Example of a blog

This is just an example of a blog for my Aunt Marge!

“The Boy who Changed the World”

This is a wonderful book for children to help show them that they are special. It tells the story of how ordinary people did extraordinary things that made changes in the world. Andy Andrews is the arthor of another book called “The Butterfly Effect: How Your Life Matters” which is the adult version (still G rated) of the same book.

Some of the stories are about Henry Wallace, George Washington Carver, and Moses Carver. It is as interesting, even for children to see how these people are related.

The illustrations add to the overall story and are well done.

This book is very good at showing how what we do each day affects other people. We may never know how that is but need to be aware that our actions do affects others.  I recommend this book for children and adults alike.

 
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com <http://BookSneeze.com> book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/waisidx_03/16cfr255_03.html> : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Reading thru the Bible in 90 Days

I've decided to join the challenge of reading through the Bible in 90 days.  It is a little daunting but I'm excited to start, which is tomorrow, and see what God has in store for me!  I tried to do this last September before I started working part time and well, only made it about 2 weeks but this time I am joining a group of 750 people who have decided to do the reading. We are going to keep each other accountable for completing the required reading each day.  I'm eager to start - Want to join me!

Linda

What To Do With Bitterness

I’ve been following a study in Ephesians for a while now and today’s study really spoke to me as I learned how I am to behave.  I would like to share that with you now.

Ephesians 4:31,32  says “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.”

Let’s start with learning a little Greek.

The Greek word here for:

bitterness is pikria (pik-ree’-ah) meaning a spite that harbors resentment, keeps score of all the wrongs.

wrath is thumos (thoo-mos’) meaning a wrath that literally explodes, fierceness, indignation.

anger is orge (or-gay’) meaning properly desire (as a reaching forth or excitement of the mind), that is, violent passion, indignation.

The bitterness, wrath and anger mentioned in verse 31 are powerful and certainly are not what God would have us to do not even if someone is treating us that way.  We are to be kind, tenderhearted and forgiving. 

It is easy to read that and say “Okay, I can do that” but another thing to read it and know how hard it is to do.  It is something our old nature (2Co 5:17 “Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.”) is not set up to do but through Christ we are able to do this because He helps us.  Just because we are saved doesn’t mean we will automatically be able to live this way, we must ask God for His help to do so.  Unfortunately, that old nature wants to come out and we must be walking close to God so that does not happen.

Do I always forgive those who have hurt me? To be honest, I have to ask God for His help and many times it takes asking more than once but I truly want to do what God wants for me to do and I strive for that each day.

Are you holding on to bitterness, anger, or wrath toward someone?  If so, please pray and ask God to help you forgive that person and to treat them the way Christ would.  On the cross at Calvary, Christ did not harbor bitterness, wrath, or anger toward those who put Him on that tree but rather He prayed for God to forgive them (Luke 23:34 “Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.”).

If you are not a new creature in Christ, please visit http://www.chick.com/information/general/salvation.asp to learn how to become one.

Til next time!

Linda

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

Exhaustion and Prayer Request

I am exhausted after working 4 days this past week. I know some of you are saying “I do that all the time” or “I work 5 days a week.” Please don’t judge me too harshly. I haven’t worked a job since the middle of January 2009 when I went on medical leave.  Since that time, I became sicker before I started getting better.

Hypothyroidism doesn’t just make you tired or cause you to gain weight.  These are the symptoms that most people know but the thyroid produces hormones that are necessary, YES NECESSARY, for proper functioning of every cell in the body.  In hypothyroidism, the thyroid isn’t producing these hormones; therefore, the cells in the body are not receiving the hormones they need to function properly.  That’s why there are so many different symptoms and why many people are misdiagnosed.  In my case, I believe this is what happened.  My symptoms included: emotional changes misdiagnosed as depression for 19 years; joint pain, especially the knees; fatigue (at my worst, I was sleeping 18-60 hours each day); I went from having hot flashes and being warm all the time, to getting cold. It started with being cold when I was tired, to being cold much of the time.  I was having a lot of difficulty remembering things.

It wasn’t until I told the doctor about sleeping for 14 hours in bed and then falling asleep in the chair for more hours, that I was finally properly diagnosed.  Wow!  Once he said hypothyroid I started putting 2+2+2+2 together (some nurse huh?!).  I immediately started reading about hypothyroidism on the web.  A cousin of my husband told me about Mary Shomon and the work she is doing as a patient advocate, so I bought her book, Living Well with Hypothyroidism.  It is an excellent book full of wonderful information.  I learned about the disease process – how the thyroid works and what it does to the body when it doesn’t work properly.  I learned how important it is to take my medication at the same time and when the optimal time for me to take mine.  I learned I’m not going to get better in a short period of time. It took years for me to get as sick as I was and that just because I now have a diagnosis and medication, I’m not all better. Sometimes I push myself too hard, and then it takes days for me to recuperate. It’s now a part of my life and something I have to plan for, even though I hate it! I’m thankful, that the longer I’m on my medicine, the less time it will take to recover – I look forward to that!

Now back to the beginning where I mention being exhausted. I work 4 days this week: 7am to 3 pm on Monday and Tuesday, then 3 pm to 11 pm on Thursday and Friday for more orientation.  On Sunday the 17^th, I start my 3 pm to 7 pm shifts and will do the same on that Monday.  So I’m working 6 days out of the next 8.  I’m sure to be extremely fatigued during that time.  I’m asking for your prayers to help me through.  I know I can do it with God’s help, as He says in Philippians 4:13“ I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”  What a blessing that we can call on Him for help and KNOW that He will help. It’s not a case of if he remembers but it is a guarantee!  Haw many guarantees do we get these days!

Til next time!

Linda

This Past Weeks Menu Plan.

Well, I didn't do very well with the menu plan.  My reason (or excuse, if you prefer) is that I started orientation for my new job and spent Weds. and Thurs. in a classroom for 8 hours each day learning about the new facility.  Now you have to realize that I am not use to working for a solid 8 hours and was very tired and achy after the first day.  It didn't help that I had difficulty sleeping the night before and then again on Weds night.   By Thursday night I was pretty much exhausted but feeling good about the upcoming opportunity at the new job!  For the next two weeks, I will be working 7am to 3:30 pm on Mondays and Tuesdays, then 3:00 pm to 11:30 pm on Thursdays and Fridays.  It is going to be rough physically but I am praying for God's help.  The worst will be my knees as I don't know how much standing I will have to do. If I can sit more than stand then it won't be so bad.

Back to the menu plan; I was so tired that I didn't do the cooking I had planned.  I am working on my plan for the next two weeks and trying to cook some food ahead to make it a little easier. I need to plan packable lunches so that I'm not tempted to spend money for them and plan to have an easy supper too. I should be posting that schedule tomorrow.

I'll accept any prayers that you offer on my behalf; they are always appreciated!

Til next time!
Linda<3