The 12 days of Appointments*

The 12 days of Appointments, My Doctor Gave to Me...*

On the first day of appointments, my doctor gave to me:
an X-ray and a Cat-Scan

On the 2nd day of appointments, my doctor gave to me:
2 referrals, and an X-ray and a Cat-Scan

On the 3rd day of appointments, my doctor gave to me:
3 lab tests, 2 referrals, and an X-ray and a Cat-Scan

On the 4th day of appointments, my doctor gave to me:
4 injections, 3 lab tests, 2 referrals, and an X-ray and a Cat-Scan

On the 5th day of appointments, my doctor gave to me:
5 tons of meds, 4 injections, 3 lab tests, 2 referrals, and an X-ray and a Cat-Scan

On the 6th day of appointments, my doctor gave to me:
6  P.T. stretches, 5 tons of meds, 4 injections, 3 lab tests, 2 referrals, and an X-ray and a Cat-Scan

On the 7th day of appointments, my doctor gave to me:
7 counselors a-counseling, 6 homework stretches, 5 tons of meds, 4 injections, 3 lab tests, 2 referrals, and an X-ray and a Cat-Scan

On the 8th day of appointments, my doctor gave to me:
8 exercises, 7 counselors a-counseling, 6 homework stretches, 5 tons of meds, 4 injections, 3 lab tests, 2 referrals, and an X-ray and a Cat-Scan

On the 9th day of appointments, my doctor gave to me:
9 medications, 8 exercises, 7 counselors a-counseling, 6 homework stretches, 5 tons of meds, 4 injections, 3 lab tests, 2 referrals, and an X-ray and a Cat-Scan

On the 10th day of appointments, my doctor gave to me:
10 more procedures, 9 medications, 8 exercises, 7 counselors a-counseling, 6 homework stretches, 5 tons of meds, 4 injections, 3 lab tests, 2 referrals, and an X-ray and a Cat-Scan

On the 11th day of appointments, my doctor gave to me:
11 doctors doctoring, 10 more procedures, 9 medications, 8 exercises, 7 counselors a-counseling, 6 homework stretches, 5 tons of meds, 4 injections, 3 lab tests, 2 referrals, and an X-ray and a Cat-Scan

On the 12th day of appointments, my doctor gave to me:
12 more appointments, 11 doctors doctoring, 10 more procedures, 9 medications, 8 exercises, 7 counselors a-counseling, 6 homework stretches, 5 tons of meds, 4 injections, 3 lab tests, 2 referrals, and an X-ray and a Cat-Scan.


Whew...That's a lot, but it you are like me, there is more medical stuff that I didn't list...Wow, how do we deal with this all?
Take this time to ponder how you came this far with all that you go through....and remember the true meaning of Christmas.





(photo is from: http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j474/William_Moxon/Hospital.png)

Two Blogs, One Author*

As of May 2015, I am back to just one blog. Here is it
Teensy Tidbits for Managing Pain



Two Blogs, One Author: Well Guess What? I decided to have two blogs. One for managing pain called Teensy Tidbits for Managing Pain (teensytidbits.blogspot.com).and the other called Expressive Praise, to blog about whatever I want to.

Click on the links below for each Blog

Teensy Tidbits for Managing Pain

Expressive Praise Art and Writings

My New WEB ADDRESS*

My new address is www.teensytidbits.blogspot.com/




Well Guess What?
I decided to have two blogs. One for managing pain called Teensy Tidbits for Managing Pain (teensytidbits.blogspot.com). And one for whatever I want to write about; it's called Expressive Praise (expressivepraise.blogspot.com).  I will still incorporate humor, stories, and my personal life. I will try to keep info about the pain info in one blog so I have a broader audience for each category.

Thank you and God bless... Click on each link below

Expressive Praise

Teensy Tidbits

See ya soon
Tanya a.k.a. Teensy

What Would it say?*

If there was a book or chapter in the Bible written about your life, what would it say? What would the end to the story be?
Would it say that you walked with God? Would it say you murdered someone? Would it say you helped people or that people ran from you?
Would it say that you did God's will or that you ran from it? Would it say,hat you gave out love or you took from it. How do you think your story would end?
Was it like Joseph who had bad things happen to him, but God used the circumstances to help his family From famine? Would it be like Moses who was given up for adoption to save his life, and then later he would help his people? Would it be like Noah who did God's will by making an ark, even when everyone laughed at him....and he was able save his family and the animals?
Was it like Cain who killed his brother out of jealousy and had to be on the run the rest of his life?
Or like Queen Esther, Mary the mother of Jesus, or Mary Magdalene?
What's your story? Why are you here? It's something to think about..

