This song speaks to my heart right now and I hope it does to yours as well!

The last few days I have been asking God the following questions:

• Why my “good” leg?
• How much do you think I can handle?
• Do You remember that I am having gallbladder surgery in less than two weeks?
• Have you seen my schedule?
• How is my hubby going to handle me being unable to drive and walk for eight, possibly twelve weeks?
• What about Mom’s Nite Out and all the other fundraisers planned in the upcoming months?

Asking those questions and focusing on the pain and inconvenience of this situation only served to put me in a foul mood.  My poor family has listened to me whine and complain way too much this weekend.  My focus has not been where it should be.

Lent got off to a bad start for me, as I sort of forgot about it in the fog of pain medicine and self pity.  So, I am scrapping my plans to give up chocolate and soda for the next 40 days {at this point I will eat whatever someone can bring me} and I am prayerfully, intentionally and apologetically giving up complaining, grumbling and whining.

My pastor shared four questions to ask in difficult circumstances and those are the questions I will be focusing on in the coming weeks:

1. What can I learn?
2. What good can come?
3. How can I trust God in this?
4. Where can I find joy?

During every speaking engagement I have I remind people that we serve a Romans 8:28 God.  The God that works ALL things out for good, so why am I not trusting that He can use a bum knee and an incapacitated Melissa for His purposes?

So, as I sit here {eternally grateful for internet access and friends that fill in the gaps} I am lifting my eyes up to the One who provides my help, my salvation and my strength.  And, I am casting away the “this-is-not-fair-why-do-these-things-always-happen-to-me-when-am-I-going-to-catch-a-break” itis that has been plaguing me the last few days.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from?

My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;  indeed, he who watches over Israel

will neither slumber nor sleep.  The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night. The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;  the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.  ~Psalm 121

Several months ago I participated in a webinar with Grant Hill and Clorox about the dangers of MRSA, particularly in schools and locker rooms.  I enjoyed the call, received a lot of information and my son got a signed Grant Hill basketball out of the deal.  Little did I know that this weekend I would be digging that information back out because my son had acquired MRSA, probably during conditioning for high school basketball.

Jared had a spot on his ankle that looked like a small boil one day and the next was red, pussy, warm to the touch and had smaller pustules next to it.  We took him to the ER (we were out of town for the 4th) where they had to cut and drain the large and smaller places on his ankle (suffice it to say, I almost passed out and it was horrible to see my baby in so much pain).  They sent the “discharge” for culture and started him on antibiotics.  He will be fine, although he has had some fever, developed a double ear infection and just doesn’t feel good.  But, this has definitely been a scary experience!

Here are some facts about MRSA (courtesy of Clorox):

What is MRSA and how is it spread?

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), most MRSA, or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, infections acquired in the community are skin infections that may appear as pustules or boils that are often red, swollen and painful, or have pus or other drainage. These skin infections commonly occur where there are cuts or abrasions, and on areas of the body covered by hair.¹ Although serious MRSA disease is still predominantly related to exposures in hospital or health care settings, infections outside health care settings are increasing.²

MRSA is usually transmitted by direct skin-to-skin contact or contact with shared items or surfaces that have come into contact with someone else’s infection (e.g., dirty towels, used bandages).¹ Therefore, practicing both good personal hygiene and disinfection of items and surfaces are important in prevention of the spread of MRSA.

MRSA is fond of locker rooms, gyms and teen boys and girls involved in sports are at particular risk.  Please educate your child about this and educate yourself so you can recognize it and get them treatment right away!  And, if you think about it say a prayer for my Jared until this nasty infection clears up!

After we had been dating for a few months, I felt like our relationship was established enough to suggest that he go to the doctor.  He said, “I don’t have one”.  At twenty-three, he hadn’t been to the doctor since he was a child.

And at twenty-three you feel kinda awkward going to the pediatrician.

I found the man a doctor and he was diagnosed with a bleeding ulcer.  Antibiotics, antacids and changes in diet and how he handled stress made him better and within six months he gained 30 pounds and stopped looking emaciated.

You would think that would be enough of a personal success story to make my hubby a believer in seeing the doctor regularly.  Notsomuch!

I still have to nag strongly encourage each time he needs to go.  I get him to go maybe every other year.  He has had two inguinal hernias and getting him to agree to surgery was as difficult as scaling Mt. Everest.

So, as you can imagine, when I learned of this important campaign called Dad to the Doc, I had to participate.

As wives (and daughters and sisters and friends) we are the people that will get the men in our lives to take care of their health.  That is a responsibility we need to take seriously!

Visit Dad to the Doc and send the men in your life an e-card that encourages them to take care of their health.

Encourage your father, hubby and brothers to take the Healthy Man quiz here.

Have the men you know visit ahrq.gov/healthymen, which provides recommended ages for preventive medical tests, a health care quiz designed to test knowledge of preventive health care, tips for talking with doctors, a glossary of consumer health terms, and links to online resources to find more medical information.  Also, keep an eye out for the new PSA’s encouraging dad’s to take care of their health.

Did you know that new research has found that men are 31 percent less likely than women to have visited a doctor within the past year?  In fact, men report making fewer routine health care appointments compared with women (56.5 percent vs. 73.8 percent).
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) and the Ad Council are launching a new movement on behalf of their national public service advertising campaign designed to encourage middle-age men to learn which preventive medical tests they need to get and when to get them. 

National Men’s Health Week is June 14-20th.  Let’s commit to taking the health of the men in our lives seriously and convincing them to do the same!

Thank you to Global Influence for making me aware of this important campaign!

Atrophy (according to Wikipedia) is the partial or complete wasting away of a part of the body (in this case my left leg).

God has a whole post about atrophy in His body (the church) swirling around in my brain.  But, that will come at another time.

This post is about how God speaks to us.  He didn’t just speak to people in Bible times and then stop.  His Holy Spirit lives in us and guides us- if we listen.

Yesterday, returning from the doctor I was not in a happy place.  Trying to digest the fact that my muscle is atrophy-ing (no idea if that is a word) and they don’t know why and they don’t know how to stop it was overwhelming.  Making the appointments for all the tests they want to do to figure out the cause of the problem was overwhelming.  Trying to figure out how to discuss all this with my husband without him panicking was overwhelming.  Letting myself think of how unfair it is to have MS, Lupus and now- something else causing this issue- was overwhelming.

I had brought my Bible along for the ride (cause I can’t drive right now) but couldn’t bring myself to open it.  I did, however, turn on the radio and one of my favorite songs that we sing at church came on.  The song is “I will Rise” by Chris Tomlin.  There are many words that instantly touched my heart but here is the line that grabbed my soul:

There’s a peace I’ve come to know
Though my heart and flesh may fail
There’s an anchor for my soul
I can say “It is well”

Jesus has overcome
And the grave is overwhelmed
The victory is won
He is risen from the dead

Overwhelmed?  How about the fact that Jesus overwhelmed the grave?  That is overwhelming, not my temporary, temporal circumstances.

Feeling still a tad angry, I said to God “help me”.  And three words came to my mind (and I know that I know that I know God put them there)

Check your medications.

Clear as day and something that none of my doctor’s had bothered to do.  As soon as I got home I googled muscle wasting and the names of my medications.  Second med I typed in had a big warning about this problem.  Not trusting myself, I called my pharmacy.  My pharmacist researched it, called me back and said “Call your doctor right now.  You need to have some blood work done”.

Yes, I have called my doctor and yes, they are on top of it.

But, isn’t God awesome?  And, what if I had continued in my overwhelming pity party and not reached out to Him?  Would I have heard that still, small voice?

Hearing God is a finer thing!

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.

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.

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.