8 Years ago....

I don't know if this date will ever lose the significance it has in my heart.  It is a day I still remember vividly...actually with a bizarre level of detail.  It was the day I saw my child dying. It was a day I saw the faces of my other children in more pain than I could imagine as fear of losing some one so dear to them hit them truly for the first time  It was also the day my baby boy and I started our journey into this thing called Epilepsy and seizures and crazy diets and refusing toxic treatments.  It was a day that planted a fear so deeply inside me that I knew only God understood. I didn't know that my youngest son and I would, more or less, walk this journey alone but we haven't done so bad.

8 years ago, everything was unknown...would he be alive the next day or the next?  Would he be permanently changed?  How could I help?  There were no answers.

But, 8 years later, most of it spent as a single parent...I have gotten to witness first hand, and continue to see, the amazing young man he is becoming.  Just a few weeks ago I got to watch as he signed his commitment to his first choice college - after also being accepted into his #2 and #3 choices!  Honestly, 8 years ago I didn't know if that would ever happen.  He has worked hard and I am proud of him for not letting anything hold him back.

I know many of you have prayed over this young man and thank you is not near enough.
 I know God heard our cries. 

Thank you, God, for this child.

Blessed,

The Month of Thanks has arrived!

Photo property of: https://www.theodysseyonline.com

Yes, it has been over a month since I have blogged.  Generally, that means that I have either been so busy I haven't thought about the blog or that something kind of hard is going on in my life.  This time it has been a big dose of both.  Between work, Hurricane Matthew which threw us quite a curve ball (no power, water, and many washed out and blocked roads for weeks,) and a new struggle legally stemming from my divorce it has been a bit overwhelming to think about writing. 

But Fall has arrived and so has November!  I love Fall.  It truly is my favorite season and I am sad that I haven't had more time to enjoy it this year.  Thanksgiving is just around the corner and if you didn't know, it is my very favorite holiday.  I don't know why, and most people look at me a bit odd when I say that, but it always has been. 

As has been my tradition in blogging (sans the last couple of hard years) I have tried to share on the blog the things I am thankful for.  This grew out of  my very first "thankful post" from 2006: In all things give thanks.  It is a good exercise to help me remember what is important and throw off the stress of the mundane. 

Day 1:

 

I am thankful for a God that sees me through the challenges.  He is seeing me through one right now and I find myself in a position of thanking Him for the challenges as well.  I want His will for my life and want to walk in faith and not be caught in fear (as fear is not from the Lord!)  I am thankful for God the Father and how He cares for His children. 

 

What are you thankful for?  Please share in the comments and if you are a blogger, I challenge you to share what your thankful for this season as there are always more blessings than we count!

This Kid...

I have some pretty great kids....like better than other people (yes, I just said better than other people...but I believe it...yep, I do.)  They each have their strengths and each has their unique talents and over the last few months they have all shown what amazing individuals they are but I just have to write about this kid today.  Now, don't get me wrong...I have, at one time or another, written about my other children but tonight he is on my heart.  He is my baby, though by the looks of this photo, baby probably isn't the right word but I can blame it on the fact that his Mom isn't very tall so he looks really tall...right?

This kid has really been through the ringer the last few months, well, actually the last few years (check back here to read his back story) 
but he has really shown me what insight and what heart is, in a way I could have never expected from a child.  He has clarity about things that I, as an adult, can't wrap my brain around.  He has a heart that hurts for others in a way that I can only hope to have one day.  He also feels burdens that other kids (or adults for that matter) don't feel, which isn't always good.  He is struggling right now with a loss in his life that I can't fix for him but he still finds the ability to worry about me.  About me.... how did I get so blessed?  All my children worry about me, but this one...he watches and worries and I wish I could take that away.  He is too young for that kind of weight. 

