How do you do it? That is the everlasting question....

Good Afternoon Everyone! Hope you're all having a great day. I am here having a great day in spite of the ups and downs of our service provider. I am not complaining by any means. This has been going on since yesterday and fourteen of us are being affected. There have been several trucks and technicians up and down our street and cross streets trying to resolve the issues we've all been experiencing.

The first time this question was posed to me "How do you do it?" "How do you handle it all?" These are the two that have really been the top of the list of the many questions from friends, family, followers, study group friends and more. I had thought about what was said. I thought about how it was said. I thought about the way each of you looked when you asked me these questions. The concern on your faces when you'd be before me, the concern I heard over the phone when speaking with you. I really care about each of you. I appreciate that you're all concerned for me as well. Know that I am concerned for each of you and the challenges each of you face. No matter what they are. I think of each of you.

Those of you who are unaware of why I am bringing this question to light if you will. Please bear with me, but the reason for this question is because of the many surgical and other procedures I've had since the end of June this year. My elbow being number seven. The surgery on my elbow was to re-release the ulnar nerve as it was being compressed. We had tried therapy, but that was not relieving the compression. The surgeon stated that if it was not done soon I would eventually lose function of my hand. This I was not going to stand by and allow to happen. I thought about the surgery and what he told me needed to be done (yuck!), but that all aside. I knew that I would be much better in the end and able to do more. This is where my focus was; it was not on the surgery, the recovery or will I need therapy after this? None of that crossed my mind. What did cross my mind is how much better my hand would be after this is done. I should say hands because this same surgery needs to be performed on my right hand as well. I am thinking how much better I will be after everything is done. 

I am already feeling great even with all the events, surgeries and things I have had to deal with this summer. I know I'm much better going forward now than if I hadn't gone through these things. I'm not saying that in order for me to feel great I had to go through them that's far from the truth. I have been blessed that God brought me through each one of them and showed me much needed things and things that He just decided to show me. Some things He's shown me I shared with some of you because it was something that you needed. I thanked God for allowing the opportunity. 

When I spoke to each of you that came to me. I remember sitting with you or talking with you on the phone and saying "God, gives me the strength. He lets me know He's there. He has me where He means for me to be." Some of you gave me a funny look or asked: "how can you say that?" I can because I am more concerned for God's glory than for my relief. What I mean is that by my attitude, what God does in me means more than my relief does to me. How I handle, walk through, endure, face whatever word you want to use here for a challenge, situation, circumstance etc. I started thinking how can God be glorified in this situation. When I changed from that perspective my perspective on my current circumstance changed. Not that I was thinking negatively, because I wasn't. I was focusing on the early part of things like how will it be when I get home, can I do, will I be able to. I began to focus on how much better will I be after this? When you change your approach to things that come before you, your perspective is much different.

I found that in these challenges, things that I faced that God has a way of turning things into praise. I had a mass removed earlier this summer. This mass could have been something that could have consequences, but God changed that. This mass was not a small one by any means it was 3"x3"x 3/4" while the size caught both my husband and me off guard. We waited for that phone call and were given news that it was benign. This was turned to praise!! All the other things that were done also were turned to praise. All that said God leaves behind blessings and all the other things melt away kind of like wax in a candle if you look at it that way. Things are before us and when you light a candle the wax melts to a liquid and some evaporate away with the heat of the flame.

Some may say that I'm broken because of my Osteogenesis, but I say that I am not because God made me beautiful. You could say that I am beautifully broken. God allows Himself to shine through me with all that talk to me. I will not tell you that I have Osteogenesis when you talk to me. That is a speck of me, yes, it is part of who I am, but it doesn't identify me in any aspect. I will say one thing that seems to stand out about it is the whites of my eyes are a shade of blue. This seems to be the talk of ones that meet me or when I go to a doctor's office for an appointment. I have experienced in one visit literally 23 medical staff

that came into the room I was in and said the same thing in different ways just to catch a glimpse of my eyes. While I had fun making them dance around with their words to see my eyes I on the inside was laughing a bit it was almost like a game to me. Each one that came in had questions for me of their own, but then when I gave them questions some didn't know how to answer, but it allowed me the opportunity to talk about God to them. 

