Thankful

It is Thanksgiving soon and there are so many reasons to be thankful. I am extremely thankful for the blessings in my life. I am thankful that currently medication is helping with my pain level, I have less pain then I have had in over 2/3 years. I am able to participate more in life. I feel grateful that I am able to drive in the morning now. I even took my daughter to school one morning and she has to be there at 7:30am. My body was not operating in the early hours for over a year.


I am grateful that all these medical expenses have not put us in a huge amount of debt. Last month alone I paid out of pocket $220 in co-pays and I got a bill for $184. That means in one month just to go to my doctors appointments it cost me $404. This doesn't include my cost of prescriptions, vitamins/supplements, or the many other regimens that I do in order to stay operating. To be honest I have no idea how we have kept up, but by the grace of God we have.


I am thankful for all I have learned from being sick. I don't know where this road is going to lead but I know already I have come across so much information that I have been able to share with others. There is SO much that food has to do with so many of our issues ( autoimmune, diabetes, cancer, add/adhd, and the list goes on). I've heard it a million times throughout my life but until I studied and it was broken down as to why and how; that is when it all began making perfect sense. The way our organs and immune system operates and what our food does when it goes into our body and how it is able to get into our blood stream etc. I understand now why I am so sick. This gives me hope because I have things I can do to sustain and hopefully one day thrive.


I am thankful that I am not alone. As much as I don't wish this disease on anyone. I have come across many people (mostly on instagram) that live with RA and lupus and other auto immune diseases. They fight everyday like I do to stay operating and living. I also more recently have talked a little with a guy at my church who suffers with RA. He serves every week and stands ups before and after each service. This brings me to tears when I think of it because if everyone only knew how much sacrifice that takes from a person in chronic pain, its nothing short of amazing that he chooses to do this week after week.


I am thankful for friends and family. I am thankful for the care, love, help and assistance I have received. This journey is so hard that it can't be done alone.


I am thankful for my pastor and my church. My pastor came to the hospital and prayed with Carl and I when I had surgery. He also met with us to pray over me and ask for healing. He also has been an encourager of this blog-telling me to keep writing, and I am a good writer. What?! I know I am not. ( I failed my college exit writing exam twice). I just bust out these blogs randomly with no organization. They often have many mechanical and spelling errors because to be honest I rarely proof-read them. But his encouragement made me glad.


I am thankful because of being sick I don't take life for granted as much. I treasure each moment I have with my 91 year old grandma or time with family. I smell the fresh air more and I get to enjoy the little things because I have to do things slower.


I am thankful that I have been able to work more lately and contribute financially.


I am thankful for my car, house, clothes and food. I know these are practical and its easy to want more and better. My I am thankful for the ones I have and the older I get ( and sicker) I want things more simplistic. :)