This sounds a lot like my catholic upbringing :/ I abandoned God about 10 years ago and only acknowledge that there's "something" out there because, well, "something" is sure out to fuck with me. But more likely than not, that "something" has been my own crappy attitude, and just like everyone else, it was easier to point the finger.

I'm so, so happy for you, Y. Spirituality 1, Religion 0.

I'm glad that you are finding God in your own way. The truth is, people use him to gain power over other people and that is so sad because God is in everything we do and in everything we see and he has no limitations. There is a mechanism that God has placed in our hearts, it's knowing the difference between right and wrong. As long as we keep that intact, I think God has no more limits to place upon us. Keep opening up your heart, it works miracles for one's outlook.

That's truly wonderful. The most incredible gift I think I have ever received is that wonderful peaceful feeling in my heart after I began to forgive myself and others. Truly life changing.

That's beautiful. It doesn't sound ridiculous at all that you felt God. I've had moments like that too.. where it takes your breath away and you know it's so real, but there aren't adequate words to describe it.

I'm prone to serious anxiety about things that are up in the air, maybe similar to you.. worry, worry, attempt to control life, more worry. One of my favorite verses to calm my mind and remember that I can/should give my cares to Him is Exodus 14:14 "The Lord will fight for you, you need only to be still.."

I'll pray you can find some stillness and rest in God. It feels awesome and you need it.

Y, I am so happy for you. I think you are truly "getting it". And it is SO HARD to just "get it". Some people never do.

I had a night like that after my baby was stillborn. It was both the worst night of my life and the best. It sounds goofy to say that I "came to Jesus" but I don't know how else to describe it. All I know is that I asked for help and I got it.

That is absolutely glorious, Yvonne. It just makes tears well up in my eyes.

Joy Unexpected, in a whole new light? *Big Giant Hug* Ahem, I'm sorry, was that awkward? ;)
I need to talk to Him more often. And remember, like you did, that people still suck sometimes and it's not His fault ;)

I have ridden that bitter train myself for MANY years myself. In some ways I am afraid to get off it, as bitterness/rage is all I have known for years. Who will I be without all that baggage!?

I just don't have words - but I do believe in God with all my heart and KNOW he is and will do great things through you (as he HAS been for years! )

Good for you, Y. It sounds like perfect timing. Funny how that works out, isn't it?

I didn't have as extreme an experience as you did as a child, but stayed away from any church for years. hypocritically marrying in a catholic church and baptising my firstborn in one as well. We now have a great place where we go, feel totally comfortable, and are proud and happy to bring our children there. They welcome everyone who wants to come; my kinda place.

Also? Our minister is totally cool, loves and plays great music, and comes over and has dinner and lots of wine w/ us. I never thought I'd be a church-goer either, but I can't imagine not having a place like we have now.

you go, Y! :)

Wow. That last bit looks way more lame than it sounded in my head.

Don't get trapped in the definition of religion. Keep you mind open to the possibility of there being other people that feel the way you do and places where those people gather together and share this journey.

It's a slow process if truly cultured from within, and seldomly not an easy one, but when you are ready for it, you really don't have to do this alone. Don't allow the disfunctional church of your childhood be the one by which you judge all others, unless, of course it is to judge how they can be so different.

You are such a spiritual person, even before you started this path towards feeling God's presence in your life. You could have an affect on the lives of others and they on yours.

Churches with the "right" attitude will not try to change the person you are. Those type of decisions are yours alone to make... if they need to be made at all.

I just got chills.

I think, from God's perspective, that this was a good day. He spoke to one of his kids without all that "other stuff" getting in the way. That's the way it should be.

I know this is a rough time for you and your family. Glad you 'felt him'. I can really sense the hope! I sent you an e-mail. :)

Peace, Y.

“I do not want the peace which passeth understanding, I want the understanding which bringeth peace.”
-– Helen Keller

This is so wonderful, and like Rachael said, "Spirituality 1, Religion 0".

Thank you for sharing this experience with the world. It is simply amazing and it has touched me. I was recently abused by my ex-boyfriend and so I'm struggling with the issue of God allowing this to happen to me because it's so painful, so it's comforting to know that others have thought that, too. Your entry gives me hope, so thank you.

Watching you on this journey is wonderful.

God loves that you are talking to Him. Keep the conversation going!

Congratulations! You have just learned one of the most important lesson in life. Anger and grudges hurt you more than anyone else. To forgive/ to accept gives such peace and takes that power the bitterness has over you away. I'm proud of you and excited too. Hugs.

