The last three months have been difficult.
My hubby lost his job.
He had weird spots on his arm.
Katie had pneumonia.
I lost my taste and smell.
Uncle Mel died.
Cobra.
Patrick got new job in one week.
Spots on his arm are just age spots.
Stressful times. Even with great results.
Still stressful.
My nerves are shaky and the little daily things now
can send me into a tizzy.
Last week I moaned, "Why can't anything ever go right the first time?"
Katie said with perfect calm, "That's just the way life is Mom."
So from now on.
Katie is in charge.
Encourage one another,
Donna
Amen, Katie!
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness. I am so sorry about the job. I am thankful that a new one was obtained. I pray it will be a blessing for your family. Sending all my love, Becky
ReplyDeleteAnxiety is a thief, isn't it? I'm so glad you have Katie to temper those nerves. I feel like I'm getting worse as I age rather than better... At least when it comes to anxiety and nerves.
ReplyDeleteCertainly my most significant growing edge. I'm so grateful a job came along quickly for Patrick.. And I will pray that you ride the waves with assurance of God's grace today, and in the days ahead. Lots of love!
Deleteamen - nodding my head in agreement with Becky and Steph - thanks be to God for the new job.
Delete~Susan
I often think about verses, and this one popped up in my brain (because I learned it, put to a melody) "Anxiety in the heart of a woman weighs her down, but a good word makes her glad" (I like to change genders to suit ME). I'm so glad that Katie was there with a good word.
ReplyDeleteDonna, I hear you. Life is so bumpy and curves come out of nowhere. Bless your heart. I just have to say again, I hear you.
blessings to you all
p.s. my hubby said recently "I look at my hands now and see my father's hands. When did I get age spots?" Jesse is 60 years young.
Susan
It is always the cumulative stress that wears me out. We had a horrific year in 2011, and it is only now that I can hear the phone ring without my heart going ka-blam! Actually, my phone rang when I was getting my teeth cleaned yesterday, twice in one minute, and I found myself returning to that ka-blam! place. It was nothing, but bad habits die hard.
ReplyDeleteMaybe it was my inner Katie who calmed me (-: She is a wise, sweet girl.
I am so glad to hear that your hard news got solved quickly. May your nerves return to health, may you have joy and peace today my friend.
Love,
Di
Thank goodness for Kathie! And, on the good news front, your driving time will be so much less this fall. Can I hear an "Amen"?
ReplyDeleteHaving been in a long season of pouring down hard rain (you know, "when it rains, it pours" kind of thing), I get that. "Can't something go well for a change at least once in awhile?!?!" my heart keeps saying.
ReplyDeleteTrials trials trials. So many people that I know are going through multiple things at once. And these are big things at once.
Clinging to lots of Scripture right now (Romans 5:3-5, I Peter 1:6-9, James 1:2-4, to name a few) and trusting God with each moment knowing He'll use this for something. In my life. In the lives of my friends. AND in your life, Donna! {{{Donna}}}
God is good all the time. All the time God is good.
Love ya! Mean it!
Blessings,
Tammy ~@~
Prayers for you this evening, dear Tammy!
DeleteDi
Thanks, Di! Prayers keep me afloat!
DeleteBlessings,
Tammy ~@~
It is cortisol that floods our bodies when we are anxious with reason, and the lingering cortisol (and effects of cortisol on our poor bodies) that leave us tender afterwards. I found an article at Prevention about it, but you can Google "lower cortisol" to find more tips. http://www.prevention.com/mind-body/emotional-health/how-lower-cortisol-manage-stress
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful picture of you and Katie. I am so glad that Patrick got a new job, the spots were nothing, Katie got better. (Still praying that your taste and smell will return to normal too). The doctor I work for told me that in medical school they are taught that when it comes to diagnosing disease students tend to jump to the conclusion that a zebra is racing down the road when in fact it is only a horse. This applies to so many things in life and, like you, I have had periods of extreme anxiety. The only thing that helps me is realizing how every second of my life is in God's hands, He is there, and recognizing that I always have a tendency to make mountains out of molehills. So glad you have your sweet Katie to speak words of wisdom.
ReplyDeleteDebbie Z.
(((((Donna))))) So glad the spots were nothing and he got a job so fast! That is a huge blessing. I feel your pain. My husband has been out of work for almost 2 years. We haven't been able to pay our mortgage. There have been numerous health problems that have crept up and we have no insurance. Every day the Lord sustains us and feeds us both physically and spiritually. There have been so many blessings during this very difficult time. It's times like these that our fellowship with the Lord is so much sweeter and we learn to trust him more. Keep the faith!
ReplyDelete(((Robin)))
Delete~ Susan
What Susan said...((((Robin)))) May circumstances change for you very soon. The Lord does, indeed, sustain.
