It's been a while since I wrote this post. Since then, I have talked with a counselor, had my "procedure", and switched birth control. I don't think I've given an update since I switched to Lo-estrin at the end of November. I am happy to say that, hormonally, I am doing MUCH better. I have not really had to deal with "the crazy" for the past couple months and have just felt more stable. Of course, I still have my moments, and I am still quick to tear up at stuff (like Hallmark commercials), but I think that is just who I am.
The downside of the Lo-estrin is that I have gained some weight. I no longer fit into the jeans that I searched ALL over South Africa to find. I tried wearing them at Christmas when we were in Edgerton and then had to convince my in-laws that I was NOT pregnant when I had to use a rubber band to tie my jeans shut. Today I decided to wear them to get groceries and ended up walking through Aldi with my pants unbuttoned because I was starting to get a stomach ache. The pathetic thing is, I am still wearing them 2 hours later and while they do feel uncomfortably tight, I was just happy to report to Darin that I've been able to keep them buttoned up! Pathetic, I know, but I love these jeans!
The upside of gaining weight is that I've started exercising. My mom sent an ExerciseTV DVD out with my dad when he came in January and I have been pretty faithful about doing it since then-at least 3 times a week. Now that might not seem like a lot, but I am NOT an exerciser, so I am pretty proud of myself.
Another downside of the Lo-estrin is that my cycle is off again. I am not sure if this is due to the pill itself or if whatever was causing my problems before is going to come back. I had a couple months where my period was a week early and lots of spotting, and then this past month it never came, which made me think "Maybe I really AM pregnant", but the test said NO (and I promise, if I was pregnant, this is not how I would tell you!)
So I am going to just give it a few more months and if things haven't straightened out I will check in with my doctor. If I had to choose between having a "normal" cycle, which was finally happening with the Yaz (post surgery) or "normal" hormones, I would choose normal hormones, no doubt.
So that's my update. Thrilling, I know.
Showing posts with label Jonna. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Jonna. Show all posts
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Friday, September 18, 2009
Controlling the crazy
**Update: One of my friends who also deals with "the crazy" just pointed out to me that the crazy is still at work in my life. Either that, or I can predict the future and it looks like October is going to be a great month for me!!
Since writing this post I have been busy making appointments with various doctors to try and get the crazy under control. I am happy to say that September has been a much better month than October was. So much so that I almost cancelled all the appointments I set up! (I think that is part of "the crazy"-when things start looking up you, you start forgetting how bad it was. Good thing I can just re-read what I wrote on September 1 to remember WHY I made the appointments in the first place!) I did end up canceling and appointment that I had set up with a psychiatrist, not because I don't think I'll need his services, but because I have decided to try and figure out some of my hormonal craziness first!
On September 29, I am going to be having a D & C and hysteroscopy. Why?? Honestly I don't remember all the reasons why the ob/gyn thought this would be a good idea, but I do know my other options were switching to a new type of birth control (no thanks! I've tried that already) or having a procedure that would keep me from having any more babies.
When I first set up the appointment, I was totally nonchalant about it. Now I am starting to freak myself out. I've read and heard different things about recovering from the D & C and having any type of medical procedure done is not exactly my idea of a good time. I am just hoping that the doctor will be able to figure out what is going on and have a way to "fix" me.
So I'd appreciate your prayers for a really speedy recovery and for under-control hormones!
Since writing this post I have been busy making appointments with various doctors to try and get the crazy under control. I am happy to say that September has been a much better month than October was. So much so that I almost cancelled all the appointments I set up! (I think that is part of "the crazy"-when things start looking up you, you start forgetting how bad it was. Good thing I can just re-read what I wrote on September 1 to remember WHY I made the appointments in the first place!) I did end up canceling and appointment that I had set up with a psychiatrist, not because I don't think I'll need his services, but because I have decided to try and figure out some of my hormonal craziness first!
On September 29, I am going to be having a D & C and hysteroscopy. Why?? Honestly I don't remember all the reasons why the ob/gyn thought this would be a good idea, but I do know my other options were switching to a new type of birth control (no thanks! I've tried that already) or having a procedure that would keep me from having any more babies.
When I first set up the appointment, I was totally nonchalant about it. Now I am starting to freak myself out. I've read and heard different things about recovering from the D & C and having any type of medical procedure done is not exactly my idea of a good time. I am just hoping that the doctor will be able to figure out what is going on and have a way to "fix" me.
So I'd appreciate your prayers for a really speedy recovery and for under-control hormones!
