So it's been awhile!!!

Hi bloggy world! I have been away for awhile but I visited one blog tonight and found myself clicking on another, and another...and before I knew it my heart was overflowing and my fingers needed to type. You girls do that to me. Seeing God in you makes me a better person. I sure love you guys!!

I will spend a few minutes telling you what has been going on around here since the last time I wrote...which was September 9th! Wow I haven't written in over 3 months...time flies when you are having surgery I guess!

Back in October I had some sickness and ended up needing my Gallbladder out, I was out of work for about a month and then went back to work and worked until the first of December. I had an MRI and as some of you may know I have had back problems for years and years. I fell about 4 years ago and ruptured a few disk's in my back. I had one surgery about three years ago and things had been going fine then about 8 months ago I started having lots of pain in my left leg. I had a new MRI in November and we found out I had a HUGE disk rupture my nerves were in bad shape, I had began to lose use of my left leg and my doctor worried that I would lose control of my bladder and other bodily functions...so less than a week after the doctor saw the MRI I had a back fusion. This is a huge deal since I am just 30. I now have 4 screws and 2 rods and a mesh "fake disk" in my back. I have been out of work for over a month now and my doctor estimates that it will still be at least 2 to 3 more months before I am able to go back. Thank God for Short Term Disability and for a wonderful husband who has taken care of me!

Things have been rough we went through Christmas with me barley able to sit and it was hard not to be able to do the things I always do for Christmas. But God provided and we improvised and everything worked out!

I have to say I have been a little bummed because of the outlook that I have been given with the steel in my back. I won't be able to bend as easily and I really can't be lifting or carrying anything or anyone...this makes the idea of adopting seem a little far fetched but I know all things are possible through Christ and I look forward to being surprised by exactly what I am able to do after my healing is complete.

I will continue to try and catch up with everyone..I hope that you are all well! God Bless!

In Christ Alone,

Sherri

Hello Friends!

* insert quiet clearing throat sound here* Umm Hello bloggy friends, I have missed you guys. I love you all. I have been on-line for a little while catching up with some of you, reading your blogs, looking at your pictures, and feeling very ashamed of myself. You see part of my calling is to pray for those like-minded people who are adopting or have adopted or will adopt but I have been kinda in love with my flesh, and blinded by my pet sins for a few weeks. I have sort of been in limbo. As I have told you before to read your stories and to follow your journeys has a tendency to make my heart bleed quite a bit and I decided to take a break but unconfessed sin is still sin and an unfulfilled calling is still a calling and things have been pretty miserable here in the land of disobedience so I think I better get off my kester and do a little something.

I can't visit bloggyland as often because I homeschool 20 hours a week and work 30 hours a week outside the home but I can visit for a few minutes every day and I can spend a couple of minutes blogging. I can let people in...matter of fact I need to.

My back, that I firmly believe God touched and healed, has begun to give me fits again. My left leg is completely numb and my left knee is in bad shape. I am in MAJOR pain and I have an appointment with my the surgeon who did my first surgery on Wednesday. Please pray about all of this.

We are leaving for a MUCH needed vacation on Thursday and I know that this will lift my spirits, being at the ocean is always a time of soul searching and renewal for me. It reminds me of my BIG huge GOD and I really need that now. I am going to go catch up with a few more of you and then start to pack. Love you all!
In Christ Alone,

Sherri

Memorial Box Monday:In His Hands

Today I have a lot that I want to say and not a lot that I am allowed to say. So instead I'll do a Memorial Box Monday post with sweet Linny over at A Place Called Simplicity which is a page I visit sometimes, even if she hasn't blogged, just to listen to her playlist! We have the same taste in music...anything that glorifies HIM is ok with me!

This Memorial Box Moment happened when I was quite young, about 6 years old I guess, but I still remember it like it was yesterday! As a child I was vexed with nose bleeds from the time I was a little over one year old. My mom found me in a pool of blood one morning and finally calmed herself down enough to realize it was coming from my nose. From that time on I went through countless trips to the ER to get my nosed packed and I had somewhere around 6 surgeries (or maybe it was 9 I can't really remember) to try to cauterize my weak blood vessels. This particular time I had my tonsils removed and I had my nose cauterized in the same surgery. The doctors stressed how important it was that I did not throw up. This was an issue for me because the anesthesia had a history of making me very sick. After the surgery I fought and fought to keep from getting sick. For days I fought it but finally a few days after the surgery I just couldn't help myself. I was afraid I would get in trouble so I didn't tell anyone. So after about four times of throwing up nothing but pure blood I finally told my Daddy. I remember him grabbing the phone and dialing my doctor while telling mom to get me ready to go. The doctor told my parents not to wait for an ambulance to get me to the ER immediately. I remember my mom calling my grandfather to pick my sister up and I remember my sister standing on the edge of our porch in her pj's by herself and us pulling out of the driveway as my grandfather turned on our road. I was so scared my Dad was a Pastor of a small church and they had just purchased him a 1985 Buick LeSabre (just like the one in this picture only it was Maroon) because we drove so far back and forth to church.

