I recently read a book, Kisses from Katie, that a friend of mine got me for Christmas. It's about a high school girl that wanted to go on a mission trip. After she did, her life was changed. The Lord had put a great desire in her heart to go back for good to take care of the people of Uganda in their physical needs and more importantly, their spiritual needs. On a recent trip with my husband to Nashville, I got to see the area where she grew up. The houses there aren't just big, they are huge! She talks a little about growing up in a wealthy family and I can definitely see that. The most amazing thing about it is that she traded all the comforts of her life to live on a little cot just above the dirt floor with a mosquito net covering her bed. The book details the events of her every day life. It is incredible on what has changed in the villages of Uganda from one really young girl obeying her calling. The book, her story, was such an encouragement to me in that whatever God calls you to do He will give you the ability to carry it out...in a big way!
Matthew 28:19-20
I highly suggest reading the book!!!
Wednesday, January 29, 2014
Thursday, January 16, 2014
Patience
Patience. What does that mean? If you asked my two kids they would say it means "waiting nicely". That is what we have thought them. But, how can they really know what patience looks like if I don't display it myself? I am often reminded that I can't just tell them, but in order for them to fully understand, they have to see me model it.
Yesterday, I went in for my Tysabri infusion. The waiting room was packed and the line stretched to the door. I arrived early (shocking, I know). I continued to sit and sit and then sit even longer. People continued to flood in making it impossible for the lady working the front desk to get anything else done. I was then reminded, wait nicely. So, after 40 minutes of waiting my name was called. You would have thought I won something by how quickly I got up!
They took my vitals and sent me back to the chemo room. This is where I get a lot of strange looks because everyone in there, for the most part, are getting chemo treatments and they are thinking "what is she doing here". (I've been asked by several patients what kind of cancer I have knowing this is the chemo room. One lady asked where I got my wig because it looked so real. :) ) Anyway, I sat down in a chair and soon after an elder lady sat next to me. I got out stuff that I was going to work on for the next two hours waiting for the nurse to plug me up. Wilma, the lady that sat next to me, started to make small talk. For the next hour I learned that she is 86, has colon cancer, has 10 children and a gazillion grand and great grandchildren and so much more about her entire life. Her husband died 24 years ago and some of her kids help take care of her while she lives in an apartment by herself. I could go on and on to tell you about her. When her IV was finished her daughter-in-law came to help her move into her wheelchair. She held out her hand, not to shake mine, but for one of those hand squeezes. I told her it was nice talking to her and her face was lit up. I thought the moment was over, but as I tried to pull my hand away she just kept holding on. It made me realize something. Today wasn't about me getting my treatment, but about me giving an old lady some joy and just listening to her. It started in the waiting room. If I didn't "wait nicely" and got all frustrated that it was taking so long then I wouldn't have felt like talking and maybe not had the chance to sit by Wilma. So, patience is waiting nicely, but also about not missing out on an opportunity to bless someone else.
May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 15:5-6
Yesterday, I went in for my Tysabri infusion. The waiting room was packed and the line stretched to the door. I arrived early (shocking, I know). I continued to sit and sit and then sit even longer. People continued to flood in making it impossible for the lady working the front desk to get anything else done. I was then reminded, wait nicely. So, after 40 minutes of waiting my name was called. You would have thought I won something by how quickly I got up!
They took my vitals and sent me back to the chemo room. This is where I get a lot of strange looks because everyone in there, for the most part, are getting chemo treatments and they are thinking "what is she doing here". (I've been asked by several patients what kind of cancer I have knowing this is the chemo room. One lady asked where I got my wig because it looked so real. :) ) Anyway, I sat down in a chair and soon after an elder lady sat next to me. I got out stuff that I was going to work on for the next two hours waiting for the nurse to plug me up. Wilma, the lady that sat next to me, started to make small talk. For the next hour I learned that she is 86, has colon cancer, has 10 children and a gazillion grand and great grandchildren and so much more about her entire life. Her husband died 24 years ago and some of her kids help take care of her while she lives in an apartment by herself. I could go on and on to tell you about her. When her IV was finished her daughter-in-law came to help her move into her wheelchair. She held out her hand, not to shake mine, but for one of those hand squeezes. I told her it was nice talking to her and her face was lit up. I thought the moment was over, but as I tried to pull my hand away she just kept holding on. It made me realize something. Today wasn't about me getting my treatment, but about me giving an old lady some joy and just listening to her. It started in the waiting room. If I didn't "wait nicely" and got all frustrated that it was taking so long then I wouldn't have felt like talking and maybe not had the chance to sit by Wilma. So, patience is waiting nicely, but also about not missing out on an opportunity to bless someone else.
