Obtaining Mercy

It's Going Swimmingly

With the tropical disturbance in the Gulf, we are getting a LOT of rain every day.  It feels like we need to "swim" about the yard to check on the garden and out to the mailbox and across town with the rivers of water rolling down the street.

Speaking of the mailbox, yesterday I was tickled to find the first of two books that I ordered last week.  I'm sure you're wondering why in the world I am ordering books when Doug is out of work.  So, I will tell you! ;)

I order all of Isaac's diapers and wipes from Overstock.  Each year, I renew my membership in their "Club O".  For me, it is an excellent deal.  Let me explain. 

The first year, I was automatically enrolled in Club O for free.  That was great.  I earned a certain percentage of O Rewards, which you can spend on their site.  The second year, I hesitated to pay the full amount of the enrollment; but then they offered it for $10 off.  Now THAT was a deal!  I've since discovered that they offer the $10 off every year.  I just wait until then to renew.

In 3 years time, I have received over $300 worth of merchandise with those O Rewards!  And guess what I paid for my Club O renewal last year!  $9.95!!!  Over $100 of merchandise a year for $9.95.

Now I realize that not everyone buys $150 of diapers and wipes every month like we do, and so for you, this might not be worth the money.  For us, though, it works great.

• Last week, I realized I had over $15 in rewards waiting, so I ordered 2 books that I'd been wanting to read.  For them both, including shipping, I paid $1.68.
• Today, I found a 10% off coupon for a food order that I was making online.  It saved me almost $5 AND I got free shipping!!!
• I did quite a bit of surfing on the internet this morning, looking for raw cashews.  I finally found them here in Florida for just over $6 a pound.  We got the large pieces, and that saved quite a bit of money.  I will use these cashews to make sweet dishes on the Hallelujah Diet, and so I don't mind one bit if the nuts are whole or not.
• We picked 5 small tomatoes from our garden today - 3 red and 2 yellow pears...yummy!

Well, Isaac didn't sleep last night.  That's the 2nd time this week that he has done that.  We are trying to track down the culprit causing his insomnia.  We are suspecting that it might be a tummy issue.  Anyway, I am thinking very seriously about taking a nap, so I am going to end this for today.

Looking forward to tomorrow's surprises,

Alesha

A Summer of Diligence

Hello.

I know it's been a while, but I'm going to just jump right in.

We are all doing well.  Isaac is growing and happy and we've had to start shaving his manly whiskers once a week now!

Doug and I are doing well too.

Last Monday marked Doug's first day of unemployment for the summer.  While he is actively seeking a job, nothing has opened up yet; and while all our bills are current, we have been unable to save toward the summer.  It is going to be a real journey of faith, and I thought perhaps you would be interested in reading about that here.

I am going to try to blog daily, and just let you know what the Lord is doing, and how He is helping us save money, make money stretch and in-a-nutshell, survive 12 weeks without income.

It is important, too, for me to let you know that Doug has been accepted into a research program for the Hallelujah Diet, and we will be eating according to that program for the next 5 months.

So, let's get started!

Week #1 -

• We scaled back the  minutes on our cell phone plan and that will save us $20 a month.  Also, Doug switched to one of our old cell phones - a non-smart one - and that will save us $30 a month.
• We changed our internet plan from the medium-speed to the slowest speed and that is going to save us around $17 a month
• We found a grocery store closer to home that carries the foods that we usually have to go to Whole Foods to buy.  We saved on gas and some products were actually cheaper there.
• I had a jewelry order come in, with the monies going directly to Paypal, and the purchaser actually paid a bit over to cover the fee amount that Paypal charges for money transfers.

We were also given some new stuffed monkeys for Isaac - which he loved!  He pulled them out of the bag and started playing with them right away! :)

So, week one was a rousing success.  We aren't going hungry and all the bills are currently up to date.

My theme verse for our new "diet" and for this summer is Proverbs 13:4 - "The soul of the sluggard desireth and hath nothing:  but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat."

Seeking the diligent way,

Alesha

 

Isaac Surgery Update

Isaac's oral surgery went very well. 

The dentist had to remove 3 teeth, but that is pretty much what we were expecting.  He also did a thorough deep cleaning to remove the calculus that had formed on his teeth.  His gums were quite inflammed and will be very sore for about 48 hours.

