How's your glass?

The goal in creating this blog was to help others who may find themselves facing life challenges they are unprepared to deal with. I want to be a resource for learning how to live an effective, happy life right in the midst of "trouble". We even named this blog "RA" for rheumatoid arthritis, "wheelchair" for the assistive device I depend on, and "conquer" for the spirit I choose to face down the mountains in my life.

This weekend I had to make a couple tough choices. There were 3 events I wanted to attend, and the schedule would have permitted it. However, my body wouldn't. I had to make a choice, which wasn't easy. Somebody had to lose out. It ended up being my husband. I could not attend a rather lengthy dinner, which would require some travel, with him.  We were both sad, but not defeated. We looked back on the many times I had attended and looked forward to next year. As the old saying goes....we chose to see the glass half full.

Today at church our Pastor preached from Romans Chapter 8. Sitting in my wheelchair, I couldn't help but believe that I am a conqueror, by and through my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Leaving church today I felt like a decorated war hero.

8:36-39 KJV.

37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,

39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Hi! Welcome to my very first blog. First, let me thank my daughter, Kayla for getting it up and running. I surely want to thank God for this wonderful life I live. I am a disability retired public school teacher, wife, mother, bonus (step) mom, grandmother, sister, daughter, friend, and most importantly a Child of God.

This blog is intended to shine a light on living, laughing, and loving in a wheelchair. I was diagnosed at 19 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Not the more common form of arthritis, osteoarthritis. RA affects my whole body, not just my joints. You can read more about it here: http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rheumatoid-arthritis/home/ovc-20197388

Since RA is an auto-immune disease it likes company. I also have Lupus, Epilepsy, Sjogren's, hypothyroidism, and a host of conditions that accompany these diseases. Despite having all these conditions, I functioned well until 2006 when I had my first stroke. Yes, first, I've had 3 and many TIAs. I have bilateral failed knee replacements , which need to be re-replaced. In addition I have had my right hip replaced and need my left hip replaced. These problems work together to put me in a wheelchair. That's where a whole new life began.

In 2012 I took early retirement because I could no longer perform my job duties and I truly felt I was doing my students an injustice by missing so many days. It was one of the hardest decisions I ever made. The rheumatologist retired me as a terminal patient, having 12 months or less to live. I left work, prepared my things for my death, and went to bed......and, that's where my life took another turn. Actually it started all over because it's 2017 and I'm still here! Surely, God is not done with me.

Stay tuned and I will do my best to post weekly. Much shorter than this autobiography, but at least a few glimpses into Lisa land.

Thanks for reading!