Author: Melissa

February 21, 2018

At least during this trial, I can keep my family laughing.  This morning I told my daughter to, “Take your elbows off your arms.”  Kids immediately cracked up laughing. 
(I meant to say, “Put your arms down because your elbows are sticking out”).

Mixing up words and sayings are one of many consistant struggles especially when I don’t sleep much the night before.   Only God can make this trial a blessing.

8:10a-I just realized that I am now 7 months post lightning strike. Praising the Lord for His mercies & faithfulness. 
I am at 25% in recovery…still have a long road to hoe, but at least I’m making small improvements even though it feels it’s at a snails pace.

Lamentations 3:22-23
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.

February 22, 2018

6:16am – Fasting labs today.  Chiropractor appointment today.  Dr was encouraged that I’m walking with a cane.  Better to walk with cane than to fall and break my hip.  Checked me out.  Pinpointed painful area…bout jumped off the table when he touched it.  Much, much inflammation.  Well pleasesd that I adjusted much better than expected.  Gave exercises to help.  Proud of me for not giving up.  I needed to hear that today.

Rt hip pain has eased a little.  Slight headache today.  Think some of it is from sinuses.  Been sneezing a lot.

February 19, 2018

No challenge that you will ever face exceeds God’s ability to overcome it. -Paul Chappell

Matthew 5:10-12
Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 
Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. 
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Luke 1:37
For with God nothing shall be impossible.

February 20, 2018

Psalms 61:2 ~ From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

It’s okay if we don’t have everything figured out.  When we’re exhausted from the days events, burdened with a load of care, or overwhelmed with a personal crisis, take whatever it is to Lord. 
God can lead you to the higher rock that will take you out of the stifling circumstances and allow you to rest in His everlasting arms.  Let Him fight your battles and carry your heavy load.
Leave your burdens at His feet.  Rest in His love.  Allow Him to renew your strength (Isaiah 40:31) so you can keep running the race set before you.

You are not alone. God loves you. He will never leave you.

Woke up with hip aching, but manageable.  Tired.  Actually, Joe scared me awake.

Preparing for ASL 1 class taxed my brain today.

Able to get most of H.S. Sciencebooks ordered for next year at a deep discount.

Went to prepare paycheck for deposit.  Discovered a transaction I thought I completed last week didn’t go through and we were overdrawn.  Heartbroken.  Able to fix it.  Talked to Joe.  Had a minor melt down.  L L

Deposited checks at bank.  Took break and went to thrift store.  Walked as much as i could tolerate.

11:56p- Rt hip is swollen and throbbing.  Hands going numb.  Headache.  Body has pins and needles sensation.  If I could get some relief of pain, maybe I’d get some sleep.  Exhausted!

February 17, 2018

When we endure difficult circumstances, we have an opportunity to see God work in mighty ways. -Paul Chappel

“Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The LORD reigneth. Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein. Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the LORD, because he cometh to judge the earth. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.” 1 Chronicles 16:31–34

10:48a- Didn’t sleep well.  Hard time getting comfortable.  Rt hip throbbing in abundance!!!  Hands and wrists swollen.  Slight headache.  Grouchy.

3:40p- Legs cramping.  Rt hip still throbbing.  Lower back hurts.

February 18, 2018

9:18a- rt hip throbbing.  Slight headache.  Extremely tired. 

10:11a- vision feels blurry, irritated at husband, Rt hip throbbing, Lower back aches.

11:21a- days like today make me want to cry.  It’s extra hard focusing on the music an i hurt more than normal.

2:24- To help others understand the after effects of lightning strike injuries…

‎Cheryll  to LS&ESSI( Lightning Strike & Electrical Shock Survivors International) ht

“Only about 10 percent of lightning victims die; the remaining 90 percent suffer injuries that can range from mild shocks to permanent problems that include chronic pain, hypersensitivity, memory lapses and impaired thinking and concentration skills, said Dr. Mary Ann Cooper, a professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, who is regarded as the leading international expert on lightning injury.

Nerve damage is the primary culprit because lightning disrupts the functioning of the long nerve cells, leaving many patients looking normal, but feeling and acting fundamentally altered, she said.”
From: “Deadly bolts Lightning Survivors Stress Safety.

6:22p- rt hip throbbing, vision feels foggy, slightly dizzy. Nerves on arms, neck, and face feel like theyre on fire!  Rt eye twitching on and off most of day.

February 15, 2018

Today’s Life Skills Activity: fixing a leaky roof at church and cleaning up afterwards.  I know I’m going to be in lots of pain after this.  Probably have to do Epsom Salt bath to ease pain and muscle spasms.

February 16, 2018

Do not miss seeing God’s power displayed because you insisted on taking matters into your own hands. ~ Paul Chappell

“Come, behold the works of the LORD, what desolations he hath made in the earth. He maketh wars to cease unto the end of the earth; he breaketh the bow, and cutteth the spear in sunder; he burneth the chariot in the fire. Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.” Psalm 46:8–11

8:11a-Rt hip throbbing.  Woke up with hands and arms numb.  Pain shooting down rt leg.  Center of chest hurts.

