Lillie Ammann's Blog, page 142

Devotions for Lent … or Anytime

Tomorrow is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent, a time for penitence for many Christians. Believers who attend liturgical churches often give up something for Lent and use the time and/or money saved for worship and giving.

As usual, I will post a Scripture reading and prayer for every day of Lent. Traditionally, I follow a Lenten Bible reading plan and record the daily Scripture and a prayer in my journal. The posts on my blog each Lent are my journal entries from the previous year. I invite you to join me in reading the Bible verses and praying—my prayer, your own, or both.

Some readers may want to add more devotion to their Lenten schedule. Perhaps something of my daily devotions will be useful for you. My plan is an adaptation of How to Have a Meaningful Time with God, provided by my church, All Saints Anglican Church of San Antonio.

I begin with a short quiet and prayer time to put me in a reverent mood.
I journal whatever I'm feeling or thinking about that day and post a prayer related to the things that have my attention at that time.
I pray for the people and needs on my personal prayer list.
I listen to Evening Prayer from the Cradle of Prayer and follow along on the CommonPrayer.org website.
I read the Scripture from the Bible reading plan I am following (this year I am reading the American Standard Bible).
I write something in my journal about the Scripture I read—what it was about or how it impacted me—as well as a prayer based on the reading.

Cradle of Prayer offers Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer every day—with a priest conducting the service and a cantor singing the canticles and giving the responses. The CommonPrayer.org site includes all the services, including daily readings, from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer. You can use either one alone, but I enjoy listening to Cradle of Prayer and reading along on the Common Prayer site and joining in the responses.Because of my caregiving responsibilities, I don't have a regular time of day for my devotions—usually in the wee hours of the morning after I've finished work and when no one else is awake.

Though the Prayer Book services are Anglican, I think any Christian who is comfortable with traditional liturgy and orthodox beliefs will find they can worship in spirit and in truth in these services.

Do you have a daily devotional plan and/or a special Lenten devotional plan?

photo credit: bigbirdz

Related Posts:Ash Wednesday 2011International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted ChurchAsh Wednesday and LentNational Bible Week 2011Advent and My Gift to YouPowered by Contextual Related PostsDevotions for Lent … or Anytime was first posted on February 21, 2012 at 2:53 am.
©2011 "Lillie Ammann, Writer & Editor". Use of this feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this article in your feed reader, then the site is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact me at lillie@lillieammann.com

Feed enhanced by the Add To Feed Plugin by Ajay D'Souza

The Versatile Blog Award and the Liebster Blog Award

Thanks to Dominique at 4Walls and a View for nominating this blog for two awards. If you aren't a regular reader of Dominique's blog, I encourage you to stop by and read some of her excellent posts. She blogs about chronic illness, but she will inspire you to face and overcome whatever challenges you have in your own life.

[image error]You can read the full rules of the Versatile Blogger Award on the VBA website. Basically,the nominated blogger is to nominate fifteen excellent blogs that she reads regularly or has recently discovered and tell the blogger who nominated her seven things about herself.

Dominique (and anyone else interested) can read seven random things about me in an earlier post.

I am nominating the following fifteen bloggers, who are among my favorite regular reads, for the Versatile Blogger Award.

Barbara Swafford, Blogging without a Blog
Bluestocking, The Bluestocking Guide
Carl Holland, Carl's Words of Inspiration
Christopher Roberts, Christopher Roberts' Philosophy Blog
David Bowles, The Westward Sagas
Dawn Colclasure, Dawn Colclasure's Blog
Doris Plaster, Hold My Hand: A Social Worker's Blog
James Doughty, Doughty Families
Jan McClintock, We Need More Shelves
Joel Friedlander, The Book Designer
Karen Fisher Alaniz, Story Matters
Misti Sandefur, Christian Fiction Author
Renae Brumbaugh, Funny Coffee Girl
Rhys Bartle, How to Preach
Sally Ferguson, Sally's Words

[image error]The Liebster Blog Award is named for a German word meaning dearest. The nominated blogger is to nominate five other excellent bloggers. So here are five more of my favorite blogs that I nominate for for the Liebster Blog Award.

