Last Year At This Time..."Lake effect Snow"

"Lake Effect Snow"

So today I'm linking up with Mama Kat's pretty much world famous writer's workshop.  She sends out writing prompts, and one of them was:  4.) Blast from the Past: What were you writing about last year at this time? Tell us what has changed (if anything) since then.

SO.  First of all, the above picture was taken one year ago.  Today, it's cold, but we have not had any snow yet.  Whoo-Hoo!!  Secondly, I was on my way to the hospital ER about this time last year.  I couldn't breathe.  We're talking full myasthenic respiratory crisis.  I'm talking I could get only 1 or 2 words out per breathe.  Yah.  I called my neurologist thinking he would just jack up the prednisone, but when he heard me on the phone, he told me to go straight to the ER, do not pass go, do not collect $200.00.  He had NEVER heard me that bad in 11 years.

So I had to go to the ER the admitted me, but unfortunately the only doc who knew jack about MG was the ER doc, whose care I was no longer under once admitted.  I was really bummed, because at this point I thought that this was going to be my life.  Using my oxygen, walker, not being able to drive.....

Fast forward a year, and Praise the Lord and Hallelujah I am stronger than I have been since before I had my son. And he's FIVE.  (AND there's no snow yet...BONUS!!)  I can drive myself where I want to go (within reason)...I can even take JACOB somewhere with me!  AMAZING.

I was led (by God, of course) via FACEBOOK of all things to an old (as in lifelong) friend to go to St. Mary's in Grand Rapids, where she was a nurse forever, and see a neuro there. I then got plasmapheresis in a series, like it is supposed to be done, and even though it's horrifying having it done like this (through my veins, 3 times a week, well, 2 now), it's SO worth it.

I wouldn't use the word "remission", because I'm still symptomatic, but what a difference.  In retrospect, this year has FLOWN.

So anyway.  All the glory goes to God.
Now, what are you waiting for?  Link up with Mama Kat and write your heart out!

http://www.mamakatslosinit.com/blog/

Reminders

Today is the last day to comment on my blog post http://sickofmg.blogspot.com/2011/11/book-review-bennys-angel.html.

I will be drawing a name tomorrow to give to the promoter to enter the Grand Prize drawing they will hold on December 12.  Good luck to all participants!

Other than that...busy, busy, busy.  I seriously don't know how this day went so quickly.  I feel like I got up, blinked, and it was 2:00 already.  Yikes.

Anywho.  All is well here!  Hallelujah!!!

What's Up

The sky.

Taxes.

Hot air balloons.

No seriously...I am THRILLED to report that things over here are fairly uneventful!  Except of course, for the slaying of the beef. Doug put down one of the beef cattle Friday, and basically butchered 1300 or something pounds of cow.  By hand.  All boneless meat.  He's amazing.  Crazy, but amazing.  It's like there's nothing he can't do.  And Jacob was right there by his side.

I'm like, "Don't you want to stay inside with Mommy for a while?"
Jacob: "Mom, I've got work to do."
Me:  "Really?  Like what?"
Jacob: "I have to help Daddy make meat pasta." (Apparently Doug had told Jacob that he was making meat spaghetti when he put it in the grinder to make hamburger.)

Later when he came in for a snack, this was our conversation:

Jacob says, "Mom, I asked Dad why he has to work all the time.  Do you know why dad has to work all the time?"
Me:  "Why?"
Jacob:  "Because he has hasp-ibili-ties."
Me: "He has responsibilities?"
Jacob: "Yup.  So I told him he should just be more like me and play all the time."

Hmm....I think there's a life lesson in there somewhere....

New Look and Giveaway!!

So...what do you think of the new design??  I LOVE it!  HUGE thanks and props to Margaret at W.A.I.S.T.ed Space Designs (her button is on the sidebar).  She also revamped my facebook page for Kerri's Kreations.

Speaking of Kerri's Kreations, I'm having a giveaway this month!  For every $25.00 you spend, you will get one entry in a drawing for $25.00 of free jewelry!  So if you spend $50.00, you'll get your name entered twice, and so on.  The drawing will be held on December 18, so make your purchases by December 17!  I'm not sure if I will be able to get you the free stuff by Christmas, especially if it's something you want me to custom make.  Which I would be glad to do!

So stop on by, take a look at my new layout, and check out the order form!

Thanks SO much for supporting my business, and for helping to donate to the Great Lakes Chapter of the MGFA.  Ten percent of everything I make goes to them.