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
When what I have becomes what I am
I suffer from depression. There are times when I forget, even as I take my purple pill each morning. Then there are the times where what I have overtakes me and and seems to swallow me up. I become depressed.
Today I am just a person suffering from depression. A few days ago, I was depressed and had been depressed for quite some time. The symptoms of my illness seem to be much worse when I am about to have a "visitor" and while this "visitor" is present. Some people refer to this visitor as "Aunt Flo(w)", and I will leave it at that. Unfortunately, since having Jori, I am a hormonal wreck and am often "visited" several times a month, even though I am on the pill. (TMI?? Sorry, but it is what it is.)
When I am depressed I have a hard time getting out of bed. I consider cleaning the toilets a MAJOR victory and don't even attempt to clean up any other part of the house. I will often avoid the people closest to me, because it takes too much energy to be happy. I cry. A lot. I stay in my pjs for much of the day, sometimes for the whole day if I can get away with it. My family eats a lot of cereal, sandwiches, and frozen pizza for dinner. These are the "minor" things.
The major things are that I have a very hard time feeling connected to God and my relationship with my family, especially my kids, goes down the drain. I become irritable, angry, frustrated, anxious, mean, tired, and sad. Because I deal with being depressed several times a month I don't ever feel like I really get any of those relationships right. I try, and sometimes make a some headway, and then a couple days later I end up back in my bed, wishing I never had to get up.
So, why tell you all ("all" being the 5 of you that read this blog) that I often feel like a total mess? For one, I know that several of you often feel this very same way. That makes it not so hard to talk about. I also wanted to kind of lay the groundwork for other posts that I may write (or have already written, but never posted) about what my struggle looks like. I have a feeling Fee Fey Foe Fum is going to be the next big blog. Depressing stories about my life and couponing, a pretty awesome combination!!
Today I am just a person suffering from depression. A few days ago, I was depressed and had been depressed for quite some time. The symptoms of my illness seem to be much worse when I am about to have a "visitor" and while this "visitor" is present. Some people refer to this visitor as "Aunt Flo(w)", and I will leave it at that. Unfortunately, since having Jori, I am a hormonal wreck and am often "visited" several times a month, even though I am on the pill. (TMI?? Sorry, but it is what it is.)
When I am depressed I have a hard time getting out of bed. I consider cleaning the toilets a MAJOR victory and don't even attempt to clean up any other part of the house. I will often avoid the people closest to me, because it takes too much energy to be happy. I cry. A lot. I stay in my pjs for much of the day, sometimes for the whole day if I can get away with it. My family eats a lot of cereal, sandwiches, and frozen pizza for dinner. These are the "minor" things.
The major things are that I have a very hard time feeling connected to God and my relationship with my family, especially my kids, goes down the drain. I become irritable, angry, frustrated, anxious, mean, tired, and sad. Because I deal with being depressed several times a month I don't ever feel like I really get any of those relationships right. I try, and sometimes make a some headway, and then a couple days later I end up back in my bed, wishing I never had to get up.
So, why tell you all ("all" being the 5 of you that read this blog) that I often feel like a total mess? For one, I know that several of you often feel this very same way. That makes it not so hard to talk about. I also wanted to kind of lay the groundwork for other posts that I may write (or have already written, but never posted) about what my struggle looks like. I have a feeling Fee Fey Foe Fum is going to be the next big blog. Depressing stories about my life and couponing, a pretty awesome combination!!
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
My weekend away
Actually, it was more than a weekend! Thanks to the kindness of my parents (the ticket), Darin's mom (the child care), my sisters (the lodging), and my husband and kids (for letting me go) I just spent 5 days in Oregon with my mom and sisters. It was wonderful. I hadn't seen my sister, Laurie, for almost 2 years! I flew out on Tuesday, and was greeted at the airport by Kristi and her boys. She took me home and I went right to bed. Wednesday we had a lazy morning, then took Laurie out for lunch. After bringing her home, I tried to take a nap. I used to have no problem with the 3 hour time difference, but my 30 year old body isn't really such a fan.
Thursday I took Kristi's car and drove myself to my old house on Hrubetz Road. I "met" the new pastor's wife through her blog and was so happy that she agreed to meet me, a virtual stranger. If you read this Amy, thank you again for welcoming me into your home and letting me reminisce about my childhood. I hadn't been in that house for over 15 years. It looked a lot the same, only smaller. I used to think we had the biggest living room ever, but that isn't the case. The bedrooms that seemed so roomy had also shrunk a bit. I even got to look through a recent church directory. Now that was fun. I haven't seen most of those people since I was in middle school and it was fun to look at the different families and think back to the time we spent at Sunnyslope. My mom came in Thursday afternoon and we had dinner at the Molan's Thursday night with her. Then I stayed up too late watching Survivor, The Office and Parks and Rec. I am so very thankful we do not have a DVR as I would be an addict for sure.
