IT IS REAL.

More on my current health journey at a later date. Something much more important is pouring out of me right now…


John and I were discussing this morning that we need to know opposites in order to truly understand. For instance, if we didn’t know soft, we wouldn’t understand hard. If we didn’t know wet we wouldn’t understand dry.

If we don’t know suffering and hardships, we won’t know pure joy and love. If we don’t know evil, we can’t fully understand good. Truth, joy, peace, love, kindness, patience, faithfulness, goodness, and self-control can’t be manufactured. They are gained by trials on this imperfect earth. They are gifts from our Heavenly Father and small tastes of what awaits those who love Him back. We have to choose to love Him and what a reward awaits us.

If you don’t believe it, what if you’re wrong? Do you want to base your soul’s eternity on your limited human opinion?

God is a lovesick father who is longing for all of His children to recognize Him and what He did for us. He let His only son, Jesus Christ be tortured and conquer death for each and every one of us. Now we live with this sin but we know the truth – that Jesus drank our entire cup for us. He removed that sin as far as the east is from the west. “It is finished” were Jesus’ last words.

“I see my earthly afflictions as opportunities to show my faithfulness.” – Joni Eareckson Tada (She’s a quadriplegic for 40+ years who paints with her mouth. She is in daily excrutiating pain. Oh, and she’s also fought breast cancer.)

“No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love Him.” I Corinthians 2:9

I have many friends who don’t believe. If I tried to talk with them, it wouldn’t be received well and friendships would be lost. So I will write it here for all to see on their own. And I will live my life to show the good news of Jesus Christ. And I will pray that everyone I can reach will choose the glorious ending God has in store for us.

Still not convinced? Read these two books: (They’re quick and fascinating reads.)

Heaven Is For Real by Todd Burpo – The story of a 4-year-old boy who visited Heaven during a serious surgery and gave his parents proof over the next year.

23 Minutes In Hell by Bill Wiese – The story of a man who experienced hell then Jesus saved him and pled with him to share it with others because he doesn’t want any of His children to end up there.

And I don’t want anyone I know to end up there. IT IS REAL. Honestly, what do you have to lose to be open to the idea? Love God. Love people. How can you argue with that? Is there a better way to live? Thoughts, challenges, etc. are welcome. Bring it on. This is my way to share it. I have to. It makes me so sad to think of people missing out on this incredible truth. NOTHING. ELSE. MATTERS.

Reality and the Adjustment of Expectations

Still no word yet on whether the 28 days of brutal IV antibiotics killed the pneumonia bacteria in my blood (waiting on results) but I’m no better off than before I started them. I needed to try so I'm glad I did it but, once again, no results. I’m currently doing chelation to rid my body of heavy metals, B-12 shots for energy, and waiting to get my hands on a compound called glutathione that gave me 2 good days – the best days I had had in months. Long story but trying to get it for the best price from a pharmacy in Houston.


So where do I go from here? Adjust my expectations finally and accept reality. I’m no longer trying to get off my walker and scooter dependence. I am now merely trying to keep dressing myself, driving a car, and feeding my family. I know that two things make me feel better: glutathione and walking in the water. So I’ll focus on those two things and rely on my sweet Jesus to keep me going. We put so much hope in medical treatments and doctors and whatever else we can find. But my new mantra is this: Jesus is my hope.

At the end of my day, my hero comes home to me. I have a remarkable husband. I have a family. I have warmth and clean, organic food, water and shelter. Honestly, we don’t need more than that. I’m currently reading a book, The Hole In Our Gospel by Richard Stearns, World Vision president. In it, he carefully describes the state of poverty in this world and makes a plea for all of us to do our part. That includes me. Not sure how I can be of the best use – I don’t see any missions trips in my future, but I’ll find my opportunity somewhere. While we are on this earth, it’s not about us. It’s about helping others.

In the meantime, I’ll miss some of the party. I may not be the best hostess or neighbor but I’m figuring out what really matters. Maybe if I hadn’t been blessed with this disease, I never would have.