Greetings My Friend,
Having a faith journey with Jesus is much like being married to Junior, while Junior was in Michigan we talked, stayed faithful to each other and believed beyond a shadow of a doubt we would come back together united. Just like in marriage I wake up each day, make the decision that I will stay committed to my belief that Jesus is my Savior. The time apart taught us lessons, Junior stayed with our niece and nephew, visited his cousin and some friends from the neighborhood he lived in for sometime as a youngster. The get together of the friends allowed Junior to remember a few good memories from a very troubled childhood and I believe he made peace with it. While Junior was gone I got to hang out with some good girl friends, I learned I can rely on these friends as we got together for some fun. Debbie and Terrie both did not mind picking me up, taking me to church and shopping, for me this is one of the rare times I have gone out without Junior since moving down here. I learned that I can handle my day to day life on my own as well, I made my meals, kept up with laundry, dishes, making the bed etc. When I 1st began my faith journey I learned that God held my hand, guiding me, allowing me to cry, gave me hugs and what not. One day I felt God taking His hand off of me, patted me on the back and gently pushed me back into life. At first I was afraid but I took that step and was surprised I could actually do it and soon I found myself confident. I was in a conversation recently with a woman who is in a bad relationship, she has lost her confidence due to being told constantly how worthless she is. I told her I knew the feeling and she asked me if I was confident, I told her I was but it was not my confidence, my confidence comes from Jesus. Thirty years ago I would not make a decision about anything, I did not think I could survive on my own etc. Today I talk to anyone without fear, I ask questions all the time in Sunday school or Bible study, at one time I never did. God put me with Junior who taught me that I am a smart woman with many valuable traits. I am a detail person, Junior is a big picture person together we are a great team. When I make a mistake Junior does not berate me which helped me to try new things. God has done the same thing with me, He keeps showing me He created me with special talents, gifts and encourages me to do what I am gifted at. He has shown me where pride was detracting from the gift I had and showed me how to let go of pride, to aim for the heart of my gift. I used to want to be a famous writer, speaker, today all I want is to touch a heart, show them they are capable of walking away from bad relationships, can work even with a handicap and so on. Junior's trip to Michigan gave me the opportunity to see that I still can do many things on my own and in the areas where I can't, God has given me friends to be an assist. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet
Thursday, August 31, 2017
Tuesday, August 29, 2017
August 29, 2017
Greetings My Friend,
The weekend of hanging out with friends, Debbien Boogie and Terrie is over and I realize I took on too much, although I would do it again. My weekend of fun reminds me of my inability to hang tough anymore and those 2 days brought on a couple of days to regroup. Saturday I spent going out to eat with Debbie and Boogie, then we shopped till we dropped which was only 2 stores. I found several good buys at the thrift store for my new wardrobe of wearing dresses only. As I bring home the dresses, I get rid of more clothes that is in my closet right now. Junior built the closet when we moved into our 1920's farm house since most people back then did not have a closet. The bedroom we are in is going to be the spare bedroom and in the future the other bedroom will become our master bedroom so he built the closets rather small, smaller than the 1950's closets. The longer I live with this tiny closet I find I don't really want to own a ton of clothes anymore. My habit has become, when I buy new clothes, I go through my closet and donate the same amount of clothes I will be putting into the closet, this way my closet does not get over crowded. When Junior gets around to renovating the other bedroom my thought is I don't want a closet any bigger than the one I have now, I have even felt it would be nice to get an antique wardrobe instead of building a closet. I was over tired when I got in so I put some lavender oil in the difuser, made a cup of chamomile tea which began to relax me. I was over excited from all the fun we had and this helped me settle down so I could get to sleep. Terrie showed up Sunday morning to take me to church, I hung out with Terrie after church at her house until evening Bible study. I loved that time as well. We talked, her eyes did not glaze over like Junior's do from all the chatter I had, in fact Terrie had as much chatter as I did. What was nice about being at Terrie's is we hung out in the recliner's Terrie even found a blanket and a pillow for me to snuggle in. I find snuggling in with a blanket when relaxing to be almost like comfort food to me, kind of like mashed potatoes when I am stressed. After evening Bible study was over and I was home again I felt the "crash" starting to hit me. I cat napped all evening, I could not stay awake if I wanted to, eventually I woke up for a couple