A JOYFUL NOISE

I know that traditionally in December, I send out my Christmas card along with a letter about my year and maybe even a photo. This year, I didn't get around to finding the correct card or writing a letter in time before the year ended; so this is why I write this post--- just to let you all know I appreciate your friendship and love once again this past year. I continue to struggle with my physical pain and low energy. I still can't work full time and sometimes even helping my mom around the house takes a toll on me... my pain level increases and sometimes so bad that I have lay down for a good while. You will read about some of my trips I made over the year. It wasn't easy at times with my constant pain, but God gave me strength to enjoy time I was able to spend with friends and family. Throughout the beginning of the year, I continued to go through tests after tests to figure out or rule out things that could be an underlying cause of all this pain. It wasn't ...

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite time of year as well as my favorite holiday. I love fall... the changes of the leaves, the smell of fall air, the change in time, etc. A time to really reflect on the blessings God has bestowed upon me and the blessings yet to come. Yes. Fall. A wonderful holiday. It's no surprise that this year, Thanksgiving, again is my favorite time of year. But tonight. Tonight is Christmas Eve. I seldom ever go out on Christmas Eve by myself, but this year I was blessed to be part of the worship team on Christmas Eve and again tomorrow....Christmas Day. I love the songs of the season. Every year around this time, I do my annual "tradition". I listen to Christmas music on the radio or my iPod/MP3 player as I do chores around the house or do my crocheting, or reading my books. I go into the "back" of my closet and take out my 3 Christmas movies that has a touching story behind it. I watch them. I cry. I hope for a bet...

As most of you all know, I've struggled with health issues all my life. Recently in the past 3-5 years I have had stomach pains that has left me unable to work; I can barely do much of anything without feeling the affects it has on my body. It's been quit depressing. MY GI doctor has done all he could over the past 5 years and with all of the GI tests coming back negative (except for the gastroperesis coming back positive) as well as most of the medications not working, the GI doctor was ats the end of the road. The only thing the GI doctors thought it could be was over active neuro-pathways leading to and into my stomach area They referred me to the pain management clinic at UVA. UVA is really the only hospital I would go to do get anything major done. I've been a patient there for 32 years and will continue to be a patient there. Today I saw my pain management doctor, Dr Johnson. She seems very nice and very willing to help. It was agreed that I was showi...