A letter to my Youngest son....

Oh how the years go by,

Oh how time can certainly fly.
From once just a thought in far away dreams,
now into my arms and in my eyes gleam
the presence of you.
Your laughter and smiles
which go on for miles,
warms my heart and soul.
You're growing up so fast,
as I wish each moment with you to last forever.
My little boy will someday be a man
and right by your side I will forever stand.
I will pick up the pieces when you fall,
I will hold your hand and help you stand tall.
And when the day comes when you are on your own,
never feel that you are alone.
No matter how near or far apart
I am always right there in your heart.
Always remember whatever you go through
that no matter what, I will always love you.

~© Amy R. Campbell

My little Rups,

Over the past seven years, I have quietly watched you grow into the little boy that stands before me today.  You are kind, generous with not only your possessions but your love too. I do not think there is one mean bone in your body, because everyday you are all about making everyone feel good and happy. You are loved by all who meet you; you are adored by your siblings.

I will never forget the day your dad and I found out we were having a boy, I was so tickled to not only be able to help carry on the Galvan name, but I was honored that God had blessed me with yet another son.  You came into this world much too early weighing just over 4lbs..  You were born at 29 weeks, you were so little and fragile.  The hardest thing for us was to not be able to take you home from the hospital right away.  You were fed through a tube in your nose and trying to get you to eat just a few ounces of milk could take up to a 1/2 hour.  Other than being born early you were perfect.  You had the most beautiful skin and the littlest fingers and toes.  Every nurse in the NIC unit fell in love with you.  There was not one day where I would walk into that NIC unit and someone was not holding you.  Even at a few weeks old you were impacting the lives of others.

You are so smart, witty and you make your family laugh each and every day. The love you share with all of us is like no other.  Reuben, God gave me the most precious gift when he honored me with you.  I do not take being your mother lightly because I know you have great things ahead of you and you are going to make a huge impact on this world.  Your ability to turn a bad day into a great day by just the warmth of your hug is amazing.  Your caring personality shines in your eyes and draws others to you.  

As your mother, there is no sweeter sound than to hear you yell out "Mommy" when one of us comes home after not seeing each other that day.  Your sweet little voice and warm embrace is so special to me and I plan to carry those with me till the end of my days.

I love how outgoing you are and how you are so ready to care for anyone who needs it.  You have the ability to touch people and to help them and as you grow, I hope to continue to assist in you developing that trait.  You have the world at your finger tips, it's yours to take and I know you are going to do something great with it.

You are fearless too son.  Just this last school year there was a boy, known in the school as the tallest 3rd grader in school, who was picking on your sister Gabriella.  After hearing the story of how he was not being nice to YOUR sister, you took it upon yourself to confront the boy in the boys bathroom by yourself. You educate him on how he better leave his sister alone or be nice to her.  You told him Jesus would not be happy with the way he was acting and it needed to stop.  That boy never bothered your sister again.  No matter how old you, you have always cared and protected your siblings.  You truly have a heart of gold.

Today we celebrate your 7th birthday on this Earth and we celebrate the little man that you are.  Your family loves you very much Reuben and our lives would not be complete without you in it!

Happy Birthday Son!

~Love Mommy.

P.S. There is a "family secret" in our household that only two of the five kids were planned.  YOU were one of them son!  (smile)

http://flipagram.com/f/FSCa9p7GXD

Some of my favorite Reuben quotes:

Reuben talking to Gabriella:
Gabriella:  "Reuben, lets have a garage sale and sell all our toys!"
Reuben:  "Gabriella your CRAZY, I love ALL my toys!"

Reuben talking to Gabriella:
R- "I wonder when we are going to grow a new baby?" 
G- "What?  We aren't." 
R- "Yes, Mommy can grow us a new one, we just have to ask." 

Reuben and daddy were playing at dinner one night: 
D- "Reuben you better get that look off your face or I am going to fix you!"
R-"Don't fix me, I am not a toy I am Reuben!"

It's been 274 days since my life changed.....

274 days ago my life changed and I wrote this blog:

http://michellegalvan.blogspot.com/2013/10/rebirth-ree-burth-ree-burth-noun-1.html


Since that day of learning that I have MS my life has been a roller coaster of changes, challenges, and growing.  It has been full of ups and downs, new appreciations as well as new fears and new challenges.  But what is most important and what I want to focus on is that I am still here and I am still fighting, learning and growing and trying to be a better person in every area of my life

This morning I headed Kaiser in Salem for my first MRI since my diagnosis.  I would like to say that I am trusting God and putting positive thoughts out into the universe but the reality is I am scared out of my mind. Yesterday thinking about the upcoming MRI I tried to busy myself all day to keep my mind from wandering to that day, 274 days ago, when I thought at the time my life was going downhill and fast.