George Angus, Tumblemoose Writer
Helen Ginger, Straight from Hel
Jeanne Dininni, Writer's Notes
Karen Swim, Words for Hire
Lori Weidner, Words on the Pag

Though I hope each of the bloggers I nominated with pass the award on to others, primarily I wanted to say "Thank you" to some of my favorite sources of information and entertainment and inspiration.

Related Posts:Prolific Blogger AwardLemonade AwardA Writer's Words, an Editor's Eye Receives the Thinking Blogger Award!One Lovely Blog AwardThinking Again … Still?Powered by Contextual Related PostsThe Versatile Blog Award and the Liebster Blog Award was first posted on February 17, 2012 at 11:37 pm.
©2011 "Lillie Ammann, Writer & Editor". Use of this feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this article in your feed reader, then the site is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact me at lillie@lillieammann.com

Feed enhanced by the Add To Feed Plugin by Ajay D'Souza

Happy Valentine's Day 2012

Valentine's Day is all about love. We tend to focus on romantic love, but we can share all kinds of love with all kinds of people today.

Show your family how much you love them by spending time together doing something fun. Brighten your coworkers' day with a note or a treat. Make Valentine's Day special for an elderly neighbor or residents in a nearby nursing home by simply listening to their stories of days gone by. Spend time with your children looking at the valentines they got at their school party. Maybe even show a little love by smiling and sharing a few kind words with the most unlovable person you know. And, of course, share loving moments with your spouse or romantic partner.

But now faith, hope, love, abide these three; but the greatest of these is love. ~ 1 Corinthians 13:13 (NASB)

ALMIGHTY God, we entrust all who are dear to us to thy never-failing care and love, for this life and the life to come; knowing that thou art doing for them better things than we can desire or pray for; help us to show them how much we love them, especially on this day of love, through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. ~ adapted from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer

photo credit: LadyDragonflyCC – TY for 300,000 Views!!!!

Related Posts:Happy Valentine's DayHappy Valentine's DayHappy Mother's DayHappy New Year 2012!I Love to Write DayPowered by Contextual Related PostsHappy Valentine's Day 2012 was first posted on February 14, 2012 at 1:17 am.
©2011 "Lillie Ammann, Writer & Editor". Use of this feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this article in your feed reader, then the site is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact me at lillie@lillieammann.com

Feed enhanced by the Add To Feed Plugin by Ajay D'Souza

Thanks to January 2012 Commenters

Thank you to the 112 commenters who left 160 comments in January. Your comments extended the conversation and added value and interest, and I enjoyed replying to every one of them.

Every month when I post thanks to commenters, I get questions about how I compile this list. I have explained my system in detail in Compiling Thanks to Commenters.

Top Contributors (7 Comments)


David
Affordable Writing


Dawn Colclasure
DMC Writer


Matt
Edit Me F.A.S.T.


Major Contributors (5 Comments)


Joey
Blue Jet Cleaning Services


Matt Keegan
Word Journey


Outstanding Contributors (3-4 Comments)


Michael
Crossroad Web Studio


Bluestocking
Life Less Brooke


Christopher Roberts
Christopher Roberts


David
Sell Textbooks


Dominique
4 Walls and a View


Stella
Mykonos Gold


Significant Contributors (2 Comments)