Sometimes You Have to Be *Humorous*

I started a pain management class at a Health Facility this week. I don't know what came over me but when I saw a skeleton hanging on a stand, my silliness came over me. I think it happened when I saw a bucket full of funny shaped popcorn. A lady brought 24 clear gloves stuffed with sweet popcorn and tied the ends of them.

Before the three doctors came in to teach the 2 classes I was in, I decided to dress the skeleton... I grabbed 2 gloved popcorn bundles. They looked like hands, so I tied them to the skeleton's hand bones....then I found some pillow cases and cloths in the back of the room. I just draped them over the skeleton because she just looked cold and I added one to give her a skirt. I put a Breast cancer Magnet under her ribcage. The magnet was given to me when I walked in the building.  She needed Hair, so I just draped a rag over her head. Now that I am looking at the picture, I realize I didn't give her a shirt. lol

I did this all before the teachers came in...The students, who were waiting for the class to start, were laughing and said they wouldn't say who did it....The lady who brought the popcorn thought they would blame her.  

The funny thing was, while I dressed the skeleton, it kept falling over because the metal stand that was holding it up, was missing a piece. The more the students laughed, the more the skeleton kept falling. I finally got it propped up just right...then two of the teachers walked in. I quickly sat down.

The teachers didn't even notice it....until.....one teacher, 20 minutes later, had to use it for his lecture...I had no idea he was going to use it. He laughed, and everyone did, as he displayed the dressed skeleton on top of a table. That skeleton was taller me. I just giggled but then I was so afraid it was going to fall.  A lady was going to take a picture of it, so I walked up to fix the skirt that fell.  I noticed that it was stuck underneath the wheels.  I then stopped and realized if I touch the cloth, the whole thing will go down.  Everyone was laughing. It was too too funny.

In the 2nd class, on the same day, another doctor came to teach about physical therapy.  The doctor didn't notice it either until he, too, used it for the lecture.  He laughed as he took part of the clothes off to show us how we need to hold our back, neck, etc... in the right position. Then he laughs and pulls out the big refrigerator magnet that I put behind the chest. He says, "oh, I guess he's supporting breast cancer."  And then everyone just roared in laughter....He didn't notice the popcorn hands yet.  About 5 minutes later, the doc went toward the the skeleton to talk about shoulder blades, and collar bones.  As he lifted the arm up, a popcorn hand hit him in the leg...He laughed...I heard someone say, "that was perfect timing."

I so enjoyed the laughter....and so did the whole class.
I am so glad I was able to make over 20 people, who deal with chronic pain, and 3 professional doctors laugh ..... It was so much fun. Thank You God, that I can find ways to laugh, giggle, and have humor through all this physical pain.

Why Did Jesus Listen?*

In Luke 8:26-39, it says that there was a guy with many demons in him.  Jesus was about to command the demons to come out of the man. The demons begged Jesus to not have them sent to the abyss. The abyss probably meant "the bottomless pit or hell." The numerous demons begged Jesus to have them thrown into some nearby pigs.  And Jesus did it. He cast them out of the man and they ended up going into pigs that ended up going crazy. The demons went into the herd of pigs, and violently ran into a lake and drowned.....

Did you ever think of why did Jesus listen to the demons?  Why didn't Jesus cast them demons back to hell.  And what happened to the demons after the pigs died.  Demons don't die, as far as I know.  Did the demons jump into someone else's body... I don't know about you, but it kind of confuses or concerns me that Jesus listened to the demons...He did what they asked... Hmmm. Does He still do that?  I guess He knows best....actually I know He knows best... I just don't understand His ways, at times.

26" Then they (Jesus and his disciples) sailed to the country of the Gadarenes, which is opposite Galilee.  And when He (Jesus) stepped out on the land, there met Him a certain man from the city who had demons for a long time. And he wore no clothes,nor did he live in a house but in the tombs. 28 When he saw Jesus, he cried out, fell down before Him, and with a loud voice said, “What have I to do with You, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg You, do not torment me!”29 For He had commanded the unclean spirit to come out of the man. For it had often seized him, and he was kept under guard, bound with chains and shackles; and he broke the bonds and was driven by the demon into the wilderness.

30 Jesus asked him, saying, “What is your name?”

And he said, “Legion,” because many demons had entered him. 31 And they begged Him that He would not command them to go out into the abyss.

