Sunday, April 29, 2012

A Prayer for Today


Shepherd of all,
by laying down your life for your flock
you reveal your love for all.
Lead us from the place of death
to the place of abundant life,
that guided by your care for us,
we may rightly offer our lives
in love for you and our neighbors.
Amen.



Prayer & Photo Credit

Friday, April 27, 2012

My Health Top 5


Today is day 27 of the WEGO Health ~ The Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge 2012. I will be writing a post everyday this month and each will in some way focus on what life is like with fibromyalgia (as well as other health issues including migraines, hypothyroidism, and polycystic ovarian syndrome).

For today’s post we’re making a list of our top 5’s – whether they be for your health condition or your Health Activism. Take some time to think about your experiences and develop your top 5’s – the 5 most difficult parts of your health focus and the 5 small victories that keep you going.


The 5 Most Difficult Parts of Living With Fibromyalgia

1 - Never knowing what I'm going to feel like day to day. It's a surprise when I wake up each morning.
2 - Having to save up energy for days in order to participate in anything
3 - Having to allow myself to be served and cared for by my hubby and 12 year old daughter
4 - Struggling to have community and friendships because I am home bound so much of the time
5 - Not being able to do the work of ministry that God called me too because the pain and fatigue is so bad

The 5 Small Victories That Keep Me Going

1 - Getting out of bed (even if it's just to move to my recliner)
2 - The love of my hubby and daughter
3 - My bbf's (best blogging friends) who walk this journey with me
4 - Grace and peace to get through another day
5 - Finding the eucharisteo in every day

What about you? What are your top 5?


Image Credit

Thursday, April 26, 2012

my journey as a Christ follower, wife, Mamma, and fibromyalgia fighter


Today is day 26 of the WEGO Health ~ The Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge 2012. I will be writing a post everyday this month and each will in some way focus on what life is like with fibromyalgia (as well as other health issues including migraines, hypothyroidism, and polycystic ovarian syndrome).

Today you are challenged with the task of writing a tagline. This can be for your blog, your health condition or for yourself.


I'm on my way! Yes, that is the name of blog, but it's also my life. One of my dear BBFs (best blogging friends) Jamee actually came up with that title for me. I had utilized the tagline of "my journey as a Christ follower, wife, Mamma, and fibromyalgia fighter" for some time but it really didn't seem to fit as a title. The minute she suggested "I'm On My Way", I knew that was right for me. Because you see, I am on my way.

This life I live is a winding, often hilly, often bumpy, often full of forks and u-turns and loopdiloops, road. And what is the destination of this road? Well, honestly, I think the journey IS the destination. I didn't always think that. For such a long time, my thoughts were that there was going to be some kind of prize, fairy tale castle, and they all lived happily ever after ending to this road. But the further I get, the more I realize that just living, just being, just making it another day is better than any fairy tale could ever be.

My journey, my road, is most likely much different from yours. Because, let's face it, if we all walked the same road, life would be pretty boring. I can only watch so many cookie cutter, I know how the story ends, predictable movies and if life was like that, well, it would be pretty miserable in my book.

The biggest part of who I am is a Christ follower. My initial decision to follow Christ was as a young child. Being raised as the daughter of a pastor, I was at church whenever the doors were open. However, I don't think that the significant change came in my faith life until my husband, Russ, and I lost our first child to miscarriage. That experience changed who I am and what faith looked like for me as I sought to reconcile a loving God and the death of my child. How can this make sense? It can't, but God does understand my pain in a way that not everyone can because God too experienced the death of a child. The relationship that continues to develop between me and God would not be the unique relationship it is without the journey we have gone on together. And thankfully, it is ok for me to have doubts and ask questions and be upset and cry and scream and be excited and not completely understand because that is what journeying and building a relationship with God is like for me and I hope for you too!

Next up in my little tagline is my journey as a wife and Mamma. I know that a lot of my readers are also filling those roles in their own journeys so that is something we have in common. My hubby Russ and I have been married for going on 15 years (yes, I really was 19 when we got married). Damaris is our going on 13 year old daughter. I mentioned above that we lost our first child to miscarriage. We also lost two more children to miscarriage and had three failed adoptions. Never hearing those first words, seeing those first steps, starting school, growing up, going to college, getting married. Being a Mamma to a precious daughter here with us and so many other not here with us is a difficult job, but one that I wouldn't trade for anything. I remember as a little girl wanting more than anything to be a wife and Mamma when I grew up. I know that what I dreamed it would be like could not have been further from the truth but even through all the bumps and difficulties and tough times and sadness, the good times and happiness and rejoicing and celebrating and being make it all worthwhile.