of hours before I went to bed. This is the point I realized that I am not able to travel like I used to. I had the tiredness of the end of a vacation after 2 days of crazy running and I knew that I had made the right decision to not go with Junior to Michigan. Monday found me sleeping late, I had a little more energy to get a few jobs done then I slept for several hours, waking up from my nap took awhile to get awake although I still had a need to sit on the recliner. Many people deal with chronic fatigue that have chronic illness like I have with my Parkinson's disease. People that don't understand the exhaustion we feel and think we are lazy, trying to get out of work, or want attention. The fact is we fight hard to be energetic, we miss being involved in life like we once were. Many of us learn to manage our energy, like not going shopping all day or hanging out with a friend or traveling. I can stay home, manage my activity level and still have days where I can barely get off the couch. I knew I was going to crash when I set up my girlfriend dates but it was worth the exhaustion. Debbie, Boogie and Terrie all struggle with chronic fatigue too, we all have chronic illnesses so we understand when we have to cancel plans at the last minute. Debbie has asthma extreme asthma, Boogie is older is slowing down and has health issues while Terrie has diabetes, each of these illnesses all have chronic fatigue problems as well. I will take it easy for awhile I know that I will get that desire to travel, go out for a fun few days, I am still young enough to want to have time outs from day to day routines and I also know when I go hard I will crash and I am okay with it, the memories are worth it to me. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet
The weekend of hanging out with friends, Debbien Boogie and Terrie is over and I realize I took on too much, although I would do it again. My weekend of fun reminds me of my inability to hang tough anymore and those 2 days brought on a couple of days to regroup. Saturday I spent going out to eat with Debbie and Boogie, then we shopped till we dropped which was only 2 stores. I found several good buys at the thrift store for my new wardrobe of wearing dresses only. As I bring home the dresses, I get rid of more clothes that is in my closet right now. Junior built the closet when we moved into our 1920's farm house since most people back then did not have a closet. The bedroom we are in is going to be the spare bedroom and in the future the other bedroom will become our master bedroom so he built the closets rather small, smaller than the 1950's closets. The longer I live with this tiny closet I find I don't really want to own a ton of clothes anymore. My habit has become, when I buy new clothes, I go through my closet and donate the same amount of clothes I will be putting into the closet, this way my closet does not get over crowded. When Junior gets around to renovating the other bedroom my thought is I don't want a closet any bigger than the one I have now, I have even felt it would be nice to get an antique wardrobe instead of building a closet. I was over tired when I got in so I put some lavender oil in the difuser, made a cup of chamomile tea which began to relax me. I was over excited from all the fun we had and this helped me settle down so I could get to sleep. Terrie showed up Sunday morning to take me to church, I hung out with Terrie after church at her house until evening Bible study. I loved that time as well. We talked, her eyes did not glaze over like Junior's do from all the chatter I had, in fact Terrie had as much chatter as I did. What was nice about being at Terrie's is we hung out in the recliner's Terrie even found a blanket and a pillow for me to snuggle in. I find snuggling in with a blanket when relaxing to be almost like comfort food to me, kind of like mashed potatoes when I am stressed. After evening Bible study was over and I was home again I felt the "crash" starting to hit me. I cat napped all evening, I could not stay awake if I wanted to, eventually I woke up for a couple of hours before I went to bed. This is the point I realized that I am not able to travel like I used to. I had the tiredness of the end of a vacation after 2 days of crazy running and I knew that I had made the right decision to not go with Junior to Michigan. Monday found me sleeping late, I had a little more energy to get a few jobs done then I slept for several hours, waking up from my nap took awhile to get awake although I still had a need to sit on the recliner. Many people deal with chronic fatigue that have chronic illness like I have with my Parkinson's disease. People that don't understand the exhaustion we feel and think we are lazy, trying to get out of work, or want attention. The fact is we fight hard to be energetic, we miss being involved in life like we once were. Many of us learn to manage our energy, like not going shopping all day or hanging out with a friend or traveling. I can stay home, manage my activity level and still have days where I can barely get off the couch. I knew I was going to crash when I set up my girlfriend dates but it was worth the exhaustion. Debbie, Boogie and Terrie all struggle with chronic fatigue too, we all have chronic illnesses so we understand when we have to cancel plans at the last minute. Debbie has asthma extreme asthma, Boogie is older is slowing down and has health issues while Terrie has diabetes, each of these illnesses all have chronic fatigue problems as well. I will take it easy for awhile I know that I will get that desire to travel, go out for a fun few days, I am still young enough to want to have time outs from day to day routines and I also know when I go hard I will crash and I am okay with it, the memories are worth it to me. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet
