Affirmation Thursday (and Pain update)

(First, before I start...is anyone else "enjoying" the new OS Lion for Mac...where if you don't watch your finger on the mouse, your entire page will just go flying off to the right and disappear?  Horizontal scrolling.....lovely......AGH!  lol)

Okey dokey.....maybe I should have titled this, "Keeping It Real".....I decided to share more details because several have written and upon learning, understood in a deeper way....

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Am I the only girl who likes to control timelines?  Oh my....I truly am doing SO much better than my entire life before, but sometimes I have to stop and realize:  "Hey, I am NOT in control of this".

My favorite affirmations this week are:

I give thanks for the Divinely planned journey under Divinely planned conditions with the Divinely planned supply.

~~~

Adverse appearances work for my good, for God utilizes every person and every situation to bring to me my heart's desire.  "Hindrances are friendly" and obstacles spring boards!

I now jump into my good!

~~~

So, my pain and medication withdrawal update:

7 short weeks ago, I asked my doctor to wean off ALL my pain medications.  Rather than be vague, I will straight up tell you that I was on 300mg of a long-acting pain medication.  Three HUNDRED milligrams.  (You can click on the chronic pain, nerve damage, and spinal cord stimulator links to the right to read all about my diagnoses, conditions, medical test results, etc.)  If you have snacks and drinks, you can read the So What Happened To Me full story....Suffice it to say, there is plenty of medical proof for the medical blessings I have been given.

In early June, my pain lifted  - you can read that story HERE.   I went from 24/7 burning/searing pain to feeling amazing.  In seconds flat.  It was definitely a God-thing.

Now, 7 weeks is super fast and yet I was doing great...my first drop in dose was 100mg and I had 3 hours of restless legs and that was the sum total of withdrawal.  I was so encouraged (after having been warned I may feel like dying...).

At the outset, I wondered if doing so at this time was the smartest idea, as we typically go to Dallas sometime in June or July and that was going to drastically change my physical situation (8+ hour car rides both ways..).  I held steady on the current dosage while gone, but dropped again in dosage the day we drove home.  Ack.

As I hit 60 mg a day, I started to feel it.  At that point, I was on 30 mg, every 12 hours.  When I went to ONE PILL A DAY, 3omg total, I was putting on that smile but the behind the scenes reality wasn't pretty.  The first 3 days of each drop in dose, I would "feel it" but then my body would adjust and I'd have 3-4 days of feeling good before the next drop.

Until last Sunday I went to NO more medication (except what is called "BT - breakthrough meds, of which I am allowed 2 a day.).......

Well, I will just say straight up - Oh My Goodness.  My wonderful, LITERAL husband just stared at me with so much compassion but a huge question:

Why would a girl who was just walking 12 miles a week and just got her entire life back DO THIS TO HERSELF?  

I had to explain to him, again, the realities of being a pain patient.  (If you are a pain patient, you already know....)

The United States is having a war on pain meds.  Because of abuse and addition, ALL legitimate patients NEEDING these meds are being attacked.  It is humiliating to go to ANY doctor and have to admit being on these meds because they DO NOT WANT YOU AS A PATIENT.  Why?  We are ALL seen as "drug seekers".  (There are many "patients" who lie to get the meds, to promptly turn around the sell them.  Some for evil motives, others to simply pay their mortgage.)  But nevertheless, the nurses and docs at these clinics are TRAINED to be on the lookout for abuse and lies.

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And I was tired of it.  I have wires and leads in my spinal fluid, for goodness sakes...that doesn't "PROVE" I am not lying?  Answer - it does NOT.

To start off with, most pain patients are required to sign a contract stating that they will get NO other pain-related meds from any doctor unless in an emergency situation.  (I don't have a problem with this - just wanted to add this for those that don't know how serious it is...)

I was tired of being drug-tested 3+ times a year.  (Sometimes with stick tests in office and other times with it being mailed off.)  

WHY drug test me?  To make SURE I have the meds I am prescribed IN MY SYSTEM.   (Whereas, most drug tests are used to prove there AREN'T drugs in your system.)  Isn't that a shock?  To prove I'm not selling them.

