Shaped by the Promise

I was able to spend the weekend with some of the women in our church for our annual women's retreat! I was part of the retreat planning team, and I helped put together welcome bags for the women attending. We had a "bag assembly" night, and I am so thankful for all of the servant-hearted women, willing to spend an evening getting things ready :)

We headed out to Front Royal and got to stay in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley. The weekend was filled with Biblical teaching, worship through song, and small group discussion. There was also plenty of sweet fellowship, beautiful weather, and laughter.

Our theme for the weekend was "Shaped by the Promise." Our speaker, Shannon Popkin, led us through the story of Sarah and Abraham, and how the made and kept His promises. We learned to trust God and go without knowing, and what it looks like to live by faith and not fear.

Welcome Team!

I love that our church worships in multiple languages!

Thankful for these faithful prayer warriors!

On Saturday afternoon, we had free time, so I joined a group heading into the downtown area for the Festival of Leaves. There were several vendors lining the streets, and it was just so nice to be outside in the beautiful fall weather.

This tree made me think of my orange-loving Aiden!

Grateful for these sweet ladies!

We made it back to the hotel in time for a crochet workshop! I haven't crocheted in years, so it was fun to revive this old hobby. I was amazed at how quickly it came back to me. Turns out it was like riding a bike, but I am a terrible teacher haha! I'll need to practice a little more to get to the point where I can actually help others. But I really enjoyed spending the afternoon chatting and laughing with the other women.

This was my second retreat at CBC, and my heart is just full with all of the Lord's answered prayers. I loved spending time with these sweet women, from multiple cultures, and deepening our relationships with the Lord and each other. I love their hearts and desire to love Jesus deeply and serve Him more. I was so encouraged by this weekend away, and I look forward to how the Lord uses each of us to better love and serve our families and community.

When the weight of the world begins to fall

On the Name of Jesus I will call

For I know my God is in control

and His purpose is unshakeable

Chorus:

Doesn't matter what I feel

Doesn't matter what I see

My hope will always be

In Your promises to me

Now I'm casting out all fear

For your love has set me free

My hope will always be

In your promises to me

As I walk into the days to come

I will not forget what You have done

For you have supplied my every need

And Your presence is enough for me

[Chorus]

You will always be more than enough for me (x2)

Nothing's gonna stop the plans You've made

Nothing's gonna take Your love away

You will always be more than enough for me

[Chorus]

-- Your Promises, by Elevation Church

Mommy Getaway

This weekend, I got to have a little Mommy Getaway! I am so thankful for a husband who (1) recognizes my need for solo time, and (2) who helps make it happen for me to get some time away! I love my kiddos, but I also love quiet time away to unplug and recharge. And this weekend helped me do exactly that.

I stayed in a little AirBNB in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. It helped me check off another state on my {40 Before 40} list, and it was a good little retreat in nature. The first day, I explored the area around Shepherdstown. The C&O Canal runs through it, so I went on a small hike along the Potomac River to explore the locks. 

Such a cute little house!

Looking across the Potomac River to the Maryland side

James Rumsey Monument: inventor of the steamboat

It was a little too early for the fall leaves, which was a bummer, but it was still beautiful

I also walked around the little downtown area, walked by the college, got some ice cream, and just enjoyed being out in the beautiful weather. I spent the rest of the evening reading :)

The next day, I explored Harper's Ferry. I went into the Harper's Ferry National Historical Park and took the shuttle into Lower Town.

Viewing 3 states! West Virginia, Virginia, and Maryland

The Point at the Rivers, where the Potomac and Shenandoah Rivers meet

I took a hike across the rivers along the Appalachian Trail into the Maryland side, and walked along the Potomac on the C&O Canal Towpath. It was another beautiful day {a sunny 74 degrees!}, and while there were several hikers and bikers out, it wasn't too busy at all. It was so peaceful to walk along the river and hear the rush of the water.

I turned back at mile marker 62, and made my way back into the historic Lower Town. As one of the first industrial cities in the country, and located along the B&O Railroad, it contained a large armory and was the site of many battles in the Civil War. The town has many historic sites, but there are some little shops and restaurants that operate. Most of the town is on a hill and many of the sites were at the top of many, steep steps...I was definitely feeling the burn :)

John Brown Monument

Jefferson Rock

View from Jefferson Rock

After spending all day hiking in the National Park, I headed back to take a nice, uninterrupted nap...and it was glorious! :) 

The rest of my time away consisted of reading, spending extended time on my Bible study, catching up on a few shows, and just enjoying time to myself. I headed back home, rested and refreshed, ready to tackle the noise and chaos of my normal life! Haha. I missed my family and was ready to get back to them, but I am so thankful for the time away to just breathe and be something other than "mom" for a bit.

