Our Pretty Pumpkin

Today Sarah turns 11 and like many 11 year old girls she is starting to fuss over clothes, hair, jewelry, and talks a LOT.  Today we are celebrating her contagious giggles, her need to dance everywhere we go, her love for animals especially her guinea pig "Bella" (the boy guinea pig who the pet store swore was a girl), her need to always win or be the best,  and her love for reading everything in sight!

From the moment Rick held Sarah Catherine she became a Daddy's girl.  He would rock her to sleep every night from almost the day she was born.  When she got a little older he started what he called the "Pumpkin Dance" with her.  They would dance around the house with him holding her in his arms to them both humming the "Blue Danube Waltz".  He nicknamed Sarah "Pretty Pumpkin" because she was born in October. 

Happy Birthday Sarah Catherine!  We love you and are so thankful that God sent you to dance into our lives and make our hearts smile.

Answered Prayers in a Mini Skirt

When I was in college I used to work at the KFC in Malvern.  I went to school at UALR which was an hour away during the day and then worked nights in Malvern.   I was never very good at keeping gas in my car.  I'm still not very good at that but thankfully God never stops taking care of me.

I remember one particular afternoon after classes I was running late.  So I jumped into my car and drove as fast as I could down I-30 trying to get to Malvern as fast as possible without getting a speeding ticket.  There is a stretch of highway in between Malvern and Benton where there is just nothing...no gas stations, no houses to run to...just nothing.  I was at that stretch of highway when I realized my gas tank was dangerously low and at that stretch of highway when my car died.  So I pulled off to the side of the road and got out of my car.  I was trying not to panic.  I was wearing my favorite blue jean mini-skirt with red sweater and red flats.  I was on a major highway with only semi trucks zooming by me.  I didn't have a gas can.  So even if I got to a gas station how would I get gas?

I decided to cross over into the median and walk back to Benton.  I was a LONG way to Benton but I just didn't have a choice.  So I got to the grassy median when I started praying "God, I don't have a gas can.  I really need a gas can."  It was right after I worded this prayer that I walked into a red plastic gas can.  I was a little stunned at how quickly my prayer was answered but extremely thankful.  I crossed over the other side of the highway and started walking towards Benton with my red plastic gas can.  It was then that I saw an old beat up truck coming down the interstate and fear filled my soul as I noticed that it was slowing down as it saw me.  So I prayed, "God, I'm out here on a major interstate in a mini-skirt all alone.  I need help and I need help now or I'm going to get killed out here."   At that moment the old beat up truck pulled over and a middle aged man and woman got out of the truck.  The man said to me, "You run out of gas?"  I said, "Yes sir," to which he quickly replied that they would take me into Benton to get gas.  So I got into their truck and again started praying, "God I don't know these people.  What if they kidnap me and sell me or something?  Help me!"  It was at this moment that the man started talking.  "We're from Malvern.  I saw you walking in the median and I told the wife she's a keeper!  We better stop and get her before someone snatches her up!"  I didn't say anything.  I didn't know what to say or think.  He went onto say that his son was about my age and when he said his son's name I realized that I knew this family!  His son was a year behind me in school.  This was a good family...not a family that would kidnap me and hurt me.  So I started thanking God and this couple who stopped and made sure that no one hurt me that day.

I wish ALL of my prayers were answered as fast as they were that day.  I've been praying for healing since I first got sick 13 months ago.  I've seen more doctors than I care to talk about....I now drive to Jackson, Mississippi to see a specialist for this illness.  He is a great doctor but even he has said that this illness is very difficult to treat and that I will have to be patient and not give up.  That last part is difficult when you don't see a light at the end of the tunnel.  So I wait and I pray and I try new medications that the specialist prescribes.  One day I'm going to write in my blog how I'm in complete remission...how the pain has stopped...how God finally said "you have a job to do...now go do it."   Until that day I will focus on all the prayers that have been answered during this last 13 months and I'm thankful.  I know that God is always right on time.  That HE uses everything to reveal HIS purpose in our lives to us.  So I might not see the red gas can yet or the old beat up truck coming to pick me up yet but I know that somewhere down the road God will send both to rescue me. 

