As some of you know, I have been struggling with health issues for years but the past several months have been worse than normal. Right now I’m trying out a new treatment that is either making me worse before I get better or—as has been typical for me for many years—my body is reacting in completely the opposite way than is usual for this med.
As I’ve been heard to say more than once, it’s not easy being me!
I love connecting with my readers but have been unable to keep up with my blog as much as I’d like to. So for the next few weeks, I’ll be sharing some Bible verse or famous quotation images that have special meaning to me. Here’s the first one. Enjoy!
I couldn’t believe it when I found this image at A New Kind of Normal. Jamee lives with multiple chronic illnesses so she understands the sentiment in this image.
I can’t tell you how often I have said that my hair hurts, or have had to change clothes because seams and tags cause extreme itchiness and sometimes even pain. I have cut the tags out of most of my clothing and am thankful for the companies which are now imprinting clothing with the information in lieu of a tag.
These are just a couple of my symptoms of my Fibromyalgia Syndrome (FMS) and Chronic Fatigue Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS). Oh, and let’s not forget the chronic migraines that are liberally sprinkled in with everything else.
Next week is National Invisible Chronic Illness Awareness Week. Please check out the Invisible Disabilities site to find out more about what’s going on next week, or just to learn more about chronic illnesses that seem invisible to others but are very real to those of us who struggle with one or multiple of these illnesses every single day.
Apparently this flareup I’ve been going through has affected me more than I realized because I thought I had already composed this post and scheduled it for today but I had only started it, typing in only a few lines before laying it aside several weeks ago. But that’s the way my body works in these “new normal” days. As I type this, I am struggling for each word so I guess it’s time to stop typing and publish this.
Before I go, though, I want to keep it real by saying that throughout my many struggles with these chronic illnesses, I have many days where despair threatens to take over. Sometimes it does. But most times I can think clearly enough to remember that I have a Hope that doesn’t quit and never fails me:
Beloved, no matter what you’re going through, hold on tight to that Hope! One day all pain and suffering will be erased for those who believe in the mighty and saving power of the Hope of the world: our Lord Jesus Christ! Those who trust in His saving grace will be able to live pain-free for eternity. The physical pain we feel now is nothing compared to the extreme joy we will experience in our heavenly homes.
To find out more about the saving power of Jesus Christ, please read this or contact me. I would be so happy to answer your questions!
In His powerful and comforting grip,
I’ve been talking and blogging a lot lately about leaning on the Lord with faith and trust. Today I’d like to focus on how faith plays such a huge part in trusting and believing in the Lord’s timing.
By the way, “faith” (a noun) and “believe” (a verb) are both translated from the same Greek word. If you claim to have faith in God, then believing in Him is to put that faith into action. In other words, our faith leads to believing that what God says is true and more important than what we see or feel with our frail and easily persuaded human minds.
Are you still with me? If so, I’d like to share one of the times God reinforced a believing faith in my life.
I don’t know about you but just when I feel comfortable with the way my life is going, that’s when I know God will start to shake things up a bit. I like to say He is moving me from one comfort zone to the next!
One of the examples of this in my own life happened about seven years ago. After several years of writing, my well of imagination seemed to have run dry. I had unexpectedly lost my desire to write.
Those who know me best suggested that I was probably experiencing writer’s block, but God simply had other plans for me. In the midst of my quiet times with Him, I felt Him telling me to stop everything writing-related for a time and focus on Him as I rested my exhausted body and mind.
As difficult as it was to understand this, I knew God was asking me to put into action what I believe to be true: God is more than worthy of my faith and trust.
My writing hiatus came to an abrupt end about a year later when a writing assignment dropped into my inbox that I knew had to be from the Lord. I had sent my resume to a publisher the previous year and then forgotten about it. Now this same publisher offered me an assignment that was tailor-made for my style of writing.
But there was a problem: not only was the deadline a mere three weeks away, but I needed to research and write while battling severe daily migraines.
The migraine issue was not a new thing, but I just cannot think clearly when in the midst of one of these nausea creating, light and sound bothering, hair hurting migraines hits me. And it was happening on a daily basis.
Nevertheless, I struggled through this assignment day after day, sometimes praying through my tears. And—day after day—God provided me with the ideas I needed plus the necessary strength to get this enormous amount of writing done in such a short period of time.
