Walking Through Faith in Hard Times
October 28-31, 2022
Walking through Faith in Hard Times is challenging, especially when facing illness, fatigue, and uncertainty. In these journal entries from a few days in October of 2022, I share my personal experiences of living out faith in hard times each day, trusting God through physical trials, family responsibilities, and daily life challenges.
October 28
Rough night. Coughing, vomiting and or diarrhea. Finally took 1/2 Benadryl around 2am.
Scripture: 1 Peter 1:24-25; Luke 16-17
Woke up late – only time to sign permission slip, give her the money for it, and pray with her before she walked out the door.
Going back to bed.
10:30 able to eat a bowl of oatmeal so I can take the antibiotic. I need to figure out which medication I possibly had allergic reaction to last night. Have lots to do, but don’t feel like doing anything. Must pay bills today before late fee is charged. Bad bloody nose rt side. Took few minutes to stop.
Within half hour of taking antibiotic, my stomach hurts horrible like last night sick to stomach, diarrhea, and throat feels like it’s swelling. I only took half dose. Took Benadryl. I’m feeling worse not better. Called Dr and pharmacy. Both instructed me to stop taking immediately. Pharmacist told me to call my Dr and go to hospital. I told her I took Benadryl. Dr calling in another antibiotic. I think I’ll take day off of medicines to let my body rest. It’s tired of being attacked.
Got very sleepy by 3:00 so went to take nap.
Andrea brought by nebulizer tubing and attachment so we can replace ours. Thank you, Lord.
Holly came over to visit and help. Shared praises in her life and got to share some of ours. Joe decided to order pizza to reward Dezirae for all her hard work of taking care of us plus keep up with everything else this week. Watched Christian movies “Remember the Goal” and “The Perfect Race“.
October 29
Took while to fall asleep, but slept pretty good. Woke to coughing fits. Strange dreams
Song: ♫ I Am Free ♫
Scripture: Romans 12:1; John 11. 9:45
my sister came to help a little with chores. Her and Dezirae put away dishes. Loaded dishwasher. Burnt papers. Swept kitchen floor. I got wore out just watching and talking with them. Scale says I’ve lost another 15 pounds this round. I am under 160.
Decided to watch an Adventures in Odyssey program while resting. Have no energy. Think my diarrhea is my body’s way of getting rid of the toxins.
My youngest sister sent me a text of birthday card for my spiritual birthday today. It brought happy tears. How precious. My kids told me one by one later as the day went on. Not sure if my husband did or not.
Having horrible time with nausea and periodic vomiting today. Started by someone burning popcorn. Then ramped up by smell of the meat cooking for dinner. Not even able to eat. Had to escape to bedroom to try to ease it to no avail. Tried ginger capsules, ginger chews, drinking chamomile tea, smelling peppermint oil (that didn’t help at all), took gerd rx and phenegran. Feet froze most of day. Had to put on wool socks for several hours before they warmed a little. Wore jacket inside most of day to stay warm and under layers of blankets. I hate being sick.
Managed to push through to type up bulletin though I did have to take a break for few hours due to power outage from tornado warnings and then computer wouldn’t power back up right. Had to get out laptop instead. Got phone bill paid that was due few days ago. Balanced checkbook from the week as well.
Not really the way I’d like to spend my spiritual birthday, but at least my family was home even if I was sick and annoyed. We were safe and together – that’s what matters.
Thankful for 1. Joe’s feeling better somewhat 2. I’m starting to feel little better 3. Holly came over to help with a few chores 4. Jordon home for the weekend 5. Our home in tack from the bad weather
October 30
Thought I heard a tree fall and shake the house in the night while I was sleeping, but then I didn’t hear anything else. Family about to leave for church discovered that a tree fell across the power line coming from our house and power line is across the road. It’s been pulled away from our house. I don’t know how we still have power?
Joe had me call power company. Lady informed us that someone would be out shortly and to stay away from the wires.
