What to do When You are Overwhelmed by Kelly Ashby DeMoville
“Bountifully” written by Joy Samples
Lightning Strikes 7-9 December 2020
Dec 7
620 woke from deep sleep I think strange dreams. Thought it was later than it is. In much pain.
830 tingling sensation in back of head (covers entire back half of head) will chilling tingling sensation down spine. Both ears ringing.
1100 chilling stinging sensation in back penetrating thru body to front chest.
200p choked on water
330 Chemical compounds in foods can inhibit a key Sars-CoV-2 Enzyme
https://news.ncsu.edu/2020/11/food-chemical-compounds-can-inhibit-a-key-sars-cov-2-enzyme/
Decided to get few groceries before picking up Jordon’s rx. Took me 1.5 hrs and I still forgot things. Try again another day. Need to prep for ladies mtg tomorrow.
830 Dezirae & I tried our hand on new Christmas cookie – Peppermint Candy Spritz cookies. Didn’t turn out exactly the way we expected but they tasted good. We will tweak recipe a little next time.
I had to keep sitting down bc my back is hurting horribly tonight.
1100 crashing quickly. Exhausted and in much pain.
Dec 8
Woke at 6am excited about the Ladies Christmas Cookie Exchange. It’s freezing inside!. Actually it’s 64 and I feel like a popsicle almost. Back under the covers I go until I warm up a piece.
Will read my Bible. Today is 1 John 4 & 5. Read couple devotionals & pray. Check emails. Post verse to church Facebook & devotional tid bit to my page.
Helped Dezirae with Math. Well, I tried at least. Thankful for Teaching Textbooks. Couldn’t make it through without that. Math alone now hurts my brain and make me feel cross eyed. I have to rest a while afterwards.
For part of Home Ec, Dezirae helped me make Peanut Butter Blossoms. Had her do math by doubling the batch so I could have some for home too. She will also be cooking Shepherd’s Pie for dinner.
1230 middle of my back has icy burning sensation. Had Dezirae feel my back to make sure I wasn’t just imagining it. She said ideas freezing cold.
130 I’m exhausted and need a nap for tonight.
Dec 9
500a woke an hour earlier than I was suppose to bc I got my days mixed up. Ugh.
Reset alarm.
600 I’m exhausted and don’t want to get out of bed. Feet hurt upon standing. Whole body aches. Slept decent last night. Strange dream.
Have bad headache. It feels as if someone has pair of XL vice grips clamped on my head and is squeezing. Took 2 Tylenol.
700a decided to start straightening around house. Fleeting thought to attach dryer vent for heat in house but decided against it bc I didn’t want chest to hurt. I’m really putting off grading papers. This school year has been wacky & throwing me off mentally. I don’t like it.
1030 spent couple hours working on school stuff. Somehow Dezirae’s grades missing from 1st quarter. Can’t seem to find them. Thankfully, I have things on paper as well. Had to retype and save. Ugh. Brain hurting & vision blurring. Tingling in brain. Middle of back icy sensation and it’s making me cold. Turned heater on to take chill off in house. Need a blanket. Feet are cold even with socks on.
Exhausted. Feel like I’m going to crash.
1100 laid down on couch. Crashed quickly and slept for 20 minutes. Dezirae said I dell asleep fast and started snoring immediately. Lol. I have never fallen asleep that fast. Good thing I chose to lay down.
500 made twice baked spaghetti for dinner. It was a hit.
1030 I’m exhausted. Need my beauty sleep.8
Bad headache. Neck.hurts. Hands throbbing. Back & rt hip throbbing. Legs ache. Feet tingling. Chilly burning sensation in middle of back moat of day. Ears ringing. Crashing soon.
Lightning Strikes 4-6 December 2020
Dec 4
300 woke in extreme pain!!! Sharp stabbing pain in center of chest generates thru to back. Arms & hands burning throbbing.
Applied Vicks to chest & pain eo roller. Took pain rx. I just want to cry loudly :(.
