Author: Ginger

Live Well, Love Well

Live Well, Love Well

Posted on by Ginger

I wrote a beautiful post. It was all about how we discovered toxic mold in our home and my mom’s diagnosis of PSP (Progressive Supranuclear Palsy) in this strange dueling dance over the past two years. It spoke of Thanksgiving and being thankful for how far we have come in rehabbing our home, while grieving that each holiday could be my mother’s last. I poured out my heart… and then I woke up! I had written the whole thing in my dreams. That’s how much you all have been on my mind, I am literally dreaming about writing to you!

I have been pushing myself hard the past couple weeks with this idea of what I wanted this year’s Thanksgiving to be like. I wanted it to be perfect. This very well could be my mom’s last Thanksgiving and I wanted it to be everything she would want it to be. She always kept a spic and span home, with everything organized perfectly. I on the other hand, have been living with construction going on for two years. We have been without counters and a kitchen sink for close to the same time. Organized doesn’t exactly describe my home! I was pushing hard to get the kitchen done and the clutter cleared, but alas I failed. I did, however, get the large counter tiled and ready to grout. It was progress! And as I am learning, progress is better than perfection.

I woke super early on Thursday to start cooking. The house was quiet. And as I thought about what would really matter to my mother, I knew it had nothing to do with the condition of my house. She would enjoy being with her grandkids while relaxing in our home. She would enjoy eating some of her favorite holiday dishes. She would love watching a Christmas movie and hearing the kid’s laughter over it. We could make her day a little extra special, by helping her get a nice long hot shower (not something she gets to enjoy in the nursing facility as often as she would like) and giving her a haircut. As I looked around at the messes here and there, I knew I hadn’t failed. I had done my best. And I would do my best all day to love my mom well and make her Thanksgiving wonderful!

I have been pushing so hard each day that by night time my body is screaming in pain. I haven’t been pausing long enough to do the things that help. My feet ached as I darted back and forth cooking in the kitchen. It actually brought a smile to my face as I whispered, “Thank you Lord for pain, it means I am living!” I am mothering four children. I am tiling a kitchen. I am cleaning my home. I am living! Life is precious. We need to be living each day to the fullest, and not simply existing. It’s too short! As we enter the holiday season, knowing it could be my mother’s last, this message seems to be imprinting itself deep into my heart. Life is crazy, and it seems to get crazier around the holidays. I don’t want to let the hussle and bussle of life dictate my days. I want to live intentionally and with purpose. I want to be mothering with intention. I want to be loving those around me well and letting them know how thankful I am for their presence in my life. What about you? Are you living? Or simply existing? Do you feel pain in your body? It means your heart is still beating and you have another day to live well! I hope you had a beautiful Thanksgiving. And I hope this is the beginning of a purposeful holiday season for you!

“Let all that I am praise the Lord; with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me.
He forgives all my sins and heals all my diseases.
He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!”

Psalm 103:1-5 (NLT)

 

Choking Down Liquid Salad

Choking Down Liquid Salad

Posted on by Ginger

You only have to read my post titles to see that dealing with chronic health challenges can be like riding a roller coaster. You have good days that take you up high, followed by crashing low days where everything seems more challenging. I pushed myself hard on Saturday to get some projects accomplished here around the house. It felt good to see progress and check things off my long to-do list. But the last two mornings I have felt the “pain of accomplishment” as I’ve tried to move my body out of bed. Yesterday, I pushed through the pain to get the kids and I to church on time and enjoyed being able to worship with my church family. (BTW- The “on time” part is a huge accomplishment on any Sunday morning!) It’s important to realize that a down day physically doesn’t necessarily mean a down day mentally. I have many days that I drag my body around like a wet blanket, but my spirit is lifted. If you ask me how I am doing on one of these days, I will likely hesitate before answering, trying to decide whether to be honest about the physical pain or just share the positive spirit. Most likely I will settle on a generic answer that keeps the mood light. It’s easier that way.

