New Year, New Beginnings

A few years ago, someone said to me, “I choose a new word to carry with me through the new year.”

So I thought I’d try it. It started with “Introspection” in 2016. And that continued into 2017. Not because I hadn’t done enough the first year, but because our lives changed so much in the last few years, and we continued to face challenges in 2017. Challenges that really tested us. Our strength, our perseverance, our faith.

Like many, we are concerned about the deepening divide in our country, and what that means for our future and the future for our sons. But at times, political issues were almost a welcome distraction from what was happening in our personal lives.

I have continued to struggle with my health, living with an illness we have chosen to call “Moriarty”. I refuse to own it, to call it ‘my’ illness, or ‘my’ diagnosis. So it needed a name, a proper villain name. Something bookish for this bibliophile, something clever and cunning; not one that fights with brute strength, but really gets into your head. What better adversary that Sherlock Holmes’ arch nemesis?

Along with physical issues, I have also dealt with mental health issues, some as a result of living with chronic illness, but also dealing with PTSD triggers. All while having to move out of one rental into another. But what a blessing! I believe we hit the landlord jackpot with this one! Quick to take care of things, and very kind. And gave us flowers for a housewarming gift!

We also suffered loss in 2017. Our sweet Sissy Kitty became ill, and despite my best efforts, we lost her. She was the first pet we had adopted into our family as a couple, and the first pet my children have ever had. And the first time we had to make ‘the decision’. Ugh. If you have ever had to deal with a seriously ill pet, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

Much greater loss for us was that of my dear parents-in-love. Watching their health decline so quickly, and from so far away (we live in the Midwest, all of the family is in the NW), was heart wrenching. We lost my Honey’s mom in February, his father in July, a week after our move. I continue to walk with my husband through this loss, through the recent holidays and their 41st anniversary yesterday (they were married on New Years Eve! How awesome is that?) The idea that we are starting a new year without loved ones that started last year with us feels unreal. We miss them so much, and I am so thankful to them for raising the wonderful man I married.

Through all this, all we walked through, we learned a lot about ourselves and our family. But now it’s 2018 and it’s time for a new word: Healing.

Yes, some of this is driven by my desire for more energy and less pain. But it is more than that. It’s also a desire to see the beginning of healing of our divided country. To see peace in the city I live in. And to see growth in the people serve and love.

And with this new year, also comes a renewing of this blog. It will still include stories of my own adventure, with maybe a bit of humor sprinkled here and there, and hopefully insights that will touch someones heart. But I’m also looking to include more. We have taken on the honor of homeschooling three of our sons, so we will see a bit of that journey. Health will definitely be a frequent subject. Next week is the beginning of an ‘elimination’ diet to find sensitivities and maybe reset our health a little. You’ll all get a peek into the good, the bad, and the ugly of that ride. Maybe I’ll share books I’ve read (so many good books!), maybe tell you about a new gadget I can’t live without. And of course, I will include some of my art, because I live to create!

I would like to say I have a ‘schedule’, like health on Tuesdays, and reviews on Fridays. And I kind of do, or at least had the intention. But adventure is rarely so regimented. Neither am I. So this blog will reflect who I am. It will be a free-spirited, free-flowing, quirky, bright, bold, earthy, real adventure.

See you soon!

 

 

Confession time. Here it is. In black in white.

I am not a super-hero.

Shocking? No, of course not. Super-heroes aren’t real, silly. They exist in comic books and movie screens.

Disappointing? A little.

Isn’t that what we all want to be? Super-mom. Super-wife. Super-employee. Super-volunteer. Super-all-of-the-roles. Super-Proverbs-31-woman. Yeah, I brought her into this. Because I’m not her. I’m the woman in the crowd reaching to touch the edge of Jesus’ robe.

We don’t just want our cake. We want to design, bake, decorate to perfection, AND eat a gorgeous gluten free, dairy free, soy free, egg free, vegan, paleo/keto, auto-immune cake. And we want it to taste beyond delicious.

But I’m calling it. Just like super-heroes, it’s just not real. Or realistic. Or healthy!

I am not a super-hero.

I am sick, living with several illnesses that will follow me to the end.

And still want it all. To have the perfect family, the best menu, the cleanest home. To throw the best birthday celebrations, decorate for every season, plant the most prolific garden (something I couldn’t do healthy!). To be the indispensable volunteer, the active citizen, the best friend.

To be super.