I just love when God opens those doors. Some you see coming and others are just so unexpected and by the time you realize it you're in and enjoying what the Lord is leading you to do. Onward to my next adventure. Thanks for stopping by!!

Grace & Peace,

Moving Forward....Watching God put things together just the way He wants to

Hi Everyone, hope you're staying warm in these brutal cold temperatures. I know we are staying warm. My husband is a great provider in that he's running our pellet stove to keep us warm and he brought food in unexpected yesterday. I was so glad that he did. I am putting meals together with what he brought. He does so much and tries so hard to provide for our family. We really appreciate all that he does for us. 

Now to get onto what's going on since my last appointment. I had blood work drawn when I was there last. I received the results this morning and I am not pleased to see where the numbers lay. They're low in areas where they need to be higher and those that need to be low are high. I know that after the bone density next Wednesday my doctor will be scheduling the infusions. 

No this doesn't surprise me. I have learned in the years since being diagnosed when I don't feel right, the bone pain is increasing that means one of two things that my calcium is high or that my Vitamin D is bottoming out. In this case, both are down. I know this is not a "snap of the fingers" situation. I know God can do a snap of the fingers and things are fine -- He's choosing a slow path that will draw me to lean harder, press harder into Him. This is His path, not mine. I have to learn to rest with Him and listen, be alert to His direction, how I handle this as the days go, the hiccups that may come along the way.

As I get more updates I will update here. Have a great day everyone!!!

Grace & Peace,

A Beautiful Summer Day....

Hi, Everyone!!! I hope you're having a great day.  I have been reading and enjoying the sunshine today. It's been pretty hot today; typical summer day. I thank God for his beautiful creations. The trees, flowers, the birds, animals. I enjoy seeing them when I look out my window. 

Today has been a pretty good day. The pain is at a minimum right now. I am thankful for that as yesterday was a bit of a challenge when I was at church. I didn't get up and leave although I could have, I chose to stay. God blessed me in that because when I left I was not in pain as I was in the service. Thank you, Lord!!! I felt very refreshed after being in service. I came home and I was able to hear the sermon again!! It was already up!!! Sometimes it takes a day or two, but it was already up.  I then went to a site of a Pastor friend of my family, Pastor Ken Graves,  to see if he had a sermon from the same book of the Bible and he did. I listened to him as well. I was blessed to see that many of the points that my Pastor brought out our friend, Pastor Ken Graves did as well.  This is the sermon from my Pastor, Dr. Eric Paashaus 2 John, Jesus In The Flesh.

I will leave you with this short message; have fun, enjoy your day!! I will write more another time. 

Coming Back......Everything that should have broken me...only made me stronger!

Hi, Everyone!!! Hope you're having a good day. I have been busy this morning with reading and talking to a few close friends that needed me this morning. I also had some business that I had to attend to for my husband and that's complete now. I can finally take some time to write here. Well, ok...that phone call made a hiccup. We had appointments planned for our son this week and pre-registered for them. A call came and now the place that is doing his DEXA scan changed the appointment for the DEXA...now they're going to coordinate it with the doctor instead of my having to call.  I appreciate that since they had taken it to their hands to change the appointment to start with. 

Now for the title, why I chose "Everything that should have broken me....only made me stronger!" I chose that because I have sat here during my recovery with loved ones around me. The various things I felt with the injury from losing functionality in my leg to the point that I couldn't walk. I had to learn to walk again. I had excruciating pain that even with meds didn't relieve it maybe as quickly as I hoped.  God is bigger and God had it in control. I shed many tears during that time as the ladies that came around me can tell you. Them encouraging me; helping me when I needed help to stand, to walk, to do just about any daily task that I needed to do. They were there. They saw that I was down because of the injury, but they didn't leave me there. No, they gave me the tools to get myself back up...they encouraged me through books to read that would be uplifting and showing that I needed not to be down.  They read God's Word to me and had me follow in my Bible where they were reading. We spent time in prayer, we spent time in worship.  I loved and still, love the time we spend together. We do get together even though I am getting better. I am still recovering, but not needing them hovering around me so much now. 

