Tuesday, July 21, 2009

A ball of emotions!!!!

Our perserverence, patience, hopefulness and optimism, has been recognized by the Almighty Man Above. It is with great honor that I am writing to acknowledge that I have tested as a positive match for Al!! He's listening to us Ladies and Gentlemen!! If ever you think your prayers are not being heard, that is simply not true!! He hears our prayers, he hears are fears, our hopes and dreams! Our thoughtless schemes. He hears it all, and for that we are blessed and graciously accept that he knows what's best! Thank you for the support, thank you for the prayers, thank you for your thoughts and cheers and for experiencing this awesome journey with us!! There is FINALLY some light at the end of the tunnel!!!

Yes, that's right! I am a match for Al! I am now literally referring to us as a "match made in Heaven" :) I am humbled by the opportunity in which God has put into my life. I am moved to tears by the sheer thought that my journey to Jesus has taken this amazing turn. I am ready for it, I am excited for it! I can't believe it's here!! I feel our life together is officially validated, and beyond that, I just have no words to describe how I feel. I will leave you with the lyrics to a song named "Born Again" by Third Day. It sums up my emotions :)

Today I found myself
After searching all these years
And the man that I saw, he wasn't at all who I thought he'd be

I was lost when You found me here
And I was broken beyond repair
Then You came along and You sang Your song over me

It feels like I'm born again
It feels like I'm living
For the very first time
For the very first time
In my life

Make a promise to me now
Reassure my heart somehow
That the love that I feel is so much more real than anything

I've a feeling in my soul
And I pray that I'm not wrong
That the life I have now, it is only the beginning

It feels like I'm born again
It feels like I'm living
For the very first time
For the very first time
It feels like I'm breathing
It feels like I'm moving
For the very first time
For the very first time

I wasn't looking for something that was more
Than what I had yesterday
Then you came to me and you gave to me
Life and a love that I've never known
That I've nver felt before

It feels like I'm born again
It feels like I'm living
For the very first time
For the very first time
It feels like I'm breathing
It feels like I'm moving
For the very first time
I'm living for the first time
In my life

Monday, July 20, 2009

A million and one excuses

I could sit here and list justified excuses as to why I haven't posted about the Love Dare that I am doing. The only reason I have that's valid though is that I haven't been doing it. I made it to day 12 and then I had a dare, that is seemingly impossible to complete. The dare was to "give in" to an area of disagreement. I still haven't completed this dare. Not for lack of trying. I have searched for disagreements within our days. To be honest things have changed a bit and we aren't disagreeing as much. (PRAISE THE LORD ON THAT ONE!!) However, there are still one or two disagreements in which I can't "give in". This is when I am thankful that we have the blessing of having a couple's counselar in our life. We are being granted the tools we need as a couple to work out our disagreements. No where in that does it mean "give in" and that's ok with me. The Love Dare is 40 days and I am comfortable at day 12 to say, this dare is not complete, however it's not going to hold me back anymore from continuing on this journey.

Day 13
Love fights fair
"If a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand" Mark 3:25
TODAY'S DARE:
TALK WITH YOUR SPOUSE ABOUT ESTABLISHING HEALTHY RULES OF ENGAGEMENT. IF YOUR MATE IS NOT READY FOR THIS, THEN WRITE OUT YOUR OWN PERSONAL RULES TO "FIGHT" BY. RESOLVE TO ABIDE BY THEM WHEN THE NEXT DISAGREEMENT OCCURS.

Initial thoughts:
OOOOOOH! I like this dare!! There were a few helpful examples of things to put on "the list" and I will definitely be using them!!

Wednesday, July 15, 2009

We hope we hope we hope!

This is a note I sent out to a Facebook Group I started. Below you will find a small update and a few words pertaining to our current status with a potential kidney transplant!

Hello to all of you!
I first would like to take a minute to introduce myself to those that may not know me, I am Karrie, Al's wife. My husband has been on dialysis for 2.5 years waiting ever so patiently for a new kidney. It's been a long road, but we are hopeful that we are at a major turning point!!
I figured I would type an update.
I started seriously considering being tested to become a donor for Al. We had waited, and hoped and waited some more and nothing was happening. I knew my blood type was a match and I felt the urge to do something about it, but it takes a lot as a mom to step forward and opt to go through surgery at the same time as my husband. We have two children and my biggest concern was how the heck will that work?!?! Well, I started asking around and it turns out, it WILL work, we have our ducks in a row, the kids will be cared for, we will be recovering comfortably, and we have lot's of help being offered, IF infact we get to be graced with the sheer blessing of being a match! My testing was completed on Monday, two days ago. Medically speaking, I am ok to donate. I had blood work done on Monday it will be "mixed" with Al's to see how it reacts. If there is little reaction we are GOLDEN!! If there is a little more than "little" reaction still ok, but if there is a big reaction all will go back (yet again) to square one! Our hands are yet again folded as our patience is tested. We will find out in about a week if I have the kidney that my husband so desperately needs! It's quite the whirlwind of emotions here and I wanted to take the time to thank you for being a part of this experience with us.
I will update when we know something, but in the meantime please be in prayer that if this is what God wills for us, that it will be a smooth and comfortable process!
Thank you all!

Monday, July 13, 2009

This is the day that the LORD has made!

I will rejoice and be glad in it!! :)

Today July 13th 2009 is the day I completed my donor testing to see if my kidney will work in Al's body. What a day! I was scheduled to be there at 1 and down for a CT scan at 3:15, well, let's just say I didn't get downstairs to the CT scan until 5PM! Grr!! Then something that was supposed to be quick didn't end until almost 7! I left with a feeling of giddyness, I believe it was finally feeling the fresh air on my face after hours of being couped up in the hospital!! I also believe I had a complete and total relief that my job with the donor testing is complete and now...we wait :)
We should know tomorrow if it's a go or not, I have a feeling deep down that it's a go, but hearing it will confirm it and send me over the moon with joy!! I can't wait for tomorrow to come :)

As for the Love Dare, I took today off, because yesterday's dare is not complete. Al and I argue over plenty of things, but nothing has come up the last two days for me to experiment with "giving in" so I am giving it a little bit of time. If no arguements come up, I will be sure not to complain and I will move on with my dares :)