Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Plasmapheresis

Had a treatment yesterday.  Feel crappy today.  Have another treatment tomorrow.  Hopefully will feel better by the weekend.  Then not going back til January!!  Woot Woot!

Monday, November 28, 2011

Book Review: Benny's Angel

Book Summary
 Benny's Angel
 Who stole the flowers in God’s Secret Garden?
 
When Ella Eagle discovers that the flowers in God’s Secret Garden have wilted, she alerts Mayor Benny Bunny. The main suspect in the case is evil Count Slime, who is jealous of the joy the animals have in the garden. Mayor Benny calls in Oliver Owl, the captain of the Owl Force Wisdom Watchers, but the owls have not seen Count Slime during their patrols of the garden. Mayor Benny suggests the animals pray for an answer. God hears their prayer and sends Marietta the angel to help them solve the mystery.
 
This delightful tale uses animals, nature, and a visit from an angel to teach children the importance of prayer and the value of trusting God.
 
Author Bio
Laura Allen
Nonemaker
Laura Allen Nonemaker’s desire to write took root as a child in Bermuda. Since then, Laura has written in a variety of genres and her work has appeared in Essence Treasury: Celebrating the Season, Alive! and Kentucky Monthly Magazine.
 
Laura has been involved in short-term missions, including trips to Russia, Poland, and the University of the Nations in Kailua Kona, Hawaii. Three years ago, her interest in the arts motivated her to join the planning team for Artful Missions, which conducts juried art shows and donates to outreaches in the U.S. and India to rescue women and children from human trafficking.
 
Feel free to contact Laura at lauranonemaker@gmail.com
 
Connect with Laura at These Social Networking Sites:
 
Q & A with Laura:
Why did you write Benny’s Angel?
Benny’s Angel was the result of an occurrence in my “secret garden.” While seated on my garden bench praying, I noticed a rabbit hopping through the garden. The Benny’s Angel scenario came to me. I sensed it was significant and in about ten minutes, I developed the basic storyline.
 
Why do you think reading is important for parents to emphasize with children, both by reading to them and fostering a healthy reading appetite as they develop their own reading skills? 
I believe the time to instill a love for reading in children is when they are toddlers and beginning to experience the power of communication in their relationships. Children are ready to absorb whatever they see and hear going on around them, whether it is good or bad. It is important to read them stories that ignite their imagination and plant the seeds of sound moral principles.
 
What issues do you address in Benny’s Angel, and why do children need these sorts of stories to help them through life? 
In the story of Benny’s Angel, the animals in God’s Secret Garden encounter a problem. They are unable to solve it themselves and pray to God for an answer. God answers their prayer by means of an angel. Benny’s Angel teaches the importance of prayer and of trusting God to answer our prayers. These principles filter naturally through the storyline and without the need for sermonizing. Children will face all kinds of problems and challenges as they grow up and stories based on sound biblical principles lay a strong foundation for their future.
 
Tell us about the next book you have coming out after Benny’s Angel.
The next book in the God’s Secret Garden Adventure Series is about a little frog. Through some misadventures, he learns the importance of obedience.
 
Grand Prize Giveaway
$85.87 Value
  • 1 Vivitar Camcorder with Camera and 2X Zoom
  • 1 Benny's Angel Picture Book
  • 1 Benny's Angel 3-D Book
  • 1 Benny's Angel Coloring Book
  • 1 Benny's Angel Audio Book
  • 1 Benny's Angel T Shirt 
  • 1 Benny Christmas Ornament
  • 1 Marietta Christmas Ornament
  • 1 96-Count Crayola Crayons
 My personal review of the book:  It was a great object lesson on prayer, and how children can pray about anything.  They can ask God to help them find something, or do something; my son asks God to help him eat new foods, because he is a VERY picky eater, and he needs to eat some of the same things Mommy and Daddy eat at supper.  
 