Wow. I could really relate to your background and the move away from the church. My experience is very similar.

I'm not sure how to process this. Part of my struggle is with the role of any particular religion/dogma wrt God. Please keep us updated on your journey. It has pulled on my heart.

this is a nice blog for me to come home to. just been reading through the last 2 week's worth... i am praying for you... and am excited for you. Y, you are flipping awesome xx

Great Post and I get it... it is so good to let go

I was so stoked by this post and can so relate to it. I was also raised in a very legalistic, religious home. No pants, couldn't cut hair, wear make-up, watch TV. I didn't want anything to do with church as an adult. What I've come to realize is that it's not about religion, but about a relationship with the Almighty God! I'm so glad that He is nothing like people portray Him. He IS a God of Love, Mercy and Grace. I'm so grateful that He showed me His true nature. My new experience with Him happened less than a year ago and I'm so grateful that if we seek Him, He will be found by us! "The Best Is Yet To Come!!!"

Hey Y...

I don't comment much but your posts about church have brought up some of my own memories. We went to a Pentacostal church when I was a kid and it turned me against churchs in general too. I'm not quite at the place you are but it's a place I'd like to be someday.

Thanks for writing about it, it's inspiring to read how you're making peace with it and opening yourself back up.

Thanks for sharing this journey.

~peace~
ro

I don't comment often but I do check in with you everyday. I've got a bit ol' lump today.

I didn't grow up in a church as legalistic as yours but as I've gotten older I find it frustrating that God's agenda has been so perverted by the men who have interpreted it that it drives people away.

Thanks for sharing your new found comfort, joy, and peace.

Thank you for sharing this.

I am so impressed that you have the courage to write these kinds of things. Thank you for being brave enough to share.

These things are so personal and tender that it is hard to express them to others. You did a fine job and you don't sound like a freak, just a sincere seeker. I remember one time I was dating a guy. We had already had 17 kinds of sex and were going away on a trip for the first time. Before we got into bed at the hotel to sleep, there was this awkward pause. "Um, I pray before bed, is that ok?" I said timidly. "Oh, great, I do too," he said, totally relieved. It was hilarious that we had gotten freaky with each other but wouldn't share our prayer life because, well, that was PRIVATE.

Beautiful. I just got chills. I've prayed for you and I'm glad God made Himself so real to you.

Hi Y

I am so glad you shared this. I was rasied Catholic and had some much crap pounded into me as a child as well--I haven't been to church (except for funerals) in years.

I too have had a "spiritual Awakening" and I have learned that when life throws you under the bus, that "giving it to God" can bring a peace into your life.

My hubby has been out of a job since November--unemployment ran out and so has our savings account.

I too toss and turn at night, but when I do lay in the stillness of night and ask God for guidence and understanding, a sense of peace comes over me--it's like God is saying "I have a plan, let it happen for you".

So I put my faith in Him and know that we will be taken care of and His plan will be shown to us in the right time.

Peace and Love to you Y--God has a plan for you too--let him show you.

as a longtime reader, I felt compelled to comment for the first time on this.
Marvelous! Marvelous! I know how strangely overwhelming and terrifying it is to share your new found love for God with people who knew you "before", there's always that sense of withholding because you don't want them to say anything wretched...
But spill it chica! This is really marvelous, Let it all go and see how far He can take you!

I read your blog often and I rarely ever comment. I think I may have a long time ago but here goes.

This is fantastic Y. Really it is. So many people get wrapped up in the dogma of different religious denominations and never realize that no matter what God is with us, around us, within us.

Forgiving those that hurt us as children is difficult to do. I'm still working through that. I know one day it'll all be done, however, the bits of forgiving I have done allowed me to find a greater sense of peace. I'm sure you will too.

I'm so happy for you finding that inner peace. Hold onto it, now that you've found a way to let it in. I may not be religiously active, but there is no denying something like this. Take care Y - xo.

I'm so happy for you, Y. That's what I want to find, too, God without the trappings men have attached to Him. But, honestly? I can't look for Him yet, or I haven't, because I'm afraid to get pulled back into that world, to end up a part of something I don't believe in. You're doing it, though, and it makes me hopeful.

Thank you for sharing this. It gave me goosebumps. Keep on talking. God is listening. And keep on writing, because we are listening, too!

Congratulation on being able to work that out - your relationship with God should be just what it is.. YOUR relationship. It's personal just between you and Him. You communicate with Him at your own pace in your own way.

