FALLING PINK #2

     I fell again yesterday. This is actually the third time I have fallen in 5 weeks. The first time I was going out to get into the car and fell into the rose bushes; I got thorns in my hand. The second time was about 2 weeks ago and it was in the back yard. My neighbors helped me up, since Ray was in the house watching the Redskins. I had to go to the doctor and he put me into physical therapy. Yesterday, I was getting ready to go get blood tests and fell over my big feet and into a bookcase. There was a small metal ornate candleholder on a lower shelf and it cut my right hand up pretty bad. My knees were bruised and I totally destroyed our metal basket hamper. It will never be the same.

      I was alone, so I had to pick myself up and take care of the cut on my hand and the abrasions on my forearm. It was bleeding so I washed it off and put on Neosporin and bandaged the entire hand to stop the bleeding. It was over an hour before Ray came home. I had called cancelling my appointment. He helped to change the bandage before we went to bed. This morning, there was blood coming through the bandage. Ray said I should go to the doctor. The nurse bandaged it again, then gave me a tetanus shot and since I was there, a pneumonia shot. She placed some bandages to use today and a sulfa cream in a bag for me to put on the cut. Also, the doctor wrote a note not to go to physical therapy until Monday. Good thing, a nap is what is needed.  

      A professional organizer is definitely needed around here and a garage sale. I should try Craig's List, I guess. I will have to take a look and see what I can do. Anybody know someone who has a Hoarders Reality Show. We are prime candidates. Help before I fall and can't get up. LOL

      I called my friend Cindy and she is coming by tomorrow. Ray will be in Richmond at the Alpha Parliamentary Unit for a meeting and a teaching session. I thought it would be nice to have some company, she hasn’t been here in a while.  Everyone else is so busy.

      There is a yard sale down the street. If it is not too cold, I may walk down there. Tonight is #Slumberparty night at 11 p.m. First time I am able to just participate in a while. Last week I hosted and I think everyone had a good time. It was fun.

     My brother called this morning. He and his wife Pat are home from South Africa. He assured me that there were plenty of photos to see; there are at least 4K. He said he would have a video show set up in the movie room with plenty of colas and popcorn. They really do go on lots of vacations. Sounds like fun. He has worked so very hard to get where he is. I am so proud of him and proud he is my brother.
     Below is the Annie Moses Band. They were at the conference we went to Monday. They performed all three days and were totally awesome. Their music can make you smile and make you cry. Listen to this song, it is so beautiful. They are mostly Julliard trained musicians. 

BGAV and the BOOK PINK

Ray and I went to the Baptist General Association of Virginia Conference in Richmond Monday and were there until Wednesday. It was held at the Greater Richmond Conference Center. It was wonderful. We had dinner at the Marriott where were were staying on Monday night with the BGAV Board of Directors. Ray is one of their Parliamentarians. It was very nice, although it totally messed up our #SweetTweets Life Plan. There was the most delicious Chocolate Cake I have ever had. I couldn't resist. Just goes to show that the best laid plans can get kicked in the teeth by the nicest people.

Anyway, after eating chocolate cake, it was easy to eat every piece of chocolate we could lay our hands on through Wednesday. We are back on the diet plan today. It is so difficult to resist those carb loaded foods. But, nobody is perfect. I am going for my blood tests today and will see what my weight is. I prefer to make their scale the official scale for my diet. After losing 27 lbs, I hope my small lapse won't completely derail my plans. Ray has lost 37 lbs. We are both doing alright and I have no intention of eating any more chocolate in the near future.

The Rheumatoid Arthritis has been acting up lately. Sometimes, I think I take too much Vicadin. I try to limit myself to 1 or 2 a day but some days are just too difficult. I wish I cold take regular anti-inflamatories. The doctor thinks that if I took enough to do any good, I would have liver failure. My hands are really causing a lot of pain lately. The cold weather really doesn't agree with me at all. I want to do so many things. Sometimes I think I just don't have enough time, but I really do have lots of time. I think all the medications that I am taking keep me immobile. I just cannot seem to focus sometime.

