Now that the Thanksgiving madness is over I feel like I have the energy to write again. Its funny to say that though, because I really didn't have any "Thanksgiving" responsibilities this year so I'm not sure why it still felt like madness. Maybe its just the extra energy that runs through the house this time of year. My body seems to pick it all up and then in turn I have to go nap to recover just from feeling all the buzz. But, its all good.
I had a lot to be thankful for this year for sure. Last year this time I couldn't even get out of bed to shower and Thanksgiving was spent in my bedroom. I can't tell you how grateful I am to be able to shower every day, run a short errand if I have to and take care of my kids more often. You know that verse in Luke 7:47 "Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--for she loved much. But he who has been forgiven little loves little"? Well, I certainly feel like I have been forgiven much...but my own verse would be, "her many days of little energy, made her love much the days of a tiny bit more energy :-)"...or something like that.
We spent the whole holiday weekend putting up the lights outside our house, our Christmas tree and every piece of holiday decoration we own. Sydney spent a big majority of the time singing the Jackson Five version of "Santa Clause is Coming to Town". We had to shut her down by the 15th time. Then I got busy and started my online Christmas shopping. How nice is that? I love pushing a few buttons and then having the nice man in the big brown van drop me off my goodies. No muss, no fuss...No, "I got knocked down doing my Christmas Shopping at the Mall" lyrics going through my head.
Health wise I'm about the same. Not that I'm complaining...just updating. I am keeping up with the liver detoxing and it still continues to make me really tired. But, I try to back off when I know I have some extra responsibilities coming up. I don't really have any new plans for doctor's appointments or anything else like that on the horizon. I'm going to get through the holiday season and then reassess where things stand. I have my days where I think, "How in the world am I ever going to get better?" And, then I have the other days where I just surrender and try to appreciate the moment and remember how much I have in my life just the way it is.
We have a good friend who has a chronic illness, some similar fatigue issues, but he has some other issues I don't have. He and his family just moved and are planting a new church and I have so much respect for his faith in God. To undertake a church plant while dealing with fatigue and pain puts a lot in perspective for me. And, reminds me that God's grace is sufficient. He has been a real source of encouragement to me whether he knows that or not. Just having someone who understands what its like to walk into a doctor's office, go through the whole history and then get the same response back is really difficult to do over and over again. I'm not alone in this journey. There are many God-fearing, faith-filled Christians who struggle right along side of me...and with incredible determination to serve regardless of their station. I am truly humbled. And, like I shared with him the other day...We often are always looking for that magic bullet that rarely ever comes...and even though I don't need a miracle for my faith to grow, it doesn't keep me from asking for one. And, my faith will grow regardless of the answer God gives to me. He knows what's best for me and so I will trust Him to take care of those things that concern me.
Right now my main prayer request is that I have more than enough energy to be able to make it to all of Whitney's basketball games. Her first one is tomorrow night. These are my last years with my first-born at home and I can literally feel every minute slipping by. I don't want to miss one more minute.
God is Good...Blessings, Tanya
November 27, 2007
November 11, 2007
Article by Christiane Northrup, MD
Who says you can't have too much fun?
Laughing for the health of it
Have you ever been told that you were having “too much fun”? In today’s culture, stress is sometimes worn as a badge of success. People love talking about how busy and frenetic their lives are, and find it quite irritating if everyone else isn’t sweating and grunting along with them on life’s treadmill.
Dr. Northrup has a tried and true prescription for stepping away from your “spin-cycle” lifestyle, letting go of your stress, and bringing more pleasure into your life—laughter. And by adding more chuckles to your day, you could even enhance your immune system, strengthen your heart, and lose weight!
Sound too easy? Dr. Northrup says that we are all capable of unending and every-increasing pleasure in our lives. Find out how to turn your life and health around with a few more giggles, grins, and guffaws! (Read the full article here)
http://www.drnorthrup.com/news/toomuchfun.php
Laughing for the health of it
Have you ever been told that you were having “too much fun”? In today’s culture, stress is sometimes worn as a badge of success. People love talking about how busy and frenetic their lives are, and find it quite irritating if everyone else isn’t sweating and grunting along with them on life’s treadmill.
Dr. Northrup has a tried and true prescription for stepping away from your “spin-cycle” lifestyle, letting go of your stress, and bringing more pleasure into your life—laughter. And by adding more chuckles to your day, you could even enhance your immune system, strengthen your heart, and lose weight!
Sound too easy? Dr. Northrup says that we are all capable of unending and every-increasing pleasure in our lives. Find out how to turn your life and health around with a few more giggles, grins, and guffaws! (Read the full article here)
http://www.drnorthrup.com/news/toomuchfun.php
November 11, 2007
Sorry I've been gone for awhile. I am realizing that the old multi-tasking, executive assistant in me has officially left her job and is now living a new career...healing, sleeping, swallowing meds, sleeping, stretching and breathing, praying, sleeping...and trying to be a mom and wife somewhere in between there. This is not a new transition, but rather new for me to admit. Why can't I let "Wonder Woman" (allegedly in my mind) take off her gear and put on sweats?