Crohn's Chronicles :: The Battle of the Migraines

I have now been taking Stelara every 4 weeks for 4 months. My Crohn's symptoms are pretty much non-existent at this point, and I cry just thinking about how much better I feel...from a year ago, and even just 6 months ago. I feel like remission is in site; which is such an incredible gift, considering that I will hit 3 years out of remission next month. Our schedule has been jam-packed with activities this last couple of months, and it is not lost on me that there is no way I could have done so many things a year ago. There is no way that I would have had the energy for all our schedule demands, even just 6 months ago. And that is cause for HUGE celebration and praise!

However, there has been a pretty steep price to pay for my Crohn's feeling better, and that is the increased frequency and severity of migraines, which is a side effect of the medication. I am not at the "chronic migraine" stage yet {which is defined as 15 or more headache days a month ...thankfully}, but I'm not far. And as hard as it has been for me, I can't believe it has to get so much worse to be considered a chronic problem. I have been averaging about 1 a week, or about 12 days a month {since they can last 2-3 days}, and it has been such a challenge...

Most of my migraines start with a heavy pressure in my nose {random, I know}. That pressure builds to the point where it eventually feels like someone punched me in the face, which then spreads into an ice-pick headache behind my eyes. Many of them come with nausea and vomiting, though the last couple of migraine episodes, I have been {thankfully} spared those symptoms. The Lord has also been gracious to allow the worst of the migraines to happen overnight, though the last few have been during the day, which makes it a challenge with 3 loud kiddos running around.

I still haven't identified any food triggers, but am more and more convinced that the medication is causing them, and the weather often triggers them. I also haven't ruled out a hormone issue yet. I have appointments scheduled between now and the end of the year with my GI {to discuss confirmation of remission and Stelara side effects}, my gynecologist {to see if there is a hormone issue}, and a GP {to get help with migraine management/treatment}. I even have an appointment with an oral surgeon to finally get my wisdom teeth removed, just in case the pressure from my wisdom teeth is somehow making the headaches worse. I'm probably grasping at straws on that one, but they have to come out anyway :)

My point in posting this is not to complain. They have absolutely been a challenge, and these migraines have brought me to my knees on more than one occasion. But when I read back through my posts of my Crohn's symptoms a year or 2 or {almost} 3 years ago, I am reminded of where I have been, how the Lord has sustained me, and how far He has brought me. So I hope that one day soon, I will be able to look back over these migraine days and rejoice over the Lord's healing and care.

My kids have recently started saying this sweet little phrase: "Mommy, what if we could just snap our fingers and you had no more Crohn's?" Oh, what if, my baby loves?!? I love their little hearts and how they faithfully pray "for Mommy to feel better and be healed from Crohn's" every mealtime. I'm sad that so much of their little years have been filled with a sick Mommy. But I am grateful for the Lord's forever watch-care over us, sustaining us through these long years of sickness, and for the hope he brings in glimpses of healing. While I pray so much for healing here {and soon}, I also long for the day when the Lord is able to look at me and with only His Word say, "Erin, you have no more Crohn's."

How About Them Apples?

We recently had a chance to go apple picking with some friends. This has been on my "Virginia Bucket List," so I was so excited when we got to go! We headed out to Stribling Orchard, and it did not disappoint. We love that we can drive just a short distance and be in the beautiful hills and mountains of Virginia. 

The gusty winds of fall that rolled in the day before, right on cue, made for a pretty chilly morning, but once we got to work, we quickly warmed up. There were so many rows of apples in the orchard, and on this day we were picking Jonathan, Stayman Winesap, and Golden Delicious apples. 

Our sweet friends were so helpful! Their oldest was patient as she taught our kiddos how to use the apple picker, and they were so excited to try.

We were able to enjoy a picnic lunch in the orchard after we were done picking apples, and we were just so thankful for the beautiful weather!

We had such a sweet time with friends, and we have been making ALL the apple things lately haha. We went home with 2 pecks of apples, so we have made lots of apple muffins and apple pie, with some plans for apple crisp, apple cider, and apple fruit leather.

We look forward to going back to enjoy this fun, fall tradition!