Finally accepting....

It's been 6 long yrs of anger, denial, self pity, HORRIBLE CHOICES, etc...but God woke me up. I feel free. I am being baptized tomorrow. God is always so good.

The Cross

I took this photo of a cross that stands atop a hill at Boone's Chapel baptist church, where I attend when able. I came across this in one of my daily faith books. I felt led to share. Enjoy.........

I came across this in the book entitled, "This too shall Pass....Keeping the Faith in tough times."

"No Pain, no palm, no thorns, no throne, no gall, no glory, no cross, no crown..."

 quote by: William Penn, "No Cross, No crown" 

What is required to move through the suffering we endur sometimes? The WILL to do so and the inner strength to carry it out. My problem is carrying it out. I have so many good intentions that I feel as I can't carry them out due to the fatigue of Adrenal Insuffienciency. We must have hope and faith not in our ability but in God's timing. Which is another problem of mine, impatience. I hope all are well who reads this from time to time. Love you all,

Tracy

My first grade Teacher.......

I'm now 40 yrs old and have had Addison's for 5 years now I believe. A good friend of mine called and said, "you'll never believe who has what you have"........I asked WHO?????????? Because if you know anything about this disease, it's rare. You don't have it like diabetes etc ever other home down the road...she finally told me, our first grade teacher who's name I shall leave anonymous because I didn't ask her permission. OOps....I'm in trouble again. She still lives in our hometown, as do I and still lives 5 min or less away. How rare is that? We've reconnected after 35 years of not seeing or talking to her but I would always glance at her home as I drove by almost daily and wonder how she was. She was my favorite, sweetest, prettiest, coolest teacher and still looks the same today. I've been able to share experiences and actually help her along some and she shares with me. I love her dearly and maybe the reason behind this all was for our "illness" we now share.........

My Diagnosis

I was very lucky. My skin, my weight loss, anxiety,  just getting over Mono at the age of 34 and a pretty smart Family Practice Dr. diagnosed me before my results came back. Sad thing is I was working for a family practice dr and hate to complain but told him for 6 months something was wrong. I lost 30 lbs, my skin was darkening, I was so Short of Breath just rolling over in bed took it all from me. My doctor needed me to work so he dismissed it as depression/anxiety.. told me to go see a pysch. This photo was taken two days before I was diagnosed. I can't remember levels but I remember an ACTH of 2500. I was sick. 

What started out as a photography blog......

Has become a Journal i.pray one day my girls will read and maybe understand somethings there Mama went thru, its also about being diagnosed w a chronic illlness that affects your.daily life and hopefully thru my experiences and the experiences of my fellow AddisonIans maybe we can help just one.person. Let me make.myself clear....i am.far from expert. I still.rely on my friends for.answers.and comfort. I still battle.this daily. But with Christ beside.you if you'll allow him and be obedient to.his word, all things will work out to the glory of God.

http://findinglana.blogspot.com/

My favorite Addison's writer. She has been through so much and if you're here whether you have it or are caring for someone who does, please read her blog, you can't put it down. I love Lana, you've helped me so much.

Before Diagnosis

One of the major signs of Adrenal Insufficiency/Addison's Disease is "tan skin". It hyperpigments your skin. My friend, Ashley Moyer and I, went to the beach for a day or two when we first got our cameras to practice and just have fun. I remember trying to walk on the beach was like running up hill as fast as I could. I couldn't breath. I was black in the pictures. I remember poor Ashley trying to adjust her camera settings. She said, "I can't even see you you're so tan". I hadn't been to the beach or tanning bed in over a yr. I guess in my brain I thought I'd been so much it just stuck LOL!

If I'd only known. All photos are by Ashley Moyer.