Christian Photographers Community

Hi Everyone....

I'm so sorry that I've been unable to keep up.   I'm seeing so many doctors right now that I'm finding that difficult and confusing as well to know who I've seen, their news to me and then the next one!

Prednisone is a wonderful drug when needed but so difficult to get off it.  I'm in that situation right now.   I was at 60mg per day when the reduction started and I'm now at 12.5mg per day.  The worst is the weak spells I have so often when I nearly fall and I've had a few terrible falls--one needing stitches in the palm of my hand when I fell taking an empty glass into the kitchen and the glass smashed and my hand was filled with fragments.

I appreciate the prayers and I will try to keep you more informed.

Pat...

Jackie, freckles and I ame members of the Furry friends Therapy Dog Association. So yes she is a Certified Therapy dog. However she is also Certified as my Service Dog, There are a couple of things that she does to help me when I need the help. She has her Therapy dog Vest and her Service Dog Vest and identification
that she wears when we travel or when I take her into stores or restaurants. She goes on vacation with us even to the timeshare where pets are not allowed but Service dogs are. There is a difference betwee, being a Service Dog and a Therapy Dog. But a dog can be both is certified as such.A Service dog has been trained  to perform certain tasks for the owner and the owner has to have a doctor's letter stating that a service dog is needed, and then the dog is registered withe the Americans with Disabilities office.

Pat....it is good seeing a post from you, I have been wondering how you have been....
Oh I do empathise with you over falling when holding a glass, that has been the one thing I am very afraid of doing with my MS walking disability....I do my best to make sure I always have one hand free, and not carry an item in both hands...

Pat, it is very much sounding that you are running around like a headless chicken, so much going on you dont even know what time of day it is, let alone which day......

I will be holding you in my thoughts and prayers that the end of your hospital trips will soon be in sight, and all will soon settle itself...

Marilyn....thank you for the explanation of the differences...I am remembering back to when you brought your Freckles home after the loss of your dog, sorry the name has slipped my mind...but I can't recollect you mentioning that Freckles was your service dog.... was she already trained at the time, or did the training come later? I am aware these dogs do a marvellous job, if job is the correct word...
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Forever Friends....
..thank you for the reminder....

...yes so many times I have brought this subject up in my home, re, what if we had been born in one of these war torn and troubled countries we see and hear so much of on our tv news...how lucky we are to be born in the country of where we are....it could so much have been different...we are - were, truly blessed...someone up above is definitely watching over us and looking out for us...

Yes I would like God to teach me what this means, why was I born where I was? a safer country, what is my purpose in life? I have yet to find out, nor have I achieved it...so many questions...

Long day today!  Darrel had a 10:45 appointment in Hutchinson, which is 3 1/2 hours from us, this morning.  We left home at 6:30 and got there a bit after 10.  Checked in and only waited about three minutes before they called us back.  And we were walking out before the actual time for his appointment came!  We drove to Yoder (only six miles from Hutch) and ate at the big Amish restaurant, then headed back home.  And we got home at 3:30,  for which I was thankful, as our group of crafters was having a birthday party for one of our members--a surprise one!  I was glad not to miss it.  And as soon as I finish this post, I am taking myself off to bed! 

Jackie, Beth is my daughter who has NF and MS.  While we were on our way home, one of the nurses called and told me Beth isn't doing well, which I had already observed for myself.  She is losing weight, not wanting to eat, refusing to swallow her meds; yet she says she is okay.  I will go tomorrow and spend whatever time I need to try to find out what's wrong.  It is almost impossible  to understand her speech now, I have to use the alphabet board I made her and find the letters I think she is trying to say.  I cannot let it get me down, even though it is so heartbreaking.  But I must stay strong--for her, for Darrel and for John.  (her husband)

Pat!  So good to see a post from you!  I'm so sorry you have had and still are having such a rough time.  Wish I could come and stay with you a while, take care of you and cheer you up.  We could have a jolly good visit!  But, duty calls me to stay here.  Maybe before too long you will feel up to visiting Kansas.

