Name Them One-by-One

There's an old hymn that Johnson Oatman, Jr. wrote in 1897.  It goes, "Count your blessings, name them one by one, Count your blessings, see what God hath done!"

This morning Jonathan was looking for a particular button-down shirt and couldn't find it.  He looked in my closet (where I hang the clothes that are washed and need to be ironed), he looked in his closet, the guest room closet and several bags he had recently used while traveling.  He looked in the dryer, washer and all of the laundry baskets.  I also went behind him for a cursory review of things.  The shirt was gone.  He left to take the kids to school and I went to iron the #2 choice shirt for the day.  As I was getting the iron out of my closet I looked one more time in the "to be ironed" section of clothes and sure enough, tucked behind another shirt was the one we had been searching for.

How often has that happened to you?  The thing you are searching for is right under your nose the entire time?  And you've wasted a lot of energy and effort looking for it.

I've been thinking along those very same lines lately about my life.  There are so many blessings right under my nose and I often look right past them.  Since the horrific events that occurred last Friday in Newtown, CT, I think many of us have been challenged to take a closer look at how we view priorities in our lives.  I have spent the last few mornings before school cuddling my babies as long as I could before they had to get ready.  I have hugged, played and listened much more intently.

A few weeks ago our preacher, Bill, said "Don't let the urgent supersede the important."  He was referring mostly to the hustle and bustle that comes with Christmas, but it's applicable to every day in our lives.  Since we moved into our house 3 years ago we've wanted to do some remodeling - the kitchen, master bath and floors all need updating.  But it's not the end of the world if it doesn't happen.  We are blessed to have enough space, live in a safe neighborhood and have all the creature comforts we need.  It would be nice to do some upgrades but I feel convicted to not complain about the current state of our home. 

Yesterday I was at the Family Dollar and there was a lady with about 15 items in her buggy.  I had a ton of stuff so I let her go in front of me even though I had already loaded most of my things on the checkout counter.  She nervously watched as her items were scanned and she held a roll of quarters ($10) in her hand.  She questioned the clerk a few times about some of the prices that rung up.  She stopped the clerk before her buggy was empty.  I told her not to worry, just to add my items to hers and I would take care of it.  She about fell over.  She exclaimed, "Thank you, Jesus, for sending an angel!" She cried and hugged me.  This was over about $15 worth of merchandise.  I can't imagine being so worried about spending $15.  I'm not writing about this so you think I'm an angel.  I want to share it because it profoundly impacted me.  I take for granted that I can run to the Family Dollar on any given day and buy whatever I need (or want).  I am BLESSED beyond what I even fathom.

I haven't done an actual count but I've probably had at least 50 different people do something nice for me or my family the past 14 months.  It's incredible to consider that so many have made sacrifices, big or small, for me.  Even the phone calls or cards that probably don't mean much to them are significant to me.  I am extremely grateful for the blessing of loved ones in my life.

I am praying for so many people right now:

• A classmate of the kids' who has non-cancerous tumors on all of his vital organs.  The ones on his brain are causing lots of seizures.  His parents are struggling to get him the medical care he needs.  It's a financial burden and they're having to take time off work to care for him.  And so I'm thankful for the asthma and ear infections that my kids get.  They are nothing compared to what this family is experiencing.
• A friend's child struggles with grades in school.  She worries every week about how she's preparing him for tests and that she's doing enough for him.  My kids don't struggle with schoolwork.  Without having this friend to share her worries with me I would have taken Beau & Lydia's good grades for granted.
• A friend is in remission from cancer.  He worries often that the tumor(s) will return.  My dizziness and "quality of life" issues pale in comparison.
• The parents who are burying their children in CT this week.  As I read the list of names and dates of birth I froze as I realized most of them were born in 2006, the same year as Beau & Lydia.  My heart physically hurt.  Those parents aren't "stressed" about making sure every gift is bought and wrapped or that they have the perfect thing to wear to the holiday party.  Makes my worries about those things extremely petty.

It's so easy to just get through every day, getting things done, focusing on the urgent and not the important.  And we miss the blessings that are right under our noses.   Even when things are bad, even when we really are sick or finances are a mess, there is usually something that we have to be thankful for.    Sometimes the kids will fuss about something silly and I'll look at them and say "Waaaah!"  If God wasn't so merciful he'd probably do the same thing to me and probably on a daily basis.

There are seasons when the blessings are tucked away in an obscure place and we have to search a little harder and be a little more creative in where we look.  Other times - I'll even go out on a limb and say most times - the blessings are there right under our noses as we search and search and search without ever seeing them.  We wake up every day with a choice.  We can choose to see the clouds or we can find beauty in the sky that God hand-made no matter how stormy or ominous it looks.

I hope everyone reading this knows, believes and accepts what Christmas is really about.  It's about Jesus Christ choosing to leave heaven and take on human form because he loves us that much. 

But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.” ---Luke 2:10-12

Merry Christmas from The Gregory's

The Father of All Time

For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do ---Ephesians 2:10

My sweet little daughter is an early bird.  She would come down from her room at 5:00 every morning if I let her.  For about a year now, the rule has been that she can’t come downstairs before 6:00.  She has a Hello Kitty digital clock in her room so she can keep track.  Sure enough, 95% of the mornings, at 6:00 I hear footsteps down the stairs.  On weekdays she crawls in bed with me until we have to get up and get ready for school and on weekends she’s allowed to turn on TV.  She told me that she often wakes early and watches the clock, counting down to 6:00.  I had the bright idea a few days ago to adjust her clock by 20 minutes, allowing me a little more shut-eye (my mom thought this was cruel to keep her waiting longer but I just thought it was smart). So, the very next morning she came down when her clock said 6:00… it was 5:40 a.m.  Yep, in all of my brilliance I adjusted the clock in the wrong direction.  DUH!  (My mom laughed at the irony).  Anyway, I have since readjusted her clock and this morning I saw her sweet little face at 6:20.  Success!

I often worry that I’m not doing everything God wants me to.  I worry that I’m supposed to be serving somewhere or doing something.  I pray and pray but still haven’t felt led to do any more than I already am.  I wrote in my journal last week what I felt God saying during one of my conversations with him:

Be still and know… I will show you everything when the time is right.  For now, study hard – my word, keep getting to know me, keep writing, keep deepening your thoughts and knowledge of me.