Saturday, August 26, 2017
August 26, 2017Ap
Greetings My Friend,
It is Sunday as I write and in 2 hours I will get ready to go to church. This week my friend Terrie is taking me to church and then back to Bible study tonight because Junior is up in Michigan for a few days. Going to church is important to me although I have to admit when I am without Junior it is difficult to go alone. I am able to more so these days than in my previous marriage although this will be the first time that I go without Junior in 19 years. Terrie is picking me up then keeping me for lunch and will bring me back to Bible study tonight so going with a friend is easier. I have had a conversation going on inside my brain about the silliness of not going to church, the family of believers I have grown with over the last 8 years or so. These people celebrated when I was baptized, visited me when I had my appendix out at the hospital and I have shared many potluck dinners and holidays with this church family so why is it hard to go without Junior? God loves me, knows me deeply and so goes the conversation in my head. I am lost when I can't attend services, I have gone since a young child and Sunday's are not complete or my week right until I take time to corporately worship the Lord. My Sunday worship time is as important to me as my morning shower only I feel cleansed each week, prepared to face the new week in the Lord with Sunday morning time in corporate worship. I have had time to do Bible study already so I am even more filled with the love of Jesus and the direction God is leading me in. My prayers last night and this morning found me thanking God for Debbie and Boogie, for Terrie coming beside me while Junior is away. Yesterday I went shopping with Debbie and Boogie, had lunch at Apple Bee's and shopped until we dropped. Today after church Terrie is making us stuffed sweet peppers for lunch, something I have not eaten in forever and then she is taking me to Bible study tonight. Terrie even volunteered to let me bring Daisy by her house while we are at church and her friend will watch her so that I will have my little side kick along side of me all afternoon. I feel so blessed and loved and I know that God has aligned all of this for my good. If I drove, I do believe that I would be able to go to church alone if I had to and I am grateful that God has shown me that I am precious whether I am alone or with someone. Tonight when all is done, I will come home to the houseful of fur babies to take care of, feed, put drops in Cinnamon's ear, and clean out the litter box. Here too I am reminded that I am important to my babies as well. God wants me near Him, at home, out in the world and in church. He reminds me again that He loved me so much that He sent His only Son into the world.....May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet
It is Sunday as I write and in 2 hours I will get ready to go to church. This week my friend Terrie is taking me to church and then back to Bible study tonight because Junior is up in Michigan for a few days. Going to church is important to me although I have to admit when I am without Junior it is difficult to go alone. I am able to more so these days than in my previous marriage although this will be the first time that I go without Junior in 19 years. Terrie is picking me up then keeping me for lunch and will bring me back to Bible study tonight so going with a friend is easier. I have had a conversation going on inside my brain about the silliness of not going to church, the family of believers I have grown with over the last 8 years or so. These people celebrated when I was baptized, visited me when I had my appendix out at the hospital and I have shared many potluck dinners and holidays with this church family so why is it hard to go without Junior? God loves me, knows me deeply and so goes the conversation in my head. I am lost when I can't attend services, I have gone since a young child and Sunday's are not complete or my week right until I take time to corporately worship the Lord. My Sunday worship time is as important to me as my morning shower only I feel cleansed each week, prepared to face the new week in the Lord with Sunday morning time in corporate worship. I have had time to do Bible study already so I am even more filled with the love of Jesus and the direction God is leading me in. My prayers last night and this morning found me thanking God for Debbie and Boogie, for Terrie coming beside me while Junior is away. Yesterday I went shopping with Debbie and Boogie, had lunch at Apple Bee's and shopped until we dropped. Today after church Terrie is making us stuffed sweet peppers for lunch, something I have not eaten in forever and then she is taking me to Bible study tonight. Terrie even volunteered to let me bring Daisy by her house while we are at church and her friend will watch her so that I will have my little side kick along side of me all afternoon. I feel so blessed and loved and I know that God has aligned all of this for my good. If I drove, I do believe that I would be able to go to church alone if I had to and I am grateful that God has shown me that I am precious whether I am alone or with someone. Tonight when all is done, I will come home to the houseful of fur babies to take care of, feed, put drops in Cinnamon's ear, and clean out the litter box. Here too I am reminded that I am important to my babies as well. God wants me near Him, at home, out in the world and in church. He reminds me again that He loved me so much that He sent His only Son into the world.....May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet
