Do you have a few words or a saying you like to use? Maybe they are ones that either you created yourself or got else where. Continue reading “Two Special Sayings”
Tag: health
Footloose – Song #24
Sorry, but I have to share this song. My reason is a bit silly but I’m sure everyone has silly reasons for doing something now and then. I picked this song to show you how the beat can easily cause one to make it one of your favorites, thus passing the ‘Must Share’ test.
I’m sure you all can understand what it’s like when you have to choose a song. Sometimes, any song would be fine. No skipping to another song is needed. Almost anything fits your fancy. But then there are times when you’re a bit more picky. That’s how I was on my run yesterday. My iPod refused to meet my need for that perfect song.
A song come on after I started running. Fine. It did the job. After that . . .
Too boring. Click – Next.
I heard it last time. Click – Next.
That voice isn’t really ‘IT’ for right now. Click – Next
Wait… this one might be . . . Naaaa. Click – Next.
Too slow. . . . . . .
And then finally, after one more click, up pops Footloose.
YES! No ifs, ands, or buts. WOOO HOOO !
I’m sure that once you turn it on, you’ll understand why. (sorry if an add shows before)
As soon as it started, I sure cut loose, foot loose, wearing my Tuesday running shoes!
If you are hearing this in the morning, I hope it helps get that energy many of us beg for. If you are hearing this in the afternoon, I hope it gives that boost to keep you keeping on. If you are hearing this right before going to bed, well . . . sorry.
Marianne Petersen’s book God and Your Pillow is now available. (Amazon) – You can follow Marianne on Twitter at @marimemoirs and read more on her blog, marimemoirs.com.
Because You Love Me – Song #4
Have you ever cried the first time you heard a song, or as that saying goes ‘balled your head off’? I sure have. One certain song called Because You Loved Me, by Celine Dion, sure did that to me. Still to this day it dampens my eyes.
It has me think of the brain illness called Encephalitis I went through years ago. Not so much about me but my husband who went through it all right along side me. I couldn’t have made it through it without him. So as you listen to every word, you’ll see how it shares bits and pieces of just how he was my eye when I couldn’t see and lifted me up when I couldn’t reach. If you know my story, (click here for part of my story.) then I suggest you get a hanky.
I could have chosen many different videos for this song but, as you begin to watch, you’ll see why I had to choose this one. Sure, it is opposite of who’s who, being I was the one laying down. I’m sure you’ll see why I wanted to use this version of this song.
It’s not just about my husband and the love he showed me, but also about God and the love He showed me. Now being close to twenty-nine years since, I still ponder on just how God carried me from the day it hit me to now. As the song says, He was my strength when I was weak.
I want you to listen carefully, seeing if a person comes to your mind that was holding you tight through a tough trial? Or better yet, how God showed you much love, carrying you even tighter. If this song words if perfectly for you as it does me, please let me know.
#1- Click here if you haven’t yet read that part of my story.
Marianne Petersen’s book God and Your Pillow is now available. (Amazon) – You can follow Marianne on Twitter at @mariannesmemoirs and read more on her blog, mariannesmemoirs.com.
Unplanned Pregnancies – Then vs. Now
What was a typical day like for your average nineteen-year-old thirty years ago? When you woke up, you were glad there was nothing electronic close at hand to open up the world to you. You, alone, away from it all . . . perfect. Once awake, you’d turn on your favorite radio station or you’d rewind your cassette to hear your favorite Billy Joel, Whitney Houston, or Lionel Richie song again.
You were thrilled your parents got that extra-long phone cord so you could finally leave the kitchen and walk into the bathroom to talk to your friends.
“Well, then call me as soon as you get back home. I have to tell you something,” or “If no one answers, I’ll call later. Just make sure you are by a phone when home,” were statements often said.
“I’ll text you later” was nowhere to be found.
It was hard to decide which one of those six stations to watch on that big, boxy TV.
You loved grabbing the daily delivered newspaper your parents had on the kitchen counter to check movie times.
