Walk by Faith not by Sight.......
It is my firm belief that God places us where we need to be and causes us to grow. The rough places along the road are our training field for His glory and for our benefit if we allow them to be.
My life passage is 2 Corinthians 1:3-7
 2COR 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort,
2COR 1:4 who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
 
 
It is my joy that God has so often allowed me to come along side of so many to offer them comfort just as He has comforted me!! This has blessed me!
Dave and I had been active in our church through all the time Sam's epilepsy was out of control. Dave retired from Submarine service in 2000 and we moved to the Quiet Corner of Connecticut, but we continued to commute the 90 miles round trip to our church home. I was a AWANA Director, Special Needs  Ministry Co-Ordinator, Sunday School teacher as well as worship team. Dave was also very active as Deacon, teacher and very involved. I was burning out with the drive plus driving Anna to her school ( another 120 miles a day). My health was not doing well. We know now it was the migraines and seizures, but at the time, it was being treated as sinus disease and the surgery in 2001 caused permanent facial nerve damage making the migraines worse and the pain more intolerable. We continued this drive for 4.5 years. Sam continued to have troubles with the kids who were bullying him, no matter how much we tried to educate them and others. Our dear friend Pastor Bruce tried. Pastor Todd as well tried to teach them and this helped each time, only for a short season. Anna was very upset when we said we were going to change churches, however.
 
Once we found Highpointe church (then landmark, but soon changed to Highpointe, ) we knew we found a new Family. Pastor Fred's messages seemed directed to my heart and soul. Healing of the wounds from doctors not hearing us began. I had been trying to do this all along. Perhaps on my own power and not fully in the spirit?
Sam felt instantly accepted into the youth program and at home there.
In April of 2005 Sam had a seizure in church while sitting with Anna and friends and I was on the far side of the church and Dave was upstairs doing power point. Fear nearly paralized me as Heather came to tell me "your son is having a seizure!". My first thought was that he does not have this kind in the day! He had not in so many years! His are mostly at night. I willed my legs to walk, asked where he was and got to his row and he was on the floor. Ushers asked me if I wanted to call 911. I was having to calm them, calm Anna, who was fearing for Sam and for herself since she had just been diagnosed with seizures and was thinking "this could me me!".....I told the ushers each time they came that he is all right, A nurse sitting in front of him, handing me his glasses, another sitting behind him has a sister with seizures. He lay there so still and I just spoke to him, trying to calm my mother's heart and prayed.....Calming the anger against the doctors who had not seen the need for medication.....Finally he came to and just wanted to sit in his chair.....Pastor Fred had asked the recording to stop, Calmly asked us if we were ok, if we needed anything to which I was able to say we were fine, he is fine. The sermon continued, the topic being " HOW TO DEAL WITH THOSE ANNOYING PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE" I sat their stunned! LORD ....I hear you....the message was about forgiving, for me, not for them...Sam sat there in his post ictal state, as much as he could, thinking about the bullies of the past and how the good friends he has now, would ALL be over he was sure. I sat and fought back anger about so many doctors who, despite abnormal testing no doctor would treat Sam!! I did not know that in the next few days I would hear MORE from a doctor who was falsely accusing me.....God had already been working on my heart to forgive them. I had really been working on this. It was time for me to truly submit to Him and  allow give this totally to Him. the veegpanion ministries has been a huge part in this healing process.
 
The Lord is my shield, my refuge, my fortress, my shelter, strong tower!!!!!
 
After that sermon was done, God had spoken so clearly, again....continually and forgiving is not for the ones who are doing wrong, but for us....we cannot hold onto the things that have been done to us, but we must let go of what has been done. It can be an ongoing process. It is especially hard when it has been my son and he was still suffering the consequences of not being treated. God knew, God was watching and seeing all that was going on. His hand was on Sam. It was on my and growing me, stretching my faith wanting me to remain faithful.
The kids who were his friends did NOT change right then though..some came up and asked what should they do if he had a seizure! They asked me and learned (some did not and later did tease and worse .....one later told him how to properly slit his wrists just days after his suicide attempts. THIS was not a true friend. )
That night it was so hard for him to enter the doors of church. He was sure the bullying would return and that his friends would be gone. Instead he was greeted with hugs and "are you ok? NOW< DON"T DO that again, you scared us!!" Only a few backed off for a time and he felt so secure here! We found that there were many in this church who understand epilepsy and have had seizures or relatives who do!! SUCH a difference!
 
We still have dear friends at the previous church and miss them SO Much!! We just know that God moved us along at the right time. Pastor Bruce once said that we are like a piece of a puzzle and we need to be where God places us in his picture for it to be complete!
 
God is good.....JER 29:11, Jer33:3