The incident with Lydia’s clock made me realize that no matter what, we can never manipulate God’s timing.  We can’t wish or will for things to happen when we want.  We can't work harder, be better or act right to make him adjust his clock.  In today's world there are so many classes of people, so many delineators; but one thing all mankind has in common is the restraint of time.  No matter how rich or poor, good or bad, we all get the same amount.  And we are held accountable for what we do with that precious resource.  That terrifies me.  I am terrified that I won’t know when the time is right or that I will disappoint God.  That he will shake his head in sadness because I blew it.  

I wonder how often David questioned God’s calling to be king during those years he ran for his life from King Saul.  He wrote the Psalms so we get a glimpse into his thoughts during that time.  I think David must have wondered if God would ever release him from his circumstances so he could fulfill his greater purpose.  At other times I know David rested peacefully in God’s sovereignty:

All the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.  ---Psalm 139:16

I often think and ask, “I really thought you would use this horrible experience for good.  But honestly, God, if I’m sitting here not serving, I’m not accomplishing anything for you.  So, if you’ll just go ahead and let me get on with it, I think that would be great.  So, what is it you want me to do?”  By doing that I’m probably moving the clock in the WRONG direction, just like I did with Lydia’s.  And God is getting a chuckle out of it, just like my mom did.

I have to continue to pray for God’s guidance and timing every day.  I wish I could just pray it once and then move on.  But the worries and anxiety that I’m not doing what I’m supposed to return fresh regularly.  Just another goal to strive for while God whispers, "Nicole, all the days ordained for you were written in my book before one of them came to be.  Why don't you just get through the one that's before you now and let me take care of the details of the ones to come?  I've already prepared it all in advance.  It really will be easier that way.  I promise.  You can trust me."

Other stuff

I had about 3 good weeks with lots of relief from the dizziness but for the past week I've been dizzy again.  I e-mailed my doctor at Mayo and he assured me setbacks at this point are normal and that we're still on track.  Even though I still don't feel good, this is very comforting and encouraging.  I continue to be amazed by every aspect of the Mayo Clinic.  I e-mailed my doctor at 2:42pm and he responded in detail at 3:06pm.  I waited at a doctor's appointment with Beau today for 2 hours and yesterday at another doctor's office for 2 hours with him.  If the world-renowned Mayo Clinic can run so efficiently, why can't other health care providers (that's a rhetorical question; I don't expect a response)?  I shouldn't complain because I am so thankful for our insurance and access to good healthcare.  But after I've seen it work so efficiently and that it can be done, it's hard to deal with anything less.

Stranger in a Strange Land

Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us ---1 Peter 2:11-12

I am getting out more and more these days - praise God!  It's awesome, but it's also extremely WEIRD!  I have flashbacks to movie scenes where someone was abducted by aliens, taken to outer space and put through an indescribable experience, then transported back to earth and popped straight back into their old life.  They have so much to say to everyone in their lives but they can't get the words out right and since the people they are around didn't actually go through what they went through, they can't truly articulate everything they are feeling in a way that others can understand.  That's me right now!

The only real-life thing I can liken it to is pregnancy.  In the first trimester before I was showing I wanted to float around everywhere I went telling everyone my news.  I didn't want a single stranger to see me and not know the exciting secret I was carrying.  I wanted to hold a sign, to write it on my forehead, to tell everyone.  In the moment I heard those 2 heartbeats inside me I was different; never to be the same person again.  I was no longer Nicole the wife, I was Nicole the wife and mom.  My role and who I was at the core was altered forever.  And I wanted people to know it.

I ran into a friend the other day that I hadn't seen since before last October.  She asked, "How have you been?"  Now for any of you reading my blog for the past nine months how could I possibly answer that question in the 60-second time I had with her?  I couldn't.  I gave my standard response, "I'm good.  I've been sick for over a year with Meniere's Disease.  It's not life-threatening, but it is life-altering.  I quit work, I rarely drive and I don't go places by myself.  BUT, God has taken me on an incredible spiritual journey and He has stayed faithful and for that I am so grateful."  It's like trying to write a novel on a post-it note.  I worry that's not a good enough answer.  Just like when I was pregnant I want the world to know that I am different.  At 40 years old my slate has been cleaned and my frame of reference for everything I think, say and do is completely changed.  When I read Paul's writings, I think he experienced that.  He wanted everyone to know God's goodness and everything about God and what he had done in his life and at times it seemed he would burst if he couldn't tell people.

I realize that it will take time to tell my story and that my life will have to show for itself what God has done.  And I struggle with that too.  Because although God has cleansed my soul and changed my heart, he didn't take away any of my personality - I'm still stubborn, bossy, opinionated and Type A.  So I'm learning to show who God is while trapped in this human, flawed body.  I've joked with a few friends that I've met this year, "What if you don't like me when I'm well and you see who I really am?"

All Christians should struggle with our strange world.  If we truly are changed, if God has really worked in our lives, we should want to shout our stories to the world.  We should feel weird and uncomfortable walking around here.  The challenge is how we do it.  I've been to retailers when they are having some sort of promotion.  All the employees are wearing buttons that say, "Ask me about our layaway options" or something along those lines.  Maybe that's what I need to do.  Create a button that says, "Ask me about the miracle that I experienced."  Maybe not.  I guess I'll keep thinking about it...

Other news
As I mentioned, I'm getting out more and it truly is incredible.  Not only am I getting out more but I'm not having to fight through the times when I am out.  Before when I was out I was still in a state of constant dizziness but now I'm having moments of clarity.  Yesterday I ran too many errands and was really bad off last night and today.  But the cool thing is days like yesterday help me learn my boundaries.  And you know I wrote about having to put my kids on the bus to ride home and I felt God was making me give up yet another thing?  As soon as I was obedient in that, I am now able to pick up my kids.  Coincidence?  Not likely.  The really great thing is their teacher is so wonderful that she is giving me the flexibility to call the school if I am having a bad day and she will put them on the bus for me.  It's a no-lose scenario.