I am noticing a trend with my “bad days.” Besides the fact that they are almost always after a day I have pushed myself to the limit, they are also days that I don’t take the time to do as much “self-care.” Taking the time to do self-care is tough! It’s so easy to tell my friends how important it is to take care of themselves and create space to do things that will boost their own health. It’s a whole other thing to actually put those words into practice in my own life. I have a friend who recently posted a picture of herself with the workout video she was doing in the background. She labeled her post with the word “Effort.” I love it! She was making the effort to take care of herself and workout. Just finding the energy and time to make an effort some days is REALLY hard! Her simple post was both inspiring and challenging. It reminded me that self-care isn’t about perfection but simply making the effort. Some days we may not have a lot of “accomplishments” to celebrate but we have made a lot of effort. We need to celebrate the effort! On the days we don’t even make the effort we need to gently ask ourselves why? We may be surprised by the answers that this simple question can yield. Yesterday I made very little effort to implement good self-care. Why? Lack of time… lack of energy… lack of good prioritizing. I offered myself grace while also realizing I needed to make some adjustments to my priorities. I realized that some things I don’t prioritize simply because I honestly don’t enjoy doing them, despite their benefits. Without meaning to, I made the perfect analogy yesterday for lunch!

For whatever reason, I really wanted a big crunchy salad. I wanted colorful peppers, crisp cucumbers and sweet tomatoes on top of a big bed of Romaine lettuce. It was a very healthy craving, but I am still on my liquid fast. So I decided I would try to make myself a “liquid” salad. I should have stopped there. It sounds disgusting and the result was equally so. I poured this horrible looking mixture into my glass and tried to choke it down. (I am saving your appetite by not posting a picture of the actual smoothie. My “dream salad” picture is much better!) I tried to salt my “salad” but that did very little to help. A large dose of apple cider vinegar helped more than I expected, but it was still not enjoyable. The worst part- I made a full Vitamix container of it! Oy! And the kicker- it’s actually one of the most healthy smoothies I’ve ever made! It’s chock full of healthy organic veggies! There’s a lot of “goodness” in that nastiness. So I sat down and drank it. My kids all watched my face as I tried to make the experience look pleasant. I failed. They could all tell it was NOT good. I used the moment to teach them that even mommies have to do and eat things that they don’t like sometimes because it’s good for them. But the lesson hit home most in my own heart. I was drinking it because I didn’t want to waste all those good ingredients. I knew that it was incredibly nourishing despite the unpleasant flavor. How many good days have I “wasted” because I don’t enjoy the treatments that help me feel well and function at my best? I don’t enjoy the coffee enemas (who does?) but the days I do them I notice a HUGE difference. I don’t like the mistletoe shots I have to give myself, but they are stimulating my immune system. I could go on and on with the treatments I don’t like, yet I know are making a big difference in my ability to function. I get anxious taking time for treatments for myself. The long to-do lists starts to haunt me as I sit quietly contained detoxing in the sauna. But just like my nourishing “liquid salad,” I need to “choke” these things down. I need to discipline myself to do them so I can experience the benefits. What’s your “liquid salad?” What is something you know you will benefit from doing even though it may be unpleasant? Maybe we can encourage one another in our effort to “choke it down!” Here’s to making the effort!!!

Praising God for Shoes!

Posted on by Ginger

Earlier this spring, while volunteering at a small local dairy farm, I had my foot crushed by a cow. After a couple of months of hobbling around on crutches, and relatively little healing, I was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). Basically, it’s an over-firing and miscommunication between your central and peripheral nervous system. This miscommunication causes there to be pain with the slightest touch or sensation to the area affected. Simply having the ceiling fan on and the breeze blowing on my foot was excruciating, and forget taking a shower with the water hitting it. I was able to get in to see a great pain specialist up at the University of Florida who suggested I have a nerve block while doing physical therapy. The only issue was that my insurance wanted to argue my need for physical therapy and I was too tired to put up enough of a fight to get it done. So I limped around in an air boot for a couple more months until I could find a sandal that I could wear without pain. Using my background as a massage therapist I started doing all I could to desensitize the area and improve my range of motion. I was told by my pain specialist that if I couldn’t get the pain to go down that the next step would be spinal cord stimulation via an implanted device.