And always remember that God is perfect but His word is taught by imperfect people. Take it all with a grain of salt and if you have questions or are confused, ask Him directly for guidance and you'll never go wrong.

If a person tells you that you MUST listen to his interpretation of Gods word - run, don't walk, away as fast as you can because they're crazy and wrong.

Thanks for sharing your journey with us. I am really happy for you.

This is a wonderful post. Thank you for sharing.

Could you pass this information on to my mom? I get so tired of the guilt she puts on me about "going to church". A church which 2 years or so ago split 3 ways. The young people went one way b/c they didn't like what was going on, another sector said the preacher was having an affair and they took all the church money and left, and who has the preacher's son play, sing and preach on a regular basis when he was once kicked out of the church for cheating on his wife and he was doing it in the church parking lot. I mean, c'mon. That doesn't mean every church is like that, I know I know, but it does mean that there's lots of things that goes on and there are lots of people who sit up in the pew every Sunday and Wednesday with a higher than mighty attitude when in reality, they were smoking pot with my neighbor or visiting the local crack dealers house just that afternoon.

So, I pursue my faith, my "religion" on my own and I deal with it that way. But, man do I ever get tired of the endless guilt trips.

It is so beautiful to see/watch (virtually, of course) you allow God to become a very real and present part of your life. Hugs.

lovely post. wishing you continued peace and comfort.

Wonderful, as always. You write beautifully on these topics.

Like Gandhi said (paraphrasing), your Christ is pretty awesome, but a lot of his so-called followers are pretty scary. Don't worry about them.

this post makes me really happy because I also think religion can be a bunch of crap. a relationship with God is personal and if He wants to talk to you (and vice versa) it can happen anywhere at anytime and it doesn't have to be in a church. and those people who harmed you in the past will have to answer to God for their actions. and I truly believe that He will show you what He is all about. Which is love. God is love. Plain and simple. And why wouldn't God want to use you to be a witness to others? Look at all your readers. If God can work miracles in your life, and I know He can, just think of all the lives that you will touch by sharing those stories.

I know I sound like a total cheezeball here, but oh well.

Good for you -- I agree that a personal one-on-one relationship with God is the only way to fly. Letting go of your bitterness is also wonderful, though I wonder if that's the same thing as forgiveness. If it were me, I would have a much easier time forgiving God than forgiving the ignorant, hate-filled people who hurt you. It's amazingly easy for people to make religion into a weapon against other people rather than use it as a tool of compassion and acceptance -- they get it exactly backwards because they're seeking justification for their own intolerance and need to control others. I eagerly await more insights from the Y-Woman!

This is beautiful. And so are you.

I have a suggestion, it's something I did to try to heal from a few things that happened in my childhood which kept me from being a happy adult.
I wrote a letter to myself as a child, I comforted "her" and said things I wished someone had said to me then, I told "her" that adults are a-holes sometimes, that they do not always listen to kids or respect them etc.
It really helped me finally begin to heal.

I'm a new reader. I too strongly believe that a connection with God has nothing to do with church or religion. It's been a very hard realization to come to, to accept, but it's set me free.

What a great post! Oh, honey, I'm so glad that you were able to put the Church of Crazy behind you and experience a relationship with God. It's so wonderful to be able to have that in your life, and can be so marred and bastardized by organized religion . . . or, really, the people running it. Personally, I'm a church-goer (always have been, probably always will be), so I can't ever begin to understand what it's like to not have a community in which I feel loved and can worship at the same time . . . I can only imagine how horrible it must feel to be trying to figure things out and be threatened without being given a model to follow. I hope you can continue to grow your relationship and revel in the goodness of it!

Your journey sounds a lot like my own :)

God hates religion too. We all have that in common with Him.

Happy for you, Y. xoxo

Congratulations on that, Y. I really am happy for you. And while you don't want religion, you might still enjoy the fellowship of a church not like the one you grew up in. I've just found that they're really good at supporting people through the hard times. The church I enjoyed the most was an interdenominational church - lots of singing and not lots of dogma. I don't know - maybe you could give it a try and see. What you grew up with is SO not the norm.

What a beautiful and moving post. Thank you for sharing that!

Wow. How beautiful of you to share this with us. Hell, with anyone.

And can I just say something about your line "I realized that I've been carrying my anger and bitterness around like a concealed weapon"? Brilliant.

