Walking Through Faith in Hard Times
December 24-26, 2022
Walking through faith in hard times is challenging, especially while living with a traumatic brain injury, chronic illness, fatigue, and uncertainty. In these journal entries from December of 2022, I share my personal experiences of faith in hard times, trusting God through physical pain, recovery from TBI, family responsibilities, and daily life challenges.
Dec 24
6:00 woke twice to use restroom. Brr! It’s cold inside. Weather on phone says it’s 20° but feels like 7°. I pray that those who have little to no shelter were able to find shelter last night and keep warm.
Both shoulders and upper arms throbbing immensely. Rt forearm itching.
Scripture: Luke 2:14, 16-20; Hebrews 11-13; 2 Timothy 1 -4; Philippians 4:4-7
Both forearms are itching.
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Another eventful day… Made homemade crescent rolls, apple pie, cranberry orange relish jello mold, potatoes in crockpot for mashed potatoes (Joe peeled them for me), took homemade bread to a couple of neighbors, homemade cinnamon rolls, finished wrapping presents, finished bulletins and printing them. Took naps in between few of them.
Watched Polar Express as a family. Cooked burritos in air fryer for lunch.
Dinner was leftovers. Joe bought a new magnetic shower head (one I’d been asking for). He specifically installed it today so I could be the first to use it. Yay!
Took shower before bed. Able to do so without needing help. Yay! I’m excited and cold. It’s 68° inside and heaters have been running all day. Exhausted.
Skin still itchy. Bad taste in mouth. Arms and hands throbbing. Head cold. Cyst on top of head popped again today. It hurts. Headache periodically today, but didn’t have to take pain reliever.
Thankful for 1. God’s strength to endure 2. God’s provisions 3. Enjoyable day not having to go anywhere
Dec 25
6:30 tossed and turned. Trouble staying asleep. Arms and hands throbbing immensely. Headache. Forearms itching like crazy. Had to get up and apply cortisone cream to ease itch. Bri asked for prayer at 2:00am because she’s sick. I prayed as soon as I saw the message.
Scripture: Isaiah 9:6; 2 Peter 1-3; Jude; Matthew 1:18-25;
Rt forearm itching like crazy! It’s swollen and hurting too. Applied steroid cream.
10:00 rt forearm itching finally eased and now my scalp itches like crazy.
12:30 need to take a nap before lunch. I’m exhausted. Playing Christmas music from YouTube.
2:00 potatoes not done all the way. I accidentally sent crock pot on low instead of high. Tried finishing them in microwave, but ended up finishing them in pressure cooker at Mom’s house. Most of the food tasted good. Some of the foods still taste funny to me. Able to eat everything I put on my plate.
During dinner, Dezirae discovered that my bottom eyelashes are starting to grow back. Yay! I had her take a picture to document. Didn’t realize I had that many wrinkles. Woah!
A few of us played the game Life. It was much different than I remembered as a kid. We ended up making up the rules as we went. Enjoyed it that way better. Too many rules to figure out and follow. Lol.
4:00 my rt arm aches. It looks a little swollen.
6:00 some of the family went out in search of Christmas lights.
Once back home, we ate dinner. Helped Mom with her computer a little bit.
8ish Dezirae went home and watched a couple Christmas movies on ion. Last one was a mystery. Pretty neat.
Rt arm itchy fiercely again, while left arm itches slightly. Testing something out. Applied Rx cream to rt arm and essential oil rub to left arm. Curious to see if I’m highly sensitive or allergic to the Rx for cream.
Took night vitamins plus 1/2 tab of Benadryl and Diflucan.
Scalp itches slightly. Cyst on top of head sore. Face itches slightly. Shoulders ache. Arms and hands throbbing, tingling, and weak. Had to ask for a lot of help in carrying things today. I tried refilling the water purifier by myself but made a mess because I almost dropped the top container spilling water everywhere. Still tired out easily. Itchy skin periodically throughout day. At least I have periods of relief now. Low back aches. Periodic headaches throughout day. Tingling in feet. Feet ache.
Thankful for
- An enjoyable peaceful day
- My Dad seems to get more alert and happier
- Able to talk to all my siblings even if only briefly.
Praying for…
- My sister, April, has covid. Able to share home remedies to combat
- My brother and his family without power for several hours. God to keep them warm
- Bri not feeling well. She’s having a BOY!
- All those who are effected by the cold weather that God will protect them and keep them safe.
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