While I understand this is a children's book, it seemed a tiny bit juvenile. For some reason, the name "Count Slime" really bothered me. Jacob needed a little help staying on task and paying attention to everything in the book. One other thing I didn't "love" was that God sent a visible angel to Benny after he prayed. I wouldn't want Jacob to think that his prayers aren't being heard or answered if he didn't SEE an angel.
 
If you would like to participate in the giveaway, leave a comment on this blog post. 
 
One name will be drawn on December 8 and sent to the promoter.  Your name will go in the grand prize giveaway, and the winner will be chosen on December 12.  Good luck!

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Me, Me, Me

I had a hard time finding a title for this post because all the adjectives I wanted to use would have taken up too much space.

First of all, I'm glad people (from the feedback I've received) understood my Thanksgiving post.
Second, my dad is doing good, but still in lots of pain, and he's having swelling in his feet.

Third, Doug and I did a bit of "Black Friday" shopping.  Therein lies the crux of this post.  I do not like crowds.  I do not go to any stores that are going to be super crowded.  We try to do a lot of local shopping... Doug did get up early to go to a few places (early like 6 AM, not 3 AM or worse yet, 2 days prior).  We saved some money.  It was great.

However.  When we watched the news that night, once again there were stories of pushing and trampling and shoving and injuries and police interventions and even a pepper spray incident.  And for what?  To save a few bucks.

I was appalled.  I was disgusted.  I was reminded just how abased and polluted our society is.  I mean, if people want to camp out in front of Best Buy for 3 days to save $100.00 on some new gadget, bully for them.  And, in my humble opinion, it should be first come first serve.  I must also say, in my humble opinion, that NOTHING of material substance is worth hours, let alone DAYS of MY time.  Are you kidding me?

But these stores, Walmart, Best Buy, Target....they need a better system.  Watching people shove and push and TRAMPLE other people to get "a deal" made me want to vomit.  I don't know why I should be surprised to see actions like that...some people beat their children, their spouses, their animals...some people rape and murder, lie, cheat, steal....we all have our faults.

I see things like this on TV and think, this is REAL.  This isn't a movie or some crazy story.  These are average, every day people, who are willing to trample over another human being to get Stuff.  Sickening. 

At the Target store in Holland, Michigan, police needed to be called to break up a fight over someone "cutting in line."  Once again at Walmart, someone making a beeline for a bargain fell, and was trampled and had to go to the hospital.  At a Walmart in Los Angeles, a woman sprayed the people around her with PEPPER SPRAY to ensure she got an X-box.   In Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, a woman was shot in the foot when a robber attempted to steal her Black Friday loot.  In Little Rock, Arkansas, I saw a video of people screaming and pushing and diving into a pile of $2.00 waffle makers.  Seriously? A waffle maker???

The depravity of mankind reaches new lows every day.  And I think the stores should be held partially accountable.  For example:  a local store here, Pamida, goes outside to the shoppers in line, and asks what "big-ticket" items or "super-sale" they are interested in.  They have a voucher for each item and give it to the people in line.  First come, first get.  So if you're 100th in line, and they only had 50 $2.00 waffle makers, well, you're SOL.  But no one gets stun-gunned or pepper-sprayed, or SHOT for crying out loud.

That would ELIMINATE all the pushing and shoving and trampling, because you'd have to have a voucher to get the item.  If you tried to buy it without the voucher, it wouldn't be sold to you.  Now, I'm a 40 year old Mid-Western housewife, and my small town Pamida store does this.  It's not rocket science.

Anyway. I'll get off my soap box now.  I just wish people would put 1/10th of the effort and energy they spend on Black Friday sales into doing something GOOD for SOMEONE ELSE instead of it always being "me first."

Friday, November 25, 2011

Well, I Did It!!!

Without losing what was left of my mind, I have successfully gotten 55,806 words of my book in a document (backed up on a separate memory thingamajiggy of course!).  I did it!  I did NaNoWriMo.  That's INSANE!!
Now granted, a lot of stuff I already had written on my blog and other documents, and it's certainly not ready for print...(I have a LOT more to say!)  But in "book format" on the Word document it's like 192 pages!  Oh. My. Freaking. Word!!  There's some photos and some columns of stuff, but even it you take away all that it would still be like 175 pages.  It's like I just flippin' wrote 175 page book! 