Joseph took me in for my MRI as he has done in the past as well as any major medical testing or event I have had to encounter.  Having him there to support me was a really big deal and allows me to relax more.  I am so claustrophobic as soon as I see the MRI machine I begin to shake, sweat and cry. Joseph stands outside of the MRI where my legs are laying out and will hold and caress my feet while the 45 minute procedure is being done.  Feeling his touch allows me to focus on the fact that I am not alone and I am not in the machine totally.  Even though I have my earplugs in I can still hill him telling me how much longer the current session is.  As you lay there 3 minutes can feel like three hours and just hearing him do a countdown for me... "2.5 minutes, 1 minute, 30 seconds"  as well as giving me encouragement all along the way tuns a scary procedure into something more bearable. Having him there allows me to focus on his voice and takes my mind off the confined space I am in.  I am not sure if I ever shared with him how powerful it is to have him there to support me, I am always thankful and tell him I appreciate him but I don't think he knows the true depths of his support for me and how it can change the outcome of something horrific into something that he tells me "I can do this."  No matter what is going on between the two of us, he has always been my support, my back bone and the one behind the scenes telling me...... "If anyone can do this Michelle, it's you!"

If you have to have an MRI I highly suggest that you take someone as well who can be there with you (You have to insist to the MRI specialist and refuse to take no for an answer) so that you too can have that support, kindness and someone there for you.

The reality I have learned is that my MS is not as bad as others.  Some can not walk, some are finding their motor skills deteriorating more and more each day and some are so lost in their own minds and the darkness it brings they have lost the will to try hard and stand up and fight.  My MS is the best kind to have, yes there is a best kind, because I have had the disease for many years and was able to fight it when I did not know I even had it.

Knowing that my fate will not consist of a wheelchair is a blessing but it still can allow my mind to take me to a place where I feel pity for myself or fear of the unknown.  The difference is I fight everyday to NOT allow that to happen.

Today my MRI is a big deal but in reality it will only be a picture of what has happened in the last 274 days to my brain if anything.  The medication I take, Copaxone, is a daily injection that fills my body with a chemical creating a fake Mylar that the MS can attack rather than the one on my brain.  This medication is to act as a shield for my brain to prevent further attacks and damage from the MS. The Copaxone takes six months to fully take an affect in my body.  My next MRI should be between 6 months to a year and that will tell us if the Copaxone is doing it's job and show no more new lesions on the brain.

Today will give me a idea of what, if any, new damage to my brain and to be used as a benchmark for the next MRI.

As I reflect over the past 273 days in regards to my care, I can see plenty of opportunities where I need to continue to improve my well being.  I NEED to cut back on my stress, I NEED to continue to explore new ways to relax and to free my mind.  I NEED to get back with my energy worker and I NEED to get myself back on a healthy and consistent gym and food plan to better my results. There is so much "study" on the affects of working out and eating certain types of food that can assist in your aid to managing MS and that is going to have to be my focus now.

Just like when I lost all my weight 4 years ago.  It was the hardest thing I have ever done in my life.  I had to sacrifice many areas of my life and ended up having to sacrifice friendships too that were not supportive of my new and healthy lifestyle.  I do not see that being the issue this time but today was a big eye opener and reminder, I have to get my bottoms in gear and make the changes I want to see to know that I am doing everything and anything to improve the outcome of my MS.  No one is going to do it for me and life is too precious to take chances and just sit back and think it will take care of itself.

So as scary as today was, it was also a moment to reflect and regroup and know it's time to get my plan in place to do all I can do to take care of myself! 

I am a fighter, in every aspect of my life... this will be no different for me.  I may have MS but I refuse to let MS have me!!!!

~Mellie

For information on how one doctor managed her MS and made some amazing changes to her disease check out her YouTube video.  This can be applied in all areas of life as well, MS or not.  Food has the power to change our lives and either heal us or kill us.....

http://youtu.be/KLjgBLwH3Wc

For more information on Multiple Sclerosis and how you can support finding a disease check out their website at: http://www.nationalmssociety.org/

My new love......

