Winter 2006: Power of Prayer

The holidays are fast approaching. Blink fast and we will be in 2007 before we know it. Again, where does the time go by?? I haven't been on the computer much during the past few months. My health hasn't been the greatest--nothing major but it is the minor things that add up which just tend to make life MORE...hmmm...what is the word I am looking for...INTERESTING!! I guess.
My bones are so brittle from years of prednisone and chemotherapy that I am having lots of trouble with fractures. One wrong sneeze could result in broken ribs. Not a lot of fun if you know what I mean!! I didn't realize how badly my bones were until I reached down to play with our kitten and fractured my humeral head (which is the top part of the shoulder area) OUCH!! I have done that twice now. I need to have surgery on it but the doc doesn't want to do the surgery because of my lungs (and I really prefer to stay out of the hospital AND of of the O.R.!! if at all possible)
So, this is one of the reasons why I haven't been on the computer much these past few months...dealing with various aches and pains. However, I have to admit that dealing with this has deepened my strength in the power of prayer. PRAYER IS SO AWESOME!! It is truly the greatest gift we can give to another person...and it is FREE!!! I wish more people would understand the power of prayer.
There have been so many times in my life when I have been burdened and I have just "let go and let God". To do this, I realize, takes a tremendous amount of faith...but isn't that the "definition of faith"...believing in something or someone in spite of all else?? Everyone time I have given my burdens to God, I have been comforted and things have worked out. Sometimes I don't even realize that things ARE working out...but only later when I reflect on things...I go AH!! God does work in mysterious ways.
So, in this time of hustle and bustle, please remember the TRUE reason for the season. It is our Lord's Birthday. Make Joyful noise. St. Francis of Assisi said, "Those who sing, pray twice"...Sing those Christmas Carols LOUDLY and with heartfelt joy in your heart for Christ our Saviour was born!! He lived and died for our sins and will one day come again...so be ready...love one another...be kind to one another...and remember...God is ALWAYS there...you just have to ASK Him...invite him into your heart.
Please keep signing the guestbook. It keeps me motivated and lets me know that there STILL are people out there looking at the site which keeps me updating it each month:)
Until next time...May the new year be filled with peace, happiness, and good health,
Shelley

January 2004 ...At least I was in church :)

Whew...it's been a rough couple of months. First of all. I hope each and every one of you has had a most Blessed Christmas and a wonderful New Year. I hope this New Year is filled with love, happiness, good health and PEACE for all. (Not too much to ask, huh??)
I had a stroke on Christmas Eve while attending Mass. I guess if one is going to have a stroke...being in God's house is probably one of the better places. Fortunately, I didn't sustain too much damage afterwards. I did have to undergo a three day blast of steroids (UGH!!) and also have to take a third chemotherapy agent to try and get the central nervous system inflammation under control. (My lupus attacks my brain and central nervous system and the "chemo" helps to attack the lupus)
It is a bit harder for me to figure things out. I get frustrated a lot easier.
I am so lucky that God has blessed me with such a patient and loving husband. Sometimes I think that it is truly harder for Tom to endure this than it is for me. I definitely believe it is harder for loved ones to watch their loved one suffer. Moms want to "kiss it and make it better"...dads will go the distance to find what's "broken and "fix it" Husbands close their eyes and pray...let my wife wake up in the morning...just a simple prayer...nothing more...Well, you get what I am trying to say...I hope :)
Thank you to all who take the time out to send a note or who sign the guestbook. I really appreciate it :) My website is truly a labor of love and sometimes it is a struggle to keep it going but I just ask God to continue to direct and inspire me.
Please be kind to one another. Smile at a stranger :) Open a door for someone. Just treat others as you would want others to treat you...or your grandmother...or your daughter...
Well, I should end for now. Please keep us in your prayers.
Hugs,
Shelley

October 2002 Gotta Have Faith...

Although on the screen it looks like just a bit of time has passed, it has been several months since I have been able to update the site. Life is never boring....is it? If it isn't one thing, it's another. People have always told me...God only gives you as much as you can handle...and I sometimes say...He must think I can handle a LOT!!!I guess I really don't think about how sick I really am (guess the word there is DENIAL...ha ha!!) I had lots of health problems in September which just continued to worsened into October and now here we are in November already! Next week I will be going into the hospital to have my other hip replaced (might as well have a matching pair :) Also, I have some sort of mass in my chest which is too small to biopsy at the moment but because I have been on various chemo agents for the CNS lupus there is a greater risk of developing lymphomas so my doctors are very concerned. All I can do is continue to have faith.How do people get through the trials of life without faith? I can not even fathom a second of this life without faith. Believe me, there are days when I wonder...why does it have to be this way? Why do I have to suffer like this? Why? Why ? Why?I am certainly no Saint! I wasn't sure if I should share my story "online" or not. It is very hard to do this...but the emails and guestbook notes encourage me as much as I hopefully encourage you. I feel very blessed to have an opportunity to not only share my faith with you but to also show that we all have crosses to bear..Yup...we all do. Every single one of us. Crosses come in all shapes and sizes. What is your cross? Try to bear your cross with grace, strength, and faith. Of course, we are all going to have cranky, grumpy days...when those days roll around...that is the time we have to really ask for more strength....more grace...and sometimes...that is when we really have to rely on FAITH.According to the dictionary, Faith is:belief in, devotion to, or trust in somebody or something, especially without logical proofPretty cool, huh?Well, that is all for my update for now. Please keep Tom and me in your prayers for prayers are the best gift one can give or receive.Until next time...Gentle hugs,

May 2001 Blessings, Blessings, Blessings

Blessings to you! May was a rough month physically for me. I was admitted into the hospital (again) Thankfully, due to my husband's quick thinking and by the Grace of God....I am alive. Apparently, I was headed for a coma due to lack of oxygen because of all of the swelling I have due to the steroids. I know my angels were once again watching over me. It has been hard, though, because now I have to be on oxygen 24/7 and also I am diabetic now because of the steroids and have to take insulin injections. As I taper off the steroids, I get more fatigued and with the added chemo that I am taking...well, let's just say that I am VERY TIRED! Unfortunately, this means that I can not work on my website and my website truly keeps me going each day.
Anyway, back to Blessings. People look at me sometimes like I am crazy when I say that I am very blessed. They think...how can she possibly be BLESSED when she is so very ill...but I am blessed because through my illness I have gotten closer to God...my husband...my friends. I have learned how to be patient...I have learned not to "sweat the small stuff..and it is ALL small stuff..." I have learned to appreciate the gentle breeze on my face and THANK GOD that I am alive to feel it. Take a moment today to count your blessings.....
Until next month....be kind to one another...
Gentle hugs,
Shelley