Ummm… let’s just say that I was a “give birth naturally” girl because the idea of someone touching my spinal cord with a needle FREAKED me out! So I became more than determined to figure out how to heal my foot! I would sit in tears in the tub as I massaged the area as deeply as I could handle. It certainly helped that I had Epsom salt and essential oils in the bath water. I would lightly use the dry brush over the area to help desensitize it even more. I also started using the homeopathic remedy Hypericum Perforatum 30c to treat nerve pain. The remedy was helpful but it didn’t completely relieve the pain or last for more than a few hours, so I increased the strength of the dose. I now take Hypericum Perforatum 200c once a week. My other favorite pain reliever is Curcumin! The newest therapy I am trying out is Red Light Therapy. I just started this about a week ago and plan to write more about it as I progress and have more experience with it.

The pain is not completely gone but I am more than 50% better and my pain specialist is happy with my progress. This week I took the next step in my “home therapy” program and found a pair of shoes I can “practice” wearing. I need to slowly train my body to handle wearing shoes again without misreading the pressure on the foot as pain. I found a pair that I can wear without immediately wanting to cry out in pain! They are slip-ons (no ties) that are the perfect amount of “looseness” and support. I am beyond excited!!! The last two days I have been wearing them with my special orthotic inserts and have been able to handle wearing them for more than 2 hours! This is no small thing. Six months ago I sat with my doctor wondering if I would ever be able to wear a shoe again! The one downside- after wearing the shoes for a couple hours my pain level is much higher. I know I still have a long way to go, and unfortunately I’ve started having pain in my right foot. (Because it’s a nerve problem it’s not uncommon for the CRPS to flare up or “spread” to the opposite appendage.)

Despite the continued pain, I feel confident that God is slowly healing me and trust that He is guiding me as I continue with therapy on both feet. For today, I am praising God that I have been able to wear shoes again! Healing is happening one little step at a time!!!

“Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint;

heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.” Psalm 6:2 (NIV)

Resources:

***It is very important to me that I never recommend anything that I would not personally be okay using. If I ever receive compensation for sharing a link (an affiliate link) I will let you know. But it is my personal commitment to you,  as a reader of my blog, to post links very selectively.***

Balance

Posted on by Ginger

As you can see I am trying to get into the rhythm of posting every other day… or 3-4 times a week. I want to be sharing our journey while also keeping a good balance for my family. Balance is so important in life, but can feel so elusive at times. The use of technology can be an especially hard balancing act. If you are like me you appreciate a phone that can help you navigate to unknown places, do a quick google search and connect you to friends and family all over the world. At the same time there is this challenge of being “too connected” digitally while not connecting in person nearly enough. And of course, it’s not just our social life that can be affected by our overuse of technology. It’s not uncommon for me to get swept up working on my computer at night, with it’s intrusive blue light, instead of allowing my body time to prepare for going to bed. The blue light that our computers, TVs and phones emit can inhibit the natural production of melatonin, which in turn affects our ability to fall and stay asleep. With my challenge this month to get to bed by 11 pm each night, I have noticed that my evenings are not very “technologically” balanced. I really need to be turning off ALL digital devices at least an hour before I plan on going to sleep. I also need to be utilizing my salt lamps in the evening, with their gentle red glow, instead of all the LED bulbs throughout our house.