I have felt God leading me into another project.  I am putting together a "Joy in the Journey Resource Kit."  It's a compilation of scriptures, books, bible characters and lessons that have helped me through the suffering I have been through.  I continue to hear stories of people with medical conditions and diagnoses far worse than anything I could imagine.  Perhaps through my experience I could share with them some things that helped me cope.  It's just a few pages and I can mail it or e-mail it.  If you know of someone who might need this, please let me know.

And finally, I am trying really hard this month to focus on Jesus and not "Christmas."  It's hard to do.  I especially want my kids to understand this is about Jesus and nothing else.  Enjoy this month and don't let the stress of "Christmas" divert you from the real reason we should celebrate.

Joy Thief

The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy... ---John 10:10

Satan has a goal for each of our lives - to steal and kill and destroy.  He wiles his way in and does anything he can to take away our joy and keep our focus on the wrong things.  Satan doesn't just worm his way in and tell lies to those who are sick and down; he attacks everyone.  I am seeing this played out in so many lives:

• Someone battling cancer - having to wake up every day and face the fear and the constant struggle with faith in healing.  Wondering each day if it's the day the tumors will return.
• Someone dealing with one small setback after another - in work situations, in kid situations, in health situations.
• Someone dealing with family members making life harder than it should be with unrealistic expectations.

It's not just sick people or people dealing with big, heavy issues.  Satan is nit-picking his way into life after life.  No one is immune.  Whether we're facing a giant or swatting at a swarm of annoying gnats, he works to distract us and take our minds and hearts to places where there is no joy.  And sometimes it's a one-off incident that sends us reeling and sometimes it's the cumulative effect of many things.

Two weeks ago I decided to have the kids ride the bus home from school.  I just couldn't keep calling people at the last minute to pick them up for me.  And often my mom had to leave work in West Monroe to drive over and help.  It's an unnecessary burden when we had another option.  HOWEVER, it broke my heart.  I thought, "God, you've taken my freedom, job, social life, driving, ministry, everything over the past year... and now I have to put my kids on the bus?  WHY?  Why can't you just restore me and quit taking things away?"

There is a scene in Monsters, Inc. where one of the monsters gets "infected" because he touched a child's sock.  They isolate this poor monster, tackle him, strip him down and the final straw - they rip off the bandaid causing him to scream in pain!  I sometimes think of this scene when I go through a day.  "2319! 2319! I have a 2319 in progress!"  Usually the socks stuck to my back are small and insignificant but they're troubling none-the-less.  It's not a long video and it's a great visual of how I feel some days (and it's cute too):

http://youtu.be/NSAXkp9cqbk

I found some scriptures that give great comfort in the face of the fact there's a joy-thief looking to bring us down:

1) God loves us and NOTHING can take that away
For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord   ---Romans 8:38-39

2) We must set our minds against attack
The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ  ---2 Corinthians 10:4-5

3) We must choose to make each day count
Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil  ---Ephesians 5:15-16

Last week one of our pastors, Johnny, said that we have to "learn and choose contentment" as Paul did in Philippians 4.  We don't just pray for contentment and have a life-long supply poured into us.  Same with joy.  We have to learn to look for it and choose it.  Some days it's harder than others.  But I find great comfort in knowing that we're not alone.  No matter if it's a giant or a gnat we all have things that steal our joy.  Just because I have a chronic health condition doesn't mean I'm the only one who knows tough days.  Whether I am sick or well Satan is going to be in my face for the rest of my life.  So I better go ahead and learn and choose to fight.

I love the way John 10:10 ends when Jesus says...
I have come that [you] may have life, and have it to the full.

May we choose Jesus' offer of a full life!

Other News

I am having glimmers of my old self and it is awesome!  I'm still not "normal" (that's such a funny term to me when we talk about people), but I'm definitely making progress.  I'm getting out and about more and it feels so great and so very strange all at the same time.  I still struggle with the pace of the progress and just as I wrote above, Satan uses some days to whisper that I'll never be well since I'm not seeing as much progress as I wish I could.  My headaches are getting better too although I'm still getting migraines for a few days in a row each month.  Last Christmas I was not in the "spirit" of it and didn't look forward to much of the festivities.  I didn't put up much more than the tree last year.  This year I am almost done decorating and have pulled out everything!  We got a live tree for the first time this year and I LOVE it - it is the most beautiful thing I've ever seen (not really, but I do love it).  I'm not sure that I feel better physically than I did this time last year but I can look back at my spiritual journey and know that I have come so far and that makes me feel a whole lot better! 

Total Eclipse

I didn't write last week and I still feel guilty.  The week before last I started feeling awful and last weekend was the worst.  I felt bad physically and emotionally.  I was experiencing a total solar eclipse.  It seemed like the SON in my life was covered up and I was in darkness.  I lost what I felt was a healthy communication with God.  I hadn't done anything (that I know of) to bring on the silence.  I just felt lost and dark and cold.

I started reading 1 Samuel this week in my journey of reading the entire Bible.

In those days the word of the LORD was rare; there were not many visions.  ---1 Samuel 3:1

I realize that the Israelites turning their backs on God caused most, if not all, of God's silence back then.  But this was oddly comforting to me.  Periods of silence are not punishment or measures of God's love and care for us.  They're a natural part of our relationship.  Often times when we feel God is silent we talk to him more and seek him more fervently.  And that's a good thing.

God's silence was broken with Samuel:  The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of Samuel’s words fall to the ground.  And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba recognized that Samuel was attested as a prophet of the Lord.  The Lord continued to appear at Shiloh, and there he revealed himself to Samuel through his word.  ---1 Samuel 3:19-21

I realized through these passages that God's silence is sometimes followed with His greatness.  He was silent but when he spoke he used Samuel in a mighty way and "Samuel's word came to all Israel" (4:1).  Samuel became one of Israel's greatest prophets (and even anointed David to become King of Israel).  There were "400 years of silence" between the old and new testaments.  After which, Jesus Christ burst onto the scene.  God's silence followed with His greatness.

It's so encouraging to know that even the things we don't understand are part of a master plan.  In a study I'm currently doing Beth Moore writes, "Sometimes we stand to learn the most about God from the situations we understand the least."

I am feeling much better physically and emotionally but I'm still trying to find my way back into the full light.  Without the bad days we don't appreciate the good, without the cold days we don't appreciate the sun's warmth, without the infirmities we don't appreciate the health, without the silent days we don't appreciate the days of abundant communication.

