Sharing Words

Recently, well, within the past 6 or so months, I have been reaching out online for chronic pain support. Along the way, I have met some amazing people and even some I can call friends! I have been blessed by all the support! For those that know me, I am a giant nerd at heart and my 2nd favorite book is my thesaurus, (the first is my Bible- there is NO beating that one-that is straight from the Word of God, but that is another blog,lol). Word have always been my thing... I love them, their meaning, their differences, how we can tell so much by just one word! Our words have such meaning and such an effect on our lives and those around us.... Beth Moore once said, "God words are omnipotent, but our words are POTENT". Definitely are words carry a lot of weight and meaning behind them.

Having fibromyalgia has changed the way I see the world and they way I express myself and what I immerse myself in.... One of the things that has been beyond helpful are the "inspirational quotes and stories" of so many others out there, like me, suffering alone with bodies that hurt.... I try to will away the pain, it's still here... so what I have to do is make it through the pain.... and that is where support from others has been a vital key! I read others stories, ways they cope, hints and tips.... and that's just the surface.... I also feel like I know some of them, pray for them, think about them, talk to some of them, and call them "my fibro friends and family"! We are pain warriors and fighters and also family as we are connected by the invisible thread that connects us together in ways that have been touching and endearing and sometimes even, life changing!

So today I was online and on facebook, yes, I use facebook, most people do, they just don't want to admit it! It can be used for bad, but it can also be a tool used for fighting fibro and that is my focus on it and for what I've put in, I have received back ten-fold!  Ok, back to me being on facebook today.... I was on the page for fibro called http://www.facebook.com/fibro.fighterz   and it lead me to another site http://fibrofighterz.weebly.com/our-storiez.html   and on that page I read some stories of other woman with fibro and how they found out, cope with it, and how it has effected their lives as well. One of the woman mentioned "4 rules she lives by", and they were good. Short and simple and makes life much less complicated.....

"It is my opinion that it is better not to dwell on your illnesses, but rather to be happy with what you have in life. I live by four rules. One, I only do things that make me happy, two, I live very close to God (this does not mean I get to church every Sunday, because sometimes I am in a lot of pain), three, I say no more often, and four, I try to stay as healthy as possible under the circumstances. I find that all four rules go with one another. If you keep one you keep the other." (Barbaraane's Story)

The first one probably spoke to me the most, but so did 2 and also 3 and 4! Fibromyalgia is hard enough if you are in a situation that is not healthy or good for you, both emotionally and physically! I am gonna definitly ask myself next time, does this make ME happy? Is this/Am I living close to God? I will say NO WAY more often, lol. and lastly, and something I just put as a facebook status, keep working on STAYING as healthy as possible..... and doing that takes the first 3.... wonderful rules for a fibro-mite to live by!

I am so grateful for all the other woman out there that are brave and stand up and fight and share it also!!! It is not easy living with something that "seems" invisible.... It's effects are VERY visible, items like things I've lost or can't do anymore, little things like the laundry piling up (well, it's not THAT little, lol) to the things in life that make you who you are.... chronic pain has completely changed me, and while I would love to have a life without pain, that is not my life. My life is here and now and all I can do is pray that God sees me through each and every day and that in the end my life will bring Him glory..... Like I once heard, May I be God's sparkle! And may I see the the happiness only God can bring. I pray... Lord,  help me to look and see the positives in my life THROUGH the pain and despite the pain. Help me to not just live the life I have, but to be happy with it, which comes from You and Your Joy!

One day at a time

Fibromyalgia.... just the word itself makes my mind conjure up all sorts of feelings, from the lows to the highs, fibromyalgia is a life changer for sure. I watched soul surfer this morning and they asked her if she could go back and not have gone out that day when the shark attacked her, would she? And she said no, because of who it made her today.  I want to have this attitude when it comes to my fibro.... but it is VERY VERY hard!!

I am slower and limited, but I have learned unconditional love and learned to let go of things I can't control and learned that things will be ok.... somehow, someway, they find a way of working themselves out.... There are days when living with fibro seems like the end of the world, and on the other extreme, days when I feel like a "true warrior" I fight and persevere so much! My children have learned empathy, compassion and caring because of my illness.....

