2 Corinthians 12:9

                 “My grace is sufficient for you,

              for power is perfected in weakness.”

Most gladly, therefore, I will

rather boast about my weakness,

 so that the power of Christ might dwell in me.



Backyard Naturalist

Sometimes I forget to be thankful for the beauty around me, as close as my own backyard. This week I made an effort to be more observant, and here are some beautiful things I've seem:

Here are some bees working away at the blossoms on our orange tree. (Did you know you could use orange blossoms in cooking? I added some to an omelette yesterday, which were amazing!):

Here is a hawk in our next-door neighbor's backyard - I think it is a "Sharp-shinned hawk", but I am not sure, as I am a very amataur birdist (started only a month ago):

He was not a fan of the camera:

And the best sight of all, some tomatoes are finally growing on a tomato plant I planted last year (courtesy of Ron Mears who kindly brought some tomato plants to give away at church). I added some egg shells to the soil as my friend Mary said they were probably not getting enough calcium - they were flowering, but not producing tomatoes, until I added the egg shells!:

How to Overcome fatigue - Do Your Own Research

After my doctor diagnosed me with “adrenal insufficiency” last May (he said I was at the lower end of adrenal function based on my cortisol levels), he prescribed an herbal supplement called “Adreset”. I  was glad that he had not put me on cortisol, because several of my family members who also have adrenal insufficiency have had horrible side-effects from taking cortisol.  So I enthusiastically took the “Adreset” every day, thinking it would “cure” me. I immediately felt more energy, so much so that I was able to walk a few miles one day and put on a bake sale single-handedly at church.  But even from the first day, I felt overstimulated, like I imagine a person would feel if they were on Speed. I remember  jumping two feet when the neighbor’s chihauha barked at me, as freaked out as if a giant bear was about to eat me alive!

 After a week and a half of being on Adreset, I started having horrible nightmares, terrible heart palpitations, and felt like I was crawling out of my skin. I told Pete, I have to get off this stuff, or I am going to explode! I did, and spent about three days having crazy withdrawal symptoms, which he patiently helped me through. I felt like I would die if I didn’t have more Adreset, and he had to hide it from me. I felt, if possible, more exhausted then I had before taking it!

Okay, so Adreset was not the answer to getting over this fatigue. I was really discouraged at first, but after a few days I got tired of moping and decided to at least figure out why the Adreset hadn’t worked for me.  Through some internet research, I came across an article by an M.D. who specializes in adrenal fatigue, Dr. Michael Lam, which said,

“Long term use of stimulatory nutrients can lead to withdrawal problems and addiction. Though they might have other concurrent adaptogenic properties, many adrenal supportive nutrients commonly used are intrinsically stimulatory in nature in a setting of advanced adrenal weakness. These include ginseng, licorice, ashawanda, maca, vitamin B5, and vitamin B12, just to name a few.”

  I looked on the ingredients on the Adreset bottle, and sure enough, one of the ingredients was ginseng. I reasoned that I must have been at too advanced of a stage for it to work, unlike some of my doctor’s other patients who must  not have been as far along, as they reported loving being on Adreset. I was sooo thankful to have found out this information before doing more damage to myself! And to have found out about Dr. Lam. Through his “Adrenal Fatigue Center”, http://www.drlam.com, I have found so much good information about this condition and how to manage it.  I am by no means “cured” yet, but my periods of extreme fatigue are becoming somewhat  fewer and farther between. The last time my doctor took my blood tests, this December, he said my hormonal levels are improving, which shows that something I am doing is working!

Another really good resource I’ve found, while not by a medical doctor, is a blog by someone who has Addison’s Disease, which is basically complete adrenal failure. Since she is able to have an online business through her blog, and homeschool seven children while having this condition, I figured she was worth listening to J.http://anneshealthplace.com/blog/

I plan on going into, step by step, things which I have learned from these and other sources. But this post is already turning into novel, and it is 8:30, and a good night’s sleep is essential to overcoming any kind of fatigue. So goodnight.

50 Things in 112 Days

       This last month of being, I may as well say it, a stay-at-home wife, has been quite the ride. It was an adjustment at first - I really, really miss my co-workers from my job at the preschool - among them are some very close friends. And I miss the kids, and just being around kids in general, a ton. I find myself talking to random kids in the grocery store trying to get my kid fix (note to self - find some friend's kids to hang out with before I scare some parent too badly).  And getting into a routine was challenging - for about a week or so, I sat and stared at the wall, thinking I had nothing to do while dishes and laundry piled up, and all the projects I was going to complete around the house and for Pete's teaching sat unfinished.
        BUT I have. not. had. a. single. virus. in. a. month.  And God has provided for Pete with more classes as well as a karate class at our church.  And I can't believe how God has blessed our marriage - we were pretty happy before, but we haven't hardly fought since I quit working, maybe just because there is less stress without me being constantly sick. Pete even built me raised bed for my garden, which I will post about next week. And not only have I not been lonely (except for certain people at my job!), we've been able to have more of a social life. And I am beginning to find my groove, and have slowly but surely been able to chip away at projects around the house and for Pete's classes. And I have had moments of pure bliss while soaking up sun rays while hanging laundry on the line, or watch dragon flies and butterflies while working in the garden, or seeing a loaf of bread rise successfully.
As far as things off my list, Pete did this one for me today:
32. Put in two sturdy clotheslines to replace the one which almost touches ground when full

