Hypothyroidism - a Blessing!

I slept 12 hours last night and I actually feel rested. Monday night I slept 11 hours and still felt tired. My last blog post, I explained some of how the thyroid works and how every cell in the body needs the thyroid hormones to function properly. I don’t know if I was trying to teach people about the thyroid as much as I was trying to convince myself why I am so tired right now. It’s hard when we realize we can no longer physically do what we use to be able to do.  I’m really not that old, so in my mind I can still get by on 6 hours of sleep and have energy to do anything I want during the rest of my 24 hours. It can be a humbling process when you realize that is no longer true.

Today as I lay here in bed before getting up, I came to a striking realization. A friend wrote on her blog about obeying God, passing the test of faith, and giving God total control in every area of our lives. I realized today that I have not given Him control in the area of my life where my hypothyroidism is concerned. I have been trying to take care of it myself, yes, I take my medicine, and I watch what water I drink but I have been fighting the sleep issue. I try to get by on as little sleep as possible. I know that sounds funny after telling you I just slept so much the past 2 nights but it is true. Many times I will not go to bed even though I’m tired just because it isn’t even dark outside – Monday night I was asleep by 7pm. Last evening I took a nap from 7 – 8 pm.

God has allowed the hypothyroidism into my life; I don’t know why but I truly believe He is going to use it to 1. teach me something or many things (this is already happening) and 2. use it to bless me and/or someone else.  I have a friend whose daughter has been ill for most of her life with a devastating disease, yet she is a beautiful girl, inside and out.  She doesn’t look at her illness as a roadblock but as a stepping stone to better things.  She is a true inspiration to many.

So I am no longer going to look at my hypothyroidism as a burden but rather as a blessing that God is going to use for His glory!

Til next time!

Linda

Citation –Withdrawn! Answers to Prayer!

This past Wednesday, hubby and I had to go to a hearing at district court for the citation received in August for driving a vehicle with a suspended registration.  You can read about that dilemma here and here.  The fine for this is close to $300 and since we were never without insurance, we decided to fight the citation.

The officer involved met us there and we were able to show him the information proving we were never without the insurance and he decided to withdraw the citation; we didn’t have to go before the district justice!  What a wonderful answer to prayer!

Today we had another answer to prayer.  Financially the past several months have been a struggle and I have been looking for a job and even though I had placed several applications, nothing came through.  I know that is because the job God had planned for me wasn’t available yet.  This past Tuesday I had an interview and today they called and offered me the job!  An answer to pray!

If I didn’t trust that God has my future planned, I would have become very discouraged by all the applications I had placed and not hearing anything from them.  I thank God for His love and concern for me, especially knowing that I do not deserve any of it.  I’m thankful that I am a sinner saved by grace!

Til next time!

Linda

Mobile Once Again!

Praise the Lord, for He is good!  Last Tuesday we finally got new plates for our van and once again are mobile!  It feels so good to be able to go to the store when I want/need to. We certainly are blessed with family who were willing and able to help us during this trial. I don’t know what we would have done without them!

When things happen I have a tendency to try and figure out what the Lord is trying to show/teach me-is this good or bad, I’m not sure!  So I’ve decided to make a list of what happened because of all this trouble.

1. I am blessed by having family to help.  The time I spent in the car with my sister-in-law; niece and aunt was precious, quality time.  I’ve reconnected with each and that has been a true blessing.
2. To complete tasks in a timely manner and keep record of those tasks.  This is something I have a problem with.  I tend to procrastinate – not a good quality.  As for keeping records, sometimes I do and other times I do not.  I need to be more consistent in this area.
3. I reconnected with a friend from high school.  Emily and I “found” each other on face book this past year and have “talked” a little but when I mentioned our predicament, she came up with the idea of contacting our state representative for help.  We then had the opportunity to discuss God and prayer.  What a joy!  She now lives fairly close and since I’m mobile I plan to visit and nurture this renewed friendship!  I’ll be in touch Emily!
4. God is in control and asks that we allow Him to be.  God promises to supply all our needs (Philippians 4:19)– not our wants but our needs and he does, we just have to trust him to do so.  We had food to eat, water to drink, and hubby had a way to and from work!  God is good and does supply our needs.  Too many times we think our wants are needs and we must be reminded of the difference.

Those are four of the things I’ve learned during this time, I’m sure there are more, if I really think about it but I know God allows things to happen to us for a purpose.  Our response can bring us down or build us up.  Which are you going to allow to happen to you?

Til next time!
Linda <3

I Am Truly Blessed - (long)

This past week my faith was tested.  I experienced a trial – was I going to trust God to take care of the situation or was I going to try and fix it myself.

It goes back to November 2009 when we changed car insurance companies; apparently when you drop car insurance that company has to notify the Dept of Transportation making them aware of the situation.  We received a letter from the DOT requiring proof of insurance or we were to mail the license plate to them.

Fast forward to last Monday when the hubby was stopped by the police on his way to work for an expired registration sticker.  When hubby told me this, my first thought was that we had not received a notice of renewal for the registration.  He agreed then went on to say the police actually took the plates off the van because we didn’t have insurance.  Right away I knew this was related to the changing of the insurance last fall.  I also realized that is why we did not receive a notice for renewing the registration…according to PENN DOT the registration was suspended!  Apparently they never received the proof of insurance from the November change.  Our van was sitting in a church parking lot without plates and we were unable to drive it at all!

As soon as I hung up the phone, I started praying for God to help me with this situation.  It is amazing the peace I felt after saying that prayer.  That evening I prayed about the situation many times.
It took until Thursday late afternoon to get the insurance straightened out.  I had to take proof of insurance to the state representative’s office and they called PENN DOT.  They also helped me complete the new registration form and mailed it for me.  The new plates should be here in a week (this Wednesday prayerfully).
I praised God for His help and guidance and also for my sister-in-law who chauffeured me to the office, the store, and back home after a full day of work.  Thursday evening I publicly thanked the Lord for answered prayer by posting on facebook.

Friday the mail brought citations related to the incident – a total of almost $450.00 in fines.  When hubby told me by first reaction was to pray.  The largest fine was for “operation following suspension of Registration”.  I asked God for guidance because I certainly do not think we should have to pay this because there was no lapse in insurance coverage.  I called the state reps office and they said to bring the letter in.  Now this office is 8 miles from home and I have no plates so can’t drive my van to get there.  We are a one car family, so what to do.

Long story short - (is that possible at this point?!) – my aunt is going to take me this afternoon.  My sis-in-law would have a total of 32 miles involved for her to take me.  My aunt lives in the same town as me, so less travelling to do.

Please say a prayer we will be able to get this straightened out so we don’t have such a huge fine to pay.
All of this got me thinking, what kind of person am I?  Am I someone others could call and ask help of?  I haven’t always been the person I want to be so am going to be working on that.

So as for the question – how did I do?  Well, it’s a split answer, although I prayed for God to take care of this and I trusted him to do so, I also allowed it to get me down some.  I missed church on Wednesday when I am sure I could have made arrangements to get there but felt kinda sorry for myself instead.

So why am I blessed?  Because I have people in my life that are willing to help without judging me; what more could a person ask for?

Til next time,
Linda