725. Difficult times require difficult decisions. ~Jim Bunning

by

53

The struggle of life is one of our greatest blessings.
It makes us patient, sensitive, and Godlike.
It teaches us that although the world is full of suffering,
it is also full of the overcoming of it.
~Helen Keller

Screen shot 2015-05-05 at 7.54.29 PM

Last year was an exacting and troublesome one for me in several ways. Fortunately now that my knee has been replaced, one of the stressful, problematic issues has been successfully resolved. However, in it’s stead another health issue that had been under control for the last half of the year, has raised its ugly head again and gone to an even more distressing level. For decades I’ve been dealing with a neurological disorder called Restless Leg Syndrome. And since in the last few weeks it as been very difficult for me to manage this disorder, I’ve made an appointment today with a new neurologist, but I couldn’t get in to see him until the end of the month. Until then I am and more than likely will continue to get little sleep or be able sit at anything for very long. As a result, I’ve not been able to read many, if any, of your posts for a while now and until this issue improves or is resolved that will sadly continue. I am, however, going to try to continue posting something each day and will do that as long as I am able to; I will also try to answer any comments I get about my posts in a timely fashion. In the meantime, I hope you take good care of yourselves and please know that I am, at least, browsing through your posts as they appear in my inbox even if I am unable sit long enough to hit “like” or comment on them. The Lord, as always, will be with me on this difficult and exhausting journey, and I pray that I will be up to par soon so that I am able to re-engage with each and every one of you. In the meantime, love and hugs to you all, my little band of wonderful readers and followers, Natalie

Has anyone else ever noticed how the colors of life just sort of seem to fade from your days when things become emotionally and physically arduous? Perhaps that’s why I love flowers so much. When all else is gray and gloomy, their bright, colorful faces shine still in the dark days and nights of the soul.

Screen shot 2015-05-05 at 8.00.16 PM

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. ~Isaiah 41:10 ✝

**Images via Pinterest

53 thoughts on “725. Difficult times require difficult decisions. ~Jim Bunning”

  4. Natalie, drink tonic water by the gallon, get some over the counter meds that will help the RLS, and ask the doc for Ropinirole. I use all three, and they work. If not for these I would be up walking constantly, trying to ease the RLS. Prayers coming your way, and HUGS. Angie

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • I’m on Ropinorele twice a day at max dosage, Angie. What over the counter meds are there for RLS? After I had my stroke I have to talk with the doc before I can add anything new. Also since the Tonic water has a touch of quinine in it, I will have to clear that with him as well. Fortunately I see him on Tuesday and can and will ask. Thanks for your advice and willingness to help, my friend. This is really wearing me down now and I’m usually a pretty upbeat person. Crying is the order of the day most days now. Hugs and love, N 🙂 ❤

      Like

      Reply

      • I take the Ropinirole twice a day also, and the OTC med is called “Restful Legs”. I tried to read the active ingred. but they are so tiny and my eyes require larger print now. I used to be able to buy the quinine in tablet form, and it was the only thing that would help my RLS, then they took it off the market, probably because it works, so the tonic water works when you drink enough of it. Had to work to get past the taste at first, but when you have RLS, you get used to it a lot faster than if you are just drinking it for fun. Praying for you lots Natalie as we share this painful journey. Love, hugs and prayers. A.

        Liked by 1 person

  6. Beautiful post my dear friend. My words may be few these days but my thoughts of you and prayers for you are always there. Sending you loads of smiles, hugs, sunshine and blessings and love’s precious light always to surround you. ~Matthew

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  8. and the post I wrote for this morning seems to have your name on it—odd that. . .but it is to you and all who suffer, who continue moving toward the positive, or just continue getting up day after day, as that is all any of us can do— that are truly heroic indeed.
    Prayers for a soothing of nerves and agitation in the legs. . .
    I actually picked up a surcie for you today while at the grocery store—I’ll pop it in the mail tout suite. . .
    Hugs—Julie

