Category: How Great is Our God

I Go To The Rock

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

Hi friends,

We are still here…plodding along. :) 

Our weekend was uneventful, if you can call the Lord's daily provision "uneventful".  He has continued to meet every need for every moment throughout our present trial.  We are grateful and amazed to watch His hand at work.

By Friday evening, I was able to stand for short moments; and by Sunday evening, I was able to walk the few steps to our bathroom, unassisted.  That was, in fact, so exciting, that I felt it necessary to text people about it!  I know!  But, remember, I had been unable to do that since the Sunday evening before!  An entire week!  So, yeah, I was pretty pumped!  We chanted the "Rocky" theme when I got back to the bedroom!  LOL 😀

My husband has continued to amaze me every day.  Isaac has been amazing, as well.  The first few days, Doug would just stop in front of my door, as he carried Isaac by, to say "hi" to me.  Then one day, when I could stand the movement, he brought him in and sat on the bed with him.  He started just chattering away at me, including his "I wuv ummmm" which is of course, "I love you."  So sweet.  He also waved at me several times.  I know I'd been missing him, but was surprised and delighted to know that he was missing me too.

Someone is purchasing a wheelchair for me.  They are bringing it tomorrow.  I had set out to simply borrow one, but we couldn't find anything available.  So the good Lord met the need in another way – having someone hear about the need and offer to buy one.  I am so grateful for this.  I just don't even have words to express it.  I will be able to get to the chiropractor and to my doctor because of this chair.  I will also be able to move around the house more, and help with things here when I can stand to sit for longer periods of time.

Doug's boss has once again proven to be incredibly generous and flexible.  Doug is now working nights at the print shop.  He can get his work done during those hours that Isaac is asleep, so that I can be here alone with him.  If Isaac wakes up, Doug is just a few minutes away.  I can tell he really missed work last week, and is glad to be back in some semblance of a routine.  So, if you plan to call us, please call after 9:30 a.m.  We'll all be asleep until then.

I am still in considerable pain at times.  I am learning to avoid certain positions that trigger the worst of it.  I am weaning off the pain meds, which is a blessing.  I was constantly aware of the dangers of addiction, and wanted to avoid that at all costs.  I know it is the power of prayer that has brought me thus far in my recovery, and I'll trust the timing of coming of the meds to the Lord as well.  So far, it is going just fine.

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THANK YOU so much for all of your prayers on my behalf.  I am just amazed at how the Lord honors the prayers of His people.  Doug and I have had almost constant peace throughout this ordeal.  I only had one day that I had to fight off the anxiety attacks, but even then He was so faithful to give me a song that someone posted as their status on FaceBook that echoed in my head through that whole day.  The song:  "I Go to the Rock"  How perfect was that?!!

Well, I will go for now.  I'm praying you have a peaceful evening (or morning – for you Laura!) 🙂

Blessings,

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

Feeling a Little Fezzik-y

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

As I sat on the edge of the bed this morning and brushed my teeth, my hubby felt the need to wax eloquent about my accomplishment…

So, he quoted Fezzik of The Princess Bride fame:


Fezzik: You
just wiggled your finger. That's wonderful.
Westley: I've always
been a quick healer.

 

Fezzik: You
just shook your head… doesn't that make you happy?
Westley: My brains,
his steel, and your strength against sixty men, and you think a little head
jiggle is supposed to make me happy?


But a little upright teeth brushing did make me happy today! 🙂

There are so many things that I will never take for granted again!  I am trying to take advantage of this learning experience, because Lord willing, I don't want to be doomed to repeat it.

I have been able to sit up for short periods of time today on the bed.  No walking yet, or even standing.  The pain is too intense.  But I do feel like we're making progress.

Thanks again to all of you who have been praying for me.  I appreciate it so very much.

Blessings,

Alesha

 

 

From My Point of View

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Blessings, How Great is Our God, Just My Thoughts, Prayer Request, What's Happening

When your world narrows to just four walls and a bed…

When everything is colored by a haze of pain…

When you are the care-receiver, rather than the caregiver…

Certain undeniable truths rise to the surface:

  • God is merciful
  • Things could be worse
  • Prayer is practiced breath by breath, rather than crisis by crisis
  • The attitude of the patient is just as important as the attitude of the "nurse"
  • You cannot stop trying…even when it hurts, even when you fail
  • Promises of prayer become huge pillars on which your life rests, not mere spindles of religious politeness
  • The art of conversation is a skill not many possess
  • Compassion becomes a driving force, rather than an afterthought
  • Hymns of praise become the soundtrack to your thought life
  • God becomes All in All, a close companion and confidante, a Name whispered in moments of panic and shouted in times of agony, each one a sincere prayer for Divine Intervention

These are truths that, honestly, I would rather not learn; but God has decided I need to know them.

Who am I to question His plan?

As I rest today, here in my room, I am praying for God's divine healing of my back.  I would really by grateful for your prayer of agreement with me on this.

God is a very kind and compassionate friend.  If you admit your need of Him, He is quick to meet your need.  Just cry out to Him today.