I am working on a book of my experiences on Twitter. It has been so much fun. It will be about people that are my SuperStars. They are not "Celebrities". in the Entertainment sense of the word. They are my Celebrities. People who have inspired and cared for me over the past couple of years. People who have prayed and encouraged me. I love them all so much, I wanted to do something to spotlight them and show them my appreciation. So watch out for my book, it will be coming soon.

I was able to connect with old friends at the conference and Dr. White, my former pastor, was there. He is currently the Editor of the Religious Herald. Our friend, John Upton, was able to meet the Pope, see article:

"Two top leaders of the Baptist World Alliance brought “the fullness of what it means to be Baptist” to an interfaith summit of peace and justice, hosted Oct. 27 by Pope Benedict XVI and attended by about 300 world religious leaders. BWA general secretary Neville Callam and president John Upton joined other Christians as well as a wide range of other religious adherents in Assisi, Italy."

John Upton lead the BGAV Conference in Richmond. We actually made history by electing an African-American Pastor, Mark Croston." It was an amazing meeting. Click on the link for the full story.

Better go for now, got to get over to the Riverside Cancer Center for my blood tests. Love you all.

FALLING PINK

My younger sister, Cindy, (in the uniform) sent me some wonderful pictures of my nephews. I just wish I knew them both better. It seems that the older I get the more family oriented I am. Christopher is the real photographer. He has such a good eye. I hope that I get to see them on Thanksgiving, along with Cindy's daughter, Heather with her family. She has such beautiful babies. I haven't seen her daughter at all, but little Karch is a handful. 
           There is a picture of Cindy with her new grandaughter, Tabitha below.

Cindy and Tabitha

I fell Sunday afternoon in the back yard. I hurt both knees and shins, big bruise on my upper thigh, and hurt both hands trying to catch myself. Ray was in the house and couldn't hear me. Neighbors came and got him. They wanted to call 911, but when I discovered that I could actually stand, I said no. I did call and leave a message for my rheumatologist to let him know. I am supposed to let him know when I fall. I fell into the bushes last week when I was trying to get in the car and the neighbor across the street helped me up. I am thinking I need one of those buttons on a necklace. "Help, I have fallen and I can't get up."  LOL.

This disease is really making me feel old. Dr Cole says that I definitely have PTSD, too. My housekeeping lady has been taking care of her ex-husband who has Alzheimers and hasn't been here in months. I am beginning to feel like a hoarder. You might see me on Reality TV soon. I seem to save everything, thinking I may use it later. I used to move every couple of years but I have been in this house for 18 years and it has filled up gradually. There is room to walk around, but if this goes on much longer, we may have to close off a couple of rooms. I need some help, but I just don't know who to ask. I think I need to find a family to donate to. Maybe some who have lost their home in a fire or something. 

So, here I am this morning. Yesterday was kind of hazy. I had so much pain that I was on Vicadin most of the day and even took a nap, which is unusual for me. Feel somewhat better today. I have a Circle Meeting today. No, it is not about Google, it is a church meeting. They have been called Circle Meetings long before Google was thought of. We meet and support missions with gifts and prayer. We donate school supplies, donate to our benevelent fund, send letters to military, donate to the foodbank, etc. It is a lovely group of women who care about our community and the people in it. We pray for the un-churched that they may come to know Christ and join us in our efforts. 

By the way, I am making dishcloths and selling them for $4 each, plus shipping. I will be setting up a PayPal site later today. I donated 80 of these to our children's ministry to sell and use the money toward a new playground for the children. They are just the right size to use in the kitchen. Made from 100% cotton thread. They are also good for using as washcloths. Great exfoliators!

I am going to stop now, I have to go get dressed to go get my blood checked.

Lots of Love - 

GOD IS GOOD, ALL THE TIME!