Thanks to your prayers, there were no complications at all with his breathing during surgery, and he experienced no seizures. He recovered fairly quickly and we are already home. :)

"Thank You!" seems very inadequate to express our gratitude for your prayers for Isaac.  Please accept our appreciation for your intercession for him.

God bless,

Alesha

For Your Humming Pleasure...

 

On the night before surgery,

We loaded up the van...

WITH:

• 12 super-duper diapers
• 11 gallons of unleaded
• 10 papers for the doctors
• 9 ribbons for chewing
• 8 quarters for the snack machine
• 7 bottles of medicine
• 6 cool bandanas
• 5 electronic devices
• 4 cans of formula
• 3 pairs of socks
• 2 changes of clothes
• and a package of Aloe Fresh baby wipes!

Isaac's Funny Little Schedule

Hey y'all.  We've had a good week here at our house.  With the exception of continuing allergy issues, we are all doing well.

Isaac has developed this really odd schedule, and I thought I'd share it with you.  Keep in mind this is a child who has multiple special needs and is not supposed to be aware of things, you know.  Heh!

We put Ike to bed between 8:30-9:00.  He listens to his "Hallelujah" (Gaither video) for about an hour and falls asleep. 

Then somewhere between 3 a.m. and 5 a.m. he wakes up.

Then he goes back to sleep around 7 a.m. and sleeps until Noon.

Isn't that peculiar?

So why is he waking up and staying awake???

Because DADDY is home!  Daddy comes to check on him.  Daddy sits in his room for a while.  Daddy changes him if he's wet.  Daddy gives him his juice and meds at 5:30.

And why does he go back to sleep after 7???

Because Daddy comes in and says, "I'm going to work now.  Be a good boy for Mommy and Mrs. Julie today."

And out he goes like a light!

Isn't that something???

This poor, little unaware, handicapped, developementally delayed child that knows nothing, and is incapable of making decisions or understanding the concept of time wakes up to spend time with his Daddy.  And sleeps the sleep of the dead when Daddy is not here.

Julie and I can talk.  The dogs can bark.  Julie can vacuum, clean the bathroom...he snoozes through all of it...because he doesn't want to spend his waking hours with us.  He'd rather spend them with dear ol' Dad!

I love that he loves his Daddy and is so attached to him.  I love that he knows who he wants to spend time with.  I love that he can alter his schedule to suit his own needs and desires.

God has been so good to us, and I am so thankful that He is allowing our boy to grow and mature.

 

Psalm 139:14 "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well."

 

It also makes me wonder how excited I am to spend time with my Heavenly Father.

Do I wake up early to be in His presence?  Am I willing to give up sleep to talk with Him?  Will I alter my entire schedule just to sit with Him for a while each morning?

Yes, I think there is much to learn from my child in this area.  I think I should probably pay close attention to see what else he can teach me about myself, about life and about God.

I used to think the following verse applied to simple salvation, but maybe there is more to it than that.  I will be meditating on this for a bit, I think.

 

Matthew 18:2-3 "And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them,
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven."

 

Praying you have a blessed weekend,

Alesha

Happy Fall, Y'all! (A Little Late)

I love that it is finally autumn!!!  Of course, we won't be able to tell it here in Florida for another month or so.  Nevertheless, it is nice to know there are cooler days ahead!  This picture was taken by one of my bloggy friends, Shanda.  She lives up north, of course. ;)

Well, we are a-l-m-o-s-t fully recovered from our bout with the cold/flu thingy at our house.  My hubby is still sniffling quite a bit, but the allergens are still rampant here, too, so we think it is more allergies than cold.  We hope so, anyway.

Isaac is continuing to get his days and night mixed up.  Saturday night, he never did go to sleep.  He stayed awake until 5 a.m. Sunday morning!  Sigh...that's not very conducive to getting to church on time, is it???  In fact, he and I didn't make it at all to the morning services.  (I've been dealing with a lot of pain this weekend, so I stayed home with the Sleeping Handsome One.) :)

Doug begins another tutoring session today, and we are quite grateful for this bit of extra income.  I do, of course, still have my shop on Etsy, but it seems like nothing is selling there lately.  I'm hoping that things will pick up nearer the holidays.

