Had it Been My Way

If I were to bring the new Savior into the world I would not have had him come as a baby, born to a virgin, in a manger with oxen lowing and sheep making a fuss. I would not have wrapped him in cloth and laid him in a manger of straw.

If I were to bring the new Savior into the world I would not have sent my messengers to tell shepherds in the middle of the cold night. Then to tell them to follow some dim light in the sky. What kind of announcement is that. And the shepherds? Oh my! Talk about the lowest class in society.

Can you imagine these shepherds sleeping in the field with the sheep and suddenly someone starts singing to you about a baby being born? AND its the savior?

If I would have done it I would not have done it this way.

BUT GOD DID!

A virgin who is just a child herself brings the King of the World to us. She is brought to Bethlehem by Joseph. This man not only is not the babies father he is not even the husband. What a powerful first message from our God that we are to trust him in all times and in all things.

The baby is not born in the noisy busy Inn with loud celebration but instead he is  born with the animals in a manger with only oxen and lambs to witness the joyous event. No distractions. Just angels singing and the warmth of the animals to ward off the night time chill. So much peace. So much love.

The angels appear not to the King but to the shepherds the lowest of all in society. Imagine their fear. God was saying I send my messengers to the shepherds to show that this savior this King is for all men no matter who they are because all are loved by him.

A wonder star lit up the night sky removing the fear of darkness and giving all people a path from the life they were living to the baby that brought us salvation.

And the Angels sang.

Today, that baby still waits for you. Today, we still hear the angels songs. The same angels that announced his arrival still call to us to come celebrate his birth. Today, some 2000 years later we still look for a light in the darkness that will bring us peace.

No matter who you are the Glory of Gods gift is for you. No matter your challenges, worries or frustrations God is with us. So celebrate the King and be glad that God did it his way.

"Glory to God in the highest of heaven and on earth peace to all "

Noel, Noel
Come and see what God has done
Noel, Noel
The story of amazing love!
The light of the world, given for us
Noel

Bring On The Glory

"Whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God" 1 Corinthians 10:31 

Hello.  I know its been a long time since my last blog and if there is anyone still reading Thank you.  It is a very slow process to type so this takes time. Thanks for joining me.

To the general public, those who don't see me daily and those who I work to hide it from I don't have Parkinson's. In fact, a few weeks ago I was at breakfast with a friend that I admire and he said "to the public you don't look different." My response was GOOD! I thought to myself the illusion is working.

The truth is my life has changed considerably since my diagnosis and daily tasks are not as simple as they once were. I have learned that there is more to this disease then just shaking of the arms and legs. There is more then just lost sleep in the middle of pure exhaustion.

As I have said in the past every person with Parkinson's has different symptoms.Parkinson's has decided to attack the dominate side of my body. It started with my right arm. At first, it was just an annoying arm ache. Later, it made carrying items difficult as my strength and energy were compromised. Now, most of the day my arm is worthless. It will not write, type or move. To top it off the pain is crazy. It is like my arm is in constant flex and stiffness.

The pain has now moved into my hip and my right leg. Walking hurts. Sitting hurts. Laying down hurts and sleep is impossible at times and at times I fall a sleep in the worst pain possible only to wake minutes later with leg and body cramps. I get tired so easily.

I think the biggest obstacle is my facial expressions and my communication. Parkinson's causes what is called stone face and at times I can be in a great mood but my expression is one of anger and sadness. My voice control can be difficult as well. At times I sound mad, at times I speak in a whisper and other times the shaking of my tongue makes my words wrong.

Then there is the embarrassing memory. As I have said I have Lewy Boby Dementia and it makes remembering the simplest names difficult sometimes.

Now put all this together and you can understand that this disease stinks.

But Life does not! Why? Because everyday God looks at me and sees the truth.

I can count a million times
People asking me how I
Can praise You with all that I've gone through
The question just amazes me
Can circumstances possibly
Change who I forever am in You
Maybe since my life was changed
Long before these rainy days
It's never really ever crossed my mind
To turn my back on you, oh Lord
My only shelter from the storm
But instead I draw closer through these times

I do not talk as much as I used to. But I am a better listener. I don't move very fast or as much as I used to move. I retired from many volunteer things I used to do but I find peace in the smallest of moments. A night sky, a child's laugh, a visit with a friend and attempting to take pictures with my hands shaking.

