Not just looking in the rear view mirror...

but seriously going back to the middle of what we've endured, been through, and was delivered from in 2017. I know that most say, "don't look back", "what's in the rearview mirror isn't where you're going", or "leave the past in the past"...but I've got to go get the "stones" out of the midst to keep a memorial of that in which God has done for me/us. This Scripture jumped off the page at me after I listened to a sermon the other day. Joshua 4:3 after they crossed over the Jordan & was on the edge of the promise land...God tells Joshua to "go back to the middle"...

Twelve Stones from the Jordan
…2"Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from each tribe, 3and command them, saying, 'Take up for yourselves twelve stones from here out of the middle of the Jordan, from the placewhere the priests' feet are standing firm, and carrythem over with you and lay them down in the lodgingplace where you will lodge tonight.'" 4So Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the sons of Israel, one man from each tribe;…

New American Standard Bible

and I've coincidentally??? got 12 that really stood out? 

https://daughterbydesign.wordpress.com/2012/05/16/its-not-just-a-pile-of-rocks/

1. Purchased our how in the heck outside of God couldn't have home.

2. Free air flight and the Go Fund Me support from family, friends, and complete strangers to take K to a specialist in St. Louis

3. K's whole journey thru insurance, surgery & the recovery

4. Rick getting the position back with original pay, his own location & company vehicle...that was a pay raise in & of itself.

5. K's school placement breakthrough 

6. Thru having temporary vision loss...sent me into finding out more about myself thru spending time with God that story isn't over yet. (Women's ministry groups started, Women of Faith Ambassador certification, WomenSpeak Circle leader acceptance, revamping the Release & Believe business...so much flourishing)

7. Lab results showed our lifestyle has reversed all my previous issues with pre-diabetes, thyroid, cholesterol, blood pressure, etc  

8. Finding a chiropractor that taught us so much about Subluxation and the affects on kid's behaviors.

9. Facing a major fear...in Branson, rode the giant ferris wheel twice (I know silly, but it was a big deal to me).

10. My baby girl getting married, and the saving grace of God that we had a toilet to hang on to while the tornado sirens sounded in a "middle of no where" town.

11. Getting my AFT practitioner certification that launched my Release & Believe business.

12. Remodeling "taking out walls with hammers & choking on insulation I mean" the living room with my oldest daughter...time couldn't have slowed down enough.  

As much as some of the seemingly moments of turmoil...when reflecting; it's been truly a blessed year. Thankful to have a fabulous husband that gave me an experience too personal to put into words here...I've been allowed to practice my faith beyond what many would allow thru this experience. There's a greater understanding of forgiveness than I ever cared to understand, but at the same time I know that because of it our marriage is on the solid rock of everlasting endurance with much joy! I'm looking forward to what 2018 will bring before us...courageous is my word for 2018.

As much as I wish my word was Soar...I know it's not time yet as I am working through the #mountup process still. Happy New Year to each of you! What's your word for 2018?

Ohhhh WOW...

the results from the blood work not only shocked me, but I'm now more determined than ever to do what needs to be done for my health. Let me give you a little history though before I expose the lab results.

The last time I had blood work done or went to the doctor for that matter (yay, that I haven't needed to go in over a year), I was pre-diabetic, I had high cholesterol, high blood pressure, thyroid issues, anxiety attacks, blah, blah, high this and that to the point it was like everything was wrong with me. I decided when we took on the journey to help the kiddo out, I was going to be on board for myself so I never took meds for any of that even after the diagnosis'. My old doctor didn't like me much then especially after I threw a fit and blamed the anxiety meds for causing me so many more issues & quit that.

I danced out of the doctor's office today...well skipped like a little girl with not a worry in the world. Our health journey has paid off with the doctor telling me today to keep doing what I'm doing...because it's working & he'd never seen such a good lab report. I do NOT have lupus (unless I'm weird & have fallen into that 2% category that I talked about in the blog post this morning), and I'm not believing that is the case. Not only do I NOT have that, I'm no longer pre-diabetic by any margin, nor do I have high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or thyroid issues. Matters of fact, I've not had an anxiety attack in a while...if I do, I know what to do. I cannot be more ecstatic about this news, as it's even better than I thought it could be. All issues have been totally reversed!

So why couldn't they tell me this over the phone? I had 5 sheets worth of lab work done, and since I had 3 "high" issues...the doctor has to see me to "prescribe" the treatment for that. So, let's talk about what was on the lab report...I've got some major inflammation going on which we knew by the inflamed optic nerve. There's something definitely still going on, but I can't support it until I know what I'm needing to support. Until then I'll be doing my own anti-inflammatory regime on top of what I'm already doing until more tests can be done thru the neurologist & rheumatologist which I won't see until January. The doctor absolutely loved that I was taking my health into my own hands, and not asking for a prescription(s) to band-aid the symptoms that has a need to discover the root. He's use to people always wanting the band-aid because we don't like the symptoms. I know the symptoms is our body's way of telling us there's something wrong; so until we find the root...I'll do without the domino effect. Until I can meet with the specialist, Praise the Almighty with me...thank you for your continued prayers and support.  I will continue to live the and support my family through whole foods/diet, alternative methods, and add more exercise because it has paid off! #releaseandbelieve has never been even more profound & #MountUp is just beginning!

A little praise report as well...K came home with the ewww snot running non-stop, raw nose, congestion, sneezing, head yuck. We did our thing that we do...and well within 24 hours, he's back to himself! :D