Thursday, August 24, 2017
August 24, 2017
Greetings My Friend,
It was Wednesday and I wanted to go grocery shopping before Junior left for Michigan for a few days, on the way to the grocery store we realized that it was Wednesday and we wanted to start going to prayer meetings at church on Wednesday. This was the 2nd week of attempting to make Wednesday night part of our weekly schedule and we forgot until we got into town. Luckily we were early so we did our shopping and then went over to the church and was able to pray along with the other people who come to the prayer meeting. One of the things I get discouraged with my chronic illness is that I am not dependable anymore. It takes me longer to get up and get moving these days, some days I am extremely tired so I need to sleep more and making a commitment is difficult. I do feel I am able to handle Wednesday night prayer meetings now and I am attempting to go with Junior, I value the opportunity to be with other believers and to stay close to God in my faith walk. I socialize on line quite a bit and prayerfully my faith walk comes through in my interactions online. The next place I am these days is shopping mainly grocery shopping so I pray that my words, the interaction with Junior are a light that shines for God's glory. I can't travel well anymore so I can't be a witness to God's love to others and volunteering or working are not possible either so I use what avenues I have available to me to be a witness for Jesus. I can feel God's hand on me as I struggle with Parkinson's, He is teaching me how to manage my symptoms, to keep a positive outlook instead of giving into depression even if it means that my anxiety medication needs to be adjusted from time to time. Having PD anxiety is a part of the disease, somehow dopamine depletion in my brain affects the ability to handle stress, anxiety what have you. In the back of my mind recently I ponder a bit too much on why my legs/gait are continuing to give out on me. I am exercising, on my feet as much as possible but my ability to stand, be balanced continues to decline and sets off my anxiety. Right now God helps me to stay focused on what I still have, the abilities to do things and even learn keeping me from a major shut down in my emotions. Realizing that I may be in a wheelchair at some point I felt God leading me to learn new things like decopauging and sewing, along with doing a cross stitch project again. These things are engaging my mind making me think through my brain fog so that I am experiencing brain fog less often these days. My church family is coming alongside of Junior and me while he is out of town. Debbie and Terrie are checking in with me while he is gone and at the prayer meeting Junior requested prayer for travel mercies and for me while he is gone, that felt good. Since I don't drive anymore, I feel connected to others and not alone up on our mountain. These little things are what I am able to share about how God sustains me and in sharing I also bring attention to the fact that God is willing to be intimately involved in everyone's life. Being loved, valued even though I am disabled makes getting up and moving a wonderful reason to smile and love again another day. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet
It was Wednesday and I wanted to go grocery shopping before Junior left for Michigan for a few days, on the way to the grocery store we realized that it was Wednesday and we wanted to start going to prayer meetings at church on Wednesday. This was the 2nd week of attempting to make Wednesday night part of our weekly schedule and we forgot until we got into town. Luckily we were early so we did our shopping and then went over to the church and was able to pray along with the other people who come to the prayer meeting. One of the things I get discouraged with my chronic illness is that I am not dependable anymore. It takes me longer to get up and get moving these days, some days I am extremely tired so I need to sleep more and making a commitment is difficult. I do feel I am able to handle Wednesday night prayer meetings now and I am attempting to go with Junior, I value the opportunity to be with other believers and to stay close to God in my faith walk. I socialize on line quite a bit and prayerfully my faith walk comes through in my interactions online. The next place I am these days is shopping mainly grocery shopping so I pray that my words, the interaction with Junior are a light that shines for God's glory. I can't travel well anymore so I can't be a witness to God's love to others and volunteering or working are not