Non-Toxic Choices

Hi Friends, I rarely post about this part of life, because I want this blog to be primarily a place of beauty and encouragement. But if you've followed along for some years, you know how years of chronic illness helped our family find ways to cut out unnecessary (and even harmful) toxins from life.

If that interests you, read on...

One big way we cut toxins was by switching to clean and non-toxic skincare, haircare, makeup, and lotion products from Lemongrass Spa. We soon used enough of them that it was beneficial for me to join for the discount. 

This means I can also offer perks to my friends, like you!

One of those perks is occasionally sharing the host rewards from a month of orders with one shopper! To be entered in my drawing, make sure to place orders through the event currently running here: Mystery Host Event

Besides all the current specials, catalog clearance, and new catalog launch featured in the menu at the link above, we are enjoying an extra 10% off sitewide until 9 PM central on July 31st. Make sure to enter coupon code JULY10 for this savings.

And if that's not enough, I am personally offering free shipping to any first-time customers! Just send me your wish list (or questions), and I will be in touch. My text-only business number is (218) 271-8677.

For more information and other natural living topics, text INFO to me at (218) 271-8677.

Note: Lemongrass Spa only ships within the USA. Sorry to my readers from other countries!

I also have a variety of videos - from gardening to cleaning, and from online groceries to Lemongrass Spa information - on my natural living YouTube channel: Purely.HannahMary

Next... back to regular programming!
~ Hannah

Hypothyroidism and "Hope in His Steadfast Love"

A few weeks ago I was hiking through deep snow. Then at the end of April I enjoyed the walk in this YouTube Short.

But now it is once again hard to walk as far as the garden, so I am grateful to remember a couple of sitting exercises we learned from a PT back when Aunt Dorothy broke her neck and spent a couple months in a halo. Learn them in my newest Short: 2 Simple Ways to Get Moving! [even if stuck at a computer or couch-bound]

There were years where I couldn't even manage this much exercise. So I can be grateful for this ability even though I recently found out my current form of thyroid medication hasn't been absorbing for a couple months. And since I don't have a thyroid, [see part of that story in this post] it may take a while to get back to my normal.

As my body and brain struggle through the slough of deep hypothyroidism once again, it is a good time to remember that "[God's] delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, but the LORD takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love." (Psalm 147:10-11)

In You Will I Trust

This album of Scripture Lullabies - Hidden In My Heart first became a good friend during another sleepless night. (Even though I recognize music after one hearing, it usually takes a few times through new songs to get past the "new acquaintance" stage for me.)  Now these cinematic orchestrations and Bible-based lyrics so beautifully help reset my mind on the truth during stressful and physically weak days.

Running a search just now on my blog, I am surprised not to find any mention of this series of albums before. Ever since I first heard of Jay Stocker's Scripture Lullabies (only 1 album back then) through the ministry of Revive Our Hearts and bought it to help Aunt Dorothy rest in the afternoons, they have been a big part of our life.

Besides blessing and calming us many days and nights at home, I played them through earbuds every time I was in the claustrophobic scanning machines for post-cancer checkups. We also give them to most new babies among our family and friends, as well as to hurting adult-friends. 

Check out the series here: Scripture-Lullabies.com

A favorite song from Volume IV which keeps playing through my mind and heart is based on Psalm 91:

In You Will I Trust
Listen Here

I will dwell in the secret place
Of the Most High God
I will abide under the shadow of the Almighty
Surely You will deliver me
You will make a way
With Your outstretched wings, Lord, You cover me
You will hold me close
Never let me go

I will say of the Lord You are my refuge
And my fortress
My God in You will I trust
In You will I trust

I will not fear the terror by night
Nor the arrow that flies by day
And when a thousand fall then ten thousand more
I’ll stand firm
You will give angels charge over me
Keep me in all my ways
They will lift me up, God You’ll hold me up
You’re my shield and strength
I won’t be afraid

No evil will befall me
The serpent has no power
I will set my love upon You
God You deliver, You will deliver me

I will say of the Lord You are my refuge
And my fortress
My God in You will I trust
In You will I trust

A Joyful Graduation

This has been a novel week. I explored two little city parks I'd never heard of before... all in one day!

This riverside park had the best autumn scents along its winding paths.

While the huge, old linden trees had me looking up and up, many smaller plants called for attention at my feet.

Dad was my only exploring buddy this time. He has been my faithful driver to doctor's appointments farther than half an hour from home for many years now.



Since this day held an appointment first thing in the morning and another mid-afternoon, we had time to spend beyond the usual errands.

This park was such a restful gift on a weary day! And the view from my blanket on the grass...

After lunch and errands, there was still time for another park.

Even the doctor's office sported fall colors.

But no part of the day brought bigger smiles than when I rode the elevator back downstairs and walked out of the clinic after five years of post-thyroid-cancer follow-up... with no more appointments scheduled! The doctor said I have graduated!