(Willingly submitting for an employment drug test feels entirely different, btw.)  Knowing that any minute, any single thing you do or say could get you "kicked out" of the only place that helps you live your life.....


While I am very thankful there are doctors willing to put up with this mess, I wish there was a better system.  I'm personally in favor of a national database that shows what and where...to stop "doc shopping".

I just wanted a different life.  To be perfectly honest.  I wanted to go to EVERY doctor I have and happily announce what I had done.  That I was FREE.

So.  I have had tears this week, with the return of some pain.  

Am I proud of myself for dropping 300mg in 7 weeks?  ABSOLUTELY.  

But why more pain?

Well...to revisit the beginning of this post....I am NOT in control of the timeline.  Duh, Cheri.  Who am I to claim it will be complete in 7 weeks?  Silly silly Cheri.

Today, I had my pain appointment.  And guess what?  I was drug-tested to see if I am now on marijuana for pain relief (illegal in my state and never prescribed) because WHO just says, "I want to be off pain meds?"  This was a red flag.  I am serious.

GRRRR....

I passed the drug test(S)......Duh....and they then proceeded with my appointment.  Because I react extremely negatively to any "nerve" medications (which are actually seizure medications mostly)...I have gone back on a tiny dose of pain medication.....45 mg a day.   And we are not shelving the plans to get off again.

Guess what the doctor said?  Getting off that much meds in that short of time likely has thrown my body in to sort of a "shock".  Not a "dead in a minute" sort of shock, but just too much, too soon.  That encouraged me. I plan to get my sea legs back and work on my MIND.....my affirmations....

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I KNOW why the pain returned......there is another lesson for me to learn.  And I'm up for it....pain is a nice motivator.  :)

As my beloved friend Barbara said:  "As it says in the Bible, 

 "It Came........to PASS." 

Most people say it as one thing..............it CAME to PASS.....

But really....say this with the pauses....

It Came.........................To Pass.

So, while my journey has hills and valley, it IS Divinely planned.

Oh, and one more thing.  I sadly discovered that one thing that caused a massive fire BLAST in pain was drinking/eating sugary food items.  AGH!!!  So, on top of everything else, I have given up 90% of the sugar in my life.  Woo Hoo!!  Sugar is not healthy, anyway...but I didn't know if I could ever do it.  Fire in the butt sure helped that.  (BTW, my blood test results are not diabetes or pre-diabetes related......a former holistic-minded MD told me that SUGAR is the number one enemy of pain.  She cured herself of Fibromyalgia after everything she knew about medical science failed her.  This began her holistic journey and while she still can and does treat medically, she STARTS with food and things we ingest, every single patient.  She said it got her escorted out of a few Fibromyalgia meetings, as almost any pain patient will tell you.....sugar is one thing that makes us happy when nothing else seems to be working.)

I hope I covered everything...let me know if you have any other questions....

Weekend Randoms

We had a busy weekend.. if I had worn a pedometer, I'd have a lot more to add to my exercise log...

Week before last, we walked 12 miles over 7 days at the park.....and that doesn't include the nightly walking the dogs around the neighborhood.  So fun!

This week, we walked 11 miles....Andy has an iPhone app that has GPS and tracks our exact path plus tells us how long we walked and the distance.  Love that.

Here is a photo of Sage last night - her favorite part of going walking - the car ride.  lol

She sits up in the chair like a big girl....then we get to the park and have to coax her out.  Once we get going, she loves it.. the geese at the park...don't love her.  lol If they only knew what a scaredy cat she is....

We've gone to several movies and I have been surprised at how strong my legs are.  I used to walk up the movie auditorium steps one at a step...now I just walk up them strongly and quickly.   Walking DOWN the steps, I used to stand behind Andy, holding his shoulders for support, one step at a time.  Now he prefers to stand beside me holding my hand, but my balance and strength are night and day improved.  Yay!

We've also been trying to find a new dog food that helps Sweety's allergies without having to spend hundreds of dollars on allergy testing and meds....final result - Blue Buffalo chicken adult food with a small spoonful of Blue Buffalo wet food mixed in for Sage.  We learned that German Shepherds (she is half German Shepherd and Golden Retriever)...can be really picky eaters.   We had them on Bil Jac for years...with it being the first and only food they both loved.  But now with Sweety's allergies and Sage's new fatty lipoma on her shoulder, I researched dog foods.  Bil Jac is a 1 star food.....high priced Purina, I guess.  Darn!