I was able to make it to church last night, and to choir practice.  We have started work on our Christmas cantata!  Yay!!!  I love Christmas music and I love to sing with the choir - it's like 2 of my favorite things all rolled up together.  So fun!

My goal this year is to actually sing IN the Christmas cantata.  Usually I end up sick during December and have to watch the cantata from the audience or on the internet.  It is very discouraging, I can tell you, after doing all that work, practicing all those songs, and to end up not being able to perform it together with my choir friends!  I am going to be working very hard to get myself healthy and well and STAY THAT WAY for the next 3 months!

I guess that's it for today's update.  I leave you with a picture of Kepler in her favorite new hiding place:

;o)

Blessings,

Alesha

 

 

A Song of Praise

 

We are all doing better - Yay!  Doug's energy is returning.  Isaac was very vocal last night, singing with the radio and fussing when he dropped his toys, so I'm thinking he's feeling better too! ;)  I am also feeling a little bit better, and think I might just live through this.  When I do, I think I deserve a t-shirt:  "I Survived the Flu 2012!", don't you?!! :)

 

 

I have a song swirling around in my head this morning.  My sweet friend sang it at church last night, and as I watched the service via the internet, I was so touched by the truth of the song, as if it were the first time I was hearing it.  I thought it might be a blessing to you too. :) 

This is the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, the first group I ever heard sing the song.  Damaris Carbaugh is the soloist.

 

 

 

Dwelling on His faithfulness today,

Alesha

Joining the Resistance

 

I know I've been lax on daily or even weekly updates on us, here on the blog, for quite a while.  I plan to do better about that - honest! :)  I'm going to try to allow myself to write shorter entries, and to be less critical of each entry.  It's true that we tend to be our own worst critics, yeah?

So, on with an update:

We had a pretty miserable weekend here.  We are all sick, and it's a good thing misery loves company, because neither Doug nor I felt up to church yesterday.  We all slept most of the day.  I even missed listening to the morning church service online because I was asleep.  I can't even remember the last time that happened.

We are all taking our supplements, especially the new vitamin C powder we added to our arsenal, and I am p-r-a-y-i-n-g that we will be feeling better soon.

Of course, yesterday was supposed to be Doug's first Sunday working in the children's ministry at church.  I cannot help but think this illness had some devilish assistance in finding our house! 

On the days when we feel particularly unimportant, it would be wise for us to remember how hard our enemy fights to keep us from doing our work for the Lord - whether that work is in your home, in your church ministry, or at your job.  The devil would like nothing better than to keep us ineffective in our own personal circles.

 

I Peter 5:8 "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour"

 

We must remember that even though we have a powerful adversary, we have an even mightier Advocate!!!

 

I John 4:4 "Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world."

 

Have things been difficult at your house too?  Believe me, I understand!  Let's pray for one another, and encourage one another to continue strong in our faith, as we do the work the Lord has entrusted to us today.

If you have a particular prayer request, share it with me here in the comments or by email.  I will pray about it with you.  I would appreciate your prayers for us, too. :)

Blessings,

Alesha

Isaac's Appointments and A Thought About Burdens

 

Good morning!

Here's a quick update of Isaac's doctor visits this week:

 

His first visit with the dentist/oral surgeon.  He was rather a young man, but we felt comfortable with him.  Sigh...I find that the older I get, the younger Isaac's doctors get! :o/

The appointment for teeth cleaning and teeth pulling will probably not happen until September or October.  Evidently St. Joseph's Children's Hospital has quite a full schedule for dental procedures. 

We also found out that he will be intubated while they do the procedure.  They do not put the massive tube down the throat (tracheal intubation), but rather a smaller tube through the nose (nasotracheal intubation).  I was really glad when they explained that me!

Isaac's second doctor's visit this week was to the neurologist.  She's the one who works with us for seizure control and sleep issues.  (Although she is constantly trying to get us to have surgeries for various and sundry other issues:  drooling, spasticity, hip subluxation.  Fortunately she is not pushy about these things, because we feel that Isaac has had so many surgeries already, we almost never choose "selective" surgeries for him.)

The neurologist was very pleased to hear that we have not been seeing any seizures, and that Isaac is sleeping fairly well right now.  He had gained a bit of weight and is currently 69.7 pounds.  We do keep a pretty close eye on weight with the neurologist, because each weight gain could be the tipping point between seizure-control and a total lack of seizure control.  We never know which ounce gained will cause that change.

