Waiting....

Why is waiting so hard? Maybe it is because we live in a world of instant gratification. With all of the technology around anything we want to know is just a few clicks away. However, when we are waiting for God to move it's not always so quick and simple. Right now I am going through a period of waiting.... waiting for God to open my womb to another child and waiting for God to speak clearly concerning a professional decision I am encountering. These two issues have really been taking a toll on my emotions lately. I have had plenty of time to think and reflect over the past few weeks and I am wondering if God has placed me in bed for that very reason...to make me slow down and focus on Him. I can do that by:

- spending time in God's Word
(studying, seeking answers, claiming God's promises)
- spending lots of time in prayer
(praying about issues, praying for wisdom, discernment)
- spending time meditating
(about who God is, what He is wanting to do in and through me)

I have to constantly remind myself that as I wait for God's timing and goodness I must seek Him to take the right actions and to avoid the negative actions. What are negative actions? Well, taking matters into my own hands and running ahead of God. So, the waiting continues. Today I pray that we all remember that waiting on the Lord means being content and patient because we are constantly clinging to God and resting in His love and wisdom!

Below are 2 verses that I am striving to memorize this week. By hiding God's word in my heart, I can lean on these verses when the waiting gets tough!

Lametations 3:25 The LORD is good to those who wait for Him, To the person who seeks Him.

Psalm 62:5-8 Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in Him.
He alone is my rock and my salvation,
my fortress where I will not be shaken,
My victory and honor come from God alone.
He is my refuge, a rock where no
enemy can reach me.
O my people, trust in Him at all times.
Pour out your heart to Him,
for God is our refuge.

Please take a few moments to listen to the song, While I'm Waiting by John Waller posted at the bottom of the page. I hope and pray it will minister to your heart as it does to mine each and every time I hear it!

The ABCs of Me

Good morning! As most of you know I am now at home recuperating from back surgery. The doctor said the herniated disk was huge and more impressive than the MRI showed. They also said the herniation had stretched several nerves and I could experience some numbness in my right leg and weakness in my knee for a while, but that has not happened yet. I am now starting week 3 of being on bedrest and needless to say, I am about to lose my mind! So, what do you say? Let's play a game. I stumbled across this great ABC meme on a blog I was reading this morning, and I thought it would be a perfect way to begin this week. So here it goes…

A - Age: I’m 30.

B - Bed Size: Queen. The perfect size for cuddling!

C - Chore You Hate: Cleaning the bathrooms. Ugh! I hate even thinking about it!

D - Dad's Name: Larry. Actually, his official name is Clyde, but he goes by Larry. If you live around here he is infamously known as "Huggy" or "Huggy Bear!"

E - Essential Start Your Day Item: a hug and kiss from my wonderful husband, Mickey XOXO

F - Favorite TV Show: Prison Break. I'm officially obsessed with this show! Mickey and I haven't missed an episode--ever! Thank you, TiVo!

G - Gold or Silver: My wedding rings are gold, but I usually wear silver. I'm just glad to know that it is okay to mix silver and gold!

H - Height: 5'8" I just hope when I get to "w" it doesn't say "weight!" haha LOL

I - Instruments You Play(ed): Clarinet. I began playing in 6th grade and played all through high school. I picked it up a few months ago to be apart of our church orchestra, but that has fizzled out. Mackaylan loves when I get it out and play for her. She is definitely going to be musically inclined!

J - Job Title: Instructional Coach. Please pray as I am really struggling in this area right now. I feel God may be moving me to do something new and different with my life. Pray that I will hear His voice clearly and will step out in faith to follow His will!

K - Kid(s): One adorable, almost 4 yr. old, sweet and sassy little girl, Mackaylan. aka Mac, KK, Doodlebug and Sweetie

L - Living Arrangement: A 3 BR, 2 BA home that is perfect for this stage in our life!

M - Mom's Name: Linda.

N - Nicknames: Lana Dawn, Chista

O - Overnight Hospital Stays Other Than Birth: Just this past Wednesday night after my back surgery!

P - Pet Peeve: Cabinet/Closet doors or drawers left opened or cracked!

Q - Quotes You Like: I don't know! I have lots of them! What's your favorite quote?

R - Right or Left-Handed: Right.

S - Siblings: One sister that is 9 years older whom I love and adore, Lori.

T - Time You Wake Up: On a work day, the alarm goes off at 5:30 and I am usually up out of bed by 6:00. What can I say? I am just a cuddle bug and hate being the first out of bed!

U - Ultimate Dessert: I would say my favorite dessert would have to be straight-from-the-oven chocolate chip cookies! Umm!

V - Vegetable You Dislike: I'm not a big veggie eater! However, one that I can't stand is broccoli. I would rather eat it raw than cooked if I had to.

W - Ways You Run Late: I run late most mornings, but that should not be surprising since I said the alarm goes off at 5:30 and I don't get up until 6:00!

X - X-rays You've Had: I have had an x-ray/MRI on my back, and most recently, I had a chest x-ray during pre-op.

Y - Yummy Food You Make: I haven't cooked in so long, I can't remember! haha

Z - Zoo Animal: I love the lions!


How about you? Do you know your ABCs?