We often think of good bedtime routines as essential for our little children, but often forget how important they are for us as adults. We tend to push ourselves from the time we wake up until the time we fall into bed at night. But what if we started to create simple and sleep supportive bedtime routines for ourselves? Would we notice a difference in our sleep quality? What if we kept technology out of our rooms so that our bodies would get a break from all the EMF’s that these devices are exposing us too? (Check out the great article below on EMFs.) Before I go further, let me clarify, these are routines, not a set of unbreakable rules to add stress to your evening! The idea of creating a bedtime routine is to develop a habit of unplugging and unwinding from all the stress of the day. So don’t make it something elaborate that will cause angst and guilt because you don’t do it just perfect and exact each night. Keep it simple! My goal is to “unplug” an hour before my bed time and boil water for a relaxing cup of tea. My husband needs to do something with his brain to help it disconnect from all the worries of the day. He often plays a game on the computer before bedtime, but for his birthday we bought him a bunch of Sudoku books from the local dollar store. It’s good to understand what your brain needs to relax, but then try to find a “tech-free” way to achieve it.

I understand that there are also devices and even apps you can purchase that help block and limit the blue light from electronic devices. I have a pair of blue light blocking glasses for when I use my computer. But I would like to challenge us to find a way to actually take a break from technology and unplug for at least that last hour of the day. In a world so consumed with technology we need to be even more aware of our need to disconnect. Balance is a tricky thing, and everyone’s needs will be different. But universally we all need to disengage from the noise of technology so we can enjoy the quiet, take a break from social media to connect with the people in front of us, and detach from our virtual worlds to absorb the nature around us! What step will you take this week to find a better balance in your relationship with technology?

“Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!” Psalm 46:10 (NKJV)

Resources:

Celebrate Progress!

Posted on by Ginger

It’s super important to celebrate the little things in life! So today I am celebrating being on Day 10 of my liquid fast!!! That means I am a quarter of the way done. Woohoo! I am actually enjoying the challenge and the “growth” process. It has been even more enlightening to share the adventure with all of you. I find myself contemplating what I am learning each day instead of just quickly glossing over it. There is this beautiful sense of accountability and community.  So thank you for being part of my journey!

Here are a few of the positive changes I have noticed:

  • The dark circles under my eyes have lightened.
  • I have had less afternoon fatigue.
  • My cravings have diminished. I am not having the strong salty or sweet cravings in the evenings.
  • I am not having the same PMS symptoms I have had in previous months. (I will share more about that soon.)
  • Swollen tender lymph nodes have gone down and are less sensitive.
  • Less bloating and GI discomfort.

Those are just the main positives I am blatantly noticing. I know there are a lot more subtle ones going on. I have also noticed that I am breaking out more on my face and all. When healing and detoxing you always want to heal from the inside out. So in other words, you want to be pushing the toxins to the surface, not deeper into your body. So this increase in skin breakouts is actually a good sign even though it sounds negative. I have also had different joints and “pains” flare up that I haven’t felt in months. This too is a good sign as the body likes to revisit “old pains” as it heals. I am very happy with the progress I am making so far. I am not looking for miraculous changes over night, but instead steady gradual changes that will rebuild and fortify a healing foundation as I go forward.

One of best changes I have noticed is within my mental frame of mind. I feel like I am making decisions easier and with less anxiety. Yesterday I knew I needed to take a break from technology, so I stayed away from my phone and computer as much as possible. AND I didn’t feel guilty about it once! Then I had to make a decision about an upcoming business opportunity that I really wanted to do, but also knew it would take it’s toll on me physically. I have limited energy and I am still trying to work on the construction around our house. (We have been rehabbing from toxic mold.) I asked myself what the “best yes” was for me, given my current circumstances, took time to pray over it and then responded. The best part- I didn’t feel guilty when I decided to say no! It’s like when I gave myself permission to make my physical health a priority it translated into making my mental and spiritual health a priority too- guilt free! Funny how it trickles down and is all intertwined!

I know that none of these things shared today are major milestones or great accomplishments, but they are important just the same. It really is important to celebrate and give thanks for the little things in our lives. When we look for these little celebrations we open our hearts to notice even more of the beauty around us. We won’t always have big grand things to celebrate, but we can find joy in the little gifts God places along our daily paths. What can you celebrate today? What little “gift” has God placed in your path? Would you be daring enough to share in the comments below so I can celebrate with you? Let’s praise God together for the little things in life!!!

