What I Have Learned…The Spiritual Side of my Situation.
10 Jul 2011 Leave a Comment
I am finding that sometimes in life, we lose things…some in different ways than others. Some of us have lost things in life that we never thought we even had was there to give up in the first place. Maybe we already thought we were broke (or broken) enough, until the rug is ripped out from underneath us and that final blow is given. We may lose our health, material things, family members and the list can go on and…we may fall flat on our faces and feel that our lives could never get worse, but indeed they may. Some cry spiritual attack and rebuke the enemy, some feel betrayed and question God’s loyalty, some despise God for the happenings and turn away from their faith. For me this has been going on for such a long time, I have done everything listed BUT turn away, some people do every single one of these things. While we do whatever we do to “get though what’s happening, if we aren’t getting it right, we may get knocked down…we may not be able to get up again until we see that God is the only one who can raise us up and keep us standing. It is only when we put complete trust and faith in Him that restoration and healing can occur and even then it may not happen…that’s when we just show MORE faith, MORE love, MORE ability to NOT BE MOVED! I am planted on the rock that is MY SALVATION. Though I may stumble, lose my way or get weak; I will NEVER fall…I belong to the Lord, I was bought with a price…and most importantly, GOD WILL ALWAYS CARRY ME!
This is what I have learned…so I wonder, what does your situation tell you? If it is not telling you that God is on the throne and that you should lay EVERYTHING down at His feet, then it’s time for a reallignment of the mind…I can’t believe it took this long for me to see…I knew, but I didn’t KNOW…I spoke but I didn’t absorb…I heard but it just didn’t get through.
I hope this helps someone today.
-Lori Shourds
July 10, 2011
by Lori Shourds on Sunday, July 10, 2011 at 12:30pm
A Birthday Prayer for My Sister in Law
27 Jun 2011 Leave a Comment
in bible, birthday, CHRISTIAN, FAITH, FAMILY, prayer Tags: Birthday, christian, faith, family, prayer
Today is My Sister-in-law’s Birthday. I haven’t seen her very often lately since my family moved farther away, thank God for her blog Together For A Reason! But aside from the joy I get from reading her blog, I am reminded that she is such an amazing mother, woman of faith, and wife AND that we share a lot of joy for praying God’s Word and sharing the prayers with the world so I thought this one would be special, in honor of her! I found this prayer over at (Joyful Living , turns out it was written by this blogger’s sister in law! Since it was originally written for her 7 year old nephew’s birthday, I had to tweak it just a tad 
. I will now save it and make a new tradition for my whole family one their birthdays! Here it is:
Lord Jesus,
It is our joy and honor to pray for Amy on this special day. How grateful we are that You thought of making her Amy and that from the moment of conception, You’ve been making her just exactly the way You wanted. (Psalms 139:13)
Today we pray that Amy will celebrate this new year of life by reaching for YOUR best. Stand by her in every challenge. Bring light in every time of uncertainty. Thank You that You are able to make all grace abound to her, so that in all thing, at all times, having all that she needs, she will abound in every good work (II Corinthians 9:8).
Today we claim Your mighty power and Your unfailing promises on behalf of Amy. On this special day of cake and gifts and balloons may she be able to grasp hold of the greatest gift of all – to know how wide and long and high and deep Your love really is (Ephesians 3:19).
In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Happy Birthday to My “Baby” Girl!
21 Jun 2011 Leave a Comment
in birth, birthday, children, FAITH, FAMILY
Well, my baby girl is 4 today. It seems it just happened yesterday when I had that precious little nugget of a kid!
She is so dear to my heart, and concerned with everyone else. Such a people pleaser. She was the perfect weight, length, a healthy eater, and she slept through the night by 3 months. What more can any mommy ask for. She is such a blessing and a joy to have around!
I love all of my children, and God has a special plan for them all…I am thrilled to see what it is for her!
Happy 4th Birthday “Baby” Girl!!!!
She couldn’t wait to eat the cake and open the presents…
Earlier in the day we went to the beach, then to the pool! What a cool way to celebrate turning 4!!
Father’s Day 2011
20 Jun 2011 Leave a Comment
in baking, bible, children, CHRISTIAN, chronic illness, FAITH, FAMILY, love Tags: 2011, baking, cupcakes, day, family, Fathers, kids, Parenting
Yesterday was Father’s Day…I tried so hard not to cry as I assembled what we had to give my Husband for all of the hard work he has put in to being a Dad, for all of the 16 hr days, 6 days a week he has been and will be pulling all season long since that’s just what he does as a chef in a beach town…NOTHING!! We have no money. Negative to be exact. I am trying to pull a rabbit out of a hat, tomorrow is my 3 year olds birthday and Father’s day was the next morning all I could think of was my failure to manage and how he was going to feel like he was a failure to provide and that he labors in vain, he works all of those hours for empty dollars that we can’t even stretch over an energy bill and rent. But alas, the kids colored pictures of the family, some looked very silly!