Health & other stuff
Well, you already know I had some bad days recently BUT this week I have had some extraordinarily good days.  I believe the Zoloft has kicked in and that God is using medicine as a means to heal me.  I went to the kids' Thanksgiving lunch at school Tuesday and ran errands with my mom on Thursday.  And both times I felt almost "normal".  What an amazing feeling!  I am still having some trouble at night but it isn't as severe and if I have good days I can handle rocky nights.  Jonathan was gone for another 7 day stretch last week.  So he had been gone for 8, home for 6 and was gone for 7.  He is home now for at least 10 days and I am soooooo thankful!

On the topic of thanks...  I was thinking yesterday about everyone who reads this blog.  More importantly I was thinking about all the prayers sent up regularly and faithfully on my behalf.  I am truly overwhelmed that so many people care so much about me to take time to pray and be concerned.  I am praying for several friends and strangers who are REALLY sick - some of them with life-threatening illnesses.  Sometimes I feel guilty to ask for so much prayer and to receive so much prayer when there are so many others significantly worse off than I am.  But God reminded me that prayer is part of the family of believers.  We do it for each other for small and big things.  So I will keep asking for prayer and I will continue to be humbly grateful for each and every prayer you utter for me.  This week especially I will reflect upon how blessed beyond measure I am.

Source of Strength

I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.  ---Philippians 4:13

I use this verse a lot.  I quote it to others when they need encouragement to accomplish something and I quote it to myself more and more often these days.  This week, God showed me something else, a little deeper, about this verse.  He said to me:

You can do nothing apart from me.  Remember that for life - don't take it for granted.  Everything you do is because I equip you and empower you... breathing, thinking, walking, talking, working, cooking, cleaning, driving, shopping, doing laundry.  Ask for my help daily - on EVERY task and endeavor.  You can't succeed without me.

We quote Philippians 4:13 when something big is going on or we feel we're up against tough odds.  But do we realize that everything we do is because he enables us?  Yes, we can do all things through Christ, but we can do NOTHING without the strength Christ gives.

Over the last year I have learned to pray and ask for help in many of my life activities.  Every morning I pray for the strength to accomplish my daily tasks and I list them out specifically.  It makes me do two things: 1) turn it all over to God and rest in His peace when I am unable to accomplish something and 2) prioritize what really HAS to be done versus things that I would LIKE to get done.  I realize more and more that most of my to-do list contains things I'd like to get done versus things I have to get done. 

I pray for help before I go out anywhere.  What healthy, on-the-go person would ever stop and ask God to give her the ability to ride in the car and sit and watch her 6 year-old's flag football game for an hour?  What healthy, on-the-go person would ever stop and ask God to get her through a night of trick-or-treating with her 6-year-old twins because her husband was out of town (thanks to my Mom for helping)?  What healthy, on-the-go person would ever stop and ask God to get her through a 30 minute aerobic walk in the neighborhood?  A year ago, not this healthy, on-the-go person, that's for sure.

I did ask for God's help on those exact outings this week.  I know that apart from his help and his will I cannot do those things.  If you are up and healthy and going strong, THANK GOD for that ability and ask for his help to keep you healthy to do those things.  If you are not able to accomplish your goals each day start asking God for help in every area.  On Sunday our pastor, Bill, said that God knows how big our "small things" are... meaning nothing is too mundane or simple to bring before God.  I am reading Judges now.  God truly loved the Israelites, His Chosen People, just as he loves us today.  Time and time again the Israelites fell short of God's best - they rebelled, they forgot him, they lived only for selfish gain.  But every time they cried out for God to save them, He did.  He cares about every aspect of our lives.

I will never understand why some people get sick or suffer.  Over the past 2 weeks I've added several people to my prayer list because of a new diagnosis or because of a recurring chronic condition.  It makes my heart heavy to know that good people are suffering.  God is the only one who can truly provide comfort that will last and heal.  I believe that part of our life journey and a large part of suffering is to call us intimately closer to Him.  When life as we know it screeches to a halt and all that we know is turned upside down we then realize that apart from him we can do nothing.  There are so many physical conditions that afflict people that they have absolutely no control over.  Losing control over the physical well-being of your own body is a scary experience.  If it's never happened to you, you can't understand the frustration and fear that it causes.  I can't describe it to you; I've often envisioned myself in a straight jacket, held captive by the vessel that God gave me.  The only answer, the only way to make sense, the only peace is to rest and know that only God can empower us to get through every moment of every day.

I love that I'm learning the practice of asking him for help and then thanking him for that help on an ongoing basis each day.  It keeps the lines of communication open and the more I do it, the more I realize that I have to do it.

Remember that we can do all things through Christ's strength and without his strength, we can do NOTHING!

Monroe
On another note, this week marks our 10th year anniversary living in Monroe.  I cannot believe it.  It's just another reminder of God's sovereignty.  When I tell you I arrived 10 years ago kicking and screaming that's probably the understatement of the century.  I was NOT HAPPY.  I was mad at God, mad at Jonathan and mad at anyone else who even looked at me.  I thought I had moved to red-neck hell on earth.  (I can say that now because I have "roots" here and it's my home).  I assumed everyone I met was uneducated and not worthy of my friendship.  It's amazing how God uses the most treacherous, low-points in life to do His greatest work.  I am thankful beyond measure to be in this tight-knit community where I have more friends and family to help in ways I could never have imagined.  I can say with certainty I could not have endured the last year of infirmity if we were still living in the rat-race of West Palm Beach.

An excerpt from my journal from 10 years ago - 12/04/02:
I struggle with the thoughts that my loving God and Savior is in control yet I still despise everything about this place.  I feel guilty that I'm not skipping and jumping with joy and resting every minute in the comfort that God is planning every minute of my life.

Boy, was He ever!