The wildfires around are so tragic!  Many cattle were lost, pastures and hay burned, fences burned, along with houses and barns.  Three beautiful young people were lost while trying to rescue cattle.  Praise God, these past two or three days the winds haven't been blowing, so most of the fires are out now.  But over 1000 square miles of Kansas has burned!

Hello to all of you, and I will be back!  Good night!  Sweet dreams!!

Jackie Freckles wasn't my service Dog back when Happy Passed away in 20104, bShe was obedience trained when I got her and I have worked training her since then to be my Service Dog,  When  I am having one of those darn dizzy spe,lls she helps me get to a place to sit then gets on my lap and kkeep me focused  un til I can once again walk.

Janet...
...thank you so much in your explanation as to who Beth is....Firstly how sad I am to hear she too is dealing with this terrible debilitating disease - Illness of MS...I for one know only too well what it does to ones body.. I was only diagnosed with PPMS just coming up to two years now, at the age of 64...My heart goes out to you and Beth, I pray for her that she doesn't let this illness beat her, it is tough, that I am aware of, but with Gods help, both she, and I, will get by....I am more sorry to hear she is dealing with another illness, one I had to look up, as wasn't sure what it was...
Janet I pray for your strength whilst caring for Beth, this cant be easy for a dedicated mother...

Marilyn...
...what a wonderful companion dog you have in Freckles, oh yes, now I remember, Happy was your baby back then, back in the days I had my babies, Megan and Benji, sadly they have now both departed this world too...I still terribly miss them as they were my life...

Hi everyone. Good to see so many interesting postings since I posted yesterday.  We may get a little rain this morning and then partly cloudy the rest of the day but still getting into the lower 70's.  The housekeeper will be here this morning and Pat mentioned going over to the nursing home near by as she volunteered to check with them to see if they could use some of the care blankets the Gifts group has been making.  We will also visit a friend who is there that is 95 years old and usually sits at the same table we do on Wednesday night dinners.  We have also decided to go out to eat today as we often do on the day the housekeeper is here. 

Jackie, no apologies necessary as I know it gets difficult to keep all of the associations of names with people.  Scott and Stacey were siblings and Stacey had been married many years ago but the marriage only lasted for a couple of years. They had no children.  Scott did lose his wife a couple of years ago.   Jennifer is the mother of our four great grandchildren but does not live with them as they are with their father.  Families can become quite messy sometimes.  Wonderful friendships can be made by participating in small groups and hope you will find one or two that interest you as it helps get our minds off ourselves, at least I have found that to be true.  Also laughter is a very good medicine.

Thanks for the devotional thoughts you posted and your following posting.  Glad to see you are being able to get that dosage of Prednisone down.  It sounds like you are getting good medical care. 

Marilyn, I don't think you had really mentioned much about you training Freckles as your service dog.  Glad you have that assistance when needed. 

Janet, a bit unusual to get into a doctor's appointment early.  Was the meal good at the Amish restaurant?  So sorry that Beth is not doing well and hope you were able to communicate with her today. You certainly have been a tower of strength for her these many years.  Glad those wildfires in Kansas are or about out. 

Larry she assists me with more that the vertigo, getting older isn't fun as you know. Besides the Vertigo I have COPD, Complete Spinal Arthritis,  That is why I stay so active. If I were to not be so active, I think I would be way too stiff to even walk up the3 hill to the corner.

I forgot to say Hi PAT, sorry you have been having so much trouble and having to take Prednisone for so long. I know there can be  some pretty harsh side effects from lengthy use of that drug. My mom had to take it for years and her boned got so week she would break ribs just  coughing. Her skin so thin that her legs would weep fluid. I assume as will every drug that the effects are different for  anyone who has to take them.

Hi everyone on a beautiful and sunny Saturday morning.  It is chilly this morning and we expect to get to only 64 degrees today.  The forecast has changed drastically for the next several days with much cooler weather and even one night expected to get down to 28 degrees.  I hope that won't happen but only time will tell.  We did go out to eat late yesterday afternoon at Texas Roadhouse and had a great meal as usual.  I cam home and watched golf and then after the news I watched the Duke-North Carolina Basketball game which Duke ended up winning.  I plan on watching more of the same today as really have nothing on my schedule for today.  After several days I was finally able to talk with my best friend who broke his hip and is now is rehab.  The medicines were causing him to see bricks and stones on the wall of his room that were not there. 

