Prayer - Heal Me!

Since I got back from my vacation, I have felt so great.  I have continued to use energy management to keep from getting too fatigued, made sure I got enough sleep, exercised, kept my diet fairly good (although I have treated myself some).  I haven’t even had much to blog about!  I was wondering if I had been healed.   This weekend however was more difficult.  I have had more pain and that has reminded me that fibromyalgia is still with me.  I saw my Dr. on Friday and now I am filled with questions about how to treat my symptoms.  I don’t want to just manage my symptoms, I desperately want to be healed.  I know that my body can’t heal unless my symptoms are managed though.  It feels like there is a mountain in front of me.  Praise God that mountains can be moved!

In a previous post I wrote about how I began my journey to healing.  First Steps to Healing!  Since then God has lead me to do things to get my body healthy, inside and out, physically, emotionally, and spiritually.  Diet is a big one, and I’ve been focusing on that a lot lately.  Also the study of His Word, where answers are found, and where we get to know who God is.  It is how our minds become like His.  I know that there are more areas of my life that He wants me to work on, so my prayer today is for him to continue to light my path.  To lead me towards what is good for me, what will help heal me.  I know that He could take this all away instantly, but He has a reason why my healing is a journey instead.

Lord please take this fibromyalgia away.  Heal me completely.  Your word says that a prayer offered in faith will make the sick person well.  (James 5:15)  I have faith that you can heal anything.  I have faith that you are who you say you are.  I have faith that your word is truth.  I have faith that you do what you say you will do.  If there is anything in me that is keeping me from being healed, please continue to reveal it to me.  Show me my sins, show me my failures, show me my shortfalls.  Heal my body, my mind and my heart.  Bring me closer to you.  Teach me how you want me to live.  Light my path and make it clear to me what you would have me do. 

I pray for all those who suffer with chronic illness.  I pray that they find comfort in the Lord, that they find guidance in His Word, and that they find healing in Christ. 

Move the mountain Lord!  Or lead us over it!

Photo Friday!

You are welcome to download and use this photo with my watermark.  Share it on Facebook, Pinterest, or use it as a screensaver. (photos are not to be sold, or used for advertising, please link back to my shop when using photos online)  If you would like to purchase a print without the watermark, visit my shop on Etsy.  Discount prices for Friday Photos!

 Creative Wave Studios *Special Sale*

Better late than never right?!

How to avoid a flare after vacation

I can’t believe how good I have been feeling after vacation.  I don’t know if it was the extra sleep (on a really comfy bed listening to the crashing waves all night long!), distance from everyday stress, or what, but WOW!  I am still feeling great and I’ve been back for a few days now.  It was a very relaxing trip, we didn’t overdo anything.  I also made sure to drink LOTS of water and continued to take my supplements.  I think that make a difference in not crashing.  A year ago, before I was treating fibromyalgia, a trip like this would have sent me to bed for days!  Major crash.  What a change!  I did experience jet lag the day after getting home, taking the day to rest was really helpful.  We also ate pretty clean on the trip.  I did treat myself to desert a couple times, but for the most part we ate very healthy.  The biggest thing I am noticing is that my pain is very low, much lower than before I left.  Also I am not as fatigued as I normally would be after a trip.  So for me, I would say to avoid a flare while traveling and after,

I had a wonderful time with my sister and grandmother.  Such good memories.  And lots of “me” time for writing and sketching and taking photos.  Must have been just what I needed to feel a little better.

Photo Friday!

You are welcome to download and use this photo with my watermark.  Share it on Facebook, Pinterest, or use it as a screensaver. (photos are not to be sold, or used for advertising, please link back to my shop when using photos online)  If you would like to purchase a print without the watermark, visit my shop on Etsy.  Discount prices for Friday Photos!

Creative Wave Studios *Special Sale!!!* 

Have a great weekend!  I'll be back blogging on Monday!

fibro blogger on vacation

Well hello faithful readers!  Did you think I dropped off the face of the earth?  Well, I kind of did!  I'm on vacation with my sister and grandmother in Hawaii.  It's my first time here and we are having a wonderful time.  Just wanted to pop in and write you a note to let you know I will be back blogging next week and I'll tell you all about my adventures.  Get out there and travel fellow fibro people.  Don't let chronic illness stop you from living.  Check out a few of these articles written to help you travel smart!  And in the meantime, here is a little bit of paradise from me to you!

7 Keys to Savvy Traveling with Fibromyalgia - by Tammi Stackelhouse 


Tips & Tools Traveling Via Airplane - from Felicia Fibro 

Traveling with Fibro - by Winnie Yu


Reading these articles helped me prepare for my trip, so take a peek and don't be afraid to see the world!