As they left, I turned everything off I could, unplugged the computers, and went back to bed. My head is pounding. Coughing and post nasal drip. Whole body hurts.
Song: ♫ My King Is Known By His Love ♫
Scripture: Ephesians 2:8-9; Luke 17:11-18:14
Soft food ideas for cancer patients
https://www.caringbridge.org/resources/soft-food-ideas-for-cancer-patients/
https://www.roswellpark.org/cancertalk/202105/food-ideas-cancer-patients-no-appetite
Power guy out within the hour. Meter hub pulled loose from the house and busted the meter box. Also, pulled internet wire off of power pole. We’ll have to hire an electrician to come fix meter hub and box asap. Not expecting that. Ugh. Don’t have the money for that, but it has to get fixed. Power guy got the wires off the road.
Called internet company. Earliest they can come out is Tuesday. At least we still have power. Thank God for His protection. Will now need to trust Him to provide the funds.
Joe able to preach this morning, but it wore him out. Thankfully, he already had Jordon prepared to preach tonight.
Able to eat a little bit today in spurts. Have to eat small portions and only soft foods. Had diarrhea most of day with periodic severe stomach cramping. Coughing with periodic phlegm production. Nasty chemical salt taste in mouth that gets worse when I eat. At times, it causes me to gag and vomit. Yuck! Trouble with both arms stinging and tingling when I lay down. Have to get up to keep them from going numb. Feet and toes stinging. Periodic cold chills. Cover up for periods to warm up. Legs are stinging and throbbing. Periodic ringing in both ears lasting up to an hour at a time. Exhausted and wear out easily.
Joe forcing himself to go to work tomorrow but isn’t sure how long he will last. Lord, please heal my husband completely and thoroughly.
Thankful for
- God’s protection
- Quick response from power company
- Able to eat a little today
Square One module: Detoxification
Holistic dentist – iaomt.org
Organic household cleaning products – ewg.org
Water helps flush out toxins
Most potent liver detoxifying food know is brussel sprouts
Fasting reboots and recharges the immune system
Deep breathing for detoxing
Whole, plant based diet
Drink filtered water
Practice deep breathing
Exercise 30 minutes daily
Remove toxic products
Fast occasionally (1-3 day water fast, followed by 3-7 day juice fast)
Supplements
October 31
6:08 Joe called. He tried to go to work but the cooler air is causing him to cough too much. Going to rest one more day. I need him to get better, Lord.
Song: ♫Look what God has done ♫
Scripture: 1 Peter 5:8-9; Matthew 19; Mark 10; 1 Peter 3:10-12
Joe tried to go to work, but he was coughing so much he got sent home. We really need him working, but I need him to get better too. Got up to be with Dezirae. Read Scripture and prayed with her before she left. Not feeling too well. Going back to bed. Slept for couple hours.
Managed to wash couple loads clothes, dry, fold, and put them away. Load still in dryer. Created my own meal planner with grocery list. Excited about it and decided to go take it to my Mom. Able to help her with a project and visit with my parents. They shared their leftover lunch with Joe and I. It was delicious.
Jordon called to check on me and let me know how his tests went today. He’s happy. Church gave him a little money. He was pleased as it was much needed. He got mento for a demonstration speech later this week.
Needed to use up abundance of apples before they go bad. Wanted to make apple pie filling, but I don’t have the energy yet. Decided to make applesauce in slow cooker. It stinks to me. Ugh. It will cook overnight then I’ll finish it up to tomorrow. I need to get better. I’m tired of being sick. No more chemo for me. Having trouble with indigestion and vomiting. Took dexilant, ginger chew, tums to no avail. Took nauceous Rx. Chewing papaya enzymes.
This journal is irritating me because it’s not saving my writing. I have to rewrite seemingly regularly. I guess it’s helping my memory. Have to remember to copy and paste before trying to save just in case it doesn’t. Frustrating.
Thankful for 1. Time spent with Joe 2. Jordon called 3. Dezirae got to spend time with her grandparents tonight. 4. I got to visit with my parents today.