The last part of my tagline should probably be something more encompassing like chronic illness fighter. You see, I have been sick more of my married life than I have been well. When Russ vowed to be with me "in sickness" he must have really meant it. My body has undergone eight surgeries in our time together. I fight hypothyroidism, polycystic ovarian syndrome, infertility, migraines, depression, and fibromyalgia just to name a few. My body has gotten to a place where it struggles to get out of bed most days of the week. I am unable to work outside the home and am in the beginning stages of pursuing disability. Damaris spends much of her day caring for me much as I cared for her when she was younger. Russ spends much of his day working to provide financially for us and then comes home to take over for Damaris in caring for me.

Perspective, it's a crazy thing. 15 years ago, could I have ever imagined my life would look like this? There's no way. Would I change my life? No, because if I changed a single thing in my life, I wouldn't be the person I am today. I'm on my way and I welcome you to journey with me.

What about you? What's your tagline?


The content of this post was originally published as 31 Days to Become a Better Writer - Day 6

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

A Day in the Life


Today is day 25 of the WEGO Health ~ The Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge 2012. I will be writing a post everyday this month and each will in some way focus on what life is like with fibromyalgia (as well as other health issues including migraines, hypothyroidism, and polycystic ovarian syndrome).

Today’s prompt is plain and simple: write a schedule of what your typical day looks like. Where does your health fit in? Do you manage your condition throughout the day or have specific times that you check-in?


As a woman living with fibromyalgia (a disease characterized by chronic widespread pain [my major pain areas are back, hips, and legs] as well as a host of other issues - brain fog, depression, sleep problems, fatigue, migraines, gastrointestinal problems, etc.; the two biggest difficulties in treating this disease, in my opinion, are that the symptoms are different for every person and the so-called fibromyalgia medications don't work for everyone, they don't help me at all!), I never know how I will be feeling when I wake up in the morning.

A "normal" day in my life looks something like this:

10:30am - Wake up, it takes about 10-15 minutes for me to get out of bed because I'm so stiff and need time to stretch.

10:45am - Take medicine and eat breakfast while reading email and other computer stuff

11:45am - Take a shower and get dressed

12:45pm - Eat lunch and check Damaris' schoolwork (I homeschool our 12 year old/7th grade daughter. Thankfully, she is very self-motivated. We chose Alpha Omega's Switched On Schoolhouse curriculum since it does much of the teaching and grading for us. I still check all of Damaris' schoolwork and am available to help her if she needs it.)

1:30pm - Watch some tv and blog

3:30pm - Knit for a bit while I watch more tv

5:30pm - Talk to Russ about his day after he gets home from work before he and Damaris prepare dinner

6:30pm - Eat dinner and watch tv with Russ and Damaris (depending on how I'm feeling, I may knit a bit more)

9:00pm - Damaris goes to bed

10:00pm - I start prepping for bed by eating a snack so I can take my meds which I cannot do on an empty stomach.

10:30pm - Take medicine. Read in bed.

12:00am - Attempt to sleep. Insomnia and fatigue are bad with fibromyalgia and it's difficult to find a comfortable position to sleep in. That's why it's usually 10:30am before I wake up.

I do a lot of things from bed and/or my recliner. Some days I spend all day in bed. Other days I can be up and about a bit more.

That's a "normal" day for me. What about you? How does your health affect your day to day life?


Portions of this post were edited from a previous post C.C.'s Homeschool Day in the Life of a Mamma with Fibromyalgia

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

Spoonies Unite!


Today is day 24 of the WEGO Health ~ The Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge 2012. I will be writing a post everyday this month and each will in some way focus on what life is like with fibromyalgia (as well as other health issues including migraines, hypothyroidism, and polycystic ovarian syndrome).

First, a little squeal of excitement! I was featured in the WEGO Health 3 at 3 yesterday for my post I Used to Be...But I'm Not Anymore. How's that for excitement!!!!!


Now, on to today's prompt:
As a Health Activist, your voice is prominent within your specific health community. A mascot is associated with a distinct group or team. Here, you can pay tribute to your favorite mascot or you can create an original character.



OK, I can hear what you're saying, "C.C., a spoon is not a mascot." Well, maybe not technically, but I think that it is one of the best mascots for those of us with chronic illness. I don't know when I first heard of the Spoon Theory, but I immediately connected with it when I did. The Spoon Theory was written by Christine Miserandino at But You Don't Look Sick. You can read the Spoon Theory by clicking here. I have verbally shared the Spoon Theory with friends, family, and others who are curious about how fibromyalgia affects me on a day to day basis. The Spoon Theory has become so dear to my heart that I have a necklace with 3 spoons on it that I wear often. I've even had friends send me photos of spoons which is so amazing because it lets me know that they understand and care about me.