32 Now a herd of many swine was feeding there on the mountain. So they begged Him that He would permit them to enter them. And He permitted them. 33 Then the demons went out of the man and entered the swine, and the herd ran violently down the steep place into the lake and drowned.

34 When those who fed them saw what had happened, they fled and told it in the city and in the country. 35 Then they went out to see what had happened, and came to Jesus, and found the man from whom the demons had departed, sitting at the feet of Jesus, clothed and in his right mind. And they were afraid. 36 They also who had seen it told them by what means he who had been demon-possessed was healed. 37 Then the whole multitude of the surrounding region of the Gadarenes asked Him to depart from them, for they were seized with great fear. And He got into the boat and returned.

38 Now the man from whom the demons had departed begged Him that he might be with Him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 “Return to your own house, and tell what great things God has done for you.” And he went his way and proclaimed throughout the whole city what great things Jesus had done for him."   Luke 8:26-39

Passing By?*

Matthew 27:39-40
 And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, save Yourself! If You are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”

I have read this scripture so many times, yet recently I decided to think about it more.

Jesus was dying on the cross, along with a guy on each side of him.  Then people were walking by him as he is dying...They are passing by. They are making fun of him and mocking him. Have you ever thought about this?

If I saw someone hanging on some wood, and all beat up and bloody, I wouldn't want to be near that person. If I liked the person or nor, It would be too painful to look at. I don't know, maybe because I am not used to watching people being tortured or dying a painful death like that. I wouldn't even want to watch my worse enemy die a painful death. It's just not my thing.

hmmm just saying...

Living Stone*

I read this scripture today.
"Coming to Him as to a living stone, rejected indeed by men, but chosen by God and precious, you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."
1 Peter 2:4-5

I have heard this scripture preached so many times, but I always hear people say that "Jesus is a living stone" and that is all I hear about this scripture. Yet even though he is the living stone we also are living stones.  The scripture above says:

"...you also, as living stones, are being built up a spiritual house, a holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ."

(picture from photobucket.com)

 It is like he is building our spiritual bodies into spiritual houses. If everyone is a stone, think of how strong our churches or families would be if we work on them together.  Putting one stone on top of another stone can hold things together; we can make big structures out of this rock material. If we are stones, then we are solid rock....what use do stones or rocks have?

"A lot of cities are made from stone... Roads, parking lots, bridges, airports, and highways are all made from crushed stone and concrete." (http://www.rocksforkids.com/RFK/BuildingStones.htm)    Stones and rocks have a lot of use...we can have that same usefulness in God.

If Jesus is the cornerstone, he's connected to us, and joining himself with us. He is connecting himself with us together; and you and I together, to be stronger. Stones are hard to crush...they are solid. 

Be the solid stone that God wants you to be, yet allow Jesus in your life as the Cornerstone.



To learn what other stuff you can make out of rocks, stone, or minerals, go to http://www.rocksforkids.com/RFK/BuildingStones.htm...

Acts of Random Kindness?*

I have been hearing lately from on of my churches (and even online) that we should be spreading more kindness. I even watched a couple of online videos of people helping others out randomly. One video has 2 guys giving t-shirts, water, and snacks to homeless people.  Another video has various people helping others in various situations.
I think of myself as kind, yet I realized I need to work on being more kinder.  Sometimes the physical pain I am in gets in the way of what I want to do. So since I am at the doctors' appts a lot lately, I decided to be kinder to the patients that go on the elevator. I have to ride 6 floors up to get to my doctor's appts and the elevator door constantly opens on various floors as I go up and down the elevator.

Recently I started smiling more and chatting with everyone that enters the elevator...Then I noticed that people who looked like they were in pain or overcome with health issues were returning my smiles and some were even laughing. They looked surprised that a stranger was actually talking to them. Then I started smiling and waving at children that walked by me and  I noticed the children and their parents started smiling.

This last week while I was at Kaiser, waiting for my bus to arrive, I noticed an older lady who seemed like she was struggling and looked worn out. She was trying to get her husband who was in a wheelchair settled in their car, plus she had a bag, purse, and other items she was juggling. She looked so worn out.  I decided to leave my seat on the bench and go help her.  While she was in the car fastening her husband in the seat belt, I grabbed her bag and put it in the opened trunk. I told her that she looked like she could use a hand. She thanked me and smiled a big grin. As I went back and sat on the bench, I noticed she was smiling while she was in her car...Before she drove away, she honked, waved, and had a huge smile on her face.

