Five Things That Help Me deal With Chronic Illness

It is hard to live with chronic pain and exhaustion form day to day.  I notice when I am tired or in pain I tend to snap at people more easily.  I think it's because I feel like I don't have much control over even the simplest things.  It's times like these that I have to scale back and try to come up with things that will  nurture me, but  don't require a lot of energy.  Here are five things I've come up with.

1. Visit restministries. This is a wonderful website for people 
    with chronic illnesses.
2. Spend time with your pet or someone else's.  I have a toy 
    poodle who loves to snuggle up to me.  I can feel myself relax 
    just by being near him.
3. Listen to some inspiring music.  I especially love listening 
    to Mandisa's new Cd.  It's like the songs were hand picked 
    just  for me. I also like listening to a cd of ocean waves.
4. Read a good devotional for people with chronic illness.  It
    always helps me to be reminded that other people get what it's 
    like to live with a chronic illness. One i especially like is 
    called Peace in the Storm by Maureen Pratt.


5.Write in a journal.  It helps me to get things out on paper and 
   sort through my feelings.


I hope these ideas helped you think of some simple ways to comfort yourself when you are having a bad day.

Dealing With the Ups and Downs of Living With a Chronic Illness

There are so many things I want to do.  So many things I want to do for my kids.  My body doesn't always cooperate with what's going on in my mind and all my creative imaginations.  That can be hard.

One day I feel almost normal and am close to being the mother I want to be, but the next day a flare can hit and I'm reminded once again that pain and chronic illness are never far away.  I try not to focus on that.  I embrace the times I am feeling better and am so grateful for them.  When I am not feeling so good I try to learn something from those moments too.   I try to learn to be content.  Content with what is.  Content with who God made me to be. Content with the fact that I have two beautiful children and a husband who provides for us.


I will take the good with the bad.  How do you handle tough circumstances?

Thankful Thursday

Check out what I am thankful for at my other blog The fruitful Home!

Where Have I Been?

I am not happy with myself that I let this blog go for so long.  It seems to go  in cycles.  I was working part time as a preschool teacher and also trying to work on my other blog The Fruitful Home.  I've been hoping to make a little money from this blog, but so far nothing significant.

I think of all my friends in the chronic illness world and hope and pray that they are hanging in there and finding comfort and strength through God and others.  I have been in a flare for the past few days.  My arms feel like lead and my shoulders, neck and upper back feel like they are being tightened as tight as can be.  I'm sure you are familiar.  Pain seems to make it so hard just to get through the little things.  I am constantly trying to keep my perspective and being grateful for all the things I do have.  I am reading a book by Debbie Macomber called One simple act- Discovering the Power of Generosity.  It is a good read. I also found a new blog called Finding Purpose in the Pain and Chronic Christian Crafter.  I will try not to let so much time go by next time.

Where is God leading me?

I want to be aware of where God is leading me.  I don't want to just barge ahead with my own plans like I usually do and ask God to bless it.  I know God plants dreams in our hearts.  How do we know which ones to pursue?  I really want to work for myself so I can create my own schedule and therefore take better care of myself.


I am trying to build my tutoring business, but so far I have had no leads.  It's only been about a month since I started advertising.  I thought something would of turned up by now.  I wonder if this roadblock means I'm not suppose to continue or am I to persevere?  I have tutored before and had many clients during the summer.  When school started they discontinued.  I want to help contribute to our family's expenses but am limited to what I can do.


I also have a blog I've been dabbling at for awhile.  About five months ago I decided to step things up a bit and see if I could make some money doing this.  It can be found at www.fruitfulhome.blogspot.com.  It's about saving money and ways to make money from home.  I am passionate about it and get excited when working on it.   The only thing is I'm not that great with technology.  I will keep praying and see where God leads me.  How have you discerned what God wants you to do with your life, especially involving limitations?

Thoughts On Writing

I want to be a writer; but do I want to do the nitty, gritty, every day, up and down task of writing?  Do I have what it takes to be a writer?  Do I want to be a writer without all the hard work?  I don't know.  It's something I must explore.  I know I will not rest until I know for sure.  As far back as I can remember I've dabbled in writing.  I've always kept a journal, starting in the fourth grade.  Just getting my toes wet enough to give me a taste.  Maybe I thought if I never pursued it whole heartedly, I never would have to find out that maybe I don't have what it takes.

I've come to a point where I have to pursue this.  No matter the outcome.  I need to know.  And so I write.  Maybe I'll write for myself or maybe, just maybe I'll write for others and let them into my world for a time.

New things to adjust to

Well I guess it's been a while since I've posted.  A few new things have started since I was last here.  My kids have started school and I started a new job two weeks ago.  It was a very hard decision for me.  I really wanted to work on my tutoring business so I could work at home.  I may still do this part time.  I applied at a day care and preschool for a part time position.  I was suppose to be working with the two year olds as an aid.  At the last minute the owner asked me if I was interested in the preschool teacher position.  I love working with that age group and that's the position I had at my former job.

The reason it was a hard decision was that I would need to be there earlier in the morning and I was thinking that I would have to take work home, being the head teacher.  She said I would rarely have to take things home.  So I decided to be honest with her about my illness and my reservations.  Something I don't usually do.  I figured what have I got to lose?  I knew I still had my tutoring job.  I told her I would try it.  I do like the job, but I have been so wiped out lately.

My kids have to leave for the bus by 6:35.  (I personally think that is way too early.)  I have been coming home from work and just crashing until an hour later when the kids come home.  At least I have that hour.  I am hoping that my body will become a little more use to it. 

How do you handle juggling a job, kids and a house when you have limitations?