Friday morning the 4 of us headed to Portland. We did some shopping, ate at the Cheesecake Factory (avocado egg rolls, mmmmmmmmm), then checked into our hotel. My crazy mom and sisters headed out to another mall, but I stayed behind and took a nap. That night, we headed to the Coliseum to see Beth Moore. It was awesome! If you ever have a chance to see her live, do it! The worship was amazing. There were over 7,000 women there for the event (and a few brave men). We learned that our main objective in life, summed up in 6 words, is "Ego crucified. Christ formed in me." The main obstacle to obtaining this is "My life. My way. That's it." Her whole message was from the book of Galatians, and it was powerful. I couldn't even begin to do it justice, so I won't even try.
Saturday morning we headed back to the Coliseum. Again, it was a fabulous time. It is really strange because there is just something about Beth Moore. You feel like you really know her, like she's your friend. It is so funny listening to people talk about her, because we all talk about her like she's our pal. She really is super funny and engaging. So again, if you get a chance, go hear her, or do one of her Bible studies. I also have a new favorite song that you should go listen to here.
After the conference ended, we had some time to kill. My plane didn't leave til 8:30 that night. So we headed back to the Cheesecake Factory and ordered the exact same meal that we had the day before, minus the two pieces of cheesecake. Don't worry, we went to Starbucks a couple hours later and had our cheesecake there instead. After hanging out at Barnes and Noble we went to IKEA where we wandered aimlessly for an hour or so. Then we went to a frozen yogurt place and ate again. Around 6:30 they dropped me off at the airport. I am so thankful I was able to spend such an amazing weekend with my three favorite women. I know they were as blessed as I was by what we experienced.
After a long night of flying and layovers, I made it back to Michigan around 9 a.m. Tyson and Jori were SO stinking cute at the airport. I can't even count how many times Tyson said "I missed you" and "Did you miss me?". Jori kept saying "Mommy, you're home now". I love those little babes so much. I really did miss them while I was gone. They have been such a joy since I've been home. I am surprised the honeymoon period has lasted into the 3rd day!
Thursday I took Kristi's car and drove myself to my old house on Hrubetz Road. I "met" the new pastor's wife through her blog and was so happy that she agreed to meet me, a virtual stranger. If you read this Amy, thank you again for welcoming me into your home and letting me reminisce about my childhood. I hadn't been in that house for over 15 years. It looked a lot the same, only smaller. I used to think we had the biggest living room ever, but that isn't the case. The bedrooms that seemed so roomy had also shrunk a bit. I even got to look through a recent church directory. Now that was fun. I haven't seen most of those people since I was in middle school and it was fun to look at the different families and think back to the time we spent at Sunnyslope. My mom came in Thursday afternoon and we had dinner at the Molan's Thursday night with her. Then I stayed up too late watching Survivor, The Office and Parks and Rec. I am so very thankful we do not have a DVR as I would be an addict for sure.
Friday morning the 4 of us headed to Portland. We did some shopping, ate at the Cheesecake Factory (avocado egg rolls, mmmmmmmmm), then checked into our hotel. My crazy mom and sisters headed out to another mall, but I stayed behind and took a nap. That night, we headed to the Coliseum to see Beth Moore. It was awesome! If you ever have a chance to see her live, do it! The worship was amazing. There were over 7,000 women there for the event (and a few brave men). We learned that our main objective in life, summed up in 6 words, is "Ego crucified. Christ formed in me." The main obstacle to obtaining this is "My life. My way. That's it." Her whole message was from the book of Galatians, and it was powerful. I couldn't even begin to do it justice, so I won't even try.
Saturday morning we headed back to the Coliseum. Again, it was a fabulous time. It is really strange because there is just something about Beth Moore. You feel like you really know her, like she's your friend. It is so funny listening to people talk about her, because we all talk about her like she's our pal. She really is super funny and engaging. So again, if you get a chance, go hear her, or do one of her Bible studies. I also have a new favorite song that you should go listen to here.