We don't always know what people are going through.  Just a simple act of me putting one bag in her car, made her day,,,and it added joy to my heart.  What can you do to brighten someone's day?  Just one act of random kindness can add a smile and happiness to someones day.

"It is more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35b
"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up." Galatians 6:9 
"Dear children, let us not love with words or speech but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:18


Watch these inspiring u-tube videos of some ways you can help others. Click on these below: 

Random Acts of Kindness Caught on Film

You are Here for a Reason (Life Vest Inside)



videos are from http://www.youtube.com/)

Expressive Praise Art*

Besides creative writing, I also enjoy being an artist.  I have loved to take pictures most of my life, even when I was a child I had a C110 camera that allowed me to express myself through taking silly pictures. As an adult I have grown to love nature and I just love to capture God's beautiful creation.

I try to find new and creative ways to use my artistic ability that God gave me.  Who knew that I would be an artist?  I took art classes when I was a kid, but I never thought that I was any good at it.  My family encouraged me to write poetry and expand my creative writing skills. So I did...I so enjoy writing to this day.    It wasn't until 5 years ago, that I just wanted to try oil painting so I bought an inexpensive, miniature oil painting kit from Michaels Craft store. I bought the 99 cent one, just in case I wasn't good at it, I didn't have to worry about wasting my money. Well, the rest is history... I thank God for him allowing me to use these gifts for his glory...It's these gifts that keep me going through all the physical pain I deal with. I guess you can say that it's my outlet or distraction..

I added more pictures of my artwork to my art portfolio. Please click on the link below to view them:

https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1380021952284491.1073741829.100008300975340&type=1&l=07061a5251

God bless, and may you discover and enjoy the gifts that God has given you...

The Trinity.Triune God*

I thought I would blog about the triune God since one of my pastor's have been preaching about this topic lately.

Have you heard about the Trinity a.k.a. the Triune God? The Trinity is God in 3 persons also known as: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
Sometimes it's hard to comprehend that God is three, yet one. I remember around 20 yrs ago, one of my pastors (Pastor Jamie)  gave me an analogy because I had a hard time comprehended the Trinity.  He said God is like a watch. (Remember those old things that everyone used to wear that told you the time, before cell phones existed?)  God has 3 parts to Him like  a watch does.  The watch has 3 parts to it. There is a minute hand, hour hand, and the second hand. Each plays a different part in the watch, but they all are part of the watch...Just like God...There are 3 persons. There is God (The Father), God (the Son who is Jesus), and God (the Holy Spirit)...they all make up God, yet even though each has a different role, they all are the same God).

Recently my pastor used an analogy about the Triune God which is like water. Water has 3 elements; there is liquid, ice, and steam....It's in 3 different forms yet it's all a form of water.

The word "trinity" is not actually in the Bible, yet it is implied in the scriptures. Free Dictionary defines Trinity as:

1. A group consisting of three closely related members. Also called triunity.

2. Trinity Theology In most Christian faiths, the union of three divine persons, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, in one God.   (http://www.thefreedictionary.com/trinity)

"For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one."  1 John 5:7

(The Word is the Son of God, Jesus. This scripture is 
talking about God, as the Father, the son, and the 
Holy Spirit)

"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.   The same was in the beginning with God.  All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made."  John 1:1-3

(Since Jesus is the word, in the scripture above, place the name "Jesus" wherever it says "the Word."  You will see that, in the beginning was Jesus, and Jesus was with God, and Jesus was God.)

Allow yourself to experience God as a whole, as the Triune God...view Him in three persons yet as one true God...




Picture is from photobucket.com (watch)

Heaven Is My Future Home*

When God commands it, Jesus will be ready for his followers.  the people who have died and accepted Christ as their savior will rise and meet up with Jesus to greet us. Then we who are living on this earth will rise and will be with Jesus and the others  That will be one glorious day.  

Picture all the people who you know that were believers in God but have passed away.  Visualize them with their heavenly bodies and then picture us transforming into our heavenly bodies and meeting up with them.

That will be some reunion, graduation, or heavenly party.

I can't wait to see the people again who I have had to say good bye to on this earth. I hope we will be able to thank the people that were in our life for a season yet affected our lives later on in life. 

I would love to thank a couple of people who helped change my life.  Like Garilyn Burdon who brought me to church when I was a child, and Pastor Mike Smith who preached at that time. Something he said, clicked in my heart when I was a child and I gave my heart to God. I never was able to say thank you.  I didn't know how special that would be to me until later in life.