We decided to get a 4 star dog food or higher....tried Avoderm, the Blue Buffalo Wilderness (both grain-free)...then the Blue Buffalo chicken....after chatting with an expert.  Sweety will eat anything...Sage.....food strikes regularly.  lol  Blue Buffalo is actually a 5 Star food.

And the best part?  Petco took back the opened 2 dog foods that didn't work out...Yay!!

And finally, we're planning a trip to our hometown..to visit family .....

AND

We aren't taking the recliner!!  We aren't going to travel like the Clampitt's!!  I'm gonna sit in the front seat like I used to......

Oh, speaking of that...I am now down 80% in former medication related to the nerve damage....only 20% to go.  It's been going great...just a few days where I felt a little tired...I've still only taken one dose of the medicine given to me for reactions and withdrawal...it is just amazing.

Hope you had a great weekend!!

Update on Face

Today is one week since the chemical peel debacle/allergic reaction...and I wanted to share a current photo, untouched by photo editing other than to crop.  I was told it would be 3 WEEKS before my face would heal.  THREE WEEKS??

To recap:

7 Days Ago

Had little to no improvement with the zillion products the salon gave me for free.  They literally gave me a sample size of ALL the skin care samples they carry to see if anything would help heal my skin and nothing did.  It all burned when I put it on.   Started using my Simply Divine Botanical "regular" skin care products and after Two days:

Two Days After using Simply Divine Botanical skin care products (my "regular" skin care products)

4 days after using Simply Divine Botanical products:

And with makeup on:

This was in the house with that lighting - 2 days ago, Sunday.

Just got back from my one week checkup and am getting 4 complimentary oxygen facial treatments ($320 value!) AND she was SO impressed with Simply Divine Botanicals that she is calling the company and ordering some to try.  She thinks it would be great to have on site.  My posting is acting up , so this is above the next photo because I can't get it to work any other way.  Weird.

 

Same day, in the car with different lighting.

Keeping it Real - Beauty Salon Mishap

Well, my dear readers, I've been MIA this week due to an unexpected incident at a spa......I had a coupon for a glycolic peel and had that done last Monday.  I have had 3 of these before (at a different salon in a different state) so had NO reason to worry of any kind.

This salon is state of the art and super nice.....and all went well until......it didn't.  My pain tolerance is freaky high, so I did not feel anything alarming.  However, once I got home, I wondered why my face looked like THAT.  (And thinking back, during the peel, the lady kept putting the light really close and really examining my skin, while claiming all was well.  I think she was waiting for me to freak out with pain complaints, but since I didn't, she kept going.)  All of my doctors can tell you waiting for MY pain to be any indication of a situation is a lost battle and a misuse of time.....

By the evening when hubs came home, he F.R.E.A.K.E.D. out.  I got up to go look at my face and it was NOT good.  NOT good.  Here is a little snippet....I won't show my entire face because you won't sleep tonight if I do:

Imagine that ALL OVER my face.  Yeah.  I really had a panicked moment, with my face not only visibly awful but swollen and "texturized"?  I really had a compassion moment for folks who deal with very severe acne...and frankly realized how shallow I am, I guess.......Praying that my skin would return to normal.  

I called the salon the next day to inquire what I should be doing to be safe from infection.  They had me come right in to see their medical aesthetician.  Wellll....let's just say,.....after everyone got done flipping out and tending to me, I walked out with over $150 in FREE product, including tons of skin care products and a mineral makeup I can wear safely while I wait up to 3 weeks...........WEEKS....to heal.

At first, they suspected a bad burn or bacterial reaction.  We now know it was an allergic reaction. Who me?  The girl who is allergic to chicken and turkey and other odd things?  Well, yes.  Figures.

I used all their different products with very little success UNTIL I went back to using my standard Simply Divine Botanical products.  You know, yawn.........I just go on and on and on about how wonderful they are but HELLO!  They have healed THAT situation up there  in that photo!!  My skin looks 10 times better in only 24 hours.

