Palmtree Contemplations

When I was getting ready to come home from Korea, I made a chain of paper links to help me count down the days until I left. Everyday when I came home tired, frustrated, and achy, I would rip a paper link off the chain, flatten it out, and write down one thing I was thankful for that day. Then I tucked the piece of paper into an old shoe box. This was hard for me. Generally I would consider myself to be a fairly creative person, but somedays it was a real struggle to think of something I could express gratitude about to God. I said to Him repeatedly, "This is so hard. Why do I have to do this?" The humorous side of me likes to imagine God replying, "Well, dear one, this was your idea. I don't know that you HAVE to do this." With my days full of constant stress, screaming children, cross cultural confusion, exhaustion, and brain fog, it sometimes seemed impossible to come up with anything I could hold up to God and say, "Thanks for this." I persever

Recently, a lot of people have asked me about Lyme Disease and how it has manifested itself. Essentially, Lyme Disease is caused by a bacteria called Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto that is carried by ticks. I don't remember ever being bitten by a tick, which can and does happen in many cases. This bacteria can affect many different parts of the body and, as many people with Lyme will tell you, symptoms can vary from time to time. Here is a brief history of my symptoms leading up to my diagnosis.  Fall 2012-Spring 2013       During my Junior year of college I experienced a dark depression that included debilitating panic attacks and many long nights with little to no sleep. I also began having what I called "Crashes." I wasn't sleeping well, but often, even after nights of getting sleep, I would come home after only attending one class and worry that I might not make it into bed. I had this incredible need to sleep so much, and it was very difficult to l