Vacation

Last week my family went on vacation. I finally got some help with my hip pain although it is still swollen I got 2 cortisone injections that really helped.

Vacation was great. It is easy to overdo on vacation because it is a limited time to be with family or friends (or just be away from home) and you want to pack in as much as possible. I am not sure how to do it well with having pain all the time. But nontheless, it was a great time with family and just being with my sweet husband before the changes of him starting school and the business of the fall comes.

I was thinking that I would focus some on healthy living - things like eating healthy and eating for pain control, just living healthy. One thing that I noticed on vacation is that I was eating different foods and that some of those made my pain worse. I don't know if any of you are affected by what you eat or other "healthy living" things (or rather the lack thereof!) but I definately am. Lets's explore this together. Please share with me anything you find that helps with your pain- food triggers, other triggers or thing that make it better.

I am happy to have you all to explore together how we can all live the best possible life while having pain every day.

Abide With Me

This hymn by Henry Lyte - in 1847 is one that keeps going through my heart these days. Such true and peaceful words and sometimes focusing on something like this is the best pain control there is. Read and focus on each word and each phrase.

Abide with me; fast falls the eventide;
The darkness deepens; Lord, with me abide;
When other helpers fail and comforts flee,
Help of the helpless, oh, abide with me.

Swift to its close ebbs out life’s little day;
Earth’s joys grow dim, its glories pass away;
Change and decay in all around I see—
O Thou who changest not, abide with me.

I need Thy presence every passing hour;
What but Thy grace can foil the tempter’s pow’r?
Who, like Thyself, my guide and stay can be?
Through cloud and sunshine, Lord, abide with me.

I fear no foe, with Thee at hand to bless;
Ills have no weight, and tears no bitterness;
Where is death’s sting? Where, grave, thy victory?
I triumph still, if Thou abide with me.

Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes;
Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies;
Heav’n’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee;
In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me.

We Need God!

I everyone - I'm back! Last week I was down with severe inflamation causing fluid inside my hip join - put my flat on my tummy for a whole week until finally got steroids injected and fluid taken out to test to see what caused it. I was unable to get on the computer for more than a few moments because the pain and meds made me severly nauseated and was also drealing with a flair of my pericarditis so having dizziness from low oxygen. Phew!

At times like this - the timing couldn't have been much worse - I have to get take some time to sit back and regroup. The house is a mess. Finances are a mess. Company coming - next week family vacation. I'm doing wedding flowers this Saturday (which is also my birthday!) ... ah just so much that feels like a weight on me. I need desperately to take time and just allow God to refil my tank. I'm running on empty. People everywhere - with or without chronic pain or illness need God. Life can get going so fast or so hard that it feels like it takes the wind right out of you. We need God. We need the Bible to recharge us. We need to be honest with God in prayer. We need music. We need peace. Turning to others or to ourselves in times like this will just end up being void. WE NEED GOD and God alone can get us refilled. Sure - people can help and encourage, but ultimately we need God.

I know I just said WE NEED GOD about 10 times - because it is so true for where I am right now (and always) and where I am sure you are too. Take time - no matter if it is at 3 am, to spend some time reconnecting and being refreshed by God's presence.