After the conference ended, we had some time to kill. My plane didn't leave til 8:30 that night. So we headed back to the Cheesecake Factory and ordered the exact same meal that we had the day before, minus the two pieces of cheesecake. Don't worry, we went to Starbucks a couple hours later and had our cheesecake there instead. After hanging out at Barnes and Noble we went to IKEA where we wandered aimlessly for an hour or so. Then we went to a frozen yogurt place and ate again. Around 6:30 they dropped me off at the airport. I am so thankful I was able to spend such an amazing weekend with my three favorite women. I know they were as blessed as I was by what we experienced.
After a long night of flying and layovers, I made it back to Michigan around 9 a.m. Tyson and Jori were SO stinking cute at the airport. I can't even count how many times Tyson said "I missed you" and "Did you miss me?". Jori kept saying "Mommy, you're home now". I love those little babes so much. I really did miss them while I was gone. They have been such a joy since I've been home. I am surprised the honeymoon period has lasted into the 3rd day!
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Confession
So it occurred to me today that I need to exercise. I mean I REALLY need to get in shape. My kids took home an aerobics video for kids from church (I thought it would be hilarious to watch them do it). So after laughing at them for 5 minutes, I decided to try it and it KILLED me. I hate to even admit it, but I did like 3 minutes and was like "Mommy needs to take a break". Yeah. not cool.
I am realizing that I am getting older. Not old, but older. I keep reading and hearing the phrase "use it or lose it" and I am thinking that I have already lost a lot of "it".
So, I am going to have to do something. I just have to come up with a plan. Our bike trailer/smooth pushing stroller broke, Jori's legs aren't long enough to ride a bike or keep up with a "brisk" walking pace. I can try my regular stroller, but it isn't the smoothest ride. I am going to have to do something. I really want a treadmill. I always try to convince Darin that I would actually use it, unlike the many others who buy them and use them for a clothes rack, but even if he did think I would use it, we don't have the funds for such a purchase at this time.
I went shopping on Saturday and when I saw my legs in the mirror all I could think was there is NO way I am wearing a bathing suit this summer. Hello cottage cheese thighs. I mean HUGE dimples. When did this happen? I am guessing it was between package number 10-11 of Double Stuf Oreos. Gah.
So that is my confession. I don't feel too badly putting it out for everyone to see, because you all don't really comment anyway (if you are still even reading) so it kind of gets me off the hook. : )
I am realizing that I am getting older. Not old, but older. I keep reading and hearing the phrase "use it or lose it" and I am thinking that I have already lost a lot of "it".
So, I am going to have to do something. I just have to come up with a plan. Our bike trailer/smooth pushing stroller broke, Jori's legs aren't long enough to ride a bike or keep up with a "brisk" walking pace. I can try my regular stroller, but it isn't the smoothest ride. I am going to have to do something. I really want a treadmill. I always try to convince Darin that I would actually use it, unlike the many others who buy them and use them for a clothes rack, but even if he did think I would use it, we don't have the funds for such a purchase at this time.
I went shopping on Saturday and when I saw my legs in the mirror all I could think was there is NO way I am wearing a bathing suit this summer. Hello cottage cheese thighs. I mean HUGE dimples. When did this happen? I am guessing it was between package number 10-11 of Double Stuf Oreos. Gah.
So that is my confession. I don't feel too badly putting it out for everyone to see, because you all don't really comment anyway (if you are still even reading) so it kind of gets me off the hook. : )
Thursday, March 12, 2009
Deep thoughts from me
I had this post all written and ready to go, but my wise husband gave me some advice that I am going to follow. Shocking, I know. We watched a movie last night that really got me thinking. This is a movie that I would recommend to some people, but not to others. I wouldn't recommend it to someone that is a new Christian or not a Christian at all. So all I'll say is that it was a movie about world religions. The first part of the movie was about Christians, and that is the part that bothered me the most, but not for the reasons I had thought prior to watching the movie. Are you confused yet? Well this is what's left of my original post:
I think that what bothered me the most was to realize how many different views we as "Christians" have. Some of us believe in the rapture, some of us believe in a literal 7 day creation, some of us believe the Bible and science just don't mix at all and that science has the answers, some of believe that carrying signs that say homosexuals will burn in hell is an effective "ministry", some of us believe that we are literally drinking Christ's blood during communion, some of us aren't sure what we believe.
I totally get it that we all hold on to our own doctrines and would have a hard time just switching over to another belief. For example, I am doing a Beth Moore study on Daniel right now. I have really enjoyed it, but Beth is a Baptist and we are now getting a lesson on dispensational premillennialism, which is the set of beliefs she has for "end-time" events. Now, I am reformed and have been brought up believing the Amillennial view and am struggling with the observations and interpretations I am now being "taught". So I do get it, but in the end is it going to matter who is right as long as we are followers of Christ?
