Chronic Illness
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Choosing to See
“Raise me again to health with a heightened sense of thankfulness for the unmerited gift of well-being…” Every Moment Holy, “Liturgy for a Sick Day” Every morning I receive a “Liturgy of the Day” from the Every Moment Holy App on my phone. The above liturgy came this morning. I woke up with a migraine – I believe in God’s Faithfulness. You can make your own judgements, but I stand by my belief. A couple weeks ago I took a much needed “brain pause.” A few things led to this pause: summer weather rubbing me wrong- not my greatest health season- which makes life challenging at times, longing for Lucy…
- "Life" Books, Adoption, Being "Single", Chronic Illness, Friends & Neighbors, GRANDparents, Mommy, My Little, Single Parenting
What does it mean to leave home?
Let’s start today with a question: What does it mean for someone to “leave home?” I really want you to take time and think about this one. Think about what defines leaving home physically, spiritually, mentally, emotionally, financially, relationships and so on. Think, think, think, as Pooh Bear would say, before continuing. Why in the world would I bringing this to your attention today? First, I have overheard some comments made recently about adult children living with their parents. Second, I happen to be an adult daughter living with my parents. (which I will address the word “child” being used after adult, below) Third, I had to do some real…
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Lemons… Curveball… And the Wringer…
When life gives you lemons, make lemonade. When life throws you a curveball, hit it out of the park. When life puts you through the wringer… Have you had enough of this one liners yet? I have! Someone once said, “I’m not a rainbow shooter,” meaning that they were not going to be making things pretty for the sake of the feelings and emotions of themselves and others. Shooting rainbows is exhausting, and cannot be a long-term reality. We need to leave the rainbows up to God and remember why he places them in the sky. As a reminder of a very faithful promise to Noah and his family. (this…
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Simply Prepared
Let me start off with asking you a question: Have you ever had a day, a week, a month, or a year, that you have to keep reminding yourself, just do today? Otherwise you think you might explode! If you have, welcome my friend. I hope that you find this post helpful and hopeful in some way today! Now, let me lead with a few facts about myself before we dive in. 1. The following “advice” (not sure if that’s what I should call it- but I’m going with it for today😂) comes from my life of live, learn, make mistakes, get back up again experiences and self-educated research. 2.…
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and then it was Spring!
Spring. Tulips. Buttercups (what we in the south call daffodils). Color. Pink. Yellow. Green. Orange. Blue. White. Easter. Hope. Promise. Children. Eggs. Laughter. Swings. Slides. Sand boxes. Chalk. What do you think of when you think or hear the word “SPRING?” The first things that come to mind for me, childhood core memories. The two metal swing sets we had in our yard. These were the metal swing sets that if you got to swinging a little too high, you started to feel the whole swing set start lifting out of the ground. Anybody remember these? Pretty much the only place that wouldn’t be blazing hot would be the swing…
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If it’s not one thing…
I come to you today a bit weary, but grateful. You know the saying, “if it’s not one thing, it’s another”? Well, if you yourself have chronic illness, or you advocate for someone with chronic illness, you know the impact of this phrase. First, let me make very clear how grateful I am to live so close to an amazing medical hospital and clinics. This truly is by far an incredible gift! So many have to move to get closer to the help they need, or travel constantly for medical appointments. Second, I am grateful to have insurance that this hospital and clinics remain in network. This being said, the…
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One Wave at a Time
Just a note before I start today’s writing: I am so grateful for the picture above, along with many more, you never know when these moments will no longer exist. And we have the opportunity in our pockets (phones), to take glimpses of these moments. I encourage you to not hesitate, take the pictures! Video all the firsts, seconds, thirds, the moments that you can’t get back! I know how these priceless treasures can make my day just a little bit more do-able, I never wish this on anyone, but believe me if you are ever left with just pictures and videos and memories, you won’t regret a second of…
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“She Keeps to Herself”
Before I start today’s writing, I would like to correct something I wrote last week. And that is, I wrote that there is an RSV vaccine, there is not. I fact checked myself, because I knew they had discovered something, and there is a treatment that high risk patients can be given. Therefore, I pass on this information and urge you to fight for those who are too weak to fight right now. https://www.cdc.gov/rsv/about/prevention.html Now to today’s writing… Have you ever heard this comment made about somebody? “She/he is just shy/quiet/private, so she/he just keeps to themselves most of the time.” It’s funny because when my grandparents said it, it…
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Discerning the Invisible
Allow me to take you on a wild adventure, into the world that is the fascinating, yet misunderstood and unseen… As I wrote last week, this is an adventure that many have had, yet no two individuals have the same experience or lasting life after shocks. Also, there are many who haven’t had even a taste of the adventure I am about to take you on. So whether you have been on this rollercoaster, or are on it, or haven’t a taste, I’m going to do my best to walk you down my path of adventure of diagnoses of invisible chronic illnesses, and accepting that they are invisible. The thing…
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Name, Claim, No Room for Shame!
As I watch the coverage of Hurricane Ian, I am struck with all sorts of emotion. I am also remembering the documentaries that I just watched barely two weeks ago, “When the Levees Broke” and then the follow-up “If God is Willing and Da Creek Don’t Rise,” which are about Hurricane Katrina and New Orleans. The devastation, the brokenness, the loss of lives, homes, loss of everything they had ever known. No two stories were the same, but every person, every story was effected by the hurricane. The trauma, the loss, the reactions, no two were the same, yet they all experienced the same horrific storm. Have you ever experienced…
