Goodbye 2008...

Granted, this was written VERY late at night so I am certain MUCH was left out. But here's a synopsis of my Transpirations in 2008...

In 2008 I:
-learned more than I wanted about radiation, chemotherapy, (including the fact that a hot pack on the puncture cite BEFORE the needle goes in really helps!), Boniva, Procrit, Megase, Ron's Rum and drug interactions
- was in my dear friend Julie's wedding!
- was diagnosed with Chiari Malformation
- started taking neurontin & an occasional vicadin
- had vascular & nerve conduction testing
- encouraged my friend Babu CJ to start Asha Mission Society. Was honored by his request to be on his board & act as Treasurer
- saw Wicked!
- proudly watched my cousin Becca graduate with her RN
- proudly watched (via the internet) as my surrogate child Navi graduated with her BS in Psyc
- visited Disney... Twice! (Once alone & once with Keith a Heather!)
- had my heart broken by someone in leadership
- learned that pre-planning for funerals is really worth it
- saw my friends the Brunnstrom's twice! Once here and once in Denmark!
- was painfully disappointed by the much hyped Indiana Jones movie
- had a weird throat thing that felt like someone was stepping on my throat. Dr's said it was stress induced. Go figure.
- woke up one morning deaf in my right ear. Dr found that the pressure inside my head was greater than what is outside (they should be equal.)
- went 3 weeks with NO sugar
- started gettin therapuetic massage 2x a week - yes, Patty is awesome & yes, she's accepting new clients!
- saw Bethany, Ben & sweet Violetta a couple of times!
- learned a lot about end of life care
- fell deeper in love with my selfless family - they sacrificed all to provide great care for mom in her final days
- watched my mom slip into eternity
- was so thankful that Pastor Thomas could officiate mom's beautiful memorial service
- lost former beloved Music Pastor Larry Ferguson
- spent a lot of quality time with my pseudo-twin, Keith
- lost 34 pounds!!!
- went to INDIA!
- fell in love with the kids at Asha Mission Society Children's home in Bijwasan, Delhi, India!
- was surprised by a different kind of love
- daily fall more and more in love with Palwesh!
- was relieved of chronic Chiari Malformation symptoms that had required daily doses of vicadin!!
- had my heart ripped out as I left my beloved country, children and boyfriend
- visited Copenhagen
- visited Mariager
- visited Korsor
- spent Kathrina's birthday with her!
- went to Homecoming at Liberty University
- arrived home just in time for Missions Convention at first Assembly!
- was sad when my Disney pass expired =•(
- went with Dad to a Family Reunion in GA
- had Thanksgiving with friends and family at my house
- was diagnosed with vitiligo
- started experiencing bad low back pain. Had first MRI = bulging, protruding disks with annular tears
- took a wee tumble that apparently hurt my back more than I realized
- enjoyed outdoor Christmas movie night at Inna & Sanelli's
- organized & attended our first ever monthly restaurant outing with 13 people!
- constantly thanked the Lord for the remarkably rapid progress in getting Palwesh's paperwork done so he can come to the states!
- made history with my collard greens at the Admin. Staff luncheon (oh yeah!)
- rejoiced with dad when I learned that he is getting some relief from the pains in his legs with the help of Dr. Sievert!
- met up with my little sisters closest friend, Jamie, from childhood. Found out that Angie is a key reason that Jamie is a Christ follower today! Wow!
- spent time with amazing friends
- realized my puppy, Hadi, is getting old (she'll be 10 on Jan. 6th)
- had a second MRI - not sure of the results yet
- was told today to not "live beneath your spiritual promises" - great rule to live by...

While not all inclusive, I think this gives a pretty nifty timeline of my 2008 - how was yours?

What if He hadn't come?

Have you ever stopped to imagine how life would be different if we were still awaiting the arrival of the Infant King?

If the path of the Old Testament held fast, the crooked vendors outside our places of worship would set governmentally unregulated prices and consistently gouge our wallets for less than adequate animals to take to the priests.

In this do-whatever-I-want-to-do society, there would be no end to the flow of sacrificial blood. Immoral, impure preists would interecede for us and stand before God to make atonement for our sins.

Would we cry out to God to send the Messiah? Would we plead for the New Covenant which would end the rituals and bloodshed of the Old? Would we be watching for a young girl named Mary to make CNN headlines as she claimed to be carrying the Son of God?

Or would we care at all? Would it be too difficult? Would we give up and live as pagans as the Israelites did so often...?

Thank you, Jesus, for freeing us... I celebrate You today...

Quick update...

Just spoke to Palwesh... He has applied for his passport without any problems! PRAISE THE LORD! In about 2 weeks, the police will come & do an inquiry to make sure all of his information is correct - PLEASE keep praying! We're praying that he can be here by Feb.!!! (hopefully sooner!!!)

My 100th post!

It's hard to believe that so much time has passed since my last blog. A lot has been going on and I find I'm getting oncreasingly worse at correspondence. Please forgive me!

I figured on this 100th post I would get you caught up on all my goings on...

Good news first:
Palwesh has successfully gathered all the necessary paperwork (drivers license, birth certificate, etc.) and is applying for his passport this week! (Woohoo!) We have so evidently seen the hand of God through this process... and we praise Him for every small victory!

After a month or so, he should receive his passport. He then will take all of his accumulated paperwork to the attorney in Delhi and he will procure a visa. Whew! It has been a LOT of work for Palwesh to accomplish! Can't wait for everyone to meet him!!

Now for the less-than-good news:

I'll start out with a somewhat humorous story. One of my favorite doctors, Dr. Jim Hogsed (aka "the Voodoo doctor"), and I often laugh about the obscure illnesses I seem to contract. He kids that I keep him studied up on weird case studies & that I should be featured on House!

Well, this time is no different. Since I returned from my trip, I have seen SEVERAL doctors. One of whom was Dr. Vu, a dermatologist. VERY long story short, I have Vitilgo. Yep. You've heard of it. Its the auto-immune disease that Michael Jackson *claims* to have that has turned him white. I, like most REAL people that have it, have white patches all over my body where the skin has lost its pigment. The most prominent spots, unfortunately, are around my eyes. I have been covering it up with makeup for years, not knowing what caused it.
Dr. Vu has put me on a regiment of Protopic ointment & prescription strength hydrocortizone cream that has been known to re-pigment the skin. It supposedly takes a while to work, but we'll see how it goes.

Anyway, that seems to be the least of my worries these days...

After returning from my trip, I started having increasing pain in my right hip/leg/back area so my wonderful chiropractor (Dr. Thomas Sievert, 239-936-1233, in case you're in need of his services!!) sent me for an MRI.

The verdict is I have bulges, protrusions and annular tears in the discs in my lower back. It is TERRIBLY painful and, honestly, today has been THE worst and I don't know why. I'm going to see Dr. Dusseau (neurosurgeon) in the next few weeks to see if there's something surgical that needs to be done. There are times it is fine, then all of a sudden it grabs and feels like electric shock running down my right leg. When it happens, I'm motionless and can't help but whimper outloud... it is NOT fun. Today, I couldn't even get into my car without excruciating pain.

I do not like taking pain medication, but I am having to take it just to function. And today, the pain persisted despite the Vicadin.

You who continue to read this are my faithful friends and family... I'm begging you to pray... I don't know why this is happening, but I KNOW He has a plan! Pray not only for me, but for Palwesh - who hates that he's not here to help me. Pray for Dad because he doesn't know WHAT to do!

Lastly, pray for me... that I exemplify Christ through all of this. Who knows, all of this could be happening because every time I see my neurosurgeon, I am able to plant a seed...

I love you!