“Be generous with me and I’ll live a full life;
    not for a minute will I take my eyes off your road.
Open my eyes so I can see
    what you show me of your miracle-wonders.“

Psalm 119:17-18 (MSG)

Tears in the Tub

Posted on by Ginger

Today I woke with a migraine for the second day in a row. Migraines are my weakness, the littlest thing will set one off. I thought I had halted my migraine before I went to bed last night, but by the wee hours of the morning I was awake tossing in pain. I got up and made myself some herbal tea, a combination of Doctor Cinnamon Tea with a pinch of Lobelia. Last week, while researching the respiratory benefits of Lobelia, I discovered it can also act like a muscle relaxant. I decided it might be a good migraine remedy since most of my migraines involve muscle tension in my neck and shoulders. I added a pinch of Lobelia to the Doctor Cinnamon Tea blend because it contains Ginkgo Biloba, which has been shown to increase cerebral blood flow and ease headaches. (Not all migraines are caused by decreased blood flow but many are, including mine. Two signs that mine have a vascular component are that my pupils don’t dilate equally during a migraine, and heat from a sauna and/or hot shower will temporarily relieve the pain until I hit the cool air.) Yesterday this tea combo worked really well to relieve the pain, but today I only experienced a slight reprieve. So I decided to try the one thing I had not done yesterday… the coffee enema. AND it worked!!!

We have this great large jet tub in our Master bathroom where I can hide away from the kids and relax. I had crawled into it and was feeling my muscle tension melt away with the migraine, when the tears started to flow. There is something very cleansing about allowing yourself to cry. All week I had felt tears right below the surface, and now they were finally flowing. “Lord, I am so far behind on life. I am so overwhelmed. I don’t feel like I’m ever enough!” I sobbed. I laid there pouring out my heart to God about all the ways I feel I never do enough, or am enough, for all the people in my life that depend on me. The list was long. The tears continued to flow as I felt God telling me, “You are enough in ME!” I laid there and repeated out loud, “I am enough in Christ.” I kept repeating that truth until my heart believed it enough to regroup. I asked God what I was supposed to do, and together we came up with a list of priorities for today. They were not what I had originally set out to do, but they were what I knew were most important and needed right now. This open and personal relationship with Jesus is what keeps me going day to day. He has been my comfort and strength since I was a little girl. As I cried out to Him today, I was reminded about the times He showed up in the dark corners of my closet to comfort my young lonely heart. I would hide in my closet behind the clothes so no one would find me crying.  During those dark lonely times, I discovered that God is more than just an all-powerful Deity who sits up on His throne, He became my best friend. He is a God who understands our pain and joins us right where we’re at. Today I was feeling like I wasn’t enough. He wrapped His arms around me and reminded me of truth. He gently comforted my weary soul and helped me refocus my priorities. Have you been struggling with feeling like you are never enough? Do you feel like you just can’t do or be all that is expected of you? Maybe it’s time to crawl into a tub, let those tears fall, and let God wrap His arms around you too! He wants to be your best friend, your comfort and your Truth whisperer!

“We have a high priest who can feel it when we are weak and hurting. We have a high priest who has been tempted in every way, just as we are. But he did not sin. So let us boldly approach God’s throne of grace. Then we will receive mercy. We will find grace to help us when we need it.” Hebrews 4:15-16 (NIRV)

Resources:

***It is very important to me that I never recommend anything that I would not personally be okay using. If I ever receive compensation for sharing a link (an affiliate link) I will let you know. But it is my personal commitment to you,  as a reader of my blog, to post links very selectively.***

Life’s NOT Fair!