I made cupcakes and thank God I had his favorite flavor on hand so I didn’t have to make him choke on German chocolate like I did on his birthday . I didn’t have time to make them “special” and since I have been dealing with this chronic pain in my core it’s hard to stand for any period of time so the would be no amazing piping skills like normal or modeled crispy treat family, chef, football, baseball, TV, etc! So it hit me like a ton of bricks…print out wallets sized photos and stick them in top with toothpicks (like the sail of a sailboat)! Decorating complete…VIOLA! My kids “helped” me . No really I enjoy their help so much but boy they argue over who gets to do what and it could be something as ridiculous as picking a piece of chewed meat of the floor…they will pull hair over being the first to help their mama!
As far as dinner goes, that doesn’t happen he leaves for work before lunchtime. So I prepped lunch the night before…I marinated a london broil, green beans, and some other random sides and of course my homemade SWEET ICE TEA!! Now the sad thing was he had to make it himself because I hade a HUGE decline in health late that night and didn’t go to sleep at all Saturday night, the pain on Fathers day was through the roof so I couldn’t even stand for 10 minutes without tearing up and near about falling over. Anyway, enjoy the pictures!
Now I also have a Father, one whom I respect greatly. He works just as hard ad my husband does as you will see in this photo…
But seriously, he has a heart to serve God in the most passionate way that I have ever seen. I have so much respect for this man. He has never failed to be there for me when I fall, fail, lose my way…he does not make me feel like a failure, though he’s quick to help me see the error in my ways I have learned to discern his love for my salvation an restoration as opposed to harsh correction and rebuke. He is always thinking that he has an incredibly short fuse and is stretched too thin but what I see is a man of incredible faith, compassion, love, understanding…refuses to kick the dog at my request lol (an inside joke), he’s a fierce prayer warrior and my hero. I am proud to call him my Daddy! Thanks for leading me in the ways when I was young and keeping the faith when I went crazy as a teen…it was your strong hand that guided me even when you didn’t know it! You deserve more than this world can offer and that it why there is no huge house on a hill, fancy car, etc…God has you covered but you already knew that!! See my Daddy…and by the way, i just have to add, my mom helps him be who his is, he would only be half the man he is without her…ain’t they somethin!!!
Our Hope Endures
14 Jun 2011 Leave a Comment
in CHRISTIAN, chronic illness, disability, disease, FAITH, health, long term illness, pain, Pelvic floor dysfunction, support Tags: christian, Chronic Pain, faith, hurt, illness, support
You would think only so much can go wrong
Calamity only strikes once
And you assume that this one has suffered her share
Life will be kinder from here
Oh, but sometimes the sun stays hidden for years
Sometimes the sky rains night after night
When will it clear?
But our hope endures the worst of conditions
It’s more than our optimism
Let the earth quake, our hope is unchanged
How do we comprehend peace within pain
Or joy at a good man’s wake?
Walk a mile with a woman whose body is torn
With illness, but she marches on
Oh, ’cause sometimes the sun stays hidden for years
Sometimes the sky rains night after night When will it clear?
But our hope endures the worst of conditions
It’s more than our optimism
Let the earth quake, our hope is unchanged
Emanuel, God is with us
El Shaddai, all sufficient
Emanuel, God is with us
El Shaddai, all sufficient
Emanuel, God is with us
El Shaddai, all sufficient
We never walk alone
And this is our hope
Our hope endures the worst of conditions
It’s more than our optimism
Let the earth quake, let the earth quake
Let the earth quake, our hope is unchanged
“Our Hope Endures”
Song by Natalie Grant
The Baltimore Orioles Opening Day 2011!
06 Apr 2011 Leave a Comment
in FAMILY, pictures, sports Tags: Baltimore, baseball, Camden yards, mascot, opening day, Orioles
My Husband and I went to opening day at Camden Yards to watch as the Orioles beat the Tigers 5-1. I was so excited as they were able to remain un-defeated 4-0. The game was amazing. They upgraded the park, changed the sponsors and beer (kept Boogs though thank God)! They put padded seats in some areas although the upper and lower reserved remained unchanged. The first pitch and National anthem was great! It was just an amazing game. The O’s played an amazing game, the seats were packed and the fans were pumped! Hopefully the season won’t die down. Meanwhile here is some visual stimulation including a great picture with me and the Baltimore Oriole’s Mascot!! So EPIC!! He even pointed at the camera (this was a big deal because he didn’t pose a lot this game he just danced on the box). Such a special day, even a box jumper came out to touch the bases!! lol. God bless!