 I am thankful for the friendships that have developed even deeper. I am thankful for all that God placed in my life. 

Have a great day!!

Deep In Thought........

Today has been a wet day with the constant rain coming down. I was looking for a picture to fit with how I have been today. Today I spent most of my time deep in thought. I have been thinking about so many things with all that I am dealing with in this journey of healing. I verse that I thought was from the book of Colossians. Colossians 4:2-3 (NLT) "Devote yourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart. Pray for us, too, that God will give us many opportunities to speak about His mysterious plan concerning Christ...." You may ask why this verse...well, I thought of this one because devoting ourselves to prayer with an alert mind and a thankful heart; God hears us when we pray. He hears us when we pray and spend time with Him; our relationship grows with what He teaches us. Our hearts are more open to receiving what He has for us. I have been finding with this whole injury my spending time in the Word and prayer I have grown in so many ways. I realize that God means for me to be where I am. You think right away I dare to say; how can you say that? I mean seriously! Are you saying that God meant for you to get injured while in that pool for therapy??? No, I am not saying that. I am saying that He may have needed me to slow down and He allowed this.

There are times where God needs us to slow down and hear what He has for us. While getting injured doesn't mean that was the way He wanted me to slow down. It may have taken that because I admit I can be stubborn and push on when I shouldn't. Some circumstances are beyond our control. Sometimes just a card in the mail, a phone call, a knock on the door can throw us for a loop.  We need to be ready for what may come our way.  When we worry about something is us putting question marks where God puts a period. God appreciates when we do His work; what He has planned for us, for you, for me. There are so many ways that God gets our attention to get us to slow down to draw to Him. I am thankful for this time. This has been a long time; we are now five weeks in and I am still not where I need to be physically, but I have grown in so many other ways. 

I have been with four different women from my church. They come certain days of the week to help me at my home, with walking, with making meals for me, for conversation - times of refreshing for them and for me. We talk about things in our lives and share with one another.  They have taught me so much about them and they've said I have taught them so much about me. I have told them some really personal things that I don't share with just anyone. We spent time in prayer; we spent time in tears not always because of sadness, but in times of growth, times of frustration from things of negative anger. There are times that we spend singing our hearts out loudly with the television...hehe so loudly that we rock and roll my husband right out the front door. I hate to admit we laugh when we do that. Is that wrong??? I have to say that it's funny at times watching his reaction when he's going out that door.  In times like these, I have to think of God's glory rather than for my relief.  You may think why wait, how do you do that?? I mean seriously, naturally, we think of questions like these. "How did I get into this mess, and how can I get out?" "How quickly can I solve this problem?" "Why did this have to happen to me?"  That last one is a difficult one, isn't it? I mean when we get hurt, when we get into something that is catastrophic we think how did this happen? Why didn't I stop? Why didn't I see this coming? Sometimes we need to step back. When something comes at us; instead of reacting how we usually do "how can I get out of this mess?". We should change our thinking to "How can God be glorified in this situation. By doing this can change your whole perspective on the situation that you're in. 

When you think about it what comes to your mind? When you think of the enemy what does he do he comes in and bothers us, annoys us. His mission is to seek, kill and destroy. We need to acknowledge when he sneaks in and attacks us...we need to be at the ready and keep our eyes on the Lord. I have kept you here a long time so I will let you go. I thank you for taking the time to read my post. I will have more to write in the days ahead. 