May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 15:5-6
Thursday, January 2, 2014
Our Engagement Story
Every one loves a love story so I'll share mine...
July 1, 2008 I had just left work. I was sitting in my car when my doctor called to give me the results from my MRI that I had a few days prior. He told me I had 8 new lesions and some were active. I was heartbroken. It was the worst report I had up to that point and I knew it was my fault. I struggled so much with not wanting to take my shots that I missed some. Every week when it came time to take my medicine, I would tell myself that I really shouldn't take it because I had to wake up early the next morning and I didn't want to feel bad from the side effects. Each week it was always something and I continued to fight myself. I did take it, but only about 80% of the time was it on the day that I was supposed to take it. For example, if Friday's were my shot day and I didn't take it until Sunday, then the next week when it got to Sunday I would make up another excuse and push it back til Tuesday. So on and so on. I knew that the inconsistency was a large reason for the number of lesions that had shown up on my report.
So, there I was sitting in my car crying when I got off the phone with my doctor. I drove myself home and called Casey. I didn't tell him anything, but that I needed to talk to him. Later that night I drove over to his house and sat on the end of his bed. I started trying to tell him about the conversation that I had with my doctor, but my words would barely come out. My tears were pouring down my cheeks as he held me trying to calm me down. I eventually was able to get most of it out. His response was everything I needed to hear; everything I wanted to hear. He said things like, "I will always take care of you no matter where MS leads you" and "I love you". In an effort to get me to finally smile he said, "even if you end up in a wheelchair I will push you around and make you do wheelies". With that I was able to stop all my crying and I gave him a big hug. He then told me to wait while he went to get me a tissue (I had mascara everywhere!). A second later he came back and knelt down by my side. He held out his hand, not with a tissue, but with a ring! He asked me if I would marry him! I was one of those girls who forgot to say "yes". I was just so overwhelmed!
He later told me that he had been waiting for the perfect time and place to do that. I know that night, in that moment, was the perfect way for us to become engaged. He has definitely fulfilled his promises that he made to me that night and I know that he always will....
I love you, Casey, to the moon and back...
July 1, 2008 I had just left work. I was sitting in my car when my doctor called to give me the results from my MRI that I had a few days prior. He told me I had 8 new lesions and some were active. I was heartbroken. It was the worst report I had up to that point and I knew it was my fault. I struggled so much with not wanting to take my shots that I missed some. Every week when it came time to take my medicine, I would tell myself that I really shouldn't take it because I had to wake up early the next morning and I didn't want to feel bad from the side effects. Each week it was always something and I continued to fight myself. I did take it, but only about 80% of the time was it on the day that I was supposed to take it. For example, if Friday's were my shot day and I didn't take it until Sunday, then the next week when it got to Sunday I would make up another excuse and push it back til Tuesday. So on and so on. I knew that the inconsistency was a large reason for the number of lesions that had shown up on my report.
So, there I was sitting in my car crying when I got off the phone with my doctor. I drove myself home and called Casey. I didn't tell him anything, but that I needed to talk to him. Later that night I drove over to his house and sat on the end of his bed. I started trying to tell him about the conversation that I had with my doctor, but my words would barely come out. My tears were pouring down my cheeks as he held me trying to calm me down. I eventually was able to get most of it out. His response was everything I needed to hear; everything I wanted to hear. He said things like, "I will always take care of you no matter where MS leads you" and "I love you". In an effort to get me to finally smile he said, "even if you end up in a wheelchair I will push you around and make you do wheelies". With that I was able to stop all my crying and I gave him a big hug. He then told me to wait while he went to get me a tissue (I had mascara everywhere!). A second later he came back and knelt down by my side. He held out his hand, not with a tissue, but with a ring! He asked me if I would marry him! I was one of those girls who forgot to say "yes". I was just so overwhelmed!
He later told me that he had been waiting for the perfect time and place to do that. I know that night, in that moment, was the perfect way for us to become engaged. He has definitely fulfilled his promises that he made to me that night and I know that he always will....
I love you, Casey, to the moon and back...
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