Well I remember being in the back seat with my mom and I was still throwing up, I just couldn't stop! Our main road here in Cleveland is APD 40 it is the "short-cut" to town and my Dad loves stopping here when he is telling this story to say it wasn't even open yet, it was about to open and so he used it to get to the hospital faster, he just likes me to know that I am older than the road I travel everyday :-) Thanks Dad!

Anyway we were on APD 40 and we were coming down a big hill and my Dad had the car "pegged out" as he says basically he was going as fast as the car would go and the speedometer couldn't keep up. When we were coming down that hill I remember saying "Pray Mama Pray" and I remember my Mom and Dad starting to pray and at that exact moment the front two tires on that brand new car blew out. I remember the car starting to spin and then just as quick as it started I believe the hand of God touched that car and it stopped. At the bottom of that hill was one of the busiest intersections in Cleveland but since it was kinda late at night there were no cars there that I had noticed on the way down the hill. However when the car got finished spinning there were not one, not two, but three police cars sitting at that red light and one detective. The detective and his wife had been coming home from eating dinner and they got me and my parents in their car...all I can remember is the car was white and ALL the interior of that car was white and I remember thinking oh my goodness I am going to get red blood all over their white car! They drove us straight to the ER and the Police Officers told my dad that they would bring his car to the hospital.  We got to our local hospital and they couldn't get the blood stopped they said I would have to go by ambulance to a Children’s hospital 30 miles away. My mom rode with me in the ambulance and my dad walked outside to see us off before he called someone to come get him and his car was sitting there with the spares out of those officers’ cars on it. They had changed the tires and brought it up there so he followed the ambulance. We got to T.C. Thompson's Children Hospital and I was still bleeding from the ripped stitches in my throat, the doctors came in and tried all they could and they went back out and told my parents that they had done everything they knew to do and that I was still bleeding. But Praise God I serve a God who likes to work when NOTHING else will. The hand of God came down again and touched my throat and for reasons that the doctors could not explain my throat stopped bleeding instantly. I did not need a transfusion;  God took care of the problem. I had to spend several days in the hospital, I think that was because the doctors couldn't believe it and expected it to start back up at any moment but my Miracle-working, Mountain-moving, Awe-inspiring, Gasp-giving* God had big plans for my life and he healed me completely that day!

(*I borrowed that from Linny...Sorry Linny! but isn't that a PERFECT description of him?!) So when I find my "perfect" Memorial Box I am going to put in a Matchbox car that looks something like that Maroon Buick to remind me that even when situations spin out of control God's hand will guide you into perfect provision.

The thing that sticks out to me today about that day is that in the time of trouble I can call on Him (Pray Mama Pray) and He will keep what I have placed in His hands. So today as I wait on an answer about whether or not a current circumstance will stand in the way of our journey to our sweet, sweet Brooklyn Jane I am doing one thing...Mama is Praying! This is a mountain (there were actually two small mountains and one large one and God has already moved the two small ones right out of the way!) and I am asking my Mountain-moving God to MOVE IT! God Bless You All!

UPDATED TO ADD: The mountain that was standing in our way recieved an answer and the answer was No. God is still in control and I know that when the time is right to add to our family God will do so in the way He chooses. We are trusting Him and looking at all the options. Please continue to pray!

2 Timothy 1:8-14

 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel, for which I was appointed a preacher and apostle and teacher,  which is why I suffer as I do. But I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed, and I am convinced that he is able to guard until that Day what has been entrusted to me. Follow the pattern of the sound words that you have heard from me, in the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus. By the Holy Spirit who dwells within us, guard the good deposit entrusted to you.

In Christ Alone,

The Real Me~WARNING~this is not a "Pretty Little Package Post"

UPDATED
I have been going through some stuff lately. My back (that God healed) has begun to hurt again. I feel this was because of a single act of disobedience on my part. I am not saying that if you are hurting it is because of sin but I know what I did that my Sweet Heavenly Father told me not to do and I can honestly say that this is my fault. Now I know God has forgiven me and I believe that he will touch me again and I will walk in my healing but the fact of the matter is I belong to him. My life is his, my children are his, my bank account is his, my bills are his, it's all his. I don't own one thing and when I begin to act like I do...well I get in trouble. I am thankful for that correction because it means I am HIS CHILD! Praise the Lord for that!


Well back to the story; this has all driven me back to a crossroad in my life. Do I depend on God and his strength or do I allow myself to be sucked back into the "Egypt" I once was a slave in? Well I know the answer to that I depend on God but typing those three words on this screen is A LOT easier than walking them out. So today I decided to get up with a purpose in hopes that I can stay focused on the life Christ intended for me instead of being drawn away by things that don't matter so I decided to make myself a list. A list of 10 things that I HAVE to do today. Things that will get me up and moving and will require me to spend time with God instead of pushing him away. Even if it hurts.

I want to be real on this blog so I am going to share my list...

List of 10 Things to do Today

1. Clean Kitchen (Don't do dishes (this is my dear daughter's chore and she is paid for it :-))

2. Clean Dining Room

3. Fold Clothes on Love Seat (they have been laying there for at least 3 days!)

4. Wash at least three loads of laundry...since I haven't done laundry in 3 days this made sense...lol)

5. TAKE A SHOWER (you guys think I am kidding but I'm not. I have to take a shower sitting on a chair right now so this is quite a process!)