Marilyn, it sounds like Freckles can be a big help to you.  You are wise to keep moving although I expect it is a challenge for you. 

Larry it is kind of a challenge for me, I also have to see the chiropractor a few times a month for a tune up when I start hurting so bad I can barely put one foot in  front of the other.

We did our weekly Walmart run this morning it started to rain just as we finished ht shopping. I now have a loaf of bread ready for the oven and will need to fix lunch shortly. I was so hoping to get Freckles out to walk with me  so the rain better stop pretty soon.

I didn't sleep we;ll last night. I went to Music practice for Sunday service and was really belting out the songs so much that my throat was burning by the time I got home. it bothered me all night so this morning I   ate a  spoonful of Raw Wild flower local honey and let that just kind of slide down my throat. It really helped to added with a cup of hot coffee. It is almost  all better now so I should be able to sing tomorrow. without belting it out, Pastor can just the sound for me. He brought a whole set of Gaither CD's that he wants me to chose songs from  to do specials. The CD's also have th lyrics that wil go up on the screen which is a big help.

Soon to be leaving for church, a tad longer service today as it will be Holy Communion...I wish you all a blessed day...

Hi everyone.  We have had rain throughout the night and it is to continue until about noon today.  This will be a chilly day for us only getting into the low 50's.  We are planning on going to Sunday School and Church and then will probably go to Ruby Tuesday's to take advantage of their two hamburgers for one price.  They have good hamburgers. Nothing else on the schedule for the rest of the day other than to rest and to watch more college basketball and the end of the Golf Tournament in Florida. Yesterday I was finally able to get the final information I needed for my income taxes and finished them up, filed them, and have gotten acceptance notices from both the Federal and State.  So that is done for another year.  I did watch a lot of basketball and a little of the golf yesterday afternoon. 

Marilyn, sure glad that Chiropractor is helpful to you.  That loaf of freshly baked bread sure sounds good.  I love fresh bread.  I hope your voice recovered overnight and you are able to sing at your Church service this morning. 

Jackie, nice to see you have gotten out to Church and been able to take Holy Communion.  Hope you have a good day health wise.

At some point the local Vicar will be popping round to my home to see me, I am assuming this is a usual courtesy - homecall for all new parishioners...This morning I did ask him a question after the service, and whilst they were serving out our teas..thankfully he is very easy to talk with, and has a warming sense of humour, he answered my question....As our service touched upon our spirit, I wanted to know the difference between our spirit and our soul as I am a firm believer in that our sole leaves our body when we pass, and life carries on, but not in the way that we know it......

Jackie It sound like you found a great church home.

The singing went will this morning we sag I'll Fly Away,. Debbie on Guitar singing and Pastor on his Baritone Ukulele. It was a fun song to do and the people loved it. Then we sang the Senior version of Jesus Loves Me.

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I still am not getting my email notifications.    But I can find you anyway!

I have been sitting here for two hours deleting emails! Ugh, how I dislike that chore.  I should be more diligent about doing it daily, I know.

Beth was really sick, well I don't know how else to describe it, though she denied feeling bad.  On Friday when I went in, her face was gray and bloated, her eyes were dull, and she couldn't close her mouth.  Her tongue would lift with each breath and she seemed to be laboring for breath, but when I asked her if she were having trouble breathing, she said no.  I was there most of the day; finished reading her and John a book, and her faithful friend Mindi (from Holcomb) came to see her, and Beth actually smiled when Mindi walked in!  By the time I went home around 4 PM, she was looking a lot better, and looked pretty good yesterday, too.  Today John is sick, so they didn't come to church, but a dear friend told me she was going up to sing to Beth this afternoon, so I met her there and we sang to her until Lou Ann's fingers got sore from playing her guitar.  When Beth was in the hospital all those times, she always wanted me to sing to her.  (She's the only one who ever asks me to sing!)    Then I fed Beth some homemade ice cream before I left, as that was all she wanted for supper.  Lou Ann and I prayed with her before Lou left, too.  And promised to come back often to sing for her.  Music soothes the spirit and speaks to the heart in special ways.

