A Little Addition to Yesterday's Post

These were supposed to be in yesterday's post.

Thank you to those of you who have already responded to my request for readers to let me know about your presence.
Do you know what these flowers are called? ;)
Ellen

OVERDID

I way overdid it getting ready for and visiting at the graduation party, and have been paying a big price.  I have been so weak and have NO energy to do anything.  I have been in bed or in the recliner resting for three weeks.  I was having severe blurred vision but that is improving.  I have had a TON of pain, headaches, painful bowel troubles, gallbladder attacks, etc.  I feel frustrated at being unable to accomplish much of anything.  This gets old.  It is difficult to decide what to participate in, because afterward I have to suffer and recover.  It is difficult to miss out on so many events in life.

Overdoing it is usually not much - talking or sitting up too long, being exposed to chemicals, riding in the car for a half hour or more, being in the sun for more than about 10 minutes, doing the dishes or folding one basket of laundry, taking a shower, making a bed etc. It kind of compares to how you might feel the first day after having the flu with vomiting and fever (except the exhaustion is much deeper).  You wear yourself out just getting up to get dressed or eat, and you have to go lie down to recover from that little activity.
 
So that's my update for those who are still reading this.  Speaking of that topic, I am wondering who is even looking at this blog anymore.  Several times I have thought about quitting it.  If you still read this, would you somehow let me know so I can decide if I should continue to write or not?  Thanks.

Ellen

Be Thou My Helper

I so look forward to a new body!  Philippians 3:20-21

Although I acknowledge that there are so many people far worse off than I am, today was one of the mornings when I awoke feeling so strongly that "I don't want to be in this body today!"  One thing that is difficult with any chronic illness is the emotional "stuff" that goes along with, and is often because of, the physical "stuff".  I have had several really tough days that way recently.  I feel kind of like I have 10x PMS or something.  I guess amino acids, pituitary, thyroid etc. being off kilter in my body make it explainable, but it's still hard to keep a good attitude.

So...in turning to God's Word this morning - I love the Psalms on days like these - I hear God's strength.

Psalm 31:24  Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the LORD.

Psalm 30:10  Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me: LORD, be thou my helper.

Psalm 28:7  The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusted in him, and I am helped:  therefore my heart greatly rejoiceth; and with my song will I praise him.

Ellen

P.S. Have a great Mother's Day Weekend.  I got the neatest, most special Mother's Day card from Gregg's parents yesterday!  Another reminder that God cares, knows when we need encouragement and that he manifests his love through other believers.

Checking In

Several of us at our house have been battling this nasty virus for a couple of months now.  Three, including me, are still down with it as I know many of you have been too.  The violent coughing makes sleep impossible and it hurts the umbilical hernia area!  I should think there is nothing left in my lungs by now..."They" sprayed for gypsy moths last week and this week too, so that did not help.
I need to be well enough to finish preparing for my daughter's graduation celebration.  I guess it's sleep if I can, vitamin C, mullein tea, etc. for now.  I hope you are well.

Ellen

Kindergarten Wisdom

All I Really Need To Know I Learned In Kindergarten

by Robert Fulghum

Most of what I really need
To know about how to live
And what to do and how to be
I learned in kindergarten.
Wisdom was not at the top
Of the graduate school mountain,
But there in the sandpile at Sunday school.

These are the things I learned:

Share everything.
Play fair.
Don't hit people.
Put things back where you found them.
Clean up your own mess.
Don't take things that aren't yours.
Say you're sorry when you hurt somebody.
Wash your hands before you eat.
Flush.
Warm cookies and cold milk are good for you.
Live a balanced life -
Learn some and think some
And draw and paint and sing and dance
And play and work everyday some.
Take a nap every afternoon.
When you go out into the world,
Watch out for traffic,
Hold hands and stick together.
Be aware of wonder

 

Well it's not all we need...but I thought this a pretty good picture.  As some of you know, I taught kindergarten when we lived in New Mexico and I loved it! - five year olds, art, music, eager phonics students, playtime...  I must say though that my favorite job God has given me is that of wife and mother.  It is probably the toughest, but it is also a very worthwhile investment and blessing!

Ellen

This Is The Day Which The Lord Hath Made;

 Honey in the making

Wild plum blossoms 

"Suzanna"

Fern in the woods

In Wisconsin you need a double greenhouse and heat.

Basil for Victoria's pesto.

Let the sun shine in.

"Apollo"

Californian bunny 

One of the many graduation banners I have been working on this year

A view from our driveway

 

Flowers from Grandpa and Grandma

 

  

We will rejoice and be glad in it.

Psalm  118:24

Ellen

Miracle of the Human Body

I had to remind myself again today, that my body is not my enemy.  It often feels like it is because of the limitations it imposes on my life.  My body has endured many things over the years, but, my body also does amazing things each day to keep me alive.  Some things are obvious, like a beating heart, breathing lungs, etc.   Other things seem less "good" and seem more problematic such as how my body stored away something covered in mucous in a large mass attached to my ovary.  That seems like a bad thing on the surface, but we don't always see or understand the whole picture.

Our bodies were designed to survive.  They prioritize without us even knowing it.  Fever, colds, diarrhea are all ways the body cleanses out toxins. What we put into our bodies, how much we move them, the amount of stress we carry , genetics, all impact how well our bodies are able to function.   Whenever I study the body and learn more about how it functions, the more I see of the amazingness of our Creator.

I thank God that he blessed my body with the gift of pregnancy and childbirth - a miracle beyond my dreams.  I try to remember to thank God for his creation of my body despite its shortcomings, dysfunctions, disease etc. (By the way, don't forget that before sin entered the world, the human bodies God created were absolutely perfect - we messed things up, not He).

I thank God that today I can see, walk, hear, think, talk, read, feed myself and more.  Not everyone can do all those things.  And remember, we are not guaranteed that we will wake up tomorrow with the ability to do everything we can do today.

Ellen