Have a blessed week!

Five-Minute Friday

For only five short, bold, beautiful minutes. Unscripted and unedited. We just write without worrying if it’s just right or not.
I’m so relieved to have these five minutes. Won’t you join me?

www.thegypsymama.com

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking. 2. Link back here and invite others to join in. 3. Most importantly: leave a comment for the person who linked up before you – encouraging them in their writing!

OK, are you ready? Give me your best five minutes on: TIRED

Tired.
START

I am tired.  In so many ways.
I am tired of people taking advantage of those less fortunate.
I am tired of people taking what doesn't belong to them, whether it is material or emotional.  Take, take, take.  What happened to giving?

I am tired of getting stabbed with needles the size of fork tines and having my veins blow and having it hurt like a kind of pain you'd never want to experience in your life.  I'm tired of having a chronic illness and depending on others for most everything, but yet being expected to DO most everything.  Makes. No. Sense.
I'm tired of being ignored. Not listened to.  Taken for granted. Avoided. Stared at. Talked about. 

I'm tired of trying and trying and trying and trying some more to do the right thing to only have it fall flat before my face.  Of being sabotaged.  Of being....  Of just being.

Tired.  Always tired.  No matter if I sleep or if I don't.
I'm tired of society deciding whose important.  I'm tired of good people getting crapped on and crappy people getting good things.  I know in the end, it will all come out.  The good, the bad, the ugly.  But sometimes, suffering just sucks and that's all there is to it.

I wish I could have the tire-lessness of my 5 year old.  I wish I would see the world with UN-tired eyes.  With unjaded opinions.  But alas....It's too tiring.

STOP 

The Brick

I got this in my e-mail today, and it really made me stop and think. The "before" MG Kerri would probably have acted like the driver.  (I probably wouldn't have physically grabbed anyone...)  The "after" MG Kerri would hopefully have just stopped and helped in the first place.  Then I'd take the kid home and adopt him or something...

THE
BRICK
A young and successful
executive was traveling down a neighborhood street,
going a bit too fast in his new Jaguar.. He was
watching for kids darting out from between parked
cars and slowed down  when he thought he saw
something.

As his car passed, no children appeared.
Instead, a brick smashed into the Jag's side door!
He slammed on the brakes and backed the Jag back to
the spot where the brick had been thrown.

The angry
driver then jumped out of the
car, grabbed the nearest kid and pushed him up
against  a parked car shouting,  

'What was that all about and who are you? Just what
the heck are you doing? That's a new car and that
brick you threw is going to cost a lot of money. Why
did you do it?' The young boy was apologetic.
'Please, mister...please, I'm sorry but I didn't
know what else to do,' He pleaded. 'I threw the
brick because no one else would stop....' With tears
dripping down his face and off his chin, the youth
pointed to a spot just around a parked car.. 'It's my
brother, 'he said 'He rolled off the curb and fell
out of his wheelchair and I can't lift him
up.'

Now sobbing, the boy
asked the stunned executive, 'Would you please help
me get him back into his wheelchair? He's hurt and
he's too heavy for me.' 

Moved beyond words,
the driver tried to swallow the rapidly swelling
lump in his throat... He hurriedly lifted the
handicapped boy back into the wheelchair, then took
out a linen handkerchief and dabbed at the fresh
scrapes and cuts. A quick look told him everything
was going to be okay. 'Thank you and may God bless
you,' the grateful child told the stranger. Too
shook up for words, the man simply watched the boy!
push his wheelchair-bound brother down the sidewalk
toward their home..  

It was a long, slow
walk back to the Jaguar. The damage was very
noticeable, but the driver never bothered to repair
the dented side door. He kept the dent there to
remind him of this message: 'Don't go through life
so fast that someone has to throw a brick at you to
get your attention!' God whispers in our souls and
speaks to our hearts Sometimes when we don't have
time to listen, He has to throw a brick at us. It's
our choice to listen or
not. 


Thought for the
Day: 

If God had a
refrigerator, your picture would be on
it.

If He had a wallet,
your photo would be in
it.

He sends you flowers
every spring.

He sends you a sunrise
every morning Face it, friend - He is crazy about
you!

God didn't promise
days without pain, laughter without sorrow, sun
without rain, but He did promise strength for the
day, comfort for the tears, and light for the
way.

Read this line very
slowly and let it sink
in...

If God brings you to
it, He will bring you through
it.