Barney
Pakown


Duncan William
Duncan William Magician


Esther
n/a


Jane
Manny Villar


Jane
Recover Deleted Files


Joy
AFGO Counseling


Mollybe
Molly Noble Bull


Ronald
Phlebotomy Training and Certification


Simon
How to Clean up Your Mac


Important Contributors


Advogado RJ
David Nigri


Alex
Nerd Force


Alex
Ultraman Games


Alvin
Ezzi.net


Alyson
Actos Lawyer


Andrew Witts
Chesterfield Heritage


Barney
Party Events Unlimited


Beth
Online Diamond Buying Advice


Bluestocking
Bluestocking Guide


Bobby
Bhindi Jewelers


Carol Hong
Dr. Colin Hong


Catrien
Four Seasons Gutter Guard


Charles
Inventive Hitches


Charley
Best Sulfate Free Shampoos


Chris
Blog Dog


Chris
Finance and Operational Recruitment


Chris
Luxembourg Jobs and Recruiting


Collins
Marlowe's Wine Store


Daniel
Bloggable Stuff


Dany
SEO Backlink Checker Tool


Davi Nigri
David Nigri


Denial
Layover


Dennis
What Is Obese


Diane
How to Relieve Stress


Dixia Shi
Ever Pretty


ed
Forfait Mobile


Edward
Swift Capital


Elaine Stock
Everyone's Story


Elvin
Flamenco Lessons


Eric
Festklanningar


France
Personal Injury Attorney


George
Cheapest Merchant Accounts


Hailey Villa
Ledger on the Law


Harry
Aqua Right Pools


Helen Ginger
Straight from Hel


Jack
ASUS Ultrabook


Jack
Mailbox Works


Jack
Snow Plows for Trucks


Jamal
Surfside Spa


James
AutoModZone


James
Iron Industrial Fence, Inc.


James
Jogging Strollers Parental Reviews


James
McMahon RV


Jan
The Office for Dental Arts


Jemmy
IFixPhones


Jeo
My Next Promo


Joe
Hayes & Jarvis


John
Ezzi.net


John
Golf Vacations UK


John
How to Start a Blog


Jordan Xiong
huunt.com


Jozy
Eyesight Correction


Karen Fisher-Alaniz
Story Matters


Katherine
Fusion Cleaning


Kent
Chocolate Poker


Mark
Jiffy Auto Glass


Mark Derikx
Auto Price Canada


Marnie
Allkind Joinery and Glass


Marshall Miller
I Can Trade


Mathew
TechSquad


Matt Spitsbergen
Medicare Plans


Matthew Bacon
Juno + Magento


May
Habitual Traffic Offender


Maya
Used Mobile PC


Megan
Best Lawyer


Micky
PE Spring


Mitchell
Coral Cove Jamaica


Natalie
Really Natalie


Nelson
Protector Locksmith


niharika
Davitt Corporate Partners


oleg
PE Spring


Olga
Natural Yoga Mats


Paul
Sharon Cowen ReMax


qaswer
Guaranteed Supplements


Renny
Smile Canada


Rhio
Kolobe Safaris


Rinata
Online Cigarettes


Russ Jordano
Handbags


sana
Used Laptops PK


Shyr
Sweet Life's Journey


Spruit
Social Work Salary


Terry
Drain Rescue Plumbers


Thomas
Ask the Doctor


Thomas
Cruisin' Tasmania Motor Homes


Thomas
First 2BC


Tim
Looking 4 Parking


Vance Miller
Medial ID Marketplace


Vance Miller
New American Funding


Vanessa Lang
n/a


Wes
Party Ideas for Girls


yaron
GMX


Zvi
New York City Blinds



Related Posts:Thanks to December 2011 CommentersThanks to November 2011 CommentersThanks to August 2011 CommentersThanks to October 2011 CommentersThanks to July 2011 CommentersPowered by Contextual Related PostsThanks to January 2012 Commenters was first posted on February 10, 2012 at 6:49 am.
©2011 "Lillie Ammann, Writer & Editor". Use of this feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this article in your feed reader, then the site is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact me at lillie@lillieammann.com

Feed enhanced by the Add To Feed Plugin by Ajay D'Souza

Epiphany, the Church – Guest Post by Molly Noble Bull

We home church now. But I attended Epiphany Episcopal Church in Kingsville, Texas, from birth until the age of six. Then we moved to nearby Corpus Christi, and I would like to share something that happened in Corpus Christi at about the age of eight. I think you will find it interesting.

It was around 1942, and World War II raged on. Gasoline, sugar, meat, shoes, and other products were rationed. Few toys for children were being manufactured, and rubber products and nylon stockings were not available at all.

