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Luv'N Lambert Life

Luv'N Lambert Life

A blog about living with Epilepsy, IBHS, Homeschooling and so much more

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A Very Happy Easter Prayer {FrontGate Review}

March 15, 2018 by Dana

A Very Happy Easter Prayer
Bonnie Rickner Jenson
Illustrated by Natalia Moore

As a Mom, I am always looking for great books to add to our home library.  I especially love books that are holiday themed.  I also love books that share God’s love with my children.

A Very Happy Easter Prayer by Bonnie Rickner Jenson is the perfect book for Easter.  The book itself is gorgeous.  The front cover is slightly textured which makes the book look beautiful with it’s shimmer and sparkle.

Natalie Moore out does herself with the adorable, yet beautiful imagery on each page of this absolutely wonderful board book.  The pages are filled with daffodils, picnics underneath the big tree that’s featured on the book’s cover, tulips with bee hives and so many more lovely things to see.

The cover features a trio of rabbits but the book inside is filled with many great animals: bees, a fox, an owl, a duck, a moose, a bear and so many more.  This book is about God’s wonderful world, so much more than just the rabbits.  You’re child will love seeing the love these animals share as friends and through God’s love as well.

The story itself shares thankfulness for Spring, for rain and gentle breezes. It shares thankfulness for bluebirds and dandelions and honey bees.  It shares thankfulness for fluffy bunnies, for adventures and for Jesus’ birth and love.  It shares thankfulness for all the things that make Easter morning special.

This is a lovely book that would be a great addition to any family library.  A Very Happy Easter Prayer by Bonnie Rickner Jenson is from Tommy Nelson Publishers and is part of their A Time To Pray series. It sales for $8.99 in bookstores and online.

Join the Giveaway by clicking the link below:
https://www.blessedfreebies.com/enter-to-win-a-very-happy-easter-prayer.html




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Filed Under: 2018, a very happy easter prayer, animals, blessings, children's book, christian book, Easter, frontgate bloggers network, frontgate review, Jesus, prayer, rabbits, Review, tommy nelson

2018 Word of the Year {Thoughts From Me}

January 7, 2018 by Dana

For 2017, our Word of the Year was Focus.  You can read that post here: https://www.luvnlambertlife.com/2016/12/word-of-year-2017.html
Last year, I really wanted to focus on us as a family and that’s truly what we did with God guiding us.  We struggled but in the end we were blessed and God brought us closer than ever, which I’m truly grateful for.  It wasn’t the easiest of years but it’s probably the most memorable year we will ever have.
This year our 2018 Word of the Year is:

Lantern

Last year lead us to many first as a family.  It is my hope that our experiences from then will lead us like a lantern in word and spirit to help others this year.

Psalm 119:105 – Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet,
And a light unto my paths.

I want His guidance and His word to continue to light our path as it has throughout our lives.  I pray this year brings triumph and continued happiness for us.  I pray our voices light the way for others who God brings into our journey with us.  And I pray that my children will keep following God’s lighted path for them as He leads them to do great things with their lives in glorifying him.

Filed Under: 2018, 2018 word of the year, blessings, Lantern, lighted path, prayers, thoughts from me, word is a lamp unto my feet, word of the year

Choosing Life {Epilepsy Awareness}

April 11, 2017 by Dana

Many years ago, I was asked to write a post that I have put off until now.  My reason for not completing the assignment as asked was simply that I am always to busy.  But recently this topic has weighed heavily in my heart and I feel it’s time to speak.

I was born with a disorder that affects my day to day life.  For years, my Mother could not understand why.  She only knew it was a terrible disorder that left me lifeless for long periods of time and terrified her greatly.  This disorder is Epilepsy.

Growing up, we had no answers and we were thankful when I did outgrow the tonic clonic episodes.  My Mother beyond thankful to not have to watch her daughter helplessly suffer.  It was everything she spent her life praying for.

At 19, I married my ex-husband.  At 21, I had my son, who does not have Epilepsy.  At 23, I had my daughter, Emmalee.  At 3 months, just two weeks after her first vaccines, she began having seizures as well.  They continued until she was 5 when she also outgrew them.  God is amazing.

As Emma grew, I became pregnant with my third child, my daughter Laycie.  Having Emma, I thought, okay we have this disorder, she has it and so my next child will be fine.  Not true.  At 4 months, just two weeks following her vaccine series, Laycie also began to have seizures.  At 4 1/2 months, Laycie went Status Epilepticus with 9 tonic clonics and over 23 absence and complex partials.  Honestly, I lost count.  The seizure lasted 13 hours straight.  I truly thought my baby was dead.  But God had much bigger plans.

When Laycie was 3, at her birthday party, I began to have seizures again.  This time a complex partial took control of my mind and body and left me without control.  Several more have followed since but I haven’t let them stop me.

4 years later, I became pregnant with my 4th child, a boy: Jackson.  At this point, I already knew I would not vaccinate as it is an obvious trigger for my children’s seizures.  I didn’t and his seizures held off.  At 10 months, he began to have Involuntary Breath Holding Spells which trigger Epileptic seizure.