I look forward to seeing all those people again...and I look forward to living with Jesus without any boundaries forever....

"For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.  " 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 NIV

Tips in dealing with *F.I.B.R.O.M.Y.A.L.G.I.A.*

Try to find the good through the pain when dealing with F.I.B.R.O.M.Y.A.L.G.I.A.,

F- Friends (Communicate with others especially with those who can relate with you.  Everyone needs friends, especially when dealing with pain).

I- Idea (Get ideas on how to live with your pain...look up stuff online, ask a friend, ask someone in a support group).

B- Break (taking breaks is so important for you...You need that rest to help you keep going).

R- Read (Read up on your meds, fibro symptoms, even food labels, etc...Better yet, read a good book).

O- Onions (sometimes you just have to peel that onion and cry. It's okay to cry and have down times).

M- Memories (Think of funny things in your life, in the past or present. Learn to laugh at your crazy fibro fog moments).

Y- You (take care of YOU because sometimes that is all you have.  Learn to love YOU the way you are).

A- Advocate (Be your own advocate. Stand up for yourself with doctors, family, friends, etc...Remember YOU know how YOU feel...Speak it out).

L- Love (Remember to love others, and show them you care. Encourage others, if you are able to).

G- God (let God be your source of strength. He loves YOU unconditionally).

I- Interests (find a hobby or do something fun to take your mind off of the pain, like read a good book, do artwork, take pictures, etc..).

A- Attitude (try to have a positive attitude. I know it is hard, and you may not be able to do it all the time...Do your best to keep going, keep your chin up and look up and say, I CAN DO IT...yet if you aren't able to do things you use to do, you may have to grieve over it and find something new that you can do...

Throwing the First Stone*

In John 8:1-11, People wanted to stone a woman for committing adultery. Yet Jesus said that whoever is without sin, cast the first stone.

Everyone Left.

How many of us would be in that same position of wanting to condemn others when we have sin in our own life?

hmmm, that is something to think about...

You can read about the incident below:

"...

 At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. 3 The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group  and said to Jesus, 'Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery.  In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?' ...

But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger.  When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, .“Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.

 At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there.  Jesus straightened up and asked her, 'Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?'

'No one, sir,' she said.

'Then neither do I condemn you,' Jesus declared. 'Go now and leave your life of sin.'"  John 8:1-11  (NIV)

Cheer Up*

Do you ever feel like you are going through hard times? Does it seem like it's just one bad thing after the other?


"Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." James 1:2-4 NIV

I know it can be hard to be joyful when you deal with a bunch of trials and tribulations.  Sometimes things get me down...yet at other times, when I have things happen, I just have to laugh, chuckle, or hangout with people who help me laugh...It's not good to be away from everyone when one is dealing with a lot of hardship.  People are surprised what I deal with on a daily basis because I laugh.  I have learned to find things to laugh about.  

"Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and 
the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in 
any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God." 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 NIV

Learn from what you deal with. If you have a lot of hardships, try to encourage other people 
with what you have learned from all that you have gone through.  and Remember to lean on 
God through it all.

"In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had 
to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  These have come so that the proven 
genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though 
refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.
 Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see 
him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy, 
for you are receiving the end result of your faith, the salvation of your souls."  
1 Peter 1:6-9 NIV

We grow from hardships.  Our faith grows, wisdom grows, and we spiritually 
mature.  Remember to persevere, persevere, and better yet, persevere... 
and be joyful.

Don't Let Your Heart Be Troubled*

“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me.  In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also."John 14:1-3 (NKJV)

Our God has a place for each of us in Heaven, if we have received His salvation.  

Heaven is real and breathtakingly beautiful.  

God will welcome us into Heaven some day with our changed bodies.

That means, no more pain or suffering.

There won't be any sadness, loss of jobs, or loss of loved ones.

There won't be sorrow or any hard feelings of ex-spouses or unmet child support to deal with.

We won't deal with divorces nor deal with being considered single or married. We will all have the same status.

We won't long for anything; for everything we will need, we will have.

God has a place for you in Heaven. Are you ready for His return?

Are you ready for God to welcome you into eternity even if it's sooner than you think.

Remember not everyone who goes to church is a christian.  People sometimes pretend and then when they leave the property, they don't live a christian life.  There were times in my own life that I went to church, but I wasn't a "christian." I had to rededicate my life back to God several times in my life because I wasn't living a godly life.

