Monday, March 22, 2010
New Blog on the Sidebar
The blog of my good friend Bethany is now on my sidebar, Never A Dull Moment. She and her sweet hubby Bert are the proud parents of 3 boys and a new baby girl. I enjoy peeking into their homeschool life and viewing the recaps of family trips. Welcome to my blog, Bethany!!
Is It Really Spring?
Well, it's the second day of spring and we were freezing outside today -- around 45 degrees! I had wanted to post a few of my snow pictures on the last day of winter before I thought it would begin to get warmer. Oh well, it's cold again!! After trying to understand Picasa in hopes of making some cool collages (I need help, Lori and Jessie!) and realizing only a few photos were worth sharing, here are my favorite shots from our three blizzards of 2009-2010.
Mission Trip this weekend...
Thanks Bethany for being curious because I hadn't thought about getting back on here today. Anyway, yes I'm heading to New Orleans this Friday with about 20 members of our church. It's a youth mission trip to assist a church there at which one of our former youth members works. We'll be driving down on Friday (I think it takes around 10 hours!!). Saturday morning and afternoon will be spent giving out church info packets inviting local families to their Easter service the next weekend. Saturday evening, we'll be hosting a youth party for the teens of that church. We'll worship with that church on Sunday morning, including our whole group singing "God of This City". Sunday afternoon, we'll be visiting the French Quarter for some shopping and Louisiana culture. KidFuge (a type of Vacation Bible School really charged up on caffeine and led by our teens) will hit New Orleans on Monday from 9am to 3pm. Monday night, we'll be visiting our youth pastor's favorite NO restaurant for some authentic Cajun food. The trip wraps up with us traveling home on Tuesday. Sounds like a packed schedule, but I'm excited!
Seems like short notice but I just signed onto the trip this past Wednesday. Matthew and I attended two week long out-of-state trips with the youth before having Philip. Then we went to Myrtle Beach with them when Philip was 18-months-old. Since then I haven't gone on any major trips. At first, I tried to talk Matthew into attending too but he said for me to go and he'd stay home with our kids. My mom will watch them on Friday and then fortunately Ruth Ann will be on Spring Break next Monday and Tuesday and will watch them then. It's really a great opportunity and came at the perfect time.
Our pastor challenged the entire church to fast (give up something you value in order to spend more time thinking about the Lord) during the month of March in preparation for Easter. I've chosen to fast all liquids other than water. It's been a great chance to focus on how Jesus is the living water (John chapter 4) and to realize He is really all I need and on Him I should depend completely. I've often felt my protection came from Matthew and purpose was in raising Philip and Braewyn. obviously I love my husband and children dearly. However after hearing Anne Graham Lotz, the daughter of Billy Graham, speak on Saturday and now preparing to leave town on Friday for New Orleans, I am convinced that my reason for living is to bring glory to Christ through my life. I can't wait to share the recap of my trip when I get home!
Seems like short notice but I just signed onto the trip this past Wednesday. Matthew and I attended two week long out-of-state trips with the youth before having Philip. Then we went to Myrtle Beach with them when Philip was 18-months-old. Since then I haven't gone on any major trips. At first, I tried to talk Matthew into attending too but he said for me to go and he'd stay home with our kids. My mom will watch them on Friday and then fortunately Ruth Ann will be on Spring Break next Monday and Tuesday and will watch them then. It's really a great opportunity and came at the perfect time.
Our pastor challenged the entire church to fast (give up something you value in order to spend more time thinking about the Lord) during the month of March in preparation for Easter. I've chosen to fast all liquids other than water. It's been a great chance to focus on how Jesus is the living water (John chapter 4) and to realize He is really all I need and on Him I should depend completely. I've often felt my protection came from Matthew and purpose was in raising Philip and Braewyn. obviously I love my husband and children dearly. However after hearing Anne Graham Lotz, the daughter of Billy Graham, speak on Saturday and now preparing to leave town on Friday for New Orleans, I am convinced that my reason for living is to bring glory to Christ through my life. I can't wait to share the recap of my trip when I get home!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Thursday, March 11, 2010
My Brush With Lupus
My mom noticed a mole on my arm that looked suspicious to her and since I agreed, I scheduled an appointment with a dermatologist. My appointment was last Monday, March 1st. The dermatologist looked at the mole and said she didn't think it looked too bad but would take it off just in case. Next I asked her about some red spots on my face which have been there for a few years. She studied my face for a few seconds and said it looked like what is called a butterfly rash: redness in a symmetrical pattern sweeping over both cheeks and up to your temples. She asked if I had anyone in my family with auto-immune disorders. I told her I have an aunt with lupus. She said, "Yes, that's the one I was thinking of as the butterfly rash is a symptom of lupus." She suggested blood be drawn to test me for lupus. She also said the ANA test was not conclusive but would give us a base line to chart from in case I developed other symptoms. I agreed and left with a bandaid on my arm and a lot of questions in my head. I didn't want to tell our parents to keep them from worrying, especially my mom as worry aggravates her system, but of course told Matthew, a friend from church who's husband has lupus, and over the next four days several friends who I knew would pray.
On Friday, I called the dermatologist's office but the bloodwork had not come back. More waiting and wondering. On Saturday, I did tell our parents because I didn't want them to receive questions from friends at church and not have any idea what was going on.
