Let's Take A Little Hike

 

About two years ago now we took an extended family trip to the Smokie Mountains.  Jenna was just about 4 then and her cousin was about 2.  

 

We rented a wonderful cabin on the mountain near Gatlinburg TN.  It was Dale's Mom, Dad and brother Dan as well as Dale's brother Darwin and his wife Michele and son Owen.  My mother-in-law's sister Pat came to visit us all while we were there too.

 

On one of our days there Dale, Jenna and I drove through the National Park which is spectacular.  We stopped near a picnic area and took a hike in the forest.  Ever since then Jenna has asked occasionally to take a little hike.  Sometimes after that when she would get frustrated or just restless she would just say let's take a little hike.

 

Today we took a little hike at North Park on the nature trail.  We have gone there before but Jenna did not remember that trip.  Today it was just her and I and we were all alone on the trail.  She wanted to take pictures of animals but all we saw briefly were a bird and a chipmunk.  She was disappointed but still took several photos.   

 

We had taken a previous little hike there with my sister Kathy and her granddaughter and grandson about a year ago.

 

To Jenna just taking a little hike can clear her mind and set her soul at peace.  If only all of life were so simple.

 

I hope that everyone get's a chance to take a little hike.

See you in the woods soon.

 

Diagnosis PFAPA

Finally after Jenna has missed more school last year than anyone in her class we have a diagnosis.

Her pediatrician says that she has 

Periodic Fever, Aphthous Stomatitis, Pharyngitis, Adenitis Syndrome (PFAPA)

WHAT IS PFAPA?

This syndrome includes recurrent episodes of fever with aphthous stomatitis (mouth sores) and pharyngitis (sore throat with redness). Occasionally, there also may be exudate (white patches on the tonsils) and usually the lymph nodes in the neck are enlarged (adenitis). Episodes of fever start suddenly and last for 3-7 days. Fevers occur routinely every few weeks; often, families know the exact day when an attack will start. Some children have other symptoms like joint pain, abdominal pain, rash, headache, vomiting or diarrhea. Children are completely well between attacks.
The disease may last for several years but usually will resolve by itself in the second decade of life. Over time, the time between the attacks will increase. Children with PFAPA continue to grow and develop normally.

FAST FACTS

• PFAPA is a syndrome that consists of recurrent attacks of fever, sore throat, mouth sores and swelling of the glands in the neck.
• Use of steroids at the start of an episode can stop it, but also may shorten the time to the next episode.
• PFAPA usually resolves spontaneously during the second decade of life.
• Tonsillectomy may cure the disease.

Now we can help her deal with the fevers better and hopefully have a much better school year as she enters first grade.

Do you know anyone who has experienced this before?  If you do, please share what you know.

Thanks.
 
 
 

Death of a Hope

 Have you ever faced the death of a hope?  Do you know anyone who has?  How did they deal with it?  

Hope:
1.  to cherish a desire with anticipation
2.  to expect with confidence: trust 

Have you every hoped for something with all your heart soul and being?  Have you ever lost all hope of a particular thing?  I have.

For many years I had hoped to have a child only to find that it was not God's plan for me at that time or place.  It was like the death of a person who never existed.  I longed to have a child with all my heart.  I prayed.  I cried.  I prayed more and cried more.  I experienced all of the friends and acquaintances having child after child.  I had people rub babies feet on me and say you need one too.  I have had people tell me that I did not drink the same or the right water.  I have had other women who were mom's go on and on about not having a child of the sex of their choice and how to make sure they had a boy or girl.  All the things that they tried to have a girl or have a boy.  All the while I was longing for a child of my own.  The hurt in my heart was so very real and yet not many people cared or understood.

I found that this journey strengthened my life.  I did not have the answers.  I did not get the answers that I prayed for.  My life did not go as I had planned. My life did not go the way that I thought God would have planned it either.  But ONE THING THAT I DID KNOW AND STILL KNOW is that GOD IS WITH ME EVEN WHEN I DID NOT UNDERSTAND OR DO NOT UNDERSTAND.  

I never thought that I would ever be married again.  I never thought that I would be loved again.  Old, fat and infertile.  God had other plans.

God had a plan for Jenna's life.  She was fearfully and wonderfully made.  God had a plan for her birth mother and birth father and still does.  Her birth mother choose life.  God choose her to be part of our family.

I do not know what His answer is for you or your family or your situation but I DO KNOW THAT HE WILL BE WITH YOU REGARDLESS OF HOW YOU FEEL OR IF YOU UNDERSTAND.

Praise God that He loves us each and everyone.

Here is a link for those who struggle with infertility.

Stepping Stones Infertility Resources

Remembering My Mom

08-05-1930 to 07-19-2001

My mom was the youngest of nine in her family.  She had siblings that were married and had children before she was born.  This has always made life interesting in our family.  Her parents, William David Hazlet and Bertha Virginia Hazlet were farmers that moved from farm to farm.  My grandfather was also a coal miner.  They were from Northern Butler County PA.  

My mom was an extremely patient person.  She taught me a lot about life and people.  She never asked anyone to do anything she was not willing to do herself.  She also taught me a lot about God and His love for me.  She was not a pushy person and never preached at anyone.  She lived her faith and showed many about God by her living example.  She was always focused on the people of the United States, not foreign mission fields.  She said we needed be concerned with the people around us first and then foreign mission fields.

It was an honor for her to see a person she helped in the Inter-Faith Hospitality Network when they were adjusted to their new life, home or work.  It made her so proud of them.  She was blessed by helping others.  

My mother was a good role model for me.  I want to raise my daughter to be as loving and caring of a person as she was.  My daughter never met my mother.  My mother never got to know my daughter.  What a great day it will be some day when they meet for the first time in God's kingdom.  My daughter is named after my husband's great grandmother (Jenna) and also after my mother (Lucille).  Jenna means lover of truth and Lucille means bringer of light.  May she grow to love God's truth and share His light with those she meets in her lifetime. 

There is not a day that goes by that I don't think of my mother and the influence she had on my life.  

My mom was the person who most anticipated her death and getting to go to be with God in heaven.  She really rejoiced that her time was near and planned every last detail to help those who would be left behind.

Life is short, eat dessert first.  Save your fork, the best is yet to come.

Love you mom!

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Keep Your Fork

Attributed to Roger William Thomas
Submitted to Ann Landers by Kay in California
A woman was diagnosed with a terminal illness and given three months to live. She asked her Pastor to come to her home to discuss her final wishes. She told him which songs she wanted sung at her funeral, and what scriptures she wanted read, and which outfit she wanted to be buried in.
Then she said, "One more thing... I want to be buried with a fork in my hand."
The pastor was surprised.
The woman explained, "In all my years of attending church socials and potluck dinners, I always remember that when the dishes of the main course were being cleared, someone would inevitably say to everyone, 'Keep your fork.' It was my favorite time of the dinner, because I knew something better was coming, like velvety chocolate cake or deep dish apple pie - something wonderful. So, I want people to see me there in that casket with a fork in my hand and wonder, ' What's with the fork?' Then, I want you to tell them, ' Keep your fork, because the best is yet to come.' "
The pastor's eyes welled up with tears of joy as he bid the woman goodbye. He realized she had a better grasp of heaven than he did, and knew something better was coming.
At the funeral, when people asked him why she was holding a fork, the pastor told them of the conversation he had with the woman before she died. He said he could not stop thinking about the fork, and knew they probably would not be able to stop thinking about it either. He was right.
"Keep your fork. The best is yet to come."