Remember John 3:16,

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."(NKJV)

God is opening up His arms to accept you.  God loves you and has a place for you in Heaven.

Child-like Faith*

"He called a little child to him, and placed the child among them.  And he said: “Truly I tell you, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.  Therefore, whoever takes the lowly position of this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  And whoever welcomes one such child in my name welcomes me."Matt 18:2-5 


We need to be child-like in our faith. 
What does that mean?
How are we to be child-like?
What does a child do?
How does a child act?
Whom does a child trust?

A child totally believes and trusts everything you tell them. They come out into the world believing that what their parents tell them is the way to live.  They totally trust you when they jump into your arms. They don't waiver in their belief of you.
They do what you ask them to do because they believe and have total faith that their parents know best.  They soak up everything your parents say.  They ask questions and are curious especially around 2 years of age.  They learn from what is around them and their environment.

Are we to God like a child is to his parents?
Do we listen and learn from God?
Do we believe God totally?
If He says jump, do we believe He will catch us?
or are we afraid?
If He gives us money, do we follow him on how to spend it?

If He gives us talents do we use them wholeheartedly and allow him to teach us to use them better?
If he puts us in charge of things, do we lead like he taught us or do we go on our own?
Do we mimic God like a child mimics his parents?
Do we follow His lead?
Is God our role model?



picture by photobucket.com

Are you content?*

What makes you happy, content, and joyful? People always say the grass looks greener on the other
side. Why is that? Why do we tend to want things that we don't have? Or if we are single, we want to be married...if we are married, we want to be single...if we have short, straight hair, we want long, curly hair? Why are we like that???

What is contentment? It is a state of happiness and satisfaction (www.google.com).Are you content in this life? Or are you miserable in wanting so much more of what you don't have? I have learned to be content in the circumstances that I have gained. Yes, even now there are times, that I deeply desire that I was healed of all these ailments, or wish I had  a husband or child.  Yet I have learned to be content.  I used to be so frustrated with God that I wanted to get married or be pain free, that it actually was eating up at my heart and mind.  I had to learn and grow in God with what was given to me in this life.  I had to realize that for some reason in the past, I have had to endure many hardships.  I didn't like going through it, but I had to endure them to help me be who I am today.  I know that God can take away all my pains in just a blink of an eye, but I also know that He has us go through things to help grow us spiritually far more than we can ever comprehend.

Learn to be content

What Will Heaven be Like?*

Will our Heavenly bodies glow or be see through?
Will we be free from pain or ailments, aches, and suffering? (oh yes)
Will we still have teeth, hair, or even fingernails?
Will we have to clean our spiritual bodies and teeth?

When we eat the fruit in Heaven, will we feel full?
Will we bathe in the crystal waters?
Will anyone value gold there?

What will Heaven be like?
Will there be water falls and rain?
Thunderstorms and hail?
Will there be weeds and thorns?
Will we work?
Will someone's job be pulling weeds from the garden?
Will we have to clean up after ourselves?
Will aborted babies be child-like, or have spiritually mature bodies?

Will there be books to read?
Or will we not need to learn anything?
Will we have lions for pets?
Will we need to change our spiritual clothes?
Will we have to exercise?
What will we look like?
How will we act?
What will we do?

Here is a glimpse of Heaven:

"Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.  No longer will there be any curse. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and his servants will serve him.  They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. There will be no more night. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever." Revelation 22:1-5 (NIV) 

The Spoon Theory by *Christine Miserandino

If you want to know how people deal with or understand debilitating Chronic Pain, Check this article out about the Spoon Theory. I didn't write it but it is very interesting.  Please click on this:

The Spoon Theory by Christine Miserandino

Got Weed? *

Got Weed? How About Medical Marijuana?
Cannabis, medical marijuana, Mary Jane, hookah, hit, M.J., pot, dope, grass, weed, etc...Whatever you call it, it's out there. These days it seems to be such a controversial issue because of the effects of altering the brain to take away the pain verses the fact that it's a drug and we are to say no to drugs.

I have had several people tell me that I am a perfect candidate for medical Marijuana because of the major health issues that I endure.  It would probably be easy for me to get a "medical weed card" and get as much weed as I need.