I got to reading on my SDB bottles and the toner actually says:

"Use for enlarged pores, cuts, rashes, and sunburn too."

I have somewhat of a burn, yes?  Woo Hoo!

Ladies, I have used the Gypsy Rose Tea Toner/Astringent, the Black Velvet Fabulous Foaming Cleanser and the Melon Medley, a WONDERFUL blend of oils that my skin just soaks right up....

After all the other products......these wonderful, natural 100% chemical free skin care creations did the trick.  It WON'T be 3 weeks...I can just tell.

Here is my face 2 days after using these natural products exclusively:

Pictures don't really capture the intense difference....but I am VERY relieved.


If you have not tried Simply Divine Botanical products yet, what are you waiting for??  Have you seen my skin in my OTHER photos?? I am 44 people!!  It is this company that I credit......

Cleanser and Foam Bottle.  They also have a formula for oily/acne-prone skin.

This is the toner I use twice a day and cannot live without.  The Rose spray I use multiple times a day - just spritz on to set my makeup and add hydration throughout the day.  Feels lovely and smells divine.

Skincredible (my rosacea disappeared with this product!) and the Melon Medley, which I credit for healing this mess so quickly.  My skin just soaks it in but it is NOT acne-producing.

I don't live near a retailer so I purchase mine online and have pretty much tried almost every product.  I reacted to the "Pack Your Bags They're Leaving" Eye gel (darn allergies) but everything else has been amazing.  DEFINITELY buy the sample pack (or individual samples) first go round, as they don't take returns unless something is defective.  I HIGHLY recommend the seaweed products as well.  Here are the sample packs:

Seaweed Sample Pack

Get Acquainted Sample Kit with 17 products!!

Seaweed products, used in conjunction with each other.

My favorite body lotions/creams....the Body Cream is more "normal" consistency with what you are used to.  The Butter Me Up is VERY thick, like hardened butter.  I put it in my hands, rub them together to warm them up and then apply.  This has healed allergic breakouts on my arms and legs.

The Honey I Shrunk The Kids is an AMAZING skin polish - it looks like raspberry jam and smells like it too.  I use it 2-3 times a week for 15 minutes, then rinse off.  The Peel Me A Papaya is a dry mixture of oatmeal, coconut milk, papaya and other products that you use to exfoliate your face, make a mask, and rinse off.  Skin is SO soft after use.

Almost forgot these 3 face creams....Amazing Face is an excellent day moisturizer.  Creme de Rose is Barbara's first "baby" and is excellent on moisturizing, healing AND skin regeneration. Rose du Jour is a light, rose scented cream perfect whenever you need a little hydration.

I could go on and on about this company and well, I have!  Ha!   Read HERE.   I beg you to go read the ingredients on her products....you've never seen anything like it!   

I don't know how this company hasn't offered me free products for all my testimonials but this is my unpaid, unbiased opinion.  I will NEVER be without these products.  Oh, and don't be alarmed at the cost...each products lasts FOREVER!! I have had the Melon Medley and the Skincredible for over a year now.  The other products last around 6 months (the seaweed spray lasts 3 months with my usage... love it!)  I also recommend getting the foaming bottle to go with the cleanser.......under tools on the website.

Anyhoo...I hope to be able to post photos soon of my newly healed, younger looking skin (I ended up with quite a peel too!  lol)  Speaking of that, I'm gonna get up and go spray some Pure Rose Distillate on for hydration....toodles!!

My Misadventures Blocking My First Crochet Scarf

This was too funny not to share.  To set the scene, I've been fully reclined since we got back last Sunday from our long trip - 9 hours each way in a vehicle.  My recliner in the vehicle, to be exact - See HERE.   

Anyhoo....I've been hurting bad and haven't gotten out of my recliner but to eat and attend to hygiene.  And I should have stayed with that plan.

I finally finished my beautiful scarf and wanted to get it blocked.  I've never blocked anything.  That should have been  my first warning sign.  lol

I got the scarf all laid out on my ironing board.  I then showered and started getting ready for the day.