Posted on by Ginger

Yesterday was our semi-weekly visit over to the West Coast of Florida for our in-office Lyme treatments. Our normal 3 hour drive ended up taking closer to 4 hours, between dealing with traffic and frequent potty stops. It’s quite the trek ,but I really enjoy the time with my kids in the car. We love singing through our favorite soundtracks and the  time in the car provides opportunity for invaluable conversations. The drive home almost always includes a shared appraisal of the gorgeous colors painted across the sky as the sun sets. In a world that is constantly bombarding us with more and more to do, and less time to simply “be” together, these trips are becoming treasured moments with my kiddos. But not everything about these trips is fun and games…

When we got to the medical center yesterday my 9 year old started to panic about getting her IV placed for her UBI (Ultraviolet Blood Irradiation) treatment. She has Asperger’s which affects her ability to regulate emotions and any change in routine greatly increases her anxiety. She has always been the second one in our family to get her IV placed, but yesterday they wanted to do her IV first. This just about caused her to have a complete melt down. I went ahead and had them place my IV first, and then sat her on my lap to calm her down. “Why do I even have to get an IV? Why don’t the other girls have to get UBI? It isn’t fair….” and on she went. I was calmly reminding her that she needs it to fight her Lyme, but she just continued to work herself up with all the ways it was so unfair. It was at this point that I was likely deemed a very uncaring mom by everyone else in the IV room. (I honestly didn’t look around for their reactions because I wasn’t parenting for their approval.) I firmly told her to look at me. When her eyes finally locked into mine I told her directly-

“You are right, it’s NOT fair. Life is NOT fair. It will NEVER be fair! But that is why we have to look for the good things, the positives that we have.”

It may seem harsh to tell a nine year old that life will ALWAYS be unfair. It certainly goes against our current culture that wants to make everyone a winner and not cause discomfort or distress for anyone. But it won’t help my child to teach her anything but the truth. LIFE IS NOT FAIR! But that doesn’t mean that life is not good or beautiful. If we live life always looking for it to be fair, we will always be disappointed. But if we understand that life can be both unfair and blessed, we can focus our attention on looking for the blessings. She calmed down as we discussed how she would likely get over her respiratory infection faster because of the UBI. And how blessed we were that God answered our prayers by allowing Mr. Frank to be working. Mr. Frank is phenomenal at placing IVs! I helped support her arm, and counted as she attempted to deep breathe (she needs more work at this), and within seconds her IV was in and her treatment was started. My little guy was a trooper when it came time to start his IV, and within minutes they were both quietly playing their Kindles while their UBI treatments were underway.  

They hooked up my IV with a Meyer’s Cocktail followed by a hydrogen peroxide treatment. I usually only do IV treatments about once a month, because our first priority is making sure the kid’s treatments are financially covered. Last month we got word that each of our children received a grant from the Lyme Light Foundation, to help cover their supplements and treatments for the next few months. This is a HUGE help! In September we also had an anonymous giver offer to do a matching gift up to $3700 for all funds raised during the month. Thanks to SO many generous donations we raised the full matching gift amount! I can’t even begin to tell you how overwhelmed with gratitude both my husband and I were at the loving generosity showered on our family. We were not only able to get the sauna we had been needing for over two years, but now I am able to get treatments twice a month as well. The cost of supplements and medications for a family of 6 with Lyme is crazy high, and that is before we add in any in-office treatments, lab work or extra doctor appointments. It would be so easy to look at the financial burden of treating a family with Lyme and think about how unfair it is. It’s unfair that all four of my children contracted congenital Lyme! But I can’t even type those words without reading the “blessings between the lines”- I have four children! I am so beyond blessed to be their mommy! So many women with chronic Lyme struggle with infertility and multiple miscarriages. We miraculously have had 5 children, and were allowed to keep and raise 4 here on earth! And we have certainly seen God show up in BIG ways to provide through the love and generosity of so many amazing people. My blessings far surpass the inequitable circumstances in my life!!!