Medical Update
I've been on Zoloft for 17 or so days now.  I think that I'm going to be able to tolerate the dosage that I'm on.  PRAISE GOD!!!  I was so worried that I would "waste" weeks trying different medicines until I found the right one (although I know that none of my down time is wasted time in God's eyes).  As of now I'm not feeling any side affects from it.  I have had some really dizzy days this week but I was plagued by migraine on top of everything and it seems the migraine medicine I take compounds the dizziness now that I'm on Zoloft (so thankful I asked my pharmacist why I got so dizzy this week).  Satan is still trying to lie and tell me that it's not going to work.  I think the fact that I know there's a cure and I'm not already feeling great feeds my anxious thoughts.  Having to wait to see results allows seeds of doubt to be planted.   Jonathan was also gone for 8 days this week and that's always nerve-wracking.  He was gone this week last year so when I had my first vertigo attack at 6am on November 3rd, 2011 I was home alone with the kids (mom came right away when I called her though).  I couldn't help but remember that dreadful day on the anniversary of it this year.  I'm so thankful for my mom who came every day this week and helped with the kids; she even spent the night on Halloween so she could trick-or-treat with us!

The Great Pumpkin

This week we undertook pumpkin carving at our house - the twins' first time.  I haven't carved a pumpkin since I was a child and forgot (or never got involved in) the hard work that it requires.  And of course, God used something as off-the-wall as pumpkin carving to teach me about what He's doing in my life.

You see, gutting the pumpkin is essential before it can be carved.  The very first step is making a hole in the top of the pumpkin; this requires cutting through the skin (if that is what the outer layer is even called) and the guts all at the same time.  Once the hole is cut, you pry the top off, ripping out pumpkin innards in the process.  Then you have to remove all the goo, strings, seeds and guts.  It takes scoop after scoop to get all of that out.  And then there is still work to do... you have to scrape the inside shell of the pumpkin to get it smooth and remove all of the actual pumpkin!  And each time you scrape some away, more strings and pumpkin guts appear.  It's layer after layer of removal until you get to the smooth inside.  (You get where I'm going with this right?) 

God's been gutting me like a pumpkin!  And He's down to those final layers trying to smooth me out.  First came the most painful part - removing the very first part of me - cutting through the tough skin and the guts all at the same time and then prying it away from me.  Then the tedious job of removing the squishy, easy-to-reach guts and finally, the scraping and refining. 


I agree with Lydia - pumpkin carving stinks!

I feel confident that the most painful, gut-wrenching parts are behind me and I'm onto the smoothing.  For example, I asked this week for Him to show me things I still need to work on.  And He convicted to put away my cell phone when my kids get home from school.  They need my undivided attention and reading texts during that time is not giving them that.  I have all day to text and respond.  They deserve a couple of hours of dedicated focus.  It's not a sin to read texts with kids around and I didn't do it excessively and that's not what God was saying; but that's just one little thing I feel like I can do to make improvements in my life and my children's lives.  Another area was resting.  I have NEVER in my life been one to rest - EVER.  If I wasn't at 110 mph then I felt like I was standing still.  But I realize now that I have to rest, we all do.  He built rest into our make-up.  It's ok to take a moment and regroup and recharge.  I'm better off for it and He is showing me that, without guilt and without anxiety.

Back to our pumpkins... once we had the inside smooth and clear, the kids got to create some great designs for all to see.  They meticulously worked on those pumpkins to make a cute kitty cat and a Saints fleur-de-lis. 

And that's where God is going next too.  He'll finish me off with a beautiful "design" for all to see.  A mark of one who has been gutted.  I know friends who show beautiful markings with their lives and I know the experiences they've gone through that left them empty, able to be a blank canvas for God's intricate handiwork.  When I meet people in the future who wear a beautiful design on their lives I will know that they have gone through the painful gut-wrenching process of being carved out!  What a great opportunity to show God's love and grace to the world.

Deuteronomy 8:2-10
² Remember how the Lord your God led you all the way in the wilderness these forty years, to humble and test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands. ³ He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your ancestors had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the Lord. ⁴ Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. ⁵ Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the Lord your God disciplines you.
⁶ Observe the commands of the Lord your God, walking in obedience to him and revering him. ⁷ For the Lord your God is bringing you into a good land—a land with brooks, streams, and deep springs gushing out into the valleys and hills; ⁸ a land with wheat and barley, vines and fig trees, pomegranates, olive oil and honey; ⁹ a land where bread will not be scarce and you will lack nothing; a land where the rocks are iron and you can dig copper out of the hills.
¹⁰ When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you.

Medical News
I haven't had a great week.  I've been really dizzy, rocky and groggy.  I'm pretty sure it's my body adjusting to the medicine (or maybe it was turning 40???).  A friend who has taken Zoloft and my pharmacist friend both confirmed that it will take 2 weeks to get the chemicals in my brain "normalized" and used to taking it and then it should all even out.  So, I'm about 3/4 of the way there!  Please keep praying.  I still have weeks/months to go and I am asking to be prayed ALL the way through this.  I'm asking because I would not have gotten this far without all of your prayer and support.  I sincerely thank you!

Promised Land

I'm settling back into "post-Mayo" life and trying to take it all in stride.  Hopefully I can get back to sharing life lessons that God is teaching me.

As I’ve mentioned previously, I am reading my bible cover to cover.  I don’t have a date set to finish this because I don’t want to rush and I don’t want to read a passage just so I’m on my schedule.  I have finished the first 6 books – Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, Deuteronomy and Joshua.  At the end of Deuteronomy, sweet Moses, whom I grew to love more as I read more, died.  I struggled with why Moses died when he did and why God denied him entry into the promised land because of one act of disobedience (Numbers 20:1-13).

I prayed several times for God to help me understand why he would not allow Moses to go with his people to the promised land.  And I feel like He gave me a different lens through which to look at it.  A few of the high points:

1) Moses left this earth at the perfect time, whether he had crossed the Jordan or not.  God did take Moses to the top of Mount Nebo and from there Moses could see the whole land before his death (Deuteronomy 34:1-4).  He was far from the "valley" at death, he was at the top of the mountain, as spiritually close as he could be on this earth to God.  It seems as though he died peacefully and that it was just his time. He was 120 years old but "his eyes were not weak not his strength gone (34:7)."  And then God buried Moses and I picture it as a sweet, intimate burial where God himself took care of the details with the utmost care (34:6).  God loved and trusted Moses and cared deeply for him.  In Numbers 12:6-8 God said about Moses: “Listen to my words:  When there is a prophet among you, I, the Lord, reveal myself to them in visions, I speak to them in dreams.  But this is not true of my servant Moses; he is faithful in all my house.  With him I speak face to face, clearly and not in riddles; he sees the form of the Lord."

