Understanding Easter

This Easter something I have known in my head, for what seems like forever, finally penetrated my heart.

My body is not my own – but bought by Christ on the cross so many years ago.

This trial of my heart is not over my physical heart but my spiritual heart.

God has impressed upon me that this is “not unto death”, so if by His stripes I am healed here – Praise the Lord! If I am healed upon entering eternity – Praise the Lord!

I can finally say as Paul, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. … for when I am weak, then am I strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 KJV

So what does this mean – for me I will continue to pray for strength to stand up and to complete the day, I will continue to take care of the physical body entrusted to me be it through diet, medicine, surgery… but I will no longer bargain with the Lord by impenitently saying, “When My body is better then…”

Lights, Cameras, Action! Highlights from the 2009 Christian Filmmakers Academy

When Vision Forum asked me to choose one of their new albums to review, my immediate response was to accept the Let Freedom Ring: 13 CDs from the Philadelphia Faith and Freedom Tour, being a PA transplant; but my husband said “No way, didn’t you say we should send DS to their Film Academy? Get the movie album!” Even after reminding him that DS was no were near the age to attend the Academy, hubby insisted that Lights, Cameras, Action! Highlights from the 2009 Christian Filmmakers Academy was the definite way to go; besides he’d listen to all 19 CDs with me…

Well, having a deadline negated hubby from listening (he heard about half of one) but I was totally blown away with the content included on these CDs! DS has been begging for the CDs and I think I will hold them out as the proverbial carrot if you know what I mean, if hubby doesn’t snag them for his car ride into work.

Why was I so impressed? Part of it may have been I underestimated the Christian Filmmakers Academy, I just didn’t realize how professional they really were nor did I understand the vast amount of information they would convey.

I learned so much about film making starting with the very basics of frame composition and camera selection to uses for color grading and even some stunt secrets – baby powder, who knew? How to avoid common mistakes for beginning directors, how to help your actors, contacts for networking, they even touched on proper padding for stunt professionals, camera angles, storyboarding, marketing and distribution!

What didn’t I like about the album? Speaking as a newbie here and really not knowing about the film industry other than as a consumer, what I know has come from DVD Special Features and what my DS has taught me with his stop motion films or camcorder shorts, my biggest disappointment was that it was only the Highlights. Next was that since we were discussing film, it would have been nice to see the clips under discussion; I realize however, that this may have not been possible due to copyright issues. So, I had to be content with PDFs of the slides used during the lectures.

Even more impressive than the massive technical information was the fact that, sometimes while listening, I felt as if I was in church. I know we are to live our lives through the lens of Scripture, but knowing that and doing that are two different things. I was extremely humbled hearing from men who truly see God as the center of all things, are excelling in their selected field, and are willing to educate others.

The Biblical foundation they laid certainly applied to film, but so much more: the arts in general, writing, comics, painting, graphic novels, and video games – all areas DS and other young men are interested in; not only in the creation of, but for the viewing of as well.

Certainly listening to successful producers, directors, and actors whom have movies in the theaters, on cable, and in DVD distribution; extolling the virtues of Christ while imparting the importance of maintaining and promoting a Biblical world view add credence to what many of us parents are already teaching our aspiring artists.

Thank you, Vision Forum and Christian Filmmakers Academy! We’ll be looking forward to next years CDs.

Heart Health Update

I know I should have updated before but …

Since the last heart entry:

• I have been on a few more meds and even a combination to no avail.
  
• My MRI came back clear (no stroke), praise the Lord!
  
• I was diagnosed with COI, Chronic Orthostatic Intolerance so named by neurologists, something something Tachycardia by cardiologist; but it’s the same thing. The two medications I was on the longest are known to cause COI and I have other classic symptoms.
• My blood work came back indicating that my thyroid had indeed been negatively affected by the meds; thus the swelling of my extremities (I had to take my rings off because of my thyroid not any marital trouble, that’s a bit of humor, but true)
• I was taken off all medications for a 3 month trial period (to be over in about 2 weeks) – This has been awesome!!!
• Atrial Fib and Neurovascular Syncope are still an issue, but for the most part occurring only during the last 2 weeks of the feminine cycle. This makes sense as the atrial fib was originally caused by synthetic hormones that were made to mimic the natural hormones released at this time – also syncope is a blood flow issue and of course blood flow is changed at that time as well. My last cycle scared us a bit; as I almost didn’t make it from the chair to the sofa (syncope) then immediately went into A. Fib at 187 beats/min. It just underlined the fact that their suggestion that I don’t drive at certain times of the month was not really a suggestion.

COI unfortunately is not contained to 2 weeks each month but a daily constant. COI causes the weird neurological sensations, chronic Tachycardia (rapid heartbeat), weakening of muscles, brain fog, and fainting sensation. For which the patient needs to lay down much of the time.

With extreme care COI is possibly reversible through exercise. It is hard because the cure can cause increased Tachycardia and for me (just because I like to be special) Syncope, both of which can lead to Atrial Fib and other undesirable outcomes.

