Recovery

1 Corinthians 10: 13

I HAVE BEEN WORKING ON ANOTHER POST, BUT A FRIEND RECENTLY MENTIONED THIS SCRIPTURE, & I FELT I SHOULD SHARE MY THOUGHTS ON THIS SCRIPTURE:
1 Corinthians 10: 13 There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
(King James Bible)

I HAVE THOUGHT OF THAT SCRIPTURE MANY TIMES BEFORE, & IT IS ACTUALLY INTEGRAL 2 MY CONTINUING RECOVERY, BECUZ IT GIVES ME STRENGTH 2 KNOW THAT GOD WILL NOT GIVE ME MORE THAN I CAN BEAR. I HAVE HAD DAYS WHERE I HAVE WONDERED WHERE GOD WAS DURING MY TRIAL. THERE IS A SONG THAT SAYS, “HEAVENLY FATHER, ARE YOU REALLY THERE?” I CAN’T TELL YOU HOW OFTEN I HAVE SUNG THAT IN MY HEAD. BUT THE ANSWER IS ALWAYS THE SAME – YES! THAT REASSURANCE CAN GIVE YOU THE STRENGTH TO MOVE ON. I OFTEN REFER MYSELF TO MY FAVORITE QUOTE, “I NEVER SAID IT WOULD BE EASY, I ONLY SAID IT WOULD BE WORTH IT” OR POEM, FOOTPRINTS IN THE SAND: I REMIND MYSELF THAT GOD IS THERE, BUT CARRYING ME & IT WILL BE “JUST A LITTLE WHILE.” I TAKE COMFORT THAT HE CARRIES ME WHEN IT IS ROUGH. THE SCRIPTURES TEACH THAT CHRIST WILL LIGHTEN YOUR BURDEN. I TAKE IT SERIOUSLY & TELL GOD THAT I CAN HANDLE NO MORE. THEN I NEED TO TRUST HIS HELP FROM THERE. I DON’T LAY IT IN HIS LAP, I JUST KNOW HE WILL HELP STRENGTHEN ME. I KNOW HE IS THERE WAITING TO HELP ME IF I JUST ASK. & WHEN I ASK, IT SURPRISES ME HOW MUCH I CAN HANDLE (BUT I DON’T THINK CHRIST THOUGHT HE COULD HANDLE HIS EARTHLY MISSION EITHER, & I BET HE WAS SURPRISED BY WHAT HE COULD BEAR!)

HOWEVER, I BELIEVE THAT THERE WAS A PRE-EARTH LIFE, & WHILE I WAS THERE, MK & I WERE TRAINED & PREPARED FOR OUR LIVES HERE ON EARTH, & GIVEN THE TOOLS & KNOWLEDGE WE NEEDED 2 CARRY ON. GOD HAS CONTINUED 2 BLESSED MY LIFE IN COUNTLESS WAYS, SO I COULD ENDURE, BUT HE TRUSTED ME TO MAKE THE CORRECT CHOICES SO I COULD LEAN ON HIM & GROW. I BELIEVE THAT GOD LOVES ALL HIS CHILDREN & PREPARES THEM ACCORDINGLY FOR THE TRIALS THEY MUST FACE.

WHEN FACED WITH ADVERSITY, WE CAN EITHER CHOOSE TO MOVE AWAY OR COME CLOSER TO GOD, HAVING FAITH THAT HE CAN SEE THE ENTIRE PICTURE & CAN HELP MOLD US INTO WHO WE NEED TO BECOME. ADVERSITY CAN BUILD OUR FAITH & COURAGE. I HAVE FACED MANY CHALLENGES SINCE 2004, BUT THEY SEEM MORE BEARABLE WITH THE BELIEF IN THE ATONEMENT OF CHRIST, WHO KNOWS, LOVES, & SUPPORTS ME, & THE BELIEF THAT THERE IS A BETTER LIFE AFTER DEATH. NO TRIAL IS TOO BIG WITH GOD’S HELP!

