Happy Health- Goodbye Scleritis

Posted on February 10, 2014 by For Glory Sake!

Wow! January of last year I was just beginning my experiment with veganism …after suffering some terrific pain on the left side of my face. My self-diagnosis ranged from sinus infection to a long overdue root canal.

Both were wrong!

My husband had the idea of consulting his Opthomalogist. An email with photos resulted in an emergency appointment on a Sunday afternoon (thanks doc!) Diagnosis: Scleritis. No cause, No cure, just control… via steroids :/

2 months later, my eye was clear and pain-free, but the side-effects from those meds overwhelmed me. I had to get off that stuff! Dr. Fuhrman’s Eat To Live (an immune boosting diet) saved my health. A full 60 day Vegan-fast turned into a new way of eating and viewing food. It’s God’s pharmacy.

Today I eat a primarily plant-based diet, full of taste and variety. I’m gluten-free and 90% dairy-free (occasional raw cheese). I love to bake, avoiding processed foods by making my own stuff.  It’s always fun to try adding a new superfood.

Boosting my immune system has been a daily goal. Keeping healthy snacks on hand really helps! A new recipe each week keeps me motivated. There is so much out there on Pinterest. Information abounds!

Check out:

  • healingstrong.com.
  •  Eat to live recipes (Dr. Fuhrman)

GBOMBS: (daily must-haves)
Green leafy veggies
Beans(pinto, kidney, black etc…)
Onions (all kinds)
Mushrooms
Berries (try frozen)
Seeds (especially Chia and Flax)

Don’t be shy, pile them high! Eat something healthy

ForGlorySake! -Anna

Apples
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Addiction Recovery

Posted on January 30, 2014 by For Glory Sake!

Today our son becomes an adult. It’s a miracle! Two years ago we wondered if he’d still be alive. He confesses he never thought he’d see 18. But God… has this amazing way of messing in our stuff, changing up our little destructive journey and creating life.

When things were ugly a few years back, I labeled a Jar for him (My Hope Jar) and I began to track any small hopeful action or attitude I saw, by putting a penny inside. Then, when I was feeling particularly hopeless about his situation I would walk over and shake those pennies. It reminded me that God was working in his life.

The verses I held on to were also written on little pieces of paper stuffed inside. Verses I copied again and again and placed in my purse, on my mirror, in my car.

“…because Abraham dared to trust God to do what only God could do: raise the dead to life, with a word, make something out of nothing. When everything was hopeless, Abraham believed anyway, deciding to live not on the basis of what he saw he couldn’t do, but on what God said He would do.” (from Romans 4:17 and 18 The Message)

I wanted amazing faith like Abraham had! I held on to that faith when mine was weak. He had believed God for so much, even when things looked utterly hopeless, and God marked him righteous because if it.

I’ve been surprised that many of my disappointments were premature or short-sighted. Recovery is not predictable, but usually just a little more waiting, and God has shown up.

ForGlorySake! -Anna

IMG_1262

Freedom

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1 John 4:16

Posted on January 23, 2014 by For Glory Sake!

Mentally exhausted from a full week of care-giving, I went to a women’s Biblestudy today. I usually host at my house, but with so much on my plate, my friends decided to change things up and try a new 6 week parenting class.

The speaker used 1st John 4:16 to launch her topic, “We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in His love…” While she spoke I turned those words over and over in my mind. I was flooded with so many difficult scenarios:

  • my parent’s declining mental and physical
  • they’re need for 24/7 care
  • my dear friend sitting close, who adopted an over-seas child only to see him rebel, run away and reject their family’s love. He’s living in a care facility now…
  • another friend is at home, suffering horribly from rounds of radiation
  • a sweet mother 2 chairs away, struggling daily to blend her young children with a difficult older half-brother, all while her husband travels for weeks at a time.

Hard things, yet God’s word assures us of His love. Life isn’t all rosy. In fact it seems more thorns than flowers! How can we fully trust Him? How can we live beyond the circumstances and the emotions we feel? Is His love really ours -moment by moment? Does God truly have our very best interest in mind?

I can only tell you what I’ve experienced. As I have put my trust in Him, God has proven Himself faithful again and again. Each life event, whatever terrifying thing I had to face, He has proven His love and provision time and again. Jesus has never forsaken me.

Can good come from bad? Yes, I’ve had it happen. It probably won’t be visible today, maybe it can’t, so I’m learning to wait and trust. I know we are greatly loved.

