Prayer Request

As some of you may already know, Pat's dad is not doing well at all. He is 80 years old, has stage four lung cancer and pneumonia. He has been in the hospital since Tuesday morning. He was taken there with his wife, Pat's mom, by ambulance.

He is in the Critical Care Unit at the hospital. His lungs and heart are working against each other. The lungs are filling with fluid thereby putting pressure on his heart. This causes a decreased heart rate which in turn makes it difficult for the lungs to empty of the fluid. Around and around we go in a catch two-two.

Today, Wednesday, his health has been up and down. At times he would seem coherent, and other times he would be confused and disoriented. They had to use the paddles on him earlier due to a sudden drop in his hear rate. I am still unsure as to whether or not he had a heart attack. They also gave him some blood on the suspicion of a blood clot in his lungs. He has a terrible time breathing and is wearing a oxygen mask.

Pat's mom and dad have been married for 60 years. They are a wonderful couple, and this just breaks my heart. Pat is one of seven children, so you can imagine how many of us have been keeping vigil at the hospital. There is a strong sense of family and unity right now...praise God!

Please keep Pat's dad, mom, and our family in your prayers. It has been my prayer that God will keep him comfortable and at peace and grant the family strength and faith through this tough time. Also, it is my prayer that those that do not know God may find Him in this experience, and those that do will be drawn closer to Him.

Cell Phone vs. Bible

This was shared by my good friend, Shelly, at The Mom with Brownies on her homeschooling group at Yahoo! Groups, Macomb Christian Homeschoolers. I thought it was worth sharing here. When was the last time you read your bible? When was the last time you shared the bible with anyone? It is truly worth thinking about...



Ever wonder what would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone?

What if we carried it around in our purses or pockets?

What if we flipped through it several time a day?

What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?

What if we used it to receive messages from the text?

What if we treated it like we couldn't live without it?

What if we gave it to kids as gifts?

What if we used it when we traveled?

What if we used it in case of emergency?

Just something to make you go....hmm... Where is my Bible?

- Author Unknown

Direct from the grove to you!

For those of you in Macomb County, Michigan, you may be interested in the annual fundraiser our church school holds.

The fruit is WONDERFUL!

All the information is listed below:

THE ONLY WAY YOU COULD GET FRESHER FRUIT IS TO
FLY TO FLORIDA AND PICK IT UP YOURSELF!

Grapefruit: Available November - March; Full Box $23, Half Box $13
23 to 48 per box/36-40 lb. Carton

Florida Navels: Available November - January; Full Box $25, Half Box $15
40 to 100 per box/36-40 lb. Carton

California Navels: Available in March - Price TBA in January
40 to 100 per box/36-40 lb. Carton

Tangerines: Available Nov/Dec/Mar; 2/5 Bushel $21, Half Box $11
40 to 75 per box/18-20 lb. Carton

Honeybell Tangelos: Available January ONLY; Full Box $36, Half Box $19
40 to 75 per box/18-20 lb. Carton

Temple Oranges: March ONLY; Full Box $25, Half Box $15
40 to 100 per box/36-40 lb. Carton

VARIETY PACK: Available Nov/Dec/Jan; 2/5 Bushel $21
20 lb./30-36 Count (NO HALF ORDERS)

CASH OR CHECK DUE UPON PICKUP.

For fruit on November 16th order by October 30th.

For fruit on December 14th order by November 26th.

For fruit on January 25th order by January 8th.

For fruit on March 1st order by February 12th.

Remember:
All fruit is tree ripened, hand picked, no added color.

Fruit is delivered in refrigerated trucks within days of picking.

All fruit is guaranteed for replacement.

We cannot order fruit by size.

Early customers get the most choice.

Pickup days are Sundays from 10:00AM to 2:00PM at the school.

Fruit not picked up by Wednesday will be resold, unless special arrangements are made.

You pay for the fruit when you pick it up.

Checks payable to: Warren SDA School

Pick your fruit up at:

12100-13Mile Road
Warren, MI 48093
(just east of Hoover)

TO PLACE ORDER:

Email Elane at elaneerwin@hotmail.com

THANK YOU FOR YOUR CONTINUED SUPPORT!

