Wow! Has it really been a month since I last blogged. My life has been crazy busy since then. I have been to California to meet Michael's dad and then when I returned, my sciatic nerve flared up really bad. The pain was excruciating and unbearable at times. I have tried therapy, a cortisone injection in my spine, chiropractic care and massage. The massage and Active release therapy helped some and the cortisone injection lasted about three months, but then the pain returned with great fury. So I chose to have a minimally invasive spine surgery done at North American Spine in Dallas, Tx. I wanted to have it done at there Dayton, Ohio facility, but that Dr. has moved to Dallas, Tx. So, I went to Dallas.

I had surgery Wed. May 25th and today is Monday, May 30th. I cannot believe how easy the surgery was. I walked out of the hospital about three hours after surgery and was told, by my Dr., to go have some lunch and go shopping. So we did.

The next day was the worst. I had quite a bit of pressure and pain but then it began to ease up. I am still having some pain but the Dr. said it could take up to two weeks for the pain to completely go away. They have an 80-85% success rate.

I am currently putting together a gluten free vendors fair for Gluten-free Lexington and doing some photography as well. I need to get back to my writing also. I hope to do that soon, but unfortunately my back pain has kept me from doing much. Recovery takes a few weeks. I will start physical therapy in a month.

I have an online photography class I need to get started on as well as my writing. I can't wait to get started. But for now I can't lift more then ten pounds for ten days and not more then twenty pounds for 20 days. So that keeps me from carrying my camera around for a little while. But I do hope to be pain free within 4-6weeks and then working on my physical therapy so that I can get back to enjoying life once again.

Heading back to bed. Goodnight all.

Marty

My revelation from Navarre Beach, Fl.

Oh God, inspire me with your beauty, touch me with your creation.

Lord, just as I dig my toes into the sand and feel the coolness of it, I am awed by

your creation, yet again. I watch the waves roll in and out as they wash away foot prints in the sand.

I realize also, that you have the ability to wash away my past. To heal my wounded soul. You know

everything about me, where I come from and where I have been.

Better than that, you know what is yet to come.

In Jeremiah 29:11, you say, I know the plans I have for you, plans not to harm you but to prosper you.

Plans to give you a hope and a future.

I do not know what my future holds but I do know that it rest in your hands. As I watch a bird skimming

the surface of the ocean water, so should I skim the surface of your living water, always staying close enough

to feel the coolness of it. To experience its refreshing power. To feel renewed in your love.

God erasing my pa

God's take on broken seashells

by Marty Mullins Shuff on Thursday, March 17, 2011 at 8:40am

While combing the beach for seashells God revealed to me that all the millions of broken shells

represent the millions of people with broken lives and how life washes them up out of the depths

and leaves them discarded on the shore.

Then to add insult to injury people come along and sort through them, people just like me, only

taking the ones that are beautiful and whole. Discarding, once again, those that are less desirable.

I ask God to show Himself to me, hoping for a beautiful, whole seashell, instead I got something

much more valuable. A revelation of sorts, insights into who He is and who I am supposed to be.

When I asked for a beautiful, whole seashell, I distinctly heard Him say, then stop walking on the shore

and go deep. Don't be afraid to dive into the depths for that is where you will find my pearls. Don't be

afraid to dive in and explore.

Just as there is much beauty to be found in the depths of the ocean, there is much beauty to be found in

the depths of My Word.

Dive in and enjoy. Discover who I really am. The GREAT I AM!!!!

Broken shells represent broken live.

Life is an adventure.

Life is good, I am starting into another new phase of my life. I am writing and starting to do some event coordinating, which I love. I am teaming up with the gluten-free club in Lexington to put on a Vendor's parade. This is to educate the community about restaurants that have gluten-free menus, as well as products that are gluten-free.

I have found, since going gluten-free, the most challenging part is finding bread that is tasty and yet not so dry that it chokes you to death. I am going to really enjoy being involved with the gluten-free club here in Lexington. I know there is a lot to learn about the subject.