I dreamed about owning a rubber ball and a yellow, rubber balloon on a string.

We lived near the six points shopping area and attended Church of the Good Shepherd every Sunday morning, and since gasoline was rationed, we made Sunday a special day. We drove downtown to church in the family car or caught a bus at Six Points. After church, we had a fish dinner at a café on the bay, went to an afternoon movie downtown— either the Ritz or the Center Theater, and came home.

I remember how big and fancy-looking Good Shepherd was compared to my little wooden Church of the Epiphany. The altar and choir area was set apart from the rest of the church building by a filigreed partition made of black iron that you could see through. Half the choir sat on one side of the altar, and the other half sat facing them with an aisle down the center going up to the altar. The podium where the pastor stood when giving his weekly sermons was on the congregation side of that see-through partition.

I never understood a word the pastor said in those sermons. He used big words that I didn't know the meaning of at that time.

During the sermon, I would start on the far left side of that black iron filigree, and slowly, I would allow my eyes to travel over every inch of it. When I finally got to the far right of the partition, the sermon would be over.

I knew the pastor was saying something important, but I had no idea what he was talking about. However, I prayed during or after my slow inspection of the black filigree. I remember telling God that though I didn't understand what the pastor was saying, someday I would understand, and that prayer was answered because today I understand sermons given by pastors.

God is good.

When I was in the fourth grade we moved back to Kingsville and attended Church of the Epiphany again. One of the things I remember most about services in that little church was that the Hebrew blessing, found in the Book of Numbers chapter six and verses 23 to 27, was given often—perhaps every Sunday. At the time, I knew it was important. Now, I know just how important it is to hear that blessing, and I try to put my hands on the heads of my loved ones and friends often while saying that blessing aloud. I heard that the Rabbis say when you bless someone using the blessing in Numbers chapter six, God is blessing you, too.

Here it is:

May the Lord bless thee, and keep thee. The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee. The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.

===========================

[image error]You can learn more about me and my writing at my website: Molly Noble Bull and Lillie's recent interview with me.

I have a new book out that I wrote with four other published novelists. The book is titled The Overcomers: Christian Authors Who Conquered Learning Disabilities by Ginny Aiken, Margaret Daley, Jane Myers Perrine, Ruth Scofield and me, Molly Noble Bull.

Yep, I'm dyslexic.

The book tells about growing up in Kingsville with a learning disability and overcoming, but only with God's help.

If you might be interested in reading The Overcomers and/or telling others about it, click below. The Overcomers is the book with the yellow cover and available in paperback and as an e-book.

Related Posts:Interview: Christian Author Molly Noble BullInternational Day of Prayer for the Persecuted ChurchReligious Freedom Day 2012Back to Church SundayGlobal Day of PrayerPowered by Contextual Related PostsEpiphany, the Church – Guest Post by Molly Noble Bull was first posted on February 7, 2012 at 12:18 am.
©2011 "Lillie Ammann, Writer & Editor". Use of this feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this article in your feed reader, then the site is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact me at lillie@lillieammann.com

Feed enhanced by the Add To Feed Plugin by Ajay D'Souza

My 7 Links

[image error]Thanks to Christopher at Technology Bloggers for nominating me to participate in the My 7 Links Challenge. The purpose of the challenge is to create a bank of posts from the past that deserve to be seen again.

Several years ago, challenges (or "memes") were quite popular in the blogosphere. However, their popularity has declined, and this is the first one I've been invited to participate in for a long time. I like this one because it gave me a chance to look back through my archives and select a few posts from the past to bring to the attention of my newer readers. Selecting only seven posts out of 1132 posts over the past five and a half years proved to be a real challenge, and in some cases I couldn't narrow it down to one. Here are my choices.

My Most Beautiful Post

Happy 44th Anniversary to Us is a loving tribute to a beautiful marriage and my special husband.