It's SO not done though.  Lots more to do, and the editing will be tedious and horrifying.  But I have made a HUGE step forward in completely this challenge.

And I even went shopping today on Black Friday.  Yes, I AM out of my mind, thank you.

My dad is doing okay.  Still in a ton of pain.  So sad.  BUT....he is CANCER FREE.  Halleleujah.

My office is trashed.  I mean TRASHED.  I have half filled jewelry orders and beads to put away and now it's also become the unwrapped Christmas present depot.  Ug.  OH well.

But for tonight, I am satisfied.  I am exhausted.  I am symptomatic (MG). My brain is mush.  But I. Am. Satisfied.

AND tomorrow I get to go out for lunch with my dear, awesome, gorgeous, hilarious friend Joanna!! Woot Woot!!!

So I bid you all good night.  I am going to bed.

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Not Your Typical Post

I always feel like I have to write a disclaimer when I do a post like this.  But then I think, this is my blog, this is who I am, and those of you who know me know I don't do well censoring myself.  The ONLY thing I want to convey is that from the bottom of my heart this is not about guilt.

I'm probably going to take it to church a bit today, but I'm preaching to myself as well.  So if you don't want to deal with anything but happy, "I'm so thankful"-ness, just stop reading now.

First of all, it kind of annoys me that we take once a year to be thankful for ALL of the things we have been blessed with.  And I am just as responsible for allowing this in MY life.  I am thankful all year around, and I need to express it more.  How about you?

Secondly, this day, for some, holds no thankfulness.  It is just another day...of struggling financially, of missing that loved one who couldn't come home for the holidays...  Another day in the wheelchair. Another day of being a single parent with too many bills, not enough money, and not enough time to raise his or her children the way they really want to.

For some, it is a painful reminder of the past.  Grief.  Remembering that your precious sister, mother, daughter, son, niece, nephew, grandparent, parent, brother, child....is no longer with you.  I know so many for whom this will be the first of many firsts "without".

The first Thanksgiving without their child.  Without their sister.  Without their nephew.  Without their best friend.  Without their husband.

I just want us to be truly mindful of all that we have been blessed with, and to remember whilst eating turkey and stuffing and laughing and cajoling with those we love that there are MANY who aren't laughing.  There are many who are not eating.

There are many who mourn.

There are some who are resentful today.  Some who struggle with anger, justified or not.  I am loathe to admit I am one of those.  To me, the DAY doesn't matter as much as my attitude.  I should be thankful every day for all the amazing things and people my God has blessed me with.  Like my husband.  And my precious little boy.  And Doug's steady, wonderful job.  And my dad being cancer-free.  And my mom, faithful and steadfast to God and her family her whole. entire. life.

But I find myself angry and resentful at what once was and what should still be be, but isn't, and may never be again.

If there is one thing to know about me, it is that I try to be as honest as humanly possible.  Never in a hurtful way.  Never.  I just can't post sunshine and roses on command when my heart is full of crap it shouldn't be.   I can CHOOSE to be thankful, which I am.  I am CHOOSING to try with everything in me to rejoice and be glad and relish in the moment.  I will put a smile on my face for my loved ones around me, and pray that God will soothe the wounds inside me.

But part of me just can't.  Part of me has my own issues that are bigger than me, and part of me is just heartbroken for those I know and love who are hurting.