It was at this point that we began to seek genetic testing to find a reason for all these seizures and the link between us because it was obvious this was genetic.  It took over 2 years to get answers.  The first panel didn’t show any genes.  The much bigger panel for Epilepsy did pinpoint a gene for me, Emma and Laycie though not for Jack.  We still have no reason for Jack’s seizures.

Through all of this, I never once considered not having my children.  I never once considered them a burden, but instead a blessing from God.  I never once considered being their Mother a burden either, though sometimes it’s challenging.  But God knew.  He knew what he was doing when He blessed me with each one of them.

For me, abortion was never a thought or an option.  I believe that God will equip us for our needs.  I believe He alone gives us our beautiful children and He alone knows just what we can handle.  I could have never chosen that option as it wasn’t in me.

See even if you have Epilepsy, even if you feel like you just can’t do this Motherhood thing, even if you see more challenges then you may feel it’s worth, don’t give up.  Hold strong to God’s Love.  Know that He’s chosen you for a special mission, a mission of Love.  Choose life.  Choose to have Faith for God will not fail you.

Abortion is the easy answer for us.  It’s promoted to be a quick solution but it’s not.  The ache in your heart is never healed.  The missing child cannot be replaced.  It’s something that will remain in your soul forever.

So I beg you to pray, to search your soul before you make this decision that will affect your life permanently.  I beg you to ask God to show you the truth of the light and His word.  I beg you to allow Him to show you the plans He has made for you.  Though, at first, it may seem impossible God can make things happen that you cannot imagine.

Had I known what I do now about my life and that of my children, I still would change nothing.  My children are a blessing.  They hold my heart and there is nothing I would not do for them.  They truly changed my life.  I know it will be the same for you.

Many blessings,
Dana Lambert – Hodge

Filed Under: 2017, abortion, blessings, choosing life, Epilepsy, Epilepsy Awareness, God, Love, Luv'N Lambert Life

And Then Life Changes Again {Severe Anemia Awareness} {Thoughts From Me}

March 30, 2017 by Dana

I’ve been busy and haven’t updated.  I know I’m terrible to just leave you all hanging.  So what’s happened?

Well, I had my doctor’s appointment and ultrasound on Monday to prepare for surgery.  Do you know what my ultrasound showed?  Not a darned thing!  There were no cysts on my ovaries which is awesome because I’ve never had cysts on them.  There was no fibroids or damage showing to my uterus  Scar tissue seen on camera was normal.  My uterus was normal.  Everything was NORMAL.  My uterine lining was slightly thickened in the middle which can simply be caused by my time of the month and did not worry my doctor.

So with all this new knowledge in my mind, I asked the doctor was surgery my ONLY option.  He replied that to stop the bleeding completely, yes it would be but if the bleeding was controlled by the med he had given me and it continued to remain controlled we could wait on surgery.  He said we can do the meds for a few months and see if they help.  Then I can come off of them and see if the bleeding has stopped.  I was more than joyous at this.

He decided to do an uterine/endometrial biopsy to make sure that I don’t have cancer.  After he did it, he took a look at the sample and said it looks normal for a women of my age who is still in child bearing years.  But the sample will tell the story, if I do have cancer or not.

If I have Cancer, then of course the uterus comes out immediately.  If not, we discuss the options at a later time.  My instinct tells me I am fine and that my insides are healthy.  If they are healthy, I wish to find other options for my treatment and have them remain where they are at.

So for now, the surgery is NOT HAPPENING!  Meds are happening and I’m totally ok with that.  I’ve had no bleeding since starting the meds except mildly after the biopsy was done.  And yall this is the mildest period I’ve had in a long time now, so I’m very happy!

My thought is that maybe I am indeed in perimenopause or even menopause and that’s the cause of the bleeding.  But only time and testing will tell.

Monday, I also saw my regular doctor and we discussed my constant tightness and pain in my back.  She felt it and said I was definitely tense more than I should be so she issues a mild pain med and muscle relaxer for me to try for a month to see how that works for me.  If it’s not worked well then she will issue xrays for me to see what’s going on back there.

At this point, the pain is so intense that any time I do physical activity I’m left in so much pain I can barely move.  This is not normal for a 37 year old and I told the doctor I just want to know what’s wrong.  I don’t wish to take tons of medication I don’t need.  I truly just want to know why I feel as I do.  So hopefully, we can find those answers by working together.

On a joyous note, Donald and I got married last Thursday.  Today makes it an official week!  We told very few people and decided spur of the moment to get it all done and over with.  We do plan to have a wedding later but we wanted the legal and stressful part done for ourselves. We are so happy to know that we are following what God has planned for us together and for our family!  The kids were excited to know Mommy and Daddy are married as well.

Don also bought himself a little truck this week for a small price.  It’s a great vehicle for him to work with and carry off our trash.  I’m really proud of all he’s done to change his life and ours as well to make it better.  We’re only headed upwards from here.

Him getting a new truck means we can find seats for the van for me and the kids so we can officially have a family car again.  This is another great thing!  I miss our family adventures and can hardly wait to begin them all again soon!

