Hello, my dear friends!

I’m sorry I’ve been so quiet lately. I’ve had a lot of great things happening. But many of you have reached out asking how I’m doing (thank you for that), so I know it’s time for a life update.

Big News!

Our daughter, Lauren, got engaged in October. The wedding is scheduled for August of this year. She is currently in Boone, NC completing her Master’s Degree program, while her fiancé, Matt, lives in Raleigh, NC. It hasn’t been easy to squeeze everything in, but she’s making it work, and planning is moving full steam ahead.

The Holidays

The holidays were wonderful. John and I were able to spend time with family and friends. I’d say it was the first holiday season that felt normal since my transplant, except for one thing. Unfortunately, my mom was battling a lingering cough and couldn’t visit for Christmas as she usually does. It was only the third time since I moved to North Carolina in 1989 that she wasn’t with us. But because 2020 forced us to embrace video chats, my mom joined us on the big screen.

My Career

I jumped back into coaching at the beginning of January. I’m doing some one-on-one sessions, and I introduced a new program called “The Well-Balanced Woman.” It’s going great! I enjoy the time I have to encourage and guide women to find balance. I also have plans to offer additional coaching options in the near future.

A Fun Project

In February, I dusted off my photography gear and traveled to Raleigh with John to take Lauren and Matt’s engagement photos. It had been a while since I’d done a photo session, but my fingers flowed over the buttons and dials as if I had never put my camera down. And I was shockingly surprised at how well my body responded to the physical aspect of shooting. If you’ve never seen a photographer in action, I recommend you watch closely when you have an opportunity. We do our own stunts! We’re all over the place–scaling walls, lying on the ground, hanging from the rafters–in order to get that perfect shot. It’s a lot of fun and well worth the effort when we deliver the final product.

Being Obedient

Currently, I’m doing my best to be obedient to God’s calling to write my story. Although I enjoy writing, it’s not my true passion, so it’s been a bit challenging. There are days when I dig my heels in and pout like a child, but then there are days like today when everything flows. Those are the times when I am reminded how therapeutic revisiting my transplant journey is. I’m overwhelmed as I read through messages and interview friends and family. But the process has allowed me to finally put the bits and pieces of the days I missed together in mind. So I’ll keep pushing, and hopefully, I’ll have a book to publish soon. Pray for me!

My Health

As far as my health, I’m doing well. I work out 4-5 times a week, and I’m getting stronger every day. For the most part, I’m back to lifting the amount of weight that I was lifting before my disease took control. Unfortunately, my stamina isn’t the same as it once was, so I can’t do the same volume of work. I also battle a lot of muscle discomfort due to my myositis, the part of my disease that attacks muscles. It’s not debilitating, and it feels different than typical muscle soreness. The best way I can describe it is I feel achy. I want to sit and rest, but my muscles want to be moved when I do. It happens more after I’ve pushed myself with a full week of workouts. But here’s the kicker, keeping my muscles active is the best thing for them, even though it comes with some discomfort.

Of course, breathing is still the biggest challenge. My precious, gifted lungs are fighting hard and holding their own, but the damage that has been done from the chronic rejection is extremely obvious. And aggravating, I might add. I know I could do much more if I had more lung capacity (I currently have around 74%). Some days are harder than others to stay positive. I have to remind myself that I’m doing my best given my situation, which is pretty darn good. I’m committed to living a fit life, so I’ll continue to tell myself what I’ve said to most of my clients at some point in their journey–embrace the suck!

My PFTs (pulmonary function tests) were slightly higher this month than they have been, indicating my lungs might be a bit stronger. Of course, this could easily be normal fluctuation, but I believe my exercise regimen is helping. Plus, I know God is still at work in there, and I trust that He will keep these lungs going.

Finding Normal Again

John and I are still working on finding normal again. We still spend a lot of time at home; for several reasons. For one, I’m still cautious when being around a lot of people at once. I’m getting a little braver, but I will always have to be aware of my surrounding. Secondly, I’m doing my best to stay diligent in finishing my book. I honestly have no idea where God wants to take it, but as I’ve said, I know that He’s told me to write it. So, this I shall do. Thirdly, I spend several hours a week working on coaching and finding different ways to engage because that’s what I’m truly passionate about.

That being said, I’m always open to new adventures and fun. I committed to myself when I returned home from the hospital that I would always say “yes” to invitations to be with friends and family, try new things, and take every opportunity the Lord gives me to share the story He has given me with others. So, please get in touch with me if you’re looking for someone to spend time with, talk to, or take a new adventure with.

I’m grateful for your care and support, as well as your prayers. I can’t imagine having a better group of friends to walk alongside.

May God’s blessings pour over each of you,

P.S. As a reminder, I’m available for speaking engagements and coaching. If you know anyone looking, please send them my way. Here’s the best way to get started.