Tidbits of me...

Top 10 Favorite Songs:
(Not in any particular order)

1. My Wish - Rascal Flatts - this song reminds me of my daughter, Audrey, who as Type 1 diabetes. We put this on her JDRF Walk video this year because it really explains our wish for Audrey, that a cure would be found and that she can live as normal of a life as possible.

2. My Passion - Praise and Worship song - my favorite praise and worship song right now.

3. I’ve Finally Found Someone - Duet with Bryan Adams and Barbara Streisand - this is me and Tim’s song. He dedicated this song to me on the radio the night he asked me marry him.

4. Good Riddance - Green Day - makes me think of High School…and college.

5. Bring the Rain - Mercy Me - This song reminds me that no matter what life brings, good or bad, I want it to bring Praise and Honor to Him. (At least hopefully I will since I’m not perfect!)

6. The Climb - Miley Cyrus - this song makes me think of diabetes and all the winning and losing that comes along with it. If you have Type 1 diabetes or know someone with it, you understand.

7. Can’t Stop Loving You - Van Halen - makes me think of Tim, this is one our favorite songs.

8. Ride - Martina McBride - one of my favorite country singers…and one of my favorite songs of hers.

9. So Small - Carrie Underwood - love this song.

10. Lost in this Moment - Big and Rich - makes me think of my wedding day…and Tim and I danced to it at my sisters wedding.

Marriage Monday - Girl Talk

Well, It's Marriage Monday and I haven't done this in a long time! I'm excited to get back into the swing of things again. Anyway, today's topic is Girl Talk. My three girls are younger and I haven't had to deal with a whole lot of issues, yet. I just am praying for them. I love the song "In My Daughters Eyes" by Martina McBride.

In my daughter's eyes I am a hero
I am strong and wise and I know no fear
But the truth is plain to see
She was sent to rescue me
I see who I wanna be
In my daughter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes everyone is equal
Darkness turns to light and the
world is at peace
This miracle God gave to me gives me
strength when I am weak
I find reason to believe
In my daughter's eyes

And when she wraps her hand
around my finger
Oh it puts a smile in my heart
Everything becomes a little clearer
I realize what life is all about

It's hangin' on when your heart
has had enough
It's giving more when you feel like giving up
I've seen the light
It's in my daugter's eyes

In my daughter's eyes I can see the future
A reflection of who I am and what will be
Though she'll grow and someday leave
Maybe raise a family
When I'm gone I hope you see how happy
she made me
For I'll be there
In my daughter's eyes

This song just really explains how I feel and how I pray for my girls. My girls are such a encouragement to me. They can always make me smile and have taught me so much about my self and others. The Lord has truly blessed me by giving me my three beautiful daughters.


Heather

updates and outakes...

Okay, so I haven't been around in a while. My so called "life" has gotten in the way. The past six months have been some of the craziest of my life but also some of the most rewarding. There are so many things that I could share right now...but I'll spread them out and keep you in suspense! Catch up is fun and that's what I'll be doing the next few weeks or so. Catching you up on my life and the abundant grace that I have received these past months. I hope that you will stick with me and share in my life as I take you on a journey of grace.

Living with Diabetes

About one month ago, my precious little girl Audrey, was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. It has been a life changing event for the whole family. Through all the struggles and emotions, I have been blessed. Here is our story, up to now.

On March 26th, we started noticing that Audrey was a bit more thirsty then usual. (which isn't uncommon for her to be once and a while) She was also leaking out of her diapers more often then normal. She did this on Friday and Saturday too. On Sunday and Monday mornings, she woke up just drenched, her sheets and blankets just soaked. We thought it was a little unusual for it to happen two mornings in a row but again, didn't think too much of it. We started to get a little worried she might be getting sick on Monday when she wouldn't eat anything for breakfast or lunch. All she wanted to do was drink. She was very grouchy and irritable that day too. We felt a little better when she ate a huge dinner that night. After she went to bed we decided to call the Doctor, just to be safe. We were more irritated with all the super wet diapers. We thought maybe it was just a phase she was going through. Anyway, the Doctor suggested it might be a urinary tract infection or possibly the onset of diabetes. We didn't think that either because she wasn't running a fever and hadn't at all, and diabetes don't run in my family. (that young anyway. Type 2 do later in life in both our families.) He suggested we bring her in the next day and get her urine tested. We said we would call in the morning and make an appointment.

