Well, I have been having quite a time and blogging was too hard. I spent 6 months in the hospital in 2013 and then kept going back off and on in 2014 for a surgery to correct the fistula that had caused the 2013 ruckus and for hydration issues in the fall. So far, this year, I have had another fistula and am back on the TPN (total parenteral nutrition) every night. It's slowly closing (hopefully) and I am hoping that it won't require any surgery to fix. Still, I have plenty of energy and have been getting back to where I was before 2010, in all honesty. We live a new normal and this blog is transforming to a place where I can candidly share about life with CROHN'S Disease (all caps because it has affected every aspect of our lives).
So, stay tuned and I will be writing here more regularly. My prayer is that you, my readers, will be encouraged and blessed in your daily lives.
Di
Monday, May 25, 2015
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
A New Chapter: Accountability Captain?
I'm supposed to be an accountability captain? If only people knew how my good intentions so often end in inaction. I believe in this concept, though. Hello Mornings is a great idea--a great way to encourage women to build better habits in Bible Study, Exercise and Day Planning. I need this. I need to be better at mornings. Mornings are my nemesis. It's so hard to get going. Since I was so ill, my morning routines have become noon routines. I need a new routine, I think. The whole "get up, shower, dressed, make-up, etc routine won't work with my health constraints. So, I need a different thing. Something more gentle. However, time in the Word needs to be part of it. My hope is that I can figure out how to get it all done in a more gentle way.
We'll be studying the Book of Job. The theme is "Abounding Hope." Job and his message of hope in spite of circumstances, has been a lifeline for my husband and I over the last three years. When I first had a little infection, we never knew it would mean an entire life change and breakdown in my health and almost uncontrollable recurrence of my Crohn's Disease. Despite this, we've seen God work in our lives and in the lives of those around us. He's used this to encourage others in prayer and faith and determination. So, I have hope in our trial. Hope that God will continue to work His will.
I'm excited to see the names of the ladies who have signed up with us. We are all ages and in many different stages in life. This will bring a richness and depth to our group. Yeah!
While I start this new chapter, I'm also starting to meet with two other ladies for a Bible study. One lady has never been in a Bible study before. After today's meeting, she's encouraged. I am, too. I can see God moving me into a new area: discipleship. He's just naturally placed different opportunities in my path to meet with women to encourage them to grow in knowledge and faith through studying the Bible. Before my illness, I was too busy. I was too busy to be home enough to have women over for Bible study....or to meet online with women for Bible study...or to even spend time on my own here at home studying the Bible. Now, I'm home and I'm freed to do these things. I'm glad.
We'll be studying the Book of Job. The theme is "Abounding Hope." Job and his message of hope in spite of circumstances, has been a lifeline for my husband and I over the last three years. When I first had a little infection, we never knew it would mean an entire life change and breakdown in my health and almost uncontrollable recurrence of my Crohn's Disease. Despite this, we've seen God work in our lives and in the lives of those around us. He's used this to encourage others in prayer and faith and determination. So, I have hope in our trial. Hope that God will continue to work His will.
I'm excited to see the names of the ladies who have signed up with us. We are all ages and in many different stages in life. This will bring a richness and depth to our group. Yeah!
While I start this new chapter, I'm also starting to meet with two other ladies for a Bible study. One lady has never been in a Bible study before. After today's meeting, she's encouraged. I am, too. I can see God moving me into a new area: discipleship. He's just naturally placed different opportunities in my path to meet with women to encourage them to grow in knowledge and faith through studying the Bible. Before my illness, I was too busy. I was too busy to be home enough to have women over for Bible study....or to meet online with women for Bible study...or to even spend time on my own here at home studying the Bible. Now, I'm home and I'm freed to do these things. I'm glad.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Sorry, Little Blog
I didn't realize until today that I haven't posted since MARCH! Yikes. I'm so sorry little blog. So much has happened and I just got sidetracked by life.
Starting with Spring Break, I was busy. My hubby wants to make sure we use our RV so he had scheduled many camping trips throughout the spring and summer. We even got to go to the Oregon Coast for our anniversary in June--just the two of us in the RV! It was wonderful. I felt well enough this year to spend a week camping with the kids and friends at our favorite park: Metzler County Park. That was a huge improvement from the previous year when just a couple of nights wiped me out. We traveled to Yellowstone and met my parents. We spent several days exploring the park and visiting the Grand Tetons. I got to take my kids to Craters of the Moon National Park (a favorite spot when I was a kid). We even camped "on the moon." That place is incredible and it's a surreal environment to be camping amongst the slag heaps of lava. It reminded me of Frodo and Sam's time approaching the mountain in "The Return of the King" by Tolkien.
Over Labor Day weekend, we camped with my hubby's brother and his family. We spent all of one day visiting a Civil War reenactment. I'd love to be a part of something like that. On our last camping trip (in September), we even tried Paddleboarding for the first time. The fact that I could do that was, I felt, a miracle. I'm not healed but at least I'm at a place where I can have adventures and enjoy life with my family as a mom and wife. I'm grateful.
I started a new adventure with my son this fall. We enrolled him in an online charter school. There has been a learning curve for both he and I as we learned how to do this kind of homeschooling. I've seen a lot of growth on his part and it's helped me to preserve my energy for other things--rather than spending all my time planning and researching curriculum and such. I get to actually just teach and guide his learning and that's what was needed for us all.
