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I'm Shay! I’m a cookbook author, lifestyle blogger, travel agency owner, wife and mama who loves making every day special for my family.

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Mix & Match Mama

Friends ·

2 Years Ago Today.


Two years ago today, I lost my sweet friend, Manda.

For those of you who are new around here, Manda was one of my very best friends.  Two years ago today, after her third time battling cancer, she met Jesus face to face…at only 35 years old and leaving behind a husband and two precious kiddos.

So many of you prayed for her as she battled cancer, donated to her family’s Go Fund Me page, bought t-shirts, supported the charity created in her honor and so much more.  From the bottom of my heart, thank you.  Please keep praying for her family…especially for her sweet parents.  This, of course, has been so hard on everyone, but it’s been extremely hard on her mom and dad.

If you want to be really blessed today…you should watch her celebration of life service HERE.  I’m telling you…YOU WILL BE BLESSED BY IT.  It was such an amazing service, full of determination, hope, joy and love that can only come from having a personal relationship with Christ.  It is inspiring. I watched it on Thursday afternoon for like the 15th time and bawled my eyes out.  It’s amazing and wonderful and you should watch it.

You can also watch the video tribute that includes Manda herself sharing the gospel of Jesus HERE and the slideshow presentation that was shown at her visitation and before and after her celebration of life service HERE.

 

For the last two years, I have proudly sat on the board of The Manda Strong Foundation where we help mamas with cancer here in Collin County create special memories and moments with their families.  If you would like to learn more about our foundation, please visit our website HERE.  If you’re local and are or know a mom with cancer, you can nominate them on our site as well.  It has been such a blessing getting to pray for and love on these mamas so bravely battling cancer.

Two years without her, but two years closer to seeing her again one day.

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Comments

  3. Susan says

    Your friend was an inspiration to everyone. Spray that her family and friends friend peace and comfort in the fact that her life was so precious to so many others. Job well done by God’s good and faithful servant.

  6. Elspeth Mizner says

    So incredibly sorry for your loss!! Whenever you post about her I always think about how many lives she touched and how her memory lives on. Keeping everyone in my thoughts and prayers

  8. Kerri says

    Oh Shay, she seems like she was such an amazing woman and anyone who knew her or crossed paths with her was truly blessed. I was able to watch bits and pieces of her celebration of life. So beautiful in every way, Such an inspiring and uplifting celebration, Faith over Fear <3

  9. Amanda Wilson says

    This post sure brings back a flood of emotions. I also lost one of my best friends to cancer 2 years ago as well. Manda I am sure has brought many people to Jesus!! I hope you can still enjoy Boston with Andrew today and not feel to heavy in emotion.

  10. jamie says

    oh gosh. two years. i sobbed through her celebration of life. i think about it often. it is absolutely worth re-visiting for those who watched. and if you have new readers, i say to them: go watch it. i’m going to be completely honest. my church gives boring funerals. my older girls all know that i want a celebration of life that is inspired by manda’s. thank you, shay, for sharing your sweet friend with us and for always remembering her.

  11. Lisa Little says

    Thank you for sharing Manda’s beautiful story. My beautiful 28 year old daughter, Brea passed away on February 3rd after a courageous 5 year battle with brain cancer. She inspired many people with her faith as well. I hope she meets Manda in Heaven.

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      I am so sorry, Lisa. I’m going to stop right now and pray for you and your family. Thank you so much for sharing Brea’s story with me. xo

  12. Rebecca Jo says

    I cant believe its been 2 years. I thought it was coming on one. Wow…
    I know her presence is still so missed by so many… that’s what happens when a good friend leaves us.
    Praying her family is making it through

  13. Liz says

    She was so special. I didn’t know her until after moving to Africa but often would exchange sweet messages of encouragement for each other. She loved Jesus. She was so so special. Just knowing she’s with Jesus makes my heart happy.

  14. Patty says

    Couldn’t watch it all. I am in my second battle with cancer (this time with my liver, first time with my lung. I am trying to have faith over fear but I am losing the battle. I find out next month whether this radiation worked and I wonder where it will pop up next time.

    • Mix and Match Mama says

      Patty, I am praying for you right now. I am so sorry. Please keep me updated. Praying!

  15. Laura Reimer says

    She was our oldest daughter’s age. I can’t even wrap my mind around it. Prayers for all of you who still miss her so much and for her family. Thank you for sharing <3

  16. Abby Larson says

    Shay, thanks for sharing Manda’s story with us! What a wonderful tribute, and she was a beautiful woman! Her life was really well-lived and not at all wasted. Even someone like me in Illinois, never having met Manda, can see her Christlike spirit and the joy that living a life like Christ can give someone. And the impact it has on others. What a legacy she leaves behind. And it’s great that you and her friends and family get the opportunity to honor her through caring for other cancer mamas. God bless you and your ministry, not only Manda’s foundation but also this blog, Shay!

  17. Jackie says

    Hi Shay, I can’t believe it’s been 2 years since you lost your sweet friend Manda. I’ve been a blog reader of yours for a few years now and it doesn’t seem like it’s been that long. Thinking of you and Manda’s family today. XO