The Diet that Changed My Life

One year ago I started this crazy diet that keeps me most days from having to live on prescription pain medication.  I'm often asked what I can eat and I always make general statements about fish, veggies, and peanut butter.  The truth is I have eaten the very same thing for breakfast, lunch and dinner almost every day of this past year.  Here is a glimpse of my daily diet:

Breakfast - Shredded wheat (no preservatives or sugar) with milk (whole or 2%...skim milk makes me hurt) and blueberries for breakfast

Lunch - Baked potato with real butter and sour cream (again fake butter and sour creams make me hurt...so I stick to the real stuff)

Dinner - Fish or Shrimp baked or grilled in butter and stir fried veggies in butter

Snack - Saltine crackers with Jiff Peanut butter, banana or avocado

Water is a huge part of my day.  I drink a little over a gallon of water a day.  I seem to do best with tap water.  Bottled water is just too risky.  Too many bottled waters are acidic or they add vitamins or flavorings that my little dysfunctional bladder just can't handle.  I've tried most bottled waters now and the only one that is great for me is Mountain Valley Water.  So I buy a lot of it for days when I'm not going to be close to home.

Most days I'm good with the diet.  It helped me lose the weight I needed to lose and I feel good that I don't eat junk food.  But there are days when hamburgers and french fries cry out to me especially this time of the year when you can smell them cooking on the grill!  Sheer torture!  But one moment of "Oh this tastes so great" isn't worth a week of crying through the pain and not being able to get out of bed.  So I stick to the diet and pray that one day I get to add a little bit more to my diet.

Thinking Outside the Box

I've seen a lot of doctors this past year.  The two that have helped me the most are my new gynecologist, Dr. Kay Chandler, and the physical therapists at Advanced Physical Therapy.  Both offices have experience working with patients with Interstitial Cystitis.  Both have worked outside the box with treatments to try and keep me out of pain.  Sometimes it works and sometimes it doesn't but over all I believe that God led me to these ladies and that they are on this journey with me to help and encourage me.  Recently I've been trying bio-identical hormones with some success.  Female bladders are VERY affected by hormones especially estrogen.  So we've been working with dosages that might help.  They ran all the hormone panels and saliva tests on me to see what my body needed.  Basically my hormone panel this last time showed that of a post menopausal woman.  I'm 45 years old!  So this was a bit of shock.  Currently the lowest dose of compounded hormone works okay with me but I even have reactions to that.  I keep taking it though because it helps with some other symptoms even though it causes other ones.  I'm only taking .01 ml of the hormone.  So my body is extremely sensitive to medications now.

Considering an Autoimmune Disease as the Cause?

I've read that many doctors think that Interstitial Cystitis (IC) is caused by an Autoimmune Disease or disorder.   I've come to a point where I believe this to be true.  I have allergic reactions to things that I have never had reactions to before now.  This past month I had a bladder infection.  I took 4 different antibiotics trying to kill the bacteria causing the infection.  Each culture showed a new bacteria.  So the doctors would switch the antibiotics.  This last culture was tricky because the 2 antibiotics that would kill the bacteria I was allergic to...so I had to take one and see if I could live with the allergic reaction.  Once my face and lips went numb we had to switch to the other antibiotic.  So my allergies to medications, foods, chemicals, and some I'm sure that haven't shown up yet has increased dramatically during this illness.  I've read that there is a connection between allergies and Autoimmune Diseases.  So this again makes me think there is a connection between this and IC.

Wishing It Was Just a Bad Dream

I told Rick recently that if someone had come to me before I got this illness and told me they had this disease and described symptoms as I just did that I would be certain they needed professional help.  I so wish that this was all just in my head and I could see a psychiatrist or therapist and they could help me see that it is all a bad dream.  But after a year of having to give up way too many things that I love I know that not to be the case.  My hope is that I never give up praying for and believing that one day God will heal me and that when other ladies are sent to me that have this disease that I will be an encouragement to them.

"O Lord my God, I cried to you for help, and you have healed me."    Psalm 30:2

Where Dreams Come True

Well we finally made it to Disney World.  Four and half months after we were scheduled to go we finally got rescheduled and flew out to Orlando for a much SHORTER trip but at least we got to go.  This time I had to plan for things that I never even thought about the first time I booked the trip.   I had to pack water that I could drink because the bottled water they sell in the parks I can't drink...too acidic.  Then there is the whole making reservations at restaurants that serve unseasoned fish.  But I got us all scheduled with a lot of help from Disney and honestly from a lot of friends.