When she woke up Tuesday morning, she was drenched, again. But this time her eyes looked sunken and she did not look well at all. We knew at that point something was wrong with her, but we still didn't think it was anything serious. (we didn't think it serious because Audrey has been a VERY healthy kid, she has had colds and allergies but has never been on antibiotics.) We (I) called the doctor and got an appointment for later that afternoon. In the meantime, Tim had taken a comp day at work so he offered to stay home with her while I went to bible study. It gave him a change to have some one on one time with her. (Tim loves to do that) By the time I returned she didn't look much better. She wouldn't touch even her favorite foods. She would tell us that she didn't like it. When I got to the Doctors office with her she was a little lethargic. I wasn't sure what the Doctor was going to say at that point. While we were there he decided to test her blood sugar just to be on the safe side. When they did, it was so high the meter wouldn't read it. I was told to take her to the emergency room so she could be admitted to DeVos Children's Hospital. The Doctor said to expect to be there for a few days. By this time was a freaking inside but holding it together on the outside. There was a relief that we knew what was wrong but a fear that she was going to be in the hospital and she just doesn't do well with other people touching her. I pictured them having to sedate her to get an IV in and it was just a horrible feeling.

When we got to the hospital they got us in right away and got and IV and going and gave her some insulin. They also took blood for labs. She did surprisingly well for the Doctors. I think she was too sick to realize what was going on. She just whimpered a little when they put the IV in and gave her the shots. No weeping and gnashing of teeth like I had pictured there to be! I could tell when she started feeling a little better that night because she all the sudden wanted her IV out. (she had one of those splints on to keep her arm straight and a shield over her IV so she couldn't pull it out) She would tell me that it hurt and to take it off please, mommy. After Tim and I told her it had to stay on she, of course, did what any three year old would do and started screaming at us and crying. We had a big ordeal for an hour and a half but finally got her settled down. After that she slept most of the night.

The Doctors came back with the official diagnosis that it was Type 1 Diabetes. Her blood sugar was around 669 when we got to the hospital. The hospital told us Audrey had been assigned a Pediatric Endocrinologist and he would be in to see her the next day. Throughout the night they monitored her blood sugar and gave insulin shots. They also did more blood work as they tried to come up with the right dosages that Audrey would need when she got to go home. On Wednesday morning, with her blood sugar a bit more close to normal, (243) the Endocrinologist said we would be able to take her home once she was discharged and we got our training. It was all a bit overwhelming at first. When the Endocrinologist was talking to me saying four shots a day, plus blood sugar testing, plus carb counting and having to determine how much insulin she would need before each meal; I thought I was going to loose my mind. First of all, I HATE needles! Then the thought of all the other stuff I (we) were going to have to do to keep her healthy was just plain exhausting to think about. I was really doubting whether I could handle it or not. Well, Praise the Lord for diabetes educators because ours made it sound a WHOLE lot more simple then I thought it was going to be! Even the dietician was great at explaining stuff! By the time we left the Endocrinologists office I was pretty confident I could handle it at home. NERVOUS, but confident. It helps a lot that the shots we give her are with pens and not syringes. I think I would cringe a lot more if it was a syringe.

Now we have to check her blood sugar and give her a shot of insulin before every meal and before bed. At first we had to call the Endocrinologists office every night. We are down to calling or faxing in her blood sugars and insulin dosages once a week. It is getting easier. We have taken a few diabetes education classes and they have put Audrey on an intensive therapy plan so our schedules can be a little more flexible. I can also manage it a little better myself, rather then relying on the doctors office all the time.

There will be more classes to take and I am constantly reading about and learning more about diabetes and ways to treat it. I am praying the we will be able to put her on a insulin pump sooner or later. Hopefully sooner. It would mean less pokes for Audrey, I am for anything that makes her life a little easier right now. I am getting more comfortable with the shots. Audrey is adjusting amazingly well. I am so proud of my little girl. She just seemed to grow up really fast as soon as we found out. It makes it all a little bitter sweet. Now if mommy could just get a little more used to it, we would be all set.

So now I feel like I am becoming a advotcate for Type 1 diabetes. I guess that is my way of coping, to some extent. I want to learn everything there is to know and keep up with the latest treatments available. I sometimes feel that is all I talk about, but now, it is life. Audrey will have to have these shots for the rest of her life, and in a sense, so will I.


I am so thankful that through all of this, God is here watching over us. He has blessed us with so many wonderful friends and family. I know there will be bumps along the way yet but we are trusting God to get us through.


Heather

Seven Prayers a Day

I read a post from Angie on "Bring the Rain" last week and just loved it. I, like Angie, have really been convicted to be living my life in prayer. I have started a prayer journal and it has been a great help to me.

For the last couple months I have been starting my day face down before God. Yes, I am face down on the floor with my back up. I was convicted to do this for the duration of a bible study that I was taking; as an act of Humility toward God. As Beth Moore put in in the bible study, "We want to go up. So we need to go down."

