The Tracking System

http://www.startribune.com/lifestyle/health/97775189.html?page=2&c=y

What an inspiration. I love to hear Crohnies not giving up on life and seeing the sunshine through the rain. This disease can really get you down, but its those that refuse to give up on living that continue to inspire me to do the same.

Speaking of seeing the sunshine through the rain, my life seems to be full of sunshine lately. I'm soaking up the sun as much as I can too!! I am just so blessed. I have a wonderful job where I work with wonderful people, I just got an '09 Malibu (his name is Marty), I got a free upgrade on my cell phone, I will be moving into my first apartment at the end of July, just bought my first mattress set (b/c I would have had nothing to sleep on otherwise), and my Crohn's has been in remission going on three weeks now!!! Everything seems to be coming together. I will say it again. I am so BLESSED!! PRAISE BE TO GOD!!

Having so much, I feel like something bad is going to happen. How can I deserve all these wonderful blessings, and I haven't even listed all of the blessings in my life even! I am reminded of a sermon my pastor preached on a month or so ago. He spoke about how some people think the life is full of peaks and valleys. Sometimes life is good and sometimes life is bad. He went on to talk about how someone viewed life's "ups and downs" as more like train tracks. The good and bad run side by side. Though you have good things happening in your life, you will have some not so good things happening in your life as well.

I found this concept to be interesting. I think there is a lot of merit to it as well. For me, I am blessed every day with wonderful blessings, but I have to live with Crohn's disease every day as well. So just as I have good in my life, I have bad too. The good news is that we can stay on the tracks because life is balanced by the parallelism. Maybe if we focus more on the blessings the negative side of the tracks won't seem so daunting, but just a part of life. Is any of this making sense or am I just speaking in circles. (haha speaking in circles when I'm talking about staying on track- No wonder my head hurts)

Though I may not always make sense, I hope you are able to find some sort of encouragement through this blog. After all that's what it is here for. Even if you gain it from making fun of my randomness, as long as you can smile at the end of the day and know that you are blessed, that's all that really matters.

God is so funny: Devotion for the day- "A Blessing in Disguise"

"Remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than receive."-Acts 20:35

[The story was about a woman who could not afford her $3.48 grocery bill as she only had $3.00. The woman in line behind her gave a dollar so the first woman could keep her eggs that she desperately needed. "What my new friend didn't realize was that at that moment, I was being blessed. I often think of that woman and wish she could know that although I helped her only momentarily, she permanently blessed me. She gave me the satisfaction of knowing that, even if only for a while, my giving can make a difference for others as Christ has made a difference for me." ] (The Upper Room)

Funny Photos

I found these on the Facebook group 1,000,000 People to Find a cure for Crohns Disease. If you want to join go to:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/1000000-People-to-Find-a-cure-for-Crohns-Disease/191820610977?filter=2

I thought they were funny. If you think about it, this disease is pretty funny. A disease that makes you poop! Come on...really??!! LOL!!

Finding the Humor

So I'm sitting on the toilet (go figure) at work and the stall next to me happens to be occupied as well. We seem to be having the same issues...if you catch my drift. (I hope you don't because it probably isn't very pleasant. ;) Anyway, she makes an awkward squishy fart sound, and then I return with a similar one only louder and a little longer. It is almost as if we are battling it out. I obviously win having Crohn's and being a pro at this type of bodily function. She finishes up as I continue. It’s as if she wishes to leave pretty hastily.

Alone again in my agony, I continue with what seems like a never ending conversation with God of why am "cursed/ blessed" with this disease? I have felt awful all day, and I am tired of being sick day in and day out. As I complain once again about my insufficient problems, a humorous thought pops into my head. Can it be? Can I find humor in this embarrassing and painful disease? (Well of course, I have a great sense of humor!)

If you think about it, it's probably more embarrassing for the person sitting in the stall next to me to listen to me go to the bathroom than it really is for me to actually have to go. Think of it as that spider is more afraid of you then you really should be of it. (I almost got attacked by one last night! No worries, I swept it up with my sweeper!) I don't know? Just sitting there and thinking that they are probably embarrassed, and I am totally beating them with these awesomely, disgusting squishy fart sounds is really kind of funny. Farts in general are funny...at least to me. That thought just kind of made me chuckle to myself a little. It might not be as funny to you as it was to me, but the next time you're dropping a deuce in a stall next to someone else try to put yourself in their...stall... ;) who knows, it might bring a chuckle to your already eventful bathroom experience.

Encouraging Words:

The humble will see their God at work and be glad. Let all who seek God's help be encouraged.

~ Psalm 69:32, NLT

Leaning on the everlasting arms

God loves me

I have a wonderful support system of family and friends

I will be graduating in two weeks

I have a job out of college

I have everything I need and then some

Trying to stay focused on the blessings!!

I wanted to complain but after receiving some text messages of support and refocusing on my many blessings I am starting to feel a little better.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4ZyvA3UefY

Carry Me Through-Dave Barnes

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SCh-UoyILVc

A Message of Cheer: Hope is Faith

Hope sees sunshine through the clouds and rainbows in the rain

Hope gives us strength to travel on when the struggle seems in vain

Hope looks ahead to better things when a dream we had is gone

Hope is faith that on the darkest night there will be a brighter dawn

-Mary Alice Michaels

I received this message in a card. I thought it fit in perfectly with my blog and was just I needed this week!! I hope it inspires you as much as it has done for me. God Bless!

Wondering Why??

So I have been feeling really good for the majority of this year, but all of a sudden things are beginning to change. Why? I don't understand. Why are my symptoms coming back? Why has it taken so long to get my new treatment in place? Why has no one called me to set up an appointment to start my treatment? Why does everything have to be so difficult? Why do I worry so much? Why do I have a disease that gets worse when I worry so much? It does not make sense.

The sermon on Sunday was about not having fear. The scripture read referenced the story of Jesus sleeping on a boat, while the disciples feared for their lives in the raging storm. Jesus asked them after being woken up, "Why are you afraid?" Then with his mighty powers he calmed the sea. Matthew 8:27.

This put things into perspective for me because last week I had been worrying a lot about my future. You know, all the stuff that I can't control, but like to make myself sick thinking about it anyway. So I had decided to give it all to the Lord and let him take care of it. I was kind of hoping he would take away the storm, not let one brew. I know sometimes life just sucks and things just happen. God doesn't necessarily cause bad things to happen, but he may allow them to happen. I guess its some sort of character building test thing he likes me to gain from his allowances. But really God? Is this suppose to teach me to not have what I want? To not enjoy eating the foods I enjoy? Stop teasing me. I hate being "normal" one minute and then the next I have to put myself in a glass box and watch people have a "normal" life.

I know it probably sounds like I'm complaining. I may be a little bit. It is just depressing and discouraging when I have been feeling well and all of a sudden I am sick again...or on my way to being sick again. I am weary, and God I need you to carry my burden again. Wrap me in your arms and make me better again. Heal me please I cry out to you! I need your comfort and your strength. I can't do this alone. Please, Father let your will be done. Yours is the kingdom, power, and glory forever! Amen.