All in all, we had pretty good visits with Isaac's doctors this week.  We still have 2 more scheduled this month, and I will let you know how those go.

Here's a thought that I hope will encourage you today:

 

"There is no burden which, if we lift it cheerfully and bear it with love in our hearts, will not become a blessing to us.  God means our tasks to be our helpers; to refuse to bend our shoulders to receive a load is to decline a new opportunity for growth." ~J.R. Miller

 

I know that life is not always easy, and it often seems that instead of the burden growing lighter as we go along, it gets heavier and more cumbersome. 

However, Jesus promised us the following:

 

Matthew 11:[28] Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
[29] Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
[30] For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

When we accept our situations as being designed for us by our Heavenly Father, the burdens turn in to opportunities.

I do not wish to go through another surgery with Isaac.  There is always a risk and I am not ignorant of that fact.

However, I know that my Father has planned this out for us.  I trust that He is in control of all of it.  I know that He has been faithful in the past, and I trust Him to be the same in the future.

So, instead of looking toward the upcoming events with a sense of dread, I have a peaceful heart.  No matter the outcome, I know I can trust the heart of my Father.  He will only do what is best for me, what is best for Isaac and what is best for Doug.

When I accept this as fact, I can turn my focus from the "what ifs" and be prepared to face whatever opportunity lies ahead of me.

I encourage you today to take a new and perhaps "radical" view of your burdens.  Rather than focusing on the pain of carrying them, imagine what opportunities God might have waiting for you because of them.

Blessings to you,

Alesha

 

---

Travel, Surgery, Celebrations - July Has It All!

 

We are all doing well, here at our house.  Isaac is content and happy most every day, with a few grumpy days occasionally thrown in for good measure. ;)

July is our month of check ups for Isaac.  We will see the oral surgeon, neurosurgeon, gastroenterologist and the neurologist this month...in three different cities around central Florida.  I'm glad all of these six-month- and yearly checkups happen in the summer.  That is so convenient for my teacher-husband, who is my favorite chauffeur in the world.

When we see the oral surgeon, we will be setting a date for Isaac to go into the hospital for work on his teeth.  Since he does not chew up food for each meal, his teeth do not get cleaned the way ours do.  The dental plaque has started to build up and is causing issues with his gums.  At the hospital he will be sedated while they clean his teeth and pull any remaining baby teeth and do any work that they feel is necessary

While we are happy that his mouth will be healthy and pain-free, we do dread the sedation.  If you've ever had surgery, you will understand that from a personal view.  It's always so yucky to wake up after surgery, isn't it? 

Also, you will understand our trepidation if you've ever had your child put under for surgery.  It is difficult on the mommy's heart when her child is sedated and wheeled away, regardless of how many times she has gone through it.

I will certainly let you know when Isaac's oral surgery is planned so that you can pray for me.  OH...and for Isaac, too, of course!!! ;)

Doug and I are doing well.  We will celebrate our 24th anniversary on Sunday.  I find that very, very hard to believe.  I remember when I was a young teen, my aunt and uncle celebrate their "silver" wedding anniversary, and I thought it was such a momentous, unfathomable milestone; and now Doug and I are only one year away from that same milestone in our own marriage. 

Of course, our anniversary always gives me pause, and encourages my reminiscing...and I guess that's a good thing.  I love to think back over God's blessings.  It always makes me very grateful, and that gratitude fuels me for the tasks of each day.

Doug has been out of work this summer, and that has been quite a challenge; but God is always good, and He has met every need.  The Lord has also given us the opportunity to meet the needs of others with the provisions that He has given us.  It has been very exciting to give something away, only to see the Lord replace it when we needed it.  He is always, always faithful; and you cannot OUTgive God.  It really is amazing to see that truth in action in our lives.

With all of the doctor's visits this month, I hope that you will not be disappointed if I miss some devotional posts along the way.  Most of my writing is done in the early morning, and of course, I will not be able to write on the mornings that we are traveling for Ike's doctor's visits.

I want to thank you for reading my posts here at Obtaining Mercy.  I am so thankful for you!  I appreciate your reading and commenting and caring and praying.

May God bless you today with glimpses of Him everywhere you look.

Blessings,

Alesha