"Praise God from Whom all blessings flow!"

For more of the story, see these posts:

A Sign of His Goodness, Part 1

A Sign of His Goodness, Part 2

Providential Pajamas

Four Years Later

Four years ago today, my body gave out. Years of untreated Lyme and toxic levels of heavy metals and mold accumulating due to a compromised immune system finally took me down. But I have written of that before.

Today I want to remember some progress I've been noticing:

On very low-strength days recently, I am reminded how hard it used to be to climb from one story to another in our 1970's farm-house. This makes it clear how much stronger I am most days the past year - not to have to avoid stairs in general.

I have even made it down the road to our first and second "hill" a few times in the past four years. Of course this is nothing compared to the 2-3 miles we walked every day when training to descend the rugged trails of the Grand Canyon years ago. But it certainly is something compared to being nearly unable to walk a few yards into a store a few years ago, especially if there was even a slight incline to the sidewalk.

Our white-domed shed tucked in the trees shows how far
I have made it from home.

                       

On another note, driving was neurologically impossible for quite some time after my health crash. First I became able to make the three mile drive to the nearest little town to teach or go to church on my better days. But even that short drive on empty, flat roads left me overstimulated and with aching brain.

After a year or two (and after recovering somewhat from thyroid cancer treatments), it was a gift when that little drive became predictably possible. I was even able to start looking around again and enjoying the prairie views in all seasons.

Next I was blessed to be able to resume the half-hour drives to a couple of our main towns for appointments and errands and to teach a few piano lessons. On the day last May when Dad was being rushed around by ambulance to get a stent due to his heart attack, I was even given the strength needed to drive Mom an hour to the bigger hospital. And recently I made my first round-trip drive to that city for Elsa and me to get blood draws for labs.

I look forward to being able to help more with the 6 hour drives to our doctors someday - and even to take my shifts to drive across the country on family trips once again. But today I am grateful for this much healing.

Praise God, from Whom each blessing flows...

For All in Pain

- Amy Carmichael

Funeral Flowers

For Dorothy's funeral, we had 6 foot tall bouquets of balloons.
She would have loved them!

Photo Credit: Maren

Those went home with my cousins' kids while we brought flowers home to enjoy. Here are some we picked out for Dorothy in the bright colors that caught her fancy.

      

Mourning with Hope

As I mentioned in my previous post, hospice came to help us make Dorothy more comfortable as her body started shutting down. We were all surprised and saddened that it went so quickly. But we also see God's hand at work through all the details and timing.

In less than a week I got a call just as I finished teaching a few lessons. 

"Dorothy is having seizures. I think you should come home."

I hope never to make that three mile drive so quickly again...

A hospital bed from hospice made her last days easier.

But what a sweet answer to prayer to have our whole family plus Dorothy's oldest brother around her in her last hour! And after getting past the seizures, she went so peacefully... another big answer to prayer. 

Oh, how we miss our little girl! Though Dad's sister and my aunt, we all felt more like she was our "baby" as she increasingly declined through seven years of Alzheimer's and seizures. And yet we do not mourn as those who have no hope. (I Thessalonians 4:13) We are so glad for Dorothy's sake that she is free from years of suffering and a lifetime of disabilities - clothed in a new and perfect body. And we wonder how she is beginning eternity in heaven... is she talking and singing and dancing non-stop?! I look forward to a big hug from her again when Jesus takes me home too!

It has also been good to start looking back at pictures and remembering the Dorothy of old. What an adorable and lively character she looked when growing up! And even the past five years of photos that I can find on my computer show much enjoyment of life. 

Eating out - 2013

Flipping methodically through a favorite book - 2013

4th of July, 2013

A sticker earned for being brave at the lab, 2014

Dorothy loved balloons and taught us to as well! - 2014

Sporting new shoes - 2015

Did I mention Dorothy loved balloons?!! - 2016

Making a happy face at a piano recital - May 2016

Coming home asleep from her
last day at "work" - June 2016

Dorothy's own van was such a help.
She could still join us on family outings.

Pondering what to have for breakfast... Cheerios!

Stuffed animals were often comforting. - 2017

Read-aloud time was the best! Even in Norwegian :-) - 2017

I should scan some of her childhood pictures to share sometime too...

Nothing Can Separate Us

Since I last wrote, Elsa and I have traveled for another round of doctoring, our dog of 13 years had a stroke and had to be put down, and hardest of all... we found out that our dear little aunt Dorothy has a tumor on each of her lungs.

Dorothy in 2016

With her pain levels increasing, strength greatly decreasing, and breathing being obstructed by more and more phlegm, she is now on hospice here at home. So I may not keep up with blog posts for a while.

Dorothy in 2017

"For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

Romans 8:38-39