But I’m not. I am not a super-hero. I am just me and I’m just doing the best I can with what I have. And sometimes more than I have.

Spring Clean!

It’s been a while since I’ve been here. Over a year I think. And I keep meaning to come back to it. So much to write, so many ideas swimming around in my head. But the further I get from the last post, the harder it is. I have this idea I should have several posts ready to go, several more in progress, and a whole list of new ideas to work with before I even start back up again. The thing is, if I just get on here and share my thoughts, there would be so much. After all, my brain just never seems to shut off.

But here I am again. This time with a bit of a struggle, though I’m not sure if that’s what I want to call it. I’m here because there has to be more people who have or are experiencing similar. And strength is found in sharing experiences.

You see, I’m feeling stuck. Or heavy. Or restless? Or maybe all of these at once?

There’s a certain feeling I get when I’m eating super healthy or hydrating well. A heaviness, a sluggishness. And a craving for lots of water, fruits, and vegetables. My body needs a good cleanse, a reset. A re-freshening! But now it feels I could take a coconut lime sugar scrub (it’s totally a real thing!) to my whole life: mind, body, and soul.

What brings us to this place? Winter? For sure. Here in the Midwest we have had inches thick ice on the ground for weeks. By now, any snow that has piled up on the roadsides by the plows is now a sickly gray and filled with litter. Our homes have been closed up tight (or as tight as a 100 year old house can be) against the cold. There’s just something about a tiny old house crammed with 7 people (6 guys) and a cat, work boots and wet snow gear, that make me long for warm spring breezes flowing through my house. There’s only so much an oil diffuser can do.

Poor diet? Um, yeah. Warm comfort foods, sweets and treat for the holidays (and any time in between), an exhausted mom and way too many sandwich nights. What we eat not only affects us physically, but also emotionally. And it can be an unhealthy cycle of poor eating leading to bad mood leading to more poor eating. Brownies and jellybeans are delicious, but so are grapes and chicken salads.

Photo by Graham Walker on Pexels.com

A lackluster prayer life can definitely bring you down. I’m reminded of a verse I memorized in middles school, James 4:8: “Draw near to Gd and he will draw near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded.” (Do you think they had coconut lime sugar scrubs?) This is really an area I need to work on. Life seems so much clearer, so much simpler, when my days are started with quiet time with the Lord.

For me personally, my physical health has a lot to do with the way I’m feeling emotionally right now. Chronic illness keeps me down much more than I like. Every year, as nature begins to awaken and you can almost feel all the green things coming to life under the earth, I start to wake up too. My Honey noticed my pattern of piling on too many activities and commitments each spring a long time ago. I am so thankful he shared this observation with me. It brings a new dimension of awareness to what I’m dealing with. Inside, I am still the same girl who wants to do it all. Plant a garden, volunteer, work, clean and decorate the entire house, get out and conquer the world. Spring-level Amee got me in trouble when I was healthy, I would figure out only too soon that it was too much and have to step back from some activities. Now that I live with chronic conditions, that primavera pasión is downright infuriating! Taking inventory, knowing what is truly important to me, makes it much easier to prioritize and cut out the extra. 

Last week I did just that, made a list of those things which bring me joy. With colorful lettering pens of course, because creativity and color are definitely on my list. But then it sat there, on the floor next to my bed. While I played mindless games on the computer or scrolled Facebook. While I ate junk (which is probably also next to my bed), and watched television. While I restlessly moped in my dark old house about all the things I cannot do, wasting the time I could be spending on things I can do. None of these things is horrible, but left unchecked, they can take over your life, pushing out those things that truly bring you joy.

Time for a good scrub for my life, a solid spring cleaning. Now where did I put those limes?

 

 

Sorry, Not Sorry

Laughing has always been my thing.

I had a good laugh this afternoon. At my own expense. Actually, I think I’m a pretty funny person. But definitely more in the slapstick humor than witty, stand-up comedian way. I once opened a door into my own face. Then there was this mid-air flip to avoid landing on my rear while using roller-blades. Remember those? Yeah, I’m pretty sure even without falling it looked rather humorous. And then there was the time I managed to slap myself in the face with cheese. I’m still not sure what was going on there. And, yes, this was all completely sober. And, yes, I laughed at each of these and many more. If I didn’t laugh at myself, I would miss a lot of opportunities. And it is the best medicine.

