May is Lyme Disease Awareness Month!

This month is Lyme Disease Awareness month and I wanted to do share a few guest posts from the ones I love most.  My goal in sharing these posts from family members is to help people see just how serious this disease is.  I want everyone to realize how far it’s devastating effects go. I desperately want the World at large to see how this is nothing to brush off… this disease destroys peoples lives, their health, relationships, families, it claims self confidence, attacks joy and happiness, and claims the lives of wayyyyy too many people to count each year.

For us personally, it has recently robbed us of being able to live on our ranch in Bend and we are having to rent it out.  It has taken our family away from family, friends, church, and community that we’ve known and loved our entire lives, it has cost hundreds of thousands of dollars, and more tear and pain filled nights for all five of us than I can possibly count.

We are beyond thankful that we homeschool and own our own business so that getting to warmth and lessening side effects could be an immediate reality for us… but we are in NO way at all in PARADISE.  It is warm here and we do love the ocean and sand.  But, I would ask you all to realize that my kiddos unwrapped Christmas gifts on Christmas morning, played with their new gifts for a few short days and then in an emergent state… we up and left everything they played with, all their animals, their grandparents, cousins, youthgroup, awana club, airsoft club, 4-H clubs, their space, land, playset, basketball hoop, etc…  we flew here with suitcases of clothing, toiletries, two suitcases of medicines, prescriptions, a vitamix and a pressure cooker.  We have been tossed between 4 homes, apartments, studios, and townhomes. We have not had a place to call home for more than six weeks at a time, and our rent is horrendous.  Our stress level with finances and trying to find our next rental starting June 15th are at an all time high and all that Cory ever has time to do is WORK (which we are beyond thankful for… but I cannot remember a time that we could leave the cell phone at home and have some precious family time!)!

Please don’t stop praying for us, for healing, for wisdom, please pray for our kiddos hearts to be protected, pray that they would have things to do and not be too bored (this is a HUGE shock to them as we usually have 10 acres and endless activities to run around and do at home.), Please don’t just think that we are great now that we are in Hawaii… we want to expect the best and continue to pray for complete healing, but we NEED others to care and stick with us more than you may ever know!

We are and will continue to always seek the sunny side of things in this storm.  We have to continue to count our blessings when it feels like the days stuck in bed, and the immense pain filled days where kiddos cannot get outside because their mom is stuck in bed hurting so badly are endless.

Thank you to each of you for following along and praying for our family.

We love you.

We need you.

Tomorrow is a new day and I am praying for a fresh day with NO pain at all!!!  My oldest daughter Lucy has the first of the guest blog posts… and boy-oh-boy can that girlie write.  We are all in for a treat, and I cannot wait to read it tonight!

Stay tuned!

XO,

Sincerely, Dani

Psalm 46:1-3

God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 

Proverbs 18:10

The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run into it and are safe.

Nehemiah 8:10

Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.