For some odd reason, I decided right THEN was a great time to go block the scarf.  Naked.  Hair dripping wet.  Makeup half on.  

I turned the iron on and noticed it didn't have water in it.  I needed water for the steam.  Steam to block the scarf.  

I go get water to pour in the iron.  (Remember, I can't bend over ever, so unplugging the iron and taking it to the bathroom isn't an option.)

I hold the bottle of water up to pour, I hold the iron handle in my right hand AND.............I put my left hand fingers on the HOT PART OF THE IRON.  Why?  I have no idea.  Just pure stupidity.

So, seconds later, I'm looking at immediately white fingers.  Strangely, the pain isn't what I thought it would be, but then again, I think I've mentioned I don't respond to pain appropriately. (As in, I can be almost dying and have a smile on my face.  Scary dangerous.)

I literally stand staring at my fingers as they turn more and more white.  I'm thinking, 

"What should I do?  This can't be good?"  

Does anyone else have a freeze response to stress?  I sure do.  One time when Ryan was an itty bitty baby, my van was hit from behind.  By the time I "came out" of my freeze response, my mom (a passenger that day) had checked on Ryan AND was out talking to the idiot who hit us.  lol 

Yet I stand staring.  For I'm not sure how long.

Then I think, "I know, I'll go look up on my computer what to do." 

I throw on my nighty and take my burned fingers and dripping wet hair out to the living room.  Information says to immediately run cold water over my fingers, for 20 minutes.  Has it already been 20 minutes?

I go to the sink and turn the water on.  OUCH!!!!!!!  This is the most pain I've had since the incident, so I stop that.  lol  

The info also mentioned Aloe.  I get aloe and spray my fingers and ask my 18 yr old to come tape my fingers with gauze.  That wasn't a great idea.  When he decides to get off his online game, he saunters in and stares at me.  No idea what to do.  

I could have done it myself by the time I got it explained and he understood.  

Hubs came home after work and was very concerned for infection, so took me to the Minor Med.  1.5 hours later, I was diagnosed with 2nd degree burns (ACK!) and given a script for burn cream.

Why do they always ask about previous surgeries?  By the time the nurse got done writing down all the meds I must take (lots of problems with nerve damage in various other areas....not just my legs and feet), she then had writers cramp after writing down all my surgeries.  It is almost faster to just write what organs I still have left.  lol 

Then she asked - "Do I drink or take drugs?"

I die laughing...........uh, that would be NO.  But I fear I am driving my poor husband to drink.  lol

OH, and as if that wasn't enough..........shortly after said 18 yr. old had  bandaged my hand.........I did block the scarf.  Yes, I did.  I was almost done when I had an urge to pee.  (And with all the nerve damage, I DON'T get urges to pee very often.  When I do, I must RUN......)

So I scurry to the toilet, pull my undergarments down (I'm no longer naked since the 18 yr. old had to help me, 'cause I'm a good mom like that....) and a huge PAIN goes down my lower thigh to my knee.  What the heck??  I look and I have a HUGE red scratch.  What kind of bandage did that kid put on me???  That scratch hurt more than the burn!  My body is just plain backwards (as has actually been proven during nerve studies.....I'm not wired "normally"........lol)

I look at my bandaged fingers and what do I see????   A PIN (see those big yellow pins up there in that scarf photo??) stuck in and the pointy end sticking out.  THAT is what just scratched the crud out of my leg.

I forgot about it and when hubs was helping me undress once we got home, he was alarmed at the big scratch.   "What happened to your leg, honey????!!!!!!!!!!!"

Folks, it just doesn't end.  This isn't even that uncommon in my house. 

Story of my life.  Hubs said, "Sugar Plum, can you just let ME handle these things next time?"

I was just trying to help.  I get to feeling guilty when I live reclined for days on end. 

P.S.  I'm pretty sure I don't have an singed skin on the scarf.  I hope, anyway.  :)

Where did I hide it? And what was it?

Seriously.  This is RIDICULOUS.  We were walking through Kroger and I saw a box of Pop Tarts.  I don't eat Pop Tarts anymore but it triggered me to remember that I purchased SOMETHING and then brought it home and hid it.  From my 2 teenage "eat us out of house and home" boys.  Only.......where did I hide it?