Yesterday, while out getting some food for my family, a woman I know commented on how good I looked.  She has known me for years and has not only seen me having baby after baby but witnessed my transformation when I lost all my weight.  She made a reference to my appearance looking so young I could pass as a teenager.  This of course made me laugh, a teenager? No, no way.  But I am noticing that people are commenting on my appearance and my skin more often than before. 

This got me thinking last night and I tried to analyze what was new for me that would make me look younger than I am and get the comments on my skin looking so nice.  Then I recalled, I switched my skin care product.  

My new love is what I want to share today!

evanhealy is the skin care that I have began using and have absolutely loved since trying it!  I bought a starter, sample kit, at Whole Foods and have now progressed into the true sizes.  I love this line for skin care because not only is it organic but the entire line is safe for our environment.  

I love the day moisturizer because it is so light and clean feeling it does not leave my face oily midway through the day at all.  The Facial toner is light and has aroma therapy in it that leaves my skin feeling cool and refreshed. The mask is light yet when it dries on my face I can feel it pulling the oil out allowing my pores to be clean and tight.  I mix the toner and the facial serum oil together to give my skin extra moisturizer around my eyes and my forehead.  

I can defiantly tell the difference from the expensive department store facial line I was using and apparently so can others!

If you are looking for skin care to help with your trouble spots, I would totally give this line a try.  There are several different aromas you can try... I use the rose but have purchased the lavender for friends of mine, who rave about it as well.  

Again, I purchased mine at Whole Foods but I am sure you can look on line and get it elsewhere too!  

If you want more information about the line here is the link to the company:  http://www.evanhealy.com/

My new love...... thank you for making my skin even better!  

 

I am......

On my desk sits this cute bag that hold a bunch of little cards.

These cards are called the I Am...... Cards.  The idea is to pull a card each day to read a positive affirmation to fill your mind with.  By focusing on positive thoughts, you can change how you feel.  It's a simple way to experience life in a new and exciting way and to explore your mind with the thought behind the I am.... Card of the day.

I have not pulled a card from this bag in a few weeks.  Life has been a little overwhelming for me these past weeks, months and really years.  What I have allowed to happen in my life is I have allowed the negative to take over and I have only been focusing on what is wrong in my life rather than what is right.  I have allowed myself to have a limited vision of my life and I have only been focusing on my problems thus allowing them to overwhelm me.  There have been days where I have gone into hiding, I go into dark places and have closed out people in my life because I would rather hide from them than disappoint them.  I was starting to believe that I had no options and I had no way out of where I am right now, this was to be my reality.  At night I lay in my bed and when I am all alone with no one left to impress or to have to fake happiness to I found myself surrounded by fear and sorrow.

But this week I am coming to a new place in my mind and my heart and I am realizing that I owe it to myself and to my family to pick myself back up and not let the past define me.  It's time for me to decide, again, that I am going to stand up to life and I am going to be what I am suppose to be.  I am going to follow my dreams and I am going to follow my passion for what I want while I walk on this Earth.

Just now, I pulled a card from that bag and it reads this.......

What are the chances that the first card I pull in weeks is THIS card, and I pull it TODAY?  What an amazing realization for me that this card not only speaks to me to remind me of who I am, a strong woman, but to go along with the new thoughts that I am trying to allow into my mind and live each day by.

Today I was told how the brain releases chemicals to allow us to feel serenity and peace, this is called Serotonin.  In addition the brain releases Cortisol due to stress.  This is a way for the brain to ensure we continue to survive by giving us fear so that we do not do something that could harm us, anxiety to keep us from taking extra risks and gives us weary of something or someone that may harm us.  All with the goal to protect our brains thus keeping our bodies alive. It was interesting for me to hear how the two different chemicals affect the brain and the way we react to it being released.  It really made me realize, even more than I knew before, how my thoughts really will and do determine the way I live my life.

I have this story from my past that I like to share with people.  I was told one time that I did not smile enough, I always looked cranky and miserable.  So that day, I told myself no matter what I was going to just "sit and smile".  I did not care how funny or crazy I may appear I would just sit and smile and that way I could not be told I never smiled enough.  But what happened was I found myself being happier.  I noticed that walking or driving around with a smile on my face, regardless of how I felt that day, not only made me feel better but it made others smile at me.  So I learned to fake it till I could make it.  I like this story because it is a good reminder that I can do this with my thoughts too.