So please be mindful of those today who aren't exactly in the "I'm so thankful" mood.  Truly, we ALL have much to be thankful for.  But just because the calendar says we need to wear it on our sleeve TODAY, doesn't mean all of us can.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

THANKFUL THINGS

Yah.  I'm WAAAAY behind on my 5 thankful things a day, so I need to list a BUNCH today.  Like 35.  SO. 
I am thankful for:

1. rainbows 2. butterflies 3. my new verizon data card thingy 4. Christmas 5. my mom and dad 6. my pillows, 7. FANS (like the kind that blow air) 8. friends who make me laugh 9. jewelry 10. missionaries 11. people who genuinely care for others and show it 12. medicine 13. doctors (some) 14. duct tape 15. my printer/copier (I love making copies!) 16. office supplies in general (I'm a junkie) 17. my trach (because I can breathe) 18. that I'm going to North Carolina to see my sistah from another mistah in March 19. that my husband is supportive of 90% of the things I do (well, he's not TOTALLY perfect!!  All the important stuff). 20. that even though my craft show bombed, my hubby was there to support me and make all the cool velvet covered boards for display 21. my adorable child who has infinite patience (at times) with his sick Mommy 22. almond roca 23. mousetraps 24. turkeys and chickens because they make great blog fodder AND eat lots of bugs 25. That even though my daddy is sick we are still going to bring Thanksgiving to them tomorrow 26. friends and family who are helping with Jacob while I have to get pheresis while my dad is still recovering (thanks Lori and Lynelle!!!) 27. Others who have volunteered to help 28. Leah Guis's banket.  OH MY GOODNESS. 29. Friends who share things they can't use anymore 30. that I'm FINALLY getting a really good start on my book 31. chocolate 32. people who donate plasma and blood so that I can keep getting the treatments that keep me alive 33. all the new MG friends I've made on facebook the last couple of months 34. babies in general 35. being able to blog

So I'm caught up through today.  Whew!  I really am thankful for everything, but I want to try to be specific and list 5 different things a day.  What are YOU thankful for today???  Doesn't have to be five...just one.

Tuesday, November 22, 2011

Craft Show: Epic Fail

My booth.  Over 300 items.  Hand made

Doug made these gorgeous display boards for me!
Some of my bracelets...which I happen to LOVE.

Another beautiful board to display earrings
Some of my Pandora-style jewelry

Earring racks

Pendant dispalys (there were two)
The biggest reason I was there....to spread awareness about MG
So even though we lost money, I met some nice people and talked to a lot of people about MG.  So that's was good.  I was disappointed that we didn't sell much, but it did mean a lot to talk to people about MG.

Thursday, November 17, 2011

Very Random Letters

Dear Lord,

I've missed like 4 days of blogging or something because I'm so crazy-busy....but I want to be thankful for 5 things every day so I'm going to catch up a minute.  I know You know I'm thankful everyday, but there is a lot to BE thankful for!  SO:  I am thankful for 1.fuzzy puppies  2.sleepy, cuddly, 5-year old sons 3.my parents 4.my husband who helps me make feathered hair clips, 5. other MG-er's on the internet who know way more than any of my doctors (see following letters) 6. my brother and sisters 7. my sistah from another mistah 8. peanut butter m&m's 9. pizza 10. the color purple 11. Tim from verizon who was actually helpful and even saved me ten bucks a month 12. electricity 13. my phone 14. jewelry orders 15. hand sanitizer 16. bleach 17. anti-bacterial wipes 18. Jacob's fishies 19. my paper shredder (yes, really) 20. MY READERS!!!!

Sincerely,
Your Thankful Daughter

Dear FDA,

I don't know how, but I'm about to take you on.  People like me need double lumen implanted ports for plasmapheresis.  But YOU don't approve it for plasmapheresis. Well, I don't know how to change that, but I'm going to find out, and then YOU will find out I'm like a hungry done with a bone who will. not. let. go. or. give. up.  You arbitrarily say "yes" to this and "no" to that without having a clue whose lives you are effecting.  And don't think for one minute that I believe everything gets tested to the "N"th degree and THEN decided... I think it has more to do with whose pockets are deepest.  {I should add to my above list I'm thankful for the 1st Amendment so my butt doesn't end up in jail for criticizing the government}.  I will hound you and cause you grief.  Be alert.  I am here and I am not leaving.