This makes me so, so happy. And I was gonna say something just like Angella said up there - God isn't into religion, or "being religious" either. He just wants us to know Him, and love Him, and trust Him. We're saved by grace, meaning that we're all a bunch of screw-ups, who then realize that there is a God and that we need Him, and then we CONTINUE screwing-up (because that's how life is) and He loves us anyway. That's the whole thing about saved by grace. If we were perfect (legalistically speaking) He wouldn't NEED to save us, and that defeats the whole purpose.

Anyway, there's some theology in a box, but what I really want to say is YAY, I am so happy for you, and I think this is truly, truly wonderful and inspiring.

I was not raised in the kind of religious environment you were, but I have my own aversion to organized religion. I used to think I was agnostic, but I know that's not true. I believe in God, in a higher power, but I don't buy into everything written in the bible or how it is presented by various religious sects. I chose to have my own relationship with God, outside of a church, but I struggle with how to introduce my children to the idea of God without a church as the basis for learning.

Anyway... enough about me. This was a great post. And I feel angry at the people who did that to you. Have you ever read Jesusland? It's a memoir of a girl who grew up under similar circumstances. I was riveted. You should check it out!

yayy! it sounds like you've had an epiphany of sorts. how awesome! let the joy be your guide, and know that you are loved beyond measure.

*hug*

I never want to make it seem like there is something extremely wrong with religion so I will just say that...

there is something EXTREMELY right with having a relationship with God. Go for it...what do you have to lose..

:-)

this is a huge step!! fantastic!

Thank you for expressing my feelings to the whole world, because I am too much of a chicken shit to do it for myself. Yet.

xoxo

Hooray! Nobody thinks you're stupid and if they do they can go elsewhere.

This was an amazing post--I am so thankful for your honesty and openness, but mostly I'm thankful that God is leading you on this journey. I'm praying for you, that He'll protect you and heal you and that things will start going more smoothly for you.

About the Disneyland thing. I want to help. Looks like it would be $200 for tickets for three of you. I can send you Disney dollars and get you in to the park. I don't know you and you don't know me, but your posts have been inspiring and I want to help. email me and let me know if my wife and I can do this for you family.

Wow, Y. I'm so happy for you. Many people hold on to bitterness their entire lives. I'm so glad that you are letting it go. Here is a quote I read today that maybe you can relate to:
"Our fluid relationship with God slips towards catatonic stiffness when we muffle our heart with bandages, live our pain in gauzed silence. Boldly choosing the poetry of lament, to unwrap our sores, forces us to stay engaged with God, breathing close in the heat of hurt".

I'm glad you are sharing your journey of faith with us.

Y, stay strong. You didn't have the easiest upbringing, okay? Let's throw a little love and forgiveness your way, too. I support the godliness, to an extent :-), but children/adolescents deserve unconditional love and consistency from their parents. And when you don't have that...you have problems that are very gray and convoluted. All's I'm saying is, really, you're doing a good job.

Sounds like you had a moment of enlightenment. I'm glad that it has brought you peace and hope you have many more such moments!

Your heart on this subject is beautiful. Thank you for being brave enough to share your journey, even when you used to be one of the jaded people and you know others out there might think you are a "freak," as you say. And I'm very happy for you. Because I've been on my own faith journey for about three years now...and the changes, the peace, the joy, the insights that have come as a result. Looking from the outside in, probably no one would think my life has changed much. But from the inside out? Miracles. So I'm very excited for you because I know what's in store. And that's the part I feel might make me sound freaky. But it's true. Because I know God's love (and power to change things) in my own life, I'm so excited to hear when it starts happening for others.

A sincere Congrats. Thank you for sharing a message like this. I know that if I expressed that joy that I feel from similar experiences instead of being afraid of sounding like one of "those" people I would have a happier life.

I am very happy for you. God is amazing that's for sure.

Thank you so much for sharing that....that is beautiful...and it should be about a relationship with God and NOT about religion or legalism...do you know the Bible is FULL of people who got in trouble because of legalism/religion? Why do we never learn?

You can believe in God without believing in church. I don't even believe in the Bible for the most part because it was not written by God. For example, I don't think God made women to be less equal than men. I hope you come to an understanding with faith and your feelings. Sounds like you're on the way.

And I'm wondering... Are you feeling better?

http://notesfromthesleepdeprived.blogspot.com

your journey is helping me find my own way.
thanks for writing.
you are amazing.

I grew up in a religious home and am a believer myself, but I HATE so much of the judgey BS that goes on in certain spiritual communities.