They are having a surprise 80th birthday party for my sister Shirley on April 1st, but we cannot go because we had already promised to go to Manhattan, where Abby is in college, with her parents, for Abby's end of term dance recital.  They already bought our tickets and reserved our room.  We will go visit Shirley later, at least that's my hope.  Another time I wish I could be in two places at one time!

Our wonderful chiropractor is returning to work after an absence of 12 weeks, and we are so happy!  We both need a tune-up so badly!  He was out for a major shoulder surgery.  He says it is still terribly painful but the surgeon released him to go back to work, and he really needs the money!  He is raising two kids by himself, and has staff to pay, plus rent and all that stuff.  I just hope he doesn't re-injure that shoulder!

Well, before you have to turn the page, I will stop and head to bed!  Good night!

Hi everyone.  It is another overcast and chilly day here in South Carolina with the prospect of rain throughout the day.  So far we have had no rain.  The only thing on my schedule for today is to attend my Monday noon meeting.  We did attend Sunday School and Church yesterday.  There were a lot of vacancies perhaps due to a cold and rainy morning as well as the change to day-light savings.  Last evening I watched a couple of the "Little Big Shots" program that features little or young children.  It is hosted by Steve Harvey and is an enjoyable and nice program.  He always talks with the little ones and some of their answers are precious. 

Jackie, glad you like your Vicar and find him easy to speak to.  Our minister stopped in and visited with us after we first visited our new church and it was an enjoyable visit.

Marilyn, I have never seen that version of "Jesus Loves Me".  I think we adults love this hymn as much as the children, at least I do.  Glad your voice was OK yesterday.

Janet, sorry to see that Beth wasn't doing well. There is nothing likes a mother's voice to brighten one's day and glad you could spend the hours with her on Friday and that she seemed better when you left.  I hope John will soon be feeling better.  I bet your chiropractor will be busy after such a long layoff.  Shoulder surgery for someone in that profession sounds really bad as he has to use his arms all day long.   

Marilyn...
...they are a great group at the church I now go to and we do have a good sense of humour as do some of our speakers so, your " Jesus Loves Me..." would certainly go down as a hit...

Janet...
...as one MS sufferer to another, ( your daughter, ) my heart goes out to Beth, as although I have many MS symptoms,( and of that, there are several,) I do not at present have speech nor swallowing problems, but in the past when I attended an MS Therapy Centre in the region of where I previously lived, I did on occasion sit at the round table with one or two who did, others like me, had other MS problems..This is it with MS, it is so so unpredictable and our symptoms can change in the flick of an eye....I think Beth maybe putting on a brave face, bless her, or could she be in denial? it is so easy to push this illness aside, I know I have tried it...You are a good mother and I know you must feel helpless at times as there is not much you can do, but just to be there for her, as and when her times become tough, and she admits it, to not only you, but to herself...

Oh Janet, if only we could split ourselves in two..be in two places at the same time...ha ha, maybe one day it will be possible, but not in our lifetime ehh...

Larry Hanna...
...I wonder if your programme is the same as a programme that has come on our tv, called.."Big Star's Little Star..." where they ask a set of questions about their parent, granddad who is in the studio while they are comfy backstage, and the family member has to guess what the children are-were referring to...

Well after enduring four months of gum infection and tooth abscess, re, my only remaining bottom left tooth which happens to be a molar, I was told today at my first dental appointment ( a private paying dentist  that comes highly recommended ) that the gum -tooth cant be saved and needs to come out...I am also back there again tomorrow to see their hygienist, then once the tooth is out I will also need a filling on the right side, oh joy...

Forgot to mention that last Sunday at church when we were having our teas, I got talking to the lady ( although when she told me her name, Pat, I didn't connect it was she ) who runs one of the activities that take place down the road at their village club, when all of a sudden she whispered to me " and sometimes we even play some bingo " she said it in humour as if to say, our God might not approve...I caught on and we both had a smile and a childish giggle...

This morning I have an early appointment back at the same dentist I went to yesterday, this time to see the hygienist, this is to take place before they take my molar tooth out..I have no clue as to how she is going to work around my gum disease and abscess...anyway I leave it in the hands of the experts, I trust them...

