She beat cancer twice—then did something Hollywood celebrities never do: she told the truth about what comes after. Her name is Kathy Bates. Long before illness rewrote part of her story, she was already a force in American cinema. By the early 1990s, she'd claimed an Academy Award for Best Actress with a performance in Misery so controlled and terrifying it secured her place in film history. She became known not for glamour, but for something rarer: women who were sharp, complex, and impossible to ignore. Then ovarian cancer arrived in 2003. Quietly. Privately. She told almost no one. Treatment happened away from headlines and press cycles. For nine years, the public didn't know. Not because of shame—but because she refused to let illness eclipse her craft. She didn't want to become a story about survival instead of an actor doing the work. Then came 2012. Breast cancer this time, and a double mastectomy at sixty-three. The physical changes were irreversible. The cultural expectations around women's bodies—especially older women in Hollywood—were unforgiving. Kathy Bates made a choice that cut against every industry instinct: she told the truth. Both cancers. Both recoveries. No performance of gratitude. Just facts, stated plainly. And then she did something even rarer. She talked about lymphedema. Most people have never heard the word. It's a chronic condition that happens when lymph nodes are damaged or removed during cancer treatment. The lymphatic system can't drain properly, causing painful swelling—often permanent—usually in the arms. It limits mobility. It causes fatigue. It increases infection risk. It requires lifelong management. And it's almost never discussed. After surgery, Bates developed lymphedema in both arms. Compression sleeves became part of daily life. So did physical therapy, constant monitoring, and navigating pain. Many survivors aren't warned in advance. Many don't learn the word until they're already living with it. So Kathy Bates said it out loud.

This is my Personal Morning Prayer Good morning, Lord. Thank You that I can feel my breath. That I can hear the birdies singing. That I am awake, aware, and alive. Today, Lord, I ask You to drown out the noise — the outside voices, the inner chatter — and remind me how happy You want me to be. So today, I am asking Your permission to do what makes Debra happy. And I promise, I will always ask You if it makes You happy too. Thank You for allowing me to hear Your Voice. I've learned to recognize Your Voice over the years, I will know in my spirit if You approve or not. Let me hear only Your Voice today, I pray. As I breathe in the soft, familiar fragrance of the perfume I’ve worn for over fifty years —a scent that smells like me —I’m reminded You have known me through every season of my life. Now, as I slowly open my eyes, I pray reverently that I will see every person eye to eye that you put in my path today the way You see them. Lord, You give me plenty of resources and opportunities. Help me recognize them. Help me notice the God-winks,the quiet nudges,the divine appointments hidden inside ordinary moments. Give me courage to obey quickly when You prompt me. Let me not hesitate when You are moving. And when this day is done, Lord, whisper to me before I fall asleep: “Well done, My good and faithful servant.I entrusted you with My gifts,and you used them wisely and faithfully.” You said if I am faithful over a few things, You will entrust me with more and invite me to enter into the joy of the Lord. I can’t imagine what the Joy of the Lord will be like…but I long for it. I long for eternal fellowship with You. Send Your Holy Spirit — my Helper —to guide me, steady me, and help me use my gifts wisely and faithfully today. Amen. Grandma Grady

FRIDAY ~ FAVOR, FAITH & CELEBRATION Early morning today. Earlier than my usual 5:00 a.m. The house is still quiet. Darkness just beginning to soften at the edges of the sky. There’s an energy in the air. Not nervous. Not anxious.Just… anticipation. Today is Friday the 13th. A date that has never carried superstition for me.Years ago, on a Friday the 13th, I found a $20 bill. Since then, I always find something — a penny, a dime, a dollar — and I smile. My little “money from Heaven” reminder. One and three. Lucky numbers for me. My birthdate backwards. My My baby sister born on the 13th. Move-in dates. New jobs. Fresh beginnings. The 13th has always whispered favor to me — not fear. And today…today is a big one. Tonight is Night to Shine 2026. 👑✨ Over 970 churches. All 50 states. Over 70 countries. Thousands and thousands of Kings and Queens being celebrated. I’ve been up early because my heart is already there. With the gowns.The corsages.The red carpets.The parents wiping tears.The volunteers cheering. There is something so holy about celebrating someone the world often overlooks. And as I sip my coffee this morning, I think about how interesting it is —that a day many call “unlucky” is a day I have always associated with blessing. Perspective changes everything. TODAY’S REFLECTION What if the date you feared is actually marked for favor? What if the label you’ve accepted isn’t the truth at all? God has a way of turning what others call unlucky into something deeply beautiful. PRAYER God, Thank You for reframing things in my life. For turning superstition into celebration. For marking my days with quiet reminders that You are in control. Tonight, as thousands of special needs Kings and Queens are honored across the world, let Your joy flood every room. Let parents feel seen. Let volunteers feel purposeful. Let every child feel crowned, cherished, and adored. Help us remember that You determine favor — not a date on a calendar. And if today is marked with blessing, help us recognize it.