possible either so I use what avenues I have available to me to be a witness for Jesus. I can feel God's hand on me as I struggle with Parkinson's, He is teaching me how to manage my symptoms, to keep a positive outlook instead of giving into depression even if it means that my anxiety medication needs to be adjusted from time to time. Having PD anxiety is a part of the disease, somehow dopamine depletion in my brain affects the ability to handle stress, anxiety what have you. In the back of my mind recently I ponder a bit too much on why my legs/gait are continuing to give out on me. I am exercising, on my feet as much as possible but my ability to stand, be balanced continues to decline and sets off my anxiety. Right now God helps me to stay focused on what I still have, the abilities to do things and even learn keeping me from a major shut down in my emotions. Realizing that I may be in a wheelchair at some point I felt God leading me to learn new things like decopauging and sewing, along with doing a cross stitch project again. These things are engaging my mind making me think through my brain fog so that I am experiencing brain fog less often these days. My church family is coming alongside of Junior and me while he is out of town. Debbie and Terrie are checking in with me while he is gone and at the prayer meeting Junior requested prayer for travel mercies and for me while he is gone, that felt good. Since I don't drive anymore, I feel connected to others and not alone up on our mountain. These little things are what I am able to share about how God sustains me and in sharing I also bring attention to the fact that God is willing to be intimately involved in everyone's life. Being loved, valued even though I am disabled makes getting up and moving a wonderful reason to smile and love again another day. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet
Tuesday, August 22, 2017
August 22, 2017
Greetings My Friend,
As I write this the day's agenda in the morning was clean the bathroom, cut corn off the cob and dehydrate it finishing up with heating left over homemade mac and cheese for lunch. The corn on the cob was a process of heating it up in the microwave, shucking the stalk off of it then cutting the corn from the cob. This was the first day of using my walker as I went about my day in the house so I was anxious to see if my energy level would increase. My walker helps me align my spine straight and I pull my shoulders down from my neck automatically, at the end of the morning my lower back did not ache. After lunch I laid down in the recliner and slept 3 hours. My nap was my usual of late I admit I was rather wore out. My thinking is I stayed with the corn process longer than usual. I am once more in the process of attempting to learn how to utilize my energy so that I can stay active for as long as I am able. Day one of my work week does not seem like I have made any progress other than no lower back pain from being on my feet and that is okay. Junior took Jack to the vet this afternoon I decided to stay home. Last week i called the vet to set up appointments for the fur children for the next year. I was getting confused who needed an appointment next and who was coming up for the next scheduled one so now i have each fur child set up, their name alongside their appointment day and time. Later this week we take both baby girls in for their first check up to begin the process of getting them in to get their baby making equipment to not function. I have heard for years how important it is to spay and neuter the fur children, living with a house full of strays I get it more so these days. I also see that the 3 girl cats we have rescued when they were too young to be taken from their mother are very attached to Junior and I. Lovey and Maxine were following me around the yard the other night while I picked up debris just like they follow Junior around as he works on the porch, cleaning up the car port and shed. I believe both baby girls seek Junior and I out to have us love on them like they would their mother would have. Jack and Grey who we got last year are very attached to us as well. Grey was dumped on the side of the road when we took her from the police officer so he could do road side checks of drivers licenses. Grey still needs to be loved on while Jack who came to us when he was old enough to be weened from his mother and seems to know he is wanted. All the dogs are good kids in general with a couple needing more attention. These fur children give me the incentive to keep being active so I am able to help care for them although Junior does most of the feeding, bathing etc. Daisy is at my feet or on my walker as I go about the day. When I carry her she helps me stay balanced and when she sits in my lap she calms my anxious thoughts. Her one eye is totally gone now. My heart breaks when giving her the eye drops and ointment, she does not squint as I draw close to her eye, she doesn't see it. She is 10 years old, still I hate to see her unable to see, her one leg has quit working since Bella bit her which is why Bella had to go. She was needing too much attention in a house full of other animals and her attacking little tiny Daisy was the last straw. We took her to a shelter and made sure they understood her need to be an only child. My little family gives me the desire to stay involved with them, to work hard at being as physically able for as long as possible. God knew I needed extra comfort and encouragement to work hard at being as healthy as I can be. I am grateful for His love in this time of declining health. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet
