York and I are in Montgomery visiting family! We are so excited because we get to visit with my cousin, Pipi, and her family tomorrow night!! Below is a picture/blog about my incredible cousin!...
(Pipi, Aunt Mary Charles, and Goggie)
Philippa Brown:
"Pipi", Fa-Fa, Wife, Mother, Sister, Daughter, friend, child of God
I am lucky to have a cousin whom I've known my entire life as "Pipi". She is as unique as her name and amazing in every sense of the word. Pipi is the type of person that you are automatically drawn to and instantly love. She illuminates a room with her beautiful smile and dynamite personality. You cant help but fall in love immediately. Miss Congeniality pretty much sums her up... but underneath her one of a kind persona lies a woman who is truly on FIRE for Christ! I have recently had the opportunity to learn this first hand. I have always known that she was a devout Catholic and raised her children in a God fearing home. However, I did not know nor understand her relationship with our Heavenly Father. ((BACKSTORY: 11 years ago at the young age of 31 Pipi was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. She underwent chemo/ radiation therapy and a double mastectomy. She has been in remission ever since. Recently, at a routine check up the Doctors discovered that the cancer has returned and is beyond the point of chemo and radiation.))
"Only God the Father knows my day and I trust in Him!" -Pipi
Instead of letting this devastating news bring her down she chooses to look at the positive in the situation and is a firm believer in miracles. In fact, she told me, "when we get that miracle there will be no denying it's God!... and if we do not get that miracle -make no mistakes miracles will be performed for that I'm sure!" We as a human race are natural "problem solvers". We want to take everything in our own hands and fix it! We rarely trust our Lord with ALL of our heart and with ALL of our mind to take care of us. We need to take Pipi's advice and realize that God's plan for us is far better than the ones we construct on our own.
Instead of letting this devastating news bring her down she chooses to look at the positive in the situation and is a firm believer in miracles. In fact, she told me, "when we get that miracle there will be no denying it's God!... and if we do not get that miracle -make no mistakes miracles will be performed for that I'm sure!" We as a human race are natural "problem solvers". We want to take everything in our own hands and fix it! We rarely trust our Lord with ALL of our heart and with ALL of our mind to take care of us. We need to take Pipi's advice and realize that God's plan for us is far better than the ones we construct on our own.
Her faith is the best medicine!!
When she was diagnosed the first time... my mother passed on some advice that Pipi gave her during that difficult time. Pipi said, "Mary, God does not give us anything we can not handle!" (At the time she had 3 children under the age of 5! Husband was partially blind... and she was going through treatment after treatment) W.O.W That small phrase has helped me maneuver through some of the rough spots in my life. She is absolutely right... He only gives us things that make us stronger, happier, better balanced, and most importantly better Christians. She defeated the cancer and it made her a better mother, wife, friend and child of God! It made her ... her! It molded Pipi into the woman that we all love and adore. Here we are many years later with the same illness but this time Pipi "gets it"... She knows that her life here on earth although wonderful isn't near as majestic and incredible as her life in heaven will be. To elaborate my point of how amazing she truly is ... their is a facebook page dedicated to her
(you must check it out -Friends of Philippa Brown)
she commented a couple of weeks ago:
"Another wonderful day. I had someone ask why I wasn't depressed. How could I be depressed with so much love, support, and prayers... to be depressed would be nothing less than a SIN! Thank you for keeping me happy! joyfully, Philippa"
isn't she is just incredible! She never ceases to amaze me with her constant love for our Lord and others. When you tell Pipi that her outlook is completely amazing and her general spirit is one of a kind ... her only reply is that she wishes she could take the credit. She continues to glorify God with her every word and thought. She contributes her daily strength, happiness, and peace to her heavenly Father. She is one of God's best allies and why wouldn't he want her by his side each day? Selfishly we are not ready to give her up! NOT JUST YET! Pipi's heart is so full of God's love that it spills over to others... her explosive Joy is contagious! Her positive thoughts and attitude can only be contributed to her perfect love for her Heavenly Father... if you look real close you can see his EYES shining through hers. She is remarkable in more ways than we will ever know. Pray that each day Pipi is able to help her family and friends understand what she already knows... Pray for her children that they will grow understanding hearts...hearts like hers! Most of all pray for Neal (her husband) that he will walk with her daily and Cherish every second and every breathe and know in his soul that he has found a love and a person that most look an eternity for and do not find.
Lord... thank you so much for Pipi! Thank you for giving me an Earthly example of a person who loves you completely and always gives you the glory. Pipi is a person of love, person of purpose, person of great character, person of prayer, person of the word, and most importantly a person of hope! All characteristics that we all work daily to embody. She is an amazing role model and a definite gift!
I thought it would be fitting to include a verse from Philippians since it is so very close to her name... Paul wrote: "Whatever happens conduct yourself in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ." -Philippians 1:27
Christians strive a lifetime for a lifestyle that honors Christ and our Pipi gets it right daily!!
Live each day with a "Pipi-fied attitude" with this verse on your tongue: "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight." -Proverbs 3:5-6