Earlier this week I read an article that talked about how the number of people that profess to be Christians is slipping. Then yesterday I got a packet of information from Voice of the Martyrs, which included a map showing countries where being a Christian is prohibited. I guess it just made me wonder if we are losing our voice, losing our witness, because we are so focused on defending our own personal beliefs instead of preaching the Gospel message. People of different denominations are "going out into all of the world", but does it get confusing for the people of other nations when they are being told to do different things for the same God?
I think that what bothered me the most was to realize how many different views we as "Christians" have. Some of us believe in the rapture, some of us believe in a literal 7 day creation, some of us believe the Bible and science just don't mix at all and that science has the answers, some of believe that carrying signs that say homosexuals will burn in hell is an effective "ministry", some of us believe that we are literally drinking Christ's blood during communion, some of us aren't sure what we believe.
I totally get it that we all hold on to our own doctrines and would have a hard time just switching over to another belief. For example, I am doing a Beth Moore study on Daniel right now. I have really enjoyed it, but Beth is a Baptist and we are now getting a lesson on dispensational premillennialism, which is the set of beliefs she has for "end-time" events. Now, I am reformed and have been brought up believing the Amillennial view and am struggling with the observations and interpretations I am now being "taught". So I do get it, but in the end is it going to matter who is right as long as we are followers of Christ?
Earlier this week I read an article that talked about how the number of people that profess to be Christians is slipping. Then yesterday I got a packet of information from Voice of the Martyrs, which included a map showing countries where being a Christian is prohibited. I guess it just made me wonder if we are losing our voice, losing our witness, because we are so focused on defending our own personal beliefs instead of preaching the Gospel message. People of different denominations are "going out into all of the world", but does it get confusing for the people of other nations when they are being told to do different things for the same God?
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Weekend O' Fun
Last Wednesday, Darin's sister La Shawn and her kids, Kaden and Nevaeh, drove up from Iowa to spend the weekend with us. We had a lot of fun-we being La Shawn and I : ) No, really, we all had a great time. There were a few problems with sharing and being kind, but Tyson and Jori were very happy to have their cousins around to play with. I really did enjoy being able to sit around with La Shawn and have a chance to get to know my sister-in-law a little bit more. Yes, I've known her for over 7 years, but usually when we are together there is a lot of activity going on.
We did manage a few fun activities with the kids. These included going to Love Inc so the kids could pick out a new toy (I tricked mine into picking from the bin of freebies!), going to PlayWorld (which is way fun for any of you that live in West Michigan), and we even hauled out the container of Darin's He-Man action figures. Yes, I know that I said I thought Tyson was too young for them (on November 19, if you want to read it again), but desperate times call for desperate measures. However, even that little plan backfired on us as the boys fought over the different "guys" instead of playing with them. Once I round up all the little pieces, I will be relegating He-Man back to the basement storage room. Here's a little video of some bath time fun. La Shawn took some super cute pictures of my kids too, posing all cute, but I don't think I can put them on here. So sorry.
On Friday afternoon, Iran for my life headed to Grand Rapids for a Girls Weekend. Pauline, a college friend who now lives in MA, flew out for a weekend of fun thanks to her loving husband and the plotting of her friends. On Friday night almost all of the Rooks girls got together (minus Julie who was enjoying warmer weather in Florida) for dinner and some time away from our darling children. Not all of us were childless, however, as Pauline had brought along her baby, James, Tracey had little Ellery and Michelle came with Jack who was LESS than a week old. Girls Night Out is NOT to be missed!
We did manage a few fun activities with the kids. These included going to Love Inc so the kids could pick out a new toy (I tricked mine into picking from the bin of freebies!), going to PlayWorld (which is way fun for any of you that live in West Michigan), and we even hauled out the container of Darin's He-Man action figures. Yes, I know that I said I thought Tyson was too young for them (on November 19, if you want to read it again), but desperate times call for desperate measures. However, even that little plan backfired on us as the boys fought over the different "guys" instead of playing with them. Once I round up all the little pieces, I will be relegating He-Man back to the basement storage room. Here's a little video of some bath time fun. La Shawn took some super cute pictures of my kids too, posing all cute, but I don't think I can put them on here. So sorry.