Sincerely,
Completely Irritated at Government Control Over MY Health

Dear Medical Professionals Everywhere:

YOU are the doctors.  I am the patient.  I should not be telling YOU what procedure I need, or what product, or what medication.  That's why YOU went to school for 8 years and have huge student loan debt and ridiculous malpractice insurance rates and make a sh!t ton of money.  I, on the other hand, did NOT go to medical school, and don't really feel it is my place to tell YOU how to treat ME medically.

Sincerely,
Might As Well Call Me Doc

Dear PA From Interventional Radiology,

Thank you for being helpful yesterday.  It was an almost useless visit, since someone could have told me on the phone that I couldn't get done what someone had scheduled me to get done 2 months ago.  Good thing I was sick and didn't make the appointment, because Lord knows what you would have done.  As I was telling you what I needed, and how it's done, and where it's done and who has it done already, I was thinking in my head pretty much everything in the above letter.  I go to YOU for information, not the other way around.

Sincerely,
Irritated That I Know More Than You Do About Your Specialty And Can't Get Paid For It

Dear Medical Community In General,

I simply have two things to say to you.  First, COMMUNICATE with OTHER PEOPLE in the medical community, especially when you are ALL INVOLVED in the care of ONE patient.  Second,  please don't go to work if you DON'T KNOW WHAT THE HELL YOU ARE DOING.

Sincerely,
Someone Who Would Be Really Thankful If You Did The Above

Saturday, November 12, 2011

Crazy Busy

My gosh.  I don't know how I'm still functional....writing, jewelry, family, my dad, etc..... CRAZY.  But I have 80 pages of my book on Word.  Whoo to the Hoo.  Anywho.  Making it quick today with my 5 thankful things.

1.  I'm thankful we are having WONDERFUL friends over tonight for pizza and the Redneck Game.  I am thankful they are willing to come out here because it's SO much easier for me...thanks Kerry, Karen, Tim and Todd!

2.  I am thankful for my husband, who supports my "hobbies" and even enjoys picking things out for me that I might like to use in my jewelry. (Of course they are always from the clearance rack, but hey.  It works!)

3. I am thankful that my big boy went all night without a diaper.  Necessity is the mother of invention...AND progress....Jacob had hives last night for some reason, and around where his diaper would have been was horrible.  I couldn't put one on him...so we just went without, said a little prayer, and I woke him up to go potty at 3 AM when I woke up to go.  He just stumbled in and out and went right back to sleep. YAY!!

4.  I am thankful that it is November, and the sky is as bright blue as my darling Jacob's eyes.

5.  I am thankful that my sister is coming to visit me tomorrow to make jewelry with me!

Everyone have a BLESSED day.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Veterans Day

Today, we remember.

I am thankful:

1.  For all those who so willingly sacrificed their lives for this country, so that MY family can be safe and live in a country where we have freedoms others would literally kill or die to have.

2.  For the families of those who serve, who are also willing to make the sacrifice of having their loved one gone.  Missing birthdays.  Missing their babies being born...their first steps....they first words....their first everythings... We need to remember this every. single. day.  People are missing loved ones right now so that WE can be free.

3.  For those who have served in the past and are living among us today.  For those, especially like the veterans from Vietnam, who did not receive a hero's welcome:  YOU ARE HEROES.  You deserved so much more.  Thank you for your service.

4.  For God, who protects our service men and women, who hears our prayers.

5.  For a country in which I can write what I want to without fear of punishment.  I can talk about my faith, I can criticize the government, I can express MY opinion without hesitation because we live in a free land.  But as the saying goes, "Freedom isn't Free."  MANY have paid in blood, sweat and tears so we can have these privileges.  Let's not take that for granted.  Let's remember veterans EVERY day, not just on November 11.

God Bless Us All.

Thursday, November 10, 2011

TEN things

I was so excited and out of my mind busy yesterday trying to coordinate about 17,345 things that I forgot to list my 5 things I'm thankful for...so today I am listing 9...even though there are many, many more.

