notes from the porch {two}

As I mentioned in last months "notes from the porch" update I am incredibly grateful for all of your encouragement through this long caravan. *smiles* While there are difficult days, the Lord continues to bring blessings and rainbows in each day. Many many times it is the kindness of people who show God's love so tangibly. 

Thank you.

As each day is an adventure I find great comfort in the verse from the promise found in Deuteronomy 33:25 (KJV)- "And as thy days, so shall thy strength be." Praise God. While I may be concerned about certain things God is NEVER concerned. Or worried. And HE is full of power. And can be completely trusted. 

And I see His grace each and every day. 

Here are a few updates from the last time  I shared:

(1) Thank you for ALL of your sweet emails, phone calls, and lovely encouragement. You have no idea how much this has helped me walk this long caravan.

(2)I started the chelation treatment last week and unfortunately had a severe reaction so I had to take this week off. I am currently trying to discuss with my doctor the best way to step forward with this. Because my blood levels show that I am in a near toxic level for lead the chelation treatments are very important. One of the issues that is complex with my Lymes case is that there are many things going on in my body and we have to be strategic in how to fight it. The goal of the chelation is to hopefully relieve one of the issues that is taxing my body.

(3) I am continuing to take a couple of medications including a cancer med and will continue this throughout the next several months. This comes with a prayer request as many of the medications have side effects that are not always pleasant.

(4) As I mentioned last time the doctors were watching a couple of spots that they were suspicious of. It has been decided that I need to have a couple of additional spots removed and I will have surgery in a couple of months to remove these spots. In my case it is best to be preventative and aggressive back to this cancer. *smiles* As many of you know from our talks I am so thankful for my doctor who performed surgery out in California and was SO pleased with her work that I plan to have surgery with her again. 

(5) Daily life is much much better than it was before I went to California several months ago. There are some definite improvements that I have seen that has been a HUGE encouragement to me and I am so thankful for these answers to prayer! These include- less pain, better absorption of food and vitamins, and the ability to sleep deeper at night.

(6)I continue to have acupuncture treatments every week and it has been extremely helpful for me this summer. I would like to continue it throughout the fall but at this moment have been unable to find a qualified acupuncturist around the area that I live in the south.

(7) In a couple of weeks I am going to start adding reflexology treatments to my weekly treatment schedule. I am curious to try this as I have not ever had reflexology thus far. I have several friends who have used this with lovely results, especially with pain. Have you ever used this? If so has it been helpful for you?

(8) I am also looking for additional health things that I can do to help my body in any and every way that I can. One of the things that has helped my iron level that was previously at the deficiency level is eating Kale. (I can’t wait to share more about Kale’s amazing health benefits on Thursday.)

(9) Thank you so much for ALL of the amazing supportive and encouraging comments from one of my most heartfelt posts that I wrote last week. (If you didn't read it you can click HERE.) There are so many different things that I can’t wait to share with y’all about ideas that I have and ways that I and several friends are hoping to reach out to churches to equip and encourage them to minister to those with chronic illness (especially those who are in the “younger age bracket”). Stay tuned in the next weeks and months. Along with that same note this month has brought some miracles and exciting new adventures, seasons, and opportunities. In the next week I look forward to sharing some exciting opportunities that the Lord has opened up.

(10) Last week I posted the following video to my personal facebook page. It is one of the best videos on Lyme's that I have ever seen. If you have not seen it and are curious about Lyme's this gives an accurate and understandable explanation.  You can click HERE to access the video. Thank you again to Fox News for airing this piece!

(11) I am currently trying to raise money as I plan to head back to California for additional treatment at the end of September. As I mentioned in my post about Emily's visit my amazing sister is sweetly raising money for me as she runs her first ½ marathon! Some of you have asked how you can donate to this - and I will be adding the site to that in the next couple of weeks.  THANK YOU! In addition to the AMAZING generosity of SO many people that have helped in the past there are still some of you that continue to quietly send money, pay for something that you hear that I need, or ask if you can still donate - and yes, you can - I am humbled and am so grateful for all of your support. If you would like to donate you can click on the "Go Fund Me Page" to the right. Thank you so much. 

Many of you are so faithful in your daily prayers for me that have carried me through so many dark days and have walked this seemingly long path with me. I am truly humbled at the physical, financial, emotional, and spiritual support of family members, friends, and strangers alike. Some of you have asked what you can specifically pray for. Here are a few things (in no particular order): 

Specific Prayer Requests:

1. A definite prayer request is for my stomach. I picked up a virus a couple of days ago, which with my immune system has really knocked me out. 

2. For my heart. I won't go into too much detail but there are days (especially when school is starting) that my heart aches to be back in the classroom and to have a "normal" life. For those of you that have lost so much due to chronic illness at a young age, I pray you find the words of Joni Erickson Tada a comfort like I have, "Don't let anyone tell you that contentment comes easily. It is not passive. In fact, it is gritty determination. It has to be learned. And it requires grace from beyond this world." 

Grab onto Jesus, Follow Him, and Go Change your World.

God is at work friends.

Hold onto truth: Whatever God does today will be as significant as the parting of the Red Sea. 

3 For energy- while I have less days of this than before, the exhaustion can be overwhelming. This is a combination of a difficult past month, not recovering from the wedding trip, and some physical symptoms that have been acting up recently. 

4. For my body to start responding at a faster rate to the long term treatments.

5. I am also praying for the inflammation to go down in my body. This is the bodies natural response to the Lyme's infection and the Cancer but I would covet prayers for that also!

6. For healing & mercy.