While on my prayer journey I have been trying to think of some specific ways to pray for my girls. Well, last week I read Angie's post and just loved what she came up with. God is SO Good! Angie thought of 7 events each day that would remind her to pray for her girls. Then she chose verses that had to do with each specific time of the day. I have chosen to join Angie in praying these 7 prayers a day for 7 days. If you would like to join too, just click on the 7X7 button (on the side of my blog) and it will take you to Angie's post with the events and verses. Then put them on note cards and get started!

God bless!

7X7 Link

Grace In Marriage

Marriage Monday

The topic of Grace in Marriage got me thinking of ways that I can show grace to my husband. Here is what I came up with. I hope it encourages you to show some grace to your husband (or wife!) today.

• Stand beside him and support him through the thick and thin.
• Listen to him.
• Respect his friendships. In other words, let him have some guy time like we have girl time)
• Be constantly giving and forgiving.
  
• Take interest in his interests. This would be why I know WAY more about sports then I ever imagined that I would! I can actually have a conversation about players or teams with other guys. THAT is scary, but fun!
• Take care of yourself, the house and the kids. I do this just by making sure the house is picked up when he comes home from work and that I am not still in my pj's at 10am. I also make sure I have some makeup on and I look presentable to for him.
• Tell them thank-you for all that they do.
• Men are fixers so let them fix things once and a while, and praise them for it when they do!
  
• Believe in him.
  
• Express faith in him
• Pray for him.

Voting and the Christian

I'm not usually one to talk openly about Politics, Although I will admit I love to follow them! With the election coming up here in a few days I wanted to share some good information that I received.

One of the pastors at my church spoke a sermon this morning on Christianity and Politics. He pointed out that we usually vote based upon three things; images, issues or ideas. He stated that most of us vote on image and convince ourselves we are voting on issues. It shouldn't be that way, we as Christians should vote on ideas. There were three guiding ideas that he talked about; Life, Family and Stewardship. Along with that there was the following article. I found the article very enlightening. Please read it and prayerfully consider whom you are voting for and why. If you are a Christian, I urge you to follow you biblical duty and VOTE on Tuesday!

Imperfect People

By Chuck Colson
10/20/2004

Voting and the Christian

I have huge respect for Dr. Mark Noll. He's a first-rate scholar, thinker, and historian. His book The Scandal of the Evangelical Mind, written ten years ago, remains a tough-minded challenge to develop a Christian worldview.

That's why I'm so saddened by an essay he wrote titled, "None of the Above: Why I Won't Be Voting for President."

Noll writes, "As has been the case for the past few presidential elections, on Election Day I will almost certainly cast my vote once again for none of the above."

He goes on to list seven issues and his convictions about those issues: race, the value of life, taxes, trade, medicine, religious freedom, and the international rule of law. Noll writes, "My position on each is related to how I understand the traditional Christian faith that grounds my existence. Yet neither of the major parties is making a serious effort to consider this particular combination of concerns or even anything remotely resembling it." And so, because both parties and their nominees are flawed, Noll will vote for no one.

That position is dead wrong and damaging to democracy. It's the utopian notion which assumes divine perfection in fallen humans. His assumption that we can support only candidates who have perfect scores according to our reading of the Bible makes me wonder how he votes at all. And if that's the standard, all of us should stop voting.

But that's exactly what the fundamentalist movement did in the early part of the twentieth century, the movement Mark Noll so correctly criticizes. Their error was allowing perfectionism to get in the way of their responsibility to act for the common good. It's an error we can't afford to repeat -- not this year, not ever.

Voting is not an option for Christians. It's a biblical duty, because by voting we carry out God's agency; we are His instruments for appointing leaders. Just like Samuel in the Old Testament, we are commissioned to find the very best people we can who are best able to lead us. Not to vote, or to turn down both presidential candidates because they're not perfect on a biblical score sheet, is a dereliction of biblical responsibility.

Remember that the first job of a leader biblically is to preserve order, out of which freedom flows, and then to restrain evil. Every thinking Christian has to look at both candidates this year and decide for himself or herself which one can best keep and preserve order and restrain evil. And remember also Jethro's advice to Moses: Choose men who love God and are able. And you have to look at other things with candidates -- their character and their stand on moral issues. And then once they're elected, we need to keep pressing them on those moral issues, lobbying for what is right. Noll's argument convinces me of the need for more, not less, political involvement from Christians. And it all begins with voting.

I shudder to think what would happen in our culture if we fall into the disengagement trap the Church fell into a century ago. It's the reason that we lost our place in the culture. It's the reason people stopped taking Christianity seriously.

Instead, let me urge you -- and my friend Mark Noll -- to look at the presidential candidates and make a wise, informed choice. Choose men who love God and are able to govern well.

The Link to this Article : Break Point Commentaries
The Link to the Sermon Mentioned : Blythefield Hills Baptist Church