Give the gift of compassion

Know someone battling a serious illness and want to give them a meaningful and encouraging gift this Christmas?  Give the gift of compassion and a copy of

Hope Beyond Lyme:  The First Year  

Now available from Smashwords.com and Amazon.com!
Now available from Smashwords.com and Amazon.com!

Now it’s available in 9 different formats so you don’t even need an eReading device to download your copy for just $2.99!  To learn more go to:  https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/371334 and be sure to click the “Give as a gift” link from any book page.  Smashwords will email it to your loved one immediately upon purchase.  If you would like it to be a surprise instead be sure to put your own email address where indicated, print it out when the order is complete and hand it to the person, well personally!

For Amazon Kindle shoppers, head to:  http://www.amazon.com/Hope-Beyond-Lyme-First-Year-ebook/dp/B00G9WF1RK/ref=la_B00GAOAOI8_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1386631580&sr=1-1

Discover from a fellow sojourner, my most meaningful and encouraging moments to share vignettes of understanding with your loved one battling a serious illness.  There is hope and with faith in God, we will find the true meaning and source of that hope.

Thank you, Gentle Reader, for helping to make this project possible!  Just Julie

So much to say, so few words

Taking a cross country trip this past week when weak was an optimistic undertaking.  Of course there were trials and ongoing mayhem.  And in the midst of it all, there were unexpected blessings too.

Relax, I won’t go on here with a long blah, blah, blog about our recent 3000 mile journey from Indiana to Texas and back!  I’m sure it will unfold in the days and blogs to come.  Let’s just say that overall, the dog had a great time!  She played in the wide open spaces of my sister and brother- in-law’s 5 acre ranch teasing the Golden Retriever, taunting the snarls of the old Chocolate Lab, and skirting the advancement of Armani (the spirited mare and companion of Buddy, pictured below).   Our pup Elle looks depressed at home alone today.  I must say that I understand completely.

Today begins the first day of a new treatment regime for a serious systemic infection.  As you can see by the time of this writing, I have avoided my second dose for a few hours now.  Sish.  I’m such a weenie sometimes.  But hey, can you blame me?  After 2 years of promising treatment approaches and wretched responses to virtually all of them, I am less than brave anymore.  So in a few words as promised:  I’m leaning on the Lord today, grateful for surviving 8 days away from home with some precious memories as a bonus, and slowly getting all of the laundry done.  The rest of the last bag of Beanitos chips is well on its way to my tummy as I say goodbye to one of my few remaining treats to prepare for Candida warfare.  From here and for at least the next month, I’m hitting this beast head-on.  The first few days are usually the hardest.  So what:  it’s time you met your match you fungus among us!

My spiritual preparation comes from the words of the apostle Paul in 2 Timothy 4.  My prayers are for merciful endurance, victory, strength for my husband, and glory to The King:

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Seeya when I can.  Take care all, Just Julie

Steve and Julie with Buddy
Steve and Julie with Buddy