UPDATE and Prepartion for Passover Celebration

EMMA's Surgery Was Quick. She was able to return home the same day! AND Tiffaney is home waiting for biopsy results. We are expecting positive results for both my daughter and granddaughter. For me, I have had a very difficult week with fatigue and walking. Treatments with the chiropractor seem to make my muscles spasm more often and I continue to have extreme hip pain.

I am coming up on my 23 anniversary when I received the official diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis - Good Friday, April 7, 1992. I am continuing to believe God's will for my life is complete healing. My vision includes energy, agility, financial prosperity and availability to meet the needs of family, home and work on a daily basis. Charity is a vital part of my vision. Helping the homeless and children with medical needs are just two ways we are giving back to our local community. Did you know that I have dream to give away a total of $1,000,000 earned from real estate transactions?

This Spring we began early celebration for Passover Seder with our small group from Saddleback Church. Our fellowship and discussions included reflections of the past year as well as all the amazing things God has done in our lives. April prepared the delicious lamb, Sally made a sweet Haroseth, Lanae and Frank provided the Matzo crackers and grape juice and I brought the parsley and horseradish (bitter herbs). The teaching on the Last Super was very insightful. I am looking forward to the upcoming series on Daring FAITH!

Thank you for your love and prayers!

UPCOMING SURGERY

Wishing I could be there for my daughters but another trip to Florida and Hawaii is not in my immediate future. So I am putting both families in the hands of God and believing for His best.

Our little Emma is scheduled for surgery on Wednesday. Please come back for updates on her condition. The surgery is to improve her ability to walk with a walker. This grandma is believing she will dance!

Also, my daughter, Tiffany is scheduled for breast biopsy next week. This is the second breast lump found. The previous one was benign and we expect the same results.

I appreciate your continued prayers for my health. I am still struggling with fatigue and hip pain. My daughter and a dear friend have mentioned that I should have a sleep study - if you have had one done - please let me know. I am curious about the process.

TIME IS a PRECIOUS COMMODITY when living with MS

SAVING, SPENDING and INVESTING time is a very important topic for me. Helping co-workers, clients, family and friends understand MS fatigue has been challenging. I discovered most tend to think I have the same abilities OR severely restricted abilities. The TRUTH is a little of both - depending on the activity. I'm kind of like the cat who sleeps more than it's owner.

SAVINGS - Sleeping is MY SAVINGS PLAN. When I am rested, I have the energy and abilities similar to my peers! For example, my work is focused and family is a priority.

DOING THE MATH - We all have 24 hours or 1440 minutes everyday. Most of us sleep 6 - 8 hours approximately 360 to 480 minutes everyday. For me to remain healthy and active, a large portion of my minutes are spent sleeping, that is approximately 10 - 12 hours each day. The ten to twelve hours each day totals 4200 to 5040 hours a week. On average - I have 28 fewer hours lost to sleeping. Often I imagine what I could do with an additional 28 hours each week! GOLF - ART CLASSES - and GARDENING are among the things I would add to my activities.


SPENDING - My energy is at it's highest when I can be creative and flexible. YES, I seem to have more time and energy when I am creating beautiful, cozy, comfortable and functional environments. Also, I find more energy when spending time with family and friends playing games, resting, reading and discussing life.

MY Source for INVESTMENTS - Overall, my central nervous system isn't wired like a healthy person, and the signals are constantly corrupted and move slower. This is especially true in temperatures above 80 degrees. Also, due to balance issues, my body struggles to navigate tight spots and to keep me up right, often movement depletes my energy much more than a healthy person. Sometimes walking feels similar to walking upstream in a fast current. I consistently rely on God's resurrection power to accomplish each days activities. Where I invest my precious time and energy -my GOLD, is determined by leading of the Holy Spirit, which has brought me many blessings as I follow His direction.

REFLECTIONS and Counting My BLESSINGS

Today, I am blessed to have the opportunity to rest after a very busy week BUT I must confess it took some adjustment before I accepted days like today as a blessing. As I open my heart and eyes in efforts to see life from different perspectives, I realize ALL of US have similar experiences where change and unexpected events toss us about the sea of life. Yesterday, Lanae Baker and I were able to be with out dear friend Sally Cameron while waiting at the hospital for an update on Sally's father's diagnosis and prognosis. My prayers and heart goes out to Sally, Kent and family, as her dear father passed yesterday evening around 6:20.