In my opinion, CHURCHES are often jacked up because they are run by flawed, imperfect, often well-meaning but misguided PEOPLE. Your experience is so refreshing because it is unfiltered and direct - and I think it is something that many people hope for but do not have because they cannot see through the trappings.

Thank you for being so real - about your doubts, your journey and the path you are finding.

congratulations! good luck on your journey. it won't always be easy, but it will be amazing.

Haven't commented but the one time before (despite reading it all), but had to here. After my parents divorced, church became my angry place - why did it happen, everything bad came up, stupid people using "god" as an excuse for bad. One day (dont know why), I felt that peace and now I can go and feel love and ignore the rest. I hope that for you too.

And I'm not even super religious, just glad to have some peace. I want you to have peace - you have more than earned it (as if you needed to earn it) by sharing on your blog and giving hope to us less-than-perfects :)

I wish you joy!

I am happy that you have found God again. This post had me in tears!

Remember that Churches, are in fact, political organizations, and in this day and age, many of them are out to serve themselves, and not the One they are supposed to be.

I'll keep you and your journey in my prayers!!!

What a great post! I can relate to how you feel on so many levels. At one time, I was very involved in a church and then 9 years ago my eyes were opened up to things I wanted no part in..I have not been able to go to church since.

For the longest time I thought that God turned his back on me because I wasn't going to church. But the thing is, I still love God/Jesus and I am still a believer in God and Jesus and all that he taught. I know that God still loves me and that Jesus dies for my sins. I still practice what I believe in my daily life. I don't want any part in all the legalistic things, the judgement, the performing, the do's and don'ts...ect. that goes on in a church. During these years, I have met so many people that feel the way we do...so many people that have been wounded by churches and although they are believers they don't attend church. Some of the most beautiful believers that I know don't attend a church but their daily lives are lived in a way that reflects Gods love and grace.

You express yourself well...I am sorry that you have been hurt but I am glad that you are healing and finding that God is still right there next to you, loving you just the same. God bless you!

Dear Y, I am so sorry that the people in your church have let you down. That must have felt exactly opposite of what God intended for a church to be. Coming from the perspective of a person in the ministry, I just have one request: please keep looking for a church. Look until you find one you like, one that lifts you up and encourages you. Life is too short to worship God by being shamed or being made to feel guilty. God is perfect, God is love. People are imperfect. They are sinners by nature. No matter what church you go to, there will be problems. Can't escape it. But try to forgive and move on, and if you can, get to a church that loves you and forgives you too. Much love to you and your family, from a friend in Christ.

"Religion" can really screw up a meaningful relationship with God. As long as you have faith, love others and truly believe in God's presence in your life, everything else seems to right itself. Congratulations and good luck.

Think about reading Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert, it is wonderful and about a spiritual journey of the author. I am not religious either, but very spiritual and I have been good friends with God for a long time - not such good friends with some of his more wacked out followers though!

Good luck on your journey!

I read your blog almost every day. Thank you for sharing your gifts. You are an awesome writer and I truly enjoy seeing your beautiful photographs as well. I love photography and I'm often motivated to photograph my own kids after seeing your great photos.
I hope you continue to tell us about your journey.
Em

What a wonderful post. Thank you for sharing this. I love reading about other people's personal experiences with God since I have been through my own journey in the last year. How wonderful.

You are being featured on Five Star Friday:
http://www.fivestarfriday.com/2008/08/five-star-friday-edition-18.html

Beautiful. And exactly true. Sometimes it is so difficult for us to separate the people who use God's name as a reason to do bad things to others with the true God. Beautiful. Thank you for sharing.

I've been a stranger to God too. Thank you. I honestly believe in the presence of God. You just reminded me of it.

You know what.. you don't have to believe in religion to believe in God. This I know for sure.

Awesome. :)

You just described my own childhood and resulting ambivalence regarding church to a T.

My mother grew up in a communal, evangelical setting. She left, but the church she found after I was born was identical to what she left. Once I left home, I stopped going to church.

I tried, a few years ago, to attend. I wasn't ready then. In all honesty, I don't know if I'm ready now.

I've made my peace with God. I haven't made my peace with the people who "serve" him.

Your post gives me hope.

