I am looking forward to learning a lot this week! I met with my accountability partner this morning after a unintentional break of 6 weeks - it's amazing how much the Lord can do in that amount of time. We had so many things to celebrate this morning, whereas we typically have more burdens and prayer requests. Refreshing.
Wednesday night is our Not A Fan small groups at church, which I have been thoroughly enjoying. I read the chapters today & underlined a TON for this week. Oh boy.
I get to go to the Worship symposium at Calvin all day Thursday. As well as attending the sessions, I was invited to join in a choir for Thursday morning and evening. I haven't sang in a choir since I lived in Oakland and was one of three white girls with not much rhythm singing in a Gospel Choir who had a LOT of rhythm. Should be fun, although I'm still waiting to get the music...I don't even know what we're singing yet!
Friday & Saturday I'll be in Chicago at a Youth Specialties conference! I'm heading out early Friday morning with another youth pastor friend & Marc is meeting me in Chicago Friday night with the kids. Saturday when I'm done, we'll head to a dear friends house for the night and arrive home later Sunday evening.
Praying for a clear and focused mind this week so I can soak up all the wonderful things I can learn from others!
Monday, January 23, 2012
Thursday, January 19, 2012
Updates
* Isaac is 4!!! How did my baby become a 4 year old?
* I'm done with my class after today! I start another class in a week or so. I have this spring class, a week long class in August, a class in the fall and then I'm DONE with my Masters! I also have to complete the requirements for my internship and take Oral Comps next spring, but my course work is nearing the end!
* I'm LOVING the small groups we're doing at church with the "Not A Fan" book by Kyle Idelman. Our group is diverse and different - I'm being challenged and convicted in many ways.
* Trying to figure out where to put Isaac next year for school. Another year in preschool at Evergreen? Transitions class at GRCES? Something else?
* Hope is 16 months old as of Sunday. She's still not walking or talking much. We go back to the doc in March to see if they'll want to get Early Childhood involved for some physical & speech therapy.
* I love the show "The Electric Company". I'm glad Isaac does, too.
* I'm behind on my Bible reading. Getting the stomach flu last week got me pretty behind. Still trying to catch up.
* Chuck will be moving back to China next week Wednesday. Lots of reasons why. Please pray for him as he makes this transition, and for us as we adjust to one less family member.
* Looks like Marc might be coaching Cross Country at WMC next fall. Fun!
* Trying to find a place to go with my sister's fam and my parents for a week this summer. We've never done anything like this before - I"m SO excited about it!
* Our closing on Quimby is on or before February 20th. We will still have to make some payments, but I'm SOOOOO excited to have an end in sight for this!
* I'm getting a 'deprogrammer' to wear at night (a mouth appliance much like a retainer) to help with my 'clenching'. Hoping this reduces the constant jaw popping and headaches.
* Getting excited about the many trips happening this year: DR over spring break, Colorado Challenge in early July and SERVE in late July. Who wants to watch my kids while I do all these cool thing? No - seriously - who wants 'em? I love these opportunities, but it is much harder with children. I have to rely so much on my family and friends to help care for them while I"m gone. I can't wait (well, I can really if I'm honest) until they're old enough to go on these trips!
* I'm done with my class after today! I start another class in a week or so. I have this spring class, a week long class in August, a class in the fall and then I'm DONE with my Masters! I also have to complete the requirements for my internship and take Oral Comps next spring, but my course work is nearing the end!
* I'm LOVING the small groups we're doing at church with the "Not A Fan" book by Kyle Idelman. Our group is diverse and different - I'm being challenged and convicted in many ways.
* Trying to figure out where to put Isaac next year for school. Another year in preschool at Evergreen? Transitions class at GRCES? Something else?
* Hope is 16 months old as of Sunday. She's still not walking or talking much. We go back to the doc in March to see if they'll want to get Early Childhood involved for some physical & speech therapy.
* I love the show "The Electric Company". I'm glad Isaac does, too.
* I'm behind on my Bible reading. Getting the stomach flu last week got me pretty behind. Still trying to catch up.
* Chuck will be moving back to China next week Wednesday. Lots of reasons why. Please pray for him as he makes this transition, and for us as we adjust to one less family member.
* Looks like Marc might be coaching Cross Country at WMC next fall. Fun!
