I have had so many people ask me if I had a blog to follow.
Really didn't think I had anything interesting to say, but I am thinking maybe it will be good for me to remember what happens once and awhile!
I will start at the beginning of a huge change that took place in my life. I hope I don't sound like a whinner. I don't share with too many people what is really going on in my life because I don't want pity. I just want people to understand this journey I am on and why I feel like I am in a valley.
I was bitten by a tick approximately 19 years ago. Thankfully my daughter remembered it. I of course had forgotten. I had the bulls eye rash and at the time most hadn't heard of Lyme disease or the effects it can take on a person. Most people if they are infected can usually recover very quickly if the proper treatment is given to them as soon as possible. My life went on as normal being a farm wife, working with lots of hogs daily and doing my usual things. In 1991 I began working at Pella Christian High School and started part time at The Village Florist also a couple years later. (like I said earlier memory is not my strong point) In 1994 I was given the opportunity or looking back kind of thrown into becomming owner of The Village Florist. We also moved to the Family Farm that year. So life was changing. I spent many many hours at the Flower shop and loved most of it! In 1997 our daughter got married, we moved the flower shop, I had a complete hysterectomy and my mother in law lost her short fight to cancer. So much stress was in our lives I began to get mono all the time. Just couldn't shake it. I had such a wonderful staff of employees during this time it was a God send that I could rest some. Soon afterward my health started going down hill. Everyone thought it was from the stresses and grief. I just could get on top of it. Then in 1999 my mother died very suddenly. My dad died when I was 9. I was 40 years old and felt very much like an orphan. It was a weird feeling. I am so thankful for the wonderful brother and sister I have, we are truly not only family, we are great friends. After this I really started feeling horrible. I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue, Severe Arthiritus, Depression, supressed immunity and whatever they could pin on a failing health women. I did pretty good going to work as normal but could no longer do the 60 hour weeks. I was lucky to put in 30. I was exhausted. We prayed for God to send an answer. I knew being the owner of the Flower Shop meant I needed to be there more than I could. I came so close to selling it at one time and it was as if God said not now. So I pulled back and went at it more determined than ever to be there as much as possible. I had a wonderful group of employees so I knew they could handle it, it is just different when you can't be there. I did as much as possible there and did work from home some. Finally in 2005 my niece was getting married in May and I knew she would let me do whatever I wanted with flowers. I was having a blast planning things. Then I approached someone about buying the flower shop. She had boughten the De Bloom n Huis and thought to combine them both would be beneficial. We prayed for God to lead us again. I had a very heavy heart, this is something I loved, I really truly loved and cared about my employees, they were like my family. What would happen to them? I knew how much debt I carried and what I had to have to get out of debt or break even. My husband never asked me how much debt we had. He made the deal with them on the phone. I said "honey you have no idea how much debt we have" he didn't care he said he wanted his wife to live. So one week after the big bang of my nieces wedding I walked out of the flower shop as owner. A stage and chapter of my life that had been so long was now changed. I knew God knew what was best but to be honest I was very bitter and angry. I loved the flower shop, no is wasn't all roses, but it had been part of my life for so long! I really wasn't too impressed with my husband either at the time. So I went home and was going to clean every inch of the house good. Well I still haven't gotten that done!
I would do a little and have to rest. I was finding it harder and harder to even get around. I was so stiff and sore I could barely walk or get out of bed some days. After many doctor visits and being told to rest, rest, rest my daughter started doing research on Lyme disease. She made an appointment for me in Kansas City at an infectious Disease Doctor. It took one year to get in to see him. After seeing me and running a battery of tests I was tested positive for Lyme disease. I also have a co infection called Babesia. I could bore you to tears with all the different treatments I have gone through the frustrations and trials. I know my life has changed dramatically. I also know God is with me in this valley of my life. Each day is different. I cherish if I have a good day or even a few good hours. I know I can not do all I want to do. I just do what I can do. I have the wonderful support of a great family and some very dear friends who have walked beside me through this journey. I know this isn't the end of my story, it is the beginning. I know God is going to use this trial in my life for His glory. I pray for the courage and strength to go through this treatment time which can take away so much from me each and every day.
Family 2011