• I am to increase exercise at a ridiculously slow rate 2 – 5 minutes a day for a minimum of 1 to 2 weeks before increasing it by another 2 – 5 minutes and so on to get rid of COI, while trying to avoid syncope and atrial fib. Recommended exercise is on a stationary bike then a treadmill – I have both. I am not able to exercise if I have a flu; as with congestion comes breathing problems which naturally increases the heart rate and I cannot increase it any further.
• I am able to drive again limited to days when the exercises doesn’t trigger COI, Syncope, or Atrial Fib and not during ovulation/menstruation.
• I can resume normal house work etc with the same limitations as above
• I have been warned by the doctor that this is a long process, he suggested 5 years as a minimum, articles we’ve read on the internet say recover is undocumented – Praise God now that it won’t be that long!
  
• There is a procedure but it only has 50% success rate and it would limit my life forever as it involves a pacemaker; I would be sent to a hospital in a different state if they would take my case (my doctor has referred others with less complications, who have been turned down)
• Along with COI my thyroid has been damaged – it is being watched, the hope is that further from the damaging meds and with the exercise it will recover and I will lose weight again, plus be able to lose the weight gained due to side effects. This is huge prayer request! As losing weight will benefit my heart and spur on COI recovery. Getting rid of COI will lessen syncope as no longer will everything be a “stressor/trigger”. Lessening syncope, as well as time away from med induced atrial fib, could possibly make me atrial fib free. In addition the added weight and my family history make me a candidate for Type II Diabetes so a functioning thyroid would be very beneficial.

Current Prayer Requests:

• Wisdom to know when to go to the hospital if atrial fib or tachycardia become a problem– this is not clear cut due to the multiple issues
• Wisdom to know when and how far I can drive – we don’t want to get stuck somewhere or have an accident
• Patience, about two years ago I was doing an hour on the treadmill
• Wisdom to know how long to exercise, and when to do the next increase
• Again, against atrial fib and stroke and that syncope be back under control
• Healing from all side effects: brain fog, COI, thyroid, vision, unspoken.

Just so you don’t think it’s all bad – I have been loving being off the medicines! Just being of the medications allows me to push through some of the COI (as long as I don’t go above 150, I have to back off when I start getting into the 150s).

My mom had to come visit to make sure when I started excising nothing happened; but we got some bulk groceries in, some deep cleaning done, and she taught me how to crochet. Of course the boys loved having her here and kept asking when Poppop was coming down and who would visit next Grandma and Granddaddy, cousins, Aunts, Uncles …

But the best thing of all is we’ve been reading a lot about thyroids and Iodine came up – we had already read that Iodine deficiency can play a part in Atrial Fib as well. So, I started taking the recommended Iodine supplement last week and my heart rate has decreased 10 to 20 beats across the board: at rest, laying down, standing up, even not going as high while doing my few seconds of exercise! Hopefully, this will continue to be the case even during “that time”.

I want to thank everyone again for all the prayers and offers to help. Especially, for rides for the boys to their activities – it means the world to us!

We’re still expecting a miracle!

Praising the Lord

I know I haven’t posted for some time and I need to give a health update, however last week was extremely rough, as far as, the heart issue is concerned; and I don’t want to do that today. I love the thought of publicly thanking the Lord and want to do so again by participating in “Works of God Weekend” so here goes:

1. Our heater broke last Friday and not this weekend.

• We have a fireplace.
• We were able to purchase wood.

• We were able to haul the wood.

• We have sleeping bags and warm clothes.

2. Although, the part of the heater that burn up a bit was in the attic, producing a fowl odor and some smoke, our insulation and therefore the house did not catch on fire.

3. A member of our church does repairs for a living, so we were able to have the heater fixed Monday and we know we will be paying a fair price and that it has been fixed properly.

4. One of the reasons I have not been posting is because I have received a few Internet jobs and they take all of my extra energy – so this praise is threefold:

• First, I received the jobs and with much prayer, I have been able to do the work.
• Second, I received a payment this week (providential timing!)
• Third, the laptop on which I work would not reboot (containing the final version of the assignment) – after prayer it did! I transferred to our main computer (which doesn’t always work either) and was able to send the job in.

5. Our eldest has received a few computer games as gifts over the last few years and various computer issues have made it so he could no longer play his games on the weekend, his daddy contacted the customer service and through trial and error has managed to get the games working again!

6. Family and friends!

• Nana decided to buy DS6 several hats and gloves even though the daffodils had started blooming
• Our neighbor brought DS12 two wonderfully warm jackets over on Friday.

7. Even though we had tornado warnings all of yesterday, DS6 was able to participate in his last basketball game without any migraine medication!

8. We don’t have to worry about Global Warming – it’s SNOWING in Georgia!

9. It’s snowing in Georgia! DS12 and his daddy have been missing snow for so long, while DS6 has heard all the stories and seen a flake here or there, that when we heard there was a chance we’ve all been praying!

10. Georgia Snow Boots: To make your own – Place your foot in one or two plastic bags and tie somewhat tightly. Then slide into a “Croc” style shoe with the strap down in the back position. Whala a truly redneck but functional boot (sort of, but it worked for us).