Another A!
27 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
in chronic illness, disability, education, FAITH, FAMILY, long term illness, prayer Tags: adult education, high school diploma, School for adults
I took 2 final exams last week. My Delaware TABE for math and passed with a 22/21 (which is an A). I also took my final exam for Principles of Economics and scored an 86%. This test was so insane! No multiple choice, no one word answers…everything was blank. I am so blessed that God was with me on this! I prayed and the paragraphs wrote themselves but I had to leave the diagram on the last page blank and that is where I lost most of the points, bummer! But the good news is that my average for the class after the test is…drumroll…95.8% meaning I still finish the clast with an A!!! So here’s a recap:
Math – A
Writing – A
Economics – A
I still have two classes to take in the Spring semester which starts April 4. All of my credits will be obtained by then. I am so excited!! I can’t believe that after 10 years of thinking my brain was dysfunctional and incapable learning properly, I will hold my high school diploma…NOT GED, fairly earned with a year of work, frustration, joy, and a bunch of other emotion! Updates coming soon!
Recovery and Other Fun Moments
20 Mar 2011 Leave a Comment
I am having a hard time with recovery as expected but my sweet Mother has made it much more bearable. The woman from my church were right there with me when I got home and one was even there (2.5 hours away from home) to see me right after surgery! My Husband was had a hard time being “there” for me in many ways and it killed me, I didn’t see him until 9 days post-op (after he left). When I got back he was cold, distant and didn’t help with anything. I think in a way he was mourning the loss and upset at me for causing him to miss his family vacation which was also suppose to be his 30th birthday celebration but what could I do about it? But really, trust me I have had enough struggle without the help of anyone else and having someone hurt me with words or actions killed me. But just like everything else, we got over it .
Fast forward to today, my incisions are healed on the outside but inside not so much…I am and will be in physical therapy for another 6 weeks at least. I was told that I will not be allowed to run for another 6 months. A normal person would be allowed to sooner but apparently I am not normal?!? Anyway I am getting over this and trying to get over the pain as well. It has been pretty severe and all I can say is at least I haven’t had to go to the ER for pain relief! I am doing well taking care of the kids and home, the house is very well-kept, the beds are made, dinner is served, the kids are bathed (as am I lol) and I am able to get the to and from school meaning I am not taking meds in the day. So I am doing as well as I can with 4 kids and limited help. Now that my Mother is gone my Husband is much more receptive to me and I would be LOST without my girlfriends from church…they are all over me and my kids!!
Speaking of my kids, here are some pics of how we have been killing our time!!
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Time For Surgery…
26 Feb 2011 Leave a Comment
in chronic illness, disability, FAITH, FAMILY, gynecology, health, interstitial cystitis, long term illness, pain, Pelvic floor dysfunction, pelvic pain, Uncategorized Tags: gynecology, Health, Hysterectomy, Laparoscopic surgery, pelvic pain, Surgery
Well, the moment I’ve been avoiding for a few months has come…and sooner than I have expected. I will be having my hysterectomy on Tuesday AT AGE 27!! I leave for D.C. on Monday and I will get back home on Thursday. The doctor will be using the most advance form of laparoscopic surgery out there (even more so than robotics). It’s called The Laparoscopic Retroperitoneal Approach to Hysterectomy. Here is a clip of the surgery and it’s benefits. My surgeon is the only one who performs this in the world! If you want more information, check out The Woman’s Surgery Center
I am not so much nervous about the surgery as I am about the emotional toll it may take on me that I will most definitely NEVER have children again. Some people are trying to cheer me up by saying that I may be able to adopt in the future but they just don’t understand…I would love to but it is not an option sadly but I would if I could in a few years. Anyways for now my focus remains on my Husaband and children and I will continue to watch everyone around me give birth while I am baren…I suppose my time is just up. I would be lying if this did not break my heart. But I will keep my eyes on the Lord and fixed on the goals in front of me. I remember where I was last year, it was not pretty…I wrote this blog post on July 20, 2010 entitled “For Those of You That Don’t Know, I’m NOT Okay!” and it threw me right back. I cannot believe how bad things were. I’ll be darned if I let things get that bad again…eye on the goal Lori!
On a brighter note, My Husband’s birthday is coming up and I have secured him opening day O’s ticket yet again!! It is his favorite thing, he hates parties but LOVES big crowds at the baseball fields! We will also be going to see his old buddies at the Tower Oaks Lodge in Rockville, MD – LOVE that place! I’m not sure what else there is to say…Hopefully We will have a good rest of the weekend and an easy recovery! If you read this, say a prayer for us 
. Many blessings from my family to yours!
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