For all the bad that comes with fibro, I have to believe that there is some good in it, that something good can come out of it, and God can use it for His good, His glory! I don't know why me or how it'll all play out, but I know that I am His princess and He holds me close and sees me through 1 day at a time.... and sometimes that's the only to be.... to live.... 1 day at a time! Together and offering support, we can all make it though....

Happy Star Saturday :)

The past week sucked, pain and pain and more pain!!! It is SO hard when a fibromite gets a cold and a flu before that.... it was terrible.... BUT, this morning when I woke up and can truly say that the flare-up is subsiding and I feel sooo much better.... even went out with the girls to JCP and did some "extreme coupon" shopping and it was SOOO good, gotta love "retail therapy"! (This is what I posted on my fibro fb page) . Happy Saturday, tonight we are gonna go to a star party at the reservoir it is gonna be fun!!! So glad to be feeling better! Thank you Lord!!! :)    It is a happy day for me cuz I'm feeling better, love it when my fibro calms!!!! 

Flipped for Joy

Friday is here and no school today.... Our local school district is trying something new, the 2nd Friday of every month is a half day and I think that every 4th Friday is a teacher in-service day, It's to kinda sorta try out the "no school Friday" idea; it would help out with the budget. So they are home and my house, well, it's messy, but filled with love, lol!! :)

Life is a funny thing, just when you think life is supposed to be one way, whoosh! It takes a turn.... I am so glad that I have God and more importantly He has me! Thank You Lord for another day, for holding me close, for seeing me through life's ups and downs, for helping me keep sane with my fibro, and if at all possible, I do still pray for a miracle and would to love to have a life without fibro, but Lord, I would rather have fibro and have you than be "on the top" and be without joy, for You are my hope and my joy, what makes me me! Thank You Lord for my joy which can and only does come from You!!! In Jesus' name, Amen  ~B

63 symptoms of fibro

63 Symptoms Of Fibro

 Sharing this from a support group on fb, Thanks Melissa! :)    By Melissa Sharp · Last edited on Wednesday · Edit Doc

No More Fibromyalgia

• 63 symptoms of Fibromyalgia Keep in mind that these are not all the symptoms by any means, just a list that were mentioned by different patients and friends.
  __ recurrent flu-like illness
  __ recurrent sore throats, red and injected
  __ painful lymph nodes under the arms and neck
  __ muscle and joint aches with tender and trigger points - up to 18 of them
  __ night sweats and fever
  __ severe nasal and other allergies
  __ irritable bowel syndrome (IBS)
  __ weight change - usually gain
  __ heart palpitations
  __ mitrial valve prolapse
  __ severe PMS
  __ yeast infections
  __ rashes and itching
  __ uncomfortable or frequent urination
  __ interstitial bladder cystitis
  __ chest pains (non-cardiac)
  __ temporomandibular joint dysfunction (in the jaw)
  __ hair loss
  __ carpal tunnel syndrome
  __ cold hands and feet
  __ dry eyes and mouth
  __ severe and debilitating fatigue
  __ widespread pain
  __ other chronic illness(es) usually present (like diabetes, hypoglycemia, asthma, lupus, ms, etc.)