* Trying to find a place to go with my sister's fam and my parents for a week this summer. We've never done anything like this before - I"m SO excited about it!
* Our closing on Quimby is on or before February 20th. We will still have to make some payments, but I'm SOOOOO excited to have an end in sight for this!
* I'm getting a 'deprogrammer' to wear at night (a mouth appliance much like a retainer) to help with my 'clenching'. Hoping this reduces the constant jaw popping and headaches.
* Getting excited about the many trips happening this year: DR over spring break, Colorado Challenge in early July and SERVE in late July. Who wants to watch my kids while I do all these cool thing? No - seriously - who wants 'em? I love these opportunities, but it is much harder with children. I have to rely so much on my family and friends to help care for them while I"m gone. I can't wait (well, I can really if I'm honest) until they're old enough to go on these trips!
Monday, January 16, 2012
Did you get any presents?
This is a post-Christmas blog, though a bit later than I intended. I've been mulling over some thoughts that at first merely annoyed me, and since have become in my mind only symptoms of a larger and more perverse problem with the church.
Christmas morning we walk up the stairs into the church to be greeted by an elder. We shake hands and he looks down at Isaac and says, "So, did you get any presents yet? What did you get?". A simply question. A fitting question as it was Christmas day & Christmas = presents in our culture. I was slightly annoyed at the time. What if Marc and I had chosen to not give presents this year? Or what if we didn't have money to? How would a 4 year old feel and then respond if they hadn't gotten any presents?
Now, as I've been thinking about it for a few weeks, it almost angers me. Perhaps I'm over thinking things. I probably am. However, we were entering church to celebrate CHRIST and his birth. We are bringing our child in to worship with us to hear about the baby Jesus born to us.
Do we want to, in the church, reinforce the cultural ideas of Christmas that its all about presents and getting crap? NO! So why is "Have you gotten any presents yet?" the first question asked when I enter church on Christmas day? Why not a question like, "Isaac, how are you celebrating Jesus birthday today?" or "Merry Christmas Isaac! Jesus is the best Christmas present of all, isn't he?".
It reminds me of an article that circulated on facebook a few months back about how we always compliment little girls on their clothes, hair and general appearance, rather than their mind and intellect. It's the subtle questions we ask or compliments we give that are in all actuality, probably doing more harm than good.
I realize the elder didn't have all these thoughts in mind as he asked Isaac the question. I was grateful he stooped down to talk to Isaac and greet him. He was trying to include my 4 year old, and I am thankful. I just wish we would all - the church included - would be more intentional about the questions we ask and what the message is that underlies the question.
Christmas morning we walk up the stairs into the church to be greeted by an elder. We shake hands and he looks down at Isaac and says, "So, did you get any presents yet? What did you get?". A simply question. A fitting question as it was Christmas day & Christmas = presents in our culture. I was slightly annoyed at the time. What if Marc and I had chosen to not give presents this year? Or what if we didn't have money to? How would a 4 year old feel and then respond if they hadn't gotten any presents?
Now, as I've been thinking about it for a few weeks, it almost angers me. Perhaps I'm over thinking things. I probably am. However, we were entering church to celebrate CHRIST and his birth. We are bringing our child in to worship with us to hear about the baby Jesus born to us.
Do we want to, in the church, reinforce the cultural ideas of Christmas that its all about presents and getting crap? NO! So why is "Have you gotten any presents yet?" the first question asked when I enter church on Christmas day? Why not a question like, "Isaac, how are you celebrating Jesus birthday today?" or "Merry Christmas Isaac! Jesus is the best Christmas present of all, isn't he?".
It reminds me of an article that circulated on facebook a few months back about how we always compliment little girls on their clothes, hair and general appearance, rather than their mind and intellect. It's the subtle questions we ask or compliments we give that are in all actuality, probably doing more harm than good.
I realize the elder didn't have all these thoughts in mind as he asked Isaac the question. I was grateful he stooped down to talk to Isaac and greet him. He was trying to include my 4 year old, and I am thankful. I just wish we would all - the church included - would be more intentional about the questions we ask and what the message is that underlies the question.
