It has been more than a joy to have Amy and the babies here! I would never get tired of it. However, it was quiet last night since they are visiting Bubby, and so I went to bed early, and that was nice.
I also had a few minutes to spend with Amanda, too. That was awesome. She will be leaving in just a couple of weeks, and I know she is so excited. I am excited for her. She will do great. I just continue to pray that God will use all of my children for His glory...a scary thing to pray sometimes.
I continue to thank God for the position at Take Care Health, but I will have to see more patients soon or I will lose my marbles! ha! I have enjoyed getting to know the store staff, and continue to ask God to use me to serve them, and to show them His love. I love that some of the young people congregate around my desk for some "mama love".
I need to make a list of adventures I would like for us to take in the next few weeks...
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Hang On for the Ride!
They're coming! Ben will be in officer training for several weeks in Kentucky, so Amy and the babies are coming to stay with us! I can hardly wait. They will be here Thursday night. I know it will be a whirlwind, but I am so excited about having them here. Amanda will be moving to Texas while they are here and God is so good to make sure I will be a bit distracted. :) We will finish up their time here with a trip to Disney! Woo-hoo!
I have started a new job since I posted last. I am one of the NPs at the new Walgreen's clinic in Heath. No more hour long drives to and from work. I can't describe the difference it has made in how I feel. I work two 8's and two 12's or three 12's. Not many patients yet, but it's coming. Even though I miss the babies at Children's, I am soooo happy to stay close to home.
James and Marlene passed on an opportunity to move across the country, and my heart is just so grateful that we are all here. We have all committed to trying to get together more and not take for granted that we are here together.
We are finally getting our financial house in order, and I have been going to Curves, so I feel that there has been progress made in the two things that were among my biggest stressors. My 6 month MRI in June showed NO NEW LESIONS again, and I had lost 5 more pounds...that's 10 this year...slowly but surely.
We continue to pray for God's guidance in regards to finding a group of like-minded believers to worship with. I've thought about putting an ad in the paper! :) We just want to grow with people who think deeply, who are spiritually minded, not smothering in stiff, mindless traditions, but not blindly influenced by emotions. Genuine. Passionate about Jesus and service, who build each other up, and are kind. I just know I don't have the energy to drown in "church activities" any more. But I am searching for partners to share in spiritual formation, transformation, forgiveness, grace, peace...the things I know are growing in my heart and mind. They are out there...I know they are. We will find them.
Seasons of peace can sneak up on you unexpectedly. I feel it. Now, with some fabulous little people in the house for the next few weeks we might not HEAR the peace, but it will be here. Thank you, God.
I have started a new job since I posted last. I am one of the NPs at the new Walgreen's clinic in Heath. No more hour long drives to and from work. I can't describe the difference it has made in how I feel. I work two 8's and two 12's or three 12's. Not many patients yet, but it's coming. Even though I miss the babies at Children's, I am soooo happy to stay close to home.
James and Marlene passed on an opportunity to move across the country, and my heart is just so grateful that we are all here. We have all committed to trying to get together more and not take for granted that we are here together.
We are finally getting our financial house in order, and I have been going to Curves, so I feel that there has been progress made in the two things that were among my biggest stressors. My 6 month MRI in June showed NO NEW LESIONS again, and I had lost 5 more pounds...that's 10 this year...slowly but surely.
We continue to pray for God's guidance in regards to finding a group of like-minded believers to worship with. I've thought about putting an ad in the paper! :) We just want to grow with people who think deeply, who are spiritually minded, not smothering in stiff, mindless traditions, but not blindly influenced by emotions. Genuine. Passionate about Jesus and service, who build each other up, and are kind. I just know I don't have the energy to drown in "church activities" any more. But I am searching for partners to share in spiritual formation, transformation, forgiveness, grace, peace...the things I know are growing in my heart and mind. They are out there...I know they are. We will find them.
Seasons of peace can sneak up on you unexpectedly. I feel it. Now, with some fabulous little people in the house for the next few weeks we might not HEAR the peace, but it will be here. Thank you, God.
