Conforming to fact and therefore worthy of trust, reliance, or belief...

I am a terrible blogger. Seriously, I am.

There are some days that are SO hard for me to even function as a human being, that my commitment to writing feels like an unreachable task.
Cushings Syndrome sucks. It does.  there is no easy way around it.  There is no real cure.  There are herbs and oils that are helping to lessen my symptoms, BUT no matter what I am doing to counteract the effects of the over production of cortisol, if I am adding STRESS, nothing is going to help.

This season = stress.

Stress from being the only adult that is parenting my children during this season.
Stress due the only intelligent conversations that I am having on a daily basis, occur with a 6 a 5 and a 1 year old.
Stress because when the man I love works more than 80 hours per week, the last thing he wants to do is deal with a crying, tired child, or a crying tired wife.
Stress because I feel like a failure as a follower of Christ. I know that I should just trust the Lord to take control and take care of us.  But, the exhaustion of this disease is REAL.  The emotions are REAL.  The work is REAL.
To many, I look normal.  I can muster up enough "pretty and poise" to go out in "public" and seem put together. I'm not
. 

This. Season. Sucks.

We all have them.

I know that we all have  crummy seasons in life. I know that every single person in this world does NOT live an instagram perfect life. Sometimes, I wish that more people would commit themselves to living an honest, authentic life. To portray their TRUTH via social media, instead of a fantasy.


 Dont get me wrong, everyone deserves to have a fantasy. Shoot, in my fantasy, I would look the way I looked 10 years ago, my children would be perfectly behaved and my husband would leave his job and wisk us all off to a week in Disney World! But, as awesome as that sounds. (man a week at Disney is SO needed right now) It is NOT my TRUTH.

My truth is this:
My name is Danielle
I love Jesus.
I live in a small, small, small town on a gorgeous apple farm.
I am married to the most wonderful man and he is my best friend. He works day and night to provide for our family.
I have 3 precious gifts from the Lord.  They are smart, and funny and loving...and crazy, and exhausting and hard.

I am committed to giving my children a life full of love, and faith and exploration and truth.
I don't have the outward appearance that I would like to have, but I am content with who I am.
I am always tired.  I am always dreaming. I am always wishing that I could be whisked away to someplace fantasmical.
But, when the day is done, I am Danielle, I love Jesus and I love my family.

We were meant to live this life in community with others. HOW can we find a community of others LIKE us, if we are not being authentic with our portrayal of ourselves?

I challenge you to be real.  Be You. Be tired.  Be natural. Be messy-haired. Be yoga pants and tank top. Be YOUR TRUTH.

This is me, right now, 4:30PM on Tuesday.  Yoga pants, tank top, no make-up, bags under my eyes. But what you can't see in the photo, is that I have an adorable baby at my feet, an inquisitive 5 years old chatting with me while I type and a smart 6 year old laying on the couch reading. Truth, may not be pretty, but it sure is BEAUTIFUL to me.

Use Social Media to help create authentic community. Don't contribute to the illusion of "perfect".

This season, is a season of TRUTH.



{beBlessed} and have a GREAT day.

And I will give you REST.

I am writing this on my phone!  How cool is that? So cool, in fact, that I'm still in bed. Why? Because I CAN'T get out of it.

Believe me when I say that treatment for Cushings Syndrome/ Adrenal Fatigue has been successful. However, in choosing natural medicine versus traditional treatment- there are some very specific things that are 100% necessary for healing.   Key treatment steps that I have started to slack on....BECAUSE I felt better. And, in order to continue to feel better, these steps that I MUST follow for the long haul. I have gotten off track.

They A-#1 most beneficial practice, for me,  has been my water consumption. It is SO necessary for me to continually flush my system.  My kidneys NEED this. My whole body NEEDS it.
After my diagnosis and beginning of my treatment,  I purchased a 32 oz. Water cup called the "Bubba". On an average day, I will drink 4-5 Bubba's of water. That's 125-150 ounces of water daily!  Hydration makes me feel great! 

Taking our mini-vacay this past weekend knocked me off my water horse, though. (Not for LACK of water...at a water park!)
I didn't bring Bubba with me, and instead finding a replacement. ..I just skipped the water intake all together. HUGE mistake #1.

The treatment practice that I have been slacking on the most, though? 
Rest.
The one thing that my medical doctor and my eastern and natural practitioners all prescribed was REST. To "take a daily nap." "Know when to say no". "Make it a game with the kids." "Allow yourself your time."
Well....2 months ago when I was feeling downright horrible, this step was EASY!. HOWEVER, once I started to feel better, and the weather got nicer and nicer and the boys wanted to be outside all day and the pool was so refreshing and...and... and...
The naps fizzled....and I stopped taking MY time to rest.

We have been busy...I have been busy...

SO...this morning...I woke up...absolutely fatigued. My whole body feels weighted down. My head is aching, (not to mention a killer ear ache), my eyes just. want.to.close.

Wake up call! (Haha..."wake up")   I NEED to take care of ME in order to take care of my family. SO, as hard as it is going to be today...I NEED to rest. ALL day. It sounds so incredibly crazy to me. I have 3 boys under the age of 6. HOW?
Well...time to get creative. ;-)
PRAY
Ask for help
Coloring books
VeggieTales
Rewards...yes. I am willing to bribe them today. ;-)

This is a perfect day to work deeper in my study of "Abiding" with the Lord. (www.naptimediaries.com)

I do believe that this study came into my life at the PERFECT time.
Isn't it great how God works?  He is So great!  I thank Him for all of His greatness- providing what we need- when we need it.

** check out my instagram throughout the day for photos of our "Day of Rest" activities. @daniteeple

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

{ beBlessed } and have a GREAT day