Simplify - 12 easy things to reduce Fibro Fog

My wonderful Mother in law came for a visit last week.  She really is amazing.  She used to be a life-coach, professional organizer and author, now she is a national speaker and starting an organization about faith and work.  We had a really good conversation on the day she left about Fibro Fog.  I was telling her some of my struggles.  She asked me what I was doing that was helping.  I told her about eating right, exercising and taking Omegas, but that I still had trouble with it when I was stressed or tired.  She told me I was doing a great job to help things INTERNALLY, but there are things I could do EXTERNALLY to greatly help the symptoms of Fibro Fog.  It’s all about simplifying.

   The idea is to make things as easy on your brain as possible.  The less processing it has to do of everyday tasks, the better!  Days when Fibro Fog is bad for me, I’m very forgetful, my mind is fuzzy, I can’t even read, I can’t understand things that people say, and words come out all wrong.  It’s very frustrating.  I'm going to try this...

      

12 easy things to simplify your life and reduce Fibro Fog

• Hang your keys on a hook by the door (I have been doing this for months, and it helps so much not to have to search for keys in my purse every time I’m heading out the door) 

• Keep a running grocery list (when you run out of something, or get an idea for a meal, write it down so you don’t have to think about it until shopping time)

• De-clutter your space (especially spaces you use every day.  Don’t wait until it’s too overwhelming!)

• Put your bills on auto-pay (we’ve done this for years and I can’t tell you how nice it is to never have to think about paying bills!)

• Store garbage bags in the bottom of the can (been doing this one for years too)

• Reduce your wardrobe (only keep the clothes you wear on a regular basis)

• Put kitchen items you use every day in a convenient spot (keep things close so you don’t have to bend over and look for the pots & pans you use every day)

• Write everything down (everything.  Right when you think about it)

• Download your brain, journal (when thoughts are jumbled, or if you mind races, spend some time writing down everything you are thinking of.  This gets it out of your brain and onto paper so you no longer have to spend brain energy thinking about it.  My counselor taught me that one and it works!)

• Keep a simple family calendar (mine is in the kitchen.  I can quickly see what everyone has going on, so I don’t have to try and keep schedules and appointments in my brain)

• Keep a regular schedule (eat at the same time, do household chores at the same time, schedule appointments at the same time, go to bed at the same time each night, keeping a regular schedule will help your brain relax)

• Clean out your purse/wallet (I do this while waiting to pick my son up from school, keeps it trash & clutter free so I don’t have to search very long for a pen when I need it)

Here are my keys hanging by my door.  Ok, just kidding, but I do tell all my kids friends that these are keys to my dungeon.

Here are my actual keys hanging right by the garage door.

Healthy Eating Influences

Let’s just say I haven’t done well with sticking to my healthy eating plan over the weekend.  I’m afraid that the scale shows it.  I am just amazed at the impact a day or two makes.  I didn’t eat anything “horrible”  a little sugar, a little gluten, and definitely did not drink enough water.  And I feel awful.  Bloated, nauseous, and already sore.  Woke up this morning very stiff and my hands were aching.  I don’t normally wake up like that anymore.  I just don’t want to believe that food has such an influence on my body, but it surely does.

It is my goal to eat a clean diet.  Free of processed foods, free of sugar.  I have felt lead to this type of lifestyle for a long time.  It actually started when I was pregnant with my first child.  Back then the book What to Expect When You’re Expecting was THE guide for pregnancy, and they had a companion book about nutrition, What to Eat When You’re Expecting.  The book promoted a very natural diet, and I went all in.  For the most part I followed that plan through pregnancy and breastfeeding my first two kids, around 5 years.  After that things started to go downhill for me and I wasn’t as faithful in eating right.

Whether going back to clean eating will solve all of my problems with fibromyalgia I don’t know.  But I do know that it makes a difference.  I want my body as healthy as it can be.  Here are some books that have influenced me over the years.  Maybe you will find some inspiration and support for your own healthy eating.  In my opinion all of them deserve a spot on your bookshelf.

The Makers Diet

I read this book years ago and at the time thought it was way to extreme.  Now I'm more sold on the idea of eating food as close to the way God made it as possible.

Made to Crave

I read this book last year and really didn't think much of it.  Then over the summer I joined a Bible study group where we followed the book and watched the videos weekly.  I LOVED it.  I also highly recommend the companion devotional book.

Food That Helps Win the Battle Against Fibromyalgia

Ok, I haven't read this one yet, but it's on my list.  I have checked out their web site extensively, and when I signed up for their newsletter, received a free e-book!

Perfect Weight America

This book is by the same author as The Maker's Diet.  In this book are the instructions to the cleanses that made such an impact on me.  On their web site you can sign up for a year of free support, and meal planning.

Beat Sugar Addiction Now

This book was an eye opener for me.  I had no idea how addicted to sugar I was.  Everyone needs to read this book, healthy or not, and break their sugar addiction.  (little tip from a friend, don't get the cookbook)

The links I have created are to each of the books companion web sites, full of free and helpful information to help you decide if each book is something that you want to read.  All of the books can be found used on Amazon, and most of them in Kindle edition.  Happy reading!!