1.  I am thankful that I am BUSY!  Because that means I have the strength to accomplish what I want to!

2.  I am thankful for my family of origin.  Although no family is perfect, the more I see of others' families, the more thankful I am that my own was what is was: we were loved.  We were taken care of.  A lot was expected of us (ergo we have a work ethic....a foreign concept to many these days).  We had one mom, and one dad.  We had a lot of siblings and a lot of fights but a lot of fun.

3.  I am thankful that my family of origin was a Christian one.  I don't have any jaw-dropping conversion story, because I remember asking Jesus to come into my heart when I was 8.  I don't ever remember a time God wasn't a part of my life, and for that...well, thankful just doesn't cover it.

4.  Although I don't have a jaw dropping conversion story,  I have a jaw-dropping testimony.  There have been times I have felt like Job.  And there have been times I have felt like Judas.  But ALL the time, I have known in my heart of hearts that God would never leave me or forsake me.  No matter what I did or didn't do, He loved me, and He loves me still.

5.  I am thankful for Cindy-Lou from Bugtussle.  There are so many things that I could say about her...I will just say that she is the ying to my yang...she KNOWS me...she has MG like me.  Don't get me wrong...I am thankful for ALL of my MG friends....Rachel, my cheerleader/but kicker (whom I ADORE for being EXACTLY the way she is)...Ellen, my prayer warrior....new friends, old friends...there are too many to name...just know that I love you ALL and would be lost without your prayers and support.  But my CindyLou.  There is just a special bond there.  She is my other half.  We are trying to figure out how she has a different birthday than mine because we are convinced we were separated at birth.

6.  I am thankful for lifetime friends like Joanna, who never fails to make me laugh.  She makes it her mission, I dare say.  We have shared some HILARIOUS moments, some serious moments, some not-so-shining moments, and I'm thankful for every. single. one.

7.  I am thankful for friends like Patty Ann and Joanne, one out west and one in Central America...whom I never would have met without blogging.  Whoda thunk I, little Miss Mid -West, would be sisters in the Lord with a Canadian living in Belize??  IIIIII know!  And Patty Ann....this woman does NOT have MG, but she has had her share of struggles.  Yet EVERY time I hear from her (which is usually every day in one way or another) she encourages ME and tells me how amazing I am.  EVERYONE needs a "Patty Ann" in their lives.  But you can't have mine. : )

8.  I am thankful, thankful, thankful that my Daddy is HOME!!!!  He is cancer-free and Lord willing will stay that way and just keep getting stronger every day. Thank you Jesus.

9.  And most of all, without a doubt, I am thankful for Jesus, my Lord and Savior, who willingly chose to die a vicious, brutal death to pay the price for MY ticket to heaven.  Yesterday I wrote about being a mom and how it has really deepened my understanding of God's love for me as His child...becoming a parent changes a LOT.  Everything really.  Nothing is ever about you again.  And for God, it's always been that way.  It's not about HIM....He is all about US.  Pretty amazing if you ask me.  I really don't think I could send my son across the street for a spanking to save someone else from getting one, let alone send him away for 33 years to live among people who hated him, and then murdered him....Think about that today, will you?  Whether or not you have children, imagine sacrificing a person you love more than life itself, for people who wouldn't appreciate it and certainly didn't deserve it. Powerful stuff.

Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Ten Things I've Done

...As the Mom of a BOY.  I'm totally stealing this from Jammie Girl, but I'm giving her credit, so hopefully she won't mind.

1.  Tried to explain why I can't go potty outside, standing up, like he and Daddy do.

2.  Had to explain that the two MATING frogs that he had caught and thrust in my face (in his "bug cage" thank God) were giving each other piggyback rides.

3.  Had countless sword fights.

4.  Fought off every imaginable invisible "wild" EVERYTHING....wart hogs, boars, Hogzilla, alligators, crocs, wildebeasts, buffalo (Jacob's favorite channel is National Geographic Wild.  Nice.)