Blessings to you this day,

Alesha

Finally Getting Caught Up With You

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

Thank you for reading my blog.  Really…I mean it!  I truly enjoy blogging and sharing our lives with you; but it would be a boring, dissatisfying exercise if it weren't for your comments and participation.

So, thank you!  I am so glad you are here.

I have so many things to tell you about, so let's get started.

First, we have taken Isaac to 6 doctors in the last 4 weeks.  It has been exhausting physically, mentally and emotionally.  I'll try to sum up in bullets:

  • Isaac was running a low-grade fever for a couple of weeks.  We never figured out why, and it has now stopped.
  • He has lost weight since our last visit to his gastroenterologist, and so we have increased his daily caloric intake.
  • We have started him on daily carrot juice and barley supplements and he is doing well.  We have been able to stop the OTC laxative that he was taking daily.  : D
  • We had noticed a ridge developing on Isaac's forehead.  (I noticed it after taking a pic for the blog…hadn't realized it was there until I saw the pic on my computer!)  Also, his face is becoming noticeably asymmetrical.  However, the neurosurgeon is not concerned with either of these things.  His head is simply going to grow that way, due to earlier issues.  His features will probably even out as each growth spurt ends.
  • Isaac's been having a new kind of seizure for about 6 weeks now.  The neurologist recommended a VNS system.  You can read about it on the Cyberonics site here.  We are still in the information gathering stage on this.
  • Isaac's left hip is subluxated (partially dislocated).  This is caused by muscles that have been too tight on his inner thigh that have pulled that leg over to the right.  We found out about this last December, and have worked hard to position Isaac so that the hip is in a good position.  That isn't going to fix the dislocation though.  The only way to do that is with surgery.
  • Isaac's hip has not gotten any worse since last December, and the orthopedic surgeon we saw does not believe he is in pain with it.  We were worried that the pain could have been causing the increased seizure activity, but the surgeon doesn't feel that is the case.
  • We are going to see the doctor again in December, and will probably schedule the surgery for soon after that.  I tried to find a site that explains the surgery in layman's terms, but couldn't find one.  I'll keep looking to see if I can find something and share it with you later.
  • Isaac is sleeping well right now, which is such a blessing.  We have started doing his asthma treatments at a different time of day, rather than at bed time, and that seems to have made a world of difference.

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I won a blog contest a few week's back and received the yummiest wash cloths from Copperswife, Cheryl.  They are the softest, prettiest things I've seen in a long time.  I am using them only for Isaac, and they are especially nice for washing his face every morning. : )  Here are a couple of pics.  I planned to get a few more pics, but was unable to do so (more on that later).

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Be sure to read Cheryl's latest blog.  It has some encouragement for us to have the proper priorities as we finish up our busy summers and head into the upcoming school year.  It's a good read, as usual!

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Isaac received another nice surprise last month from our friends Jerry and Laura in Japan.  Jerry and a group of other missionaries and interns climbed Mt. Fuji in Japan!  It was an awesome trip.  Be sure to catch his first installment of the journey on his blog, linked above. 

Jerry had offered to mail postcards from the post office at the top of Mt. Fuji, and so I had asked him to send one to Isaac.  Not only did he send a beautiful postcard, but he also included the headband that he wore on his trek.  This is the message that Jerry sent to Isaac.  (After the month that we have had, you can imagine how these kind words touched this mommy's heart. )

"Dear Isaac, When a Japanese person has a difficult job to do, they wear a headband with a message written on it to encourage them.  Each member of our group wore a headband with the Kanji 'Hisshou' (victory) written on it.  This is my headband.  I hope it will encourage you in whatever hard jobs you have to do.  Habakkuk 3:19"

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(Laura, I hope I have it right side up! : )  I "googled" it so see how to turn it. )

It is amazing the things that God puts into motion weeks, months or even years before you need a Word from Him.  I'm sure this climb has been something that Jerry has pondered for a long time.  And at just the right time, God allowed him to make this climb, and then he, in turn, passed on a blessing to us.  Our God is incredible.

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I know this post has gone on forever, but I have just a few more things to share. : )

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New shirts for Isaac

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New shirts for Mommy : )

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Our new parsley plant (in a cute little pot, courtesy of Grammy).

On a sad note, my new camera has DIED!!!  You can't even imagine my sadness!  We had only had it for a couple of months, and I had just learned how to take much better pictures of my jewelry with it!  I was taking some pictures, and the camera fell on the floor.  It jammed the lense mechanism, and now the lense won't open.  When the lense doesn't open, the camera won't even come on and stay on.  I am very, very sad!  I will be pulling out my old camera that takes AA batteries to see if I can use it again.  (Insert my deep, heavy sigh here!)  Did I tell you how SAD this makes me??? : (

And my last little bit of news…I have joined the choir at my church!!!  I am so excited to be singing again!  I am enjoying the practices so much, and of course, the fellowship that comes with it.  Don't forget, if you can't make it to your church on Sunday, you can watch ours online in real time.  Here's the link:  Landmark Baptist Church.  Just click the "media" tab, then the "live services" tab.  (You might even see me in the choir!!! tee hee hee!) : )

Thank you, again, for coming to read my blog; and I especially want to thank you for your prayers for us.  We appreciate it so much.  