On Friday afternoon, I
I spent the night and on Saturday I was thrown headlong into the somewhat frightening world of "crafting". We went to a couple fabric stores (not my 
comfort zone) and after MUCH deliberation and with a lot of help and encouragement, I finally chos
e fabric to make a tote bag. We got home a little after 2, ate some lunch and then, around 3:30, I started the process of making a bag. There was cutting, and pinning and ironing going on and then the sewing. I was honored to use Amy's super high tech sewing machine. This thing had a computer screen and everything. Finally, at 10:30, my masterpiece was finished! 
Yep, I did it, with a lot of help from Amy, Pauline and Sarah. Thank you so much dear friends.
comfort zone) and after MUCH deliberation and with a lot of help and encouragement, I finally chos
e fabric to make a tote bag. We got home a little after 2, ate some lunch and then, around 3:30, I started the process of making a bag. There was cutting, and pinning and ironing going on and then the sewing. I was honored to use Amy's super high tech sewing machine. This thing had a computer screen and everything. Finally, at 10:30, my masterpiece was finished! 
Yep, I did it, with a lot of help from Amy, Pauline and Sarah. Thank you so much dear friends.After a long day of sewing, it was time to get some exercise. So we busted out the Wii and played some doubles tennis. This was my first time playing anything on the Wii, and it was super fun. We were all way into it. So into it, in fact, that Pauline was having some chest pains, sweatshirts were coming off, and a few of us had trouble catching our breath. I decided to head home a little before 1 so I could get up for church in the morning. When I woke up, my shoulder and elbow were SO sore--from a video game!! Sad, I know. I didn't get a chance to do the Wii fit, but I am guessing that my Wii Age, or whatever it is called, would be in the 40's or 50's, if not even older!
Sunday was pretty quiet, or maybe it just seemed that way to me because I took a three hour nap. I really AM getting old and totally cannot handle late nights, especially two in a row. Around 7, Darin took La Shawn and the kids to meet up with the people they rode out with. They were planning on leaving at 3 or 4 the next morning, so it was easier if they all stayed in the same place. Darin and I watched Amazing Race (my fave) and then I went right to bed.
After dropping Tyson off at school on Monday, I headed back to GR with Jori for some more fun with my friends. Having kids around did not allow for quite as much fun. We had to be very sneaky when eating our double stuf oreo's and Sarah's little Miles is one observant kid. We also ate all of the glossy fluff on Saturday night, so there was nothing to dip the oreo's in. For those of you that don't know, glossy fluff is a small jar of marshmallow cream mixed with 8 oz of cream cheese and it is GOOD. Most people would dip fruit in their fluff, but oreo's are also a good dipper!
That, my friends, was our weekend. This weekend is going to be way more low key. A trip out to Sam's club, pizza and movie night with the kids, and church on Sunday. I am looking forward to the slower pace!
Wednesday, December 17, 2008
Our week
I really don't have much to say, but thought I'd better give a little update, as I will probably not write much while we are in MN over Christmas. Yes, we are once again heading to Edgerton for the holidays. We are looking forward to meeting our soon to be sister-in-law, Jordan, and our new nephew Zachary, and seeing the rest of the fam.
It has been a pretty quiet week around here. I did go to the doctor on Monday and was told I have a "slipped" rib. I had been having some pain since Thursday night, and it kept getting worse. Monday and Tuesday were pretty miserable, but it is starting to feel somewhat better.
Darin has been staying busy at work. Innotec has been feeling the pinch with the problems in the auto industry, but we are thankful that his job is still secure. Tyson and Jori still seem a little confused about why daddy isn't home, as they did get quite used to seeing him most of the day while we were in Africa.
It has been cold and snowy here, so we have been spending a lot of time indoors. Makes me feel a little bit stir crazy, but it does keep our spending down! We hope that you are all doing well, even though we don't know who all of "you" are. Feel free to leave a comment sometime.
It has been a pretty quiet week around here. I did go to the doctor on Monday and was told I have a "slipped" rib. I had been having some pain since Thursday night, and it kept getting worse. Monday and Tuesday were pretty miserable, but it is starting to feel somewhat better.
Darin has been staying busy at work. Innotec has been feeling the pinch with the problems in the auto industry, but we are thankful that his job is still secure. Tyson and Jori still seem a little confused about why daddy isn't home, as they did get quite used to seeing him most of the day while we were in Africa.
It has been cold and snowy here, so we have been spending a lot of time indoors. Makes me feel a little bit stir crazy, but it does keep our spending down! We hope that you are all doing well, even though we don't know who all of "you" are. Feel free to leave a comment sometime.