The finished book was a compilation of prayers written by me and several other authors. By the grace of God and by believing that He would faithfully help me complete this assignment on time, I met my deadline of composing 31 prayer devotionals.
You read that right: 31 devotionals in 3 weeks!
In great pain I toiled through the writing of every single one of those devotionals but God was faithful in giving me exactly the strength I needed exactly when I needed it most.
Beloved, are you facing something in your life that seems too much for you to handle? Maybe—like I did—you think there is nothing you can contribute because of your circumstances or illness or limited energy.
If you take away anything from what I went through, it should be this: when God wants us to do something for Him, He does not expect us to do it on our own. He just wants us to have faith and believe that He will walk with us through it.
He is the Great Enabler and will always grant us exactly the amount of strength and stamina we need to finish whatever He calls us to do!
[Update #3: Once again, saved by my friend Donna. She was shopping in Walmart recently and noticed that they are now selling the Sodastream plus lots of the flavors you can add to turn plain seltzer into flavored sodas. Their price for the unit, which includes a CO2 cartridge plus 6 flavor packets, is $79. I don't know if all Walmarts are carrying this yet, but I wanted you to know about it. Below are the photos Donna took (again, THANK YOU Donna!). As you can see, they carry the extra empty bottles for dispensing the soda as well as tons of flavor packs.]
[Update #2: I knew there must be other, similar products out there but until a dear friend sent me this link, I didn't know. The product is called Twist 'n Sparkle Beverage Carbonating System, which appears to be much less expensive than the Sodastream. Here's the link to it on QVC and you can read more about it there: http://tinyurl.com/7b8dtom]
[Update #1: I'm sorry I didn't include this yesterday but I just thought of it a little while ago: I am in no way affiliated with the manufacturer of Sodastream and have not been paid to write about the product or endorse it. I simply like it and it is a great way to save money.]
I don’t really like soda (or pop, as it is known in the Midwest and various other areas) because there is either too much sugar or I can’t tolerate the artificial sweeteners that are used. One of my migraine symptoms is nausea so carbonated drinks really help that. We used to buy the 1 liter size bottles of club soda because the 2 liter size fizzled out before I could drink it all. And then we realized how much sodium club soda contains, so I switched to plain old seltzer water, which is really just carbonated water.
After a while, I was really miffed at how much stores charge for a simple bottle of carbonated water so I started researching drink carbonating gadgets. Enter the Sodastream.
Sodastream ready to go!
I found our Sodastream at Bed Bath & Beyond but other retailers also sell it. The way it works is that a CO2 canister is stored in the long upright section of this appliance. The white plastic piece you see coming out of the top unit is what injects the CO2 into the bottle (which came with my unit) that is simply filled with tap water.
Here’s our Sodastream with a bottle of water attached.
Once the bottle of water is in place—and it just screws in—you press down on the large button on top (looks grey in this photo but is actually black, just like the entire top of the unit). You can hear a rush of air and then a few louder spurts as the unit injects the CO2. The typical CO2 amount = about 3 spurts but I like a heavily carbonated drink so I let it go about 6 spurts and then release the button.
I should have taken a photo with the bottle in place while injecting the CO2 into it, but picture the bottle at a 45° angle during this process.
When I finish the CO2 injection process, I release the bottle back to an upright position. While doing so I can hear what I can only describe as a mild version of a “Jake Brake”— that special sound semis make when slowing down (officially known as a Jacobs Engine Brake ™). In the photo above you can see the bottle being held in place until I unscrew it from the top.
All done and our Sodastream has done its job well!
Here’s the bottle filled with carbonated water, although you can’t see the carbonation in the photo.
So, what’s the frugal part of this whole thing? Well, I have used this every day for over a year and haven’t had to purchase a refill canister yet. When my hubby drinks soda at all, he likes certain brands so I’m the only one who uses the Sodastream.
I think we paid around $100 for the unit over a year ago and I drink about 1 bottle (1 liter) per day. If I’ve done my math correctly, here’s how much money we’ve saved on seltzer water over a year’s time:
Hmm … spending only $27 versus almost $275 per year? It’s easy to see how we quickly paid for our Sodastream within less than 6 months of use and continue to save every day that I use it!
Conclusion: sometimes it is worth it to spend a little extra to save a lot in the long run!