God's richest blessings to you,

Alesha

Bold and Tangy Salad Boats

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Blessings, Food and Drink, Hallelujah Diet, How Great is Our God, Recipe

Ok, ya'll…I just made up this dish today, and it was so yummy, I knew I had to share it with you. : )

I get tired of salad reeeeeally quickly, but I know all of those beautiful, raw veggies are so good for me.  This is what I came up with:

Bold and Tangy Salad Boats

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1/2 cucumber diced

1 vine ripened tomato diced

2-3 cloves of garlic, minced or pressed in a garlic press

Sea salt to taste

2 T. flax seed oil

2 T. balsamic vinegar

2-3 romaine lettuce leaves

Spinach leaves

Prepare veggies and set aside.  Combine oil and vinegar.  Pour oil and vinegar mixture over veggies, add salt to taste, and toss to mix.

Lay romaine lettuce "boats" on a plate and line each with 4-5 leaves of spinach.  Sprinkle with salt.  Spoon veggie mixture into each "boat".  Drizzle any extra oil and vinegar over the leaves.

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Now there are so many variations on this, so just let your imagination go wild with it.  If you come up with something really yummy, be sure to let me know! 

I'm sure you could use olive oil instead of flax oil and any kind of vinegar.  I just used what I had on hand.  I call it bold and tangy because of the combination of the raw garlic and the vinegar.  It was just perfect!

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There are several things I need to share with ya'll, but it is going to be another busy week for us.  As soon as I can, though, I'll be sharing with you about the following:

  1. a blog contest I won,
  2. a special surprise for Isaac from Japan, and
  3. Isaac's doctor visits this week. 

Thank you for your patience. : )

OH, and before I forget, I wanted to just Praise the Lord for the Miracle Offering at our church.  Thank you for your prayers! 

Our goal was $150,000, and we took up just over $238,000 with another $17,000 committed to be given in the next few months, giving us a total of over $255,000!!! 

Isn't that just amazing?!!!  Our God is SO great and mighty!!!

I can't wait to hear testimony of how God blesses the givers in our church!  It should be very exciting!

God bless your week,

Alesha

Unfortunately, Surgeries are Looming…

by ObtainingMercy, posted in How Great is Our God, Isaac Update, Prayer Request, What's Happening

Yeah, I know.  I'm not really excited about it either.  We've been to 4 doctor's offices in the past 2 weeks, and we've seen 5 doctors.  

Within the last 3 weeks Isaac has started having an entirely new kind of seizure.  He has also run an intermittent low-grade fever.

We've also known for about 7 months that Isaac's hip is dislocating about 50% out of the socket in certain positions.

So two of his doctors have recommended surgery:  the neurologist and the orthopedist.  The neurologist has recommended an implant that might reduce Isaac's seizures.  The orthopedist wants to do hip surgery.

As we told the neurologist about the orthopedist's recommendations, she told us that if he is having a lot of pain in his hip, that could be causing the new seizures and the low-grade fever!  Right, so my son is in pain, and I didn't even have a clue.  I'm feeling really terrible about that right now!

So, we'll be seeing the orthopedist again soon, to have more x-rays taken, and to hear his recommendations.  This surgery is quite invasive, and would mean 6-8 weeks in a full body cast or brace.  I told Doug that we would definitely need nursing help following that surgery!

We will not likely do anything about the new seizures until after we have resolved the hip issue.  If it is pain that is causing the new seizures, then following corrective surgery, they should stop.  Normally.  Ideally.  In the usual cases.  (Yeah…I'm not holding my breath on that one!)

Needless to say, we are not feeling very happy about these situations.  We hate to see new seizures, no matter what is causing them.  We feel horrible to think that Isaac is hurting all the time.  We loathe the thought of another surgery, especially because he did so poorly during the last surgery.  We abhor the idea of more equipment and gadgets being implanted in his little body. 

I was going to include links to the two surgeries so that you could look at them, but I just got overwhelmed while reading the sites and had to stop.  When it's time to go forward with them, I'll give you a better idea of exactly what will be happening.

I know that my God is in control.  I know that God has His hand on Isaac's life and ministry.  I know that God has allowed us to walk some very difficult paths so that others would see Him in Isaac.  I believe that Isaac causes people to think about God, and reconsider what they believe about Him.  I have witnessed folks response to the peace that Isaac has, and to the peace that God has poured out on us.

Sometimes I don't like where God leads us, but I know it is for my good and for His glory.  So "I will follow, follow, all the way" just like the old hymn says.  It will be very interesting to see God work through this next stage of Isaac's life.

We certainly would appreciate your prayers for wisdom as we make the decisions for which procedures to do, especially the one on his hip.  There are innovative doctors doing wonderful things for our kiddos, but they are not covered by Isaac's insurance, nor are they in the state of Florida.  We need wisdom to choose what is best, while considering all the factors involved.

Thank you, in advance, for carrying us to God's throne in prayer.

Alesha