And.....what was it that I hid?

I can not remember .......either answer!!!  I could go search my room but what am I looking for????  Obviously something yummy and something I think wouldn't last long enough for me to remember we had it.  So what did I do?   Not only hid it so well I haven't run across it, but I can't even remember I did it.  Or what it was.  Was it last week?  I think it would have been 2 weeks ago, last payday.  Or the payday before that.  

ARGHHHHH!!!!  Has this ever happened to you?

Oh yoohoo.....whatever it is I hid.....if I were you.....where would I be???????????

Keeping It Real...

A recap for new visitors - I have chronic severe nerve pain and cannot bend, lift or twist for the rest of my life (my implanted spinal cord stimulator dictates I cannot lean too far lest I pull the wires out.).   This makes many things a challenge around the house.  Hubs is AMAZING but every now and then, he gets confused.  This was such a time.

So, every time I go in the main bathroom for the family, there is never toilet paper in the toilet paper thingy.  Do you have one?

Now, I GET it.  I really do.  I'm the only girl.  Guys don't give a hoot about these toilet paper things.  But, HELLO!!!  I cannot bend over to get the toilet paper out from under the cabinet, and I also cannot LEAN over from the toilet to reach under the cabinet.  So when I run out of toilet paper, I am STUCK.  (I have learned to look and notice BEFORE I get stuck in a compromising position, but still....)

So, last night, I used the last of the toilet paper and came out to ask hubs (or the boys) if the next person in the bathroom could please replace the toilet paper AND put toilet paper rolls in the toilet paper thingy.

Hubs stares at me.  And then says:

"Well, why?  You can't reach it."

HUH?  I had this look:

 

 

(I'm sure all husbands have seen a look like this, right?  lol)  And seriously, folks - he just called.  He never calls at this time.  His ears are burning!  lol

OK.  Back to HUH?  I said:

"What do you mean, I can't reach it?"

"Well, you can't."

Pause.  I am confused.  I am trying to think how his very literal engineer mind is working.  And I get it.  So I say,

"Sweety, I'm a GIRL.  I SIT on the toilet, which makes reaching the toilet paper thingy EASY."  (Is he forgetting I don't stand?)

Light bulb goes off in his head. 

"Oh, so that's why we have that thing (toilet paper thingy)?"

"Yes, dear.  I would have thought you would have noticed I was a girl by now."

Sweet smile.

Seriously?

So I got up this morning to find this:

Success!!!  

If this isn't funny or confuses you, please be thankful you can get your own toilet paper and haven't had to go around your house and put EVERYTHING you need at waist level or higher.  lol  

Clearly, I should have had a family meeting to explain WHY I purchased this toilet paper thingy.  And it wasn't to annoy them.   Why do guys just assume we are trying to annoy them?  lol

I wonder if the toilet paper thingy manufacturer realized this is used as a disability aid?  lol

Meanwhile, on goes my life with 3 very very concrete/literal thinking men.  And I can reach the toilet paper!  Woo Hoo!!!!

Keeping It Real

One of those weeks where I’m reciting the Serenity Prayer over and over and over…..

GOD
Grant me the SERENITY
To accept the things
I cannot change

The COURAGE
To change the things I can

And the WISDOM to know the difference

Credit - Charlie Murdach

 

Central Pain -

It can be a steady, sometimes deep burning, aching, cutting, tearing sensation CPS (Central Pain Syndrome) may be mixed with sudden, excruciating shots of pain. It is often mixed with other distracting sensations like cold, tingling, a "pins and needles" effect, a ballooning sensation, throbbing, and the feeling of a dental probe on a raw nerve.

Intense skin reactions can accompany these symptoms, such as burning, stretching, tightness, itching, or a crawling feeling that can be irritated by any light touch, sometimes just the feel of cloth on skin, which can making dressing an ordeal. Sometimes the touch of a loved one, or family member, in fun, or love, may often be a way to overwhelm the brain with the pain from CPS.

This unwelcome guest joined a party already in progress.  

Attendees include:

Massive nerve pain flare hips to toes, busting through the spinal cord stimulator like it isn’t even there.