For Glory Sake! -Anna

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A Balancing Act

Posted on January 16, 2014 by For Glory Sake!

Before my alarm goes off, I wake up and thank God for a new day. Silently I ask Him to help me with whatever lies ahead… Which day is it? One that I care for my parents or am I working for David? No matter, it’ll be full. “God give me strength. Make me a blessing.” 

Up for coffee, I get all the kids off to school, then the race starts… workout, shower, dress and drive to Atlanta today. Life is totally different from our homeschooling days – books, babies and toddlers, 24/7 busyness at home. The kids are more independent now. Still life is incredibly busy.

Taking care of my parents on a weekly basis involves a lot of balancing schedules. It never seems to be a good time to leave home and take care of them, and it’s never a good time to leave my parents and drive back. Ben just quit his job at a grocery store to help 3 days a week. Between us, we are there all 7 days.

They are becoming more and more childlike. It’s been a fine line, between respecting their decisions as adults and making necessary changes for their safety and wellbeing. We are trying different solutions, learning together by trial and error. The biggest hurtle? Dementia keeps changing the rules.

God knows we can’t do this forever, and so I’m trusting Him with what’s ahead. There always seems to be just enough energy and time. This chapter in our lives is unfamiliar. I’m trying to be flexible. With so much change, I sure am thankful God stays the same.

 ForGlorysake! – Anna
 

“My life constantly hangs in the balance, but I will not stop obeying Your instruction.” Psalms 119:109

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A New Year

Posted on January 1, 2014 by For Glory Sake!

A new year crept in last night… around 11:59 to be exact. Before I could gather all my thoughts, it was simply here and the clock without reverence kept right on ticking. It was as if it were no big deal. But it was huge. It was momentous:

  • My family was fed and cared for another 365 days. That’s always miraculous -not only the provision, but the actuality of it!
  • Our precious son is 642 days sober. We celebrated with the whole Insight group.
  • David is cancer free 3 years and we celebrated 25 years of marriage New Year’s Eve!
  • My parents made it another 12 months in pretty stable health.
  • God has seen us through numerous struggles and stresses, always bringing glory to His name as each concern is worked out.
  • We’ve learned to love each other and laugh everyday.

I feel very spoiled, especially in the fact that God never gives up on me. He is lavish in His mercy, patient in His timing. Are we really worth all this effort? He must see potential that I can’t. How thankful I am.

LORD, Thank You for milestones that show us how far we’ve come. What a ride it’s been! We look forward to a great new year.   

ForGlorysake! –Anna

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New

Posted on December 22, 2013 by For Glory Sake!

Everyone loves new, don’t they? Fresh, clean, unused, smelling good- nearly perfect. Christmas always feels full of new to me, from presents purchased to old decorations I haven’t seen for a year. It’s fun to give and exciting to receive! 

Jesus even feels new at Christmas. God made fresh in a precious tiny newborn. A prophesied mystery kept secret for centuries, finally revealed. The gift of salvation to the world. A New Covenant offered by the Creator to all people everywhere… an opportunity to become something brand new! 

Christmas is the remembrance of the most amazing event anticipated -The Kingdom of God on earth. Now is the time to recognize what He did-great things in a brand new way!

“Sing a new song to the LORD; He has done wonderful things! By His own power and holy strength He has won the victory.” Psalm 98:1 Good News Translation

“For a child has been born—for us! The gift of a son—for us! He’ll take over the running of the world. His names will be: Amazing Counselor, Strong God, Eternal Father, Prince of Wholeness. His ruling authority will grow, and there’ll be no limits to the wholeness He brings.” Isaiah 9:6 The Message

 

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Serve

Posted on December 6, 2013 by For Glory Sake!

As part of a giving campaign with our church, my women’s Biblestudy made meals for families who foster. I can’t tell you how special it was to come bearing dinner for these folks! They were so incredibly appreciative. I didn’t know much about this unique group of people who risk their hearts and their families for someone else’s children.

These parents don’t always know when a child will come or how long they will stay. Yet they open their arms. I saw beautiful perfect babies and some with extreme special-needs. Each family, however seemed lovingly committed. In a couple of homes the foster children were already in the process of being adopted!

Our part was easy – cooking, assembling and dropping off a few meals. I swapped hugs and stories and asked for prayer requests. We were told there are other small ways to support, like helping out in home with laundry or organizing. Babysitting requires registration with DFACS and a background check. Respite requires classes and a home inspection to host children for a weekend.

