Hello all,
I love to pray - silently, out loud, in writing - any way!
We all have prayer needs. Sharing the need shares the burden.
How can we lift you up?
Blessings,
Christine

I thought this was a wonderful addition to the other topics. I have not yet begun my homeschooling. I have 3 children. 10,7, and 4. I would really love it if I new someone else was out there praying for me and my children. I am so afraid I do not have the patience to do this. I feel God is leading me to homeschool but, I am afraid my kids will end up hating me. Would you mind praying for me? Thank you
Tenfeet

Precious Heavenly Father, you have placed Tenfeet's children in her home and you have placed your conifidence in HER as their mother. Thank you for arranging these beautiful circumstances and for their being together for such a time as this.
Father, your Word tells us to train up our children and to speak of your truths to them when we wake up, when we lie down and when we walk along the road. Tenfeet has heard your call on her life to homeschool her blessings you have entrusted to her. Give her confidence and boldness as she steps out on the journey of faith. Calm her fears and give her courage, we ask in Jesus name.

Thank you so much. You made me cry!!

tenfeet,
I prayed for you again today as I read over your posts. Are you finding some answers - and some peace?

Blessings,
Christine

Yes!! You just wouldn't believe how clear God is making this decision. I am so excited about homeschooling. I am very nervous but, because I know God wants me to do this, I have peace. We had a family meeting tonight (around the table at dinner) and everyone had a chance to voice any concerns and SO much was talked about. It felt great!! Thank you so much for your prayers. Please continue to pray for us. I still haven't decided which curriculum! There is SO much out there. Once again thank you. People like you are what make the internet a blessing!

tenfeet,
God bless you friend!
Are you any closer on curriculum decisions?
Blessings,
Christine

This isn't a homeschooling need, but it is definitely a need in my life, and I'd really appreciate your prayers. For about the last 8 months I've been dealing with high cholesterol. I first found out it was high back in November (it was around 240 then). I saw the doctor again in April and it was still 240-something. They gave me 3 months to try to diet and exercise to bring it down, and I really tried hard. I lost 16 pounds and thought I was doing pretty good with eating right and exercising. I do not want to go on cholesterol medication, but that is the next step. I went back last week to have it checked again. The doctor's office called today, and not only did it not go down, it went up! Now it's 260. They want it to be under 200. I go back again on August 4 for a follow-up appointment and to discuss medication. A part of me wants to refuse the medication and work even harder at diet and exercise, but another part of me is afraid to do that. There are possible side effects to the medication which I'd rather avoid, but obviously the risk of high cholesterol causing heart disease is very real, too. So I would really appreciate prayers -- first that I will stop feeling so discouraged about this. I feel like I worked really hard for nothing. But also that I will know the right thing to do, whether I should take the medication or not. Also, that I will be able to take the time I need to keep exercising and eating right. It's so much quicker and easier to eat unhealthy food, it can be very tempting when things are busy (and when are they not busy?) I can always think of a million other things I could be doing with that hour of time that I need for exercise each day. I really want to take care of this, not just for myself but also for my family. Cholesterol problems and heart disease run in my family and I'd like to help my kids avoid those problems as much as possible, but wanting to and being able to are very different things. So, please pray.
Thanks!
Lori

Hi Lori,
I can totally relate to your situation. (If you want to read about my current health issues, I come clean in The Old Schoolhouse Special Learners e-Newsletter in August.)
With a family history and a stubborn cholesterol situation, why not give the medication a try? If you don't like the way it makes you feel, you can always go off it. It is a blessing to have the option.

Precious Heavenly Father, please hear the cries of your daughter Lori. You knit her together and know her needs and her difficulties. Give her wisdom in this situation and help her to not become discouraged in this time. Father, impress upon her the importance of taking care of her health so she can continue to serve you and the family you have blessed her with. Give her strength and a resolute mind to do what she needs to do to stay healthy. As she meets this challenge in her life, let her be an example to her children of perseverance in meeting the challenges you allow in life. Father, we know you love Lori. Let her feel your love in a special way and help her to make loving decisions about herself. We ask this in Your Son's Precious Name. Amen.

Christine

Okay, I went to the doctor on Friday, and as I suspected he put me on medication for my cholesterol. This was the first time I'd met this doctor (we go to the base and don't always see the same person) and I really liked him. He explained things much better than the one I saw last time. He went back thru my records and told me exactly when my cholesterol started going up, which was April 2005. Then in November 2005 it was higher, then July of this year it was higher still. That made total sense, as stress can be a factor, and things in my life started turning upside down toward the end of 2004 (my dad was ill, then I was put on bedrest, then my dad passed away, and things just seemed to spiral out of control after that). Anyway, I take one pill a day, and go back for follow-up visits in 6 weeks and 12 weeks. They have to check my liver functions to be sure the medication isn't having a negative effect on that. If all is well after 12 weeks, I only have to get rechecked once a year. I didn't ask him about the long-term, and if I'm on this for the rest of my life. I decided to take one thing at a time, and I realized I really do need to get my cholesterol under control if I'm going to be healthy. Thank you for your prayers. I felt much better about this by the time my appointment came on Friday, not nearly as stressed out about it as I had been before.
Lori