The replacement cartridges cost about $16 each, but I am on Bed Bath & Beyond‘s mailing list and receive a $5 coupon every month which we can use to reduce the cost. I also regularly earn gift cards by clicking on daily emails from MyPoints, and I usually redeem those points for a BB&B gift card.
[And by the way, the retailers which sell Sodastream also sell the CO2 units plus extra empty bottles. And for people who like flavored soda, they also sell flavors to add to the plain soda.]
So … that’s my Frugal Friday story, and I’m stickin’ with it!
Frugally yours,
Let me pose a question on this Happy Sunday: how many of us have been able to completely follow a course that we’ve mapped out ahead of time?
I think I was about 13 years old when I decided that I wanted to be an elementary school teacher. I held onto this dream as I applied to state colleges and was even accepted to one of them.
Instead, life happened and I went through a secretarial and accounting program, which eventually led to a career in office management, mostly for construction companies. I learned to enjoy my work and even thrived in the office atmosphere. How absolutely different from the path I had laid out for myself!
My point is that no matter where we find ourselves, or whatever career may be thrust upon us, we always have a choice. Either we can complain and bemoan our lot in life or we can try to find the good in our circumstances—no matter what they are. I’ve shared before that I used to lead a very busy life, full of family doings, household chores and a heavy work schedule. That was then and I loved and enjoyed it all and thought it was normal for me.
Fast forward to my new normal. Each evening I think of several things I want to get done the next day. And then I wake up with another migraine, more body pain, and an all-encompassing fatigue that never seems to let up. What then?
I’ve learned to do what I can and leave the rest for some other time. Unfortunately, those “some other times” get postponed over and over again. I hate to look at the dust in my home, but I have a sweet and understanding hubby who has a saying I’ve come to truly appreciate:
If you don’t move things, the dust doesn’t show.
And he’s right!
We can choose to be miserable over what we are no longer able to do or we can be happy and grateful for the things we still can do. I may not be able to keep my home as clean as I would like but I am able—with Rick’s help—to keep it neatly picked up. I am no longer able to sew my own clothes or things for my home because sitting over the sewing machine wreaks havoc on my neck and back. But I can crochet! I love to make things for our home and for others, and that satisfies my creative side.
He is a wise man who does not grieve for the things which he has not, but rejoices for those which he has. —Epictetus
A happy heart makes the face cheerful,
but heartache crushes the spirit. —Proverbs 15:13
Wishing you a Sunday filled with happiness and gratitude…
On this Happy Sunday, I’d like to share what I’ve found about this thing called happiness.
The dictionary defines happy as:
Here are some synonyms that also describe being happy:
On the other hand, here are a few words that describe what happy is not:
What struck me most reading through all of this were the words satisfied and peaceful—two wonderful words describing how one can most times lead to the other. If we’re satisfied with what we have and about our life in general, we feel peaceful about it —that “peace of God, which transcends all understanding” (Philippians 4:7).
I have found that being truly happy does not depend on our circumstances. Consider this: no one’s life is perfect. We all struggle with something in our lives, oftentimes several somethings all at the same time. All of these somethings come with bad and good. Let me explain with a very personal example.
I struggle every single day with several chronic illnesses, but the worst of my health issues these days are debilitating migraines. I start each day with a migraine and a lot of the time it subsides for two to three hours (sometimes more on a really good day) before it returns around dinner time to reclaim me as its unwilling victim.
These migraines impact every single aspect of my life. I have had to cancel or postpone countless appointments, trips and gatherings with friends and family. I very often have to turn down my sweet hubby’s invitations to go out with him for a meal or a motorcycle ride.
Those are my bad somethings.
I used to have the “poor me” attitude until God worked in me to remind me that nothing is impossible (Luke 1:37) with Him in my life. It has only been through my utter dependence on Him and my faith in Him as my constant Comforter that I have finally realized the good that has come from this season in my life. I now have a more complete reliance on Him for everything. There is also the realization that my pain-filled existence on this earth is nothing compared to the joy that awaits me in heaven. Adding to these is the awareness that God is teaching me new things about myself through these experiences every single day.
Those are the good parts of my bad somethings.
Wow. Can you see how much more there is to the good parts? The good parts are the positive results of those negative somethings. I can honestly say that in all this I have found that peace of God that transcends all understanding!