Weekend PINK

I have been having a few bad days since I am still trying to cut down on the prednisone. I get so tired all the time. We had quilting today and I didn't get much done. I think I broke my sewing machine and now I have to take it to the shop. I want a new one. Anyway, most of what I did was cut squares. I am looking for a specific quilt pattern that I don't even know the name of. It is similar to the Cathedral Window Quilt, but more like a frame. I may see if I can find it online later. We have about 25 quilts almost ready to go. I brought 2 home with me to work on. I cannot decide whether to quilt them or tie them. I need to get one of my other sewing machines out and see if I can work on them.

Saturday, we will be in front of Harris-Teeter Grocery Store on Warwick Boulevard for Lions White Cane and Broom Sale. Ray and I are scheduled to work from 1-3 p.m. I sure hope I feel better than I do right now. Rheumatoid Arthritis bad enough, now I am swelling and my back aches. Rheumatologists don't do Osteoarthritis. Now I have to find another doctor to take care of that. Doing well, lost 23 lbs and 4 inches off my height. Guess I will end up being a little old lady after all.

We have been trying to do some yard work. I cannot do much. but I can cut branches off bushes. Ray does the heavy-lifting. Our neighbor put up a 6 ft. vinyl fence. A handyman was supposed to come last Saturday and take down our chain-link fence. He didn't show up, so I just cut branches myself. We had a nice day outside after we got back from VA beach. We went of the Lions District 24-D Fall Conference. It was good but we did not stay at the Cavalier Hotel. We just came home this year. We usually stay the weekend but there was no need because for the first time in 17 years, we were not on the Cabinet. It was nice to be able to leave and come home.

Sunday I drove back to Va Beach for training as a mentor for membership. It was really nice and I learned a lot about mentoring and membership. I can't wait to get started. There was a Lions International Vice President that held the training. He was originally from Germany, but is from Birmingham Al now. That was where I was born so we had something to talk about. He really didn't get to finish the training. They didn't allot him enough time. We have lots of books to read and then we are getting together to brainstorm. 

When I got home, Ray had brought a roasted chicken dinner for us both from church and I didn't have to cook. We could even eat the chicken and the green beans, just had to get rid of the rice. It was great. I took a nap and rested the most of the day. It sure was nice. 

I heard something about depression that stuck for some reason. Of course, it could be that I felt that maybe it could be about me. It was talking about when people become depressed, they don't feel like doing anything and sometimes feel immobile. Then their homes become a mess which makes the depression worse. I do know that I have got to find Catherine. I need someone who can clean my house. I do feel like everything is piling up. I used to clean all the time and loved to do it, but now, I just don't. I am seeing a therapist and he says that I just need to start small and get rid of stuff. My house is starting to look like one of those houses on the Hoarders. LOL. Well, maybe not that bad, but if I don't do something soon you might see me on one of those reality shows. LOL.

GOD IS GOOD, ALL THE TIME; ALL THE TIME, GOD IS GOOD

Jamie Layton Cagle PINK

• Still praying for Jamie.
• Please join this group on Facebook, and invite your family and friends to join. We want as many people possible praying for Jamie and her family. 

 
• Jamie is 34 years old, she is the wife of Brandon, and mommy to two sweet girls, Erin (8) and Emily (4). Jamie was diagnosed with a very rare and aggressive form of cancer called small cell neuroendocrine carcinoma in April of 2010. Jamie’s cancer was contained to the pelvic area and had not spread to other areas, she enjoyed a few months of remission, but found out recently that her cancer is back, and has spread to other areas. She has several spots in her liver, a spot in her lung, and in a lymph node in her chest. 
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• While Jamie's prognosis is poor, and her cancer is aggressive, we pray to a God who is bigger than any trials we may face, He is certainly bigger than this cancer. We are praying for a miracle, praying for complete healing, praying that in all things God is glorified, and His will be done! 
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• Jamie Lynn is the cousin of my sister Jan (below). I would appreciate it if you would pray for her. We know that all things are possible with Christ. He is the creator of the Universe  (in the beginning there was the Word); He can make a difference for Jamie, her family and for us all.
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 Click on title to go to Jamie's Facebook Page.

• GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME.

