Author: Deserts like Eden

Have you ever left a church because someone made you mad?  Have you ever stopped going to church because your feelings were hurt?I spent the first 35 years of my life in the church and I’ve known dozens of families who have disappeared from the pews because they were just plain ole ticked off.  Lots … Continue reading Un-Churched

I suppose that in a way, he saved my life.  He didn’t realize it at the time.  Neither did I.  It would be years before I fully understood the significance of what my Dad did.  But 19 years later, I can still hear his words and I can tell you they have shaped me and … Continue reading Redeemed!

Another truth that will take a lifetime to learn…..I believe those were some of my last words on my last blog post – two years ago.  Strangely, that does feel like somewhat of a lifetime ago.  Isn’t that always the case when you are learning a hard lesson?  I was writing about my Aunt Sarah … Continue reading my HEART transplant

My Aunt Sarah was diagnosed with cancer when she was 41. I was just a kid so I wasn't in on all the grown-up conversations between my parents and grandparents about her prognosis or the difficulties she must have had being sick and raising two teenage daughters. Her death stunned me. Then seeing my Grandpa … Continue reading the HEART of Sarah

When I woke up this morning I was thinking about July 16, 2003. This is not a date I think of regularly, thank goodness. It is one of many days that felt very devastating at the time, but has now disappeared into the fabric of who I am and what makes me tick. So it’s … Continue reading hems of my HEART

Spring Break 1998! Erik and I were both full-time college students and parents to the sweetest little 14-month old boy you’ve ever seen. I don’t know how we were getting by on $500 per month, but it was working for us. My grandmother had died on March 2nd after a very sad battle with cancer … Continue reading our HEART journey begins

I can’t talk to anyone out loud, so I’m venting into cyber-space. I have to get to a happy place.Bryce’s doctor called. The results of the 24-hour monitor they gave us on Feb 19 came back. He now shows to have an arrhythmia. Here’s where my mind starts filling in the blanks. Here’s where I … Continue reading HEART ache

When Bryce was only a few days old, the Keys came to visit. In our small little duplex, we all crowded around the living room and passed that sweet baby around. Everyone held him, kissed him – we talked and laughed and wished Grandpa were there. Eventually, the conversation led upstairs to the finally-finished nursery … Continue reading two HEARTS

Here we are 3 months after my last post. I think I mentioned before that my spirit seemed frozen in time since September when a doctor told us Bryce’s heart health was headed in the wrong direction. That feeling of being suspended in mid-air never went away until 2 days ago . . . we … Continue reading my HEART tonight

In September, when we first starting hearing doctors talk about ACE inhibitors for Bryce, Erik and I did a lot of research. One of the most startling discoveries I made was the origination of Enalapril and other drugs like it.Get ready for this: ACE Inhibitors are derived from the venom of the jararaca, a Brazilian … Continue reading medicine for the HEART