Bling Equals Terrorist

We started the trip out with Sarah setting off the security alarm on the scanner at the Little Rock Airport.  Evidently the bling on Sarah's pants leg set off the sensor and TSA procedures had to be followed then.  Rick feeling bad for Sarah patted her on the shoulder and said, "It's okay Sarah."  Well that set off other alarms because now he has TOUCHED the potential terrorist.  So obviously they were in cahoots!  So TSA had to talk to both but only Rick got the patting down.  Evidently he looks much more dangerous than Sarah.  Luke, Jonah and I went over to a bench and sat down and watched the whole episode.  I wanted to take photos SO bad but I was afraid that the TSA agents would think I also was in cahoots with these two criminals.  So I refrained but the boys and I giggled a lot watching this all.  After the TSA agents finished with them they told us from now on to have our younger kids walk through only the metal detectors not the large scanners.  They aren't as sensitive evidently.

Blowouts Aren't Magical

We landed almost 30 minutes early in Orlando.  We were thrilled.  We got our rental car which we had rented because we were told the Disney bus rides might be very painful for me.  Then we headed towards our Disney resort, the Art of Animation.  We were 5 minutes outside the airport on HWY 417 when we had a blowout.  I was driving.  I pulled off to the side of the rode and Rick got out and said the tire was completely flat.  So I called Alamo who Disney had booked as our car rental.  I told them what happened and asked that since we had just left the airport that they bring us a new car.  They claimed that would take hours and that someone would call us in 20 minutes to set up changing the tire for us.  So Rick changed the tire while I tried to warn cars to get into the other lane rather than hit us.  I called Alamo back and told them we changed the tire ourselves and that we would NEVER use their rental cars again.  It was a polite but direct conversation.  After reaching the Art of Animation Disney resort we told Disney what had happened and how Alamo acted.  They helped us return the car and handled making Alamo reimburse our money for the remaining days with the car which Alamo had refused to do.

Just Keep Swimming

We stayed on Disney property at the Art of Animation Resort.  We had a family suite with a Nemo themed rooms.  It was so nice.  Our kids had their own room and bathroom and Rick & I had our own room and bathroom.  So nice since our 13 year old spends far too much time working on his hair swoop these days!  The kid's room had two double beds one of which folded into a table during the day.  Their room also had a microwave, refrigerator, TV, dresser and armoire.  Really was a great room.  You don't spend a lot of time in your room when you vacation in Disney but having two bathrooms and bedrooms was so nice with our 3 kids.  The pool with the resort was also great.  Although I didn't swim Sarah told me that you can hear music under the water of the pool.  You can't hear it when you are just sitting by the pool but once you go under water they have the music from Disney movies playing.

And They're Off

After "vacationing" at Disney World I can't figure out why anyone would describe this as a vacation.  Disney is a marathon.  You are up and out of bed before the birds even think about chirping and then you are racing to a theme park to beat everyone else to the list of the best rides or at least the most popular ones.  Don't misunderstand me....Disney is fun in a weird sort of masochistic way.  It has so much to do and see that you spend the first day in a state of overwhelming shock....or at least the first time you go you do.  I was trying to soak everything in and at the same time see more and more. 

My kids rode almost all of the most popular rides in the parks except for Animal Kingdom which we skipped this trip since we weren't there long enough.   We got to the parks at 7 a.m. and ran around riding what they could and I ran and got fast passes for the the next rides.  I was one exhausted momma after all the running.  I'm not 100% healthy with my bladder disease.  So I don't have the energy that other people have anyway but I did better than I thought I would.  I asked my kids what their favorite rides were  Star Wars, Space Mountain, Splash Mountain, Rockin' Rolling Roller Coaster....?  They all agreed that they were ALL great.  So they just aren't a picky group.

Rick got "chosen" to be one of the extras on the Indiana Jones Stunt show.  He kept yelling, "ME...ME...ME!" until they called him down onto the stage.  He had to put on a costume and act like one of the crowd in Cairo during one of the explosion scenes.  Quite entertaining to watch Rick's acting debute.  He may have found his next career!