Thanks for stopping by, have a great day,

Long Time No Visit

Greetings Everyone!!! I am sorry that it's been a long, long time since I have been writing. I apologize. I have been trying to get back on my feet and walking again. I am making progress with some setbacks. I am determined to move ahead. I did get some outdoor time even if it was just sitting on the bench outside my home. That's progress because I am not surrounded by the four walls that now feel like a prison. I hate to say it, but I don't want to be a fixture in my living room; in my living room recliner.
While I could focus on what I am not doing yet; I will not and refuse to. I have to say that this time with the challenges that are and were before me was very taxing on my emotions.  When this all began it was some back pain that started this.  I went to the doctor to seek help to find that I was directed to therapy.  I thought I was making the right choice. When I experienced some pain the first day I thought okay this is expected this is something different that I am used to doing. When it transferred over to the second day and continued from there as you know the rest of what happened. I knew then, that I had challenges ahead that haven't happened yet, challenges that I was facing right at that moment. I said that this was very taxing on my emotions. This was; those that came willingly to our home to help me with everyday tasks, personal tasks I am so very grateful and thankful for every moment spent with them. I am not saying that this is a one-way experience. That is not this in any way.  I say that because these were times of refreshing for me and for them. We learned from one another. They learned about me; things that I had experienced in life. I learned things about their lives; things they experienced. This has impacted how I have dealt with and continue to deal with this setback. Setback?! You may say is that what you call it?? It is and it is an injury from the physical therapy as well, but I will get to my goals and ambitions in God's timing. He knows what they are and when they will happen. While others may think that I am wrapped in what I cannot do. I am not while these things do get to my emotions going and I can become overwhelmed at times.  Those times have been fortunate to have been blessed with friends around and them to bring words from God to my heart that some didn't even know that I was struggling with things. I appreciate each one of them that have been here. I am thankful for my husband that the Lord gave me. I say this because of something dear and close to his heart he shared with me during this time of struggle with me. I will not disclose his words here as they were just that dear and close to his heart and not easy for him to share. I have to say that his sharing these words made our relationship even stronger and helped me to see things with him differently in the current circumstances that I am dealing with.

I have to say that today I am doing better, still have a way to come yet. I am getting there. I am not giving in or complaining at all that it's taking this long to get back to where I was. I can say that I am better for the challenges that I have faced already. I am stronger for it as well. I have been in the Word throughout this ordeal. I have been directed to scripture, to books, to other things that friends and family have brought to me. I was also given things from my Pastor during this time as well. He has touched my heart with his encouraging words through this time. He has touched my heart with his sermons as well. I know through this whole process I have grown in many ways. I am thankful for what God is teaching me through this.  I hope that you will stick with me to see how things turn out and where God leads me throughout this challenge. 

Thank you so much for taking time out of your day to read my post and stopping by. Have a wonderful day!!! 

Saturday Blessings!

Saturday Blessings Everyone! Well, this is a change. I woke up at 4 am for our normal wake up time. I grabbed my medication took that, thought I was going to be up for the day - my body had other plans I was able to fall back to sleep which is unusual for me. I am thankful for the extra rest I don't usually get that due to the pain and discomfort of the Osteogenesis Imperfecta.  Those of us with the disease can attest to the various things that we deal with on a daily basis.

I must say that I am thankful for the friendship that I have made with my "Special Friend." She's great!!! Yes, we may have ups and downs, you know the kind - the bumping of heads on some topics. We have adjusted and learned to get around our "bumps in the road." We are now stronger in our friendship. I thank God for her. We get together and spend time with each other while our children play games together. I am thankful for their friendship as well. They have helped one another with homework as well. I like that they can do that. 

This morning's "dance" was a little easier. I praise God for that. I still loved dancing across the room with my husband. I enjoy our talks. This morning we both were getting up to get our days going. We got down the hall and we were both down the stairs. He did what he needed I got myself ready then our son woke up. We made breakfast.

Yesterday was my first day of physical therapy, but as most of us call it physical torture. Hmm, maybe because we go in with not a lot of pain and walk out with lots of pain. I did experience some pain while there, but when I got home it wasn't that bad until this morning. I guess the work I did, did settle in. I am ok otherwise. I know there will be some discomfort before I get better. I am already working on a plan for after physical therapy.  I want to be the best that I can for my family. I know we can get through this. God blessed me with a therapist that lives close to me. 