Later on, it was time to put eighty-nine-cents-per-gallon gas in your stick shift before picking up a few friends, grabbing ninety-nine-cent double cheeseburgers at McD’s before watching the movie called Star Trek lV, or The Voyage Home, that cost a whopping $2.75 to see. That’s what life was like for me when I was nineteen.
Until, that is, I found out I was pregnant. (1*) Life was so different back then, and I felt so alone. I’m certain many women feel like that even today, but because of the way we now have such easy access to helpful information, I think it’s safe to say that not quite so many feel as alone as I did.
There was no cell phone back in 1986 so, when sitting in my car, away from the world, I couldn’t secretly look up information on where to get a pregnancy test. No laptops, I-pads, or cell phones to tweet #unplannedpregnancies. No opening up your laptop to type in NoWayCanIBePregnant.com, either. No putting in ‘first trimester’ to get a long list of websites covering the subject.
I would have loved to have found a Facebook group for Christians going through an unplanned pregnancy, or Twitter to find encouraging verses and quotes. But no. I felt like I was in my own little world, not able to connect with any Christians who had been, or were, going through what I was experiencing. I now know that if I did not have my church family during that time, I would have gone bonkers. But still, there was no one to Skype with who could look at me, face-to-face, and say, “Believe me, I know what it’s like and how you’re feeling.”
Unplanned pregnancies can be dealt with quite a bit differently now than thirty years ago. Now, you can get info on anything from anywhere. Heck, you can even get your best help or support from total strangers all around the world!
I’m sure I would have been getting information and insight from my I-phone, I-pad, or I-mac. (Yes, you can call me an I-fan!) There are also many organizations that have opened their doors for needed tests, information, and support.
For years, I put off writing my story being as so much had changed since I was pregnant. Then it hit me. Unplanned pregnancies are still that: un . . . planned . . . pregnancies. They were the same back then as they are now: an unexpected shock to women, followed by overwhelming emotions and stress for all involved. Once realizing this, I then decided—with encouragement from others—to write my book, showing what I went through. Yes, the means of getting helpful information about this type of pregnancy is now different. Also, the number of people you can connect with going through the same thing can sure help one feel less alone. But overall, we’re still the same. Our feelings and thoughts were stored in the same place back then as they are now: in our hearts and souls.
And God’s the same, as well! That’s the best fact. He has not changed how He carries those who follow Him. He sure carried me then and He sure carries His children now.
Hebrews 13:8: Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.
Sure, He might now use that perfect website to guide you in what help or information to get. I just know I’d never change what He used to guide me to what was best for me.
The good old yellow pages. (2*)
1* Click here to find out how about a certain phone call. Yep. God had plans.
2* Click here to find out how the yellow pages fit into my story
Marianne Petersen’s book God and Your Pillow is now available. (Amazon) – You can follow Marianne on Twitter at @mariannesmemoirs and read more on her blog, mariannesmemoirs.com.
Crowd – Five Minute Friday
Sometimes I don’t make sense to myself. I take that back. Quite often I don’t make sense to myself. For instance, one day I can’t wait to be with a crowd of people from church, at some party, and the like. But other times, sorry but I’d rather be by myself.
What is it about crowds and me that sometimes don’t click? My memory problem is what I blame. Let me explain. God saw fit to have me endure a brain damaging illness years ago called Encephalitis (‘E’ for short) Thankfully I am, I like to say, 90% recovered from it all but that 10% can sure be a pill: remembering names of people, places and things. I like to call it my ‘noun ailment’
Being around others, hearing most all popping up names, places and even sometimes things, I have to do a lot of extra thinking. Including myself in these talks is sure not easy. I give my ‘oh, really?’, my ‘Ya.. I know’, or just give that nodding-head look making it seem like I know all that’s being said. But deep inside I’m often thinking ‘I wish I could remember which person it is they keep talking about.’ or ‘I think that’s the same movie I saw last week. Not sure. I’ll just be quiet.’
What makes dealing with all of this bearable after all these years (notice I said bearable, not tearless-able) is knowing God saw it best I went though this back then as He still holds my hand though it now.