I was sick recently and this kid gets up and fixes breakfast for he and his older brother before school, without being asked, because I couldn't.  He just did it...including vitamins.  He is just that kind of a kid.  I am grasping at straws in so many ways in trying to figure out how to parent my young men on my own but moments like this...they are like a jolt to my soul.   Someone told me today that I had to be and could be both Mother & Father....and here I am with my little man leading the way.   So, as I look ahead, I hope one day he will know exactly what an amazing young man he is.

Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, 

coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.

~James 1:17

Did anyone mention it is Spring Break???

This Spring Break won't be like the ones in the past. Yes, I will sit on the beach and feel my toes in the sand but  I will also be walking into a court room and ending something I never wanted to end. But I am blessed to know that I have people who will be loving, caring and watching over my children when I drive hours to stand in front of a judge and have my 25 year+ marriage become nothing more than a few pieces of paper.  This experienced has shown me how truly wonderful some people can be and how they reach out just because they know you can't handle it all by yourself in so many ways.  Beautiful blessings is what I have begun think of them.  I am learning not to steal their blessings by not letting them love on me and help me get through the day. Spring Break...I have dreaded this week instead of looking forward to it...but it is here.

 Even with the dark season that my heart has seen, 

Spring has arrived and there is beauty bursting everywhere I look:

Aren't these tiny blooms perfect in front of a huge white azalea?

Iris' always reminded me of my Ma Jones.

Beautiful Lady Banks roses welcoming spring.

How can you not love Clematis, even if it is the neighbors?

I love the canopy of pink and white dogwoods in my backyard.

Azaleas to welcome you in.

I just can't leave out the wisteria, which is particularly gorgeous this year.

Florence, SC.....you are just gorgeous.

Be My Valentine Marriage Challenge Week 1 ~ Take the Initiative

As I mentioned in my post last week I am taking the Be My Valentine Marriage Challenge with Courtney at Women Living Well and this is officially Week 1.  Courtney outlines the Challenge for Week 1 as:

"Week 1 Challenge - Take the Initiative!  Look for ways to praise your husband verbally.

Praise him in front of the kids, friends, family, co-workers, on Facebook, tweet it – get praise out anyway you can! Try to mention something noteworthy he has done – in his role as provider, father, husband, lover, or friend. If the thought of trying to come up with one terrifies you, then pray right now that God will give you new eyes to see your husband as God does. Then open your mouth and say something kind and uplifting to your husband today and tomorrow and the next day until Valentine’s Day arrives!"

For me this is an easy challenge as my husband is a wonderful man!  He works harder than just about anyone I have ever known to provide for our family.  He often sacrifices what he would "like to be doing"  to do things for me and our children.  He has done more "honey do" projects that I can count and I am sure he thought were senseless just to please me (our current laundry room redo topping that list!)  He is gentle but strong and seeks God in his daily life.  I count him among my greatest blessings! I feel honored to be his wife and though we have gone through dark days during our marriage, I am so thankful that he is still my husband and I can't imagine walking this journey without him.

“The wise woman builds her house,

but with her own hands the foolish one tears hers down.”
~Proverbs 14:1

Be My Valentine Marriage Challenge ~ Week 1

"Be My Valentine" ~ Marriage Challenge via Women Living Well

Be My Valentine Marriage Challenge

One of the best things about blogging  is other bloggers.  I often find inspiration from other bloggers in creative pursuits, cooking, decorating and even spiritually.  Today is no exception as Courtney, over at Women Living Well, has come up with a great idea on how to celebrate Valentine's Day for a whole month and in a more meaningful way than with just a box of chocolates and a few flowers.  She is issuing a challenge to all of us wives out there to take the focus of the big "romance" holiday off ourselves and use it to honor and build up our husbands.

Courtney writes: "Each week the challenge will be the same – to praise, encourage, inspire, admire, build up, thank and appreciate your husband. But each week I will give you different ways to express your praise. Feel free to tweak it for what you think is best for your husband.

JR Miller writes “So it is in the dark hours of a man’s life, when burdens press, when sorrows weigh like mountains upon his soul, when adversities have left him crushed and broken, or when he is in the midst of fierce struggles which try the strength of every fibre of his manhood, that all the radiance and glory of a true wife’s strengthful love shine out before his eyes. Only then does he recognize in her God’s angel of mercy.”