Recently one of my friends gave me a little marijuana to help with the pain. He even made a pipe and gave me a lighter as a special gift.  I opened the package and it smelled like skunk.That was the worse smelling stuff I ever did smell. I just laughed; I have a strong sense of smell and if I was to smoke it, I knew that I wouldn't be able to handle the awful smell.  I don't know why people smoke skunk weed. yucky

I have had several people tell me that I don't have to smoke it; I can actually bake with it. I am thinking I don't want to ruin food, that skunk smell will probably not go away. I was even told to roll it up in some cheese and eat it. (And no I am not following the "wrong crowd" I just have people in my life that are really concerned about me and want me to have relief from all the horrible pain I have been in. I appreciate their heart...but I just couldn't get myself to do it.)

I don't know why, but everyone seems to suggest to bake them in brownies. I know brownies are my favorite dessert, but I don't want to ruin them. After contemplating it, I just couldn't get myself to take the weed.  If other people take it for pain, that's between them and God, and I don't judge them for it. I know what it is to be in so much pain that you want to do anything to get rid of the pain, but I also know that for me, I just didn't feel God wanted me to go that route.

What are your thoughts about Medical Marijuana?

Photo is by photobucket.com Medical Marijuana photo (photobucket.com)

What You See is *NOT* Always What You Get*

Okay, when you look at me, what do you see? I am not talking about the pretty brown hair, God created me with, or the eyes that change colors of green or blue. I am not even talking about the artist that I am or the fact that I am a Christian.  When you see me, what do you see?  Do you see the physical pain I am in? Some people get tired of hearing about it, but they don't live with what I do. They don't live in this painful body that is covering my soul and spirit.  They talk to me, and then go on their merry way to work, the store, school, or even church and forget about it, while I am trying to live with what was given to me.

Some pains can be obvious if one is in a cast, has a wheel chair, or is limping on one leg. Most people understand these kinds of people. They move out of their way for them. They let them go first in line.  The bus driver makes sure the ramp on the bus is down especially for them. People even have more compassion when they walk in the crosswalk, wait in line at the store, or use a handicapped placard.

When I tell people what I deal with, their immediate reaction is, "Well, you don't look sick." -or- "You look well"  -or- "You look pretty" as though pretty people can not have health issues. -or- "but you look so young." Yes, I am a young one, or um, actually I am not even a young adult anymore, but I look young. Just because someone "looks well" doesn't mean they are.  It's like just because you see or don't see something, doesn't mean it's what you think it is. Have you heard of, "don't judge the book by it's cover?"  What you see, is not always what you get.

Well, for those of you who don't know what I have or deal with including Fibromyalgia, this is just a glimpse of it all.  So when you are lying in bed about to have a restful sleep, or about to go to work, or enjoy fun filled time and adventure, please remember to pray for those of us who have the silent illnesses that you just don't see. Remember just because you can't see pain, doesn't mean the horrible pain we deal with, is not there...Okay here is just a glimpse of what "I" deal with:

My eyes have gray spots in my vision causing confusion of what I see or what appears to be blind spots, but when doctors do the tests, they can't find the blind spots. Doctors can't seem to figure out what's wrong with my vision. I also get visual migraines at times. It's the migraines without the pain that affects my eyes. 

My feet problems are no joke. I have about 6 things wrong with my feet. It hurts when I walk; hurts when I wear shoes. It seems so complicated.

My head has a mind of it's own (and hopefully it's mine. ha ha). There's the chronic headaches that lead to migraine-like headaches. They affect my Vision, Thinking Process, and Comprehension. Plus   headaches shoot pain throughout my body. I have had a headache for over 18 years and it doesn't go away.

My jaw is a mess. It hurts to do any jaw movement and I am not even talking about the muscles in the mouth or the muscle spasms in the jaw joint. I have extreme joint pain. There is the  Degenerative Joint disease, degenerative arthritis plus the torn disks.  My jaw is no longer in alignment and is not Asymmetric-- (It's longer on one side of jaw than the other) because of all the jaw problems I have encountered. The doctor said when I open my mouth, I am basically injuring one side of my jaw, and when I close my mouth, I am injuring the other side.  How often do we eat, sing, chew, drink, sip, talk, hum, or open and close our mouth in a day? Too many times for me to voice it out.

I have excellent and heightened hearing which is why I wear ear plugs; yet I can't always decipher what people say to me. High pitch sounds are the worst for me. Everything seems to echo in my ears.

Neck: Have knots in neck accompanied with muscles spasms; All vertebras, except one, are in incorrect position. Have arthritis in back of neck causes burning pain.

        

Vertigo (dizziness, Unbalance, unsteady feeling with nausea that lasts from 5 minutes up to 3 months.