So my mascot is a spoon. :) Spoonies unite! What about you, what's your mascot?


Image Credit

Monday, April 23, 2012

I Used to Be...But I'm Not Anymore.


Today is day 23 of the WEGO Health ~ The Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge 2012. I will be writing a post everyday this month and each will in some way focus on what life is like with fibromyalgia (as well as other health issues including migraines, hypothyroidism, and polycystic ovarian syndrome).

Write a 10 line poem where each line is the phrase "I used to be ____ but I'm not anymore." What did you fill in the blank?


I used to be a maniac running around like a chicken with it's head cut off but I'm not anymore.
I used to be unable to sit and just be but I'm not anymore.
I used to be embarrassed and fearful to talk about my health but I'm not anymore.
I used to be weak allowing whatever may come to knock me down without a fight but I'm not anymore.
I used to be a multi-tasker with seventy zillion things always going on but I'm not anymore.
I used to be full of the opposite of grace, peace, and mercy but I'm not anymore.
I used to be a runner, a swimmer, and one who did yoga but I'm not anymore.
I used to be healthy but I'm not anymore.
I used to be a lover of books full of intricate detail that required all my attention but I'm not anymore.
I used to be willing to go, go, go until I had nothing left but I'm not anymore.


Sunday, April 22, 2012

Being Still and Doing Nothing


Today is day 22 of the WEGO Health ~ The Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge 2012. I will be writing a post everyday this month and each will in some way focus on what life is like with fibromyalgia (as well as other health issues including migraines, hypothyroidism, and polycystic ovarian syndrome).

Today’s prompt is inspired by the blog “The Things We Forget.” http://thingsweforget.blogspot.com/ The site hasa simple but lovely premise and has been sharing mini motivational sayings written in permanent marker on a Post-It (then stuck somewhere in public for others to see) for a while now. I wanted to bring its tiny form of inspiration to the Health Activist community because I think it fits what we do. For today’s prompt – write yourself a reminder.




A Prayer for Today


Mighty God,
in whom we know the power of redemption,
you stand among us in the shadows of our time.
As we move through every sorrow and trial of this life,
uphold us with knowledge of the final morning
when, in the glorious presence of your risen Son,
we will share in his resurrection,
redeemed and restored to the fullness of life
and forever freed to be your people.
Amen.



Prayer & Photo Credit

Saturday, April 21, 2012

pink yarn's pink yarn


Today is day 21 of the WEGO Health ~ The Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge 2012. I will be writing a post everyday this month and each will in some way focus on what life is like with fibromyalgia (as well as other health issues including migraines, hypothyroidism, and polycystic ovarian syndrome).

Health Madlib Poem. Fun with parts of speech! Today’s prompt is inspired by the classic game – and poetry – put together. A website I love to visit for writing prompts (when I want to push myself to be creative) is Language is a Virus. They have a few fun tools – one of which is a poem generator: http://languageisavirus.com/cgi-bin/madlibs.pl. You enter any words you want and they automatically fill the words into a classic poem.


OK, this is crazy yall! Damaris helped me think of words to put into my mad lib that described a day in my life. Here's what happened (with a few grammatical edits):


pink yarn's pink yarn


I walk my tv and all the fans drink bed;
I journal my recliners and all is planned again.
(I slump as I wait for you inside my TENS unit.)

The books are waking out in snarky and weary,
And the tired purse yawns in:
I mull my cane and all the knitting needles sleep water bottle.

I lied that you sat me into Diet Coke
And recline me zonked, knitted me quite forgetful.
(I slump as I wait for you inside my TENS unit.)

Medicine reads from the water, Damaris & Russ type:
watch pillow and Kindle Fire's computer:
I mull my cane and all the knitting needles sleep water bottle.

I worked you'd eat the way you write,
But I blog jumbled and I chat your cell phone.
(I slump as I wait for you inside my TENS unit.)

I should have thinked a Roku instead;
At least when Netflix stretches they organize back again.
I mull my cane and all the knitting needles sleep water bottle.

(I slump as I wait for you inside my TENS unit.)
- C.C. & Damaris ~ based on Mad Girl's Love Song by Sylvia Plath


OK, did you laugh and cry as much as we did????? The funny thing, a lot of it actually made sense to my brain because my brain is so messed up so much of the time. This was hysterical!

Your turn to write your own mad lib. Make sure & let me know that you posted one so I can read it & laugh with you!