My Most Popular Post

Thanks to the power of StumbleUpon, Creating Fictional Characters—Part 4: Fleshing Out Characters with Tags, Traits, and Relationships has had more than 147,000 views, about ten times as many as any other post. Strangely, this is part of a series, and while some of the other posts in the series are among my top ten popular posts, none has anywhere near this many views.

My Most Controversial Post

I don't generally write controversial posts, but one post generated such a lively discussion that I wrote a second post about it, which generated even more opinionated conversation. The first post, A Chuckle from Spam, generated 67 comments (including my responses), and the follow-on post, There's Always a Choice, generated 70 comments.

My Most Helpful Post

I wrote Tips and Tricks: How to Write, Send, Reply, and Forward E-mail for two writing challenges: Tips and Tricks and How-To. When I wrote it, I considered the advice so basic that the post might not be appropriate for the challenges. However, as basic as the advice is, a lot of people apparently need it. The post has generated nearly 4500 views and 125 comments.

A Post Whose Success Surprised Me

There's absolutely no explanation for the fact that the fifth most popular post on my blog is two sentences wishing my readers Happy Valentine's Day. I'm not only surprised; I'm totally perplexed.

Until StumbleUpon moved another post into first place, How Much Will It Cost? Average Freelance Editing Rates was  my popular post. It's now #2 in my popular posts, and the post is #2 in Google for the search terms "freelance editing rates." What is so surprising about this is that the post refers to a chart of average rates on the website of the Editorial Freelancers Association, but my posts ranks higher in Google and has generated a lot of traffic.

A Post That Didn't Get the Attention I Feel It Deserved

One time when I was feeling discouraged that I wasn't doing great things, I had an epiphany and wrote Catalyst: God's Tool. I suspect many other people can benefit from my epiphany because most of us often fail to recognize what we are accomplishing.

A related post, You May Never Know the Impact You Have, also didn't get much attention.  Both of these posts were written in my first year of blogging, when I had very few readers.

The Post I'm Most Proud Of

Choosing one post I'm most proud of is impossible, so I'll select one that is close to my heart. A Different … and Special … Family Vacation won the Family Vacation Writing Project at Babylune, but the reason it means so much to me is that it describes a favorite family vacation—the last with my father before Alzheimer's disease stole his ability to enjoy vacations and remember the people he loved. 

The second part of the challenge is to nominate up to five other bloggers to share their 7 links.

David Bowles, Westward Sagas, a client, friend, historical author, and blogger who knows all kinds of Americana trivia
Dominique, 4Walls and a View, inspiring blogger who writes about the challenges of living with chronic disease
Dawn, Dawn Colclasure's Blog, prolific author of adult nonfiction, poetry, and children's literature
Laura Spencer, Writing Thoughts, a freelance writer and blogger who has some great posts in her archives

I'm going to stop at four nominations, so if you would like a nomination, leave a comment.

I know the people I nominated, if they choose to participate, will provide links to some outstanding posts in their archives.

Related Posts:What I Learned from … 2009Freelance Editing Rates: Most Popular Search Terms4 Years and 800 Posts!Happy Belated Blog Birthday!Writer's Worth Day 2010Powered by Contextual Related PostsMy 7 Links was first posted on February 3, 2012 at 7:22 am.
©2011 "Lillie Ammann, Writer & Editor". Use of this feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this article in your feed reader, then the site is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact me at lillie@lillieammann.com

Feed enhanced by the Add To Feed Plugin by Ajay D'Souza

Guest Post from Vanessa Lang: Tax Deductions for Freelancers

As a freelancer, it is very important to pay close attention to all of your tax information. If you aren't careful, you could easily get audited. You should know by now that you will need to report absolutely every form of income you have received, but you may not know that there are quite a few tax deductions you are entitled to as well. The following are just a few of the many tax deductions you may be able to use as a freelancer.