Prophecy Seminar

Our church has been hosting the Amazing Discoveries prophecy seminar for the past several weeks. It has been amazing! I have really been enjoying getting to know my church family on a more personal level and getting to know my community members for the first time. It is such a wonderful experience gathering together to learn about prophecy and dig deeper into the Word of God. Church "veterans" and newcomers alike have been learning and growing together.

We are using the Storacles study guide as well as following along with Pastor Steve Vail and his seminar series. This past Sabbath we started studying the book of Daniel. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to grow in this fashion.

I would like to share the information that I have been studying with those that are interested. You can check out Revelation Chronicles as you feel inspired. It is a wonderful resource for those of you that would like to dig deeper into the Word of God and really get into the meat of studying your Bible and allowing it to interpret itself.

Back to Meniere's Disease!

Well, I visited my ENT doctor for a follow-up after the MRI. He rechecked my ear by looking in it and re-doing the hearing test. Everything was the same, of course, and the MRI showed no tumors or nerve damage.

So, guess what he diagnosed it as? You got it, smart one! Meniere's Disease, just like I already knew. Of course, he prescribed diuretics and a low-salt diet. Well, I don't plan to get the prescription filled, and I already eat a low-salt diet. Oh well. At least I know for 100% certainty that I do not have tumors, and I do not have nerve damage. I have the $800 test to prove it, too!

Monday, I am going to follow up with my chiropractor and go over the MRI report with them. There are some things listed that I have questions about, so I'll see what they have to say on the subject. I also will be having the anointing done by the church elders very soon. Should it not be God's timing or will for my ear to be healed I am perfectly okay with that and ready to accept the fact that I cannot hear out of one ear.

However, as a responsible caregiver for my body I plan to pursue alternative care to reestablish wellness and harmony within my body. Obviously something is out of whack. Even if I do not regain my hearing, I can improve my overall health. I'll be sure to share what I learn through this process so that it may inform and educate those of you that may benefit from my experiences.

Thankful Thursday

I saw a 'Thankful Thursday' post on another blog. I thought it was a wonderful idea. I have SO MUCH to be thankful for. As you all know I am experiencing some health issues right now. This might cause some to think I could be struggling with depression or a feeling of being "under" my illness. I am so THANKFUL that I am certainly not.

In the beginning it was a little frightening, but I am no longer afraid. I am okay with not being able to hear out of one ear. God may be trying to tell me something. There may be a lesson or opportunity that He is preparing me for that this experience is a part of. Everything is a part of His plan, and I have to be okay with that fact. He knows the big picture, and I am merely a grain of sand in the entire spectrum of things. It is for Him to lead and teach me in the way that He sees fit. I accept that wholeheartedly. I am a willing participant in His plan.

God is good, and I have taken note. Sure, I cannot hear out of my right ear. However, I CAN hear out of my left ear. Praise God! Sure, I cannot hear out of my right ear. However, there is NO pain. Praise God! Sure, I cannot hear out of my right ear. However, the ENTIRE rest of my body is functioning just fine, and I am THANKFUL. Praise God!

The Monkey's Disgrace

The Monkey's Disgrace

(Evolution -- The Monkey's Viewpoint)

Three monkeys sat in a coconut tree discussing things as they are said to be. Said one to the others, "Now listen, you two, there's a rumor around that can't be true. That man descended from our noble race. The very idea is a great disgrace.

No monkey has ever deserted his wife, starved her babies, and ruined her life. And you've never known a mother monk to leave her babies with others to bunk. Or pass from one on to another 'till they scarcely know who is their mother.

And another thing you'll never see, a monk build a fence round a coconut tree, and let the coconuts go to waste, forbidding all other monks to taste; why, if I put a fence around a tree, starvation will force you to steal from me!

Here's another thing a monkey won't do, go out at night and get on a stew. Or use a gun or club or knife to take some other monkey's life.

Yes, man descended the ornery cuss, but brother he didn't descend from us."