Saturday, March 22, 2008
Life Goes On...
It is March...which means January and February (and most of March) are gone. It just goes by so fast! Alex is home from France. Amanda is getting ready to graduate. I had the opportunity to meet Jessica in Lubbock (what a treasure). I miss Ainsley and Noah (and Amy and Ben). I have been feeling well, and working quite a bit. The weather is dreary, and I am ready for spring. Alex and Amanda move to Lubbock in August, and Amy is planning a trip to Disney for us in September.
My 6 month MRI in December showed no more lesions in my brain, so it seems the Avonex and Copaxone are working...thank you, Jesus.
David will no longer be preaching in Martinsburg in a couple of weeks, and while that will be a financial struggle, it will be good for our spiritual lives. We have decided to go to church with Alex and Amanda, at least while they are still in town, and then we will decide what to do after they move.
More later...
My 6 month MRI in December showed no more lesions in my brain, so it seems the Avonex and Copaxone are working...thank you, Jesus.
David will no longer be preaching in Martinsburg in a couple of weeks, and while that will be a financial struggle, it will be good for our spiritual lives. We have decided to go to church with Alex and Amanda, at least while they are still in town, and then we will decide what to do after they move.
More later...
Thursday, December 13, 2007
Whoa!
Okay. So I just about hit the wall last night. The nurse at my clinic gave me my Avonex at 6p, I stopped for a couple of errands, and by the time I got home at 8p I could hardly get out of the car. I had fever and chills and agony until about 10:30p when I felt better even quicker than I had come apart. I felt bad that Amanda was here...I have tried to protect her from it as much as I can. I don't usually get so sick until about 6 hours after the shot and no one usually sees. Julie and James have been so faithful to check on me, take care of me, on Thursdays. I am a blessed woman. My biggest challenge has been to develop a way to be consistent in my thinking...writing every day would help, but I seem to have a hard time doing anything that requires discipline. It seems like the story of my life...my biggest frustration. Will it get better? I pray.
Thursday, December 6, 2007
Childhood friend...
Her name is Wanda Caldwell Urban. We were good buddies when we were children/pre-teens...I can't remember much about it (any one who knows me would not be surprised that I can't remember). Wanda called several years ago to reconnect (after about 30 years!). We had a great visit with their family when they visited us in Martinsburg. That was about 6-7 years ago, and she called again last night. She called Martinsburg first, and when she couldn't get me there, she called my dad to get my number and he told her about the MS. Sit down. You won't believe this. She has MS too! So bizarre! It was so good to talk to her. I always get the impression when I talk to her that she has no filters, no mask. It is very refreshing. She left me with something profound today...
...a friend of hers is doing a Beth Moore Bible study on Daniel, and she shared with Wanda her study about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and about how scripture states that not only did they not burn when thrown into the fire, they DIDN'T EVEN SMELL LIKE SMOKE. They didn't let the trials of their lives leave a stink on them. I want to be like that! I don't want to smell like smoke!
With David and Amanda at work I am uncharacteristically lonely tonight. I don't know why...I had to take the Avonex on Sunday night, and again today because of scheduling issues, so I didn't really have enough time to "recover" before I had to do it again. The fatigue is most distressing. It makes me feel lazy, and I hate that. It has taken me much too long to get the Christmas decorating done, and I am praying for the energy to get ready for all of the family to be here...not even anything all out, just cleaning the bathroom and normal stuff! The garage is the biggest challenge, and it HAS to get done in the next couple of weeks! It is a disaster, and it overwhelms me.
My joy this week has been the new twinkle Christmas tree lights and reconnecting with a sister. They both make me smile! :)
...a friend of hers is doing a Beth Moore Bible study on Daniel, and she shared with Wanda her study about Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, and about how scripture states that not only did they not burn when thrown into the fire, they DIDN'T EVEN SMELL LIKE SMOKE. They didn't let the trials of their lives leave a stink on them. I want to be like that! I don't want to smell like smoke!
