What is this blog for anyway?

I arrived home from Blissdom with a heavy heart.

Mind you, I had a fabulous time (with a capital F) and learned a lot.

I also realized that I had strayed from my passions- the passions that led me to start this blog in the first place almost two years ago.  I have been working on shifting my focus back to sharing life from my heart with my readers.  (All my product reviews, giveaways, professional organizing advice, etc. will be on my professional organizing site starting March 1st.)

I blog about life.

Life as an adoptive mom of a child with severe emotional and behavioral issues, life as a mama of all boys, life as a mama of all tween/teen boys, life as a wife, life with multiple sclerosis and lupus, life as a former foster child, high school drop out turned teen mom who found Jesus and has never been the same since!

I blog about cutting through the clutter of life…the things that distract us from seeing and enjoying the life and purpose God has for us. When I speak at mom’s groups and women’s events, I usually am either sharing my testimony or sharing how to get control of your calendar, manage your time, set realistic goals and priorities and handle money the way God intended.

I’m glad you stopped by if you are here from Kelly’s Korner and invite you to read my About Me page and/or listen to my intro video to learn a little more about me and this here blog ‘o mine.

Invisible Tuesday

Some of you know that I host a MomTV show on Wednesdays (at 1pm EST) called The Invisibles. The show focuses on living well with chronic/invisible illness.  To help my listeners and to educate my readers, I am going to start posting on the same topic that my show will focus on each week on Tuesdays.

Tomorrow’s show topic is Minimizing the Impact of Your Illness on Your Loved Ones.  Here are some tips related to what I share on the show.

• Your family member’s are not stupid, don’t treat them like they are.  Don’t say “I’m fine” if you aren’t.  Trust is an important component of family life.  Don’t become someone your family doesn’t trust.
• Remember that there are things children do not need to know specifics about (including finances and treatments)
• Resist the temptation to downplay your hubby’s headache when everything on your body hurts. Don’t make it a “one up” type of situation.
• If you lash out in anger, forget something important, etc.- apologize.  Don’t apologize for your illness but for your behavior.
• Plan your day so that you are at your best when you are around your family.  If that means taking a nap before they get home, it is worth it.
• Don’t buy in to the lie of the Devil that you are a burden or problem to your family. They love you and need you.
• Reach out.  Don’t shut out.

For all my tips and thoughts on this subject watch the Invisibles tomorrow.

It Wasn’t My Time

As most of my twittermom friends know, I have been in the hospital since late Wednesday night. I apparently suffered a saddle embolism, which is a blood clot that broke off in it’s entirety and traveled to my lung. The Lord spared my life (Psalm 54:4) and instead of the clot staying in one piece and occluding any major arteries, it split into several small pulmonary emboli that are currently in my lungs. Now, I am not a doctor but I can tell you that I almost died and that can certainly give you perspective on so many things.

Hubby and I were in bed Wednesday evening, just watching the President address the nation on the economic fiasco (hey, maybe I can blame him, lol) when all of a sudden it felt like I had a 300 lb person sitting on my chest and I could not breathe. I passed out, hubby called 911 and after an ambulance ride that deserves a post all it’s own, made it to the hospital and the competent doctors were able to figure out what was wrong and start me on the correct treatment.

Since then I have had a lot of time on my hands, sitting in the hospital being watched, prodded and poked by very kind and well meaning nurses, I have been thinking about all the things that God has blessed me with. I have had so much company (it has been exhausting) but I also feel incredibly loved. My hospital room looks like a funeral home with all the flowers- good thing I don’t have allergy issues I get to see my youngest live his 11th year (even though I spent his birthday here). My husband has not left my side except to eat and use the bathroom in days. It brings tears to my eyes at what I would have been missing but at the same time I have to confess….

When I heard the ambulance driver say “dude, I think she’s gonna die” (like I said needs a post of it’s own) I was not scared. I know where I am going when I pass my final breath on this earth. What awaits me there is welcome at any time! But God wasn’t ready for me yet. He allowed me to continue to be here longer for my kids, my hubby, my family and friends and to add another chapter to my testimony.

It wasn’t my time….yet. Let us all remember to live every day for Him and the path that He has anointed for us as we do not know the day, time or hour that God could call any of us home.