~ Gilliam S. Weaver ~

MRI

I visited the Ear, Nose, and Throat doctor this past Monday. He reviewed my symptoms and gave me a hearing test. I did so poorly on the hearing test that he does not think I have Meinier's Disease. Apparently with Meinier's Disease one would expect there to be a different hearing pattern. I pretty much am completely deaf in my right ear.

Today will mark a full five weeks that I have been without hearing in my right ear. It is amazing how our body compensates, and quickly. When I first lost the hearing in my right ear it was very difficult for me to hear. For instance, I normally watch television with the volume between 12 and 15 depending on the situation. After losing my hearing in my right ear I was watching it at about 18 or so. Now that time is passed, I am back to watching it at my normal level. Also, I hear more things on my left side than I used to without the right ear. As an example, it drives me crazy to hear the person chewing beside me. Apparently with both ears it is not as noticeable, but now with just the one ear focusing in on the information it is much more apparent. Although, conversation in the car with the window even cracked is pretty much impossible if I am the one driving.

So, based on the doctor's theory that I may not have Meinier's Disease and my non-response to the nerve test, he ordered an MRI. I will be going to have that done on this coming Monday. Since we do not have insurance I will be paying $800 cash at the time of the visit. It's a big bite out of the budget, and I am thankful to God that we were able to come up with it. If things were any more tight I do not know how we would have done it. Friday I will follow up with the E.N.T. doctor and get his interpretation. The purpose of the MRI is to rule out nerve damage and tumors. I really pray I do not have a tumor, although I am not inclined to think that is the problem.

It was suggested by a very respected person at our church that I may like an anointing. I am going to read up on it. I will likely have it done sometime soon. Has anyone else reading here ever experienced such a practice? I would love to hear your stories.

Meniere's Disease?

Well, due to my symptoms and the recommendation of my chiropractor, a naturopath, and a doctor's assistant we attend church with, I have made an appointment to see an ear, nose and throat doctor on Monday. I am a little nervous based on the research I have done in regard to my symptoms. It appears I could have Meniere's Disease. No, I'm not jumping to any conclusions, but the description of the symptoms fits me to a 'T'.

This started about two or more months ago with mild vertigo that progressed greatly in intensity. With the vertigo I would experience nausea and sweating, or clamminess. It would only be relieved by my laying down and relaxing. It didn't take it away, but it helped me deal with it while waiting for it to pass. Even with my eyes closed I would experience the vertigo. These episodes would REALLY wear me out. I mean total exhaustion here, folks.

Then, I started having ringing in my right ear. On Friday, September 12th, the ringing got SO bad that I was about to go batty. So, I called my chiropractor, and they had me come in. On my way there I had the worst attack of vertigo I'd ever experienced. Yes, I was driving, and it was the worst trip ever. It was SO terrifying! After a time I made it to the office. I had to be helped into the office and to the table. Talk about awkward. I am a VERY independent person, and you know it's bad if I'm asking for help to walk. I don't know why, but I cried a lot. I just felt so out of control. It didn't hurt or anything. It was just REAL bad.

So, I've not had one full-blown episode of vertigo since. However, the week that I had that bad episode was also when I started having trouble with my hearing. After that bad attack of vertigo it went out completely. This Friday will make a full month that I've not been able to hear out of my right ear. I am still experiencing strange things with vertigo type symptoms that never fully emerge into a full-blown vertigo attack, and I have "white noise" in my right ear. That is it. I can hear the occasional vibration from certain sounds, and it's hard to filter through a lot of environmental noise to focus on one thing.

I really appreciate my hearing. The most aggravating thing is when I am driving in my car. My "bad" ear faces my passenger, and I SO cannot hear hardly anything they are saying. It's even worse when the windows are down, and we are on the expressway. It's VERY frustrating. I am beginning to relate to a whole segment of society that lives with something that I never could have imagined I would experience in my lifetime.

I am confident that God has a plan for me with or without my hearing. I am doing my best to see it as a blessing and look for the ways that I will better be able to do His will. Don't get me wrong. It is frightening. I am just looking at the bright side and keeping my mind focused in the right spot. Every so often that means I have to real myself back in. No matter what, God can use me. It is very likely that our next language study will be sign language. :-)