Gratituesday

What am I grateful for on this bright and sunny spring morning? Well, the list could definitely go on and on, but today I am most grateful for the power of a praying husband! As most of you know, I have been struggling the past 2 weeks with severe back/leg pain. I have basically been out of commission! I haven't been able to cook, clean, wash clothes, take care of Mackaylan, etc. Like I said... OUT OF COMMISSION! Anyway, through it all, Mickey has been a trooper. He has helped get me out of bed at 3:00 AM to go to the bathroom, assisted me as I tried to get dressed, brought me food and medicine as needed, and provided some sort of "normalcy" to Mackaylan's twisted schedule! Even though I appreciate all of the ways he has cared for me listed above, last night he put the icing on the cake!! As I was lying in bed, full of high power drugs to subside my current back/leg pain, I realized the presence of someone standing over me. I struggled to open my eyes, but managed to open them just enough to see it was Mickey, and his hands were holding my hands ever so gently. I mumbled something to the effect of "Hey! What'cha doing?" He looked down at me with those baby blue eyes and confidently said, "I'm praying for you!" Then he leaned down, kissed me sweetly on the lips and told me how much he loved me. A praying husband. That's what I am grateful for not only on this bright and sunny spring morning, but each and every day of the year!

Click on over to http://heavenlyhomemakers.com/blog/ for more responses to the simple question: "What are you grateful for?"

The Verdict

Well, the verdict is in and I go for my "discectomy" on Wednesday. Right now it is set for 1:00 pm, but they are hoping to move it up to 11:00 am . The hospital will let me know tomorrow if they are successful in altering the time. I went today for pre-op so tomorrow I can just relax and prepare for the big event! Mickey and I, along with many of you, have been praying that the right decision would be made very clear and it was. After another back attack yesterday, and the doctor's opinion this morning, we were reassured that surgery was the way to go. Please continue to pray as I go through the surgery and begin the healing process. Please pray that my body will respond appropriately and the pain will automatically be relieved. I am ready to get back to a somewhat "normal" life!!!

Did you know?

Did you know....

• When meeting someone new, your 1st impression is made within 6 sec. and is based on your hair, makeup and jewelry?


• 3 pieces of jewelry (i.e. earrings, necklace and a bracelet) make a put-together look?


• A necklace should always hit 2-4 inches above or below your neckline?


• Your jewelry doesn't have to all match as long as it is in the same finish and texture family?


• Every lady should have a pair of pearls? This is a "go-to" jewelry piece. Pearls can be worn with your best dress or blue jeans.


• Fashion experts say you should only spend 1/3 of your beauty budget on clothes? The rest should be spent on hair, make-up and accessories.


• Wearing 3/4 length sleeves makes your waist automatically look smaller?


• You should take your jewelry into your closet to see which outfits make the jewelry "pop?"

I didn't know all of these interesting facts until I attended and then hosted a Premier Jewelry Party! By hosting a party, I not only learned all of this information but also over $280 in free jewelry! I can't wait to get back on my feet so I can put this new learning into practice!

Update

Yesterday Mickey and I went to visit a neurologist concerning my lower back pain. After reviewing the MRI he confirmed that I indeed had a herniated disck between L3 and L4. He then suggested many possible ways of treatment including steriod shots or surgery. He didn't have any available slots for surgery this week so he suggested we come back to see him on Monday with our final decision. If we decide to do surgery it will be next Wednesday morning. To me surgery seems like the obvious choice, but also the scariest. Like any surgery, there are lots of risk involved and the longer I am on my back the better I feel so I begin to think that maybe that is not necessary. Then I think back to the excruciating pain that I was in just this past Sunday and I can't imagine having to go through this again. It is like my life has stopped for the past 2 weeks. All I have been able to do is lay around, watch TV, check email (thanks to wireless internet technology), talk and/or text, eat and read.

Please pray as we seek God's will for our lives regarding this decision!

Oh my aching back!!!!

I have been in bed for the past week with a herniated disk in my lower back. The problems really started Sunday afternoon and by Monday morning it was all I could do to get myself off the couch and to urgent care. I went for an MRI on Tuesday and the results revealed a herniated disk in my lower back. I have had problems with my back over the past few years, but never to this degree. I am feeling a lot better compared to Monday and Tuesday, but still have sharp shooting pains when I am on my feet for too long or move the wrong way. I go on Wednesday to meet with a specialist. I think my options are going to be steriod shots or surgery. I am hoping the shots will do the trick, but will do whatever the doctor thinks best! I have been blessed with phone calls, text messages, visits and food from all of our wonderful family and friends! I will keep you posted with updates as much as possible. (Have you ever tried typing while laying down? It's not very easy! haha) For now, please keep me and my family in your prayers! :)

Snow Night 2009!

We have been waiting on this day/night to come all winter long ! SNOW!!!! Mackaylan and I couldn't wait til morning to get out and play so we bundled up and ventured out tonight. We went for a stroll up to see Jahpa and Uncle Gene. Along the way, we stopped to catch a few flakes (It is good luck to eat the first snow, ya know?!) and to practice making and throwing a few snowballs so we would be ready for a snowball fight with Daddy in the morning! Stay tuned ....