5.  Had to leave the room because the show my 5 year old is watching is too graphic for me (nature in all it's glory and realism...cheetahs taking down impala, etc)

6.  Understood what it is to love with more of your heart than you've ever loved before.

7.  Gained a deeper understanding of God's love, and unimaginable sacrifice of giving up His only Son.  I couldn't do it.

8.  Celebrated Abraham's faith in being able to put his son on an altar, KNOWING without a doubt, even when his hand was raised with the potential lethal strike, that God would provide a different sacrifice.  Couldn't have done that either.

9.  Done laundry that smelled worse than any smell I've ever smelled, stood up on it's own, and left permanent scars on my psyche.

10.  Thanked God every day for the miracle that is my perfectly perfect-to-me, brazen, bold, loving, gorgeous, crazy brilliance that is my son.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

AWESOME NEWS!!!!!

Now we are so happy we do the dance of joy!!!!
First of all, my dad's pathology reports came back, and there was NO SIGN of cancer anywhere in any of the lymph nodes they took out.  WHOO-HHOOOOO!!!

Secondly, the chest tube is coming out today!!!  Another HUGE victory!!!!

PLEASE join me in THANKING GOD for these two amazing, wonderful bits of news today!!

SO:
1. I am BEYOND thankful that my dad is cancer free!
2. I am BEYOND thankful that my dad's chest tube is coming out!!!  This will help him SO much.
3. I am SO thankful for wonderful friends to share this with who will celebrate and praise God with me!
4. I am thankful that my tooth is not killing me today after yesterday horrific dental procedure (the dentist is good, don't get me wrong, it's just the whole drilling thing....)
5. I am thankful that even though it's rainy today, my heart is FILLED with sunshine!

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Prayers and Thanks

Again, please do not comment on facebook.

My dad is having severe abdominal pain, and at this time they don't know what it is.  He just stood up and it started.  He had bad pain all night, and my mom is pretty frazzled.  They need extra prayers for encouragement and for wisdom for the doctors to know what the pain is and how to fix it.  He has been doing so well... this is a little nerve-wracking.  But I'm trying not to worry.  It's hard. But God is in charge.  So I need to just chill.

Here are my five thankful things!
1. The sky is so blue and beautiful today!
2. I had an AMAZING jewelry sales day today! Praise the LORD!
3. Doug, Jacob and I are all well on our way to being better.]
4. I am thankful for the GAPS program in Allegan that allows a wonderful volunteer to come and clean my house for a couple hours every other week, AND play with my son.  Mindy, you ROCK, and Jacob adores you too!
5. I'm actually working on my book!!!

Keep the faith.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Thankful Every Day

Gonna keep it short today.  I signed up for NaNoWriMo, and am very serious about it.  So I'm doing that (and I'm kicking butt on word count, I'm at 9504!!! The goal for day 3 is 5001.)  But, I've always been an overachiever.

Anyway, I'm doing that, telling people I'm still sicker than a dog (well, I can see SLIGHT improvement), Doug is now sick, but I'm still listing 5 things I'm thankful for every day this month.

1.  I am thankful that God made the sky blue and trees green and rainbows and flowers and all the beautiful colors they are.  He could have made everything in shades of gray, or yellow, or brown, we never would have known the difference.  Yet the beauty of this world is SO captivating to me.

2.  I am thankful that my Dad is doing well, and that his surgery went well, and that he is up and moving.
3.  I am thankful for pizza.  Seriously.  Whoever made the first pizza:  I love you.
4.  I am thankful for my house.  I complain about being out in the middle of nowhere, but in my mind, there is no better place for a boy to grow up.  He runs around with his dog, he catches frogs and butterflies and plays outside every possible second he can.  He doesn't play video games or moan about how bored he is, he's out and about and that's because of where we live.
5.  I am thankful for every U.S. soldier, past, present and future.  I thank you for sacrificing your time with your family.  I thank you for being willing to put your very life on the line for ME and MY family.  I am thankful for the families of the soldiers, past, present and future.  Thank you for your sacrifice of having that loved one safe at home with you.  And for those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, "thanks" is the least I can give.  We ARE the land of the free, but only because we are also the home of the BRAVE.

