I’m writing to all of you moms with physical limits. Moms that never feel like they are doing enough. Moms that feel like a burden on their families. And Moms who feel like they can never catch up. This is for you. I teach Moms to thrive with their physical limitations. I’ve always written to moms, but now I’m writing specifically to you.
After the last year, my focus has changed. My limitations were not always seen, but I lived with them every day. Now, my physical limits are apparent for everyone to see. And resources are few, moms who understand and walk this path even less. So I hope to soon open a community just for moms like us.
Physical Limits
I have physical limits I deal with every day and I’m guessing you do too. Having had Charcot, an amputation, fibromyalgia, arthritis, chronic pain, and am currently in a wheelchair. I’ve had over 30 surgeries and 40 hospitalizations. Resilience and humility have been words I am well acquainted with. I’ve struggled where you have and learned many tips and tricks to make it easier to thrive as a wife, mom, and homemaker.
Resources to Help You
Learn how to set energy limits on your day. The best resource I’ve found is The Spoon Theory. But I will also teach you how to use the best time of day for you. For instance, I know I have to all my brain work in the morning. I have foggy thinking later in the day and I make more mistakes. I also have stories already regarding amputations,recovery,when you feel like a burden., living with chronic pain, and Charcot. What would you want to learn about?
Daily Helps
There are tools to use to help. I use and have a love/hate relationship with my wheelchair. I love it because I can get around, but I hate that I have to use it. Then I have an IWalk that I’m trying to learn to use. I’m getting a new socket on my prosthetic leg next week. You might use crutches, braces of some kind, or a walker. That’s great! It makes you more Independent. There are tools in the kitchen to help and I use my grabber every day.
Learn How To Live with Bad Days
Living life with physical limits brings new challenges and triumphs. Some days I feel so bad most of the day I spend in bed. And there are days I have more energy than others and can get a lot done. I have to rely on other people all the time right now. It’s a great way to learn humility, whether you want to or not. Smile. I keep a running to-do list of things I want to learn, books to read, and articles to write. It’s also a great day to cuddle and watch a movie.
Attitude is Everything
It’s all in your attitude. I hear people all the time ask me why I would go through so much. Even a daughter who walked away from God because she told me ” Mom, you have believed and served God and this is what he’s done to you. ” I have never asked God “Why?” I have asked them why not me? Why do people expect God to be a genie in a lamp granting wishes?
Now, I don’t enjoy being in pain all the time, being an amputee, having 2 house fires, and over 30+ surgeries. But I do know there’s a purpose for everything. I know God is still faithful. God is still good, even when I can’t see the purpose. And how I look at everything makes the difference. You can still bless others and enjoy life even with physical limitations. What would you like to learn about and how can I help?
t’s It’s been a long time since I have written. I’m very sorry. Life got so busy and in the way and I just lived it. We lived in an RV for the summer and were not able to build the house we had planned. It was a huge challenge to living in a small space.
We learned we can live in a very small space. It’s almost impossible to get privacy and we became closer as a family. I learned to cook pizza on a grill. It was really great! And many other things can be cooked on the grill too.
Then we moved to South Bend, Indiana, and lived there for 7 months. During that time both my husband and I had surgery. We also had 2 of our older children living with us during that time. We had time to talk and decided that after my husband’s 30 years in a factory it was time for something new.
We moved to New Mexico and became houseparents at the New Mexico Boys and Girls Ranch. We loved working with the children and living on the ranch. We saw the most beautiful sunsets I’d ever seen. Unfortunately, we had to leave there after my Charcot came back and I was not able to walk around and fulfill my duties. We had to resign and move my children’s schools, again.
After that, we moved into Albuquerque in an apartment. I love living in a large city and all that that entails including great hospitals and doctors. I spent most of a week in the hospital in October that I had an infection in the bones. And then found out at Thanksgiving 2019, I needed to have an amputation. In January, a week before my surgery, we moved again. Same apartment complex but first floor. And that is 5 moves in a year and a half.
On January 23rd, I had a below-knee amputation. I stayed in the hospital and then a rehab hospital for almost 3 weeks. I am working on PT and waiting for my incision to heal. I heal very slowly. I’m getting along great in a wheelchair, I can’t use crutches because of carpal tunnel. But I am eagerly waiting for the day to get my prosthetic leg.
I’d love to know what I can help you with. Do you have a struggle you could use help with? I’d love to help.
I have been through a lot in my life. Marriage, divorce, marriage. Children, miscarriages, children. Loss of a grandchild. Numerous hospital stays, numerous car accidents. Physical therapy, occupational therapy, surgery after surgery. More than 30. Sepsis-twice, house fire-twice.The ER doctor telling me to call in my family. My doctor telling me to get affairs in order. That she’s never had a patient live even 5 years. But, I know God is real. Because He has met me in each of these places. He has carried me through. I have seen Him. I have felt Him work in my life. I have felt Him carry me. And I know God is real. By the way, it’s been more than 5 years. I’ve had 3 instances where I shouldn’t have made it. But God is the one who has numbered my days, not doctors. And I still have more to do for Him.
Why Not Me?
I have had family members ask ” Why would God put you through all this? You follow Him and He does this?” My answer is “why not?” Why do we think believers are supposed to be immune to suffering? Matthew 5:45b says –For he gives his sunlight to both the evil and the good, and he sends rain on the just and the unjust alike.
Blessings
Blessings from Raindrops
So if I am blessed with the sun, aren’t I also blessed with the rain? Even though I do believe this, I don’t always like it. But, He has been there every step of the way. God has been my comfort and my refuge. He is the One I turn to not only in times of trouble but daily and some days hourly. Somedays I call upon him to help through surgery but more often it’s “Help me reach this child. Give me the energy to deal with this situation. God, what shall I make for dinner? Who do you want me to talk to? What shall I say?”. God is there to help me in all situations.
Mountain Top Experience or Valley Growth
I once heard a speaker at a women’s conference talking about a mountain top experience. “Everyone wants a mountaintop experience but no one wants to be in the valley. But nothing grows in the mountaintop. All the growth is in the valley.” And I want growth. I want to know more. I want to be closer to God. But growth isn’t easy. It makes you question what you think you know. Do I really want to know all of Jesus? Do I want to share in His sufferings? My first thought is NO. But I do want to be closer to Him. What it takes is going through it. It makes you lean into the Son. And that makes it all worth it.
Knowing God is There
Isaiah 43:2 says:When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.Notice it doesn’t say if you go through these things, it says when. Everyone goes through something. You might as well plan for it. It will happen. Now, a better thing to plan for is what you will do then. God will be there for you to turn to. But will you? Or will you rail at Him for sending these things? Will you make Him your refuge? Or will Netflix, hobbies, anger or despair be your constant companion? God is the One who will be with you, if you only turn to Him.
Life is Hard
Surgery is hard. Miscarriage is hard. Marriage is hard. Children are hard. Fires are hard, Life is hard. And that’s why we need God. I need God to go through the hard. Because we will go through the hard things in life. Whether it’s just the day to day grind of parenting or house fires, sepsis, and surgeries. God is there to help you with the hard things. He is there to carry you, to bear your pain, to comfort you. I know God is real.
My Help Comes From You Lord
A friend called this the Mommy song. Because as mommys we call on Him many, times a day. Psalms 121.1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the mountains, from whence cometh my help.” I actually found it and have it below. But there have been so many many times. I’ve sung this and called out to God. He is only waiting on you to call upon Him too. And I know God is Real. He is here, waiting…
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.AcceptRead More
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