__ numbness in the limbs, not painful like pins & needles

__ painful swelling in the hands, legs, feet, neck

__ GERDs (gastro-esophageal reflux disorder)

__ “growing pains” start in childhood and teens, continue into adulthood

__ widespread body pain during/after physical exertion

COGNITIVE FUNCTION PROBLEMS

__ attention deficit disorder

__ spatial disorientation

__ calculation difficulties

__ memory disturbance

__ communication difficulties (problems speaking, confusing words)

PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBLEMS

__ depression

__ anxiety and panic attacks

__ personality changes, usually for the worse

__ emotional liability (mood swings)

OTHER NERVOUS SYSTEM PROBLEMS

__ sleep disturbances

__ headaches

__ changes in visual acuity

__ numb or tingling feelings

__ burning sensations

__ light headedness

__ feeling 'spaced out'

__ desequilibrium

__ frequent unusual nightmares and disturbing dreams

__ tinnitus (ringing in the ears)

__ difficulty in moving your tongue to speak

__ severe muscle weakness

__ susceptibility to muscle, tendon, ligament injury

__ intolerance to bright lights

__ intolerance to alcohol

__ intolerance to sound

__ extreme sensitivity to medications and their side-effects

__ alteration of taste, smell, and hearing

__ insomnia

__ inability to achieve stage 4 restorative sleep

__ morning stiffness in the muscles and joints

__ restless leg syndrome

__ muscle spasms

__ muscle quakiness and shivering during/after activity

Tuesday's Treasure

I have two wonderful and amazing and beautiful and wonderful daughters. My oldest is 15 and a freshman this year in high school and my youngest is 11 and a 6th grader in middle school.  They are my pride and joy. Not just mine, but their father's as well.  While their father and I may not be together anymore as a couple, we will be forever connected because of our daughters! We are co-parents. And we have worked very hard to get to where we are today, to work together for the benefit of them! Not us, them!  We work and try as hard as we do because we love them with all our hearts! We love them unconditionally, and as much as we love them, imagine how much God does!!!

Tonight's topic that their father and I and later my oldest and her dad, with me their: teens, boys, and dating! AHHHH!!!!!! (I have a reservation for the padded room for when they both are teens...) No, in all honesty, I have great daughters.  My oldest has a boyfriend and he met her dad last night, well, he called me today and we visited about teenage boys and his baby, he is very protective and with all rights, he should be! I wouldn't want it any other way!  So we met up this evening and visited. Then he visited with our daughter and told her all about boys, teen-age boys, and omg!!! I thought they were bad, but he was one and laid it out there, she is old enough! I grew up with just my mom and gma, him, with his dad and 3 other brothers, so he knows boys! And after he left, my daughter and I were talking and she said, "I know dad knows what he's talking about when it comes to boys". Yes he does sweetie and we don't want you to be with a guy who does NOT treasure you!

I even learned some things tonight. My ex, he is very good at explaining, teaching, metaphors and getting down to the heart while keeping calm (we are not talking his and my relationship here, lol).  Boys should treat you like a treasure, not a possession... you are too good for _____. He isn't worthy of you. Boys are addicts to what they haven't even had yet..... boys are walking hormones (nice way to put it)..... boys will say all the right things to get you to think a certain way.... they try to lower your boundaries.... sweet talk.... lower your defenses.... teenage boys think with one thing, not their brain either..... young and dumb and.....  He laid it all out there for her without judgement.... but with her and her protection in mind.....Not because we don't trust her, but because people are still human, even her... to keep her from regrets....  We are actually giving her our trust with dating and we just needed to make sure she goes into dating with her eyes wide open and that she realize what trust we are giving her in dating as well!

The truth shall set you free...  Teen age boys are/can be total pigs and they can be focused on one thing and we are gonna protect her with all we have and then some..... She is a young lady and I'm glad we/he was able to have this conversation with her and she listened and took it to heart.... It was eye opening to say the least. She is a treasure!!!! Girls, if the boy doesn't treasure you, RUN the other way!!! You are too good for him and he is not worthy of you! We are treasures and boys may not see it, but God ALWAYS does! We are HIS treasure, the apple of His eye.... He love us more than we can and will ever know!!!

I am His princess and my worth is more than any treasure this world has to offer.... His treasure! I am His and He holds me in the palm of His hand and will never let me go.... He is my hope and my joy and I am His! Oh, to be treasured by God! To be His daughter.... to be called by name..... to be held by His strong hand and His everlasting love.... I am and forever will be... TREASURED!

true thoughts on true love

Today is Tuesday and today's thoughts, true love, does it exist?  I'm beginning to think it doesn't. I used to believe in it, but what makes some couples make it and some don't? I hear today the divorce rate is 65% now..... the leading cause of divorce: marriage!! (that's a good one, not mine, but I concur with itit !)

Does true love exist? With God it does, with man, uhhh.... men.... uuhhhhh, well, I am starting to wonder if I will ever fall in love or meet Mr. Right, or if I have, do I even know? My heart is full with my girls and my dogs.... and it is probably me whose heart is shut off.... can only handle so much! I am so tired of letting people in only to hurt later.....

I like my life and the balance and the flow.... but sometimes, especially at night when my brain is racing, is this what I want? I live everyday with pain, literally with fibromyalgia, so do I need a "pain-in-the-butt" bf to go along with my life? what is the end goal? Can I ever let someone in? Lord, what is Your plan for my life and Your purpose? Help me to see where You want me to go, what roads You have for me and who an if there is that special someone, may he love me even a little bit as You! May I be his treasure and know it and feel it and prepare hearts..... giving my heart and love life to you Lord.... Jesus' name, Amen