People Watching Can Be Scary

I rode some of the rides in Disney....mainly the slow rides but I did ride a few popular ones....like Toy Story Mania, Buzzlight Year, etc.  But a lot of the time I would people watch while Rick and the kids rode a ride and I rested from running and getting them another fast pass.  I learned 5 things from watching people in Disney:

1. Photos - When a family is taking a photo they are ALL smiles and deliriously happy looking.  The minute the cameras get put up everyone looks like they haven't slept in a week and that is because they have NOT.
2. 4 Inch Heels - There are actually some crazy women in Disney World wearing 4 inch heels to walk around a theme park all day.  These women need counseling.  I'm pretty sure they are already medicated because NO one could walk all day in Disney in 4 inch heels and not be on heavy medication.
3. Bras, Short Shorts, and Belly Rings - Bras, short shorts and belly rings are very popular attire at Disney.  I was stunned at the number of girls my 13 year olds age that had on a bra, short shorts and a belly ring and NOTHING else.  These girls were with their moms.  It was cold while we were there.  So these girls were freezing but I guess sending the wrong message about themselves was more important than comfort.
4. Parental Supervision - Keeping an eye on their kids was not a high priority for many families in Disney.  I saw many kids running around Disney without parental supervision.  I even saw parents leave 3 and 4 year old in bench areas and run over to a snack bar.  Incredibly sad to see such poor decisions being made.
5. Bad Behavior - Disney can bring out the best in people but obviously it can bring out the worst too.  I saw a woman actually ram her stroller into a guy's ankle on purpose because he wasn't walking fast enough for her.  He screamed out in pain and she said, "I tried not to hit you but you stepped in front of me."  Which was so not the truth. 

Disney Takes Care of You

Disney has their act together.  I'm somewhat of an organized woman.  So I appreciate people and organizations that are also organized.  They understand that everything runs smoother with a plan.  We rode the Disney transportation while we were there and for the most part had a great experiences.  We also ate on the Disney Dining Plan and had a good experience.  I won't say GREAT experience because evidently there is a gross shortage of baked potatoes in Orlando, Florida.  My limited diet would test any one's patience and menu.  So I gave them a pass on this but I am going to write them and ask them to correct this horrible oversight.  I eat fish, baked potatoes, and steamed veggies.  They were great at making me salmon with no seasoning and steaming broccoli
and green beans for me but I would have just about paid anything for a baked potato! We did take a ferry from Magic Kingdom over to the Fort Wilderness Campground area and eat at the Trail End Restaurant which had a buffet with a baked potatoe bar on our last night there.  So I did find at least one Table Service restaurant on property that served baked potatoes!

They also need to branch out on offering other fish without seasonings.  Everywhere I went when I met the chef and explained that I could only have fish with no seasoning they only offered me salmon.  Now I like salmon ...so much so that my Omega-3 levels are AWESOME but throw in a little tilapia or mahi mahi or sea bass please!


Disney Knows Parades & Fireworks

We spent an entire day at Magic Kingdom only leaving the park for about 2 hours and that was to return the defective Alamo rental car.  We were exhausted by dinner time but stayed for the Disney Electric Parade and fireworks display.  It was incredible.  It made me feel like I was in a Disney movie.  I loved it.  Just when you thought it was over they were shooting out more fireworks.  Just beautiful!  I was also amazed at the start of the celebration how they had this giant hand appear on the side of Cinderella's Castle and start drawing cartoons that later came to life.  It was freezing cold that night while watching the parade and fireworks and we had to stand on a rock wall to see but it still was an awesome experience.

Rick has decided he wants to run a marathon at Disney for his 50th birthday.   So that should give me a few years to recover before we go back!   I only had 1 day that was a really bad pain day while we were there.  So I felt very blessed.  Hopefully in time I won't have any pain days and Disney truly will be a place where Dreams Come True for me too! 

No More Whining

Rick and I teach a 4th grade Sunday School class with Jeff & Karen Stotts and Jackie Miller.  Jeff is our leader.  I think it is fair to say that I've received more from "teaching" with Jeff than I've given.  Recently in class our lesson was studying the Israelites in the wilderness and how God fed them daily with manna.  The Israelites started complaining about all the food they didn't have to eat.

"If only we had meat to eat!  We remember the fish we ate in Egypt at no cost - also the cucumbers, melons, leeks, onions, and garlic.  But now we have lost our appetite,we never see anything but this manna!"  Numbers 11:4-6

So Jeff asked the kids what they thought about the Israelites.  They had witnessed so many miracles and yet they still complained.  My daughter, Sarah, is in the class and said, "They are a bunch of whiners!"  But another kid in the class spoke up and said, "No.  They are like us."  He is right. 