2) Moses was spared from more heartache and disaster.  I just read the introduction to Judges today so I don’t know the details about what happens when the Israelites settle in the promised land, but I know that they will become rebellious and God will get angry with them (Deuteronomy 31:16-18).  I know that they will be in battle for 7 years with the inhabitants of the land before they divide it amongst the tribes.  So God spared Moses from years of battle and watching the disaster of the rebellious people happen.  God kept Moses from his wrath toward his people.  As so often happens in my life, God saves me from the greater disaster, of which I am usually completely oblivious.

All of this has gotten me thinking about my wandering in the wilderness this past year.  I keep referring to the promised land as the day that I am able to fully be a wife, mom, servant, churchmember, etc. again.  But I am short-sightedly thinking only of my time on earth.  God is much more concerned with getting me prepared for the ultimate Promised Land, something much better and sweeter than anything here on earth.  I’m not being dramatic thinking I’m about to die, just realizing that God’s focus is much more on what I’m doing for Him in the bigger picture. 

It brings a verse that I used to struggle with into more light:

Praise the LORD, O my soul;

            All my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the LORD, O my soul;

            And forget not all his benefits –

Who forgives all your sins

            And heals all your diseases

Who redeems your life from the pit

            And crowns you with love and compassion,

Who satisfies desires with good things

            So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

---Psalm 103:1-5

I always wondered why this passage says he heals ALL disease.  People die every day from disease, some people live with disease until the day they die, so how is it he heals all disease?  I now realize that healing may not come in this life.  The healing may be when we get to heaven.  It’s hard to look at things through God’s perspective… he’s infinite; we’re finite.  He’s all-knowing; we’re a-teeny-tiny-bit-knowing.  He doesn’t keep time; we live by clocks and calendars.  I was journaling and praying the other day and telling God that it’s been a year since I’ve felt good or had any relief.  I felt him reply, “But a year to me is the blink of an eye – nothing.”

My friend, Melonie, recently bought me the book Jesus Calling by Sarah Young. It’s a short daily devotional and a wonderful read!  On October 6 the author described an experience where God takes us to the mountain-top, just to be alone with Him, soaking in His presence and enjoying all He has to offer.  She concludes with, “Give yourself fully to these Glory-moments, awash in dazzling light.  I will eventually lead you down the mountain, back into community with others.  Let My Light continue to shine within you as you walk among people again.”  As I read I felt God flip the message for me.  He described the same feelings, but from the valley perspective.  “Nicole, give yourself fully to these gut-wrenching-clinging-to-Me-moments, awash in pain and suffering.  I will eventually lead you UP the mountain, back into community with others.  Let My Light continue to shine within you as you walk among people again.”  Same message but a different perspective.  He can use mountain-top experiences as much as He can valley experiences to make us into the children He wants us to be.

I am so focused on my little earthly promised land, my victory over Meniere’s Disease and my newly-diagnosed CSD and the altered life it has brought to me and my family.  I must remember that God IS in control, even in the valley.  And when I don’t understand why each day I wake up and He hasn’t healed me, that’s His plan.  I still believe He will lead me to a place of functionality before I leave this earth.  I don’t think it’s His plan to let me die this way.  But had I not had this wilderness experience, I never, ever would have taken (or been given) the opportunity to view things through this different lens.  I may never have felt convicted to read my bible cover to cover, may never had read the story of Moses from start to finish, may never have realized that wandering in the wilderness brings greater rewards than my human mind can comprehend, may never have been broken and emptied out so that God could restock me with His ways and thoughts and aspirations.  Sure, it would have been a comfortable life without Meniere’s and CSD, but unbeknownst to me, it also would have been a life of slavery.

Medical News

I started my Zoloft last week.  I’m not sure of any side-effects yet because I’ve had something viral going on (at least I think that’s it) that’s been making me feel weird.  Please, please pray that my body will take this dose and settle in to it just fine.  I don’t want to have to mess around with different meds to find the right one and the right dose.  And again, many, many sincere thanks for the continued prayers and love.  It keeps me going!!!!! 

Other News

It's great to be a FLORIDA GATOR!!!!!!!  (Especially living here in the midst of Tiger Country)

I’ll be FORTY tomorrow!!!!!!  I will be SO happy to get #39 behind me that 40 is looking pretty good right about now!  Meniere’s Disease was my 39^th birthday “gift.”  My symptoms began the week before and I was diagnosed the day after my birthday.

Mayo Day 3

¹   There is a time for everything,
    and a season for every activity under the heavens:

²     a time to be born and a time to die,
    a time to plant and a time to uproot,
³     a time to kill and a time to heal,
    a time to tear down and a time to build,
⁴     a time to weep and a time to laugh,
    a time to mourn and a time to dance,
⁵     a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
    a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
⁶     a time to search and a time to give up,
    a time to keep and a time to throw away,
⁷     a time to tear and a time to mend,
    a time to be silent and a time to speak,
⁸     a time to love and a time to hate,
    a time for war and a time for peace.

---Ecclesiastes 3:1-8

I love this reminder that God's timing is perfect.  The context of our lives in God's Kingdom plan is perfect.  Every day of our life in the proper sequence is perfect.

Well, the Mayo visit has come and gone.  A visit that was on the calendar for over two months has passed.  It's hard to believe.  I am overwhelmed with emotions, gratitude and humility.  I must admit it took me until this morning to really come to terms with a lot of the information we found out and to process it.  I am used to spending a lot of 1/1 time with the Lord each day and that was hard to do in a hotel; I didn't want to just run out on Jonathan for 2 hours at a time, even though he would have understood.  So, this morning I really got to pray and meditate on all that we learned and heard.

I am so grateful to know that my vestibular function is healthy and even more grateful to know that I did not move forward with that radical nerve section surgery that the doctor in TX recommended back in April.  That would not have solved my problem and I would have had unnecessary brain surgery.  PRAISE GOD for the spirit of peace He gave me not to pursue that surgery.