Saturday, November 22, 2008
Hide it under a bushel-yes, please do!
Ok, so those aren't the lyrics many of us have grown up knowing. How's it supposed to go? Hide it under a bushel-NO! I'm gonna let it shine. So then, what's with the word mix-up in the title?
The other day, Darin and I were reading an article on-line about someone from his hometown who recently suffered a serious injury on Halloween. After reading the article, we decided to scan through the comments to see if there was any additional information. Here is one of the comments we came across from a person who calls him/herself "I love Jesus" :
Hhhhhhmmmm this is why I don't like this Holiday. To many accidents and it is satan's holiday anyhow. Not sure I have remorse for this person. Bar and Casino hhhmmm Probably from someone smoking & drinking??? hhhhhmmmmm Still will pray for his healing and quick recovery
Wow, what a witness. A man is in the hospital with severe, life threatening injuries and "I love Jesus" decides that this is the time to make a case against Halloween, smoking and drinking. I guess it's all ok, because this person is still going to be praying for the victim.
WAKE UP PEOPLE. I am a far from perfect witness. There have been many times in my life, especially when I was younger, that I got up on my Christian pedestal, opened my big mouth, and said things about a situation or a person without really thinking about what I was saying. I mean, I was a Christian and I was speaking out against bad, sinful things, so of course I could do no wrong. I am sure there are people out there who could even give recent examples of my doing this.
Now, I know the recent elections are a very touchy subject for many people out there. There are a lot of people who think that America is going to hell in a hand basket. I am a pretty apathetic person when it comes to politics. I don't do a lot of research, and this year I didn't even vote (shame!) so I am not going to even get into all the political stuff, but the things that I have heard some Christians say (or write) were enough to make me cringe. I mean, can you really say without a doubt that someone is or is not a Christian?
And when it comes to dealing with the issues of abortion and homosexuality, the anger and hate and ugliness that comes from the mouths of people who say they are only speaking God's truth is something that as Christian's we should all be ashamed of. I personally believe both abortion and homosexuality are sinful, but that doesn't mean its ok to hurl insults and tear down those who believe otherwise. (However, I think it is equally wrong that many left-leaning Christian's seem to have turned their back on these two issues and often seem to put down or criticize people who vote for a candidate primarily for these two things.)
I know that I do not speak up enough as a Christian. I am often afraid of what people will think of me. I also lack the confidence to say what I believe, because I am sure that the people on the other side of the issue will talk me under the table. I often hear Christian's say that we are losing our voice and that our concerns are not being heard. Maybe that's because too many of us are like "I love Jesus". Do we really think that we are advancing the Kingdom when we make comments like that? So please, speak up, but if you can't do it in love, please keep it to yourself.
The other day, Darin and I were reading an article on-line about someone from his hometown who recently suffered a serious injury on Halloween. After reading the article, we decided to scan through the comments to see if there was any additional information. Here is one of the comments we came across from a person who calls him/herself "I love Jesus" :
Hhhhhhmmmm this is why I don't like this Holiday. To many accidents and it is satan's holiday anyhow. Not sure I have remorse for this person. Bar and Casino hhhmmm Probably from someone smoking & drinking??? hhhhhmmmmm Still will pray for his healing and quick recovery
Wow, what a witness. A man is in the hospital with severe, life threatening injuries and "I love Jesus" decides that this is the time to make a case against Halloween, smoking and drinking. I guess it's all ok, because this person is still going to be praying for the victim.
WAKE UP PEOPLE. I am a far from perfect witness. There have been many times in my life, especially when I was younger, that I got up on my Christian pedestal, opened my big mouth, and said things about a situation or a person without really thinking about what I was saying. I mean, I was a Christian and I was speaking out against bad, sinful things, so of course I could do no wrong. I am sure there are people out there who could even give recent examples of my doing this.
Now, I know the recent elections are a very touchy subject for many people out there. There are a lot of people who think that America is going to hell in a hand basket. I am a pretty apathetic person when it comes to politics. I don't do a lot of research, and this year I didn't even vote (shame!) so I am not going to even get into all the political stuff, but the things that I have heard some Christians say (or write) were enough to make me cringe. I mean, can you really say without a doubt that someone is or is not a Christian?