So I pray

Bring me joy, bring me peace
Bring the chance to be free
Bring me anything that brings You glory
And I know there'll be days
When this life brings me pain
But if that's what it takes to praise You
Jesus, bring the rain

I am Yours regardless of

The dark clouds that may loom above
Because You are much greater than my pain
You who made a way for me
By suffering Your destiny
So tell me what's a little rain
So I pray

Holy, holy, holy
Is the Lord God Almighty

No matter where we are in our struggles we still have life to celebrate, we can still bless others and we can still look forward to a life full of blessings and grand babies. No matter the challenges we can still find ways to bring glory to God.

I am blessed with an amazing family. I am blessed with wonderful friends and daily I am blessed at work by awesome co workers. All of you allow me to work to bring God glory. No matter how bad the day is, no matter the rain all these people in my life help me rise above the pain and cross the finish line.


Bring The Rain
Mercy Me

​

A Very Blustery Beginning 

That morning when I got out of bed, it was raining. It rained while I got dressed for school. It rained on my way to school and during all 6 periods of class. As we left for the game there was a break in the clouds but before long it was raining again.

When the game started it rained like never before. For four quarters and a whole half time it rained. We cheered. We yelled. We hoped. We prayed. Our playoff hopes washed away like the chalk marks on the field in the rain storm. We lost.

As we loaded up to head home we were 6 buses of tired wet rooters. I imagined what my fellow classmates must be feeling on the players bus. Here I sat with shoes full of mud and a sad heart but they were covered in mud and their hearts must be hurting just as mine. Not to mention their sore bodies. The bus lights hardly seemed to break the darkness that was ahead of us, but we moved forward into the night and towards an unknown future.

Life has given me many rainy days when I  thought the sun would never shine again. Brain surgery, back surgery and now the daily struggles that Parkinson's Disease and Lewy Body Dementia. There are many things in my life I would love to change, things that have set me back and challenges that I had to overcome.

You can't go back and change the beginning but you can start where you are and change the end.

But a diagnosis and prediction of what is to come are just that: A Prediction of what is to come and while I cannot change the past, the beginning, I can change the current situation and I control how it all ends.

No one can do it alone. We all need that someone that carries us or that someone that keeps us focused. Many have asked why it has been a while since my last post/ The  challenges of typing are real and so is the pain most the day I cannot make my right arm do what I want it to do. Sometimes I can write sometimes its a scribble. Sometimes I walk well and sometimes I stumble. 

We are not alone and Krishna and I are forever grateful for those who continue to bless us and protect us during this Journey. While I lean on God and family, my family leans on God and our amazing friends and community we have the joy of belonging to.  The dinners, hugs, calls and so much more are a reminder that we serve a God and a community that is amazing.

What concerns me are those that do not have close family and friends to lean on. Those fighting cancer, isolation due to illness, elderly, those with mental illness and so many others. Have you checked on your neighbor?

Tonight, I celebrate my 28th Anniversary with an amazing woman, a woman who could have easily walked away from all of these challenges but instead chose love and chose to continue on "My Journey". 

I will pledge my heart
To the love we share
Through the good and the bad times too
I'll forsake my rest
For your happiness
'Til my death I will stand by you

With God as my witness
This vow I will make
To have and to hold you
No other to take
For rich or for poor
Under skies grey or blue
'Til my death I will stand by you

There are wars and there are rumors
Of wars yet to come
Temptations we'll have to walk through
Though others may tremble
I will not run
'Til my death I will stand by you

I will put on the armor of faithfulness
To fight for a heart that is true
'Til the battle is won, I will not rest
'Til my death I will stand by you

With God as my witness
This vow I will make
To have and to hold you
No other to take
For rich or for poor
Under skies grey or blue
'Til my death I will stand by you

'Til the battle is won
I will not run
'Til my death I will stand by you