As I write this the day's agenda in the morning was clean the bathroom, cut corn off the cob and dehydrate it finishing up with heating left over homemade mac and cheese for lunch. The corn on the cob was a process of heating it up in the microwave, shucking the stalk off of it then cutting the corn from the cob. This was the first day of using my walker as I went about my day in the house so I was anxious to see if my energy level would increase. My walker helps me align my spine straight and I pull my shoulders down from my neck automatically, at the end of the morning my lower back did not ache. After lunch I laid down in the recliner and slept 3 hours. My nap was my usual of late I admit I was rather wore out. My thinking is I stayed with the corn process longer than usual. I am once more in the process of attempting to learn how to utilize my energy so that I can stay active for as long as I am able. Day one of my work week does not seem like I have made any progress other than no lower back pain from being on my feet and that is okay. Junior took Jack to the vet this afternoon I decided to stay home. Last week i called the vet to set up appointments for the fur children for the next year. I was getting confused who needed an appointment next and who was coming up for the next scheduled one so now i have each fur child set up, their name alongside their appointment day and time. Later this week we take both baby girls in for their first check up to begin the process of getting them in to get their baby making equipment to not function. I have heard for years how important it is to spay and neuter the fur children, living with a house full of strays I get it more so these days. I also see that the 3 girl cats we have rescued when they were too young to be taken from their mother are very attached to Junior and I. Lovey and Maxine were following me around the yard the other night while I picked up debris just like they follow Junior around as he works on the porch, cleaning up the car port and shed. I believe both baby girls seek Junior and I out to have us love on them like they would their mother would have. Jack and Grey who we got last year are very attached to us as well. Grey was dumped on the side of the road when we took her from the police officer so he could do road side checks of drivers licenses. Grey still needs to be loved on while Jack who came to us when he was old enough to be weened from his mother and seems to know he is wanted. All the dogs are good kids in general with a couple needing more attention. These fur children give me the incentive to keep being active so I am able to help care for them although Junior does most of the feeding, bathing etc. Daisy is at my feet or on my walker as I go about the day. When I carry her she helps me stay balanced and when she sits in my lap she calms my anxious thoughts. Her one eye is totally gone now. My heart breaks when giving her the eye drops and ointment, she does not squint as I draw close to her eye, she doesn't see it. She is 10 years old, still I hate to see her unable to see, her one leg has quit working since Bella bit her which is why Bella had to go. She was needing too much attention in a house full of other animals and her attacking little tiny Daisy was the last straw. We took her to a shelter and made sure they understood her need to be an only child. My little family gives me the desire to stay involved with them, to work hard at being as physically able for as long as possible. God knew I needed extra comfort and encouragement to work hard at being as healthy as I can be. I am grateful for His love in this time of declining health. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet
Saturday, August 19, 2017
August 19, 2017
Greetings My Friend,
Slowly I am switching to wearing dresses only and I am having fun buying mostly thrift store finds right now. One dress is a button down jean dress with long sleeves, it is too small to button up around my belly but I am planning on wearing as a light weight jacket for cool fall days. Pastor Jenny's wife does this with some of the dresses she finds and it looks real nice. It has been a year now since I have started wearing dresses all the time, I am surprised how much I don't mind wearing dresses. I wear long to the ankle length dresses which allows me to sit cross legged, not show anything private off. Last winter I wore skirts they are okay although it is easier to slip a dress over my head than a skirt and a top. I have started finding short sleeved dresses, 2 long sleeved dresses for the cooler weather I am happy I made the choice to stop trying to balance to put slacks or shorts on. With a dress it means I slip it over my head then I am done. While we were walking down the road the other night a neighbor stopped to talk to us for a minute. Of course the first thing you ask is how are you doing. I was asked this question first so I mentioned I had Parkinson's Disease. The woman answered that the disease is the one where people shake. Out of 4 people I know who have PD, only one shakes all the