MORE INDEPENDENCE

FRIDAY WAS A DIFFERENT DAY. USUALLY, I SEE EVERYONE B4 THEY HEAD OFF, SO WE PRAY & I GET FED BREAKFAST, BUT BY A FLUKE, I DIDN’T SEE THE KIDS OFF, & MK HAD AN EMERGENCY CALL, SO I DIDN’T GET 2 TALK 2 HIM B4 HE LEFT! SO NO1 WAS AROUND 2 GIVE ME BREAKFAST OR MY MORNING MEDS! BUT I DIDN’T FREAK—IN FACT, I WAS SURE I COULD DO IT, CUZ I HAD ALMOST DONE IT ON TUES.!

1. I WENT & PULLED OUT ENOUGH PAPER TOWELS 2 MAKE A BIB, & PUT IT ON.
2. I GOT A SPOON FROM OUR DRAWER.
3. I GOT A PAPER BOWL FROM OUR PANTRY—THIS WAS TRICKY, & I MAY HAVE SQUISHED A FEW THINGS (DESPITE MY CONSTANT PLEAS 2 KEEP THE PANTRY FLOOR CLEAR, THERE WAS A FEW THINGS), BUT I BROUGHT THE BACK OF MY CHAIR FWD. & LEANED FWD., SO I’D SQUISH LESS!
4. THIS PART I GIVE A SHOUT-OUT & THX JESS 4 SHOWING ME HOW 2 DO (SHE SAT IN MY LAP ONE DAY & SHOWED ME HOW SHE’D DO THIS, IF SHE WAS ME): I OPENED THE FRIDGE & DRAWER, & GOT OUT COTTAGE CHEESE. THIS WAS ACTUALLY TRICKY—LUCKY MY BACK WAS FWD SO I HAD MORE ROOM, BUT THE COTTAGE CHEESE WAS ON IT’S SIDE & HARD 2 GRASP, SO I ALMOST RESORTED 2 THE APPLESAUCE NEXT 2 IT, BUT I DECIDED 2 1ST TRY RAISING MY CHAIR UP, SO MY ARM WAS ANGLED DIFFERENT, & IT WORKED!
5. OUR CLEANERS CAME IN AS I WAS CLOSING THE FRIDGE—THE EXACT POINT I HAD GOTTEN TO ON TUES.! BUT THEY SPEAK SPANISH, & MAY NOT KNOW I DON’T NORMALLY DO THIS, SO WE SAID HI, & I KEPT GOING.
6. I OPENED THE COTTAGE CHEESE, GOT MY MEDICINE OUT OF MY PILL CASE, ATE, & CLEANED UP!

SPEAKING OF MY GROWING INDEPENDENCE,, ZACH TURNED 16 IN JULY, & WHEN ZACH GOT HIS DRIVER S LICENSE, IT IS AS THOUGH I DID, TOO! I HAVE A NEW-FOUND INDEPENDENCE: NOT ONLY CAN I SEND ZACH ON IMMEDIATE ERRANDS FOR ME (INSTEAD OF WAITING HOURS, DAYS, WEEKS, OR MONTHS FOR IT), BUT I CAN ALSO GO PLACES W/O MK, & ZACH CAN HELP MK CART KIDS AROUND NOW TOO. IT IS AWESOME! (HOWEVER, I COUNT MY BLESSINGS THAT I NEVER DROVE W/ZACH UNTIL NOW! LOL)

AUGUST MARKED NOT ONLY A BIG BIRTHDAY 4 ME, BUT ALSO HALFWAY POINT: 9.3 YEARS AGO, I HAD MY STROKE. IT HAS NOW BEEN 9.5 YEARS SINCE MY STROKE. THAT’S ALMOST 10 YEARS! 10 YEARS IS A LONG TIME, & I DON’T KNOW HOW MK DOES IT!

