HARD TO DECIDE WHAT TO DO!!

For those of you who have ever had to be on long-term steroid use, you will understand what I am going through right now. I have been on high dose steroids for almost 12 years! I was supposed to be on steroids for 3 weeks but I have never been able to come off of them. I have severe difficulty breathing when I try to decrease. I am in the process of trying to lower the dosage once again - and once again I am getting weaker. So frustrating! The drugs help keep me going and alive yet the side-effects are killing me, too! Don't know what to do - except trust the doctors and God to get me through this!!

It is a beautiful day outside and I will try to enjoy the day and not focus on my health! So hard sometimes!

PRAISE GOD FOR HIS WONDEROUS WORKS!!

Somedays, like the last few days, it is really hard to feel good about much of anything when my body is feeling as bad as it is. But then I think about the fact that God made me in His wonderful way and I praise Him! I may not understand why He made my body the way He did, but I praise Him for his wonderous works!


You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb.

Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—and how well I know it.

You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.

You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed.

Psalm 139:13-16 NLT

STARTING TO FEEL LIKE HOME!!

It has been a pretty good few days. I went to the HopeKeepers meeting Wednesday and really enjoyed it. I really didn't feel like going, had decideded NOT to go, but God kicked me out of my chair about 15 minutes before the meeting and made me go! I am glad He did and glad I listened to him. I met Debra and Barb and really enjoyed talking to them and getting to know them. I had dinner with Debra tonight and really enjoyed getting out and having some company!

I went to see my neurologist today. He is going to try to cut down on my prednisone a little. I am glad but at the same time, I get really nervous. Everytime we try to go down on the dosage, I start having trouble breathing. He is going to take it real slow so hopefully things will go well. It usually takes about 5 days or so before I can really tell if I am going to have problems. Hopefully not this time! I was supposed to be on this drug for about 3 weeks and it has been 10 years!!! Time to get off of it - the side-effects are horrible! Hopefully this is the time!!

I am really starting to feel at home more and more here in Morgantown and become more convinced everyday that I made the right decision in moving here. God really led me here, every step of the way. He is so awesome!! I am starting to make friends and feel like I really do have people who care - and who I care about! Even though I have friends in other places, it feels so good to start having friends here and feel like I belong! God's love is truly unbelievable!

~~Never Silent~~

A loving heart, a gentle smile, a warm and tender touch
We give so many things in life but nothing means as much.

A little inspiration when one loses hope,
A kind word of encouragement when they no longer seem to cope
A simple phrase, "I love you"when no one else is there
Taking hold onto a hand in a little heartfelt prayer.

Love is never silent. It has so much to say,
And it is our greatest blessing when we give it all away

Author Unknown

GOD IS ALWAYS WITH US!!

The snow is starting to melt and it is getting a little warmer outside. This Georgia girl isn't used to sub-zero temps! But things are getting better!

God is so good! Even when times are bad! I was on my way to a Newcomer's Club luncheon on Tuesday - I am trying to meet some new friends! - and my car would not start! Dead as a doornail! My precious daughter came to take me so I wouldn't miss my luncheon! I have AAA (thank goodness!) They came to tow my car because it just wouldn't stay started even after jumping it off. So off my car went to Superior Ford!

Then yesterday morning, my daughter calls me and tells me her car had been towed - not an unusual occurrence here in Morgantown where parking is always at a premium - but just a little frustrating because her house has its own parking and someone was in her place so she had to park on the street and got towed. Granted, she parked in a yellow zone but as she says everyone does, but she got caught. Well, of course, my car was still in the shop and I had no way to get her. I called my mechanic (and now dear friend!) Frank and he offered to loan me his personal car, even had someone come pick me up to come get his car. So I spent the morning going to the bank (it isn't cheap to get your car towed!), going to the Morgantown Police Department to get a release for her car, picking her up from class, then going to pick up her car and take Frank back his car. All this was done in 2 hours and she was back for her classes!

My car is still in the shop but it is not going to cost nearly as much as I thought - some of what is wrong is under warranty! Thank goodness for good and honest mechanics!

God is so good! It wasn't too long ago that all of this would have stressed me out completely and while yesterday morning wasn't fun, I handled it and just dealt with it (much better than my daughter did - she still has a ways to go in learning to deal with stresses!) But together she and I managed to get through it - all with God's help!



Footprints in the Sand

One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord. Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky. In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand. Sometimes there were two sets of footprints, other times there were one set of footprints.

This bothered me because I noticed that during the low periods of my life, when I was suffering from anguish, sorrow or defeat, I could see only one set of footprints.

So I said to the Lord, “You promised me Lord, that if I followed you, you would walk with me always. But I have noticed that during the most trying periods of my life there have only been one set of footprints in the sand. Why, when I needed you most, you have not been there for me?”

The Lord replied, “The times when you have seen only one set of footprints in the sand, is when I carried you.”

Mary Stevenson

GREAT WEEKEND WITH MY DAUGHTER!!

I am getting a little stronger every day. It has been a good weekend. My daughter and I ran a few errands Friday and then went out to dinner. We had a great time. She spent the night with me and we just had a lot of fun together. She had to work Saturday but then she spent the night with me again. I love having her here with me! She does so much for me but the most important thing is she just spends time with me -and I don't even ask her! That makes it so special!! It is so cold today that I don't think I will do much but stay in and stay warm!! Good day to watch the Super Bowl! But at least I am feeling a little better - hope it keeps up! God is so good!!