Back to this afternoon. I was leaving the doctor’s office needing to turn left from a side street without a traffic signal onto a four lane road. That is often somewhat busy, but “small-town busy”. As I came up to the stop, there was the perfect opening. Yay! But as is common during Midwest winters, there was a bit of an icy patch under me. My wheels spun for a moment and then caught, startling me a little and as I sailed into my left turn I hollered “Woohoo!” and laughed. (Besides laughing at myself, I’m apparently also easily entertained).

And then I said, “Sorry.”

Did I mention I was by myself?

Who was I apologizing to?

What was I apologizing for?

And I laughed. And the more I thought about it, the more I laughed. Loud and bold, because that’s my style. Was I apologizing to myself for being myself? Hahahaha! Am I so used to apologizing for my loud self that it’s a reflex? Hahahahaha!

I know I’m not the only one. There are so many of us who apologize for everything (“I’m sorry, but…”), use qualifiers in our speech (In response to compliment: “But I have wrinkles/bags/back fat”), or undermining ourselves (“Did I make sense?” I do this ALL the time!). Or ending every sentence like a raise in tone like asking a question, like you’re not quite sure of what you are saying. Please don’t do that.

Don’t apologize for asking for what you need. Say “Thank you” to compliments. Say what you need to say with confidence.

And stop apologizing for being yourself. You are a unique and beautiful creation. You have strengths and gifts. You are made lovingly to be exactly who you are, to do exactly what you need to do. So raise you head high, adjust your crown, and walk with confidence. You are loved.

Live Every Breath!

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. This is what I live with. Also called myalgic encephalomyalitis, ME for short.

 

Chronic Fatigue.

What a silly name. It’s so much more than fatigue. More than being tired. People say, “Oh, I get that. I am so tired today.” No. Don’t say that. Unless you have this, you have NO idea.

Muscle aches and fatigue, sore throat, headaches, brain fog.

Like having the flu. ALL THE TIME. You know what that is, the flu. When you ache and chill, and just can’t seem to get comfortable? Yeah, that’s it. But sometimes it’s worse. One my worst days I can barely walk. I get winded walking to the bathroom down the hall. Standing in the shower? Forget about it.

If I’m a little better (IF!), I might get out of the house. And use a scooter on a short trip to the grocery store, taking several stops to rest because my arms are fatigued from using the controls, or I’m out of breath from just sitting up. And mine seems to me to be a milder form than some.

Then I have a good day and clean the kitchen and reorganize the pantry (Monday)

And after I pay for it (Tuesday and Wednesday).

Another name, that hasn’t quite caught on, is systemic exertion intolerance disease (SEID). Basically this means, if I over-exert myself, and depending how I’m doing that line can change, I will suffer from what is called Post-exertional malaise. It sucks. And takes me to those aforementioned bad days.

So it has taken some things from me. My energy, my career, much of my social life (as it was), sometimes my ability to be articulate. I am a different parent to my 10yo than I was to my 20yo. Less energy means less time outside with him, less activity. No running around outside with him. Though sometimes, if I’m feeling okay, I might do some of things anyway, because it’s totally worth the crash that comes later.

So we gave it a villains name: Moriarty. Not a dumb, muscle-head villain that fights with brute force. A clever, manipulative villain that gets into your head. I needed a worthy adversary.

But as much a Moriarty has taken from me, he has also given me gifts.

Priorities. If I choose to spend my time on something, it’s because it is important to me. Limited energy has given me pause to evaluate my life and weed out anything superfluous. It’s a chance to slow down and soak up what I love. What freedom!

This includes culling items from my home that are either not useful, or are not absolutely loved. And I love art, so I have begun filling the walls with my own pieces, rather than stuff I find at thrift stores and garage sales (though you can find canvas at these places and paint over).

Compassion. Not something that has been particularly lacking in my life before, I tend to be an empath, but I am certainly understanding chronic illness more!

Delegation. Oh, this one is soooo hard for me. I like to be independent. I like to do things on my own! But, alas, I cannot always do this. So I have learned to delegate chores and activities about the house to my five strong sons. Future daughters-in-love will hopefully love this.

Humility. With delegation comes humility. Asking for help. Accepting help.