Then there is the Myofascial pain syndrome, the chronic pain syndrome, and the fibromyalgia. I have painful muscle spasms from head to toe all the time, yet sometimes it gets worse. Just walking causes extreme pain.

Skin hurts; just wearing clothes especially waist bands make it hurt more (and yes I wear clothes all the time. lol). Skin feels like it's burning and/or itching and yet at other times it feels like bugs crawling all over my arms and legs. Believe me, it's a weird sensation. It even hurts to touch, but please don't stop giving me hugs. Just don't give me the kind that are squeezable. If I accidentally bump something lightly, it causes excruciating pain and may even leave a bruise.

If you see me with a sweater, I am not necessarily cold. I have to put something over my skin when the air conditioner or breeze is on me because the pain may increase.  Yet please don't assume that I want the air conditioner off because I am temperature sensitive.  If it's too hot, I can't handle it either.

There are "tender points" in my body when touched, rubbed, or bumped wrong and can cause me to want to cry out. I tend to be lightheaded so I end up bumping into things easily so I can cause even more pain without meaning to.          

There are times I have unusual things happen like every once in a while, I will have sharp pain in my chestwall that hurts when I take a breath. I try not to be vocal but when it happens, I tend to cry out.  Other times, certain parts of my body will become numb.

There is the forgetfulness, the short term memory, the fibro fog, the words get twisted when I speak...And if I have a pen and paper out, please do not discourage me of taking notes, because I will forget something important if I don't.  Please don't assume that if you can remember it that I will.

My energy is depleted. It is hard to stand up sometimes because the body gets so worn out from fighting the battling war of pain.  If I hang out, go to the movies, go to church, or just take a walk, I may have to rest awhile to gain my energy back and calm the muscle spasms.

Sleep: What is it? I haven't slept well on a regular basis in 17 years.  There are times I do end up in bed for many hours because I either have excruciating pain where I can't move or I finally am getting some rest after many days or weeks without adequate sleep.

My Hands and fingers hurt even when I write or type. That is why my beautiful handwriting turned sloppy.  My hands are often swollen so   I tend to drop things all the time.  The finger tips even have sharp pain, at times. Nails tend to be brittle. If I grow my nails long, my finger tips hurt even more.

Restless leg syndrome is a new one for me. My legs and arms jerk, move when trying to sleep. plus I have electricity like pain shooting in legs at times. I don't know what causes it though.

My body hurts and is inflamed when weather, barometric pressure, or temperature changes or if there is moisture in the air.  That's when fire-burning pain all over body, is common.  It also feels like my head swells and can't handle the brain it's carrying. No, I don't have any tumors or cancers or even blood pressure problems. All of those have been ruled out many times. Please don't get mad if I sit, or stand, or lean against the wall, or do all three within minutes because I am just trying to get comfortable. On my good days, I feel like I have the flu without the fever. I may be nauseated, very achy and have lack of energy.  Exercising even makes it worse. 

I do have food sensitivity. Most foods are bothersome to my body and I can't eat them. Have to read labels before I eat anything. Even when I have changed my way of eating to healthier foods, I still feel sick. Yet I notice I do feel worse when I eat enriched, bleached and sweetened foods.  Most supplements, meds, etc...trigger reactions and symptoms in my body.  Even allergy injections caused problems for me.  Then there are those times that I eat something, and within 15 minutes I look like I am 6 months pregnant. I can say, it is very embarrassing.

Even though I have many other health problems, I am not going to mention all of the other ones. I will leave that to the doctors.

If you actually hear me complain that I am in pain, realize that I am always in pain, and that I always have a headache. If you hear me actually voice the complaint, than it's way worse than the normal pain I deal with.  Just to function on a normal basis, I have to take Epsom salt baths, cold/hot packs, and get neck and back adjustments just to be able to function. These are what helps me out some. It doesn't take the pain away; it just takes the edge off.

oh and by the way, I have to totally lean on God. Hey, even Jesus cried out when he was hurting. So give me a hug, but not a crushing, squeezing one. Give me a high five but don't slap it hard. It's okay to pat my back but don't slam your fist or hand on my back and don't slap me a hello on my shoulder. It hurts too much. Hey we all need that physical touch, but some of us need it a little softer.

Please remember your friends with debilitating chronic pain, they do need your encouragement, understanding, and help.  Plus if you believe in the true God, please say a little prayer. Knowing people are praying for me gives me encouragement.  God bless..

this post is dedicated to all my fibro buddies...