Wednesday, March 24, 2010

fibromyalgia

I was officially diagnosed with fibromyalgia last year. It is very hard to accept this condition. I am not the person I use to be nor the person that I wish I could be. It has changed my life in ways that I never thought possible.
There are very few days when I am not in pain. When I do feel good, I want to do all of the things that I usually cannot do. That ends up being a really bad decision. Within 48 hours I will be in the worse conditions. I have to just sleep and sleep.
In my "normal" life I was a very active person who loved to keep busy. Sitting around was one of the things I just didn't do. However, over the last year and three months, I have to sit around more and more because I just don't have the strength nor ability to do the things I desire. It is very frustrating.
God has used so many things in my life to teach me and change me to be more like Christ. So far, fibromyalgia hasn't "blessed" me at all. It is very hard for me to not get angry and discouraged. Perhaps that is what God is trying to do through this illness...teach me true contentment and gratitude.
In every situation I try to find the truth and the blessing, but in this circumstance it has been extremely hard. I trust in the LORD and know that He is sovereign. May His will be done.

Friday, March 12, 2010

Vacation Photos

My family was blessed to be able to spend nine days in sunny Florida in early March. We have wanted to go there for many years and it justed seemed that the Lord said it was finally time for us to go. I was born there and lived in the house that my parents built until I was two years old. I haven't been back since and so wanted to see where my life began. I also wanted Bekah to be able to see all of the cool aeronautical things in the nornthern part of the state. We saw so much history and beauty of God's creations. The thing I liked the best was that it was sunny every day. It may have been cold at times, but it was always sunny. Ecclesiastes 11:7, "Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun:" No one knows that verse is true like a western Washitonian.







My parents took me to church here from the time I was just a few days old, until we moved. This is the First Baptist Church of Palatka, Florida.













I love this cross that stands on the bay of Saint Augustine, Florida.






















Bekah and I are standing under a saturn 5 rocket like the ones that took men to the moon.









This is me pretending to be a mercury astronaut.






Trials and Tribulations

I don't know who it was that said, "The only thing you can count on, are death and taxes." I would like to add, that you can also count on trials and tribulations. They are just a normal part of life.
Last year, we seemed to go through more than our fair share of trials and tribulations. Some of them were so hard that I don't know how we survived...other than the mighty grace of God. There were times when I was ready to scream and run away, especially when there was more than one to deal with at a time. Much prayer and perserverance brought us through each one with victory. When the year ended, I was one very happy woman.
This year has started off extremely calm and that has been such a blessing. We were able to fully enjoy our vacation knowing that nothing was "hanging over our heads." But then the vacation ended and so did the calm. When the mail resumed, so did the trials and tribulations.
The difference this year, is that I don't feel so overwhelmed. The Bible says, "Tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:" Romans 5:3b-4. The Lord Jesus also said that in this world we will have tribulations. God's Word has given me peace that this trial (which is a literal trial) will work out according to His will.
So, I don't dread trials and tribulations this year like I did last year. The difference is the blessings of the Lord.

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Please Reply

I hate those things that want you to reply. I don't know why, I just do. So, why am I asking you to the thing that I hate? Because I really want to know if anyone reads this blog. I would like to do more with this site, if people are reading it. However, if no-one reads this, then I need to figure out if this is God's will. So, if you do read this site and if you have any ideas for expansion, etc. would you please let me know? Otherwise, this site may just go away. Thank you so much, Alice

Monday, March 8, 2010

My birth state

Many years ago, I was born in the state of Florida. When I was two years old, we left and moved far, far away. Winding up in the state of Washington. For many years I have wanted to go back to Florida. It never seemed the right time, until early this year. I was looking at my email and found some good priced tickets. After prayer and consultation with my beloved, it just seemed that it was the right time to go. After a wonderful nine days of vacation, it is hard to believe that it is already time to go back home to Washington. There is a part of me that just wants to stay here and enjoy the sunshine. But there is another part of me that just can't wait to get back home to all that is familiar.
I am so thankful to the LORD for allowing the three of us to have this blessed vacation.