I hope you have a great weekend. Spend time with family, friends, and God. 

Blessings,

Let the Dancing begin.....

 

 

Good morning! I pray that you had a good nights rest. I had a little challenge last night, but I'd rather not talk about it. Let's get onto our morning. I pray that you will have a good day ahead of you. 

I "danced" with my husband around our room. Him holding me up as we walked together. We walked the hallway together; talking along the way. I love these early morning "dances" even if they are at 4 am most of the time. Today it was 4:15 am. I decided there was no staying put in bed I needed to get up and get going. The pain was too much. I just couldn't lay there anymore. We made it to the stairs my husband helped me down the first few then I was okay to get down the rest. 

I got myself ready for the day then went to my corner of the living room to spend some quality time with the Lord. I opened my devotional to today and grabbed my Bible to start reading. I always read the scripture reference first then go into the reading.  The scripture for today's devotional is found in Revelation 2:9-10 (NLT) "I know about your suffering and your poverty--but you are rich! I know the blasphemy of those opposing you. They say they are the Jews, but they are not, because their synagogue belongs to Satan. Don't be afraid of what you are about to suffer. The devil will throw some of you into prison to test you. You will suffer for ten days. But if you remain faithful even when facing death, I will give you the crown of life." 

I know I underlined quite a bit here, but there is so much being said in this devotional for today. Where it talks about those living with intractable physical pain, some barely able to function. I know many in the OI community that deals with this daily. I know I have as of late. There are so many days that I cannot even sit up in bed on my own or rise from the bed on my own, but with the help of my husband, I am able to get up. Though it may be painful I keep my trust in God because I know He brings me through the pain, through the fire. He keeps my attitude positive when the enemy wants to annoy me and try to make my attitude less positive. When you think about things, when you are close to God, the more quality time you spend with Him the enemy can't attack you, but annoy you. When you're not walking with the Lord the enemy loves to attack and keep you from God, but that's not what God wants for your life. He wants you to live with Him. When I am dealing with lots of pain whether from injuries or otherwise that's when I am most vulnerable. Words from friends, things I read, maybe even a song that a friend sends I may take all of these wrong - that's when the enemy is causing doubt in me - making me question things. I shouldn't be doing either of those; I should be going to the throne because God is still on the throne. He is our strength whether we are at our weakest moment or at a strong moment when we feel we are close to Him. We need to hold His hand through all that we face whether we think we can go it alone. He is there to help us, guide us, give us wisdom in all situations, circumstances. We need to remember He has promised a crown of life sweeter than life itself. My Lord is a strong, strong mighty tower. Here I am Lord, I am running through the door! I am taking refuge in You! Hold me, Lord! 

Thanks for taking time to read,

Good Morning!!!

Good Morning, my friends!!! How are you this fine morning? I am doing a little better. This morning's "dance" was a bit tough, but we got off and started out of our room and down the hall. Taking that step down the first stair was difficult, but I descended just fine although there was a lot of pain. I still gave God the glory why because He was there walking with me and holding my hand as I walked. He gave me the confidence to take each step. Some of the simplest tasks can be the most difficult, but not when you have God by your side. I was up, rising and shining at 4 am again due to pain, but I took my medication and as you read started downstairs to begin my day. 

Once I was downstairs I got myself ready for the day. I then went to the living room to have my quality time with the Lord. I started by reading my morning devotional A Spectacle of Glory God's Light Shining through Me Every Day, by Joni Eareckson Tada. Today she wrote based on Ephesians 5:20. Paul tells us that we must be "always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." For everything??? I have wrestled with these words, why, because there are things that I guess I keep to myself - this is futile because God already knows! The Bible tells us we're to give thanks, not only for the good stuff that happens in our lives but also for those hurtful, crushing, heartbreaking, out-of-control moments as well. He asks us to see life from His point of view. I look at this disease that my son and I have, the Osteogenesis days are challenging, but God gets us through. I think that He sees right now, right now how one day we will be healed and how the tears, the bruises, the setbacks and sorrows of this life have worked for the glory of His name. I spent time in prayer and I thanked the Lord for everything even for the Osteogenesis and the pain that have been my companions. Not that I like them, but God has a calling, a purpose for my life, for my son's life -- for that matter for your lives as well. We can endure whatever He allows touching our lives. He has our lives cupped in His hands and He loves us and He works every moment for the best and for His glory. 

