A JOYFUL NOISE

Today is Thanksgiving.   All of November I have been posting each day about what I am thankful for on Facebook.   I plan to continue this through the end of December, except that I plan to change December to "my Treasures of Christmas" which in many ways is the same thing as what I am thankful for. I've been through so much this year.  I've had a lot of physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional hurdles that even now is lingering on and burying themselves into my heart and body.  I try not to complain.......People (including doctors) remind me about how long my year has been and believe me, no one knows as much as I do. I can go on and on listing my thrones this year.   Thrones such as: more than one or two UVA appointments a month countless MRIs or CTs scans many invasive testings/surgeries hearing  of "we don't know the answers" being referred from one doctor to another feeling hopeless, helpless, fearful  Deaths of friends News tha...

A few nights ago, I had an unusual dream .  I was dreaming that I was up front on stage at church (Covenant Presbyterian) with a few members of the worship team, our Pastor of Worship, and our ASP kids, and ASP leader.   All of us were positioning ourselves upfront to get ready to help the ASP do their annual Christmas program.   As I was trying to stand up front (with my back facing the audience) to help the children, my foot slipped and I fell.  Not sure how that happened, but I fell.   Two people cane to my aide to help me get up. Once I got up and they let go of me, I fell AGAIN.  I was horrified, but I refused to step away and sit down.  I even went as far as to take my shoes off but I still kept falling, repeatedly; I refused to hold on to anything or anyone.......  that's when I woke up and realized it was just a dream....... It's interesting the lessons we can learn from our dreams.   I was reminded once again th...

"Look at me Yeeyee.....look!! I'm soooo strong!"   My niece Caitlyn said as she showed off her muscles to me after eating all her asparagus my mom put on her plate.   "Wow Catie...you are strong!!! Good for you for eating all your asparagus! Mama and Daddy will be proud of you!   Caitlyn asks me if she will be just as strong as her daddy.   She hopes to one day; I tell her she needs to eat healthy and eat her meats and veggies (which she does well).   Last weekend she knew I wasn't feeling well, she told me the pot was too heavy for me to put away so she said " no Becky, I will put it away, it's too heavy for you.. you can rest." *Sigh*, if only strength were as easy as eating your veggies and depending on a 4 year old to put away a pot.    But this is not the strength I'm talking about.    I'm talking about the struggles that seems to suffocate me daily.    I'm reminded  by the words of Matthew ...

When I was in grade school,  I was introduced to a kids "storyteller" and songwriter pseudo-name "Patch the Pirate".  Then growing up into into a teenager, I eventually got into the songs of his real name of Patch, who is named Ron Hamilton.   A lot of his songs have stuck with me for many years from late teens to even now, though I've forgotten many of his songs. My parents enjoy listen to the BBN radio station probably because of the traditional songs they play.  Once in a while they will play songs from Ron Hamilton.  Recently I heard one of his songs that I haven't heard in a very very long time.   It is called How Can I Fear?    I found a copy of this song in one of my sister's songbooks.  As I listened to the song, it really helped me realized that I should try harder to really keep my faith in Christ, though hard it may be. God is with me, no matter what.  In the dark, when I'm alone, when I face the unknown; He's ever...

Since my illness has seem to have taken a huge plunge recently, many people has asked me what I like to do, or how do I spend my days since I can't work.  I've taken up a lot of hobbies.  I've greatly enjoyed things such as scrapbooking, reading books (nonfiction and fiction) as well as crocheting.  I've crocheted a bunch of scarves (and sold them) wchich has been fun and a good way to make extra money.   I read a lot and at times, yes, watch movies and old TV shows here or there.  I try to help around the house when I can and as much as I can    But what I enjoy most is singing, and listening to music.   I sometimes listen to music and sing while I do other things such as dusting.  I'll take out my guitar and pick at the strings and "try" to remember how to play (I've not be disciplined enough to keep up with my guitar playing or even my little-know-how piano playing).  When I'm really feeling "well"/"good" I'll dance to my...

These Last few weeks has been very stressful for me both emotionally and physically.   I would love to share it with you all, but for now, all I ask is prayers.  Only a handful of people knows the situation, including my Pastors.  God knows the situations and hears our prayers. Last Thursday, I had not one but two people call me and ask me a similar question.  I was expecting one of the person's phone call but  not the other one.   Don't get me wrong, I was glad and always will be glad to be able to help others out and talk to people when they need help or comfort.  These two people doesn't know each other.  They don't know one another situation, their outlook on life is very different; their faith and belief in God is different. So, what is common in all 3 of us ladies?   Pain......Daily pain.   One of us has been struggling for a good while (Friend A) .   Two of us has been struggling for years...

So, it has come to my attention that I have confused a lot of people with my health issues; both "current" /ongoing and past/present/enduring health issues.  Confused still?  Yeah, I can imagine.   Let me help you out.  Well, my life long battle illness (which is most likely the root cause of most of my other illnesses) is called neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF) , which is a genetic disorder that forms tumors that causes abnormal growths in certain areas (such as the the face, ears, mouth, neck, spine, etc).  It can also cause dark and abnormal skin discoloration. Most of the time, these tumors are non-cancerous and by God's grace, I haven't had any that are cancerous.   Some of the tumor are painful in areas, especially in areas near the spine and face.   I've undergone EXTENSIVE surgeries as a child to treat these conditions including countless skin grafts to repair the dead skin/skin discoloration by having skin grafts.  I've had countless ...