A new chapter

Just wanted to let you know that I have started writing on a different blog...

www.findinggodaftermidnight.blogspot.com

Love,
Lindsey

My Fishing Buddy

For our 7th Anniversary last weekend the Wheeler family went to the lake. While we were there I had the chance to take Eliana fishing again. This past Summer was her first time ever. On this trip it was pretty windy and not quite spring fishing time, but we had a blast and it was one more step towards getting her to LOVE fishing with Dadda!
Notice the leash I've got tied to her Dora rod...that's a key piece of equipment.
Just look at that intensity!


Here she's getting more hot dog to feed the fish!
The second day was cooler - so we put her puffy coat OVER her life jacket. Let's just say she was "bundled". She didn't care what she had to wear - she just wanted to keep fishing!

Here she's really getting after it!

We ended up not catching anything - but as I always tell Lindsey:
"Fishing isn't about catching fish, it's about being OUT there." I'm so proud of my girl and I love fishing with her!

I love you my fishing buddy,
-Chris / Dadda

Happy 7th Anniversary - My wife is amazing

I wanted to write and tell the world how truly amazing my sweet wife is! This past Monday we celebrated our 7th Anniversary. I'm so thankful that 7 years ago God saw fit to put us together. I wouldn't even be a percentage of who I am now without her in my life. God has used her so mightily to shape me and teach me about real love, grace and acceptance. No one encourages me or believes in me like she does.

I'm so proud of how she has persevered in the midst of the pain and darkness caused by lyme disease. If I was the one with the disease I'd be mean as a snake (I'm not a great patient). She has continued to push forward, striving to be a great mom and wife even though her body seems to be warring against her daily.

We haven't written on this blog in quite a while but to those who still read us please keep praying. Pray for my wife's complete healing in this 8th year marriage!

Baby - you rock and I love you with all my heart! Here's to a new year!

Grace and Peace
Chris

Another hard night...

To say we feel under attack tonight is an understatement! I just ran downstairs to write this blog because we are so desperate for prayers. I have had a rough day, Chris is beyond exhausted in every way, and Eliana is feeling ALL of this. Lord, have mercy! I feel so much guilt right now. I feel like such a failure as a mom and as a wife. She has been screaming bloody murder for over 2 hours. I have rocked her...I have sung every song I know...we have prayed over her...Chris is now trying to calm her little body down. She is beside herself. I know she's exhausted. I know she's tired of being passed around. I know she doesn't understand why I'm in bed and sick. Lord, how much longer?? I hate watching her hurt. She throws herself on the floor in hysterics and really seems like she's trying to hurt herself. I love her so much. Chris loves her so much. She is hurting! Please pray. Please pray for Chris. Please pray for me and my body. I just can't take much more.

Love y'all,
Lindsey

Keep praying...

The last few weeks have been so difficult in so many ways. The pain has grown more intense (especially at night)...my heart has been fluttering pretty much all day long. I'm not going to lie; it has been pretty scary. Most nights I end up in tears begging God for mercy. Two nights ago, I had a pretty terrible episode. Chris was across the street with our neighbors...and I called him to come home. I thought for sure I was headed to the ER. Every part of me was tingling...my skin was crawling and the pain was so crazy! Chris asked our neighbors to come pray over me. It was such a sweet time...and after the time of prayer my body began to settle down. Why do I doubt God? I know that He is my Healer. I think I am just so overwhelmed. I am tired of having to tell Eliana goodbye every morning. I am tired of laying in bed. I am tired of my feet & legs hurting so much that I don't want to walk. But, I am really trying to hang on and trust that He is in control. Please keep praying for me. Pray for Chris...he has SO MUCH on his shoulders right now. Pray for provision for all of our medical bills!! Pray that the Lord would give me perspective in this season.

Love,
Lindsey

Psalm 142

You Are My Refuge

With my voice I cry out to the Lord;
with my voice I plead for mercy to the Lord.
I pour out my complaint before him;
I tell my trouble before him.

When my spirit faints within me,
you know my way!
In the path where I walk
they have hidden a trap for me.
Look to the right and see:
there is none who takes notice of me;
no refuge remains to me;
no one cares for my soul.

I cry to you, O Lord;
I say, “You are my refuge,
my portion in the land of the living.”
Attend to my cry,
for I am brought very low!
Deliver me from my persecutors,
for they are too strong for me!
Bring me out of prison,
that I may give thanks to your name!
The righteous will surround me,
for you will deal bountifully with me.

Project Lyme-Aid

Check out my new blog dedicated to blogging about my journey with Lyme disease!! I will be selling some of my things to raise money for some of my medical expenses....thanks so much for praying!!

