Friday, January 13, 2012

Real Love

CAN NOT STAND this one! I am not sure why I do this, but I have been following the journey of a precious little boy and his wonderful, loving mama. She showers this little precious boy with REAL LOVE.

In his Mama Courtney's words:

"Tripp was born on May 14, 2009. He was diagnosed with a rare genetic skin disease called "EB." Any type of friction on his skin or mucous membranes causes blisters. They told us he would not live to be a year old. Every day he amazes us by his strength. He is a fighter and with all he has been through, he has never given up. He is the strongest person I know. Tripp wakes up each morning with a smile on his face. Every day spent with him is a blessing. God has a special plan for him. I'm just blessed to be able to witness that plan.
"
In another post, she writes:

"What gets me through each and every day is that one line from the poem "The Brave Little Soul": "Do not forget little soul that I will be with you always. Although you have agreed to bear the pain, you will do so through my strength." I have to trust that God is with him and that He is helping him bear this tremendous amount of pain, because I don't know how any child could possibly be this strong all alone. I talk with him every night... about God, about heaven, and about how Mommy will be okay (one day) if he is too tired and ready to go home to heaven.
But this kid is a fighter. Sometimes I just wish he wasn't so strong. My heart is aching for him to have some peace, however that my be."

and then, she shares this passage with us.....

"He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the former things have passed away.”
-Revelation 21:4

I have followed his story and prayed for him and his mama and his grandparents as they struggle with his disease called Junctional Epidermolysis Bullosa. He faces a life of painful blisters, hair, nail, and major teeth issues, as well as the possibility of respiratory involvement.


Junctional Herlitz EB is a very severe form of EB. These infants often die during infancy due to overwhelming infection (sepsis), malnutrition, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance or complications resulting from blistering in the respiratory, gastrointestinal or genitourinary tract. Blistering is usually present at birth, however, there have been instances of infants being discharged to home, with a small blister on the finger or lip. After they are home, the blistering becomes more apparent warranting a visit to the physician. Skin blistering and ulcerations can occur spontaneously on the arms, hands, finger tips, back of the head, neck, shoulders, trunk, buttocks, legs and feet and toes (generalized distribution). Nails may be ulcerated or dystrophic. Warmer climates can exacerbate blistering. Blistering is noted on perioral (around the mouth) and mucosal surfaces as well. Oral lesions may affect eating causing weight loss.
Generalized blistering and mucosal involvement may be evident at birth or soon after. Blistering may be mild to severe. Erosions on finger and toenails, nail dystrophy or absence of nails may be evident. Erosions and loss of hair (alopecia) upon the scalp may occur. Granulation tissue around mouth and nares may be seen. There may be some scarring and thinning of the skin on affected areas (atrophic scarring).
The infant may suffer complications such as infection, dehydration, electrolyte imbalances, respiratory, gastrointestinal, and/or genitourinary tract involvement.

These complications may lead to death.


That time is near.

Go read the story: "The Strongest Boy I'll Ever Know", written by his mama with so much love....REAL LOVE.
http://randycourtneytripproth.blogspot.com/2012/01/strongest-boy-ill-ever-know.html


Tuesday, January 10, 2012

The Mama

I recently began my practice schedule for an upcoming musical.....Fiddler on the Roof. I am proud to say, I am a Mama... If you know Fiddler and you know the song, "Tradition", I will proudly blast the fact that I am one of the Mamas over and over and over! While I am "practicing" to be a Mama on the stage, I am a true Mama in real life, loving my children AND my grandchildren more than I can possibly put into words. I also am in "the club" as my friend Suzie calls it....the club of those who have had to say "see ya' later" to our Moms and wait, not always so patiently, until the day when we will see them again. It is not a fun club to be in. It is not a club we enter by choice. If we had anything to say about it, we would like to stay OUT of the club for as long as possible. God knows a different plan, for me, for Suzie, for Mary, for Janet, for Connie, for my brothers, Nick, Mike, Pat and Tom, for my sisters, Linda, Susie, Ginny and Kristy, and for all of us who are here, just waiting....

This week, Julie and her 8 brothers and sisters joined our club. I traveled up the interstate to hug Julie, to cry with her and to help her through on this terrible journey. I have taken the liberty to pirate a few of the quotes written on Julie's facebook page. The FIRST one is actually written BY Julie. She is amazing! Also, today is her Birthday, and since it is blasted all over the internet, I will say, her 43rd birthday. She looks amazing, and IS amazing and I am SOOO blessed to call her my friend. I will help her though the club initiation, I will listen, I will talk, I will hug and I will cry with her, and help her ease into the journey as we make our way to the day when we will be together with our loved ones again. "I Can Only Imagine"......



At last, my Mom is HEALED... at home with Jesus, never to suffer cancer again... no more pain, no more walker, no more pain meds, no more glasses or magnifiers, no more suffering. Rejoicing for her, but missing her so already -Julie

The following were copied from facebook. Sorry to not give credit to who wrote them, but really, it does not matter. It is about Julie and her Mama..............