We met with Dr. Staab yesterday.  Dr. Staab is no more than 50 years old and he and a team are the ones who first identified Chronic Subjective Dizziness (CSD).  So to say that I'm in the care of an expert is an understatement.  He has been studying this condition for the past 20 years or so.  He has seen it numerous times, has written numerous papers and articles on it and has been involved with numerous studies on it (some in conjunction with a team of doctors in Japan).  He gave some great descriptions of my symptoms and what is happening in my body.  I have to admit I was very uneasy with the fact that he's actually a psychiatrist.  I was sick over the thought that this was "all in my head."  But I also know that even if it were, God is still in control and that's all that matters.  It was so comforting to describe all of my wacky symptoms (the crazy amusement park ride dreams, the swimming pool making it worse, the inability to grocery shop, etc.) and not be looked at like I was looney.  Every time I mentioned a symptom or feeling he just nodded like he'd heard it before or he expected it.  What a relief and comfort.

I will try to describe the best way I know how what is going on.  When I suffered multiple and frequent vertigo attacks last winter, my brain put the environment around me (all physical space and stimuli) at "high risk" meaning my brain wasn't sure what was causing me to be off balance and my world to go berserk.  So, it instinctively started reacting to my environment in an unnatural way.  You know the whole "fight or flight" response our body has?  It's similar to that.  Just like you can't control sweaty palms when you're in a scary or frightening situation, I can't control my brain's response to my environment.  Dr. Staab said 1 in 6 patients who have the endolymphatic sac surgery (which I had Feb. 23) will develop CSD.  I laughed to myself when he said that because throughout this journey I have been in the minority of the statistics on all counts.

CSD is treated with an anti-depressant.  When they first started their research, most people with CSD were depressed and dizzy.  They decided to first treat the depression and then figure out how they would approach the dizziness.  What they found was that patients were coming back and saying their dizziness had resolved so they began using anti-depressants to treat the dizziness.  I will start taking Zoloft tomorrow.  The first 2 weeks will be a period of allowing the medicine to get in my system and get any dosage adjustments made.  The next 2-4 weeks I should begin to see some changes (good days vs. bad days).  He said this is a frustrating time because having bad days will be a bummer after having a few good ones.  (I didn't say this, but this ain't my first rodeo with a roller coaster of good and bad days so I think I'll be OK)!  :^)  The next few months after will be good days building on each other.  I will take the medicine and do the therapy activities too.  When we left, Dr. Staab told me, "This is your fall/winter project."  He was very optimistic but realistic in the length of recovery.

In my prayer time this morning I realized that God will soon lift me out of this valley, but He obviously has more work to do before then.  I am okay with that and pray that I can stay faithful and diligent to His calling over these next few months.

My friend, Melonie, who has been to Mayo and got me to strongly consider it came over to visit today.  I can now understand what she meant when she said it was indescribable.  I would encourage anyone with a chronic condition to consider Mayo as an option.  Just as I found out, there may be a cure that you or your doctors don't know about or haven't considered.  I truly believe God established the Mayo Clinic and gave the gifts of intelligence and compassion to men and women to provide the type of health care found there.

I am going to include some pictures below.  Again, they don't do it justice but may give you a glimpse into our experience.  I cannot say enough about Rochester, MN - the people, the clean facilities, the food.  To balance my opinion, I can tell you two negative things about our trip.  I thought long and hard to come up with these, but I think they will help you understand the feelings we have about the trip.
1) Most eating establishments carry Pepsi products.  Disgusting!  If you need you're Diet Coke fix, you better put on your comfy shoes and be prepared to search.
2) I forgot my deodorant.  Luckily Jonathan brought his Sure Unscented Aerosol so I was covered.
Hopefully these two negative points clearly reflect the nature of how wonderfully awesome our trip was.  I am honestly humbled beyond description at the love and prayers I felt before, during and even today.  I don't deserve this much love and attention.  I really don't.  I can't believe this many people care so much about me - there will never be a way for me to truly thank you.  Just know that I do not take your diligent prayers lightly and realize that I am blessed to be thought of so much.

A statue on the wall in the main lobby.  If you look closely in the lower left corner of the picture, you can see the grand piano with people around it.  It was usually in use by patients or visitors.  Sometimes people would sing along.

The atrium just outside the buildings.  The landscaping is this beautiful throughout the downtown area.

A 17-bay Admissions & Business Center in the main lobby.  Like I said earlier, it's a bit like Atlanta's Hartsfield Airport in a lot of ways.

The Gonda Building is straight ahead.  The surrounding buildings are other Clinic buildings, hotels and businesses.

The top floor of the Barnes & Noble that was in the mall en route from our hotel to the Clinic via the Skyway system.

Day 1 - Rotary Chair Test.  I was strapped in, the door was closed and I was completely in the dark.  The chair spun in different directions at different speeds.  YUK!!!!

Mayo Day 2

OCTOBER 15, 2012 (one year anniversary of this journey's beginning) - pretty cool to celebrate an anniversary this way...

This place continues to blow our minds!  I honestly cannot describe how incredible it all is.  When I get home I will upload many of the pictures we've taken.  The pictures won't do it justice and they cannot tell the story of the people here.  We have not met one single person who was not incredibly friendly.  And ALL of the food has been delicious!  We have eaten so good - too good!

I have to admit that when I wrote on Friday I was very numb.  I was taken aback by a diagnosis that I never expected.  The condition they have labeled me with - Chronic Subjective Dizziness (CSD) - is something I have NEVER heard of.  Jonathan and my friend, Summer, in all of their research of dizziness and vestibular disorders never even ran across it.  So it really hit me out of left field.  It has taken me the weekend and the visits today to be more comfortable with it and to embrace it.  Quite honestly, at first I was skeptical, thinking "I've already tried the medicine and therapy route and now that's what you're recommending again?"  But I see that this is a totally different way we will approach things.

"And no one puts new wine into old wineskins; or else the new wine bursts the wineskins, the wine is spilled, and the wineskins are ruined.  But new wine must be put into new wineskins" ---Mark 2:22

I realize that I must be a new wineskin.  I cannot let the thought "this isn't going to work" cross my mind.  I must stay renewed, hopeful and encouraged.