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Grieving

MG sucks. I mean, that's the plain and simple truth.  It sucks the life out of your physical body.  It sucks your energy.  It drains your stamina and health, and ability to do things you used to be able to do without thinking.  Like breathing. Or sleeping on your stomach and drooling all over the pillows.  Or sleeping on your back and having crazy dreams. 

Or multi-tasking.  That is so frustrating.  Before MG, especially when I was working, I could be on the phone with a driver, answer a different driver on the radio, be typing in a pick-up, and listen to the conversation at the window and be able to answer the question before it was asked of me.  Now the only multi-tasking I can do is sneeze, burp, fart and pee all at the same time.

And I have this killer cold.  And it literally could be a killer if I'm not careful.  Doug is coming home early today to take care of me thank God, because there is NO WAY I can take care of myself let alone me and Jacob!

I have to walk around clutching my cell phone in case I fall, and then pray it doesn't go flying across the room if I do.  Every time I go up and down the stairs it's an exercise of faith, for sure.

There's just so much that is different.

But my faith is different too.  And my attitude (most of the time...)  I do not sweat the small stuff, to be sure.  I used to be so impatient and worry about everything.  Worry takes on a whole new meaning when you go from "how does my hair look" to "am I going to live to see my son graduate?"

So a friend challenged me through her blog (Pitterle Postings...go check it out) to write 5 things I'm thankful for every day. So:

1. I am thankful that I can hear.
2. I am thankful I have an adorable, loving, giving, thoughtful, precious, crazy smart child.
3. I am thankful that when I die I know I will go to heaven and never feel pain or be sick or cry again.
4. I am thankful that my husband loves me and is faithful to me and takes care of me.
5. I am thankful for the internet and all of the amazing, truly genuine friends I have made on it.

Your turn.  What are you thankful for??

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Not My Favorite Day

REMINDER:  PLEASE DO NOT COMMENT ON FACEBOOK ABOUT MY DAD. 

UPDATE:  OUT OF SURGERY AT 3:50pm, SO IT ONLY TOOK 2 1/2 HOURS.  THEY DID NOT HAVE TO BREAK ANY RIBS.  STILL WAITING TO HEAR ABOUT WHEN OR IF HE IS OUT OF ANESTHESIA AND MY MOM CAN SEE HIM. WILL KEEP MY BLOG UPDATED AS I CAN.
 

My dad is having surgery today to remove the lower lobe of his right lung.  He has one spot of adenocarcinoma.

His surgery is supposed to begin at 1:00.  I've been trying to NOT think about it, but just typing that sentence is freaking me out.

If you saw my status on facebook, historically, November 1 hasn't been a stellar day.  Good thing I'm a believer in the Almighty God of the Bible, and am not superstitious, because dates don't mean a thing.  Not really.  I know that my dad is firmly in the palm of God's hand.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-l6wzxRTVpw&feature=related
Here are the lyrics, but you really need to hear the music too....Amazing.
Untitled Hymn (Come to Jesus) by Chris Rice


Weak and wounded sinner
Lost and left to die
O raise your head for love is passing by

Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus 

And live!

Now your burden's lifted
And carried far away
And Precious blood has washed away the stain

So
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus
And live!

Like a newborn baby
Don't be afraid to crawl
And remember when you walk sometimes we fall

So
Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus
Fall of Jesus
And live


Sometimes the way in lonely
And steep and filled with way
So if your sky is dark and pours the rain

Then
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus
And live!

O, and when the love spills over
And music fills the night
And when you can't contain your joy inside

Then
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus
And live!

With your final heartbeat
Kiss the world goodbye
Then go in peace and laugh on Glory's side

And 
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus

And live!

Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus

And LIVE!


Love Changes Everything by Micah Berteau - A Book Review

If you're not familiar with the story of Hosea and Gomer in the Bible, it's really quite shocking.  Here's my brief synopsis...