Hello friends. Camille wrote a reflection on her upcoming birthday.
Also, some prayer requests:
For continued endurance for Camille. Camille's symptoms slightly improved for two weeks or so but she has since regressed, which is, unsurprisingly, discouraging for her.
That we would find someone who is a good fit to help me in the afternoons with dinner, cleanup, etc. I want to have more time to spend with the kids in the afternoon. We currently run quite a tight schedule, which doesn't make for the most enriching or enjoyable afternoons. :-)
Now on to what Camille wrote!
On October 2nd, I will turn 37 years old. Woot Woot! When I turned 23, I started a tradition of drinking tea and playing cards with some of the best gals around (shout out to my LADIES!). It was THE BEST! Our game of choice was usually golf because you could play and chat at the same time, very essential :). I looked forward to this every year and loved how my friends indulged me. As 36 approached, I decided to end this tradition, mainly because it had run its course. Life was evolving for many of us. People were moving, and it just couldn't look the same anymore. Another reason was my CFS symptoms. They had just been triggered in August, and we were trying to figure out what in the world was going on, how much rest I needed, and what my socializing capacity was. So instead, I got my first tattoo!
Since getting a tattoo is quite a commitment, I had been thinking about this idea for a while, letting it percolate in my mind. One day, I mentioned it to my friend Chrissie, and it quickly became clear to me that I really wanted to do this! After discussing it with Chris, he thought it was a wonderful idea, and I knew he would because more than anyone else, he would understand the depth of its meaning for me. All I had to do was figure out the details and wait for my birthday to come. Providentially, Chrissie was able to witness this momentous event, and afterward, we got chai tea lattes. If I had known we were going to get chai, well...I would have brought a deck of cards :)
Now, I know you're all wondering with bated breath what my tattoo is. Don't worry, I will no longer keep you in suspense! The tattoo is these words in my handwriting: Beer Lahai Roi - it is Hebrew for the well of the Living One who sees me (see Bible chapter Genesis 16). In short, it reminds me that whatever I face, I am never alone and that I'm deeply/fully loved by God.
I CANNOT TELL YOU how glad I am that I got this inked on my arm, because 36 was a whole lot of SUCK! There have been weeks where I barely felt human. I couldn't talk, which is one of the more bizarre symptoms. I don't understand, but somehow my body wasn't producing enough energy to make sound. Even mouthing words was laborious (which made for very frustrating games of charades with Chris). I couldn't handle too much sound, or read, write, look at a screen, and I could barely move. If all of that wasn't bad enough, I couldn't even cry over my pain. I would allow myself 20 seconds of tears and shut it down, because historically, when I cried, my symptoms got worse.
But, I COULD look at my arm already knowing what the words were and think about them. This would get me through the next few moments of my agony. I have prayed hundreds of prayers since turning 36, especially the last 8 months, and several dozen of them have been answered in seconds, minutes, or within the day. I would look at my arm with a big grin on my face, knowing I was sharing an extremely intimate moment with my Lord, knowing that He was the only one who knew I prayed that prayer and I was the only one who knew He heard and answered me.
My family and I have gone through some pretty crazy things in the last year, things that have felt impossible to bear, but God carried us through. I can't emphasize this enough, He carried us through, making 36 an ABSOLUTE TRIUMPH!
Beer Lahai Roi - This well runs deep, and the significance keeps growing.
Birthdays are an annual marker for everyone. I'm hoping 37 is marked by restoration, but whatever unfolds, I hope it is marked with incredible joy and peace.
Now, you may be wondering "how will Camille celebrate her birthday this year?". It's currently unclear, but it will most definitely involve a cup of tea :)
From the center of my heart, Camille
P.S. If you happen to remember that it's my birthday, will you do me a favor? Have your beverage of choice, play a game of cards with someone, and send Chris a picture. It will surely make my day!
Earnest Prayers:
That I would be able to spend some sort of quality time with my Husband and kids on my birthday
Also, enjoy some pictures of familial love!
School pickup is often an adventure. Asher is being attacked by a pack of wild sisters.
