I am so THANKFUL for the times that make me go...I get it!!!!
Those times in your life where PLAN B makes you WAKE up even more than you thought possible. I firmly believe these things:
God gives us trials to not hurt or punish us but to help us grow. Sometimes for me, I think it is a WAKE up call to APPRECIATE even more the good in life.
I think a POSITIVE attitude truly helps us to face challenges and grow stronger. If we have an attitude of acceptance and willingness to DROP to our knees and surrender to God's plan for us.
I believe EACH of us are given DIFFERENT trials to grow. We are given each other to support one another as we face life's challenges.
TRULY have gratitude in your heart- it does make challenges easier to grow from. Not focusing on the negative, but looking at the GOOD.
So I am going to share something VERY personal. I feel so strongly that maybe my story will help someone. Last week, I got a call from my sister in N.Carolina. I had missed talking to her on Thanksgiving. In fact, that entire week of Thanksgiving, I kept getting the STRONG impression that she was going to pass away or become very ill. Okay, I know... that is crazy. I kept feeling as if I needed to call her and tell her to take care of herself. I kept telling MYSELF to stop thinking such CRAZY things. I didn't BECAUSE I did not want to scare her or for her to think her sister was NUTS. Thanksgiving day was crazy busy and I never got around to calling her. I was feeling guilty the next day and kept feeling like subconciously I was avoiding calling her.
Then I got a call from my sister the following week- last week. I was so thankful to talk to her. She then told me how two days prior to Thanksgiving she thought she was going to die. She had NEVER been so scared in her life. She is a young 40 years old. However, she has high blood pressure, and a big time SLOW thyroid. She is on medication for both of these problems. Well, like most women she wanted to lose some extra weight. She told me that she had been taking Phentermine. If you don't know what this drug is, bascially it is SPEED. She was NOT sleeping and on that Tuesday night- her heart started to RACE so fast and she could not get it to slow down. She tried to relax and nothing seemed to help. She was feeling really odd. So she drives down the street to CVS Pharmacy. She checked her blood pressure on the machine- it was 175 over 110. She asked the pharmacist what he thought. He told her to go straight to the ER and she was at high risk of a stroke or heart attack!!!!!
My sister is single and NO ONE was there to be with her. She drove herself to the hospital and they took her stats. She was now 180 over 120- blood pressure. They found that she was CRITICALLY low in potassium. They said she could have a heart attack at any moment. She was so scared and yet she called no one. She did not want anyone to worry!!!! THANKFULLY, they gave her medication that helped stabilize her. Her high blood pressure medicine was not at it's proper strengthn.
When she called me, I was so shaken. WHY did I not listen? It was not because I did not care. It was more of a fear to be honest- that my crazy feelings was accurate. I was so mad at myself. I would have been on a plane in record time to be with her. I love her so much and I wish I could have been there. She told me she did not call until a week later because she KNEW me and she KNEW I would be upset. So I learned a valuable lesson here. I should listen to the promptings and I should keep in closer contact with my sister. I will tell you I did lecture her BIG TIME about how bad phentermine was for her. I begged her to call me if she ever was having a problem. I want to be there for her.
It helped me to THINK about how I take care of myself. Am I doing enough? Am I really doing things to prevent illness and going to regular doctor visit? I am past due for a few things. Yes, I am now going to get a mammogram, colonoscopy, and going to the dermatologist (check for moles/skin cancer) in January. I have never done any of these (except the mammograms). I dread them, but I know that I need to stop procrastinating because of a fear of WHAT IF they find something wrong. Anyway, I figure I am not the only one who does this.
So I am HAPPY & THANKFUL that my foot has tingles and I have been able to walk LOTS today. I had a second treatment with the Decompression Machine. I love it! I am walking on air... so happy to be able to not be in pain. I know the numbness will eventually disappear.
I am packing to leave early FRIDAY am for San Diego, CA- I'm teaching workshops at EVER AFTER. Okay, these are my workshops-
If your coming to the workshop- YOU will be painting and doing lots of fun stuff! *** NOTE: THIS CLASS IS SOLD OUT!!!! (sorry, there is NO KITS available) Please check the store for what to bring to class.
This is the 8x10 Canvas TRAVEL binder that you will create and take with you on your next trip! *CLASS SOLD OUT (* no kits available)
If you are near the store, PLEASE come by and say hello! I will be teaching these two workshops on Saturday. We are sewing, journaling, painting... it's going to be so FUN!
Friday night- I will be teaching this NEW *never taught project:
You will get all the supplies seen, but the ENTIRE collection of CAROLINA BREEZE too. I also have added some of my favorite products to the kit that you don't see here. This class was so popular that I have kitted FIVE extra kits to TAKE WITH ME...so if you have not signed up- there is now FIVE spots left!!!
Call the store if you want to join on the workshop- again, I have NO WAY to make more kits so once the extra five spots are gone... they are gone! Please call 760-630-2767 to sign up. I can't wait to see all my California friends. I know I may need to sit around a bit more than usual this weekend, but I know it will be a great time. Oh, ALL the workshop kits come with complete written instructions and PHOTOS for every single page if you are a kit only.
Last, a little information- I have TEN KITS of my WORLD TRAVELER 8x8 kits that I will be taking with me to EVER AFTER to sell. If you are interested please let me know or show up at the store. $30.00
I found out today that there is going to be a ANNOUNCEMENT TOMORROW about something that I have been doing (okay...designing). I will post it tomorrow here tomorrow and on my facebook and twitter accounts. It's really exciting to be doing this (again)- hint!
Sorry such a long post. I sometimes can't stop sharing all my crazy feelings.