With David and Amanda at work I am uncharacteristically lonely tonight. I don't know why...I had to take the Avonex on Sunday night, and again today because of scheduling issues, so I didn't really have enough time to "recover" before I had to do it again. The fatigue is most distressing. It makes me feel lazy, and I hate that. It has taken me much too long to get the Christmas decorating done, and I am praying for the energy to get ready for all of the family to be here...not even anything all out, just cleaning the bathroom and normal stuff! The garage is the biggest challenge, and it HAS to get done in the next couple of weeks! It is a disaster, and it overwhelms me.
My joy this week has been the new twinkle Christmas tree lights and reconnecting with a sister. They both make me smile! :)
Thursday, October 11, 2007
I'm Okay...
Since I haven't told anyone about this blog I can let go of the urge to say something profound...I like that. My brain is feeling a bit numb today, cluttered, dim. This is what the fatigue of MS feels like. Blah. There are so many things I want to accomplish and I can't seem to pull myself together to be productive. But I do look forward to posting on Thursdays, and I usually have a Coke, as a "reward". But I have had a couple this week already. Oh, well.
I will be picking Valerie up from the airport tonight. I miss her. I don't spend enough time with friends. There are so few people I feel like I can be tranparent with, but that is my fault...I don't take the time to develop the friendships. I have taken comfort in enveloping myself in home. And that's okay for now. It is healing.
I'm okay.
I will be picking Valerie up from the airport tonight. I miss her. I don't spend enough time with friends. There are so few people I feel like I can be tranparent with, but that is my fault...I don't take the time to develop the friendships. I have taken comfort in enveloping myself in home. And that's okay for now. It is healing.
I'm okay.
Thursday, October 4, 2007
My heart is working...
For the past few years I have been concerned that my heart does not work like it is supposed to, like it used to...
I get less emotional about life events, less worried, more "settled". I just don't get upset very easily, and seem to just take things in stride that a few years ago would really ruffle my feathers. I have wondered if I was becoming emotionally blunted. I have not come apart with a child choosing to live half-way around the world. I have met physical challenges with little more than a sense of resignation. But in the last few months, the introspection I have afforded myself has shown me that my heart indeed works just fine, thank you. It is just that I am beginning to realize that my faith has begun to expand, to take the shape I have always wished it would take. I have fewer and fewer doubts that God is in control, and that we were only meant to be here for just a little while...that the future holds so much good, even if not here on earth.
There ARE life issues that I am passionate about and get on my soap box about, and my newly recognized faith is not complete. This morning I cried when I thought about my baby, my last born, graduating and moving to who knows where across the globe. And my unruffled feathers begin to ruffle when I dwell on issues such as how childbirth, breastfeeding, and mothering have been corrupted in this country, and how religious legalism blinds people I love, and pushes away others I adore. Sometimes I just get mad. See, my heart is working...
I get less emotional about life events, less worried, more "settled". I just don't get upset very easily, and seem to just take things in stride that a few years ago would really ruffle my feathers. I have wondered if I was becoming emotionally blunted. I have not come apart with a child choosing to live half-way around the world. I have met physical challenges with little more than a sense of resignation. But in the last few months, the introspection I have afforded myself has shown me that my heart indeed works just fine, thank you. It is just that I am beginning to realize that my faith has begun to expand, to take the shape I have always wished it would take. I have fewer and fewer doubts that God is in control, and that we were only meant to be here for just a little while...that the future holds so much good, even if not here on earth.
There ARE life issues that I am passionate about and get on my soap box about, and my newly recognized faith is not complete. This morning I cried when I thought about my baby, my last born, graduating and moving to who knows where across the globe. And my unruffled feathers begin to ruffle when I dwell on issues such as how childbirth, breastfeeding, and mothering have been corrupted in this country, and how religious legalism blinds people I love, and pushes away others I adore. Sometimes I just get mad. See, my heart is working...
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