“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” 

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:8 & 19 (NIV)

Resources:

Worn and Weak

Posted on by Ginger

It’s Day 4 of my liquid fast and I am starting to feel the detox effects, mainly fatigue. I also got way too busy today and ended up waiting WAY too long to drink my 3rd meal! As I sit here in the peace and quiet, after tucking the kids in bed, I feel aches and pains creeping up on me. I have often heard that as your body detoxes and heals it will bring up “old” pains to heal. The strangest “side effect” is an added dose of emotions. I have felt almost on the verge of tears a few times today, with no explainable cause. The more I think about it, the more it makes sense. I believe we are not just physical beings, but a complex triad of mind, body and spirit. We cannot affect one without it impacting the others. This is the main reason I selected a couple passages of scripture to be a vital part of my 40 Day Fast. I wanted my journey to not only nourish my body, but nurture my mind and spirit as well.

I have long loved the scriptures in the book of Isaiah. So when I read through chapter 40 and saw it was all about comforting God’s people, I knew it was perfect for this time. I feel like a child safe in her Father’s arms when I read-

“He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms  and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.” (Isaiah 40:11 NIV)

Such gentle kindness spoken in those verses. They are like soothing balm to this weary mother’s heart. As I continue reading I am reminded that there is none like our God. He is so powerful and able to do so much more than we can even fathom. Then as a final encouragement the chapter concludes with some of my favorite scriptures-

“He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint. (Isaiah 40:29-31 NIV)

I love that I have a heavenly Father who is so aware of my fragile humanity, and is ready and willing to hold me together and lift me up in HIS strength. Isn’t that comforting? I don’t have to be Super Woman for God!!! I can simply be His little girl in need of His big arms and strong hugs! Tonight while most people are out all dressed up and enjoying a feast of candy, I am laying down my cape and removing my mask. I am allowing myself and all my weariness to be seen by the One who knows me best! It feels good to just be me! Psalm 40 is the other passage of scripture I am meditating on during this time, and the first couple verses best express how I feel as I lay my soul bare before my Creator.

“I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.” (Psalm 40:1-2 NIV)

Life can feel like standing in the ocean while the waves knock us side to side and lap away the ground beneath our feet (it’s exhausting), but God is my firm rock! I can be worn and weak, but firmly and securely planted in His love!!! So tonight as I sign off my computer and go tuck my sore and tired body into bed, I am curling up in His love and allowing Him to renew my strength for tomorrow! Do you need to do the same? Are you weary too? His lap is big enough for us all, and His arms know no bounds they cannot reach! Sleep well my friend. Sweet Dreams in Jesus!!!

Coffee What?

Posted on by Ginger

Nearly everyone loves the smell of coffee, even those who detest the taste! There is just something warm and cozy about the smell of a fresh brewed pot of coffee. The kids were sitting at the table enjoying breakfast when I started brewing a batch from my “new” coffee. As I unwrapped the rest of the goodies from the box on the table I started getting some strange looks.

“What’s that for mommy? What do you do with it?” Well… it’s for the coffee. “You’re going to drink the coffee with that?” Well… no, I’m not going to drink it. “If you aren’t going to drink it, then what are you going to do with it?” At which point, I tried to very carefully explain to my 4 kids (ages 5-10) what an enema is. Lots of silly faces and giggles ensued. Finally, one of them exclaimed, “You must really love us A LOT to do something like that to feel better for us!” I do! I really do!

The truth is, I have been so nervous about trying a coffee enema since the first time I heard about them a few years ago. I don’t even really know why because I have done other enemas in the past. Maybe it’s because I am not good at making coffee! (just kidding) I honestly don’t know. But today I faced my fear and I did it! After I had prepared the coffee I told the kids I would be taking some quiet time. My little redhead winked at me and said, “We know what that means!” And my youngest shouted after me, “Let me know what it feels like!” I laughed SO hard!!!