If something or someone comes against me my first reaction is to sit and think about how it affects me.  How is this going to affect my pride? How is this going to affect my family?  How is this going to make me FEEL?  What will others think of me as a person?  Will they see me weak, strong, crazy or emotional?  All these thoughts will come into my mind and send me spinning and usually gives me a knee jerk emotional reaction that I later will regret and most times makes things worse because they tend to never solve anything just leave me feeling emotional because I acted in a way that is not who I am as a person.

I am a strong person, I know this deep inside myself.  This does not mean I am a narcissist it just means I know who I am at the core of my being and I am a fighter.  I have lived a long life in my 40 years, a life full of struggle and battles to get me where I want to be and where I want my family to be. My tank may be just about empty and I may feel like I have depleted all my energy and am ready to throw in the towel but the truth is this is exactly where I WANT to be because this forces me to get up and succeed.  I want to be successful in every part of my life just as much as I want to breathe everyday.  I have no where to go but up from here and it is only up to me to choose if I am going to do it.

I may feel like I am at the end of my rope in certain areas but there is still time in my life to be who I want to be.  There is still time to correct mistakes and continue to fight for my life.  I still have a way out and I still have the chance to make this the best life I can have. The past does not define me, it needs to empower me!

So yes... I am.... strong.   And I am going to get back to living my life as a strong woman!  I am going to start following my dreams of writing and doing public speaking of some sort, I have big dreams I have not accomplished yet.... but I will.

What is in your life that is holding you back?  What fears, anxiety is out there keeping your from your moments in life of being happy?  What changes can you make to better yourself and improve where you are?

You... are strong.... live life like it!

~Mellie

The Love Dare for Parents~Day 3

"Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you.  ~Ephesians 4:32

One of the greatest expression of genuine love is showing kindness to your children.  Kindness is the sweet aroma they should notice whenever your love enters the room.  It inspires us to care for them.  If flavors how we treat them.  Whereas patience is love minimizing the negative, kindness is love initiating the positive.  Patience helps us avoid problems, while kindness helps us be a blessing.

Love will make you kind, and kindness will make you liable.  When you are kind to your children, they will enjoy being around you.  In fact, it give you favor in all your relationships and opens doors for your children.

"Do not let kindness and truth leave you," the Bible says.  "Bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.  So you will find favor and good repute in sight of God and man" (Proverbs 3:3-4).

Kindness in love in action.  It rejects passivity and reaches out.  It takes time to listen, then take steps to help.  It never requires the easiest path or simplest method to engage in the lives of others.

Specifically, kindness least to service--seeing a need and moving to meet it -- honoring others by putting their interests ahead of your own, even in the little things.  At home with your children, you can model kindness by serving them without complaining, as well as quickly pointing out and celebrating moments when they show kindness in themselves.

Scripture describes the kindness of God by how He freely extends grace to His children, giving them exactly what they need (Ephesians 2:6-9).  And He commands us to follow His lead by consistently being kind to others (Ephesians 4:32).  This should begin with those in our families.

Kindness also brings willingness.  It makes us cooperative, more ready to say "yes" then "no" to a request.  It helps us become more agreeable and seek unity rather than coming up with another reason to dig in our heels.  It reaches us to release and give rather than resist and hold back.

Kindness likewise seasons all our interactions with gentleness.  It makes us more sensitive and tenderhearted.  It stamps "Handle with Care" on the hearts of those with whom we come into contact and avoids being unnecessarily harsh or insensitive in our tone of voice or choice of words.  Consider this thought:  Just about everything we say or do could probably be greatly enhances with the addition of a little more kindness.

Why is this important?  Because if we are not careful as parents, we too can become very unkind to the little ones we love.  It is so easy to think that because we are the parent, because we are so much more mature and sacrificed so much for our kids, we can act however we want around them.  Didn't we change their diapers?  Haven't we spent untold dollars on them and put up with years of their runny noses and misbehavior?  Yes.  But love reminds us that our sacrifices never give us license to be uncaring or harsh.

Fathers should display more kindness than the men their children are around.  This is what their kids are longing to experience (Proverbs 19:22) Mothers should have words of kindness flowing from their lips(Proverbs 31:26)

Be honest:  Do your children see you as someone who is consistently kind to them and others?  Do you model kindness in how you speak about people behind their backs?  Do you give, share, and reach out to those in need?  Do you regularly take the initiative to show kindness?

