Category: Friendship

Counting Blessings

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Blessings, Food and Drink, Friendship, Household, What's Happening

I am so happy to tell you that my freezer is a frigid -2* and my refrigerator was at 32* when I checked it this morning!

I turned the thermostat up to a warmer setting, and it's now at 42*.  I am as pleased as I can be that it is working so well.  My dad replaced two tiny little parts for less than $35!  Imagine how many refrigerators are thrown out when there is no one who knows how to repair them.  Thank the Lord for the knowledge my dad has gained through the years!!!

We had a super nice weekend here.  My family was able to get together for a steak supper on Saturday, complete with red velvet birthday cake for ME! :)  It was all verrrrry yummy!

I received so many pretty and kind birthday cards this year.  They are all proudly displayed on my piano!

I also came home with this:

DSCN0083 

which I know does not look like much!  BUT it opens out to THIS:

DSCN0088 

It's a light box for photographing my jewelry!!!  Isn't it fabulous?!!

Here it is with the spotlights on:

DSCN0089

I will have to do much experimenting, and probably a little research, in order to use it to it's fullest potential.  I'm looking forward to playing with my new toy! 🙂

Yesterday, I had a wonderful day out with my friend, Mrs. C.  She and I went to Orlando, and lunched at the Cheesecake Factory.  It was just wonderful, except for an unfortunate "hair in the food" incident!  The manager was extremely apologetic and of course, we did not pay for the entree! 

We did a little shopping in the Mall at Millenia, then headed back for dessert.  Mrs. C had the original cheesecake with strawberries which looked really yummy.  I wanted to try something different: the Dulce de Leche Caramel Cheesecake. 

Cheesecake_DulceDeLech

It is caramel cheesecake topped with caramel mousse on a vanilla crust.  Yeah…it was just as fabulous as it sounds and looks.  (I snitched this pic from their website.  Neither Mrs. C nor I remembered to take ANY pics of our day out that was a whole year in the making!!!  We were just too busy enjoying it, I guess!) 🙂

Doug has gone back to the day shift.  It leaves me with Isaac for many hours a day.  We are doing our best to get him up out of the bed as much as we can.  Doug comes home several times a day to do feeds, changes, repositioning, etc., so that I don't have to move Isaac very much.  He's just getting to be such a BIG boy for me. :)  He seems to be adjusting to the new schedule better than I am!

Well, I can't think of anything else exciting to tell you, so I guess I'll finish up this post.  I hope you are having a good week so far.  It's been a nice one for us, and for that, I am grateful.  We never know what a day is going to bring about, so it's good to count our blessings as we go.  🙂

What blessing are you counting today?

Blessings to you,

Alesha

Counting Blessings

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Blessings, Friendship, Household, How Great is Our God, Isaac Update, Just My Thoughts, What's Happening

I spent some time yesterday getting "pushed around" by my husband.  LOL!  (Thought you'd appreciate that, Hannah!) :)  He took me to the chiropractor in my new chair. 🙂

The chiro seems to think I have "facet joint syndrome".  Just click on the name to go to a site that explains it fairly well.  To be honest, I was quite fearful that it would be something more serious.  It certainly feels very serious!  So this diagnosis, although unpredictable, is better than something that would require surgery.

I did feel some immediately relief after the adjustment.  Although, after sitting for any length of time, the pain comes back with a vengeance.  I keep doing a little bit more each day.  "Slow and steady wins the race!" like the hare and the tortoise taught us. 😉

I'm feeling a little bit sorry for myself that I'm going to miss church again.  And please don't tell my pastors, but I miss the choir the most!  ;)  We are already practicing for our Christmas cantata, and I love that so much!  Also our choir is always learning new songs, so I miss out on those as well, and feel like I'm getting behind.  I do enjoy watching them on the web site, though.  It's fun to "see" your choir perform, rather than just hearing it.

I was quite pleased my how comfy my chair performed yesterday, although it did feel peculiar to be rolling around at everyone's waist level.  It's funny how much difference a foot or two can make in your perspective of things.  Now I know why they tell new parents to crawl around their house on hands and knees to view how their baby will see the world, so they know how to "childproof" their home more effectively.  Thankfully, I was not quiiiiiite down on that level!!! lol!

Can I just say again how wonderful my husband has been through all of this?  He is managing Isaac's care without a hitch.  Remember he was home with him full time for a year or so, so he does really great with all of the things required to keep Isaac happy and healthy. 

Of course, Isaac is older now, and we live in a different house, so some things are different.  His taste in videos has changed and he loves to have his curtains opened so that he can see out; but most things remain the same: feeds, meds, clothes changes…and lots of TLC!

Doug is also caring for me extremely well.  He has a real servant's heart and seems to thrive while meeting the needs of others.  I do not have one complaint about his care for me these past two weeks.  I have not gone without anything that I needed or wanted.  He has done all the laundry, cleaning, and meals as well. 