Today the neurologist, Dr. Eggers, met with us first.  I got my Bachelor's degree in 1994; he got his in 1993, so we're basically the same age.  We spent a little over an hour talking with him and he agrees that I have CSD.  He also believes from a neurologist's perspective that my headaches and migraines will subside once my CSD is controlled.  I completely agree with that assessment and am ready to be WELL.  He was a little less conservative and said give the new meds and therapy 8-12 weeks and that he expects that I will be fully functional.  He was VERY optimistic, leaving us with "You're gonna do great!"

We then met with the therapist.  My appointment was at 3:45.  We got there at 3:25 and he immediately called us back.  We met until 4:00 or so.  He has given me some new things to do to get me re-acclimated to normal activities.  I'll go into more detail some other time, but basically, I need to be exposed to environments that make me dizzy (in very small doses initially).  Essentially, I cannot avoid nor overdo activities.  I can and will start running again (gradually of course), which I am SUPER excited about.  This will probably help the headaches and stress too!

We've got one more appointment at 8:30 tomorrow.  The Neurologist said the doctor we meet in the morning is one of the top in the country, if not the world, in CSD!  YAY!  He will determine which medication to put me on.  I'm not sure if I'll leave here with Rx in hand or if they'll send me the Rx along with all of the reports in the mail (hoping I'll leave here with it).

Jonathan and I are ready to be home, sleep in our own bed, eat home cooked food and see our babies!  Lydia has been great and has not needed breathing treatments for several days, so thank you for the prayers.

I am ELATED, ELATED and PRAISE GOD that my vestibular system is in tact and functioning fine!  This is the biggest praise of all for me.  I don't have to go through life worried that my "ship is only being steered by one rudder" (that's how I like to think of it anyway).

Can't wait to send out pictures soon.  And honestly, I cannot express my deep thanks for the love and support you all give.  I am blessed beyond measure.

Mayo Day 1

This place is indescribable!  It's like nothing I could have ever imagined.  There are so many things to write about... the people in this town are extremely friendly - restaurants, hotel staff, hospital staff... everyone.  The people here are really TALL.  We're seen several men as tall if not taller than Jonathan and at least 1/2 a dozen women 6 feet or taller.  I'm average height here.  It's WEIRD!  The hospital and surrounding blocks are all interconnected by skyways and subways.  We've walked miles within the labyrinth since we got here.  I guess when it's 20 below, they didn't want patients wading through the snow.  There are malls that we walk through to get to the hospital from our hotel.  We could stay, eat, shop and not see daylight for our entire visit.  I wish I could show pictures but they wouldn't do it justice.  It's been highs in the 50s here, so I haven't wanted to venture out much!  We were eating in a cafe inside today and both likened the scene to Atlanta Hartsfield Airport... it's like a city going on inside itself with people bustling everywhere.

Our flight was fast, smooth and without incident.  And although I left baby girl throwing up and out of school yesterday, she is better.  Of course Satan was going to have me up at 2:30 AM with a sick child the day we were to leave.  But it all worked out fine.  She is on breathing treatments so please pray that her asthma will stay well-controlled while we're away.

So, the day started with my first test at 7:00 AM.  I have pictures of the lobby, one test and a few other things but I can't upload them right now.  I had tests from 7-11 this morning.  Some made me dizzy, some were just uncomfortable and some were not a big deal at all.  The dizziness wore off quickly and we were able to grab lunch afterwards.  We wandered around some shops until my afternoon appointment.  We checked into the appointment desk in the afternoon at 1:30 for a 2:15 appointment.  The ENT lobby is bigger than our house and the check-in desk is like the concession stand at the movies.  It's a big, long desk with several receptionists checking people in.  They gave me a beeper and told me to report to door "G" when it buzzed.  We sat at the bank of public computers, surfed the Internet and waited. The beeper buzzed at 2:10.  We approached door G and Dr. Shepherd himself greeted us and took us back (Yes, the doctor was 5 minutes early and personally greeted us).  After an hour and a half with him, I have lots of information.  I'll summarize it here with only the highlights.  It's all good news!

1) He confirmed I have Meniere's Disease and that it is in remission.  He said that it could stay in remission for the rest of my life or it could stay for 2 years - there's no way to know.  Controlled MD can still carry with it 2-3 vertigo attacks (the big, bad ones) a year but I can live with that.  He said I could go the rest of my life without one (prayer request).  He said there's only about a 25-28% chance that my right ear could ever have MD (praise).

2) All of my tests show that although my left vestibular (balance) nerve is slightly weaker than my right, IT IS NOT DAMAGED!  This means no brain surgery, no shots to kill the nerve, no problems with it - yay, yay, yay, yay, yay, yay, yay!!!!!!!!!!!!!  (He sent forth His word and healed her ---Psalm 107:20)

3) I have a secondary condition to MD... chronic subjective dizziness.  Now that I have a diagnosis I can be treated accordingly.  He knew exactly what I had, they have literature on it (so this isn't something new) and he has statistics of success/improvement rates (so this isn't their first rodeo).  I'm not sure how to describe it all and I still have 2 more doctors to meet with to understand it more, but basically, my brain responds to situations by being dizzy b/c that's what it had gotten accustomed to.  Liken it to Pavlov's dog.  The dog hears the dinner bell and salivates.  My brain gets overstimulated and goes dizzy.  I will be treated with medicine and therapy.  The therapy will put me in situations that make me worse (looking at crazy patterns, going to crowded places, etc).  I will start with small doses of therapy to "retrain my brain" then gradually increase.  It may also take several tries with medicine to find the right one.  So the prognosis for recovery is 3-6 months.

4) The headaches and migraines are likely the result of the stress this is causing.  Still praying they will cease!

I'm so thankful that we're here, so thankful we have an answer, so thankful we can treat it.  It's still going to be a long road and I am trying to sort through a lot of emotions I have, but I am praising God for getting me to this point. 

We're set for a relaxing weekend... a little FLORIDA football and some good eats (since my Meniere's is in remission I don't have to be SO strict on my low-sodium diet so I'm gonna eat something really GOOD this weekend).  I'll update again early next week.  Please, please, please don't stop praying as we still have other appointments and information to gather.  THANK YOU for all the love and prayers. I have felt so wrapped in your love that it has overwhelmed me.