I will say since going gluten-free my body does not ache as much, I am much more alert and I don't have the foggy thinking I once had.

Hormones have helped with this also. And when I keep my levels up, my memory is much better. I am low on estrogen and progesterone right now but will be getting that taken care of next week and am looking forward to the results I know I will feel.

The book has been slow at progressing but I am working on it. Not sure what route to take with it at the moment.

I have also been taking photography classes to improve my photography skills. That has been fun and exciting. I love capturing God's creation and sharing it with the world.

My relationship with Michael is going very well. He is an awesome man and I could not imagine my life without him. He and I truly bring out the best in one another.

He promised me when we started dating that life would never be boring with him and so far he has kept that promise. He thinks big and I like that. He is not afraid to take on, what to most, would seem like an impossible challenge. And he challenges me to step out of my comfort zone and grow in ways I could not have previously imagined.

He has rented out Applebee's stadium and we are putting on a Easter sunrise service for the community of Lexington. I will be helping to put the event together. So, if you are going to be in the area for Easter, come see us at Applebee's Park.

Life has been an incredible adventure since I chose to leave Toyota. I would do it all again, in a heartbeat. God is faithful to supply all our needs if we get out of His way and just let Him.

Happy New Year to all my friends out there. Hope you have a wonderful new year. I started mine off right. I spent it with my son and his girlfriend in Breckenridge Co. We had a good time. The temperature was below 0 for a couple of days but we still got to go tubing and walk around town. It is a very quaint little town with very friendly people.

The elevation there is 10,000 ft. So is difficult to breath with only the slightest exertion. But you

do get used to it. I got some great shots while there. Michael and I pulled off the interstate to get some shots of a creek that I am very pleased with.

I am currently writing for Examiner.com. If you have not seen my articles, go to Examiner.com and look up parenting in the Lexington area. I am finally getting paid for doing what I love. Life is good.

Merry Christmas

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

I just wanted to say Merry Christmas to everyone out there. Hope you have a great Christmas and a fantastic new year. I am looking forward to a great year myself with lots of new adventures and endless possibilities. I can't wait to see where this journey I am on takes me to next. Thought I would just post some pictures of my tree for you all to see.I have been playing with my camera and trying some different stuff. Not perfected yet but it was definitely fun trying. Hope you enjoy.I am doing the Breaking Free Bible study by Beth Moore. Wow, talk about powerful stuff. That is one very gifted lady for the Lord. She does an awesome job with her Bible studies. I am learning a lot about family baggage and generational sins that get passed down from our parents and grandparents. It is tough to break that cycle but it only takes one generation to change the direction of the family line. Question is do we (I) have what it takes to break free from the bondage we find ourselves in.Merry Christmas everyone. Hope you have a safe and happy New Year also. I am anxious for the new year to begin. Looking forward to seeing where God takes me on this adventure I have been on.

Another funeral

Wow! I had another friend lose her battle to cancer this week. She was a good friend of the family. Two funerals, two weekends in a row is a bit much. Pray for the Hannah's family. They have lost three members of the family in four years to cancer. That is a lot for anyone to endure.

Fortunately, Hannah had come to know the Lord before she past away. She was a great lady. She will be dearly missed by many, especially my mother. She was her dearest friend.

Life is good in my world, Christmas is almost here. I love the decorating but have never enjoyed the pressure that comes with Christmas. This year has been different. I have not worried about it like in the past. Maybe, it is because my relationship to Christ has grown and I am learning to trust in Him for all my needs. He never lets me down.

God has laid it on my heart to write a letter to my children affirming them and addressing areas of my parenting where I feel I failed them. Tough to do, but I have a feeling the blessing they get from it will far outweigh the pain of reliving those tough times. Besides, God has proven to me that areas I fail in are areas that He stands in the gap and fills in for us.

Merry Christmas to everyone. I hope and pray that you have a safe and blessed New Year.