Freedom. From worrying about others opinions. I’m nearing the end of my shopping trip, standing in the check-out line and I’m out of breath, being vertical is hard, and I’m regretting not grabbing a scooter. So I sit down on the floor. Right there next to my cart. It’s only maybe 30 seconds, not as much as I need, but it gets me through the line and out of the store. Who cares what people think? I do what I need to do. And often what I want to do–clothes, makeup, art, wrapping my head in colorful scarves, praying before meals at the restaurant.

Yes, ME/CFS is hard to live with, but live I will. None of us has the promise of a next day, hour, minute, breath. So I’m going to take each and every one of those breaths, not matter how hard they are to take sometimes, and fill them up with life!

Take care of yourself…

Friends, sometimes parenting is hard. I’m not talking emotional here. I’m not talking about children doing things so against your values it hurts. I’m talking physically here. And probably a bit mentally. I am freaking exhausted today. We started the Whole30 Challenge on Friday. Sooooo much cooking. And chopping. And blending. Begging the 10yo to at least try the food put in front of him, and then explaining that he is cranky because he isn’t eating the food. (Seriously, last week he LIKED eggs!) Not to mention the game of Tetris I played with my fridge.

And today was the first day back to school with the boys. I homeschool the three youngest–older elementary, middle school, and high school. We have our good days, and we have our tough days, and we have the days mom realizes she forgot to transfer the new term into the calendar. Oops. Guess I have work to do tonight.

And laundry to fold.

And my own bedroom to clean.

(And then computer freezes up in the middle of typing up this post!)

But I’m not doing all of that tonight, except maybe transferring this week’s curriculum to the calendar.

Because I need to take care of myself.

So I’m going to curl up in my pajamas, with a cup of camomile tea, and watch some comedy.

What do you do to take care of yourself?

Dreams and Gifts

Last night I had a dream about my family-in-love. We were gathered around with my Honey’s siblings, opening gifts we found left by his parents to us. It was a sad dream, as even my unconscious self is aware that we lost his mother in February and his father in July. We were all crying and laughing and wondering at meaning of all these interesting little collections of objects they had deliberately left each of us.

I woke up feeling sad, missing these two people who have had such an impact on my life. Then I started contemplating the very real gifts they have given me.

Their love. I remember the first time I called my father-in-love ‘Dad’. He grinned and told mom, “She called me Dad.” Growing up, I remember hearing my mom call her mother-in-love, ‘mom’, so this is the way things are supposed to go, right? I was part of the family now, and that makes them parents to me through my Honey.

Their unwavering support. Our marriage has not always been as strong as it is now. We actually separated for six months about 10 years ago. Even during that time, they spoke kindly to me, and supported us as we worked on ourselves and our marriage.

A warm welcome (and delicious food!) every time we visited. Their home was always a cozy place where I could relax.

Sons who love to cook! “What? Don’t you two do that?” Okay, yes, but follow my logic: my Honey’s dad loved to cook, and he was very good at it. So my Honey grew up loving to cook, and he is quite good at it as well (better than me, according to the boys). So all five of our boys have grown up wanting to cook, learning to cook, and are learning some great skills. My future daughters-in-love will thank us.

My Honey. I saved the best for last. They raised him to be a hard worker, loyal, and kind. And their genes worked together to make a pretty good lookin’ guy!  He is a wonderful, involved father to our sons, and a loving, supportive husband to me.

I am forever grateful for these wonderful gifts they have given me.

We love you and miss you, Mom and Dad.

Health Focus: What to expect

As I mentioned on the first post of the year, I’m hoping to do some focusing on different areas. One of those is health. What will we look at?

Physical Health:

Some of this will be about dealing with chronic illness, due to my lived experience. I will touch on that in another post. Other weeks will be about subjects which come up in the news or questions readers have.

Mental Health:

This subject comes up also because of my own lived experience with anxiety, depression and ADHD. Mental health is something very important to me and I have the wonderful privilege of volunteering alongside other great individuals in my local NAMI affiliate.

Exercise:

So, I admit we won’t visit this much, but when we do, it will be about fun activities. Confession: I failed PE 1 1/2 times. I was a junior in freshman PE. My adventures happen in the pages of a book or on a canvas, not on the court. Pretty much the only things to get me to move is a hike in nature or dancing.

Nutrition:

Food, glorious food! We are foodies (isn’t everyone?). We’ll share some fun recipes, the science of nutrition, and, for a few weeks, my family’s journey on Whole30. We’re looking at resetting our bodies, changing our relationships with food, and hopefully seeing some improvement in health issues in our home (more energy and less pain, pleeeeeease!).