(Well, to be entirely accurate, I must say that Grammy did come over to visit the other day, and ended up dusting before she left.  Moms always seem to know what little thing might just make your day a little brighter!  She also sent over a few pieces of Jalapeno Cornbread last week. Yummo!!!)

I have felt so loved and cared for by my entire family (and my friends) for the past 2 weeks.  I am such a blessed, blessed woman!

I pray you feel loved and blessed today.  Even if you are alone, and in dire circumstances, please know that you are loved by God, and that He is right there with you.  Remember too, that no matter how hard things may seem, they could be worse!  So we need to count the blessing of this present difficulty.  God has protected us from many other things, and we should praise Him for that.

May God bless you this day,

Alesha

Something To Look Forward To

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Blessings, Friendship, How Great is Our God, What's Happening

I don't really have much to say today…I just wanted you to know that I am moving a little more today. 

Also, I am so excited…beyond thrilled, really…that in December I will get to "meet" my friend Laura! 

We have known each other for several years – I don't know how many, really. However, we have never met in person.  She is a tent-making missionary in Japan, and you know, I've haven't been able to just pop in for coffee with her!

She and the family are coming back to the states for a visit, and one of her stops in is Florida to see some family.  She will be flying into a town very close to me, and we are going to arrange a get-together.

Laura is my friend because she is a sweet Christian lady, but we have more than that in common.  She is also mom to a little boy, Joshua, with special needs.  So we have sent many emails and messages back and forth about our boys over the years, and we often say that they must stay up so late at night so they can "talk" to each other in spite of the time difference! 🙂

So, I have something really wonderful to look forward to, and for that I am grateful.

You see, tonight and tomorrow night are my 25-year high school reunion.  My classmates are meeting at the home football game tonight, and then for dinner tomorrow night.  Due to the current condition of my back, I will be missing it ALL!  I was feeling sort of sad about that – well, really sad, to be honest.

So, the Lord, in His mercy, gave me something else wonderful to look forward to.

Isn't He just so good to us???

I'll go for now, but I hope that you have a really great weekend.  Don't forget, if you can't get to your church for services (like us, this weekend), you can watch my church's services online.  Sunday School starts at 10 a.m., Morning Worship at 11 a.m. and Sunday night at 7 p.m.  Go Here for the site.  Click "Media" and then "Live Services".

Blessings,

Alesha

Finally…An Update

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Friendship, Isaac Update, What's Happening

Hmmm…I have a few minutes this morning to give ya'll an update on things here at the hacienda.

Isaac
is doing fine, although his seizures have been on an upswing last week
and this week.  We had that one week of relatively few seizures and it
was wonderful.  That has been followed by our seeing an increase in
them.  We are planning to have blood work done next week.  Perhaps that
will give us a clue to the extra activity we've been seeing.

Doug
is doing well.  He goes in to work really early and stays really late;
and 2-3 times a day comes home to feed Isaac and change him if he needs
it.  I don't know how he gets everything done at work; but I am so
grateful and amazed and overwhelmed by the kindnesses that have been
shown him there.  Not one of his bosses has questioned his time or
schedule, and none have fussed about his time spent here.  That is to
be appreciated at any time, but most especially during our current
economy. 

Believe me, I am so thankful!

I am doing…as well as can be expected, I guess.  I don't want to say "fine".  That's so
not true.  But I don't want to bore you with what my level of pain is
for each day either.  I was able to go 2 days without taking the
prescription pain meds.  I just took OTC stuff. 

Yesterday I stayed alone with Isaac for a few hours, and changed 2 diapers (and they were not
the easy ones, either!).  I walked more yesterday, too, than I have for
a while.  So last night I tossed and turned most of the night, trying
to find a comfortable position that didn't hurt, but not able to wake
up enough to realize I needed to take some medicine. 

Finally,
shortly after 6 a.m., I was able to wake up enough to take some pain
meds and that helped quite a bit.  I didn't go back to bed, though.  I
want to be good and tired for tonight, so that I will sleep more
soundly. 

I guess I am going to have to carefully gauge my
activity for the day, then decided whether or not to take the
medication.  As much as I want to be off of it permanently, I cannot
heal properly with improper sleep.  I end up defeating my purpose.  I
will be paying better attention to that at night when I head to bed.

Yesterday I received a sweet card from a sweet friend:

It
just made my day to know that she was thinking of me, praying for me,
and then took the time to send me a card to let me know.  Thank you, my "west coast friend"!!!

Nearly
every day I have received emails, messages, or e-cards from kind,
praying friends.  I appreciate that so much.  Some of my friends have
even forwarded my prayer request to other friends or prayer lists.  I
was really touched to have one of my friends' friends send me an email
of her prayer for my family.  Such kindness from strangers truly
touches my heart, too.