I feel more blessed than I deserve.

A Big Step and An Honest Discussion

         Last Thursday I finally made a decision I've been considering for a while - I put my two weeks notice at my preschool job, and am going to be a full-time housewife in two weeks. I have very mixed feelings about this. I love my job as a preschool assistant, and I will miss the kids and my co-workers so much - the kids at my school are just adorable, and I have some very good friends among the staff. The teacher I work with, Jennifer, and I are a good team - we actually work well together, which is an uncommon blessing- and she is a true friend. My boss, Dawn,  is a kind woman who really cares about the needs of the children at the school - she feels that all children have special needs- a rare and refreshing perspective!  This is the best job I've ever had (as far as happiness levels goes), and I am sad to have to leave it.
           But I also am relieved. I am going to be very honest here about something that I don't usually talk about because it frankly is embarrassing. I am relieved about not catching every virus that comes around (I have a low immunity), not having to go into work sick all the time (because if I called in as much as I should I would never be there), and not being in tons of pain but having to pick up tricycles and kids.  Without catching everything that goes around, I will be able to focus on reversing endometriosis and PCOS.  Without constantly having some virus, I will be able to exercise and cope better with the physical pain, and get over my conditions. And I will overcome PCOS and endometriosis - if it is humanly possible!
        I am also excited. Excited for new opportunities - at home. Excited for the health - and the energy - to be able to start a home business - all kinds of exciting ideas are swirling around in my head (calligraphy, writing, historic art, to name a few!) Excited to eventually have the health - and energy- to garden, bake bread, actually keep my house clean, have people over, volunteer with the homeless . . . . the options are endless! Of course I will have to pace myself, but I think I will have a lot more options (read - energy!)  if I am not constantly sick.  And I am excited to work together with my husband at helping him with his ministry and writing and starting karate classes - I will still be working, but as a team with my husband instead of for someone else. Instead of getting bored, I am sure that I will feel like I always do - wishing I had the energy and hours in a day to accomplish all I want to do! I realize that this lifestyle is not one every woman would prefer, but it is one that I know will bring us great happiness.
        And mostly I am thankful. Thankful that God gave me a husband who begged me quit working and to not make myself sick over paying off student loans faster. Thankful that we have crafted our lifestyle so that all my earnings went to debt and savings so that we could afford to take this step. Thankful that I have a husband who is willing to work hard and live a simple life so that his wife can stay home, and is more than happy to do it. I know that I do not deserve these things - that many women have to work and under much more difficult circumstances- and this humbles me and even baffles me. It causes me to ask "Why me God?" but in opposite than the typical way.

Looking Forward to....

a good night's sleep tonight:

(ain't he adorable?) 

warmer weather, which means hiking!: 

my little sister's wedding where I'll meet my niece Rory, and see my sweet Julie, Timmy, DJ, Jacob, and Tina

heaven, where there will be no more sickness, or debt, or homeless children and lonely widows:

What are you looking forward to?



Gratitude Despite Weakness

           Since New Years,  Pete and I have been fighting off one virus after another. Last week I finally recovered from the bad cold we had, although Pete is still hacking his guts out, poor guy :(. But then this nasty flu bug from work keeps dogging me, and while I don't have the nauseau and fever that some of my co-workers have, I'm just really fatigued and instead of doing my New Year Resolutions or going to visit my friends, I have to keep napping like a granny!  Monday I was so fed-up that I actually laid on the kitchen floor, crying like an over-dramatic five year old, "My life is over - I'll never be able to get anything done this year!"
         Then today, I was reading my sister Erica's facebook blog about how she was thankful for all of God's grace and all He taught her last year, despite finding out that on top of having endometriosis and PCOS, she has adrenal fatigue, a nerve malformation in her brain called "chiarri", and a heart arrythmia! Ouch!
           So despite having a little touch of the flu, I choose to thank God for:


These flowers Pete picked me:

This view I'll see the next time I walk up the mountain behind us at twilight:

This view I can see right now from my front porch:

And mostly Christ's death on my behalf:



What are you thankful for today?