* I know your mom fought cancer for a long time and now she can live without pain with Jesus. I can't imagine your pain-praying for you and for all your family. I know it will be a tough birthday-but praise God you had 43 years with a wonderful mom!

*Your mother was a wonderful lady. So many laughs with her. We are thinking of you and your family during this time as we celebrate her life.

*Hope you feel my hugs surrounding you as you continue on your journey this week.

*Oh Julie...I agree with your words totally! Know that you and your family are on my prayer list...moms are pretty special people in our lives...here's a big hug!

*We will keep you and your family in our thoughts and prayers. What a beautiful tribute you wrote. Sending you Angels, love, and hugs!

*Watching someone fight the battle with Cancer is not easy but the end result is bittersweet as she is no longer suffering from that evil desease instead she is at home in peace and knowing that will help you find comfort when you find yourself missing her.. She was a wonderful person and will be missed.

*I know the day is bitter-sweet for you, missing have your mom here to give you good wishes face-to-face but also rejoicing that she is at peace & going to her eternal Home, she is present in your heart today, wishing you all the best for a great 43rd year of celebrating life!

*Julie your mother had a beautiful smile. Thanks for sharing her obituary with all of us. Can see her passion and love for life through you and her grandchildren. What a wonderful legacy she has left. Love you and praying for all of you. :):)

*A twinkle in her eye, and a smile on her face! What a great picture,.. and a very precious memory.

*Good night my friend. I am so glad you are in my life....love you! I don't know what I would do without you!!! So happy to have friends to lean on....I will think of you without ceasing tomorrow as you celebrate your mama!

It is me again, the Choose Joy girl, crying in my soup, missing my own mama. After I posted this, I looked at the blog and right below THIS post, Blogspot magically linked it to a post about my brothers and sisters AND my beautiful mama! Amazing how things work!!! And then, just to see if it worked every time so YOU could see it, I tried again, and POOF!!! The link is gone. No worries, I usually always have something sappy to link to if that is your wish. I really don't NEED a link to think of mom. I can come up with a thought, a quote, a laugh, a memory, a hug, a time with mom at any moment. That's the beauty....they are not gone, they are just away, waiting for us. Out of sight, but never, never, never out of mind. Love you forever Mama!!!


Saturday, January 7, 2012

Lesson from Noah


Things we learn from Noah's Ark:
One:  Don't miss the boat.
Two:  Remember that we are all in the same boat.
Three:  Plan ahead. It wasn't raining when Noah built the Ark.
















Four:  Stay fit. When you're 600 years old, someone may ask you to do something really big.

















Five:  Don't listen to critics; just get on with the job that needs to be done.
Six:  Build your future on high ground.












Seven:  For safety's sake, travel in pairs. 


















Eight:  Speed isn't always an advantage. The snails were onboard with the cheetahs.
Nine:  When you're stressed, float a while.
Ten:  Remember, the Ark was built by amateurs; the Titanic by professionals.














ElevenNo matter the storm, when you are with God, there's always a rainbow waiting

Saturday, December 24, 2011

Sing and Rejoice!

Sing and rejoice. A Child is born!

Last year, we had a very, very white Christmas.  This year.....brown.  It really does not matter.  Our family is together, we are healthy and well, we have food on the table, cars to drive, a good job, beautiful children and grandchildren.....and Jesus was born JUST FOR ME!!!  Wishing all of you the most wonderful Christmas and blessings in the new year!

Friday, December 2, 2011

Life in Vivid Color



 I found a wonderful visual picture of what my brain is doing-----somewhat looks like exploding in vivid color!!!


I want to paint on leaves......




 I want to spend time and enjoy my grandbabies!

I really want to stop and smell the flowers.

 I want to make this....oh, wait!! I did!



 I also made this "pear" book!!!!

 I want to make pictures out of tiny pictures!
 I want to paint on stones!


 I want to paint on old book pages!


 I want to make these keychains!
 I want to make a book like this!

I want to make a bowl like this-I tried but my fingers got tired!
  
I want to take pictures of everything.  I want to enjoy my daughter's senior year and hold on to each memory of her at home.  I want to scrapbook.  I want to exercise.  I want to do things for others.  I want to sing in the choir and sing in a musical.  I want to do a good job of teaching.  I want all the students to behave.  I want to be on time.  I want to give.  I want to help.  
I want to........the list never stops!
 
I really, really want to get my life organized, but as soon as I begin, I get distracted by all the color and the creation and stuff! I begin the day with a list, but sometimes the list gets longer as the day progresses....is that how it is supposed to go?  Other days, I simply lose my list in my piles!  
I guess I really just want to accept this, and I want others to read my sign and realize....
"I'm not messy, I'm creative"!
 I want more than anything to enjoy the Christmas season and remember the reason for it.  I was able to play Mary in a skit and it was wonderful!  What a joy!

At this busy time of year, I need to remember, "I can not do everything, but I can do something"!
Take it one day at a time, do what you can do and remember~The REASON FOR THE SEASON!  Amazing!!!