A JOYFUL NOISE

 I haven't updated for a couple of weeks mainly because I feel as if I sound like a broken record, repeating myself over and over again.   Nothing really is "new" with me.   I started physical therapy last Monday (8/12) for my neck and clavicle.  My neurologist feels that it is worth a try because he believes that the pain that is shooting in my neck can cause the pain I feel in the back of my head; which at times is very very agonizing.  It feels as if someone is taking two bricks and trying to smash my head together.  PT is 1-2 times a week and so far I've only had two treatments.  I'm going to Augusta Health for therapy and really enjoy the staff there.  I've had PT there several times before and love the staff there, and decided to keep going there (plus it's only 15 min away from my home).  Right now, they are only doing gentle massages; and from there I'm not sure where it will progress to....

You have often heard of me talk about my honorary grandparents, Warren and Erma Johnson; and how much they mean to me and still mean to me.  Sometimes I can still feel his arms around me when I'm scared, or her hands brushing my hair from my face, wiping my tears away after the doctor has "hurt" me after a procedure or when I'm crying.   There isn't a day that goes by that I don't miss them.   Some days are worse than others.... like today. Today, my parents and I went to a celebratory of life gathering for Warren and Erma's youngest son, James Kirk, who passed away on 7/27 due to complicated health issues.   Apart from Warren, I adored Kirk more than ever.  He was my favorite of all their children; and that's not because he "knew" Mickey Mouse.  Kirk loved people and loved life.  When he met you, you would instantly bond with him.  He felt your pain when you were hurting and always put other's needs before his own....

For the past 3 weeks, I have been going through pretty severe head/neck pain.  It's been discouraging because sometimes Vicodin didn't work.  What is challenging for me is my sleeping position.   You see, I have a hospital bed (I like to call it an "elevated" bed); that I have for my breathing issues.  It helps me to sleep elevated to ease my breathing, so that I don't get a breathing attack (where I stop breathing) if my head isn't raised up.   However, now with my head/neck  issues, being raised up, actually hurts my head more. *sigh*.   I'm trying to compromise  my sleeping position by lowering the head a little and sleeping on two pillows; which helps some, but it's still pretty painful at nights. I take my Vicodin at night before I sleep and sometimes my relaxant medication as well.  It's just been tough. Sometimes I feel there is just too much going on in my life.  Things such as old ...

The past few days (meaning since Saturday), has been really rough on me physically as well as emotionally.....ok, ok, you got me; the past WEEK was more emotionally draining on me but the past few days was more physically draining on me. In my last post I shared with you about how VBS was very therapeutic for me.  It really was and I'm so glad that I went.  I'm also still very much at peace about my decision about staying here at the States this year instead of going to East Asia for the missions trip.   But there is one thing I didn't share with you that was a hard thing that my heart was going through last week during VBS.   The same day, I sent an email about to the leader about my decision of not going to East Asia, I received a Facebook message that a dear sweet friend of the family passed away.  He was too young to pass away.  Kirk is the son of my honorary grandparents, Warren and Erma Johnson, whom I have written about a few t...

In my previous post, I shared with you that my time with the boys and girls at VBS was wonderful; not just having time with them and helping them learn, but also reminding me about God's love.  It also revealed something to me as well.  It revealed to me that things do happen for a reason and that a certain choice I made the previous week was definitely in God's providence. Background Some of you may know of my plans to join a team at Cov-Pres to go to East Asia for a short term mission trip for a little less than 2 weeks.   I felt that God was really calling me to serve in this area and I was getting ready and all excited.  Concerns about my health arose from the leaders of the trip and I assured them that I would be okay.   Same concerns came up from my Mom; I began to second guess myself.  I talked to one of the leaders of the trip and he told me to take time with my decision; but I had a few days before the plane tickets were...

This past week, July 29-August 2, God's church Covenant Presbyterian Church  in Harrisonburg, Va hosted about 500+ children from the surrounding area and churches.   I think this was by far the greatest amount of children ever to be part of Vacation Bible school.  How wonderful is that? I  never had the opportunity to be part of VBS.  Mostly because of distance and my physical issues.   This year, I decided I didn't want any of my physical issues (though they may have seemed to keep getting worse) to be a factor this year for me to sign up to be part of VBS!   The distance issues (I live 45 minutes away) was quickly resolved when my best friend said I could stay with her in the Harrisonburg area during the week of VBS.   Although I knew that at times my physical issues could play a role, I prayed that the 9a-12p time slot wouldn't be a "bad chunck of time" for me physically. Before I go on, let me share one secret abou...