Hi everyone.  Our rain started mid-afternoon yesterday and continued throughout the night but does appear to be over now.  During the night they broadcast a freeze warning for us but pretty sure we did not get to freezing at our home as was in the 40's when I arose this morning.  It will stay chilly today.  This will be a fairly busy day as Pat has a doctor's appointment at 10:15 this morning, then we plan on getting out main meal of the day out and finally finishing up at COSTCO for some shopping.  It is time to restock our meat supply in the freezer as well as getting several other things.  That will be enough activity for one day.  I may watch the beginning of the NCAA Basketball Tournament this afternoon.

Jackie, so sorry that you are having all of those mouth problems and glad you have gotten to the dentist.  The meetings I go to our Al-Anon meetings.  These are support group meetings where we share our experience, strength and hope with others who are suffering with the effects of alcoholism or drug addition that our loved ones are or have gone through.  It is a wonderful program that I didn't find until I was 65 years old but have been very active in for the last 11 years.  It is a program similar to AA in terms of the 12 steps of the program but for family members or friends. 

I am back from my morning dental appointment, she was very pleasant and have to say, very thorough..She has asked me back in three months, I have made my next appointment with her...I go back in two weeks for my infected tooth to be taken out with the same dentist I saw yesteray, then next on the dentist agenda is a filling...

Sadly on the way there and whilst driving through our nearest small village we passed some people dressed in their finest black clothes so I knew they were walking and on there way to a funeral, I was right, as passing the church a few yards further the hearse car was sitting outside...On our journey back they were on there way out...which got me thinking that this is the same village that sadly last year a little boy was supposedly murdered by his step daddy, It made me wonder how the local community felt when it was his funeral, as it was only a short distance in a group of three homes next door to another smaller church where he lived, we actually do drive past the house...and this got me wondering and feeling so sad that neighbours within the tiny village were so close yet so far and unaware of what was happening and had they of known may have saved this little boy...It must weigh so heavy on so many villagers mind that, he as good as lived next door to a church, but sadly even God couldn't have save him.....

Larry Hanna....all the best on Pat's Dr Appointment..it is so much nicer when we manage to get an early appointment....

I have never been to any of those Al Anon meetings although in hindsight that has always been, was, and I am sure still is, one of my daughters problems, which started way back in her teens. She is now approaching 48, and is now a grandma herself...This of course is part of why the two of us are now estranged... Larry, I know AA, ( is there a difference, as I always assumed the two meant the same, just abbreviated? ) do marvellous help and support, I take it, it is  Scott and not you who is in need of it, I vaguely do remember a few years back you mentioning something like this once, but on our sister forum...

Today, we are most grateful and blessed - I spent over 7 hours in the nearest ER yesterday - everything is alright.  It was so cold with air conditioning overhead - thankful to be in my own bed last night.  There will be a lot of visitors here in the coming three weeks so there is a lot to do, just checking in here for reports  .

How is the weather - for those on the east coast?  We are unusually hotter now - summer is upon Arizona.  Still, the nights are cooling and windows are open.   We wake in the morning to check out what the pesky javelinas have moved overnight.  The large block of quail seed in always in a new place and there are three solar lights rolled around too.  I should leave a note for the javelinas - there is a jerky made out of critters like you!  Do you think they will care? 

 

Pat:  hope and prayers for your medical situation.  May all the physicians talk to each other so they design something best for YOU. 

Janet:  How sweet for you to sings to Beth. 

Hi everyone.  We have a beautiful sunny morning here in South Carolina although it was 36 degrees when I got up this morning and apparently some areas around here got below freezing as my weather app said it was 30 degrees.  We changed our plans yesterday as after the doctor's appointment and going to eat lunch at Tin Lizzy's we decided to call it a day and came home to rest.  So today we plan on doing our shopping at Costco this morning.  This evening is our usual Wednesday night dinner at Church and it will have a St. Patrick's theme with Irish stew, cooked cabbage, Irish soda bread, salad and dessert. Scott and Jennifer then will come out to the house for a little while as far as I know now. 