Our God is an AWESOME God. Isn't it just incredible when you feel His presence? I once had a friend ask me "How do you know it's Him?" I thought it over and immediately said that "you will feel it in your heart. It's like the breath of Jesus just entered the room. You just know; and it's the greatest feeling in the world."
I absolutely love that He wants to have a relationship with all of us. And the neatest thing I've noticed is that the more time I spend in His Word and in prayer, the more I feel Him. He is my constant companion. God bless you and I'll be praying that God reveals himself to you in the most magnificent light. His presence is my life.
http://www.frontporchlegacy.com/Front_Porch_Legacy/Home/Entries/2008/8/7_Thankful_Thursday_-_Come_See.html

I'm a lurker but had to chime in, thank you for sharing that. I went through a personal "crisis of faith" and have only recently been able to reconnect with God and find peace. It's hard to find the joy in each day, when each day brings new struggles. I pray that you find peace, and feel His grace.

I'm so happy for you!!

God is everywhere, all around us. I don't feel the need to become a member of a church, to have a relationship with God. I stoped going to church some time ago, when I noticed that every service started turning into a "have you given your 10% to God" service.

...crying...tears of joy for you.

I am so thrilled for you. I know this experience. I sought God and found Him, in much the same way. If I could only tell you just how much I relate to this, the finding. That peace.

I told you before how we were in dire financial turmoil...blah blah blah
I have prayed for two years. I confided all of this to my pastor's wife and her answer always seemed to fit the answer I was getting from God, but not chosing to hear. Last week she asked about things and I told her..she reminded me..timing. His timing, not mine. The answer may not be how we expected it, so we had to think outside the box to accept and understand...a recent sermon at our church was in line with this and at the point where I just gave up because it didn't feel like it could get any worse and we were getting NOWHERE-we got an answer. It wasn't what we thought we wanted, but we embraced it and everything has fallen beautifully into place and our issues are resolved. (providing we really learn from this and do things differently in the future) We had no choice but to trust God because we could NOT fix it with our own hands. He protected interests we hadn't even considered. I am amazed. If you knew the specifics you'd be blown away, but I know you'd relate and understand. God is merciful. He has been merciful to me for 30 years. Honestly.
hugs to you.

I am so torn about how I feel about God. I have such bitterness...Him taking my son was quite anvil that broke the camels back.

Still...I think I would rather have that bitterness heaped on Him, who can take it, rather than other people that I love.

Although? I know it's sad that I have so much of it at all.

Such a beautiful post. I grew up Catholic, but for whatever reason I never identified with the limitations and rules placed on me by the title "Roman Catholic." My non-religious friends try to argue with me about it all the time, saying I "pick and choose" my religion because I don't believe EVERYTHING the Catholic Church says.
As much as they push me for an arguement, I stay quiet and just respond "everyone's relationship with God is personal and beautiful and it's not on me to say what anyone else should believe in." I hope they can all experience a moment with God like yours.

I hope you always know even in dark hours that God loves you so much and is ALWAYS looking out for you!

I can sort of understand where you are coming from. For years at boarding school I got "double church" as detention, and I figure I have had enough of organised religion and no-one dares peddle theirs around me.

That being said, I think that within and without there is a divine power - I have not touched it yet as you have, but I have faith, just not doctrine.

Man I love you. I really do.

Not a lot of people know this about me but I don't do religion. I don't subscribe to organized religion of any kind. Instead, I have a personal, spiritual relationship the divine creator or whatever you like to call that higher power and it has nothing to do with church, preachers, ministers, bibles, sin, salvation, guilt, absolution, confession, fire, brimstone or any other construct of religion. Everyone should try having an honest and open chat with God every now and then.

Excellent post! It's important to remember that God created us and our ability to have a close and personal relationship with him. Man created religion.

Off topic, but I just watched "Mystery Diagnosis" on TLC (you might get it tonight later than me) and a woman finally had Hashimoto's diagnosed. It was eye-opening and scary. She talked a lot about being your own advocate and keeping your own records. It came on 9:00 pm eastern if you'd like to catch it!

Hi Y,
Thanks for stopping by my blog and for the well wishes. I think of you often... I realize things are crazy-ass difficult but I'm a huge fan of your spirit and determination and know that you've got a lot of ass to kick.

Give that adorable and funny girl a huge smooch.

I am late in finding this... but it really spoke to me. This is beautifully written and so well-thought out. Thanks for being brave enough to let others in on your journey.

I am doing some catching up here... This post really spoke with me. In ways I cannot describe. Thank you for writing so beautifuly. *hugs*

Hello
Nice site!

G'night

Hello.
:) The natural photo of the new arrival, taken by Emma Tallulah's dad,
Bye.