Strength

"And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength."

Mark 12:30

The reference to this passage really stood out to me during church this last Sunday.  The part about strength.  It wasn't the main focus of the sermon, and was just a quick side note, but God spoke into my heart, reminding me that He is all my strength especially when my all isn't very much.  Yes, I'm totally taking this out of context!  However, as I sat there pondering the words, I realized how important strength is physically.  I need strength to lift my giant child, to get out of bed in the morning, and to eat, drink and breathe.  Even in my weakest moments, I am called to love God with all my strength.  I know this passage does not necessarily refer to physical strength, but it was a good reminder.  As long as I'm giving all of me, God fills in the gaps.  He knows my heart.  Right now my all is about 5% of my normal strength, but He is doing an excellent job of taking care of the other 95%!

I have to share a praise with you.  This may seem silly or trivial, but it has been seven whole days in a row that none of us have gone to a doctor or a pharmacy since the end of December.  If you think about it, that is a lot of visits, money and time.  Praise God with me, it has been a prayer of mine since February!

Please continue to pray for our family.  I stopped taking Synthroid a week and a half ago as directed by my doctor in preparation to undergo radioactive iodine treatment.  The first two days were great!  I had a ton of energy, but that quickly diminished on the third day and has been exponentially getting more difficult.  I try to nap when Sam does, but between sleeping in, 5+ cups of coffee and going to bed early, I'm still dragging and ready for a nap at a moment's notice!  I do not restart my medication until April 28th.  Please pray for endurance and wisdom as I juggle energy conservation, being a hormonal woman, and a very, very, very active one year old!

I began the low iodine diet on Monday.  This hasn't been too difficult since I am used to preparing most of our food anyway.  However, I tossed a frozen basil cube (thank you Trader Joe's for this helpful invention) into our dinner and then read the ingredients.  I expected basil and water, but instead found sea salt among the ingredients.  I was disappointed and ended up eating plain quinoa for dinner.  

I am trying to keep my calcium intake up since my little parathyroid glands are still recovering from the surgery (two months ago tomorrow).  I saw my surgeon a couple weeks ago since I was having some difficulty swallowing and I still experience tingling in my hands and face occasionally.  While it is normal to still have symptoms for a few months, I am not allowed to have dairy on the low iodine diet.  Please pray that my calcium levels would remain high enough to keep symptoms at bay and to not cause any damage to my heart or muscles.  I am eating calcium rich foods and taking supplements often as prescribed by my doctor.

Sam has been teething, dropping a nap and walking more and more.  Please pray for his little body.  He is so incredibly strong, and big, and full of life!  Please pray that we would not inhibit his growth during this time while we are stressed.  He has been very clingy to me lately as we are sure he can sense that something is going on as we prepare for my week away.  In turn it makes me worry that he will just be a total mess that week.  Please pray for Nate and Sam's time together.  Nate is an incredible father and I have no fears leaving Sam in his very capable hands, but not having relief at the end of the day will be exhausting for him.  Please bring them meals, call/text Nate, or invite them for a walk or to the park as you feel led!  I know Nate will appreciate it!

Thank you, as always, for your faithful prayers! I am excited to pray for you too as we all go on living this crazy life.  We are excited today to be praying for friends who are in labor with their first son, friends who are seeking the Lord's direction for their ministry as a family, and healing for many friends going through various illnesses.  What a blessing to pray for each other.  We are also very blessed by the many cards, emails, texts and phone calls we receive from all of you.  We continue to feel surrounded in prayer and the gift of family and friends.

Love,

Beth