Hoping to see a friend today. Not sure what they have planned for their day, God does. I will be spending some time in the Word and trying to do some therapy things. I pray that you have wonderful days, filled with the mighty blessings that God has for you!  Don't miss out on all the little and big things that God has to show you. I remember walking with our son when he was a lot younger. He said, "Mama, Mama, look at these tiny purple flowers!" I totally missed them why because I was in the "adult tunnel vision" - this is how we get as we grow up. We become focused on the things of life, things we have to do, what's next on our agenda. That day when we were walking my mind was on when we get back he will go down for a nap, I can get dinner started while he sleeps I can fold the laundry that's washed...and the list continues. When he said that simple phrase "...look at these tiny purple flowers!" Stopped me in my tracks!!! I looked down at him and said show me, baby. He showed me and they were what we consider weeds, but God created them for our enjoyment. I looked closer, then he picked one for me - they were so intricate.  The colors blended just perfectly. Now I pushed that "tunnel vision" to the wayside never to reintroduce. I look for all the tiny things that God created. When I see something new, or something I have seen even daily I still thank God for that blessing. I go for a walk (for therapy) I look for things asking God to show me what He wants me to learn or gain through the walk. I spend time talking to Him. No, I don't get funny looks from people that are around me if any because we don't have to speak out loud to God when we're outside, out in public unless we choose to. 

Thank You for stopping by and taking the time to read my post. Have a wonderful day!!

May God richly bless your lives,

Count your BLESSINGS Not Your PROBLEMS....Good Morning!!!

Good Morning!!! Hope you're having a wonderful day. I am very blessed with my husband.He as always at the 4 am wake up helped me up to do our morning "dance". I am so blessed having him. Yes, we have had our share of ups and downs, but the ups outweigh the downs by a long shot. We danced down the hallway then he sent me down the stairs as I was able to get down on my own. I was glad for that. Not always are the stairs manageable for me. 

I came down and found that our son slept on the couch. He said he had another bloody nose in the night. He's a great guy he handled it on his own; knowing we were just upstairs. He wanted to wake up if I came down. I tried to wake him, but he didn't want any part of my waking him up. I woke him at his normal time to wake for school. He rose and grabbed his clothes for the day, got a shower and ready for the day. We read our family devotion and now we've added a daily scripture reading with a family member's church. If you'd like to take a listen feel free. They have an app in the App Stores, click here, Calvary Chapel. He was off for school; we prayed as always before he left. He's off and now my husband is off to work. I have to get on with my day too before I leave you I want to share something else with you.

I have an app on my phone that gives us a daily challenge. I really love it; sometimes the challenges are something that I cannot do, but that's ok. I will pass on those. I like the challenges they give because some are exercises of just stretches, going for a walk, others are things like thanking someone..what are you most grateful for is another. I like that they're not just one type. I am most grateful to God for my relationship with Him. I am most grateful that He created us and the love He shows us through His creations; all the things He made. The ransom sacrifice of His son and His promises. I thank Him daily even in my deep days of pain. He's there to lift me up, help me face my day. I thank Him because He went to the cross for me, for you, for all of us. His love He has for us held Him there. I am so thankful that He has given us an awesome example of how we should act...being humble, kind, compassionate, a forgiving attitude even despite what others have done to Him, good moral character, living simply and putting others first. We do this even when sometimes it's when we need something, but want to meet someone else's need we do and we are blessed in other ways. We've had when we've given food to another when we were short but wanted to still bless the family. We did this then we heard a knock later on our door and someone from our church not knowing what was going on came with food and blessed us with lunch and food for dinner too. AMEN!!!

Thank you for stopping by, blessings,