Mid-back (thoracic) spasms, arthritic in nature, likely triggered by rain.

Low back muscle burning, deep deep pain, pain in joints.

And now this.  Central Pain.  Again.   I had this once before and when I survived it then, prayed it was a fluke occurrence.  Guess not.

How people live with this every day defies my understanding.  Folks say that about my regular pain, but I had gotten to a mental place where I could just survive.  Not sure about this.

Reclined, frozen as any movement feels like a blow torch on my skin…….my smile is faint, my mood less than stellar, my patience thin……….but the blessing of an amazing husband whose heart breaks when he sees me like this.   Don’t know how I’d do it without him.

Love him.  So much.  Love how he tenderly pulled me out of bed on the mid-back spasm entrance.  Love how he stroked my hair as I buried my face in his chest, only having made it to sitting position, yet to stand and endure the full force of the spasms.  Love how he tenderly hugs me, keeping his hands above my bra strap, being careful not to even brush his fingers across my lower back ribs to hips. 

 

If I didn’t smile, I shudder to think what state I might be in.  Smiling ministry can also be for yourself.  Never knew that until now. 

 

Radiant Happiness

Radiant Happiness - a voluntary quality such as when you decide to smile.  It is cheerfulness, laughter, singing, joyfulness, bright eyes, sparkle, vivacity, enthusiasm, optimism, a sunny disposition, a sense of humor, smiles.....and the power to lift the spirits of others.

The difference between Radiant Happiness and Inner Happiness is that Inner Happiness must be earned through character.

I LOVE seeing smiling babies.  It makes me sad to see small children who never smile.  Even they shyest of children very often smile.  Those who don't, well, it is just sad.  Smiling is a gift we take to adulthood.  Smiling can be a ministry, I truly believe that.  

Cheri

Andy

I love walking through malls and purposefully smiling at others.  If you ever want to lift your spirits, smile at others and life theirs. It is incredible what you get back.  You can tell some people haven't smiled in months and they will smile back to you.  Warms your heart.  When your cheeks are sore at night, you've done your job!

Ryan

Holt

Ryan and Holt

The other day at Sam's Club, there was a sweet older lady checking receipts as folks left the store.  Hubs and I were over in the customer service area with a return and we were smiling and affectionate.  Hubs leaned over the kiss me and I saw that sweet lady just start smiling so big.  As we left the store quite a while later, I told her I loved her smile - a beautiful, loving smile.  She was touched. 

By Ella Wheeler Wilcox:

It is easy enough to be pleasant

When life flows by like a song.

But the one worthwhile is the one who can smile

When everything goes dead wrong.

For the test of the heart is trouble

And it always comes with the years.

And the smile that is worth the praises of earth

Is the smile that smiles through tears.

Do you have Radiant Happiness?  Do you bless your family with the traits of Radiant Happiness (above)?  

I used to do this easily and lately, it's been more difficult.  So much weighing me down.  I have to give it to God and go back to gifting others with Radiant Happiness.  I can attest - it is incredible.

Of course, there are times when smiling is not appropriate.  There are times we should be sensitive to the situation or we look like we lack sympathy.  In my case, many people/friends have seemed somber around me, with all my health issues....constant pain......they seem utterly shocked when I'm smiling and laughing any way, smiling through it.  All we can do is get through it, right?  (In fact, one of my favorite places to practice "smile ministry" is the hospital - those nurses are so worn down with all the sickness and illness, rare to find a patient able to smile and show them appreciation for all their hard work.)  No sense in dwelling on what won't change......have to make the best of it. I don't know why or how this comes naturally to me, although I can say - after a lifetime of smiling, I just couldn't be that girl who was sad all the time.  I didn't want to draw more questions, or more pity.  It is what it is and my nerve pain came into my life for a reason.  As I life and learn those reasons, I might as well smile.  Sure beats crying!

How about you?  Do you have any stories where smiling and Radiant Happiness impacted someone else?


"There is in this world no function more important than that of being charming - to shed joy around, to cast light upon dark days, to be the golden thread of our destiny, and the very spirit of grace and harmony.  Is not this to render a service?"  (Unknown)