My friend Sandy Guerriere posted an update on her blog this morning concerning Michael Jackson and the devastating effects of Autoimmune Diseases. 




King of Pop 
Michael Jackson

1958 – 2009 
BY: Sandy Guerriere 

"Gone Too Soon"....that is one of my favorite Michael Jackson songs and now it has been appropriately sang for him.
I was affected deeply and shocked by Michael's sudden death and my heart goes out to his family, friends and fans all over the world. It came as a big surprise to many that Michael Jackson suffered from the autoimmune disease Lupus. But, it was in 1986 that Michael Jackson was diagnosed with Vitiligo and  . . . . . .


Sandy Guerriere has been suffering from Rheumatoid Arthritis for over 12 years. She has some well-written articles on her blog about the different "conditions" caused by Autoimmune Disease:
 

 Rheumatoid Arthritis 

Vitiligo 

Systemic Lupus Erythematosus 

Polymyositis-Dermatomyositis

Systemic Sclerosis

Sjogren's Syndrome 

various forms of vasculitis

If you have any of these diseases or know someone who suffers from  them, you can only benefit from subscribing to Sandy's blog. Sandy suggests 'healing' foods and ways to combat some of these diseases in a 'natural' way. Sandy contacted me shortly after I found out about my Rheumatoid Arthritis and her blog has helped me immeasurably in dealing with the constant chronic pain. I don't care if you follow me, but please follow Sandy. She has such a grasp on this issue, that it could even help you to understand other medical problems and a healthy way to deal with them. She is much more knowledgeable than I am. 

I also have Osteo-Arthritis and I always assumed that Rheumatoid and Osteo-Arthritis were just Arthritis. I never considered there was a big difference. The one thing they do have in common is chronic pain. I have a strong feeling that we will be learning more about Autoimmune Diseases in the future. Our environment is crippling our bodies. 

Love to you all. 

God is Good, All the Time - All the Time, God is Good.

September Pink

There are so many wonderful things about September. Children are back in school, some moms are breathing a sigh of relief, the weather is changing for the good, I am dragging out the winter things and giving them a steaming or cleaning. Putting away the sandals and dragging out the boots. I am making arrangements of flowers and leaves, getting out the fake pumpkins, and some of the funny little Fall elves. Bringing is the tiny tomatoes before they turn red and the bugs eat them and cooking them with onions in olive oil. They really are good. I love fried green tomatoes, but cannot make them the Southern way, just the carb-free way.

September brings memories of September 11, 2011. What a terrible day for the US. Everyone has a story of where they were and who they were with. There was a lady on THE TALK today who was in one of the towers. Parts of her body weren't just burned, they were cooked and she is still living with the pain. I can only imagine how horrible it must have been. A friend at church had to hear that her granddaughter was in one of the planes that hit the Towers. I know it will be a particularly difficult day for her.

People that were there at the World Trade Center Towers and EMT's are coming down with cancer now, probably related to the many toxins they were exposed to the day of the terrorist attacks and for many days later. I hear that Al Qeida is planning something to celebrate the memory also. Probably to see how many Christians they can send to heaven. Although that is not where they think Christians go. They would commit suicide to take us out. All the time they think if they kill us they will get many virgins. That is a laugh. Not many of them around now.

Unfortunately, today wasn't a good one for my friend Benita. She had a horrific headache. I gave her pain medication, ice packs, warm wash cloths, etc. I made homemade chicken soup and finally got  some down her this afternoon. That and some peanut butter with crackers. I am afraid she is not getting enough liquid, but I cannot make her drink. I try to tell her that if she gets dehydrated, she will have to go in the hospital. Then she drinks a little bit. It is so hard to help people with Alzheimers. She may agree one minute and the next wonder where we are going as we walk out the door. Ray is very patient with us both.

I hope and pray that September 11th goes by without bad memories for the future. Stay safe and keep it low key. I would hate to have a bad memory of the this Sunday. It is the Lord's day and it should be quiet and safe for us all.

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!   ALL THE TIME, GOD IS GOOD!