HOWEVER, MY KIDS ARE SHOWING THE WEAR & TEAR: THEY ARE SLOWER TO RESPOND TO HELP ME WHEN I RING MY BELL, & THEY NO LONGER CHEER IF I COME ALONG ON OUTTINGS–I’D GUESS CUZ THEY ARE NO LONGER NAIVE 2 WHAT IT MAY MEAN…)

BUT 10 YEARS AGO, I ONLY DREAMED ABOUT FEEDING MYSELF, AMONGST THE OTHER STUFF I CAN NOW DO! IT IS A LONG TIME 4 ME TOO! ON 1 HAND, I’VE COME SO FAR IN 10 YEARS, YET ON THE OTHER, I THINK, “IT’S TAKEN ME 10 YEARS TO DO THAT?!?” BUT EITHER WAY, IT FEELS GOOD!

EVEN FORIEGNERS UNDERSTAND ME!

PICTURE THIS:

ME (SOMEONE WHO CAN’T SPEAK, BUT HEARS & UNDERSTANDS ENGLISH) SITTING IN MY W/C SIDEWAYS (SO I CAN USE MY HAND) AT A KITCHEN TABLE PLAYING THE CARD GAME “SKIP-BO” WITH 2 KIDS FROM THE UKRAINE WHO DON’T SPEAK ENGLISH, LAUGHING, JOKING, & HAVING A GREAT TIME!

THIS ACTUALLY OCCURRED ON SATURDAY! IT IS AMAZING HOW WELL WE CAN COMMUNICATE…IT IS MOSTLY THROUGH OUR ACTIONS, THOUGH I SPEAK ENGLISH ABOUT AS WELL AS THEY DO, & DIMA IS LEARNING MY “ACCENT,”& ACTUALLY HAS UNDERSTOOD A FEW WORDS (SO EXCITING)! FIGUES IT IS TIME FOR THEM 2 LEAVE THIS WEEK.

THE ABILITIES EXPO

THIS LAST WEEK, I’M PROUD 2 SAY THAT I CLEANED UP LUNCH:
• PUT SILVERWARE IN SINK
• PUT LIDS ON THE PB&J
• TWIST TIE THE BREAD—NOT GREAT, & IT TOOK FOREVER, BUT I DID IT, EVENTUALLY!
• TRASHED PARCHMENT PAPER, AFTER SANDWICHES WERE MADE ON IT
• SQUEEZE OUT & WIPED THE COUNTER (IT WASN’T GREAT, BUT AT LEAST I SAW THE CRUMBS, SO I KNEW TO TRY!)

THE PREVIOUS WEEKEND, I ATTENDED THE ABILITIES EXPO IN HOUSTON. I SAW MANY EXCITING THINGS! 4 THOSE WHO COULDN’T GO, BUT WOULD’VE LIKED TO GO, I THOUGHT I’D SHARE SOME OF THE LINKS & INFO I GATHERED…

I REALLY LIKED THE WALKERS, BUT THEY MAY BE A LITTLE AHEAD OF MY GAME…NOT SURE IF I SHOULD 1ST JUST STAND A WHOLE LOT, & GAIN SOME TRUNK SUPPORT TOO! SO HERE’S WHAT I SAW THAT I LIKED:

walkers:
http://litegait.com/md.html (lift & potty too, but it probably requires more trunk support than I have)
http://mulhollandinc.com/products/walkabout-1/

standing wheelchairs–
http://www.youtube.com/watch/?v=vk2ftaWqVKI –questions I had after seeing this: does it have lights? & can i use my computer w/it?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZlMvlaSzoxg –i know it has lights, but does it recline as far as my current chair? & can i use my computer w/it?

http://www.frankmobility.com -the duet bike
http://www.kx2devices.com -Foot drop,
to find horse therapy, I was told 2 look up “professional association of horsemanship international PATH integration (I couldn’t read the rest!)”
http://www.motoathome.com – motomed therapy bike, viva 2 light—I liked the clinical, not the home one!
http://www.dodgen-bornfreecom.com –accessible RV
http://www.adaptivedriving.com ? -accessible truck
http://www.myellura.com -urinary tract medicine
http://www.kinovausa.com -robotic arm
I LIKED THE VOICE CARRY OVER TELEPHONES, THAT SPEAK WHAT U TYPE, BUT I’M NOT THE FASTEST TYPER!
http://www.unitedspinal.org -had a cool packet about “disability etiquette” –here’s a PDF of it: http://www.unitedspinal.org/pdf/DisabilityEtiquette.pdf )