Is Nothing Sacred? Oversharing in the Age of Social Media

What you are eating, and with whom. What you are watching, and with whom. Where you are, and with whom. Why you’re angry, and with whom. What you are doing, going, feeling. Funny things your kids say. Funny things you say. Your views on politics, religion, fads, celebrities. And pictures to document everything.

The best way to eat mango. Cayenne, salt, just missing a little lime.

And I am sooooo guilty of this.

“Hi, my name is Amee and I am a share-aholic.”

This is where you all say, “Hello, Amee.”

And to be completely honest, this didn’t start with Facebook. I’ve always been an overshare-er. Apparently, when I was of preschool age, I told everyone everything. My name, my mom’s name, my dad’s name, my baby brother’s name, my address! (Sorry, Mom!) As an adult I share my life story with anyone who will listen. All the while, a little voice in my head is going, “What are you doing? Shut-up! Why are you saying this? They don’t need to know this. They don’t WANT to know this!”

“ But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart.” Luke 2:19

This must be my favorite verse in the entire Christmas story.

Think about this for a moment, or rather, ponder it.

Ponder. “to estimate the worth of,” from Old French ponderer “to weigh, poise” from Latin ponderare “ponder, consider, reflect,” literally “to weigh,” from pondus “weight”.

To contemplate, consider, reflect upon, meditate on, cogitate on, dwell on, turn over in one’s mind.

“[She]…pondered them in her heart.”

April ’16, C had his first concert experience. He had purchased his own ticket with his Christmas money in late January, then counted down the next three months until The Newsboys came to town. He was so excited, and so was I. Having been a fan for many years, I am thrilled to share this with my son. While it was a little rough, even with earplugs, for someone with various sensitivities, especially auditory, he stuck through the entire thing, waiting for his favorite song. Wouldn’t you know it! It was the very last song of the encore! And I do have one blurry picture. But then I put the phone away, and just watched. People are standing and cheering. But I’m just sitting in my seat watching C standing and singing at the top of his lungs. And I treasured it all up. All the feelings and sights. Pondering what this experience was like for him.

Singing his heart out!

How often do we do this? Facebook, Instagram, SnapChat (and whatever else is out there)–all evidence that we live our lives behind the lens of a camera. And I am SO guilty of this! How often do we put away the camera, the phone, the tablet, and just enjoy life through the lens of our own senses? Listen to the ocean in real life, not through a screen. Slowly taste and enjoy delicious flavors, without first showing it off to the world. Touch that soft kitten (okay, cat videos are so fun). Inhale the fresh breeze on a crisp autumn afternoon. And watch life with your own eyes.

Though I walk through the valley…

Bear with me here. I’m processing stuff.

Life kinda sucks.

I’m learning this. As I journey into the world of fibro-myalgia, I have some days when I am ready to learn all I can and try anything and everything to get better. Other days, I feel hopeless. “Is this what the rest of my life will feel like? Well thpppppbbbtttt!”

Then I heard this the other day. It wasn’t even directed at me, just a random meme on the internets. “Everything happens for a reason.”

This one goes right in my round file, next to “G-d doesn’t give you more than you can handle.” I don’t know who first said that, but I call shenanigans. Where’s the glory in that?

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”  2 Corinthians 12:9a

“I am weak, but He is strong.”

Telling someone they can, and should, handle everything that comes their way is cruel. It heaps on guilt and doubt, about their strength and about their faith.

Also, telling someone that everything happens for a reason. Equally cruel. I’m not saying some, or many, things don’t happen for a reason. The Bible is full of this. Banishment from the Garden, the Flood, Tower of Babel, wandering in the desert for 40 years!

But in some times, or many times, we will never know the reason. Questioning and searching for reasons can be torture as one tries to figure out what possibly they have done wrong and how to make it right.

I’m also not saying good things don’t come out of pain. How about being sold off by your brothers, being falsely accused and spending time in prison, then rising up and saving your entire family and your people? But would telling Joseph when he lay in that cistern made him feel better? “Don’t worry. There’s a reason for this, besides the fact that your brothers all seriously dislike you and some hate you.”

This world is full of pain and grief. Diseases that cripple and destroy, natural disasters that take all you have, people with evil intentions stealing your possessions, your security, your innocence, maybe your life.

Why? I don’t know.

What I do know is that we are not alone. We are never alone. Even in the darkest times, He is with us.

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4