Books, periodicals, DVD's, and other materials used for research
Any type of entertainment directly related to your research or writing (golfing for a golf piece, seeing a movie to review it, etc.)
Magazine subscriptions
Blog expenses
Memberships to clubs and affiliations related to your business
Internet access fees
Equipment (digital camera, web camera, computer, flash drives, printer and ink, other computer equipment, etc.)
Office supplies (paper, pens, paperclips, etc.)
Office furniture (To be used only for business)
Business phone line used just for business (Always remember to keep your business and personal expenses separate.)
Computer software (for your business and for your taxes/accounting)
Business cards and other stationery
Home office expenses (Deduct a part of your rent or home payment for your home office. Also, include water, insurance, heating bills, etc. in the deduction.)
Advertising costs
Travel and hotel expenses on business trips
Health insurance if you are self-employed
PayPal fees
Annual fees on a business credit card (Yet another way to keep your business and personal expenses separate. Just make sure you are using this card only for business expenses.)
Business mentor (Some of these services are paid and some are not. If they do require a fee, you can deduct it.)
Clothing (You can't deduct everything, but if you need to make sure you look nice for a client, you can deduct the cost of a nice suit or dress. Just don't try to buy something really expensive and unnecessary expecting to deduct the cost later.)
Donations to a charity or other charity work (This one can be tricky, so make sure you check out the rules before you deduct.)

While all of these deductions may seem great, it is very important that you don't try to abuse the system. You should always assume that the IRS already knows everything about you, so you should never report something that shouldn't be reported. For example, you should not try to report a Rolex watch because you want to impress your clients. This is not necessary and could cause suspicion with the IRS. You should also make sure to disclose all of the information that you are supposed to disclose. In order to do this, you will need to keep all of your receipts handy and organized to prove the necessity of these deductions.

About the Author

Vanessa Lang is an author who writes guest posts on the topics of business, marketing, credit cards, and personal finance. Additionally, she works for a website that focuses on educating readers about factors to consider before getting a payday loan.

Related Posts:Freelance Rates – Part 3: Setting Freelance Writing and Editing PricesHow to Handle Your Finances While Freelancing — Guest Post by Jane SandersConnecting – Part III: Trade ExchangesSelf-Publishing Primer: Part 9 – How do I set up a self-publishing company?Barter—Part 1: What Is It?Powered by Contextual Related PostsGuest Post from Vanessa Lang: Tax Deductions for Freelancers was first posted on January 31, 2012 at 12:04 am.
©2011 "Lillie Ammann, Writer & Editor". Use of this feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this article in your feed reader, then the site is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact me at lillie@lillieammann.com

Feed enhanced by the Add To Feed Plugin by Ajay D'Souza

National School Choice Week: Freedom Always Works

A good education is critical for a child's future success, but too many children are trapped in low-performing schools with discipline problems and failing students. Parents should have the freedom to choose the school that is best for their children. January 22-28, 2012 is National School Choice Week, "shining a spotlight on effective education options for every child."

A Tale of Two Missions with Juan Williams dramatically demonstrates that when it comes to education, freedom always works.

Related Posts:National Religious Freedom Day 2011Religious Freedom Day 2010National Library WeekHallelujah!He Died for YouPowered by Contextual Related PostsNational School Choice Week: Freedom Always Works was first posted on January 27, 2012 at 12:16 am.
©2011 "Lillie Ammann, Writer & Editor". Use of this feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this article in your feed reader, then the site is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact me at lillie@lillieammann.com

Feed enhanced by the Add To Feed Plugin by Ajay D'Souza

Now Choose Life, so That You and Your Children May Live

This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the LORD your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. ~ Deuteronomy 30:19-20 (NIV)

On January 22, 1973, the Supreme Court chose death and made abortion legal in the United States.

Since that day, nearly 55 million children created by God in His image have been murdered before ever being given a chance at life.

This joyous story of a reunion of a birth mother with her daughter conceived in rape and given up for adoption is unlikely to happen today. Children conceived in rape are routinely aborted, as if the children should be punished for the crimes of their fathers.