There are many benefits from doing coffee enemas. They’re included in nearly every alternative cancer treatment protocol and most of my Lymie friends have used them successfully as well. When the coffee is absorbed into your colon it stimulates the liver and gallbladder to detox, promoting healing and increasing energy. Some research has even suggested it might help stimulate the production of glutathione, an enzyme that works like an antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agent in the body. Being that it was my first day doing it, I can’t say that I noticed any immediate changes, but I also didn’t have any negative reactions. So I call that a WIN! I plan on continuing throughout my 40 Day Fast and am hoping to report some noticeable improvements. Tomorrow I plan on following the 3 Step System in the first link in the resources below to see if I get better results.

 It’s funny because we get squeamish about things like this, but really it’s just one more way to treat and detox a sick body. Although my kids giggled over my answers to their questions, the subject was approached with respect. My hope is that they will learn and understand that God made our bodies complex with the amazing ability to heal given the right support. I also hope it will normalize some of these traditional protocols that used to be standard treatment options. It’s important to me that they know medicine is far more than a pill or a teaspoon of prescribed liquid. It’s also important that they understand that this is not a conversation to bring up on the playground at church. “My mommy loves her coffee…” Noooo!!!

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; 

your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”

Psalm 139:14 (NIV)

Resources:

***It is very important to me that I never recommend anything that I would not personally be okay using. If I ever receive compensation for sharing a link (an affiliate link) I will let you know. But it is my personal commitment to you,  as a reader of my blog, to post links very selectively.***

Be Gentle

Posted on by Ginger

So in order to chronicle all the changes during my 40 Day Fast, I decided I needed to take measurements and pictures today. I stepped on the scale yesterday, but long ago I learned that the scale alone is not a good indicator of health. I have also come to realize that neither are our own eyes a very good judge. We are our own worst critic and often see blemishes where others see beauty. As I look in the mirror, at my less than trim waistline, I struggle to love all my curves. I look at my puffy face and struggle with feeling  betrayed by my failing adrenals that force me to take daily hydrocortisone. I see the red inflamed malar rash spread across my nose and wonder if it’s just Lyme, or has another autoimmune disorder been activated. I look at the reddish-purple spot on my left foot (from the CRPS), and wonder if I will ever be able to put on a regular shoe again. It’s not only a struggle to love the outside view, but it’s a struggle to not feel betrayed by all that is going on inside my body.

When I stopped looking in the mirror and directed my concerns to God, I felt like He was said to me- “Be gentle with your body, it’s been through a lot.” It occurred to me that maybe my body felt a bit betrayed too, by some of my own neglect. The neglected hours of sleep, the neglected treatments, detoxes and more that were put off while focusing on caring for those around me. Let me clarify- taking care of others is not bad. We are certainly called to serve those around us with love. But notice what Philippians 2:4 says- “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” God expects us to take care of ourselves. We are His creation, His work of art! There are more verses that talk about loving others as we love ourselves, as well as many examples of how even Christ took time away from ministering to rest. So instead of being angry with my body, I decided I would obey and be gentle with it. It is often easiest to decide what I need to do, or how I need to view myself, when I ask the question, “What would I tell my daughter?” Somehow my responses are always much more gracious, loving and nurturing when put in that perspective. The truth is that my self-talk and “self-care actions” speak louder to her about her own body image and value, than anything I could ever say. Being gentle and taking care of myself goes way beyond my own health- little eyes are watching!!!

So today I made myself an AMAZING mango smoothie! I drank homemade bone broth that was seasoned perfectly, and a couple different healing herbal teas. I took the time to use an It Works Wrap to help my body detox, and then dry brushed before a nice long hot shower. I even took a nap without feeling guilty! I sat down with my children and explained why mommy was doing all these crazy things. I told them that mommy was doing things that would help me be healthier so I can better take care of them. They were fully supportive and quick to add reasons why it was important to have a healthy mommy. I learned a lot by listening to their simple wisdom… now to live it out!

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.” Matthew 11:28-29 (NIV)

Resources:

***It is very important to me that I never recommend anything that I would not personally be okay using. If I ever receive compensation for sharing a link (an affiliate link) I will let you know. But it is my personal commitment to you,  as a reader of my blog, to post links very selectively.***