As I sit on the couch, with my computer in my lap, my mind is completely exhausted with things I need to share. My absence from blogging has been longer than I like. Now, it seems I have way too much to get out of my system in just one blog. Life has been heavy the past few weeks, but especially this week.

This blog should have been an update on my fitness and weight-loss goals. On that front, I'm tired from the battle and frustrated about a few set-backs. After a week of inactivity due to major allergy issues, I finally got back in the game. Then, after a good week of working out, I had a seriously painful back/hip injury. For no explainable reason, the pain was excruciating and it kept me on my back for several days, and away from any work-out for two weeks. X-rays were fine - no clue what happened.

Then came the weekend. My uncle, the recipient of many of your prayers over the last two years, was finally beginning to see progress in the healing of his hip. Then, something we knew might happen, did. For reasons above my pay grade, my uncle had already had issues with his liver. From illnesses earlier in life, his liver was sub par. After two years of being on prescribed pain medication, his liver decided to stop participating. He was admitted to the hospital for severe liver failure and now his prognosis is not what we'd like to hear.

As if that in itself were not bad enough, let's tack on a potentially scary visit by my brother to the emergency room. Well, thankfully, that was much less serious than it could have been. However, it was still enough to get concerned about. He is okay now, but may need surgery in the future.

Still not emotionally draining enough for you? My mom's dog turned up with some kind of infected skin problem. It was scary for a while and required some costly treatment, including anesthesia and a scalpel. With the hours she works, it's not an easy thing to get done. If you've ever had a pet, you know how stressful that can be.

And, now the kicker of my day. When my phone rang with a call from my sister this morning, I expected an update on my uncle. Boy, I couldn't have been more wrong. Instead, she called to tell me that our mutual close friend from college had suffered a stroke on Tuesday. A STROKE????? Yes, a stroke. This 33 year old, picture of health, mother of two, suffered a stroke after her morning work-out. WHAT??? This is not supposed to happen. Not to someone my age... Not to a close friend... Not to a woman in good health... Fortunately, her husband fought an ignorant hospital that made a ridiculous diagnosis of "migraine" and got her much needed care somewhere else. She had none of the risk factors, so of course, they are running all of the important tests. As of tonight, I'm not sure what they've found. I'm still stunned by it all.

Stunned.

Shocked.

Wondering about my own health (I'm considerably over weight and not nearly as active as she is).

Aware of life and death.

Sad that we might lose an uncle who I just recently got to know.

Worried about my friend who was just doing her daily work-out.

Longing to stay close to my family and friends.

Knowing God is still in control.

Praying for peace in each situation.

Thankful to be His and in His hands.