Oh, sure it does, right? I think I’d rather just get there the quick way; I mean, who wants to go the long windy path? Did the Israelites really want to be in the desert for 40 years? They really wanted to escape slavery and be free for crying out loud!!
Well, God had a lesson in ALL OF IT.
You see, God wants TOTAL redemption of our story.
He also wants to write a BEAUTIFUL story out of our lives (pain and all).
So, alas.
Tatum and I seem to be hit hard with darts of health challenges. I won’t go into detail, but with her allergies and tummy woes, she really has been hit hard.
I continue to fight my battles, but I do have a tremendous amount of support.
How can I turn the pain into something beautiful? Well, I can reach out to others and start a support group?
Yes, it’s called Gut2Great on Facebook; a private group I hope to see help others.
Stay tuned on that.
In the meantime, God has the BIG PICTURE that we don’t see. May I rest in that as we go through each day.
And Tatum? God is using you amidst your pain. Think of Chris…your special needs buddy at church. You breathe life into him, and he adores you. SO do many! Keep being you, and keep fighting knowing God is on the throne and is your TRUE ABBA.
Oh, another way to my heart is through talking to a book. WAAAAAAAHHHHAAAAT?
Yes, I used to teach my middle school students to “talk to the book with your pencil.” I taught them how to annotate.
OH, it’s so exciting.. She is literally talking to the book with her pens. Now, she may not be “doing it right,” but the habit she is starting is worth all the price of gold.
Nancy Drew Mysteries to match my yellow bedroom. I loved her books! Tatum is now reading them again. This time for AR! I hope she enjoys them as much as I do. She does literally devour books.
First stop: Bungalow Mystery
I also have yellow memories of my Woodrow with this guy. Yes, he’s not the Woody we had for a few months, but precious RIO. All 35 grams of this yellow lovebird.
He joined us today when we played Sequence. I think he helped Tatum along since he’s such a “bright” bird! HEE!
Daddy joined the fun later as he cooked up some of his grill mastering shrimp, chicken and veggies. He is our master chef!
A welcomed year. We are all ready for this year to start, as we prepare with new attitudes, renewed hope, and some newfound joy!
After a good night’s sleep since we all go to bed before the country gets going, we opted to first each have our devotion time with God. I’m starting a new devotion from Susie Larson called PREVAIL> I shall be pursuing a NEW self this year. Stay tuned here.
This was my next vision as I took out little Coopyhead. Can you even? SPEECHLESS.
I hit the gym before our little outing. Tot, Doug and I walked to Starbucks for a little java from a gift card Doug received. THANK YOU! Look at my cuties!! Gosh, I love them.
SELFIE thanks to Tot’s long arm.
Ok, after we enjoyed our delights, we headed back, and started our craft. We wanted to make some 2024 goals. I gave each of us some categories: Characters, Spiritual, Work/School, Habits to cultivate, Physical.
TOT?
Watcha say? (BTW, gluten free bagel)
Tatum has such a beautiful heart. Let’s heal physically and as a family in every way. xxoo
Honey? WOW, he went all out with his spires. I can’t even draw one of those.
I love his goals. You are on it, babe!
ME? Well, I’m very focused this year. I want to add one thing…
We will check in with each other at dinners. YEAH! OK, I’d like to add this: Which I worked on today…my next drawing for Tot.
Tada! A juicy melon for my fruity pie-sweetie.
Gotta ways to go.
While Tot went to play outside I made a video for my new classes starting on Thursday. I try to make them personal by posting welcome videos.
After Tot returned from her bike ride!…we made some homemade hummus. One of my goals, HEEHEE. So good! My soaked garbanzo beans, Meyer lemon juice, garlic powder, salt, tahini, a few cilantro sprouts, and a tad of olive oil..oh and some water to thin it out.
you like?
You helped me so much, Tot!
Tatum later joined me to draw, and she gave me this!
It’s been a long and windy road. Many detours, crashes, fires, and explosions. Yes, this has been my life since about 6 months before I got married.
It probably started years ago when I never went a day without a stomach ache, bloating, cramping, or stool issues. It all came to a head the day after Doug proposed to me on May 20th, 2018. I look back at it now as a gift to me; funny how immense struggle and challenge can teach us so much about what needs to change.
I won’t go into detail in this blog about the hundreds of supplements, multiple doctors and healthcare providers, hundreds of tests, and thousands of dollars spent. But I will say I have had one simple prayer.
PLEASE> HEAL ME. PLEASE send me some answers, clarity, healing…something, LORD! I can’t live this way. I have had many challenges in my life like everyone, but when you lose your physical health, there is not much you can do. Your. heart may still be beating: life, but you are not living life. You are functioning; subsisting; operating below zero. It’s NO WAY TO LIVE. But in the process, you realize all the things you have taken for granted.
Now, let’s fast forward to December 2023.
Miracle number one: I got a diagnosis of colitis from a long awaited colonoscopy. I had never had biopsy from. my colonoscopies, so I don’t know how long I have had this inflammation. Suffice it to say, it explained a lot. BUT, there was more in terms of diagnosis that my next Miracle IDENTIFIED>
Miracle number two: This lead me on a path to find some distinct help. Not another naturopath; not another supplement regimen; not a new way of eating; no, it would be something completely different. I came upon a program through a past podcast I had listened to, and the Holy Spirit had told me to listen again. I made an appt for a discover call, but in the midst of that, I found someone else. He fascinated me! His program: The mind-gut-immunity protocol. Hmmmmm, another promise? I booked a discovery call with him, but he required $50. He wanted SERIOUS folks. Dr. Chanu Dasari. He was a real intestinal surgeon, Hmm….again, was this happening?