9:00p- Rt hip stabbing pain almost to tears.  Weight of heating pad made it worse.  Can’t get comfortable.

February 13, 2018

Psalm 37:3-5
Trust in the Lord, and do good; so shalt thou dwell in the land, and verily thou shalt be fed. 
Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart.
Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

I claimed and meditated on these verses a lot while growing up. Psalm 37 is a great reminder that no matter what is going on in our lives to trust the Lord in all things; commit ourselves to Him and believe that He will take care of us.

Sometimes it’s hard to wait on God thinking we can make it happen, but His way is always best. God will work things out to our best benefit and in a way that will bring honor and glory to His name. Knowing that God loves us and wants what’s best for us can bring peace and contentment.

February 14, 2018

James 1:17-18
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.  Of his own will begat he us with the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.

As we think of giving gifts to our loved ones today, let’s also remember the greatest gift of all – Christ’s sacrificial giving on the cross.

February 10, 2018

Costochondritis flaired up while at grocery store.  Oh the pain!!!  I couldn’t hardly move.  At least I was almost done…cut it short.  Had to rest several hours before I even felt like moving.

February 11, 2018

10:42p-Center of chest still hurts a lot, but no near as it did yesterday.  On Naproxen regimen to ease inflammation. 

Rt wrist swollen and throbbing.  Rt hip hurts.  Rt middle toe is numb.  Tired but not sleeping yet.

February 12, 2018

Psalms 143:8
Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee.

The Lord delights in being involved in every detail of our lives. Just as a parent wants to help their child succeed, He also wants us to be successful with every task whether large or small.

8:27a – Day 11 exercises – 14 lunges, 14 heel touch, 12 girl push ups, 13 side lying leg lift, 13 side lying leg lifts, 15 butt bridge

February 7, 2018

Guess what!?  I was able to walk behind a shopping cart through Walmart tonight instead of using an electric wheelchair.  Nevermind that my legs felt like lead balloons and hurt horribly now, but PRAISE GOD I was able to do it.  God is good all the time.

February 9, 2018

John 1:14 – And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

“Grace can only be experienced by those who acknowledge they are undeserving.” -Andy Stanley

Thankful for the unmerited, undeserved grace of God.

Chest popped getting out of bed.  That hurt!  Woke up with headache.  Stressed trying to balance checkbook causing flushing and face feeling like it’s on fire!

8:36- left ear ringing about a minute.  Rt hip hurting.  Shapr pain shooting through rt leg

February 4, 2018

Psalms 31:24 – Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.

7:00a- I’m in pain!!!  It almost feels like the pain just after injury all over again.  Hands are swollen and hurt!!!  Headache – 3^rd day now nothing seems to be touching it.  Rt hip aches.  Low back aches.  Rt foot hurts.  Eyes hurt.  hard to focus and think.  Just want to cry!

February 5, 2018

3:59p- Stress and I don’t’ get along well.  Found out that we are having company for dinner.  Had to get my house presentable.  My nerves are shot and throbbing.  Have to rest a while to be good hostess.

4:30p- Guests arrive early.  I’m not ready.  Trouble walking…calves cramping horrible.  Hands swollen.  trouble finding words to talk.  Center of chest throbbing with sporadic icy sensation.

10:30 had to take Flexeril to ease cramps sdo I can go to sleep

February 6, 2018

7:30a- woke with legs spazzing.  Feet ache and spazzing.  Hands swollen and ache.  Head hurts.  Arms ache.  Rt hip

February 1, 2018

Whole body aches this morning.

2:30p – center of chest hurts & I’m really tired.

3:00p- starting to get shaky in my hands

February 2, 2018

Deuteronomy 30:20
That thou mayest love the Lord thy God, and that thou mayest obey his voice, and that thou mayest cleave unto him: for he is thy life, and the length of thy days: that thou mayest dwell in the land which the Lord sware unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, to give them.

Thankful that God is the sustainer of life and my salvation.  I choose life by reading God’s Word daily.  The Bible is full of examples that exude God’s redeeming grace.  I want to know Him that I may have abundant life.

7:38a- woke up with both arms numb.  hands swollen. feet swollen. Lower back aches.  Rt hip aches. Slight headache.  Stuffy nose.

10:55p- Had pretty good day.  I’m hurting pretty bad right now.  Headache, hands throbbing, chest in center of chest, rt hip hurts.

February 3, 2018

Psalm 3:3-4 – But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. 
I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. Selah.

Thankful that no matter what life’s journey may hold whether it’s lying down in green pastures or facing giants seemingly ten feet tall the Lord is always with us.

7:00a- woke up with both arms numb and tingly, lower & middle back aches, rt hips aches, headache