Photography, Retreating and Testing

Hello again friends!

It never ceases to amaze me how much can happen in a month (or a little more in this case). Where shall I begin? Let's start with the good stuff! It has been an absolutely beautiful fall here in West Central Wisconsin. The leaves were gorgeous this year! I was able to do a family photo shoot at a local park as well as spend a fun day shooting the fall leaves at Irvine Park in Chippewa Falls with my mom. I'm pretty sure that God is a Green Bay Packers fan because there seems to be an overabundance of green and yellow trees this year! The photograph above was taken at Irvine Park and was featured on the local evening news last night along with a few other submissions by local viewers. They liked it :-)

I was able to go to our Western Great Lakes District Women's Retreat in beautiful Green Lake, WI earlier this month. Our speaker was Susie Larson and I was so blessed by her. There were so many good things at retreat. God was clearly present and He used Susie to speak into many lives, including mine. You know how there are things that you know, but it's a distant knowledge somewhere in the back of your mind? God revealed something to me that I should have known, and probably did on some level. When I got sick and my life drastically changed I had some major adapting to do. I firmly believed that God was redeeming my health issues and bringing good out of a not so good situation. Knowing that, I still somehow had the mindset that I had to figure out what Plan B for my life is. Plan A was taken away and now I have to figure out something else. 

God (lovingly of course) slapped me upside the head and told me that THIS is His Plan A for my life. I knew that He wasn't surprised when I got sick, but this? It kind of shocked me. I started thinking and praying about it and I realized that MY Plan A was to serve God overseas, sharing His glory with those who have never heard the name of Jesus. Then I thought about where God has me right now. I work at a church and I'm helping to bring the Perspectives class to our area. This class is all about sharing the glory of God with the nations, all peoples. My photography business, called Glory Displayed, focuses on sharing the glory of God through His creation at the same time raising awareness of human trafficking and funds to fight it, bringing freedom to the captives. I'm continuing to learn what it means to walk my freedom in Christ, I'm learning that I exist to bring glory to God. We all do. How is this different from my Plan A? It's not! The path my life has taken is not the one I thought it would be, but it's taking me to the same destination. How I missed this before I don't know, but I praise God for using Susie Larson to open my eyes! When I came to retreat I was weary, exhausted and holding on for dear life. When I left retreat, I was refreshed, excited and ready to fight. Praise the LORD!!

Now to the testing...testing of my faith? Yes! But I already wrote about that. This time I'm talking about the exciting world of medical testing :-/ I won't gross you out by the different tests and procedures I've had this past month, let's just say they weren't fun. Everything came back fine for the most part. In other words, they still have no idea why I've lost so much weight! I have an appointment with my rheumatologist at Mayo Clinic in Rochester on Thursday so my GI doctors at Luther in Eau Claire suggested talking to him when I'm there to see if he can get me in with the GI department at Mayo on Thursday. They sent an e-mail to him, giving him a head's up. So that is my major prayer request for this month. Right now I'm scheduled to get all my blood sucked out of me at 9:00 (that wasn't dramatic at all was it?!) and see my rheumatologist at 1:00. Pray that if there is another doctor I should see that day that one would be available. 

Pray also for wisdom for my rheumatologist. It has been just over a year since the last time I saw him. The Undifferentiated Connective Tissue Disease is becoming more active as evidenced by the incessant itching, more rashes, more pain and a general increase in the things I normally deal with. My hands have been hurting more and my feet have started hurting a lot. That is really annoying! My rheumatologist in Eau Claire wants to put me on Benlysta, a new lupus drug. There would be a lot of logistics to figure out if I go on this, not to mention all of the possible new side effects and seeing if my body will even accept the treatments.

Thursday has the potential to be overwhelming and I would really appreciate your prayers! I know God is in control and I give Him all the praise and glory for what He is doing in my life. He loves me so much and you know what? He loves you so much. Really. You are loved and cherished by the Maker of the Universe. How cool is that?!

"Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! I sought the LORD, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant, and their faces shall never be ashamed." -Psalm 34:3-5