Hi, Doves! Well, as of the time of this posting, I have made it THREE MONTHS smoke-free, after 35 years of incessant puffing away!!!  :) Here's a new look for my Quit Smoking page, and new additions.  New additions include MANY heart-wrenching stories from those who have developed COPD (emphysema) from smoking, as well as a woman who was divinely healed of COPD!  Here's an excerpt from one man's story: Sit down somewhere and relax a little and when you feel comfortable, take your right or left hand and with your thumb and forefinger, hold your nose shut. While holding your nose shut, cover your mouth tightly with the rest of your hand so you can just barely breathe through your fingers.  Now,  walk for about 40 steps and turn around and come back while still breathing through your hand. Now, do you see how hard it is to breathe? Especially when you try to walk around? That is what Emphysema is and that is what smoking can do to you. Not for awhile, but when you are older and it is too late to do anything about it. Also, here is my opening on the page, which will explain more to you:Hi, precious friends!

I am a 53-year-old, born-again Christian woman, who began smoking when I was 18 years old (1971).  I continued to smoke nonstop ever since that time, until I was blessed enough for the Lord to allow me to develop acute bronchitis at the end of May 2006!  I say blessed enough, because it could have been emphysema, a heart attack, a stroke, or any number of incurable, debilitating diseases.  But because of His lovingkindness, He gave me another chance... a chance to finally listen to the "hints" He'd been giving me for a couple of months before then (shortness of breath, numbing in my hands, and the feeling of having an elephant stepping on my chest).  Read "My original prayer request" below for the full story!  All praise be to El Shaddai!  If you've never begun smoking, don't START!  If you smoke now, QUIT!!!  Use the nicotine patches, or whatever is necessary to ensure you stay quit, but QUIT!!!  If you need to talk to someone who's been there, done that, please write me at the email address at the bottom of this page.  I will be MORE than happy to help in any way I can!  BTW, each January 1st, I ask the Lord what I can do special for Him that year.  This year, He didn't give me an answer until last week... this is what He'd like me to do for Him in 2006... quit smoking (which I have) and try to be an encouragement to others who are trying to break this all-consuming habit!

Love to you in Him!
Peggy