know you like the name…he helped me come up with it (for the very reasons you mentioned). 🙂 Looking forward to stopping in at your blog!

  4. Beautiful! I’m visiting from UBP and I completely agree that it’s all grace. Our journey has included several struggles, but God has always been faithful and sufficient. I’m looking forward to following your journey.

  5. What a beautiful post. Writing is as much of me as breathing is, so I understand your need and love to write. I also understand the chocolate relationship all too well. Praying for you and your complete healing.

  6. This might be the most beautifully written about me page I’ve ever read. I just spend some time browsing around. I love your style of writing. Thanks for joining the Mommy-Brain Mixer.

  7. nancy, so glad i found your blog on fellowship friday:) loved the article re starbucks and the church:) i think our blogs have some similar goals. of course, your writing is much better than mine:)

    i didn’t grow up wanting to be a writer like many bloggers. i was late in my 50’s when i started writing on a blog…but i love it. i really need to take a writing class someday!

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  9. Yes, I truly believe in the value of each person sharing their story. We do all have something to bring to this world and to someone to touch with our lives. Sharing our story is one way of doing that! I look forward to getting to know you and your story better online. I’m glad we’ll have that chance through (in)courage!

  10. Have been stage 4 melanoma since June 2016, am currently on Keytruda. Last scan showed hot spot on lower spine and further tests inconclusive, so we’re in “wait and monitor” mode while I continue on keytruda until August. I have been through such an emotional roller coaster for two years that I thought I was alone in. But your book Unshakable, which I am halfway through, showed me I am in fact very far from alone in these feelings and that has helped me – as have your faith-building scriptural references. I am doing everything I can to keep my faith strong. I was really happy to see that you are still a survivor and thank you for sharing your personal thoughts which have helped me. If you will, please say a pray for me as well. God bless you.

  11. Nancy, I was researching family history when I came across your name. I’d like to invite you to the only Backues reunion that I know of and explain how it came to be. If you’d like to inquire, please email me. Thank you for sharing your story.

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