Heated up heating pad to apply to chest. It hurts worse to lie down.
Sinuses acting up too. Took Tylenol sinus. Rt ear throbbing. Thunderstorm not helping either.
Took me over an hour for pain to ease enough that I could get comfortable to lay flat on belly to fall back asleep.
830 overslept but needed the sleep. Low grade fever gone. 98.3
1100p had decent day as long as I didn’t try to lift my hands/arms above my heart. Back on anti-inflammatory meds to ease Costochondritis again. Guess it’s going to take longer than I thought this time. So not the direction I want to be going in.
Started feeling hot around 6pm. Took temp around 8p. It’s. 99.7 – low grade for me.
Could stress be a factor?
Headache, neck aches, back aches, mid back rt side feels seized up and crampy, st hip throbbing, legs ache, legs keep moving, skin itches, hands swollen and throbbing, feet tingling and throbbing. Tired. Upper back stinging. Muscles in back randomly jumping/spasming.
Dec 5
900a our family delivered blessing bags to our local police & fire dpts. Have to make 12 or 14 more bc the one fire dept much bigger than last year. The last we delivered to was also hosting a car show and bbq plate fundraiser for a local resident that has cancer. We walked around looking at the cars, talking with the people, and passing out tracts. Joe did most of talking.
12p Wore me out. Thankful we could buy bbq plates bc I was exhausted and hurting.
Lazy day mostly rest of say. Did manage to jell my marmalade and can it. Tastes scrumptious.
600p bout of runs with tummy hurting. Not sure what caused it.
11p exhausted, tired, and hurting all over. Had to be careful to not move upper body too much or it’d hurt worse. Rest is important but so hard when my mind says I have too much to do.
Let’s just say I hurt from head to toes. Headache, neck hurts, rt ear hurts, hands swollen & throbbing, back stinging throbbing, chest hurts – mostly deep pain with periodic sharp stabbing pain, legs ache, muscle spasms randomly, feet stinging throbbing.
Dec 6
700 woke from strange dream but I can’t seem to recall details. Slight headache. Neck hurts. Whole body aches. Feel blah be humbug today. Need to shake it off.
Joe offered to get lunch prepared for today. Thankful bc I’m moving slow today.
Decided to curl my hair. Had to ask Dezirae for help about 3/4 way through bc my arms tuckered out. That’s progress.
115 lunch was delicious. Ate one plate and I’m stuffed. Tummy feels overfilled. Exhausted and chilly. Feet cold. Put socks on.
300p have lots to do but I’m so tired. Need energy.
Had Jordon help me hang the garland around baptistry & put poinsettias on corners.
430 choir practice made my brain and vision start to go blurry and almost double. Bad headache.
1100 in lots of pain and exhausted
Lightning Strikes 1-3 December 2020
Dec 1
700 Guess what!? I was able to stand when I first woke up without any pain in feet. First time since LS. Praise the Lord.
Rt ear itches inside.
900a helped Dezirae with Math best I could. Gave me a headache and I had to rest a while afterwards.
1100p had decent day. Able to get three loads clothes washed. Two loads folded and put away.
Whole body aches. Headache. Low back throbbing. Chest aches. Arms sting. Sinuses acting up. Horrible indigestion. Taken three tums, eaten yogurt, taken 2 ginger caps. Shoulders sting. Legs ache. Lft leg tourniquet tightening feeling with tingling to feet. Lft palm stings. Exhausted. Going to sleep soon hopefully. Skin stinging needle pain. Feet tingly.
Night meds taken.
Dec 2
700a woke from deep sleep finally. Not hurting too bad – whole body aches. Upon standing only had sharp pain in left foot for short while.
Kids co-op Christmas party today. Decided to get veggie tray for party too but they were out of stock so got chips instead.
530 dinner was turkey stuffing casserole. Gave me severe indigestion! My sinuses acted up enough to need Tylenol sinus.rx. gerd rx, 2 ginger capsules, 2 tums, glass of milk. Feel like I’m gonna puke.