I called again on Monday, March 8th, and spoke with a nurse. She said the report was back and it said "POSITIVE". I asked her if there was a number associated with that and she said no. Although the dermatologist was fairly friendly herself, I was feeling put out with the office after having to call twice to receive my test result and then not to have received any type of explanation. My friend Ann earnestly encouraged me to talk to my family doctor about this test result and whatever follow-up would be suggested.
The appointment with my family doctor yesterday was truly an answer to prayer. By this point, I was more frustrated at the medical community (I had to drive back to the dermatologist's office to pick up my lab report because they said if I wanted it faxed over to my doc I'd still have to come and sign for it to be done!) than I was upset with the idea of having lupus. I prayed for my doctor to have wisdom which would provide me with clarity of the situation.
Dr. Gibson (whom I think highly of because he is originally from South Africa and extremely straight-forward and blunt about things which differs from the American political correctness which I can't stand) first asked if I had any other symptoms. I said I am tired a lot. That alone doesn't even convince me because it came about with the arrival of the kids and is a common "symptom" with ALL moms. He gave me the answer I was looking for based on reading the numbers on my lab report which WERE THERE right beside the word, "POSITIVE". It read 1:80. He explained that states the level of antibodies in your body. If it is 1:160 or higher, more tests would definitely be recommended. However 1:40 to 1:160 (these are ratios I'm assuming) is considered the "gray zone". Based on info he pulled up on his computer, Dr. Gibson said 1:80 means I have a 1 in 5 chance of actually having or developing lupus. That I am fine with as it's much more comforting than being told I am officially diagnosed with it. He said there is a more definite test which I could take, could possibly test positive and then be asked if I'd like to begin taking chemotherapy formula drugs for no other symptoms than a butterfly rash. Well, that makes total sense to me, and my answer is "No, thank you!".
We'll see what comes to my body in years down the road. Today, I am healthy and praising my God! I thank Him for providing me with that peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7). Not once during the last week did I get upset thinking about what having lupus would mean. I thought about the strength I would need to push through hard days of feeling awful to take care of Philip and Braewyn and it made me love them all the more. It made me think of how Matthew might have to take care of things I don't mind doing for our family, and seeing his subtle, quiet reservation while not knowing the result made me love him more. I have found a deeper, more rich dependence on Jesus knowing that anything that comes my way will not be dealt with by me alone. His power will always be made perfect in my weakness (2 Corithians 12:9) and by leaning on Him, He will always direct my path through life (Proverbs 3:5-6). For this, I am thankful.
On Friday, I called the dermatologist's office but the bloodwork had not come back. More waiting and wondering. On Saturday, I did tell our parents because I didn't want them to receive questions from friends at church and not have any idea what was going on.
I called again on Monday, March 8th, and spoke with a nurse. She said the report was back and it said "POSITIVE". I asked her if there was a number associated with that and she said no. Although the dermatologist was fairly friendly herself, I was feeling put out with the office after having to call twice to receive my test result and then not to have received any type of explanation. My friend Ann earnestly encouraged me to talk to my family doctor about this test result and whatever follow-up would be suggested.
The appointment with my family doctor yesterday was truly an answer to prayer. By this point, I was more frustrated at the medical community (I had to drive back to the dermatologist's office to pick up my lab report because they said if I wanted it faxed over to my doc I'd still have to come and sign for it to be done!) than I was upset with the idea of having lupus. I prayed for my doctor to have wisdom which would provide me with clarity of the situation.
Dr. Gibson (whom I think highly of because he is originally from South Africa and extremely straight-forward and blunt about things which differs from the American political correctness which I can't stand) first asked if I had any other symptoms. I said I am tired a lot. That alone doesn't even convince me because it came about with the arrival of the kids and is a common "symptom" with ALL moms. He gave me the answer I was looking for based on reading the numbers on my lab report which WERE THERE right beside the word, "POSITIVE". It read 1:80. He explained that states the level of antibodies in your body. If it is 1:160 or higher, more tests would definitely be recommended. However 1:40 to 1:160 (these are ratios I'm assuming) is considered the "gray zone". Based on info he pulled up on his computer, Dr. Gibson said 1:80 means I have a 1 in 5 chance of actually having or developing lupus. That I am fine with as it's much more comforting than being told I am officially diagnosed with it. He said there is a more definite test which I could take, could possibly test positive and then be asked if I'd like to begin taking chemotherapy formula drugs for no other symptoms than a butterfly rash. Well, that makes total sense to me, and my answer is "No, thank you!".
We'll see what comes to my body in years down the road. Today, I am healthy and praising my God! I thank Him for providing me with that peace that surpasses all understanding (Philippians 4:6-7). Not once during the last week did I get upset thinking about what having lupus would mean. I thought about the strength I would need to push through hard days of feeling awful to take care of Philip and Braewyn and it made me love them all the more. It made me think of how Matthew might have to take care of things I don't mind doing for our family, and seeing his subtle, quiet reservation while not knowing the result made me love him more. I have found a deeper, more rich dependence on Jesus knowing that anything that comes my way will not be dealt with by me alone. His power will always be made perfect in my weakness (2 Corithians 12:9) and by leaning on Him, He will always direct my path through life (Proverbs 3:5-6). For this, I am thankful.
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