Six Months Later...

Hello dearest Friends! 

I'm still here and I'm still doing wonderfully well!

I am so happy to say that!

Six months since my last post. I have sooo many things to share! All VERY wonderful things! God's blessings continue to pour over me and wash me through and through. I have been thinking about my blog a lot lately. My blog is about hope; an anchor, a tool, an ointment, a promise. How can I leave my blog when I feel like so many of my dear friends prayed for me during my journey? My journey is far from over. I feel like I am just beginning in many ways. (So many ways!) I want to share hope from the other side too; not just from bed but from this great and wonderful world that I am able to live in now. I want to shout, "This is my God and this is what HE has done!" 

This summer was wonderful. I traveled constantly! Oh, such great joys!!

New Orleans, LA, Austin, Texas, Ft. Wayne, Indiana, Panama City, FL, San Francisco, CA
 

Or as I like to call it, "The Heather Thomas Celebration Tour"!!

 

Beignets at Cafe du Monde in New Orleans. I have always loved New Orleans but I decided during this trip that I love New Orleans during the day! The crazy people come out at night and it's just a different city. New Orleans in the day is magnificent! (You know because I am such an authority on travel and all.)

My best friend Kim and her roommate Jimmy. My travel companions to New Orleans and Austin. This was our only photo of the 3 of us during our entire trip. 

 

At my favorite restaurant in Austin, Shady Grove. It was yummy.

 See? Yummy!

Visiting Alex in Indiana!!! Alex and I met several years ago in Arizona and we haven't seen one another since then. It has been about 7 years! It was soooo wonderful to see her and meet her wonderful family!

She is one of my favorite people-ever! I always joked with Alex that she would be the first stop on "The Heather Thomas Celebration Tour". She was the second stop! :)

Beautiful beach trip with friends! 

 

 The first time I have had a tan in about 10 years!!

And the trip of all trips this Summer was a trip to San Francisco to visit the Polyvore team! Y'all it was amazing!! Just amazing!

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 At the airport. On my way! 

My hotel, The Valencia. It was jaw dropping

The famed, Santana Row. Just amazing.

At the Polyvore luncheon with Nadia and Jess.

The Polyvore Office!!! Soooo exciting to see in person!

The Polyvore Staff is truly amazing!! I can't say that enough. Polyvore has encouraged me so much over the years. It is a wonderful community and I am so proud to be a member. They sent me a beautiful Christmas present about 3 years ago because they read one of my blog posts! Not only did they bring a group of us to San Fransisco and treat us like queens but they also gave us a truly outrageous goody bag full of fantastic treats that only Polyvore could pull together! It was an honor and a wonderful to end the Summer!

 "Those who sow with tears
    will reap with songs of joy.

Those who go out weeping,
    carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
    carrying sheaves with them"

Psalm 126: 5-6

I have so much more to share. But it will have to wait. This is much too long as it is. 

So much more good news to come!

 

The Sound of Music

This past Friday my Mom and I had the most fun night together. We went to the Alabama Theater to see the Von Trapp Children sing!! It was amazing, to say the least! They are the great grandchildren on the real life Captain Von Trapp. (Their grandfather is portrayed as Kurt in The Sound of Music. ) It was soooo very neat. They sang heavenly and told stories that had been past down in their family. The girls wore the real Maria's dresses to perform in! It was a very special night and I am so grateful that I was able to go. I saw in wheelchair accessible seats which just happened to be 5 rows from the stage! (Okay, so using a wheelchair does have its rewards! ha!)

They sang so many beautiful Christmas song and nearly all of the songs from The Sound of Music.

Mom and I before we left.

Outside the theatre.
 And my coat is new! Last Christmas, the Polyvore team sent me an amazing Christmas surprise and I used the gift card they sent to buy myself a new winter coat. So, thank you Polyvore!



It was a spectacular night! If you have a chance to go see the Von Trapp, you must go!

Merry Christmas!



Merry Christmas!

Hello and Merry Christmas lovely friends! Can you believe Christmas is only 2 days away? Where has this year gone? I have been getting several cards in the mail over the last couple of days! Thank you so much! I love them all!

I wanted to share a little Christmas surprise that came a little early this year...

Her name is Holly. She is an 8 week old, Maltese. She is only 1.5 pounds. She is so tiny and so precious. I see this as the beginning of a wonderful relationship! ha! Thank you all for your advice!

There are a couple of other Christmas surprises that I want to share with you all. The past few days have been a little difficult and despite the cheer in the air and in my heart, I have been crying at the drop of a hat; we are talking about some serious meltdowns.

 I was in the middle of another meltdown earlier tonight, when my Dad came home with mail. He had two boxes, one of which was from Anthropologie and it was addressed to me. I asked Mom if she had ordered anything because I hadn't and I didn't want to ruin any surprises. She said that she didn't. I was so confused. I opened the box and I began sobbing. Inside was the beautiful sweater that I had said I wanted in this post. It was from the wondeful staff at Polyvore! (Merry Christmas, Polyvore!) Not only did they send the beautiful sweater but a mug and a gift card that has one my sets on the it! I was so overwhelmed. I just didn't know what to with myself.

And while I am trying to process this beautiful gift of kindness and support from such wonderful people, my Dad then tells me that a young man he used to work with years ago, called him this morning. He told my Dad that we were on his mind and he remembers that I am sick and he wanted to invite our family to his church so that they could pray for me.

Despite my heavy failures, my Father never fails me nor forgets me. I am so loved.

Merry Christmas! I hope you all feel love, warmth and HOPE this Christmas!

Rough weekend.

Hello friends. I hope that you all had pleasant weekend.

As I am sure you gathered from my post's title, my weekend was a little rough. Beginning Friday night, I fainted 4 times over the weekend and two of the times was while I was laying down in my bed...not good, really, really not good.

I know that bad times come with this illness but no matter how much I "know" they are coming, I am never prepared for the bad time's "arrival". I am constantly reminding myself that this is just bad time and that it too will pass because the bad times always do but in the meantime, I have to wait. And while I am waiting, life is going on. Oh, I am so frustrated.

Another thing is that I feel very distant and far away from God. I don't feel Him. I read once that it is much easier to say when we know God is nearby and it is much tougher to acknowledge when you feel alone. I admit it. Right now, I feel alone. I feel forsaken. I feel like God has turned is back and is busy helping others and has forgotten me. God! Don't forget me! Come back and feel my heart with You! I can't feel You. I can't hear You.

i feel alone. i feel like there is an anchor pulling me away from God and I can't get back to Him. i want to find Him again. i am struggling against a current and i want God to rescue me.

It is for certain, we are going to Washington, DC to see my doctor. My appointment in on November 30. I dread the trip with everything in me. I know how physically difficult the trip will be and after all the effort, I don't know if my appointment will be helpful. Frustration! Pure Frustration!

something tells me i am not forgotten. something tells me i am loved.

. by *Heather Thomas on Polyvore.com