700p parents invited us to come watch a movie with them on their new tv. Still have indigestion bad.
930 I’ll be glad when I get my gerd rx. Can’t seem to shake the indigestion. Eating yogurt now.
11p still have bad indigestion. Water feels like it’s making it worse. Took another tums. Afraid to take night meds.
Rt hip throbbing worse than toothache. Low back throbbing. Back stings. Legs ache. Skin sensitive & itchy. Feet cold. Lft foot tingling. Lft arm & hand tingle.
Dec 3
Upon waking body aches, tired. Sharp needle pain in lft foot upon standing. Rt hip & low back pain has eased from night before. Indigestion greatly eased. Unsure if I should try to eat anything.
900a decided to try oatmeal for breakfast.
300p able to get caught up on bunch of little things for church. Need to rest a bit before getting ready to go to church. Tired and hurting good amount. Hands stingy throb. Low back & rt hip throbbing. Muscles periodic spasming in back. Feet cold though I have socks on. Legs ache. Headache.
354 out of breath just getting to the car
700 trying to play thru first song but couldn’t get the sharp so I stopped and found it in flats. Started to try to play it but song leader wasn’t paying attention and started talking before I finished first line. Ugh! He announced first hymn. I began playing introduction but didn’t even finish when he started singing. I threw my hands up and told Joe I’m not playing tonight. Got up and walked to my seat. I’m not fighting it anymore. The frustration magnifies my pain to unbearability.
Arms & hands stinging burning. Low back & rt hip throbbing. Brain fogged. Headache. Skin itches. Face & upper chest feels very flushed and hot.
Joe noticed from platform that I look flushed. Must be pretty red. Asked church to pray for me.
Joe felt my forehead after church. Says I’m burning up. Will have to take my temp when I get home.
My HOPE in the Storm
Lamentations 3:22-25
It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not.
They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.
The LORD is my portion, saith my soul; therefore will I hope in him.
The LORD is good unto them that wait for him, to the soul that seeketh him.
What encouraging verses from God’s Word! These became my life verses after I was struck by lightning five years ago. It’s a comfort to know that I can have hope in the Lord even when my world seems dark and topsy-turvy.
We can trust His promises because of His great faithfulness.
When you feel lonely and afraid, you can find peace and comfort through scripture, as well as hope to face each day.
Cling to God’s Promises
Hebrews 13:5 tells us that God “will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.” When we feel discouraged or overwhelmed by burdens, we can know that God is right there with us. He wants to help; all we have to do is ask.
We can also read in Jeremiah 29:11 that God “know(s) the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” We must understand and believe that God keeps His promises. This can give us the courage and strength for each day. God can deliver us from the feeling of hopelessness.
Don’t Quit!
Romans 5:3-5 tells us “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”
However difficult a pill it is to swallow, God sometimes allows tribulations to grow our faith or even to chip off some of the rough edges that do not belong in our lives. As long as we look to the Lord for our guidance and strength, He can use the hard times of hopelessness to make us a better person and to give us hope for the future.
Yes, the battle can get burdensome, and you can grow weary in the journey, but don’t despair because God has promised that we shall reap blessings if we faint not.
Galatians 6:9 “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”
Hope for the best outcome
Romans 8:28 tells us that “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.” I know this verse is quoted a lot and perhaps even misused, but God does have our best interests at heart.
The knowledge that God will resolve things for your good gives such amazing hope.
Though sometimes it can be challenging to see, don’t lose hope. Joshua 1:8 encourages us to “be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.” God loves you very much and desires to see you succeed. When we determine to follow God’s Word, He will help us through the trials and restore joy in our lives.
“Hope is being able to see the light despite the darkness around you.” Desmond Tutu
You can download and print the Scripture Calendar here:
https://charitymaeprosper.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SJ-Hope-in-the-Storm.pdf