Image Credit

Friday, April 20, 2012

Health Questions


Today is day 20 of the WEGO Health ~ The Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge 2012. I will be writing a post everyday this month and each will in some way focus on what life is like with fibromyalgia (as well as other health issues including migraines, hypothyroidism, and polycystic ovarian syndrome).

Write a poem (5-15 lines) where every line is a health question.


"You don't look sick. You must be over your illness. Are you?"

"Why do you need a cane?"

"Isn't fibromyalgia just all in your head?"

"Have you tried 'this'? It cured my sister's friend's 3rd cousin so if you would just do it, you'd be better."

"Do you think I have fibromyalgia too? Because every once in a while I get a pain in my back or I get really tired."

"Since you aren't working, could you watch the kids for me/run an errand for me/etc.?"

"Why don't you come to the gym with me? Because if you'd just exercise, you'd get better."

"Aren't you done being sick yet?"

"Don't you know that if you just had more faith, you wouldn't be sick anymore?"

Yes, I or other people I know with fibromyalgia have actually been asked these questions. Sigh...

Thursday, April 19, 2012

5 Dinner Guests


Today is day 19 of the WEGO Health ~ The Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge 2012. I will be writing a post everyday this month and each will in some way focus on what life is like with fibromyalgia (as well as other health issues including migraines, hypothyroidism, and polycystic ovarian syndrome).

Hosting a dinner party is an intimate affair. Besides the careful selection of ingredients and courses, there’s who to invite. A seemingly simple task, in fact there are many elements to consider. Political and religious views, strong vegan/vegetarian views vs. food-chain eaters, quiet vs. loud personalities. Finding the right combination requires careful thought and planning. So what if you could invite ANYONE, living or deceased, and you knew they would show up… What five people would you want to have dinner with if you could? They can be living or deceased, famous politician or your best friend. They could be an expert in your condition or not know the first thing about health or wellness. What 5 people would you want at your dinner, and why? What would the topics of conversation be?


What a fun prompt for today! I immediately knew who 3 of my 5 guests would be and within another minute or so, I added my other 2 guests. The reason I chose the guests I did is because they are all women I adore and look up to. Their writings inspire me. All of the guests (and me) have gone through some difficult times (we're all still dealing with them in truth) and I know we would all be blessed by sharing our stories and journeys with each other. I can only imagine what the conversation would be like around the table. I know for sure that there would be lots of laughter, probably some tears, and that this dinner party would go late into the night!

In no particular order, the guests at my dinner party would be:
Jamee from A New Kind of Normal (she is one of my amazing BBF's ~ best blogging friends ~ who I would love to see finally! face to face!!!!!)

Shari from Rain Into Rainbows (she is my other amazing BBF ~ best blogging friend ~ who I also am dying to see finally! face to face!!!!!)

Ann from A Holy Experience (her book One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are has been life changing for me)

Shauna from shaunaniequist.com (I've heard her speak and had a chance to briefly talk with her about our shared miscarriage experiences. Her books Cold Tangerines: Celebrating the Extraordinary Nature of Everyday Life and Bittersweet: Thoughts on Change, Grace, and Learning the Hard Way are simply amazing! I cannot wait to read her new book Bread and Wine.)

Angie from Bring the Rain (Reading her story of grief and how she is living with it has played a big part in my own grief journey. Her books What Women Fear: Walking in Faith that Transforms and I Will Carry You: The Sacred Dance of Grief and Joy are in my stack of books to read. So many amazing books, so little time!)

What about you? Who would you invite to your dinner party?

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Acrostic


Today is day 18 of the WEGO Health ~ The Health Activist Writer's Month Challenge 2012. I will be writing a post everyday this month and each will in some way focus on what life is like with fibromyalgia (as well as other health issues including migraines, hypothyroidism, and polycystic ovarian syndrome).

Write an acrostic poem using the word "Health" or the name of your health condition.


irst thing in the morning, waking from troubled sleep, gently stretch my arms, my legs, is my body yet awake?

nch by inch, I slowly move, trying to bring myself upright.

ut just as every other day, my body chooses to fight.

easoning with it never seems to work. Regardless I must fight on. First one step, then another, while tightly holding on.

utside the world moves rapidly. I once was part of that race. Now victory comes for me, if I can make it at a slow pace.

orning turns to afternoon as I move along.

esterday's many events are felt the entire day strong.

yearning and a longing for more energy and strength.

ike a few years ago when I could function without break after break.

oing to keep moving. I need your grace and peace.

'm still who I was inside before this illness reared it's hate.

fighter, some days strong, some days weak, still needing to be loved and cared about, please don't run away, but walk with me, there's still much journey ahead. Please don't turn you back, please remain my friend.


What about you? Can you make an acrostic out of your health condition or out of something significant in your life?