Even though our family found kids through more unconventional ways, there are so many children caught in the foster system. It was good to see that anyone can help make a difference. Faithbridge Foster Care is just one organization connecting foster families to support –http://www.faithbridgefostercare.org.

God, bless all the children in the foster system and the families that provide homes. Give them wisdom, grace and patience today. Help us to have courage to do what we can in Your name. Children are a gift.

ForGlorySake! -Anna

Children are a gift from God
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Blessing Your Child

Posted on November 10, 2013 by For Glory Sake!

I come from a southern family: 5 generations of my mother’s side were born and raised in Atlanta. Can you say “Daaawlin?” My poor dad didn’t stand a change living anywhere else. According to my maternal grandmother, his loyalties were already in question -having been born in the state of Virginia.

My father’s sale’ job was in New York and my mom was not going to raise her 4 girls above the Mason Dixon Line… so he commuted. Flying out every Monday morning, he worked all week up north and flew back on Friday. A mechanical-engineering, car-fanatic, he became more and more lost in our female-only, estrogen-dominated household. Once home, we usually saw his feet sticking out from beneath one of his many cars!

He was an excellent provider, however sharing feelings was never a strong point. I remember him occasionally taking me on dates and trying hard to relate. We all knew he loved us, because mom told us repeatedly… and he wrote it on cards. But every child longs to hear 1st hand.

At 81 my father’s dementia causes him to brake social and verbal reserves. He repeats phrases like, “Thank you for helping me,” and “I appreciate you coming,” and “I’m so glad you’re here” and “I love you.” He says them over and over and I never tire of hearing.

I wonder if he always thought these, but just didn’t say them. They are a gift in the midst of this decline. God knew I needed to hear these specific words of blessing and have them repeated over and over 🙂 Thankful

ForGlorySake! -Anna

lunch with my parents 2013
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God is Bigger Still

Posted on October 31, 2013 by For Glory Sake!

These last 2 weeks have seemed particularly emotional ones. My father’s mind is slipping deeper into dementia and my mother’s frailty seems more acute. My close friend is suffering the terrible side effects of radiation. And there has been family crisis in the parent support group.

Big issues loom all around me. They press in from every side. It starts to seem overwhelming… in a heartbeat hopeless. But God, is bigger still! The depth and height and width of His love are literally unfathomable.

Think of His:                                                                                                                                     sadness over pain,
 frustration over a hard heart,
anger at injustice and death,
hopes for mercy and rescue,
desire for change,
 joy over obedience and new life,

These are just fingernail bits of what God feels. I can not imagine the largeness of His heart. I’d be completely undone at the true depth of it all. I have emotions, because God has made me in His image. These are good. My feelings are God-given, and when I submit them to Him- and they are Spirit-directed, I will not be overwhelmed. Even though we see in part and know in part, He knows the whole story; past, present and future.

Thank You, Father for giving me emotions to share just a bit of what You feel. Help me to see clearly the hope-FULL-ness of   Your sovereignty in everything.  

ForGlorySake! -Anna

Sarah’s Art : Faith, Hope, Love
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Where You Don't Want to Go

Posted on October 27, 2013 by For Glory Sake!

Last week I woke to the distinct impression of God telling me He was taking me where, “you don’t want to go.” What a strange and unsettling thing to hear. I wondered deeply about it. Feeling like I’d been here before… I Immediately asked Him to prepare my heart.

My day moved forward with a few small glitches, but nothing out of the ordinary. Then before it was over, I knew. My dear, sweet friend who has suffered from late stage lung cancer received the incredible news that her lungs were miraculously clear! Before anyone could raise a whoop however, her Dr. found a new tumor on her spine- What? Really?

10 days of radiation began, and this amazing independent woman, has allowed me to go with her to some of those treatments. I entered her world and her unbearable pain. All of a sudden I was transported back to my husband’s bedside for those many months, wondering when it would end, why was this happening, would there be healing?

I cried fresh tears from an old wound.

Then He reminded me… “I asked you to go, because you understand. You don’t have to carry her, I am. You don’t have to stress about Me hearing, because you know. Just be her friend and love with My love.”

Oh, how I love my Savior. He cares about my friend’s suffering, just like He cared about my husband’s. Nothing escapes His watchful eye. It is not easy and I still don’t understand, but I trust Him to go with us wherever He calls. Always in His strength.

Always ForGlorySake! –Anna

Fall 2013
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