We hosted Christmas for hubby's family this year and it was fun. I had fun planning and making a "tapas" Christmas Eve meal so the kids could experience something that they've been learning about in their language classes. Everyone was tentative but then loved the dishes and we sat around the table snacking and chatting for a long time. Maybe we have a new tradition?
Doctors are pleased with my progress so far. They think that I'm in a holding pattern but aren't going to rush into surgery to remove the wounded area. If I'm living life and maintaining general good health, they're pleased. If they leave the rectum alone, it might heal--probably not, but it might. If they remove it, I could suffer some bad side effects and it also closes the door if any new treatments come up. So, status quo for now and I'll just keep guard over my health and energy and enjoy my family and friends. God is with me and he has blessed me with an amazing life. I'm good.
Starting with Spring Break, I was busy. My hubby wants to make sure we use our RV so he had scheduled many camping trips throughout the spring and summer. We even got to go to the Oregon Coast for our anniversary in June--just the two of us in the RV! It was wonderful. I felt well enough this year to spend a week camping with the kids and friends at our favorite park: Metzler County Park. That was a huge improvement from the previous year when just a couple of nights wiped me out. We traveled to Yellowstone and met my parents. We spent several days exploring the park and visiting the Grand Tetons. I got to take my kids to Craters of the Moon National Park (a favorite spot when I was a kid). We even camped "on the moon." That place is incredible and it's a surreal environment to be camping amongst the slag heaps of lava. It reminded me of Frodo and Sam's time approaching the mountain in "The Return of the King" by Tolkien.
Over Labor Day weekend, we camped with my hubby's brother and his family. We spent all of one day visiting a Civil War reenactment. I'd love to be a part of something like that. On our last camping trip (in September), we even tried Paddleboarding for the first time. The fact that I could do that was, I felt, a miracle. I'm not healed but at least I'm at a place where I can have adventures and enjoy life with my family as a mom and wife. I'm grateful.
I started a new adventure with my son this fall. We enrolled him in an online charter school. There has been a learning curve for both he and I as we learned how to do this kind of homeschooling. I've seen a lot of growth on his part and it's helped me to preserve my energy for other things--rather than spending all my time planning and researching curriculum and such. I get to actually just teach and guide his learning and that's what was needed for us all.
We hosted Christmas for hubby's family this year and it was fun. I had fun planning and making a "tapas" Christmas Eve meal so the kids could experience something that they've been learning about in their language classes. Everyone was tentative but then loved the dishes and we sat around the table snacking and chatting for a long time. Maybe we have a new tradition?
Doctors are pleased with my progress so far. They think that I'm in a holding pattern but aren't going to rush into surgery to remove the wounded area. If I'm living life and maintaining general good health, they're pleased. If they leave the rectum alone, it might heal--probably not, but it might. If they remove it, I could suffer some bad side effects and it also closes the door if any new treatments come up. So, status quo for now and I'll just keep guard over my health and energy and enjoy my family and friends. God is with me and he has blessed me with an amazing life. I'm good.
Monday, March 12, 2012
Long Time, No Post
I've been focusing elsewhere and have let my blog be for a bit. I'm finally ready to get back to it. I finally feel I have something to say. I did set a small resolution. I want to develop a habit of thankfulness. I'm trying to capture those gifts and blessings that happen each day and number them. I've been influenced by Ann Voskamp's Book "One Thousand Gifts." My goal is 10 a day. What I'm finding is that as I write them down, I find more and more and more things I'm thankful for. God is indeed good all the time.
Sunday's Gifts
Today's Gifts: 21) Waking up when my body was ready and not feeling tired despite the "spring forward;" 22) Hubby's comforting, loving and protective arm around me; 23) The sound of hubby's voice singing strong and sure in worship to God; 24) My son's joyous smile and happy eyes when I teased him; 25) The camaraderie of combing and braiding my daughter's hair while she chatted and shared; 26) A friend's daughter, enduring a tough time, enjoyed going to youth group with my daughter; 27) unexpected sunlight bravely shining through the clouds after church; 28) watching my son and two other boys bonding over Angry Birds and the boys' regret at having to leave so soon; 29) the love I see shared amongst my church family; 30) finishing one side of the new (and challenging) purse design and liking it. 31) The fact that as I write so many things come to mind that I wouldn't be able to get to sleep if I wrote them all. God's gifts to me every day are innumerable.
Saturday's Blessings
Today's gifts: 11. Lilting, bouncy Irish music, 12. Hubby's hand finding mine. 13. Luxurious, guilty pleasure of sleeping in, 14. My son cuddling into me at the planting strawberries activity and the concert, 15. The sweet crunch of ice cream cones, 16. Seeing Leah TenKate and family at Al's. 17. The living red-gold of my daughter's hair, 18. The rainy drive home in the dark sparking memories of our courtship, 19. Hubby running my errands, 20. The calming, comfy sound of rain on the roof as I relax in my warm bed.
Today's Blessings (Friday)
Today's Joy Gifts:1. A good-morning "I love You" and "Thank-you" from my beloved, 2. a daughter's joyful face for drawing success, 3. rounding a corner to see my son encased in my pillowcase w/pillow and 4. his giggle as I laughed, 5. a yummy bite of pizza, 6. talking with my far away friend, 7. the joy and trepidation and teasing of my friend whose oldest turns 13 tomorrow, 8. the soft, warm, fluffy and purring body warming my feet, 9. laughter and joy as I celebrate being part of the Wetherbee's through the FB posts that keep us all in touch, 10. the wonderful bits of wisdom that God occasionally gives me--the "Wow! Did I say that?" moment today. Blessings!
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