I also was assigned a trauma specialist.. MIND-GUT…it’s all connected.
Miracle number three: The call was amazing. He even said that he expects full healing within 6 weeks, and money back if not. Never has he had to give a refund. He’s based out of Las Vegas, and his passion stems from his own suffering of colitis and the failure of western medicine. Doug and I had prayed for someone who was not only qualified ( an MD), but someone who had compassion due to suffering themselves.
Miracle number four: Dr. D and I communicate daily. Our first meeting, he identified my THREE areas of issues. Isolated. Focused. and now. ATTACKABLE Gut dysbiosis, chronic hypo caloric restriction, sleep disorder.
BOOM. Just like that. All the years I have damaged my body have now caught up to me, and NOW I HAVE BEEN GIVEN A SECOND CHANCE AT LIFE WITH GOD and DR. D’s HELP.
Yes, he calls ME even when we were trying to solve one of my health issues. He figured it out! He also told me to STOP apologizing for using his time. He told me he gave up 1/2 his practice because he LOVES to help people with these issues and SOLVE them. He’s dedicated to making this happen. Wow. I’m not just another patient with a stamped program. AND he doesn’t own a supplement company to sell me anything.
Miracle number five: God has used all these people too: 1. Doug. My sweet husband. He’s stuck by thick and thin, AND he’s been completely part of every inch of the journey. He does EVERYTHING for me. 2. Tatum; She gives me about 100 hugs a day, and tells me multiple times how much she loves me. WOW. Total compassion and love. 3. My mom: She may not know everything about my journey, but she loves me. 4. The Banner Health PA, Jeanie. She had the same ear issues I had, and knew exactly what to do for me. Not a coincidence that all of these people are in my life at the EXACT time I have needed them. So many others, but I see GOD’S hand in all of it. Man, answered prayers.
GOD WINK right after. A minute juicy heart-shaped strawberry. I’ve got you, and I Love YOU, Steph
I’m not out of the woods yet, but for the first time in years, I have HOPE of COMPLETE recovery. 2024 will be the NEW and IMPROVED Stephanie. Fighter; Perseverer; LOVER and? I AM HEALING.
AND, do you know what else? Every challenge is setting us up to HELP SOMEONE ELSE> these lessons we learn from adversity are not wasted; God uses every single thing, yet when we are in it, it’s hard to see this.
The difference now is that I’m probably TRULY ready for healing. My mind and gut are available and willing. I’ve also been given a provider who GETS me and is 100% committed WITH me. Stay tuned!
I say this because, well, you know…family…sometimes can be a bit tense. There can be many stubborn minds, and when they all come together. BOOM! All of us this year just went with the flow. Yes. This was the best part.
First of all, I woke up feeling almost normal today; this was such a blessing since I wanted to spend my day focused on OTHERS and not myself and symptoms.
So we started out with a mini-walk around the neighborhood. And, oooooh, baby it was cold.
We got to see all the NOT decorated houses, and we realized that we had the Christmas spirit vs our neighbors. Sad face. But my honey does outdo himself! We want to be a role model in the neighborhood.
Ok, got home and got ready for Mama and Austin. Our beautiful tree is ready and popping out!
Tatum got to open a stocking gift; she has beautiful new nails!
They came off after the posing. Five minutes? K..hmm.
Anyhoo, back to the festivities. Austin came over to wrap his gifts, but first…some pics!
With the GIRL!
The men! and then…we can’t forget the pooch.
Mama is almost here! We will start the brekkie.
AND MY HHH
After brekkie, Tatum played Santa and handed out all the presents….while the boys sat and quietly anticipating the fun.
She wanted Rio to go first since she worked so hard on his gift.
He was pretty happy! Well, happily chewing it up at least. Cooper was wondering where his was?
Ok, onto Mama and some lovely gifts for her. We got her some plates in Pine, and she just loved them!
Tot wanted books primarily, so we got her gift cards. She also had many little knickknacks.
My favorite gift to her was this: Don’t you love this?
Tatum was chomping at the bit to give me this that she made. But first…my card. *melt*
I can’t wait to use it…oh and this! She bought this too!
I will be putting this to good use! Can’t wait! Then, she gave Daddy this. PERFECT!!! He’ll be putting this to good use too!
Austin won the prize for the most gifts, but IT WAS AMAZING to see how grateful he was! He jumped for joy over cat litter for crying out loud! He needed so much…bed sheets, kitty stuff, razors..He was just so happy!
My honey gave me the best card, and he gave me some hope for future fun. I’m HEALING, YES!
And this. YES> I will look and believe daily.
I wanted to give him a special gift, and so…besides some earbuds, I bought him a calendar and filled it out with some potential dates and a bucket list.
Yes, next year promises good things!
We ended the fun with some movies and just chilling. It was perfect!
The next day, Tatum bought some goodies with the money Mama gave her. So grateful.
I couldn’t be more grateful for my whole family. We may be small, but we are mighty!
JESUS, THANK YOU FOR BEING BORN AND BEING OUR SAVIOR!