Love y'all,
Lindsey

www.projectlymeaid.blogspot.com

2nd day of school and the NEW backpack!

....oh, and she went to the principal's office for hitting (the sweet principal said a lot of 3 year olds were in the office today)! Hopefully, I won't be getting a phone call every Tuesday and Thursday. :-)

Love,
Lindsey

1st day of Mustard Seed!!

We are so proud of Eliana...she made it through her first day of preschool! She only goes for a few hours on Tuesday and Thursday, but it still was a big deal for us! Her teacher said she was amazing....which was surprising because the morning didn't start out too great. She did not like carrying a backpack and had fallen out of bed at 4:00 am and hadn't gone back to sleep. So, 5 hours of sleep on her first day of school and she still did great....way to go sweet girl. We love you and are so proud of you!!

Love,
Lindsey

The Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day(s)!

That pretty much sums up every single day over the last few weeks! Don't get me wrong, I am thankful for every day that I am alive....but each day has been one hard thing after the other. One of the awful parts of Lyme disease is that it attacks different parts of your body at any given time. So, one day I feel like my feet have been hit with a baseball bat....and then one day I can't move my neck because of the pain. The last week has been some of the most intense nausea/throwing up that I have ever experienced in my life....not sure if it's the TONS of meds or if it is a Herx reaction. That does NOT make for a fun day! I have been desperately trying to be positive....but it is so hard. I have tried reading....but my mind can't focus on anything other than the pain and nausea. We have been so blessed by people loving us and keeping Eliana....but I miss her SO MUCH! It is so hard staying in bed knowing that she isn't with me. Please keep praying for healing!! I know that I still have a pretty long road ahead.....

Love ya'll,
Lindsey

Back to School 10% off Promo Code!!

I love coupon codes…and am so excited about this one!! From now until September 7, 2010, you can enter the promo code SCHOOLTEN at the Show Hope store site and get 10% off your order!! So, your kids (and you) can look super cool going back to school while supporting an amazing ministry and cause. Help us spread the word….feel free to post it on your facebook, twitter, and blogs. Don’t forget to send us your pics sporting your Show Hope gear!! I hope y’all have an incredible beginning of the new school year!

Blessings,

Lindsey

Best babysitter in the world!

I can't even tell y'all how blessed I feel by all of the love and prayers!! Eliana has been SO TAKEN care of....which makes me smile. One of her favorite people in the world is Tori....she plays with her, swims with her, and loves on her. It has been so hard staying in bed and saying goodbye to Eliana every morning....but it has been so good knowing that she is having a BLAST!! Thank you sweet Tori (and Angie)! Thank you Sandra! Thank you Amy! Thank you Dianne! Thank you for the meals Show Hope girls and Ellen! IT MEANS SO MUCH TO ME!!

Love you all,
Lindsey

Happy Birthday GG!!

We love you so much GG!! You are an amazing momma and grandmomma!! Thanks so much for all of the many ways your encourage each of us. We always know that you have our backs. Thank you for the hours that you spend in prayer for each of us. You are a Godly example....and so much fun!! Eliana loves her GG so much!! We just wish that you lived a lot closer to us. We can't wait for our trip in September....it will be a blast. I hope you feel so loved today. You deserve every bit of it!!

Love,
Chris, Lindsey & Eliana

Choosing to SEE

Over the next week, two dollars from each Family Christian Stores sale of Mary Beth Chapman’s book, Choosing To SEE, will benefit Show Hope! These funds will go toward operating expenses for Maria’s Big House of Hope. Both online and in-store purchases made by next Tuesday, August 17, 2010 will apply.

I am so thankful for the Chapman family....and I know this book is going to bring hope to so many people that desperately need it (me included). Let me know what you think once you read it....love you all.

Lindsey

P.S. HELP ME SPREAD THE WORD!!

Under Our Skin

A gripping tale of microbes, medicine & money UNDER OUR SKIN exposes the hidden story of Lyme disease, one of the most controversial and fastest growing epidemics of our time. Each year, thousands go undiagnosed or misdiagnosed, often told that their symptoms are "all in their head." Following the stories of patients and physicians fighting for their lives and livelihoods, the film brings into focus a haunting picture of the health care system and a medical establishment all too willing to put profits ahead of patients.

www.underourskin.com

I have had a few people e-mail me to ask about this disease! Here is a little glimpse into the lives of Lyme sufferers. There is so much controversy...it is really sad and wrong!! Be praying for people's eyes to be opened.

Love y'all,
Lindsey

Just to make myself smile!

This was my sweet girl 2 years ago!! She was teeny tiny!
I LOVE HER SO MUCH!
Lindsey

Rough day....