 Let’s be angels of mercy to our husbands. We may think they are filled with confidence and strength but they are only human. They have insecurities, fears, failures, burdens and cares that we do not always slow down to recognize. We lose our tenderness in the hustle and bustle of life and this month let’s slow down and really see our husband’s with fresh eyes."

I encourage you to use this as a building block to shore up, encourage and love on your man.  Let him know exactly what he means to you.  Show him that you do appreciate and understand all the ways he sacrifices for your family out of love. Use these exercises to strengthen  your love skills (we all need refresher courses on that from time to time!)  I feel sure that your marriage will be blessed and I can't wait to get started!  Won't you join me?

Three things will last forever--faith, hope, and love--and the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13:13

Over the Moon...47 weeks Seizure Free

I don't write about DS2's seizure disorder very often but it is time for an update!  Yesterday we went for his check up with his Neurologist at MUSC and he had a great visit. I have to say that I love our Neurologist and the staff at MUSC.  I know it is a God thing that we ended up with Dr. Turner.  His level of care, concern and understanding is beyond anything I could have hoped for.  He deals with DS2 so wonderfully and doesn't forget that this Epilepsy Journey is one the whole family takes.  I am grateful that he proposed and has directed us in using the Modified Atkins Diet as a treatment for DS2's seizures.  He and the entire staff at MUSC seem to understand how scary this journey is daily and are extremely patient with me and my Mama Drama (which is more valuable than you can imagine!) 

As far as DS2, he is 47 weeks seizure free (yep....I count each and every week!) and growing like a weed.  He has been on the Modified Atkins Diet (a less restrictive version of the Ketogenic Diet) since February and so far we have seizure control!!!  His blood work has been fantastic and shows no ill effects of the diet on his other systems.  He does amazingly well on the diet, much better than I think most adults would do!  Of course, the holidays are presenting some challenges as all the traditional sweets are more available and tempting but so far, so good.  I am proud of my little guy and his ability to cope with the changes in his life.

It has been almost a year since our world changed and we began this journey, but I know God has blessed us beyond measure with each moment!

30 Days of Thanksgiving: Day 10

30 Days of Thanksgiving

Day 10, 2012:  Today I am thankful for my sweet daughter.  She has grown into a lovely young lady, both inside and out.  She has shown me so much and my heart has grown because she is in my life.  I am proud of what a successful and hard working woman is.   In giving me a daughter, God blessed me with not just a child but a friend for life.

Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.

Psalm 127:3 (NIV)

 

Ladies Who Lunch and Top Hat Special-Teas...

Is there anything better than a lunch with special friends?  When my friends and I get together there is always so much fun!  We laugh more than we lunch, and it is truly a time of rejuvenation on so many levels.    Although, I am "new" here, I have been blessed by so many new friends who have welcomed me with open arms and have kept me from feeling that loneliness that can often accompany a relocation.  It is so wonderful to meet all the wonderful new souls that God is bringing into my life.

 Last week I had lunch with 4 friends at a
new-to-me place here in town

(more of that being a tourist in your own town!).   

We met at Top Hat Special -Teas and had a great lunch. 

Top Hat is tucked away on a little street,right in down town,

but you could spot it easily with the cute pink exterior paint and flags flying (I love flags!).

It isn't a big, but had ample seating and made for a comfortable and cozy visit.

 So many lovely things to look at, which added to the ambience.

 I loved the extensive collection of Royal Albert's Old Country Roses and that it was actually used!  That is my sweet Mother-in-Law's pattern, so I especially love it because it reminds me of her (I think when she comes for a visit we will have to go back to Top Hat just so she can see it all). 

 Isn't this a fun way to dress up the base of a potted plant and make use of those chipped and broken china pieces?

I had a wonderful lunch and know I will be back soon, because there were a few (only a few) of the world's problems that my friends and I didn't manage to solve during our time....ah, next time!