I have been trying to do anger management lately for a number of reasons, but one of them is how long it is taking to make these baby steps. I guess it just goes to show you how greedy and ungrateful I can be since last year this time I couldn't even take a shower every day. Now at least I can run to the store with my kids to grab one or two things and get them to the bus stop every day when I need to. I don't mean to sound ungrateful at all and I am always thanking God everytime I can put my pj's up on the shelf and donn real clothes for the day.
This last month has been good wrapped with frustration. The good being that I am still tolerating the liver detox meds and some of the anti-fungals daily. I've never been able to do that so far. The downside is that it leaves me incredibly wiped out some days, and other days really wiped out. Those of you who have had a chronic illness know that there is a difference between the two. The other downside is that the body doesn't only detox toxins from you, but toxic emotions. Just ask my husband :-). Its amazing how much more emotional you get when your body is trying to kick out all the junk and you can't figure out why you are feeling sad about the family dog that died when you were 2-years old.
So, I realized this last week every time I wanted to jump on and update my blog that I can't multi-task like this when I'm in the heat of unloading unwanted things from my body. I have phone calls I still need to make, people that I normally pray with over the phone, my best friend that I talk to all the time...everyone gets put on hold except my family. Its all I can focus on.
As I was coming home from a quick trip the other day I realized that I do have days where I feel incredibly frustrated by this life we are living at the moment. But, God always reminds me that some of my tears have come through surrendering. And, that's a good thing. He took me back to a time when I was leaving a doctor's office about three months ago and as I climbed back into the car tears started gushing out. Just out of the blue. I am usually too exhausted after these appointments to even muster a grunt, but this time came a huge flood. The kids were in the car so I was pressing my forehead against the window, one because I didn't want them to see me and two because my face was so hot that the cool window felt good. The truth was that when I got in the car I knew that I knew that I knew, that she didn't have anything new and I was still in the same place. But, this time the tears where met with my heart just telling God that it was okay with me. That if this is where He has me then that's okay. I will love Him anyway. I will trust Him anyway. Psalm 138:8 says, "The Lord will perfect that which concerns me." I can't tell you how many times a day I say this to myself and I say it out loud. I'm sure the neighbors who see me rambling outside in the front yard during the day, mumbling this to myself are probably growing quite concerned...lol.
All this was to say...that I am getting better. I am doing a bit more each week, I accept my setbacks as part of the process (most of the time), and I know that I will see "The goodness of the Lord in the land of the living" in whatever form it comes to me. And, it may just come in the simple form of learning how to breath.
God is good!!
Blessings, Tanya
I have been trying to do anger management lately for a number of reasons, but one of them is how long it is taking to make these baby steps. I guess it just goes to show you how greedy and ungrateful I can be since last year this time I couldn't even take a shower every day. Now at least I can run to the store with my kids to grab one or two things and get them to the bus stop every day when I need to. I don't mean to sound ungrateful at all and I am always thanking God everytime I can put my pj's up on the shelf and donn real clothes for the day.
This last month has been good wrapped with frustration. The good being that I am still tolerating the liver detox meds and some of the anti-fungals daily. I've never been able to do that so far. The downside is that it leaves me incredibly wiped out some days, and other days really wiped out. Those of you who have had a chronic illness know that there is a difference between the two. The other downside is that the body doesn't only detox toxins from you, but toxic emotions. Just ask my husband :-). Its amazing how much more emotional you get when your body is trying to kick out all the junk and you can't figure out why you are feeling sad about the family dog that died when you were 2-years old.
So, I realized this last week every time I wanted to jump on and update my blog that I can't multi-task like this when I'm in the heat of unloading unwanted things from my body. I have phone calls I still need to make, people that I normally pray with over the phone, my best friend that I talk to all the time...everyone gets put on hold except my family. Its all I can focus on.
As I was coming home from a quick trip the other day I realized that I do have days where I feel incredibly frustrated by this life we are living at the moment. But, God always reminds me that some of my tears have come through surrendering. And, that's a good thing. He took me back to a time when I was leaving a doctor's office about three months ago and as I climbed back into the car tears started gushing out. Just out of the blue. I am usually too exhausted after these appointments to even muster a grunt, but this time came a huge flood. The kids were in the car so I was pressing my forehead against the window, one because I didn't want them to see me and two because my face was so hot that the cool window felt good. The truth was that when I got in the car I knew that I knew that I knew, that she didn't have anything new and I was still in the same place. But, this time the tears where met with my heart just telling God that it was okay with me. That if this is where He has me then that's okay. I will love Him anyway. I will trust Him anyway. Psalm 138:8 says, "The Lord will perfect that which concerns me." I can't tell you how many times a day I say this to myself and I say it out loud. I'm sure the neighbors who see me rambling outside in the front yard during the day, mumbling this to myself are probably growing quite concerned...lol.
All this was to say...that I am getting better. I am doing a bit more each week, I accept my setbacks as part of the process (most of the time), and I know that I will see "The goodness of the Lord in the land of the living" in whatever form it comes to me. And, it may just come in the simple form of learning how to breath.
God is good!!
Blessings, Tanya
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