time. My shakes are mostly not noticeable with the occasional twitching with my hands. Tight muscles seem to be the major struggle I deal with and extreme fatigue. I am getting tireder when we run around town. When we went to Kingsport, I drank a cup of coffee which allowed me to do errands with Junior and not stay in the truck. We went to Bristol a couple of days later the coffee helped me somewhat. I am struggling to do the same amount of housework and baking, dehydrating that I did a year ago. I keep finding that PD is a whole lot more than shaking although the shaking is what people associate PD with. It is the extreme tiredness, the struggle to walk and stay on my feet because walking these days wears me out when I am walking on my own steam. I wear out using a walker, not as quickly though. I don't use anything to assist my walking in the house so I tire quicker, which makes me think it may be time to use a walking stick or cane, even the walker. I feel confident at home and I don't wobble. That is the other thing we need to do, it is to constantly rethink what we are doing so that we can do the most we can with what energy, stability we have. I find myself in prayer a whole lot asking God to give me strength for another day. Junior is picking up the work I no longer can do, I am grateful but he has a lot of work he must do as well. I was the one who was going to take care of Junior, he is 7 years older than I am, has a bad back instead he is taking care of me. God has been with us throughout this process so far and I am sure that He will be guiding us as we go forward, it is the only way I can deal with all of the things going on in my body. I find the porch time at the end of the day settling, quieting my anxiety as I watch the fire and as we talk about life in general. I run through the list of things I accomplished I am grateful for what I was able to do. Instead of doing more housework we have started going to Wednesday night prayer meetings I feel a need to be out and about as much as possible knowing that soon, I won't be able to be with people much at all. I work hard at attending church, so far I am able to go. I love the worship time the time to be with other Christians. God is great and Junior cherishes me. For this I am grateful. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet\
Slowly I am switching to wearing dresses only and I am having fun buying mostly thrift store finds right now. One dress is a button down jean dress with long sleeves, it is too small to button up around my belly but I am planning on wearing as a light weight jacket for cool fall days. Pastor Jenny's wife does this with some of the dresses she finds and it looks real nice. It has been a year now since I have started wearing dresses all the time, I am surprised how much I don't mind wearing dresses. I wear long to the ankle length dresses which allows me to sit cross legged, not show anything private off. Last winter I wore skirts they are okay although it is easier to slip a dress over my head than a skirt and a top. I have started finding short sleeved dresses, 2 long sleeved dresses for the cooler weather I am happy I made the choice to stop trying to balance to put slacks or shorts on. With a dress it means I slip it over my head then I am done. While we were walking down the road the other night a neighbor stopped to talk to us for a minute. Of course the first thing you ask is how are you doing. I was asked this question first so I mentioned I had Parkinson's Disease. The woman answered that the disease is the one where people shake. Out of 4 people I know who have PD, only one shakes all the time. My shakes are mostly not noticeable with the occasional twitching with my hands. Tight muscles seem to be the major struggle I deal with and extreme fatigue. I am getting tireder when we run around town. When we went to Kingsport, I drank a cup of coffee which allowed me to do errands with Junior and not stay in the truck. We went to Bristol a couple of days later the coffee helped me somewhat. I am struggling to do the same amount of housework and baking, dehydrating that I did a year ago. I keep finding that PD is a whole lot more than shaking although the shaking is what people associate PD with. It is the extreme tiredness, the struggle to walk and stay on my feet because walking these days wears me out when I am walking on my own steam. I wear out using a walker, not as quickly though. I don't use anything to assist my walking in the house so I tire quicker, which makes me think it may be time to use a walking stick or cane, even the walker. I feel confident at home and I don't wobble. That is the other thing we need to do, it is to constantly rethink what we are doing so that we can do the most we can with what energy, stability we have. I find myself in prayer a whole lot asking God to give me strength for another day. Junior is picking up the work I no longer can do, I am grateful but he has a lot of work he must do as well. I was the one who was going to take care of Junior, he is 7 years older than I am, has a bad back instead he is taking care of me. God has been with us throughout this process so far and I am sure that He will be guiding us as we go forward, it is the only way I can deal with all of the things going on in my body. I find the porch time at the end of the day settling, quieting my anxiety as I watch the fire and as we talk about life in general. I run through the list of things I accomplished I am grateful for what I was able to do. Instead of doing more housework we have started going to Wednesday night prayer meetings I feel a need to be out and about as much as possible knowing that soon, I won't be able to be with people much at all. I work hard at attending church, so far I am able to go. I love the worship time the time to be with other Christians. God is great and Junior cherishes me. For this I am grateful. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet\
