Trying Times

Hello Friends -It's been a trying week at our place. Lots of roadblocks and speed bumps to face and overcome. Stress, anxiety, PTSD and depression are constant companions to our family right now and there are times when it hits full force, slowing us down to the point of stopping. Somehow we continue to slog on and make it through but it takes a lot out of us.


I'm lucky to have many family and friends to support me and mine through these times. They come to my defense and to my side when I need them most and I will eternally be grateful. I find grace in God's love and in His Word, along with the uplifting words found in certain places on the internet.

Things will get better, and I will make it through...we all will. It takes time, faith and determination, all of which can hide deep inside, waiting for you to realize they are there, dig them out, dust them off and put them into use. Some days they are more readily available, others not so much. Some days it is easy to get out of bed, others there is no chance. But I am being kind to myself and with others and I look for understanding and grace in all situations.

Please be gentle with me as I face these trying times, and understand that I will be back full force soon, if God wills...

 

All About Attitude

I woke up this morning feeling quite down again. I know my balance in my checking account is low (probably negative),  the weekend went by too quick, a rock chipped the window of my Jeep last night and now it's supposed to snow. Yeah, set me on my teeth real quick. Reality, that thing that jabs in the side when we start to feel good. Reality, hard and quick, bites and pulls us back under the surging tide.  It can happen so fast. One little thing and we back slide into the murk and gloominess. 

Then, just when I feel myself ready to let go and have the darkness overcome my soul again, Jesus tapped me on my shoulder and told me to lift others in order to be lifted myself.

I set my Facebook status as a prayer. For those facing a bleak Monday morning. For those who are facing their deepest fears today. For those who want to stay in bed and hide under the covers but instead face the day and their loved ones with courage and smiles. I wanted to let them know...They.Are.Not.Alone. Someone is out there thinking of them, praying for them and believing in them.

Sometimes in what seems our darkest hour, when we are taking life minute by minute, we need to reach out to help others so we can be helped ourselves.
 

Depression....

 
Hi There....Welcome.....I hope things in your world are bright and sunshiny! I wish that for everyone, however, I know that there are people out there who don't have a sunshiny world. Those who suffer from depression feel that their world is a deep pit of despair with no way out. I know this because one of the people I hold dearest in the entire world suffers from depression and right now is in one of the deepest, darkest bottomless pits I have ever seen them descend into.

I want to reach out to them and tell them that all will be well, and I have, many time! To them however, they just can't see how it can be. Everything is so overwhelming that they cannot get out of bed. For them there is no light at the end of the tunnel. I suggested medication and that route is being explored, however it takes quite some time before the medicine will take effect, and then there are side effects and dosing issues. In the meantime, the darkness continues to spread throughout their life, contacting and in many cases, swallowing everything in its path.

I see rifts in our relationship because of this illness and I don't want them to be there. I want to shake this person and tell them to snap out of it, even though I know that they cannot. I want to cry, to scream, to beg this disease to go away. I pray and pray and pray for them. I miss my friend deeply and so want them to come back to being the person that I adore.

I know that they want it too and are trying their best to over come and return to the land of the living. It is so hard to just sit by while they go through this. How can I best help my friend? Where do I start?


What I am Thankful for Today:
Sunshine
Friends
God
Prayer

Who I am Praying for Today
My friend suffering from depression
My friend and his family who received the cancer diagnosis
My children, and their continued health and growth and wisdom.
My Dad as he faces his brother's funeral
Safe Travels for all of us this weekend as we go to Minneapolis for the funeral.