Psalm 46:1 God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.
2 Corinthians 12: 9-10 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, (and even in a big crowd) for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
I’ve shared bit’s and pieces of my story on my website but here is a different way to explain it. Click here to read.
Marianne Petersen’s book God and Your Pillow is now available. (Amazon) – You can follow Marianne on Twitter at @mariannesmemoirs and read more on her blog, mariannesmemoirs.com.
Blessings of My Unplanned Pregnancy Unwrapped (Part 3)
Blessings of My Unplanned Pregnancy Unwrapped (Part 3)
My unplanned pregnancy at the tender age of nineteen was thirty years ago, but the blessings I noticed back then I still hold tight to my heart today. These last few writings I’ve shared older posts to show how God was right there with me. (1* – 2*) But this week I’m using a piece from my book titled God and Your Pillow, showing another obvious sign of His Fatherly love through that intense trial.
God and Your Pillow
Willma was the next one I had to tell.
“Sure you can come over,” Willma said after I called to see if we could get together. “It’s pretty much lunchtime, so I’ll start throwing a few sandwiches together.”
I pondered how to tell her as I walked down to her house, that last house on our dead-end street. I knew it was just her there, so when I came up to the door, I took a deep breath.
Okay, here I go. While knocking lightly, I slowly opened the front door.
“Hi, Willma. I’m here. Where are — ”
“Come on in. I’m back in the kitchen, right in the middle of making our lunch,” she said as I walked in. Willma was her normal, cheery self. I could tell she was ready to talk away. Out of all the things in the world to talk about, she started talking about, gulp, the future. Half joking but half serious, she said, “Hey Marianne, it’s time we think more about when you and I move out. Let’s figure out what college you or I’ll be going to. What if you go to the same one I already go to?”
Breathe.
“We can try to get the same dormitory. Heck, the same room! Or maybe I’ll work while you go there and we’ll split the rent. I know, how about —.”
As she was talking, so full of energy, my mind began filling to the brim with thoughts. You know how you can think of twenty different things in three seconds? Well, that’s what I was doing. Sad to think how she and I wouldn’t really be able to make many spur-of-the-moment plans, as we had been doing for years. I was angry at myself for letting this happen, and a bit scared as to what this could do to our friendship. So much was being tossed around in my mind.
“Willma.” It was obvious this was the time to tell her. “I have something I need to tell you. We can’t really do that stuff you’re talking about because . . . I’m . . . I’m pregnant.”
There, I did it. Now what? What will she say? What will she do?
She stopped what she was doing, frozen for two seconds, realizing I wasn’t kidding.
“Oh. Uh, I guess we’ll, um, have to alter our plans just a bit,” she said calmly, a numb look on her face as she walked by with sandwich makings in her hands. Her look, however, instantly started changing, showing her mind forming different thoughts. I knew she would be shocked, and sure, I figured her emotions would be zig-zagging in all different directions. Thankfully, though, as I shared the entire story with her, I could tell her thoughts were getting straight once again.
While eating that lunch, I heard my best friend tell me she’d be there and how God would not let go of me. Not really hearing those types of words from my family, hearing it from her was priceless.
The more we discussed the pros and cons of keeping or adoption, we both leaned toward me keeping the baby. No decisions whatsoever on what to do regarding money, the baby’s father, work, and other matters. Just on whether I should be the mother of this baby.
As I was walking out that same door I came in, I felt God had used my friend as a means for guidance and a means to give me strength. My name was changed once again on my walk home. Marianne A-Bit-More-Peace-To-Keep-Baby Houstoun
I am one who strongly believes God has given us the Bible as our supreme guide in matters theological and practical. However, I did realize back then He will use a certain person to guide us while at the same time showing us He cares.
I’d sure love to read your testimony of how God showed He was there for you, right by your side, during a trial in your life.
1* – click here to read part 1
2* – click here to read part 2.
Marianne Petersen’s book God and Your Pillow is now available. (Amazon) – You can follow Marianne on Twitter at @marimemoirs and read more on her blog, marimemoirs.com.