Thursday, January 5, 2012
A Gift from God
Those are the exact words my pain management doctor used 2 weeks ago when I saw him last. He asked to what percentage my last injection had helped: 95%. He asked how long it had helped: it's still working. That's when he said, "Well, that's a gift from God. Nothing I could do would give those results. It's almost reportable that you're still pain free".
What a gift.
About 1 year ago I finally gave in and called my doctor for an appointment to deal with the back pain I had been experiencing for far too long. He referred me to physical therapy. I did about 2 months of that with zero relief. My doctor referred me to a back doctor. She took X rays & did an MRI. Results? Slight deterioration of my L5 disc - she called it 'barely clinically significant'. So, she sent me to a different physical therapist who dealt specifically with issues relating to back pain and childbirth. The thought was that my pelvic floor was too weak and I was overcompensating with my back. A few more months of physical therapy. Lots of money down the drain with no relief.
Next doctor up to bat was Dr. Winston at the Michigan Pain consultants. There's something defeating about going to a pain doctor. It seems like no one can figure out what the cause is, so we'll just try to get rid of the pain. He was the most helpful of all, however! He had a bone scan done and determined the same deterioration of my L5 disc, as well as some issues with my sacrum. Then we started various injections to pinpoint which of the 2 issues the pain was stemming from. First injection was about 30% helpful for about 3 weeks. Second injection wasn't helpful at all. Third injection didn't work. Forth injection...ahhh that glorious forth injection! I stood up from the table & had to sit in the wheelchair to recovery. I stood up to get into the recovery bed & the nurse asked me to do a little back twist, which normally caused pain immediately. NO PAIN! I started bawling. They thought it hadn't worked, but through my tears I said, "No, it worked, I don't feel any pain!" Lo and behold, that 'barley clinically significant' deterioration of my L5 disc was indeed the culprit!
In September, I started a Bible study at church & was asked to write a letter to God about the longings of my heart. Our Quimby house was first item on the list, followed by pain relief. I'm amazed at how God has listened to the desires of my heart and answered. Sure, my back isn't 100% better, and there is the likelihood that more injections and possibly surgery will be needed in the future, but I've been pain free for 8 weeks straight! And we found out today that our sale on Quimby was approved. We will still owe money on it, but the payments we will make are interest free, and it's still a much better situation than what it could be.
I am blessed with the gifts God has given me!
What a gift.
About 1 year ago I finally gave in and called my doctor for an appointment to deal with the back pain I had been experiencing for far too long. He referred me to physical therapy. I did about 2 months of that with zero relief. My doctor referred me to a back doctor. She took X rays & did an MRI. Results? Slight deterioration of my L5 disc - she called it 'barely clinically significant'. So, she sent me to a different physical therapist who dealt specifically with issues relating to back pain and childbirth. The thought was that my pelvic floor was too weak and I was overcompensating with my back. A few more months of physical therapy. Lots of money down the drain with no relief.
Next doctor up to bat was Dr. Winston at the Michigan Pain consultants. There's something defeating about going to a pain doctor. It seems like no one can figure out what the cause is, so we'll just try to get rid of the pain. He was the most helpful of all, however! He had a bone scan done and determined the same deterioration of my L5 disc, as well as some issues with my sacrum. Then we started various injections to pinpoint which of the 2 issues the pain was stemming from. First injection was about 30% helpful for about 3 weeks. Second injection wasn't helpful at all. Third injection didn't work. Forth injection...ahhh that glorious forth injection! I stood up from the table & had to sit in the wheelchair to recovery. I stood up to get into the recovery bed & the nurse asked me to do a little back twist, which normally caused pain immediately. NO PAIN! I started bawling. They thought it hadn't worked, but through my tears I said, "No, it worked, I don't feel any pain!" Lo and behold, that 'barley clinically significant' deterioration of my L5 disc was indeed the culprit!
In September, I started a Bible study at church & was asked to write a letter to God about the longings of my heart. Our Quimby house was first item on the list, followed by pain relief. I'm amazed at how God has listened to the desires of my heart and answered. Sure, my back isn't 100% better, and there is the likelihood that more injections and possibly surgery will be needed in the future, but I've been pain free for 8 weeks straight! And we found out today that our sale on Quimby was approved. We will still owe money on it, but the payments we will make are interest free, and it's still a much better situation than what it could be.
I am blessed with the gifts God has given me!
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