Here are a few great quotes I found about being happy:
Finally, here’s some of what the Bible has to say about being happy:
Singing songs of praise and thanksgiving…
Yes, this photo is a fairly good representation of my current life. However, my pill box is quite large with 4 compartments per day: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner, Bedtime. Yep, that’s how I roll these days.
Coffee Break: Recharge Your Brain read an Internet headline and could I ever relate to that! I am definitely a coffee drinker and very thankful that its pick-me-up properties help ease me into my day. I awaken with a migraine almost every day, which really fogs my brain. Usually a strong cup of coffee (or two) will jumpstart my migraine med into high gear and help me better able to face whatever the day holds.
After reading that headline, it occurred to me that if coffee can boost our energy levels a bit, how much more we could be recharged by diving into the Word of God:
“Therefore do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away,
yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” —2 Corinthians 4:16
In this Scripture passage, Paul is urging us not to dwell on our present circumstances and trials, but instead focus on God’s grace in our lives. It is He, after all, who gives us the hope and faith to hold on … no matter how yucky we’re feeling.
I am always impressed by how often Paul—who continually praised God in the midst of the many trials, persecutions and imprisonments he endured—encourages us to look outward to God rather than inwardly focusing on our daily concerns.
What an example Paul is! He never lost heart over his dire circumstances. In fact, he urged his followers to use these situations to draw closer to God in order to be spiritually and emotionally renewed. Paul’s close relationship with the Lord gave him the confidence to rely on the Holy Spirit’s strength when things were
toughest for him.
That’s what all of us can do. During those times when we feel we absolutely cannot go on, let’s not let fatigue or pain keep us from drawing closer to God and renewing ourselves with His refreshing spiritual nourishment.
Things have seemed to get away from me lately. I’ve been dealing with a CFIDS flare for several weeks … in waves. Yesterday was another day of nauseous migraines on top of this flare, and last night I caught myself sighing in frustration as another wave of nausea joined the pounding in my head. Not again!
When I’m in a CFIDS flare, my entire body aches as if a huge semi is driving back and forth over me. When I’m feeling like this, I often wonder if I will ever feel normal again.
So, what is “normal” anyway? About 20 years ago, normal for me meant working 50 to 60 hours (sometimes more) each week while still taking care of a big house, carting my children to and from their activities, and exercising at least 5 days per week. These days what I call my “new normal” involves getting plenty of rest and monitoring my daily activities so that I don’t overdo.
I once heard a friend say that normal is just a setting on the clothes dryer. Did that ever put things in perspective for me! It helped me understand that normal is different for each one of us. Some people work Monday through Friday at a “9 to 5″ job; others work nights. Many drive cars while there are those who ride motorcycles. Some individuals hardly ever smile, but there are also many people who smile no matter what is happening in their lives, good or bad.
Today I feel somewhere between the green smiley face and the red one, but no worries. I am still thankful that the God of all creation has made us a wonderful promise in this Scripture verse:
He who was seated on the throne said, ‘ I am making everything new!’ Then he said, ‘Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.’ —Rev 21:4
Some day we will be with Him in a new body completely free of pain. Everything will be new!
Since today is the first day of February, the official start of a month all about love, I’ve decided to post an image each day dedicated to love.
Here’s the first of 28, chosen because of how yucky today’s migraine is making me feel:
Can any of you relate?
I’m sorry I’ve been MIA for several days on here but winter storm fronts have initiated a migraine that lasted days and days. When the front finally passed through, I began to feel better but yesterday things kicked up again. I have a really hard time writing when I’m in the middle of a nauseous migraine.
And don’t let anyone tell you otherwise: migraine is not all in your head, it involves the entire body!
Without going into too much detail, my migraines have everything to do with living at a high elevation plus falling barometric pressure. The combination is lethal to my bod or, as my doctor says, “your body has never learned to adjust to living at high altitude.” I’ve tried many Rx meds to try to get a handle on this but am stuck having to rely on OTC meds such as Excedrin and Aleve.
Okay, so much for that.
Today I’d like to share some sites where you can score free crochet patterns. Here are my top 5 sites (in no particular order) where I snag free crochet patterns:
So, there they are! Don’t you just love saving money?
I am a lover and follower of Jesus Christ and live in northern Arizona with my husband, Rick. I am blessed to say that Rick and I are at the bottom corners of a triangle where Jesus sits at the top corner.
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