This lesson made me think a lot about my own life right now and the things that I complain about the most.  I certainly complain a LOT about the lack of food choices for me with this crazy bladder disease.  I also complain a lot about the pain.  Just like there were consequences for the Israelites complaining there will be consequences for my complaining.  I might not have to eat quail for a WHOLE month like they did but I could miss out on all the lessons that God is trying to teach me during this time in my life.  My kids, family and friends are watching me during all of this.  I don't want to teach my kids to whine every time a trial comes into their life but at the same time I want them to know that this life is packed full of trials especially if you're a Christian.

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.  Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."  James 1:2-4

The Israelites complained to each other but didn't cry out to GOD for help.  They just complained.  I pray a lot about my health but this lesson helped me to see how important it is to call on GOD more.   Not to get so discouraged that I complain to anyone who will listen.  But to call on HIM to help give me strength, courage and to help me be an example for my kids on how to persever through a trial.

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him."  James 1:12

 

Sharing Each Other's Burdens

Since being diagnosed with a bladder disease I have been introduced to 4 other women that live near me that have this same disease.   We are all at various stages of the disease with different things that help us and some of the same things that help us all.  But the one thing we all have in common is we can't eat everything we want anymore and we are in pain far too many days. 

One of the ladies has had the disease for more than 3 years.  She told me that she spent the first year grieving the loss of the life she used to have and to be prepared for that.  So I've been thinking a lot about the "5 Stages of Grief" and wondering which stage I'm in right now.

1. Denial - I think after almost 7 months I'm past this phase.  I may slip back into this once in a while but only being able to eat 10 different foods keeps the disease very real for me.
2. Anger - This stage comes and goes.  One day I had to run to the bank and this lady in the line next to me was eating the BIGGEST cheeseburger I had ever seen.  I was immediately angry.  Not because she was having her lunch in the bank line but because I would SO love to have a burger and that just isn't an option. 
3. Bargaining With God - I pray a LOT for God to heal me or to help me see a purpose in all of this.  So if that is bargaining with God then I am SO in this stage. 
4. Depression - When you can't eat and do all of the things that you used to be able to then depression is a constant battle.  Talking about what I'm going through helps some days.  Other days there is nothing to do but pray.
5. Acceptance - Definitely not at this stage yet!  I research daily for new studies on the disease.  I read other patient's blogs ...what they've tried ...what worked ...what didn't work.  So I guess acceptance to me would be giving up.  So I'm probably never going to accept this.

 New Things I've Learned 

 

If you are reading my blog and you have interstitial cystitis then maybe a few of the things that I have learned will help you too. 

 

Intestinal Problems - If you get constipated it is going to put pressure on your bladder. Not a fun topic but your intestines and your bladder are in close proximity and if you start having troubles in your intestines you are probably going to feel it in your bladder. So take care of your bowels. Whether it's more fiber, taking Miralax or stool softners or all of the above.
 

Hormones Affect Everything Too - Women's hormones can be great.  They can give you energy.  They are critical for fertility.  They even help control your moods....I'm sure I didn't have to tell anyone this!  But they can be a curse when something goes wrong or when you reach a point in your life where they decide to slow way down.  So if you're having trouble with your bladder then it isn't a bad idea to have your hormone levels checked out too. 

Pelvic Floor Dysfunction (PFD) - I know that a lot of people who have this bladder disease also have PFD.  I had no idea what it was when I was diagnosed.  So I researched and found that many of my symptoms would be helped by physical therapy.  Not orthopedic physical therapy but a very specific kind of physical therapy that deals only with the pelvic floor.  There are only 4 physical therapists in Arkansas that work with Interstitial Cystitis  (IC) patients and pelvic floor.  I highly recommend them and if you need their names and number please send me a note and I will send you their name and number.  Be warned this therapy is painful in the beginning but can really help with the pain of PFD and consequently some of the IC pain.

Sharing the Grief

I have been blessed to have been introduced to ladies that have this disease too.  They share not only my pain but the daily frustrations of trying to cope with the seemingly never ending cycle of symptoms.   My daily prayer is for healing for us and thanking God that I have these ladies to talk to when I hurt.

"Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ."  Galatians 6:2  (NIV)





A Year Filled With Trials & Prayers

My family lost my Aunt Kay this year.  In January she was diagnosed with two brain tumors.  One of which was attached to her brain stem.  Words can’t adequately describe how bigger than life my aunt was.  She was a flawed character that had more friends than anyone could count and probably as many regrets.  My aunt was an eternal optimist.  She still believed at 73 that she would one day be a millionaire and she never tired of her next dream of how to make her fortune.  Unfortunately her dreams kept her many times from focusing on the people in her life that she cared about and I know that she later regretted this in her life. 

 

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps." (Proverbs 16:9 NIV)

 

God Whispers

My family knew early on that my aunt’s life was in jeopardy.  She had so many unfinished things in her life that it was frightening to think about her dying before at least some of those were finished.  So one night as I drove home after visiting her I heard a whisper.  It wasn’t out loud but a voice I heard softly in my head saying that there were words that had to be said to my aunt and I was the one to have those conversations.  Honestly the last thing I wanted to do was to have a conversation with my aunt about some of the decisions she had made past and present especially since I knew that she might die any day.  One morning though I got up and I knew I had no choice.  So I prayed, went to Bible Study that morning, asked the ladies to pray for me as I talked to my aunt, and then I went to see my aunt.  When I got to my aunt’s hospital room she was asleep.  Her boyfriend was there and she opened her eyes for a second and looked at me when she heard me talking to him.  So after 15 minutes I prayed silently, “God if you want me to talk to her then you better wake her up.”  As I turned to leave she opened her eyes and asked me if I had heard from her daughter.  She was wide awake.  Honestly I can’t tell you all that I said to her partly because the words weren’t mine and partly because that conversation was meant for her and family. 

My aunt and I had many conversations during the 5 months that she lived after finding out she had the tumors.  All of the conversations went the same way and had the same peaceful feeling during and afterwards.  I’m in awe of how much God cared for her and for her family to make certain that the things that needed to be said were said before she died and that my aunt was allowed to tell her kids and her family how much she loved them.  Love can cover a multitude of sins.

“Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”  (1 Peter 4:8 NIV)

A Hospitalization Right before Christmas

Two months after my Aunt Kay died is when I got sick with the bladder disease that I now struggle with daily.  Almost 5 months into the disease and a week before Christmas I got very sick one night.  I started vomiting, and could tell something was wrong with my intestines.  I didn’t want to go to the ER so I waited until the next day & spent the day in bed.  Then the next morning at 4 am I couldn’t take the pain anymore and went to the ER.  I was seen immediately and quickly told that I had an intestinal infection and that my interstitial cystitis was flaring and of course making the pain even worse.  I begged the doctors not to give me pain medication because I was afraid I would flare even worse.  But the doctor assured me that they could keep me out of pain.  So they started an IV and gave me IV antibiotics for the infection and Demerol for the pain.  It didn’t get rid of all the pain but it certainly took the edge off which was more than I had had in the last 5 months.  So I spent 3 days in the hospital getting IV antibiotics and pain meds.  Not the way I wanted to spend the last few shopping days before Christmas but it made being with my family for Christmas even more special.  I went home from the hospital 3 days before Christmas.  Then it snowed on Christmas Day.  I know many were without power and being cold is no fun but there was something magical about it for me. 

A Christmas Prayer Answered

You see early in December after dropping off my kids at school I was listening to the radio announcers talking about all the holiday desserts they were making and all the Christmas shopping they were doing.  It depressed me to think about all of those things I was missing out on.  I couldn’t eat desserts.  I didn’t have the energy to bake even if I could have eaten desserts and shopping was just too hard.  So I prayed that God would send snow to help lighten my spirit this Christmas season.  I admitted to God that it was a silly prayer request but I just needed something to make me smile.  Well I got a beautiful snow storm 3 weeks after I prayed that prayer.  Our power was only out for about 24 hours and my kids refer to this as the best Christmas they have ever had.  Their mom came home from the hospital before Christmas.  It snowed on Christmas Day and Nana & Papa came and spent the night because their power was out. 

None of us know what a new year will reveal.  Many make New Year’s Resolutions or plan the vacation of a lifetime.  But this past year I was shown very clearly that God is the author of my new year’s plan.  2012 was a very difficult year for me and my family.  But it was also a time that drew us together in prayer and support of one another.  I don’t understand God’s purpose in everything but I know that trials make us stronger and help us grow closer to HIM.

“Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know suffering produces perseverance;”  (Romans 5:3 NIV)

Praying 2013 is a year where we all grow closer to God and have many prayers answered.