DeleteDebbie Z.
Robin, adding my prayers for you and your dear family.
DeleteMary Z
Praying for you Robin and for your family.
Deletelove and prayers, jep
Wow, Robin. Your perspective during a multitude of bad stuff is winsome. I'm praying right now for your family. Grace, peace and hope to you.
DeleteJoining in the chorus, Robin. May you feel Joy in the Midst.
DeleteLove,
Di
Thank you, ladies. You all are the best. :) My husband is very discouraged today. He just wants to take care of his family and the Lord just keeps saying, "Wait. Be still and know that I am God." Have a good weekend everyone!
DeleteGlad for the good news!
ReplyDeleteI have been wondering the same thing recently. Seems like I am always asking myself "what am I supposed to learn from this?"
I wish I was a quicker learner! :)
Send Katie my way ASAP
ReplyDeleteSo happy I get to be with you both so soon!
ReplyDeleteI can think of only one thing with the use of the word Nerves since I have been listening my way through Pride and Prejudice this week. Katie and me will keep the coughing to a minimum :)
Let's laugh a lot this weekend, k?
Emma, that line must have involved Mrs. Bennett. : )
DeleteDebbie Z.
Emma-- yes, no Kitty-style coughing fits from you or Katie to vex your mother!! :)
DeleteAnd thanks for the tip about Austen on Spotify! Genius idea.
Mary Z
Vexed. No. More.
ReplyDeleteI watched this yesterday and thought at the time, "This is something Miz Booshay might like." http://www.ted.com/talks/kelly_mcgonigal_how_to_make_stress_your_friend#t-553935
ReplyDeleteMy Mom used to say, "Sometimes life is one darn thing after another. All you can do is force one foot forward then the other." Lately, this seems to be the case for too many of us. Hang in there. --Missy
ReplyDeleteSo glad the job and age spots issues were resolved quickly and hope that Patrick is enjoying his new position. Grateful for the Katies of the world who have a good, healthy outlook along with common sense encouragement to share with those of us who get anxious and upset.
ReplyDeletexoxo
Mary Z
Ha ha, that made me chuckle, perfect way to end the post, "Katie is in charge!"
ReplyDeleteSometimes all we can do is hold on to the little bit of grace we have in that moment. We often look at others and think they have such a wonderful easy life and then realize, we are all fighting difficult battles! Be encouraged Donna! So thankful for Patrick's job but will continue to lift you and yours up in prayer!
ReplyDeleteBravo Katie!
ReplyDeletePraying God will lift you above the shaky times and love you through the turbulence. I believe He is there for everything we deal with in life. Isaiah 43:1
Hope you can feel all the encouragement and love coming your way from all of us.
love and prayers, jep
Ha! I forgot about my mamograms and biopsy.
ReplyDeleteWhat does that say that I forgot about that completely? Oy.
We have a lot to be thankful for, don't we?
oy vey
Deletexoxo
~S
Blessings to you and your people, Donna. Hooray for Katie!
ReplyDeleteGod bless ya! Happy to hear that Patrick has a new job. That's scary. You definitely have had a bumpy road and I will keep you in my prayers for continued healing and God's mercy.
ReplyDeleteThat Katie girl is a peach. Your little caboose. : )
Sarah P. from Iowa
Thoughtful post today. Life is a series of ups and downs. I am happy for Patrick. His job and the spots. Katie and pneumonia? Poor kid. She's had a rough one, hasn't she?! I might like it if I lost my taste and smell. ;-) Losing someone is hard... Cobra??? Insurance??
ReplyDeleteI understand your nerves.... mine are pretty shot, too. We wouldn't be much help to each other!
Stepping out of my lurk to say hang in there. So glad Mr. Boo was able to find a new job (so quickly!) - and know that we're all rooting for you. Love Katie's attitude. :)
ReplyDeleteLori K
Thank you for the reminder this post brings.
ReplyDeleteMy 15 year old daughter has wisdom like Katie...
aren't we blessed to have such fine daughters :)
To see life so clearly is a GIFT!
ReplyDeleteGrateful heart that things turned around, but there will always be things I guess. Grateful that you share the good stuff and the bad stuff as its inspiration for so many of us. I have a 15 yr old piece of peace, too, and very grateful for him. We're all in this together. You're up when I'm down and vice versa, and we get through it together. I'm up right now, with a full heart, and trying not to let anxiety spoil things, waiting for the other shoe to drop. Daily devotions (book Streams in the Desert) helps me lots. Thanks for your blog Donna.
ReplyDeleteI understand those after-the-fact feelings. I've lived it! Take care of yourself. Hugs to you, and your daughters are wonderful!
ReplyDelete