Angie's Answer

Winter Quilt Challenge Update

I just wanted to send out an update on our first quilt challenge, our quilt block exchange with a WINTER theme.  As you finish your blocks, please mail them to Chasity as explained in your private messages I sent out a couple weeks ago.

I am in West Virginia for the month of October visiting my hubby...SO for those of you who still have not finished the quilt blocks, this will give you a couple extra weeks to finish up.  I plan to return home the first weekend of November.  At that time, I will touch base with Chasity (Senior Editor) and we will then make sure everyone has sent in the blocks.  At that point we will match up the blocks and send out everyone's packages! 

You will still have most of November and December to work on finishing the quilting project if you hope to get it ready in time for Christmas!

As I have said before, I just want to say again, please do NOT feel pressured AT ALL with the deadlines!  This is meant to be fun for all!  As each participant sends me messages, I am learning that we quilters have many common characteristics, including taking on a TON of projects all at once!  It does seem that folks are starting to get this project wrapped up, though...which is GREAT because I would like to continue with the same idea of themes and go with the next season in line if you folks agree!  Of course we can discuss that more after this project is finished.

Happy quilting to all and I look forward to your blocks!

Teresa

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The morning after...

   I slept, but I am still tired.  Everytime I rolled over my stomach was in knots, and my inner being was shaking like a leaf.  Oh, these stinking panic attacks!!  I loathe them!!  I fight them!!  I hate them!!

   I was thinking this morning that everytime I have ever had panic attacks--whatever it was that I was fearing came to nothing, and usually good was the result.  Actually, good was the result everytime!  I do not understand why my body does this.  It is so frustrating.  I am almost paralized when these things "come a visiting".  My poor husband!  He has lived with these "visits" for the past 26 years.  He knew that I was going into panic over all the changes that are about to occur in our home, so he was prepared.  He knows what to do.  Pray and hold me.  Then we both get up and do what needs to be done.  I am better this morning.  I am truly thankful for that.  Night time is the worst!

   Please continue to pray for me.  This will pass!  Yea, though I walk through....   I just have to keep my armor on and keep putting one foot infront of the other.

   I do hope you have a totally peaceful day!

                  God Bless... 

Panic....again....

  For anyone who suffers from panic attacks--this picture depicts how I feel inside at the moment.  I am on medication for panic attacks, but I am so overwhelmed at the moment the medication is not working. 

  I do not like change.  My panic is always triggered by changes within my physical environment.  Isn't that strange?  Our physical world is so temporary, but soooo...present, and when my world changes--it truly effects me.  I know that my God is with me, and He has everything under control, but when the panic hits--all normal reasoning and control flies out the window!  Man oh, man,  it is so frightening that all I want to do is run and scream and run some more.  BUT--that would not glorify God in the least, so I just push through. 

  I do not like the physical symptoms of panic.  First, it starts in my stomach--I call it "the sinking feeling".  Some people say it's like butterflies, but to me it is like my stomach is sinking deeper and deeper inside of me.  Secondly, my heart starts to race-my body temperature rises and I begin to sweat.  Next, the shaking, the pacing, the rocking--hits all at once.  The thoughts within my brain just go wild--my heart tries to calm down, but the physical symptoms seem to have a measure of victory.  Then the crying starts--all the while I am praying for it to stop!!!  I can actually wear myself out--fall asleep and be peaceful--the moment I awake--BAM!  those feelings hit again and usually harder than before.  Then the cycle starts all over again. 

  God has brought me through so many circumstances with the panic; it seems to me that I would just sit back and trust in Him.  I do eventually, but boy is it a struggle.

                     Please Pray for me.  God Bless!!

Another day, another doctor...and a trip!!!

It seems like every post I write lately has been health related...but I wanted to give you my latest update.  The neurologist had wanted me to go to a cardiologist, so I had mentioned that I had a heart procedure done by a rhythm specialist about 11 years ago.  He thought I should go back to him since he is already familiar w/my health history.  SO...I saw my heart doctor last monday and he does think that my weak spells (last about 30 min at a time and generally never have much energy) are related to low blood pressure.  I generally have low BP anyway, so with all the meds I have to take for the fibromyalgia and related pain, it is evidently causing BP to go even lower...BUT he is still ordering echocardiogram and holtor monitor (2 wk) just to cover all scenarios. 

FORTUNATELY, someone here on the blog had suggested this to me a few months ago and I have since then been taking my BP and I did have that to show him to help confirm how low it seems to be running in general  these days and just after the spells. 