Thursday, August 17, 2017
August 17, 2017
Greetings My Friend,
There I was sitting on the porch with some green beans, snapping them preparing them to be frozen, while I was doing this Junior was working on a couple of projects on the porch. We chatted as we worked and life was sweet. When Junior finished his work, he put wood in the fire pit and got a fire going. I had taken the beans in, packaged them to be frozen then made a cup of chamomile tea. Junior came in to make a cup of coffee and then we went to watch the fire. I don't know why but as the evening played out I felt connected to God and His awesome creation of us and the beauty that also sustains us with food. We were winding down with our days labors enjoying the work of our hands, enjoying a depth to our relationship and drawing close to God. I am still working out how to have a years supply of food on hand. Our plan that night was to to the meat packing plant the following day to buy pork for the next several months along with some ground beef. I have been drying and freezing food throughout the summer, now I am working on canned goods, like meat, fruit and vegetables. I have it worked out in my mind that we buy these things when they are on sale, when we use one can we can always buy one more to rotate into the yearly supply or we wait until they go on sale next year, I am not sure which one I will do. With food on hand, we are prepared for any disaster throughout the year to have enough food in the house to last us for sometime. I have called all of this living the simple life, which takes us back to the basics. I find that as we cut down to the basic needs level, it is there life seems to have the most meaning. I sense we are drawing closer to Jesus, learning to rely on Him and "it is well with my soul." The more I pull back from wanting stuff, the more I understand the beauty of less stuff. Stuff means I need to find a way to store it, guard it and in a sense become a slave to it. The simple life provides for my immediate needs, allows me to be productive as I fill my days and in the end I can give out of my abundance or of being. I have always given of myself and it has blessed me. Some give out of their abundance for me giving of myself is the highest gift I am able to give. I am grateful to be learning this way of life and to love God. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet
There I was sitting on the porch with some green beans, snapping them preparing them to be frozen, while I was doing this Junior was working on a couple of projects on the porch. We chatted as we worked and life was sweet. When Junior finished his work, he put wood in the fire pit and got a fire going. I had taken the beans in, packaged them to be frozen then made a cup of chamomile tea. Junior came in to make a cup of coffee and then we went to watch the fire. I don't know why but as the evening played out I felt connected to God and His awesome creation of us and the beauty that also sustains us with food. We were winding down with our days labors enjoying the work of our hands, enjoying a depth to our relationship and drawing close to God. I am still working out how to have a years supply of food on hand. Our plan that night was to to the meat packing plant the following day to buy pork for the next several months along with some ground beef. I have been drying and freezing food throughout the summer, now I am working on canned goods, like meat, fruit and vegetables. I have it worked out in my mind that we buy these things when they are on sale, when we use one can we can always buy one more to rotate into the yearly supply or we wait until they go on sale next year, I am not sure which one I will do. With food on hand, we are prepared for any disaster throughout the year to have enough food in the house to last us for sometime. I have called all of this living the simple life, which takes us back to the basics. I find that as we cut down to the basic needs level, it is there life seems to have the most meaning. I sense we are drawing closer to Jesus, learning to rely on Him and "it is well with my soul." The more I pull back from wanting stuff, the more I understand the beauty of less stuff. Stuff means I need to find a way to store it, guard it and in a sense become a slave to it. The simple life provides for my immediate needs, allows me to be productive as I fill my days and in the end I can give out of my abundance or of being. I have always given of myself and it has blessed me. Some give out of their abundance for me giving of myself is the highest gift I am able to give. I am grateful to be learning this way of life and to love God. May God bless you and keep you make His face shine on you. Love Janet
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