Hi! I’m Marla Henderson. The firstborn of Clint and Janice Hicks. I tell my brother and sisters that mom and dad have loved me the longest – and as you can imagine, they just LOVE that! As the oldest child, I can still remember the day that my sister Aimee was born. I wasn’t too sure about this new attention stealer because now I had to share the spotlight. She was so cute and little – a lot like she is today. Little did I know that this little bundle of cuteness would grow to be my very best friend.

Aimee and I always loved to sing together. As children, we would practice most every night in our bedroom, preparing for our future music career. Then, of course, as we grew older, life got in the way and the dream we had of performing began to fade. Then we woke up one day and realized that dreams never dreamed never come true, and that God gave us the talent of music and singing but we weren’t using it. Our dream began to breathe again.

Dad has always been a song writer and has written many wonderful songs, that we grew up singing. And I may be a bit biased, but dad is the most talented person I know. He is a wonderful guitarist, musician, writer, singer and dad! It’s no secret that Aimee and I are “daddy’s girls”. And when he realized that we were serious about going for this dream of performing, it breathed new life into him as well as Aimee and me. As far as I was concerned, it was ON!

Now, this is coming from me, the one who has always had EXTREME stage fright! Singing in front of people I didn’t know – no problem. But singing in front of friends, family and acquaintances – NO WAY!!! I was even shy when it came to singing in front of mom and dad. But, to know me, it’s hard to tell that I have ever struggled when it came to getting attention. I love being the life of the crowd! Now, being onstage is a comfortable place for me, but it was something that I had to just suck up and do.

Just a bit about my family, I have been married to my wonderful husband Nathan since December of 1998 and together we have two beautiful children, Connor and Christin. They are the light of our lives. Until I had children of my own, I never understood how much my parents love me. It is a love that is indescribable.

In June 2005, we lost twins in my 5th month of pregnancy. Four months later, I found a lump that would later be diagnosed as Stage 3 Breast Cancer. Connor was 4 years old at the time of my diagnosis. The first thing I thought of was him. I couldn’t imagine him growing up without me in his life. I decided right then and there that there was no way I was going to let this cancer beat me! My conversations with God became a seamless event – pray without ceasing – well, I did. But more than ever, God was my friend, and I could feel that. Not only did He cure me of my cancer (with the help of my wonderful doctors), but He blessed Nathan and me with a daughter, Christin in March 2008.

God promised that He would never give us more than we could bear, but I have to admit that sometimes I thought I was pretty close. It’s amazing now, to look back and see where He stepped in and took control and blessed my family in ways that at the time we couldn’t see. I know that I am still here for a reason, and pray that my story will help those I meet along the way. Since 2005, I finally learned how to “let go and let God”. It’s hard to do, but well worth it! So if you are reading this, whatever your struggle, God understands. He knows. And He had the solution planned long before you ever knew you had a problem. Let Him work in your life, so that others may know of His matchless love.

Be Blessed!

Marla