The sweetest thing, though, has been
having my mom here.  She has swept; mopped; washed and folded laundry;
washed and put away dishes; changed Isaac's videos and diapers, pad and
sheets; cleaned the bathroom; cleaned ceiling fans; took the dog out;
emptied trash cans; peeled carrots; and shook out rugs.

Not that she had
to do those things!  She could've just sat and visited with me until
Isaac needed her; but she likes to be busy, and doesn't care to sit for
very long.  Every day she tried to leave the house spotless and in
order for Doug, so that when he came in, he only had to fix us supper
and care for Isaac.  She accomplished her goal every day, let me assure you!

It
has not been easy to be in need.  It goes against my very nature.  I
like to be a need-meeter.  That's just the way God made me.  So this
has been a learning time for me.  And a humbling time. 

I just
pray that I can get better, continue to lose weight, and be able to
minister to my parents, especially to my mom, the way that she has done
for me the past 2 weeks.  My two main motivations for become healthy
are to be able to care for Isaac as he grows, and to be able to care
for those in my family who need me now, or will need me in the future. 
God willing, Doug and I will continue on our path to health!

Thanks
for dropping by and taking the time to read this post.  I think I have
lost many readers during this season of not having much to say.  
However, it is usually not a bad thing to go through a quiet season
with few words.  You usually end up hearing so much more than when you
have so many of your own words to speak.

May God continue to mold us all to His image,
Alesha

Thursday, 28 May 2009

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Friendship, What's Happening

I was so blessed to have my sweet friend come to help me out in my
house today.  The cleaning and cooking and straightening and folding
and organizing and driving me to my appointment was much appreciated! 

The conversation and fellowship, however, was even more appreciated.  How precious it is to have a kindred spirit!

I
am still in a great deal of pain.  I slept last night sitting straight
up in a high-backed, winged-back chair.  My feet and legs were not very
happy about that, but the excruciating pain in my thigh, pelvis and
back was kept at bay, and that's what was most important. 

Tonight,
I am back in the chair again, having tried without success to find a
pain-free position in the bed.  It's like a bad toothache that just
won't ease up!

I
thought, due to the fibromyalgia, that I knew how to deal with living
with pain.  I think I was wrong.  I think I only had a tiny little clue
about what it's like to live with serious, chronic, ongoing pain.  I am
sorry for thinking I was an expert.  And I am more than a little bit
sorry to now be learning that concept! 

I am hopeful, though,
that the chiropractic adjustments are going to help.  (I did tell the
doctor today that he was fortunate that I was not given to foul
language, because I would have had quite a few things to tell him today
as he was adjusting my back!)

Doug
said that Isaac had a wonderful day today at therapy.  He always sends
me pictures from his phone when I can't go with them.  As soon as I
figure out how to get those pics off my phone and onto the computer, I
will share them with you.

Well, only a little over 4 more hours until daylight…counting down the hours until I can take more pain meds.

Alesha

From Tribulation to Hope

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Friendship, How Great is Our God, What's Happening
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;
And patience, experience; and experience, hope:
And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.
Romans 5:3-5


 It
has been a long 4.5 weeks.  I don't really know if my back is getting
better or worse.  I try to increase my activity every day, but that
tends to set me back the day after.  So I'm just continuing to take
everything reeeeeeally slowly.  Hopefully, soon, I will begin to see some progress. 

Today
I was blessed by a visit from my oldest younger brother.  He came for
his birthday present (yesterday) and to bring Isaac's present (birthday
#9 tomorrow!).  We had a really nice visit, which we don't get a chance
to do very often.  Then Doug came home and after a bit, we were blessed
to have my youngest younger brother drop in for a bit too.  It was so
nice!

My
hubby was able to go out to a work function this evening.  Here he is,
looking all handsome and vice-principal-esque. (minus those 50
pounds!!!)

And
if you look at the jewelry form to his right, you'll see that necklace
I've been working on.  After I took the picture, I thought "Wow!  It
looks so pretty sitting right there!" 

Isaac's
birthdays usually hit me pretty hard.  It is a common theme among
parents of special needs children.  I was really concerned about this
year. I have been under the weather, so to speak, for so long
physically, that I was fearful that Isaac's birthday tomorrow would be
especially hard. 

But God is so faithful.  He sent a precious
birthday card for Isaac from a friend yesterday.  It was so sweet it
made me cry.  (Thank you, friend!)  Then the unexpected company today
was an added blessing.  I will still have to be home alone tomorrow
while Doug takes Isaac to therapy, which makes me sad.  But I don't
dare do that long trip – traveling is awful on my back.

I know
that God has not given us a spirit of fear, so if we are experiencing
anxiety and fear, they are coming from another source.  I am going to
choose power and love and a sound mind for the day tomorrow; and I know
it is going to turn out just fine.

Blessings to you,
Alesha