BUT THE TRAVEL STUFF WAS LAME-MY HUSBAND, MK, COULD HAVE SET UP A BOOTH & SHARED MORE THAN THEY DID! I HAD REAL QUESTIONS, 2 FIGURE OUT HOW & WHERE 2 GO 2 MAKE TRAVEL MORE ACCESSIBLE, BUT THEY WERE JUST SELLING GROUP TRIPS…& SORRY, MAYBE THIS IS GOING AGAINST “MY OWN KIND,” BUT AFTER BEING IN A CONVENTION FULL OF WHEELCHAIRS, THERE IS NO WAY I’M GOING ON A VACATION WITH TONS OF WHEELCHAIRS!

Everyone has a “voice”

OUR UKRANIAN VISITOR, DIMA, HAS STARTED 2 FIGURE OUT THAT I SPEAK ENGLISH AS WELL AS HE DOES (ONLY MY “ACCENT” IS SLURRING WORDS), & THAT I COMMUNICATE W/ACTIONS & THROUGH THE COMPUTER LIKE HIM, BUT I THINK YESTERDAY WAS A BIT OF A TURNING POINT: HE SAW MY HUMOR, SO HE LAUGHS AT WHAT I SAY MORE, IF IT WAS MEANT 2 BE FUNNY, & TODAY, HE LAUGHED AT THE FUNNY PICTURE ON MY SHIRT-WHICH I HAVE WORN B4!

PLUS, I WAS ABLE 2 SPEAK REALLY WELL YESTERDAY, & THE COMPUTER GUY WHO HELPS ME, UNDERSTOOD A LOT, WHICH SEEMED 2 OPEN HIS EYES. & I DON’T THINK HE’S SEEN ME WRITE B4, BUT HE PICKED UP THAT I WROTE WHAT I COULDN’T SAY, & I THINK HE WAS ABLE 2 SEE MORE HOW IT IS JUST AS DIFFICULT 4 ME 2 COMMUNICATE AS IT IS 4 HIM.

ALSO, I JUST RETURNED FROM A LYNN FAMILY REUNION IN DESTIN, FL. I WAS SO IMPRESSED BY HOW OUR VISITORS FROM THE UKRAINE WERE JUST TAKEN IN, & I REALIZED HOW FORTUNATE I AM!

Everyone has a “voice” even the non verbal because a personas true voice Isn’t in the things they say. Its in their actions, thoughts and feelings.
“People with Disabilities Rock” FB Page

WHILE THERE, I SAW A SHOW THAT POSED THIS QUESTION: “WOULD A GOD WHO LOVES U DO (SUCH & SUCH)?”

I GUESS I COULD ASK IF A GOD WHO LOVES ME WOULD LET ME HAVE A STROKE, & DENY ME MANY THINGS IN LIFE. I DON’T KNOW IF HE DID OR NOT: POSSIBLY HE DID, CUZ HE LOVED ME ENOUGH 2 LET ME SUFFER SO I COULD GROW…
(I CAN’T FIND IT, BUT I WANTED 2 INSERT A QUOTE ABOUT HOW GLAD WE ARE THAT GOD LOVED US ENOUGH TO NOT GIVE IN WHEN IT GOT HARD & CHRIST WAS PLEADING TO REMOVE THIS CUP, & LET CHRIST BE CRUCIFIED/SUFFER)

BUT WHETHER OR NOT HE DID, GOD MADE SURE 2 PLACE ME IN A LOVING FAMILY, & MARRY INTO A LOVING FAMILY. NOT A DAY WENT BY WHERE I WAS NOT IN WAS BY GOD’S LOVE 4 ME, EITHER THROUGH MY HUSBAND, MK, OR THROUGH AN EXTENDED FAMILY MEMBER. THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS IS HUGE. I NEVER REALIZED HOW HUGE, UNTIL RECENTLY. I WAS NOT LEFT ALONE, OR PUT IN A DIFFICULT SITUATION WHERE I COULDN’T FEEL GOD’S LOVE!