FRIDAY ~ INTEGRATION & GRATITUDE Inside. Quiet again. Breath slower.Week settling into place. I’m back at my desk this morning, the same view outside—snow still lingering, softened now by time and footsteps. The rush of the week has eased, and what remains feels quieter, fuller. My Bible is still open where I left it. My notebook carries the traces of conversations, thoughts, prayers. The chair beneath me feels familiar—steady. This week held movement. Anticipation and Connection. Moments that stretched me and moments that confirmed what I already knew. I’m learning that Fridays aren’t meant to push us forward as much as they are meant to help us take stock. To notice what landed. What shifted. What deserves gratitude before we move on. God doesn’t waste a single moment. Even the ones that felt uncertain at first. Especially those. So today, I pause—not to analyze, but to acknowledge. The growth. The grace. The quiet ways God met me right where I was. TODAY'S REFLECTION Before you rush into what’s next, take a moment to honor what this week has already given you. PRAYER God, Thank You for carrying us through this week—for the seen and unseen ways You guided, protected, and stretched us. Help us integrate what we’ve learned and release what no longer needs to be carried forward. Teach us to end this week with gratitude rather than exhaustion, with trust rather than striving. As we move toward rest, may our hearts remain open and our spirits grounded in You. Amen. 🙏 Until tomorrow, may you rest well, release gently, and remember—you are never alone. With love, Grandma Grady

TUESDAY ~ TRUST IN THE ORDINARY It’s bitter cold outside this morning. I’m sitting at my desk, wrapped in a warm sweater, looking out through the patio window at my backyard. The temperature reads 19 degrees, and the wind makes it feel even colder. The waterfall is still flowing, birds still arrive, and winter does what winter does—quietly, faithfully, without asking permission. Inside, it’s warm. My laptop is open. My notebook rests nearby. A pen waits patiently. Beside me are the familiar, ordinary pieces of my morning routine —water, shaker cup, supplements I prepare each day without much thought. Nothing about this moment is flashy. Nothing is rushed. Nothing is trying to impress. And yet, this is where trust is built. As I mix my Immunocal BodyShot, I find myself thinking about why. Why do I arrange my mornings the way I do. Why, no matter the weather or the schedule, I make space for my daily Zooms with my mentor @Robert Hollis and my Unlimited Wisdom Skool community. It’s not obligation. It's not habit alone. It’s the experience. The service. The smiles. The laughter. The wisdom shared freely. The way you feel welcomed, valued, and seen the moment you arrive. When all else is equal, people go where the experience feels alive. Where they’re heard. Where they’re appreciated. Where love shows up in extraordinary ways, day after day. Trust grows quietly like this—through consistency, care, and presence. Not in grand gestures, but in choosing what nourishes us again and again. TODAY'S REFLECTION Trust is built in the ordinary moments you choose to return to. Pay attention to what feeds your spirit. PRAYER God, Thank You for meeting us in the ordinary. Help us recognize the quiet gifts woven into our daily routines. Guide us toward spaces and people who uplift, encourage, and remind us who we are. Teach us to trust what brings life, warmth, and connection—even on the coldest days. Amen. 🙏 Until tomorrow, may you walk gently, trust deeply, and remember—you are never alone.