6. Fix a good supper for the family tonight (no fast food junk).

7. Read my Bible (Hello?! It's where all my help comes from why do I seem to want to put it down when things are hard?!)

8. Write for 30 minutes (I don't think I have talked about this yet on here but my Dad and I have been working on a book for over a year...we brainstorm, we make an outline of what we want in each chapter and then I write it...well the first chapter isn't even finished...and I have been doing this an entire year!!! God has called us to something awesome after this book is written but I may be 75 by then.)

9. Be NICE (even to the people I live with)...ugh!

10. GO TO CHURCH TONIGHT!

I mean it's ugly but it's the real me. My flesh is at war with my spirit and my brain is caught in the middle. So I am starting small. I have a little over 10 hours to get all of this done so I have to accomplish one thing an hour...For my first task I cleaned the kitchen and started a load of towels...so I did get to cross one thing off my list already praise the Lord! I am so glad to know that no matter where I find myself God is with me. He loves me. Isaiah 54:10 says "For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed," says the Lord, who has compassion on you," He's not going anywhere...he knows the real me and he loves me ANYWAY! PRAISE GOD FOR THAT!!

So I got everything accomplished on my list EXCEPT spending 30 minutes writing...I just kept putting that off...but I did bake a cake for dessert after a great dinner of homemade soup...so I guess I did pretty good! I had a great time at church and I feel alot better. One of the main things I want to avoid is having to rely on the pain pills again so please pray that God will help me with this! Thanks for all the prayers!!!

Memorial Box Monday: LOOSED TO LIVE

Click on the picture above to go read all about what Memorial Box Monday is. This is my first Memorial Box Monday post...God has been so good to me I am sure there will be lots more of them.


Several years ago on a Sunday morning I fell as I was coming down the stairs into our garage. My heel got caught on my dress and I fell about 3 1/2 feet and landed on concrete. My husband came to my rescue and helped me up and took me straight to the ER. I didn't break anything but I was in pain. I lived in pain for over a year. My back hurt my legs hurt; I couldn't get comfortable no matter what I did. I finally went to see a doctor and they ran an MRI and I had 2 ruptured disks and 2 bulging disks. I tried several things and after almost another year of Epidurals and meds I decided to go ahead and have the surgery.

I had the surgery and lived the next 2 and a half years with NO pain! Praise God for that! Well last year for no reason whatsoever that I can think of I had a little back pain one day...and a little more the next, and by days 3 and 4 I was calling into work because I could barley walk and I yelled at really inappropriate times because the sharp pains were so bad. I would lay in bed; lay on the couch, walk and cry. I lived like this for a couple of weeks. I was so miserable. I knew I could not have a second surgery. I had no insurance and I knew that it would be quite awhile before I would be getting any. The doctor who did my first surgery told me that this would not be a permanent fix but he said I should get at least 5 years out of it. After only half that time I was in just as much pain as before and I was heartbroken at the idea of living in that pain for any length of time at all!

So Sunday morning rolled around and I woke up in pain, I had to get my husband to help me out of bed so I could go to the bathroom. I was tired. I laid back down and began to cry. I just could not even fathom the idea of having to live like that for much longer. I laid there and I begin praying and I realized that God's will was for me to LIVE my life not LAY my life away. I knew that I could not fully live my life with the chains of this pain on me.

I began thinking of all the healing Jesus did, of how people just touched the hem of His garment and were made whole; I thought of how he broke the chains of people possessed by demons and restored sight to the blind. I believed that God could do the same kind of miracle in me. I looked at my husband and said "When I get to church today I am going to have Dad (Who is also our Bishop or Senior Pastor) and our church pray for me and I am going to believe for my healing." Mitchell said something like "Well God can sure do it" and I thought for a minute and realized he was right GOD could do it! A light went on in my head and it was like, oh wow Jesus said "Your faith has made you WHOLE" so all it takes is MY FAITH and HIS HEALING TOUCH...NOTHING ELSE!!!! So I started to pray...not a little prayer like...dear father if you decided to maybe do this thing for me....I mean I felt a GODLY BOLDNESS come over me and I stormed the throne room of heaven and asked my HEAVENLY FATHER to please touch and heal my body. Well after I got done praying I laid there completely still for a minute and I realized I wasn't hurting. So I moved a little...no pain...so I SAT UP (I hadn't been able to do that without help and then it was still a process) NO PAIN. Well I just have to be honest here and say that after that I really don't remember exactly what I did according to my family I ran, skipped, shouted, jumped and just had myself a little fit all with NO PAIN! I praised the Lord all over my house I praised the Lord in the shower and I praised the Lord all the way to church and I told everyone I came into contact with about my Miracle-working, Mountain-moving, Awe-inspiring, Gasp-giving God (stole that from Linny can't help it I love that description of Him!!)

I am keeping my eye out for a Memorial Box for our home and when I find one I will put a little doll house bed in it to remind me of the time that He LOOSED me to LIVE and not LAY!!!