faith

My Brain is Bored, But My Body is Tired

Posted on by 🏖Peaceful Ahead🏝

If you’ve ever been through a surgery and recovery process, you know what I mean when I say “one step forward, two steps back”.

Waking up: I feel amazing! I don’t even need any Tylenol or Motrin to start the day. I am getting out of this house today! Yes!!!

Shower and get ready: Geeeezzzzssss, I don’t remember shaving taking quite that much energy. I think I’ll lie down for a minute.

Prepare to leave house & do whatever I had planned: You can do this! You don’t have to stay long. Just come back home when you are ready to rest.

At the destination: Roaming aimlessly, unsure exactly why I’m there and what was so urgent. <Look at watch>. Well, I think it’s about time to go home & rest. 🤣

Next day: Rinse & repeat.

There you have the cycle of healing when you’re trying to balance a determined, optimistic brain with a body that just needs you to rest and heal.

Today, I will remind myself: 🎵One day at a time, sweet Jesus. 🎶.

Oh, and I’m NOT leaving the house…for today, anyway! 🙏🏻

Wishing you all a blessed and healing day that’s peaceful ahead. 🏝🏖

Insta: peacefulahead

E-mail: staceyfade@peacefulahead.blog

💙🤝The Healing Gifts of Friendship, Food, and Fellowship 🥗🥘💙

Posted on by 🏖Peaceful Ahead🏝

For the past two weeks, I’ve had one job…heal. After having an extensive breast reconstruction surgery, I’ve spent 90% of every day wearing extremely tight binding garments to reduce post-surgery swelling and allow my body the time it needs to rest and prepare for the rehabilitation process ahead. To say that the restrictions on movement and necessity of wearing compression garments 24/7 has challenged my nerves would be an understatement. DEEP BREATHS…This, too, shall pass!

While I’ve been home and still unable to drive, I have been beyond blessed by the kindness of family and friends who have helped me through each step of this process. My dear husband has kept up with laundry and helped me stay on schedule with medication, my Mom cleaned our house, and both of them have pitched in to help my teenage daughter carry on without missing out on any part of her life. Several friends showed up with delicious home-cooked food, ready to spend time visiting. Each part of this journey over the past five years has included time when I was unable to leave the house, and my family has been stretched thin trying to keep the household running. I am constantly amazed at the blessing we receive when someone takes the time to deliver nourishing food, but most importantly, when they pause to spend time visiting. To me, there is no greater representation of what Jesus expects from us than to spend time with those who are secluded, whether it be for physical or mental health reasons, or aging.

This experience has reinforced my desire to find a way to give back or pay it forward more frequently. I feel that I, like so many, have good intentions, yet fail to follow through with actions so many times because we are stretched thin by so many other life demands. I would love to create a program that would simplify the process locally to connect people who wish to give with those who have needs.

While I’m not sure exactly what is needed to make that happen, I have faith the God will make it clear when I keep His love and light at the forefront of my efforts. Here’s to finding a way to coordinate goodness and help more people to enjoy a life that’s peaceful ahead.

🌸Reclaiming Femininity With Reconstruction; Hope and Healing in Sight🌸

Posted on by 🏖Peaceful Ahead🏝

Yesterday was finally the day. I arrived at the hospital for DIEP Flap Breast Reconstruction. For this procedure, fat is taken from the belly and used to make breast mounds. It took about 4 hours, thanks to my awesome doctor who works with a partner. Many of these procedures take 10-12 hours as the doctor chooses to work alone. When I had a mastectomy for breast cancer 5 years ago, my surgeon was able to keep my existing implants, which allowed me to take my time healing after treatment before deciding to have reconstruction. After surgery yesterday, I found out that one of those had bursted, therefore causing a very uneven set of “foobs” (term for fake boobs in the bc community). When I woke up, I could not wait to see the results. The first thing I noticed was that my chemo port was gone. I’d had to leave it in for this long “just in case the aggressive cancer returned”. For the past 4 years, I’ve had to return to the Cancer center once every six weeks to have it flushed. Talk about a constant reminder. I’m so very thankful that thing is gone! While I’ll never forget the experience of having breast cancer, I am now able to appreciate the changes that it has made in me, and move forward, using the strength and faith I’ve gained along this journey.

The next thing I noticed when I looked down was that I have CLEAVAGE! Then, further down, I saw a COMPLETELY FLAT BELLY! Wow!!! I am so very grateful to overcome this final hurdle. I can’t even begin to fathom what it will be like to go shopping for clothes after spending the past 4 years trying to cover up in oversized, flowy tops!

I was required to stay in bed for the remainder of the day & overnight. Today, I’ll be getting up and walking a few times & sitting in a chair. The only pain I feel so far is some pretty intense burning sensations at the hip-to-hip incision site, and a bit more of the same on my upper incision sites. Hoping that today, pain will be kept to a minimum.

One of the first thoughts I had was “why did I put this off so much longer than necessary?” Then, I was immediately able to reflect on the gratitude I feel for every step of the journey. Because I was able to accept my body, although it was quite disfigured for the past few years, I now have a deeper sense of self-love and compassion than I had ever thought possible. I now realize that the delay was necessary for me to learn to love myself, and confirm that although my body is not the same as it was when we began dating, my dear husband truly loves me for me. What better gift could I have received?

Wishing you all a beautiful day that’s filled with gratitude,acceptance, and the hope of a life that’s peaceful ahead.

🎼Every Heart Filled With a Song🎶

Posted on by 🏖Peaceful Ahead🏝

Alive and ready for another day.

News filled with gloom, we’ve lost our way.

When they sky seems forever a shade of gray,

The only solution left…to pray.

For clarity and peace to rise,

For the Son’s bright hope to shine in our eyes.

For the past to stay where it belongs,

And every heart to be filled with a song.

Some days are harder, this is true.

But God is there, He believes in you.

He loves your soul, even when it’s blue.

Always starting each day anew.

For clarity and peace arise,

When the Son’s bright hope shines in our eyes.

The past shall stay where it belongs,

And every heart will be filled with a song.

Pick up your armor, no time for fright.

We can’t grow weary, the goal’s in sight.

Our bodies may signal fight or flight,

But our spirit will carry us in the way that’s right.

For clarity and peace will rise,

The Son’s bright hope will shine in our eyes.

The past behind us where it belongs,

And every heart is filled with a song.

Leave behind the heartache of this sad place.

Remember that God recognizes our face.

It’s not our speed that counts in the race,

But the daily blessings we embrace.

For clarity and peace will rise,

When we have the Son’s bright hope in our eyes.

The past left behind where it belongs,

And every heart shall be filled with a song.

🌸Not Unnoticed🌸

Posted on by 🏖Peaceful Ahead🏝

I hope you know just how much I see

What you sacrifice daily for our family.

The continuous acts of kindness you willingly share

Don’t go unnoticed; you’re always there.

To help and encourage every step of the way.

And remind us “today is a brand new day”.

The selfless ways you show your heart,

Have blessed me from the very start.

A thankless job, sometimes it may be.

But those who know you can always see.

Though life gets hard and takes a toll,

Your strength has been your constant role.

The hardships of care-taking, not for the weak.

Sometimes the near future can seem quite bleak.

The load I see you carry each day

Would cause so many to run away.

But you soldier on, asking God to guide

Your steps forward along the ride.

However difficult it proves to be,

You keep on loving and guiding our family.

Today, I say a prayer of thanks and hope you know,

I’m grateful for your love and your beautiful soul.

Happy Easter, Momma.

Love you dearly.