And when it comes to dealing with the issues of abortion and homosexuality, the anger and hate and ugliness that comes from the mouths of people who say they are only speaking God's truth is something that as Christian's we should all be ashamed of. I personally believe both abortion and homosexuality are sinful, but that doesn't mean its ok to hurl insults and tear down those who believe otherwise. (However, I think it is equally wrong that many left-leaning Christian's seem to have turned their back on these two issues and often seem to put down or criticize people who vote for a candidate primarily for these two things.)
I know that I do not speak up enough as a Christian. I am often afraid of what people will think of me. I also lack the confidence to say what I believe, because I am sure that the people on the other side of the issue will talk me under the table. I often hear Christian's say that we are losing our voice and that our concerns are not being heard. Maybe that's because too many of us are like "I love Jesus". Do we really think that we are advancing the Kingdom when we make comments like that? So please, speak up, but if you can't do it in love, please keep it to yourself.
Saturday, August 16, 2008
New Every Morning
Last night we got together with our small group for a farewell party. It was such a blessing to be with these friends (minus all the kids!) for a chance to reconnect, give updates on our lives, laugh and all sorts of good food. Darin and I were then privileged to be prayed for by this great group of people. Thank you for blessing us, loving us, and for challenging us as we get ready to head to Africa.
My new blog was a topic of much discussion and good natured joking. (No worries, someday you will ALL have your own blog, which I will proudly link others to through my blog). My "links" to other blogs were also much discussed, especially the fact that other than Lia's and Michelle's blogs, I do not personally know the people who write the blogs on my list. Why have I chosen these blogs, which are all stories of incredible sadness and pain? In the midst of all the heartache, these people have chosen to rely on and tell others about God's grace and love, about his goodness and mercy. They are all stories about faith that is being tested, but continues to grow.
I am sure by now that many of you have heard about the tragic loss of Steven Curtis Chapman's youngest daughter Maria Sue. I have been been following this story (and of course have a link to their blog) since it happened in May. Recently, the Chapman family was on Larry King Live. I watched the interview on YouTube recently and was really convicted by something that their daughter, Emily, shared. She was asked how she has been able to cope with the loss of her littlest sister, and she said it has been through God and his mercy. I won't try to give a direct quote, but she said that God's mercies have been new every morning and that he has given her enough mercy for each day. Wow.
I don't have a perfect life. Who does? However, I have been so very blessed and so often take for granted the life I am living right now. The life that God has chosen for me to live. When I read stories from other people who have been walking through the "valley of the shadow of death" on a daily basis, people who are facing life ending illnesses, the loss of a child, or children with multiple disabilities I usually end up crying. The tears, however, are not just for the difficulties that are being faced, but tears that I, who am living a "more perfect" life (by worldly standards) do not realize minute by minute how blessed I am.
So that is why, in a long nutshell, I am linked to so many blogs written by people I will probably never even meet. Amidst all the running around and stress of packing up our family for our time in Africa, I hope that I don't lose sight of God's mercies and faithfulness.
My new blog was a topic of much discussion and good natured joking. (No worries, someday you will ALL have your own blog, which I will proudly link others to through my blog). My "links" to other blogs were also much discussed, especially the fact that other than Lia's and Michelle's blogs, I do not personally know the people who write the blogs on my list. Why have I chosen these blogs, which are all stories of incredible sadness and pain? In the midst of all the heartache, these people have chosen to rely on and tell others about God's grace and love, about his goodness and mercy. They are all stories about faith that is being tested, but continues to grow.
I am sure by now that many of you have heard about the tragic loss of Steven Curtis Chapman's youngest daughter Maria Sue. I have been been following this story (and of course have a link to their blog) since it happened in May. Recently, the Chapman family was on Larry King Live. I watched the interview on YouTube recently and was really convicted by something that their daughter, Emily, shared. She was asked how she has been able to cope with the loss of her littlest sister, and she said it has been through God and his mercy. I won't try to give a direct quote, but she said that God's mercies have been new every morning and that he has given her enough mercy for each day. Wow.
I don't have a perfect life. Who does? However, I have been so very blessed and so often take for granted the life I am living right now. The life that God has chosen for me to live. When I read stories from other people who have been walking through the "valley of the shadow of death" on a daily basis, people who are facing life ending illnesses, the loss of a child, or children with multiple disabilities I usually end up crying. The tears, however, are not just for the difficulties that are being faced, but tears that I, who am living a "more perfect" life (by worldly standards) do not realize minute by minute how blessed I am.
So that is why, in a long nutshell, I am linked to so many blogs written by people I will probably never even meet. Amidst all the running around and stress of packing up our family for our time in Africa, I hope that I don't lose sight of God's mercies and faithfulness.
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