Your kids are more sensitive to you than almost anyone on earth.  When you resist or ignore them, they will struggle inside and likely not respond to you well.  But when you create an environment of tender love and kindness, they become more open to sharing their heart with you and listening to the words you say and the lessons you share.

Love leads you to look for opportunities to show kindness to your kids.  This doesn't mean doing everything for them.  Rather, it's the fine balance between loving them well and teaching them to love others.  Part of their becoming an effective parent or leader as an adult is in developing the heart of a servant as a youth -- the heart they should see in you.

So teach them to proactive kindness around you and their siblings as well.  Give them opportunities to serve at meals and take care of one another's needs at home.  When they're ready, take them to places where serving others will build an appetite and heart for ministry.  Visit a home for the elderly or a struggling neighbor who would be thrilled to receive a home cooked male for no other reason than kindness.  Help them mow a lawn for a widow or reach out to children who have no father at home.  These experiences remind you kids how precious and important other people are in the eyes of God, and that our kindness honors Him and reflects His character.

As you show and encourage kindness in your children, you are investing in the type of heart God calls us to nurture.  It's the Golden Rule: treating others they way you want to be treated, freely giving the very thing we long to receive from those with whom we live every day.  It's the blessing of kindness.  And that's the beauty of how love takes action.

Surprise your children today by doing some unexpected act of kindness.  As they take note of your gesture, ask them to do something kind for someone else that is also unexpected.

-The Love Dare for Parents by Stephen and Alex Kendrick

Having a larger family than most the biggest struggle in our house is time.  Time for everything that needs to get done to meet the needs of each person.  Because of this struggle sometimes small acts can be overlooked and pushed onto the back burner of life in hopes to one day achieve the goal.  Kindness is not one of those in this house.

I have parented at two different times in my life.  Our boys came early in my 20's and then our three little kids came in my 30's.  Having a 10 year gap and then starting over allowed me to have two totally different parental experiences.  Our boys will often joke with me that when they were younger something the current kids "get away with" would have never been allowed when they were younger.  But one thing remains consistent through each season of my life.... kindness to our children.

I am not one to brag or boast about my kids.  I do not think they are little geniuses, I do not think they are going to be the next President of the United States and I do not hold them up on a pedestal and think everyone just adores them.  But what I think and know is that they are good kids full of love for each other, love for others in their community and love for themselves.  

Because time is a struggle in our home we have not done the best job in having the little kids go outside of the home to show kindness to others but we always take any opportunity  to teach them that they are VERY fortunate and live a good life that others do not live.  

Recently at their school there was a canned food drive.  Rather than just grabbing a couple cans out of the pantry and taking them into school we took the kids to a store and had them pick out the canned foods that they thought the families in need would like to receive.  We talked about how others can not shop at the stores we shop at and a treat for a struggling family is not the same as a treat our kids get.  Simply having enough food for a healthy meal isn't always an option.  The store we choose to take them to was not the store we normally shop at.  We wanted the kids to understand that not everyone can go to Whole Foods and pick up whatever they feel like having that day.  So the store that the kids purchased the items at was in a neighborhood that was lower income and had more struggling families in it.  So not only would our kids see the difference in the food but the people around them too.  This turned out to be a very rewarding and educating moment for them and has stuck with each of them to this day.

Another act of kindness that our kids do is give to others.  We recently had a friend in need for clothes for her kids.  Our three little kids went through their clothes and toys and picked out items THEY thought the little kids in this other family would like.  They did this without any thought of themselves or what they may be missing by giving away their items.  They were happy to be able to help this family in need and found joy in knowing these kids would not only have nice clothes but toys to play with too.

We have another friend who is struggling and living check to check trying to do the very best for her kids.  We have opened our home to her and allowed her to stay with us when things are too tight or she just needs comfort.  One of our older boys changed rooms to give her a room of privacy and comfort and he did this with no thought to himself.

Seeing our children ages 20 through 5 have such kindness for others as well as for each others shows me that my hubby and I are doing a good job in this area.  We show them firm but fair parenting and we not only demonstrate kindness to them we empower them to demonstrate it as well.

It is my hope that as our three younger kids get older and time becomes less pressing that we will be able to get them out into the community even more to minister and continue to build on their kindness in other ways.

I think acts of kindness in this house are almost weekly and have very lasting impressions on all the kids.   There is always room to improve and we should never be content in just staying the same, but the foundation in this home is strong and sturdy.

~Mellie