Jackie, glad your dental appointment went well and you like your dentist.  We try to make all of our appointments in the mornings as it works best for us.  I plan on sending you an email where I will try to provide clarification of the difference between AA and Al-Anon.

Carol, was glad to read that things were alright after your long visit to the ER.  Those long waits in the ER seem to be the norm anymore.  Sure hope all of those visitors are going to be too much for you two.  In regard to Pat, she is now in a holding period to see if our health insurance will allow an MRI on her back and if not she will have a CT Scan. 

Winter isn't over yet.     We got about 16 inches of snow from yesterday's storm.  And with temperatures in the mid- to upper-20's it's a wet heavy snow.  Great for "packing" snowballs    but not for snow blowing or shoveling and it looks like that will be the range of temperature until Sunday or maybe even Monday.  I sit here and thank the Lord that I don't have to do a thing except wait for someone else to shovel me out. 

And then I ask Him how should I pray for the homeless people who don't have a warm dry house and plenty of warm clothes and blankets.  And I hope they have all been able to get into the special shelters being provided by the local cities and towns for this kind of situation.

I got a card from my Medigap insurance that I need to attend an Orientation Meeting that is 90 minutes long next week. I just hope my rate doesn't go up with them bill that they are trying to pass in DC. I saw that the seniors may have to pay 750% more than they are now I do hope that doesn't happen. I like this plan that pays My chiropractor  and the Silver and Fit program too. I am not sure that this president is going to be a good thing for this country.

I am taking Keith to the eye Dr. today for Glaucoma testing, then he will need to get over to DMV to take those tests again.

Hi everyone.  We finally got down to 32 degrees last night and the mid-50's will be out high today.  We did get to Costco yesterday and did a lot of restocking of the refrigerator.  The meal at church last night was tasty and then we had a nice visit with Scott and Jennifer. 

This is coffee day with the men and I will drop off at the cafe the man I pick up on Thursday and go on to the hospital to have routine blood drawn.  My doctor's appointment was moved up from next Wednesday to tomorrow morning so must get the blood work done today.  After I return the man to his retirement home I will stop at Walmart to pick up prescriptions for Pat and get a couple of vegetable items we need although may make a very brief stop at Aldi's. 

We don't have the Wisdom Group at the Church this morning as the minister has once again been called away for a meeting.  I am looking forward to watching a lot of college basketball as the game start today a little before 1 pm. 

Marilyn, I find it hard to believe that your health care costs could increase by 750% in one year.  I do hope Keith's appointment yesterday resulted in the outcome desired.

Hi everyone on another sunny but chilly morning. Happy St. Patrick's Day.  My family line for the Hanna name comes for a man who migrated from Ireland.  I have a doctor's appointment this morning and then plan on watching a lot of the basketball games, as I did yesterday.  That will be my exciting day.

Good Friday afternoon Christian friends....not much happening in my corner of the world, so popped in to wish you a trouble-free, carefree and health-free day, now is that possible?
As long as our God is by our side, my faith says yes, so it must be so.....

Happy St. Patrick's Day to you all!  I've been told I have some Irish blood, but not sure of that, and haven't wanted to spend $100 for the test to find out, as what difference would it make, anyway? 

I am so tired of having to find new ways to get into this site!  WHY can't I just get the email notifications like I used to get?

I am needing to get a new computer, as this one is very old in computer years and won't accept updates anymore.  I don't want to lost the stuff I have on it.  Grandkids think I should get a Mac, so it will communicate with my iPhone and iPad.  So I guess I will grit my teeth, spend the money and get one.  Surely the learning curve on it won't be more than I can handle.  Maybe more than I want, though. 

The Care home was setting up for a nice St. Paddy's Day dinner for the residents, and had it all decorated so nicely with the green tablecloths and shamrocks.  And they were having corned beef, too. 

I met Grandson Curtis for lunch and had such a nice visit with him.  We don't often get a chance to visit when it's just us.  So that was special for me today.

Carol, sorry about that long visit at Emergency!  Do hope all is well now.  I do not like to be cold, either!

I need to write something for my sister Shirley's 80th birthday, and have Curtis help me make a video.  And here he is now!