Tenfeet and Lori,
OK, we need an update. How are you doing?
Lori, are you feeling well?
Tenfeet, are you feeling more peaceful?
Blessings,
Christine

Christine,
I've been on the medication for a week now (and have actually remembered to take it every day!) and so far I don't feel any effects from it. I'm sticking to my diet and exercise and that is making me feel better. I'm starting to have a good feeling about this, that it really will work to get this under control. I am going to talk to my doctor later on, probably next year, about coming back off the medication once my cholesterol level is down to normal, and try to keep it that way with diet and exercise. I'm hoping that, even tho' that wasn't enough to bring it down, once it is down and I lose some weight, maybe it will be enough to keep it under control without the medication. I'm also starting to lose weight again, which is a huge praise for me!
Lori

Hello,
I definitely need a prayer for my husband and for homeschool. My husband is not saved and I have been trying to live a christian life but it doesn't seem to help. He told me the other day when he saw the curriculum I had ordered that this is not church. He told me he does not want the children to do bible study each day. School work is more important than the bible study. I know this is what God wants me to do but the pressures around me are making me weak. I need a prayer to keep doing what I know needs to be done. Thank you,
Andrea

Dear Andrea,

Heavenly Father, we lift up Andrea and her precious family to you. She loves you and wants to do the right thing with her children. She wants to please you. Father, give her strength to stick by her convictions, make her actions speak volumes to her husband, and soften his heart to be receptive to hear YOU through the loving example of his wife, Andrea. Father, challenges lie ahead for her. Be with her with an extra measure of your wisdom and strength. We ask this in your Son's precious name.


Bless you, Andrea,
Christine

Okay, I need continued prayers for my health. I have no idea if this has anything to do with my cholesterol medication or not. My sister, who is an RN, thinks it might. Anyway, Thursday evening I started having tingling in my hands and arms, and later the same thing in my feet and legs. That continued for a few hours but never did anything else. I went to bed and finally got to sleep, but it really scared me so I had a hard time settling down. Friday I seemed fine, but occasionally felt the tingling in my hands. Friday evening it started to get bad again, and then other symptoms started. After a couple of hours I was feeling horrible and so I had my husband take me to the emergency room. They ran some tests, and the doctor I saw diagnosed me as having some sort of inflamation that was affecting my circulation. He said it wasn't a serious condition and could be treated with Ibuprofen and moist heat (like a hot shower) three times a day. We got home at 3 AM and I slept the rest of the night. I felt better Saturday and Sunday but basically stayed home and took it easy. Today I felt fine all morning, but this afternoon the tingling came back. For a couple of hours I felt bad, and my blood pressure was a little high (but not horrible). I called my sister (the RN) and she told me what to watch for to know when to go back to ER. I haven't had to do that, but I will call my doctor first thing in the morning. My sister thinks it may be a reaction to the Zocor (cholesterol med) so I'm not taking that anymore until I see my doctor. Please pray I get some answers to what is going on, and that I don't have any more episodes like that. It's pretty scary, for me and for my family. I'll let you know what I find out from the doctor tomorrow.
Lori

Lori, my husband was having similar trouble with Zocor and the doc switched him to Crestor. He was still having high Chol. readings until he began a diet & exercise program. He has lost 40lbs and his chol. readings have gone down to 166!!!!! Praise God! The doc is gonna try to wean him off of Crestor if Husband continues the good response.
hang in there!

I saw my doctor yesterday and he isn't sure what's going on. He did some lab work and referred me to a couple of specialists (neurologist and vascular), but he agreed that it could be the Zocor, so I'm off of that for now. I'm still taking Ibuprofen since the ER doctor thought it was inflammation. I'm feeling much better and just have mild tingling in my hands and arms now, but it seems to be getting better. Since we are supposed to be moving next month, I'm hesitant to try another drug until after we get moved. I will try to see the specialists if they can get me in before we move (sometimes those referral appointments can take weeks!) and then I'll get in with my new doctor as soon as we move and go from there. I am continuing to diet and exercise. I'd love it if I could stay off all medication and control the cholesterol without it. Hopefully my symptoms will continue to improve. My sister (the RN) said it could take a week to ten days for the Zocor to be completely out of my system, so time will tell.
Lori

The nurse called today from my doctor's office. They got my test results back and he is not convinced it was the Zocor. He wants me to stay off of it for a month and then go back to have the lab tests redone. She said one of my cardiac enzymes was slightly elevated, so that's not a good thing. So now I'm off the Zocor for good, and have to really watch my diet. I've been working on improving that anyway, and exercising, so I'm hoping that when I go back my cholesterol will be lower and I may not have to go back on anything else. I'll have a follow-up appt with my doctor the second week of October, just before we get ready to move, so hopefully I'll get a good report.
Lori

Sweet Lori,
What a heavy burden you are carrying! Think of all the stress currently resting on you right now. Please, please be careful and take it easy. It's OK to do the minimum for now.
Stay in touch. Praying for you now.
Blessings,
Christine

Gee, my burdens are a bit silly but here it goes:

Husband is frequently gone on business trips. He is in IT and works from home but goes all over North America on installs. We recently learned he may be going to a few places in the UK next year.
He likes his job. He is very good at what he does and is able to take oldest as IT help on some trips but my children really need "face time" with daddy and I find myself lonely at times. I guess I'm wanting to be content in my situtaton.