I see you. You’re struggling, you put on a brave face, you are as active as your body will let you be. You don’t say much about your condition on platforms like social media, because everyone knows just enough about medicine to be dangerous (or at the very least, naively condescending.) “Have you tried___” “My aunt has ____, and she is fine.” “I bet if you just ____” “I’ve heard some people just have to eat XYZ.” “I can’t imagine, I could never give up ____” “You should look into ____, that sounds scary.” “Buck up, don’t dwell on the negative.” “Do you even want to be well?” “Psychosomatic.” Sound…
-
-
Trauma: when you feel like you’re falling
Four years ago, during one of the hardest seasons of my life, I learned that I had PTSD. I think back to those days, that season, and remember vividly how cloaked my perception of life was. It’s truly the worst when you realize what is happening in your mind, and yet you feel helpless to make it stop. My PTSD stemmed from a childhood trauma, being on edge was my normal. But it was the birth of my first child that alerted me to the hyper-vigilance I lived with daily. Most women get an intense shakiness after delivering their babies, one of the reasons this happens is because of the…
-
I Use Labels
As someone who combats chronic illness daily, you may not be surprised to hear that I get a lot of advice. I don’t just mean advice about how to manage it, or treat it… but advice around how to cope with it, or overcome it. I don’t think these are individuals who are unfamiliar with hurt or pain, but I do believe they misjudge me. You see, I actively embrace labels and diagnoses, because I believe that knowledge is power… 1. Knowledge helps me be proactive, to take good care of my vessel. The way I see it, it helps me care for the body God gave me. I can…
You May Also Like
Storms
-
While We Wait
We have our first guest blogger today, and it’s none other than my amazing mom, Tomya Peters. She is inspires me; from public speaker, children’s and women’s curriculum writer, to long time Christian blogger. She is now a two-time published-author, and so much more! She raised and home schooled 5 children. With over 30 years in ministry, alongside my dad, she knows resilience, dedication, partnership, and long-suffering. I’m honored to be her daughter, and excited to share her words with you. Tab Moura, Lovely Resilience Project —– While We Wait We had spent five-and-a-half years on the mission field in Australia, and it was time to come home. We moved…
-
Messy Goodness
Those who know me know that I lead a life with many hats. Depending on the day, I might be wearing my chronic illness hat, or my special needs Mom hat, or my preacher hat, etc… I like hats, apparently. At the time of writing this, it is Good Friday. For those of us in the Christian community, this is the day we remember Jesus’ death on the cross. You can find this story in a few books, but I like the writings of Luke best. The story of Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection begins in Luke 22. This is the play by play, friends… but I challenge you to…
-
Check your soil
The question is not “am I smart, am I beautiful, am I useful, am I successful?” The question is “am I planted in the right soil?” Are you where you’re supposed to be? To the untrained eye, these plants were both placed in good soil… but what you cannot see is the foundation slab a foot beneath the plant on the right… it’s roots could only go so far. Having trouble? Check your soil.
-
Reia
I felt a stir inside when we learned you were coming, an anxiousness that I struggled to name. I was quick to notice the hormonal and emotional changes I was going through, but even my mind’s eye can see there was more going on. Darkness. Back then we lived in our Dark House, not only did this home have only 4 windows in the entire house, I could tell in my spirit, from the day we first walked through it, that this house was dark spiritually… but how do you tell your new husband, and new in laws, that this beautiful house they want you to buy is evil? It…
You May Also Like
Storms
-
Honesty with chronic illness
My arms are full, and tired… so today I chose to share a video. Enjoy! Lovely Resilience Project: Honesty with chronic illness
-
Mountains, not the hills
This week has been a firm reminder that at any given moment, there are many mountains out there waiting for me… not just the one I am on. Some would call this a “buzz kill” of sorts, but i disagree. As I sit here, massaging my leg that spontaneously fell asleep, while my low blood pressure limits simple activities (like standing for conversations), I have plans to visit the East Coast to see museums and historical monuments. I have plans to hike the Redwood Forest and Grand Canyon, places I haven’t been since I was a kid. Those are mountains I can only get to if I am fully dedicated…
-
Brief and Real
I have tried to write this update for weeks now. Holy crap, guys. Where do I begin? It’s been a tsunami, avalanche, hurricane of life since my last update… and God has been good. So good. Since my last update we have gone from unemployed, to my husband working 60+hrs a week. We have gone through a rollercoaster of diagnostics with my husband’s hearing, from tumor, to hospital admission, to neurological hearing loss, to “Hey, guys, we were way wrong. It’s only a FUNGUS growing in his ear.” Then there is the heart monitor I wore for over two weeks (would have been 4, except there is an issue with…