Through the years, I have written a number of posts about abortion and the sanctity of life, especially on the anniversary of the Supreme Court decision that made the lives of unborn children less valuable under the law than the convenience of their mothers. Here are links to some of them:

Absolute Truth vs Personal Opinion
Abortion: Legalized Murder
A Thirty-Six Year Tragedy
The Most Basic Human Right: Life
Slavery and Abortion – Moral Relatives
The Case Against Abortion

O Lord Jesus Christ, who dost embrace children with the arms of thy mercy, and dost make them living members of thy Church; protect unborn children from being murdered in the womb; turn the hearts of lawmakers and people to end the evil abomination of abortion; and allow every child created by thee to fulfill thy plan for their life; through thy merits, O merciful Saviour, who with the Father and the Holy Ghost livest and reignest one God, world without end. Amen. (adapted from the 1928 Book of Common Prayer

[image error] photo credit: Caitlinator

Related Posts:National Missing Children's DayAnother Year, Another Million and a Half Dead BabiesA Thirty-Six Year TragedyHallelujah Chorus in the Food CourtAbortion: Legalized MurderPowered by Contextual Related PostsNow Choose Life, so That You and Your Children May Live was first posted on January 22, 2012 at 10:02 am.
©2011 "Lillie Ammann, Writer & Editor". Use of this feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this article in your feed reader, then the site is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact me at lillie@lillieammann.com

Feed enhanced by the Add To Feed Plugin by Ajay D'Souza

Twenty years ago today …

… I walked into the chiropractor's office at the end of a long and busy day. My head throbbed from one of my frequent migraines, and I was hoping for relief. The chiropractor directed me to sit on a stool, then he took my head in his hands and twisted. Instantly, I felt like I was hanging upside down from the ceiling. The world was spinning below me, and I was hot and cold at the same time.

The chiropractor told me to step over to the table in front of me. He helped me up, but I just fell face-down on the table.

"My body is heavy," I said. "I can't turn over." Of course my body was heavy. I had always been overweight, but that wasn't what I was feeling. I just didn't know how to describe the sensation, but I knew I couldn't move.

The chiropractor helped me get all the way onto the table, then he started massaging the back of my neck with an electric instrument. I started throwing up over and over and over again. I begged him for help, but he ignored me.

He said, "You have a bad case of the flu. I'm going to call your husband to come get you. I don't think it's safe for you to drive."

"Not safe?" I screamed. "I can't even move, much less drive."

He just walked away and reached for the telephone.

For the rest of the story, read My Stroke: The Beginning. That post links to two others continuing the story of my stroke. Through the years I have written a number of posts on stroke, including risk factors and symptoms.

Now, twenty years later, I still have what doctors call "deficits" as a result of the stroke, but the good that has come from it has far outweighed the bad.

My wonderful loving husband cared for me throughout my recovery, but he always pushed me to do as much as I could on my own. His faith that I would recover, his confidence in my abilities, and his constant support meant more than I can say. We are closer and more in love today than ever.

I learned valuable lessons from the limits imposed by the stroke. I realized that what I can do is far more important than what I can't do, and that I can do far more than I imagined.

As a result of the stroke, I finally realized my dream of becoming a full-time writer. I always planned to write "someday," but after the stroke I decided "someday" is today.

If you had told me twenty years ago when I stepped through the door of the chiropractor's office that I would be carried out after having a stroke, I would have turned around and run the other direction. But today, I know that I am a stronger person and I am living my dream with my soulmate because of the experiences I have gone through.

Related Posts:National Stroke Awareness Month: My Stroke – the BeginningStroke Awareness Month 2011An Anniversary: How I Became a Full-Time WriterWhat I Learned from LimitsNational Stroke Awareness Month: Stroke Risk Factors and SymptomsPowered by Contextual Related PostsTwenty years ago today … was first posted on January 22, 2012 at 9:38 am.
©2011 "Lillie Ammann, Writer & Editor". Use of this feed is for personal non-commercial use only. If you are not reading this article in your feed reader, then the site is guilty of copyright infringement. Please contact me at lillie@lillieammann.com

Feed enhanced by the Add To Feed Plugin by Ajay D'Souza