One of My New Favs

San Antonio

Finally I am going back to visit Texas...the best state ever!  : )  Ok, I know that will start some trouble but I thought it would be funny to say!  I am getting to go on a last minute trip to SA to visit some dear friends.  How awesome is that right?!  I am very excited and thankful to Matt,  who bought me this ticket, and my friend Bekah who is taking care of the kiddos.  Side note, Bekah is a single 23 year old who has very little babysitting experience.....can we say "birth control."  She will never want kids after next week!  : )  So I have a confession....I am struggling a little with this trip.  Once again it is the "what ifs."  What if I get sick because of the heat?  What if it is hard to leave like it was last time?  What if my friends don't like this "new" me?  These are all so ridiculous I know!  I was telling my father-in-law my "what ifs" and he had a very wise answer for me.  He said you are inward focused...how about being more outward focused.  You (me) need to go there wanting to serve others not worried about yourself.  That is why I love that man....he has great advice!  

Snoring

We have 5 loud snorers in my family (the two that don't are me and my 14 yr old)  So my 7 year old asks me if he snores....and I answer yes buddy you do.  So he thinks for a minute and says back....you know mommy, papa snores louder than anyone I know...so loud you can hear it thru two rooms.....so I think he taught daddy to snore and now daddy is teaching me.  : )

Top 7 List

These are just fun things I want/can do again when this flare up ends and I am "normal" again....

7.  Finally get a pedicure....ahhhhhhhhh....need I say more! : )

6.  Won't have to say "Don't touch mommy's legs/feet" anymore.  That is getting old!  I am not angry about it, I just want to be able to have my kiddos jump on me and it not feel like a major injury.  So after saying it to one of my 9 yr olds she asks, "Mommy, if I lick your feet will that hurt?"  Gross, right?!

5.  No more meds.  This is a two parter.  One, the meds make my stomach sick sometimes and two they make me talk different and act different.  Sometimes I make no sense at all, or I might just spill my water and have no idea I did it!

4.  Run more 1/2 marathons and maybe some fun 5Ks.  I am so addicted.  Indy was so fun.  I really want to be thankful for that experience and not be greedy for more but I am struggling! 

3.  To have my children see healing and that they can pray for someone else.  Their little hearts have been so sweet to watch as they constantly pray for me.  My 7 year old runs in my room and I am in bed not feeling well last week.  He wraps his arms around my neck and prays "Dear God, heal my mom Lord Father (He seriously says Lord, God, or Father 20 times in this prayer).  Thank you for this day.  You are God and that is never going to change. Amen"  Then he runs back out.  Too cute!

2.  Wear my Toms again.  (My feet burn and go crazy in shoes or socks.)  After Yellow Box Sandals these are my fav.  www.toms.com  Plus since they give a child a pair of shoes for each pair you buy it is more like a ministry...or at least that is what I try to get Matt to believe!  : ) 

1.  Be able to sleep on my side.  I have been sleeping on my back ONLY since the first week of April!

If I think of any more silly things I will post them.  : )

Magic Mouthwash

I thought I would let ya'll know the recipe for "Magic Mouthwash."  Why?  Cuz even with insurance that silly thing cost me $35.50 for a little bottle!  It is equal parts of milk of magnesia, benedryl, and lidocaine.  Sounds yummy, right?!  Your food taste gross BUT it numbs your entire mouth and your lips.  : )  fyi.....you can only buy lidocaine online thru Canadian pharmacies....or at least that is the only way we found.  So I guess that means I will be going back to Walgreens if I need a refill! 

Indy Mini - Race Day Pics

In case you missed my update to the "God is Good!" post here are the pics I wanted to share with y'all...

Before the Race w/great friends Jay and Terri

During the race at Mile 4 w/Terri (Jay was at 10 Mile...he's a stud!)

After the race!!!!

What's next?

As I have been walking through this journey, the one thing I have wanted to keep a hold on is my closeness with Christ.  I want His Spirit in me to stay strong.  A few days after the marathon I was talking to a friend about this and saying I was wondering what was next for me.  Well God didn't make me wait to find out!!!  That same day I felt this small bump on the roof of my mouth and thought I must of just burned it...no big deal.  I ended up going to a dentist two days later because the entire roof of my mouth was raw and I couldn't eat at all.  He then referred me to an oral surgeon who told me there is nothing to do but wait.....this is becoming a pattern in my life.  I wonder if God wants me to learn patience?!  : )  He wasn't sure if this was related to my other issues in my spine.  To add to this mouth thing I was literally hot one minute, actually sweating...then the next I was freezing. I also was nauseous, dizzy, and lightheaded all day....basically had to stay in bed.  This was from Monday until yesterday.  Not a great week by most people's standards.  Oh, I forgot to add that the oral surgeon gave me this "Magic Mouthwash" (actually called that) so I can gargle it before eating to numb my mouth.  It does numb it but it tastes horrible and makes all my food taste the same way!  So that is the background to what I am wanting to really write about.  I am so thankful I had such a hard week...it was one of the hardest so far.  I had been slipping away from the Lord.  The medicine I am taking helps me walk now so I slowly started getting back into the "busyness" of life.  Not huge things, but big enough that I was not spending enough time with Him.  That changed my behavior, my attitude towards Matt and the kids, and towards others.  I was in bed crying (which I think I have done more of these past couple weeks than in my entire life!!), and just begging for healing from everything and my friend then told me this is your answered prayer.  What?!  She so nicely reminded me I had asked "What's next?" a few days ago.  At first I was like whatever, but then a little later I realized she was right.  God loves me so much that he slowed me down again.  He didn't let me go weeks or months or years and slip away.  After a few days He brought me back.  I am praying that if He is tugging on any one's heart right now that you will come back to Him.  His love is unbelievable and so is His joy and peace.  Nothing in this world could ever beat it!!  : )