Ringing in 2010 in Hawaii!

I had an incredible gift given to me by the Burlingham family this year-- they gave me a trip to Hawaii over the week of New Years! I got to spend 7 days with them in Kailua, Oahu, and enjoy the beauty of the ocean (and a home right on the water) and breathe in the salt water for 24 hours a day. 

Making the decision to go, however, was really difficult. Up until Dec. 24th I was in the hospital, really sick, and knew that if I were discharged in time for Christmas that I would be taking IV meds home with me for a week. I also knew that traveling would be hard, doing my meds away from my home would be hard and that it would especially be emotionally draining to be away from my family and being vulnerable with a whole new family. Not only did God bless me and get me out of the hospital in time for Christmas, but I was given the "ok" to go from my doctor as long as I kept up with my IV schedule and medication regimen. It was a huge leap of faith, and I know that without God's help in healing me just enough to go, I wouldn't have been able to spend that week there. 

I relaxed, slept a lot, listened to the waves crash for 24 hours a day, looked at the beauty of Hawaiian ocean, surfed a little, paddled a little, and spent wonderful time with the Burlingham family who welcomed me in and took care of me with open arms. Thank you, Burlinghams for an incredible vacation that was much needed....and thank you, Lord, for allowing me to go and teaching me to trust you in that time.

Here are a few pics from the beauty that is Hawaii....ahhh, oh how I miss it....

~Em

Ps. Yes, the Obama family was staying on the same beach, about 5 or so houses down....haha. No we didn't see them, but did see a ton of secret service and military boats!

Above: the beach in front of our house..... Below: military boats lined up protecting our pres.

Me at the Royal Hawaiian hotel....famous, and very pink :)
Diamond Head....
Another pic of the beach in front of the house....
Judy and I all dressed up for dinner!

Hope

This Christmas, I learned an entire new meaning of the word Hope. I haven't had much energy to blog the last week as I've been in the hospital fighting another infection. As I was admitted last saturday, the first thing that came to mind was "I might miss Christmas at home", and almost immediately, I was filled with an unspeakable Hope. 

As I think today of the story of Jesus, the entire reason we celebrate, I think of the amount of Hope that kept people going before the Messiah arrived. For 400 years, they had waited and hoped that the messiah would come save them- 400 years...without any response, or even a glimmer of hope. Yet they kept hoping that maybe the next year HE would come. When Mary was told she would have a baby, which seemed the most impossible thing on earth, the angel comforts her with the thought that "nothing is impossible with God", Luke 1:37. Again, the idea of hope. Hope that it's God's work, she's in God's hands and nothing is to big or too impossible that God can't do it. We were given a savior because nothing is impossible with God, perpetual Hope that God is in control.

I've read and heard the story of Christmas for many years and this year, it took on a whole new meaning. This year, as I was filled with Hope in the hospital for the 6 days leading up to Christmas, I never once doubted that I was in God's hands. I never feared that I wasn't being taken care of, and each moment I was worried or scared, God continued to bring to mind "Nothing is impossible with God".  God continued to fill me with hope, drive out fear, and remind me I was loved. Nothing is impossible- coming home for Christmas, breathing easier, medications working, or even a cure for CF. Nothing is impossible with God.

So tonight as I finish up my IV medication and hit my pillow, I want to thank God for reminding me of that, showing us the Hope we have in Christ, and the incredible joy that comes from the simple fact that our savior was born. He was born to save and change our lives. He was born because God didn't lose Hope for his people. I am thankful for my family, who not only walked with me each step as I was cooped up in the hospital by bringing me food, keeping me company and helping me through the healing process. but more importantly kept hoping with me. They hoped right beside me- hoping that I would be home and well enough for Christmas (which I am), hoping the meds would work and we'd see this infection start to clear up, hoping that God would give me strength to fight, and hoping for miracles. I cannot express the thankfulness in my heart for a day spent with my family who loves me just the way I am,with  time to rejoice in the life we've been given and time to celebrate Christmas with such love. Wow, what an amazing day. I am overwhelmed with hope, and overwhelmed with joy tonight.

Merry Christmas, dear friends and family. I pray you are as well, filled with hope.

~Em

Thankful for life

This year on Thanksgiving, I was able to spend the morning surfing at the beach! It was surprisingly warm, about 80 degrees so after taking at least 5 weeks off of surfing due to the swine flu I got up and headed west to enjoy the morning on the shore. The waves were nothing special, really small actually, but the sun was shining and my new long board (thanks Cesar!) was the perfect ride for the small 1-2 footers. 

As I sat on my board looking out at the horizon I was overcome with a thankfulness for life. I was reminded that this year on Thanksgiving no matter the circumstances I'm frustrated about or the questions I've been asking God for months, I am thankful for the fact that I had another Thanksgiving with my family and the gift of breathing in the fresh air that morning. I spent the day choosing to think of how blessed and how much I've been graced with- family, friends, a home, my 26 years of health, all that God has done to use CF for good in my life and my relationship with the Lord. I am truly thankful this weekend and praying and asking God to allow this verse to ring true in my life- that I would be shaped more into a woman of thanksgiving, remembering how much God has already given me.

Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. -1 Thessalonians 2:11 

~Em

Holiday Shopping for CF!

That's right....now through Christmas day, if you plan on buying a Christmas movie (made by Warner films) buy it at CVS Pharmacy. Each Christmas film bought there, CVS will give $5 to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation! See this article for more details :)

Can't believe it's the Christmas season!

~Em