Just needed y'all to be praying....I have been in SO MUCH pain this afternoon! The back of my head and neck are hurting worse than ever. Thankfully, my doctor gave me some stronger pain medication yesterday, but for some reason it doesn't feel like it's working. Thanks friends! Hope y'all are having a great weekend. Eliana is LOVING having Chris home from Peru!!

Lindsey

Big Girl Bed and HOPE!

Eliana has ALWAYS loved her baby bed....she has spent hundreds of hours jumping and playing in it!! She can get in and out of it, but she has always preferred to just stay in. Last night she started walking on the railing like a tight rope walker....so, we knew it was time to change her bed into a day bed. I'm not going to lie; it was kind of emotional. Our little baby isn't a baby anymore....she is 3. CRAZY! She will probably stay up until 3 am playing with all of her toys....and I know the room will be a disaster. ANY TIPS?!! Do y'all lock the toys up at night?? She doesn't like to sleep, so this could be very interesting.

On another note, thank you "Babycircus" for directing me to the blog Lyme Bytes. The Lord knew that I needed this so much right now. The lady that writes on the blog does a national prayer conference call every other week for people suffering with Lyme disease. Chris and I decided to join the call last night. We spent an hour in prayer with hundreds of other people going through the same thing as me. It brought me so much HOPE!! The pain has really been so intense the last two days....I am praying that means the medicine is killing the lyme. I don't feel alone in this anymore. Thank you Jesus!!

Love you all,
Lindsey

My little sunshine during a hard day!

Today has been a really hard day! I drove back from my mom's house yesterday and could barely make it home. My legs were in so much pain driving home that I had to stop in Memphis for an hour and a half to rest. What should have taken 5 hours to get home took 8 hours. I am in a LOT of pain today. I haven't gotten out of the bed. To distract myself, I have been looking through old pictures and found this one of Eliana. This was taken on her first camping trip with Chris! Is she not the cutest thing?!! Her smile and laugh brightens my day. Keep praying....and thank you for your support. Love you all.

Lindsey

Happy Birthday Kay-Kay!

My mom turns 59 today!! HAPPY BIRTHDAY!! She seriously is the most amazing mom in the world. She has walked through some of the hardest things....and has done it with grace and dignity. She has loved me, cried with me, made me laugh non-stop, and comforted me through the last few years of questions and sickness. She is always there to listen and never judge. She wants the best for my sisters and me. She is the best grandmother to Harper and Eliana....they LOVE her!! She is the reason I am who I am....and I love her more each day. I can't wait to see what God has in store for her this year.

Love you,
Lindsey

(I am so thankful for each and every one of your comments!! I can't wait to sit down and comment back to each of you. Your support gives me so much strength!!)

Living with Lyme...my new journey!

I'm not sure if anyone even reads our blog anymore, but I am finally wanting to write again. The last few years have had some incredible highs and some incredible lows! The biggest high is our precious Eliana....she brings Chris and me joy non-stop. She is so full of life and is so loving. She brings so much hope to our lives. Now to the hard part....I am pretty sure I haven't blogged in a long time because I have felt so terrible. The last few years (even dating back before I moved to Guatemala with Eliana) have been SO DIFFICULT for me in a lot of ways. Yes, I have gone through a lot of really hard family issues....but my body has been so sick. I have gained a massive amount of weight with no explanation. My fatigue has been so paralyzing. Chris has been the most incredible husband through all of this.....I will be laying in bed crying and he will clean, cook dinner, play with Eliana and try to make my night fun. He has read scripture over me....and prayed for answers for years. In the last year or two, things have gotten worse. I have really, really struggled with severe joint pain/arthritis and hurt flutters. I have gotten EKG's done....I have had blood work done. The doctors would look at me and say, "you're just depressed" or "you're a new mom of a 3 year old".....and I would walk away feeling crazy. The last few months have been unbearable and have taken me into dark places. Finally, I went to a new doctor and just broke down sobbing. I begged her to test me for EVERYTHING! And, praise the Lord, I got an answer. I have been living with Lyme disease for YEARS!!! It came back positive. My first thought was relief...."I'm not crazy!!" Now, I am facing a major battle and need so much prayer. Through a lot of research and talking to other Lymies, I have quickly realized how controversial this disease is. For those that catch the Lyme disease early, their chance of getting better on antibiotics is great. But, for the rest of us that have gone undiagnosed....it is an uphill battle....and insurance companies are not wanting to pay. I'm not worried about the money, I know God will provide. I just DESPERATELY want to LIVE life again!!! Please be praying.....I go to see a specialist on August 18th!!

Love y'all,
Lindsey