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Your post was a balm to my weary soul. And how sweet of you to get something for me. You really shouldn’t keep spoiling me with your sweet “surcies.” I can’t wait to get it and will watch for it in the mail. Thanks, Julie, for being such a good and endearing friend. I pray your “gut” is soothed as well. Much love and huge hugs, N
      🙂 ❤ ❤ ❤

      Like

      Reply

  9. It troubles me to hear you are dealing with this problem Natalie and I am sending all my positive thoughts your way. Keep your chin up, life goes in cycles, what goes up comes down…or as my good friend Juan says “this too will pass”. Many blessing and hugs.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  10. So sorry you are having these health problems, “many are the afflictions of the righteous BUT the Lord delivers them out of them all” I pray for your soon recovery and for a good, long, healing sleep.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  11. Oh Natalie. I have been absent from WordPress for the past couple of weeks. With the move and too many responsibilities, I’ve had too much on my plate. And then I open up and read about your difficulties here. I’m sorry to hear about this N. You really have been having a rough time with your legs/knees this year haven’t you? I will be praying for you, my sister.
    God, I pray for Natalie. I pray that you would sooth her restless legs. I pray that you would allow her to lay down and sleep throughout the entire night. And not just tonight, but from now on. I pray for your complete healing and that you’d dry her eyes. I pray that this storm would pass and that the sun would shine once again. I pray that you would strengthen not just her body, but her spirit as well. May your peace and warmth hold her heart. In Jesus’ name.
    Blessings and hugs, S.
    ❤

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

      • Ohhhhh, It’s my pleasure Natalie. I will keep praying for you sis MN. And yes, there is great, great, GREAT power in HIs name, isn’t there.
        Much love and hugs to you too.
        🙂 ❤

        Liked by 1 person

  12. Just this morning God’s Word came to my heart: “Is any thing too hard for the LORD?” (Gen. 18:14). It was so clear I woke straight up. And it was like God would be happy if I believed exactly that. Sarah doubted and God was not happy. I hope this Word can also renew and strengthen you, Natalie. Much love from me, and wishing you God’s abundant blessings.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  13. My dear Natalie. I am so sorry to hear that yet another health challenge has become worse. I know what it feels like to be so overwhelmed with discomfort, pain and worry that you just have to call it what it is. That stiff upper lip of yours and mine must get very brittle some days, eh? Thank you for letting us ‘in’ on the present challenges and know that thoughts of your recovery are in my heart and will be in my prayers too.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • Thanks, V. No, I hadn’t mentioned it because I really don’t like to burden others with my own miseries. But there comes a point in time when the tears start to flow and the emotions get spent. Thank your kind concern. Much love and huge hugs, N 🙂 ❤ ❤ ❤

      Like

      Reply

  15. Yes, thank you for letting us know, because a burden shared is reduced by half, right? And I’ve heard that tears water the garden of your soul. Do what you need to do to take care of yourself, even if that means your posts get shorter, they are all plenty beautiful. I’m praying for God to fill you with peace and comfort.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

  18. Dear Natalie, plenty of positive thoughts, and you too, concentrate inside you… ( it’s what I did against a flu virus rather offensive with my lovely kitten miss h, and a bottle of warm water – positive thoughts)
    Thank you for your beautiful messages, hugs !
    Struggle for life, for vitality is a day after day reality

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

    • I so appreciate your positive thoughts and well wishes, my friend. And thanks for the lovely comment about my messages. And you are so right, life is a daily struggle for vitality, but the Lord promises to give us the strength we need for each day. Hugs and blessings, N 🙂 ❤ ❤ ❤

      Like

      Reply

  22. Natalie we are praying for you! This post is so beautiful. I am familiar with this type of disorder – ask the neurologist about the possibility of an anti-seizure medication to help. I knew someone that was helped with a muscle disorder with daily doses of an anti-seizure medicine. It helped the muscles to calm down and they could sleep. I know this illness is painful. PLease know that we your readers love and care about you!

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Fill in your details below or click an icon to log in:

Gravatar
WordPress.com Logo

You are commenting using your WordPress.com account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Twitter picture

You are commenting using your Twitter account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Facebook photo

You are commenting using your Facebook account. ( Log Out /  Change )

Cancel

Connecting to %s

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.