This just reminds me AGAIN how greatful I am to my blogging friends I've met here and for your advice and support.  We do all seem to have similar struggles at one time or another and can lean on each other when needed.  God knew we would be like this, now did he not???  I suppose that's why He invented blogging!  lol

NOW...my heart doctor encouraged me to reschedule my dr appointments and take a month off to go see my hubby...he said to just mail the holtor monitor to him when the two weeks were over and he'd call me after he got the results of everything.  Is that a great doctor, or is that a great doctor???  SO  I took his advice and I am going to see hubby this weekend...AND STAY A WHOLE MONTH! 

Have a great day and as always, I look forward to reading your posts!

Crazy busy!

Confession...

Father,

I am scared, too!  But because of Your promise in Matthew 28:20b that You "are always with me, even until the end of time," I am trying to remain calm.   This verse was spoken by Jesus Himself, and I am trusting in this promise!  Please help me to get everything done that needs to be done, and also, to give words of encouragement and godly counsel.  May all glory and honor be unto You, O my LORD.

                                        In Jesus name,

                                             Amen

A change is a comin'...

   There is a change coming to the Beale Bungalow. 

My daughter's husband got laid off from his job, so after the baby is born--this little scared family is moving in with us.  I don't believe this is a bad thing because of the circumstances which I am not going to into at this point.  Rest, restoration and  redirection is definitely needed!  I am thankful that my daughter and her husband   understand that these three R's are needed in their lives; I am even more thankful that they have willingly accepted that the three R's should take place in our home.  A conservative Christian home where God is reverenced and rules are followed.  Please pray that we and cherished others will disciple them according to the Word of the LORD.

   There is much to be done and only about two weeks to do it all in.  Seth is temporarily giving up his room.  It is a little larger than the computer room, which used to be his room when he was younger.  The computer room will be broken down and Seth will move in to it.  His old room will be totally emptied and cleaned for Anna, Will and the baby.  They will have to share a room as we only have three bedrooms.  It will work out.

   I need to stock up on some groceries, just to get a jump on the increase of mouths to feed.  My second refrigerator is going to get a good cleaning, as it will used more than just overflow.  

   I need to get rid of some furniture and things that I have been wanting to get rid of anyway.  I need the extra space.  Seth's school supplies will be moved into the diningroom--I school there anyway--now the supplies will be more accessible.  (The schooling supplies were housed in the computer room.)  

   I don't really need to baby proof the house because I don't have a great deal of room for things that would be a no-no to baby William.  I am not a knick knacky person.  I will have to move up my candles though.  All of this will not even occur for months, but I am a list maker and a detail person, so I am thinking ahead.  We will be acquiring their dog, Daisy, too!  Hmm...my only problem with that is where to store her dog food and where to put her food bowls.  Every inch of my kitchen is taken up.  Now, if this is my only dilemma, well this would be a piece of cake.

   So, expect some new types of news from the Beale Bungalow.  My life is pretty boring--so very routine--I think things will be getting very interesting soon, as they want to be down here by October 20th!  I am still going up for the birth and to help them move.  If all goes as planned, and it usually doesn't, this is going to be a very busy, but hopefully smooth transitional month of October.

   I will keep everyone posted.  God Bless!! 

I FINALLY saw my hubby this week...and prayer request

Hi Folks!

I have not written in awhile because I went to West Virginia with my In-Laws to see my hubby for 4 days.  As I had mentioned before, he is currently working in WV.  He is at the John Amos Power Plant.  We missed him and I have not been able to stay out there because of my health problems.  I cannot seem to get my doctor appointments scheduled far enough apart to give me some time to see him for even a few weeks at a time. 

My MIL, FIL and I all cleaned up the little 1 bedroom apartment he just moved into that was unfurnished and so we tried to make it more like a home.  It was like stepping back into the seventies when we stepped in the door of that place!  LOL...EXCEPT for the MOTORCYCLE in the living room!  YES, that is correct, your eyes are not deceiving you!  My silly hubby and his boy toys!  I was able to find a room rug on sale that was the same color as the bike, so I put it on the floor where he parks the bike!  SO now it "kinda" blends into the decor!  The bike is not a HUGE bike at all.  It is basically a street legal dirt bike, with VERY good gas mileage, so this is definitely a big PLUS, at least until winter approaches.

My sister and BIL had GIVEN us a beautiful QUEEN sleigh bed, so that took care of the bedroom.  I was amazed at her generosity.  The size was perfect for the space. 

Needless to say, all that cleaning put me into an awful flareup and I have not felt up to blogging until now.  My MIL has been sick from the new carpet that was in the apartment.  I am thankful we have new carpet there, but sad that it is making us sick b/c of the fumes that come w/new carpet! 

I found a few good deals at Walmart near the apartment, so I bought a Black and Decker Toaster Oven for only $19.95!!!!  I also found a cute little Bissell vacuum cleaner for $39 that is the PERFECT size for the little apartment.  We did not want to clutter up the place since it is so tiny, so we just put a futon in the living room, along w/the tiny 13 inch tv that had been in my sewing room :o(...we also found some really nice floor lamps on sale at Walmart.  I think my MIL and I ended up with a total of 4 floor lamps this past week!  lol...only 1 of them actually made it to the apartment!!!  One went to my MIL's house and two went to my house!  lol.  I think the best transformation was the bathroom.  It was a hideous looking little bathroom.  Would you believe that they actually used STAPLES to put the lineoleum together behind the toilet???  ANYWAY, my MIL and I seem to work very well together in picking out accessories and were very pleased when we put down the dark gray rugs, very modern looking shower curtain w/various sized circles of dark brownish gray/light gray and white, with a white liner...along w/dark towel and smaller white towel folded for decoration on the wall...and clear accessories on the counter that is also a really old countertop in the same colors as the shower curtain.  I also loved the little shower curtain hooks I found to match, but difficult to describe.  ANYWAY, I wish I'd taken some before and after shots, but now that I'm back home and have taken 2 and a half days to recooperate, I realize I never even took my camera out of its case the entire trip!  OH WELL!!!  We had WAY TOO MANY destractions.  I used Black/White accents in the kitchen even though the kitchen appliances were primarily off-white (VERY OLD) and everything seemed to be particle board.  My favorite feature of the apartment was the utility room.  This room is HUGE and there are washer/dryer hook-ups, but we did not purchase additional sets at this time.  SO I just purchased a utility shelf w/5 shelves and put it in there for extra storage for the kitchen.  This made everything just right!  NOW I have a TOTALLY NEW perspective for the apartment.  I look forward to spending ALOT of time there now as soon as I see my heart rhythm specialist next week, dependent on what tests he orders, I might even get to go back up there for an ENTIRE MONTH!!!!!!  That would be so nice to spend the whole month with my hubby.  We really need the time together.  I could really tell he is starting to get homesick.  He never actually said those words, but I know him pretty well and I could just tell.

PRAY FOR THIS MAN'S FAMILY:

I also have some sad news.  A man at the John Amos Power Plant died this week while working night shift.  He was 62 years old, married with kids.  He apparently had a heart attack and possibly fell from a scaffold.  I'm not sure of the exact details.  My hubby had left for work tuesday morning only to return an hour later because all workers were sent home for the entire day while OSHA investigated the NC man's death.  Apparently there are MANY travelers working there right now during this outage.  I think the paper said 3,000 folks are working the outage.  The man was a pipefitter.  ANYWAY, I do not have many details, just please PRAY FOR HIS FAMILY. 

I was glad we were there with my hubby this particular day as we did not know yet what had caused the accident, so it was a particularly upsetting day.  I KNOW my hubby's job as an industrial electrician can be dangerous as they work w/extremely high voltage and often climb VERY high.  They must be safety conscious all the time...BUT hearing that someone actually has died on the same job my hubby works is a real wake up call to me as to how dangerous it can be to have to work so high up all the time.  I recall before Jamey was put on high blood pressure meds, he nearly passed out while working up high and the guys had to help him down to the ground...his foreman drove him to our family doctor and b/c he knew I'd freak out, he called his mom to come get him.  This was when he was first diagnosed w/high BP and he was only in his mid 20s!  SO all it takes is one swoon like that!  If the guys hadn't been there to catch him, I shudder to think what might have happened to my hubby that day! 

We spent the day going to the New River Gorge Bridge as we had never seen it before.  This is one of the tallest arched bridges in western hemisphere from what I understand.  I actually slept most of the day, but I did go see the bridge.  Jamey and his dad took the steps down to get a better view and once Jamey emails the pics to me, I will post them for you.  My MIL and I were not able to go down the steps due to her bad knees and my bad feet!  BUT we were perfectly happy enjoying the breeze and resting at the top!  We enjoyed some BEAUTIFUL scenery on the drive back to Georgia and I plan to take pics on my next journey.  Hopefully the leaves will be turning alot more by then!  I love it when the leaves turn! 

May God Bless You and I hope my blog was not too lengthy for you!

Teresa