So this is our end of March update.  This is where we are in our life.  Looking forward to the future and our love and life together as we continue on this journey.

God bless,
Dana

Filed Under: 2017, blessings, faithfulness, God, humble, journey, life, Marriage, new truck, no surgery, severe anemia awareness, thankful, thoughts from me, togetherness

Who’s Fault Is It Really? {Thoughts From Me}

December 15, 2016 by Dana

Last night I was at home watching a movie with Don and the rest of the family. I am pretty sure it was a Christmas movie, yet I can’t remember the name.  It was the typical man and woman meet and fall in love movie.  Yet, near the end of the movie, there was one statement that really hit home for me.

You see in all my failed relationships, the other person has always pointed the failure towards me, yet I never felt the failure was completely my fault.  The men in my life have always tried to make me feel that I was the problem, that it wasn’t them.  They have told me that I would continue to find the same problems over and over because, well, that problem was me.

Honestly, I was beginning to believe them.  Then Donald came along and he has worked to change my thinking.  Trust me, it’s been really hard for him to do but this movie confirmed what he’s told me since we met.

You see, it was never me that was the problem.  It wasn’t really them that was the problem either.  The real problem was that these guys I was with were never meant for me.  Since they weren’t right for me, our relationships could never work.  It wasn’t anything either of us did, it was simply the wrong person for me to be with.

Now I know that’s easy to see now but it wasn’t so easy to see when I was with them.  And walking away doesn’t make it easy to see when you have been told over and over that you are the problem.  Sometimes it takes a HUGE wake-up call, like hearing it said straight out in a random movie, to make you realize, “Hey, I’m not the problem here!”

We can never be happy with the wrong person.  God created us each to be unique and He created each of us to fit one other unique individual.  That individual is our other half, the love of our life, our soulmate. 

I’m blessed to have truly found mine, to know of his love for me, for my children, for our family and our life together.  Sure things aren’t always perfect because we’ve both been brainwashed by being in the wrong relationship before finding one another and finding our right relationship, but we work hard to heal and love and move forward together.  We are learning to forgive, to depend on each other and to embrace our life as it should be with one another. 

When love is right, it’s just right.  You know it wholeheartedly.  I’m so thankful to have found my love in Don and also to have found this healing piece of truth from something so simple as this.

Until next time…
bluedanasig2

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Filed Under: 2016, blessed, blessings, blessings from God, enjoying life, family, Love, love god, love my family, loving life, Luv'N Lambert Life, thoughts from me

The Other Side of Epilepsy {Epilepsy Awareness}

July 18, 2012 by Dana

A few weeks ago we had our VEEG for Emmalee which showed us she no longer has seizures, thankfully.  In this post, I want to share my reactions to that testing and our life itself.  I’ve been meaning to write about it, but I keep putting it off.  Today I’m making myself tell the truth though.

It’s hard being a Mom of three with one on the way and three stepkids to love too.  It’s even harder being the Mom of two girls with Epilepsy.  I guess I should change that to one daughter with Epilepsy.

It’s been a long road with my oldest, going through all of this for the first time as a parent and not a patient.  Watching her seize without any known cause.  Seeing her stare off for periods of time for absolutely no reason.  Taking her off her medications and praying to God every minute that she will be in control and not suffer from that.  Praying too that she would outgrow it and never suffer again every second of my normal thought-filled days.

I think the hardest part has always been leaving it up to God, placing her into His hands and knowing He would protect her.  After all, as her Mother, isn’t that my job to do?  Didn’t He give me that purpose in life?

When the doctor came in to our room and finally after four days of testing told me that she was perfect, she was smart, she was beautiful and a blessing, my first thought was I knew all of that already.  I’m proud of her in all her stubborness and I’m thankful to have her every single day.

When he told me she no longer showed any signs of Epilepsy my heart jumped for joy.   Really it did.  But what you don’t know is that at the same time, it slammed down so hard that I thought it dropped out of me for a few minutes.  Absolute truth.

I mean I should feel so blessed by this but my only thoughts at the moment was “Thank you so much God but why not Laycie too?”  Why does one of my daughters still suffer from this while the other no longer carries the burden?  Why does my baby still have a chance of seizing while my big girl is done with it all?  What makes them so different in His eyes that He does not heal them both?

I know I am not supposed to know these answers.  Obviously, He has plans for Emmalee that require her to be well and healthy and live a long life.  And I haven’t given up hope that He will completely heal my Laycie too.  I know He can make that happen.  But I couldn’t help but wonder why one and not the other.

I’m human.  I have human faults.  I have human thoughts.  I control.  I am a Mother who God has graced multiply with blessings.  All of these are the reasons I immediately thought as I did.  I am not perfect and I never will be.  But He trusts me with His blessings.  He gifted me as the Mother of these girls that He allowed to be burdened and He took away the burden for one.  For that I’m am thankful, I am in awe and blessed by Him, as is she though she may not know it.

I pray daily for Laycie to be blessed in the same way but I also know that blessing may not meet His purpose for her and I have no choice but to be accepting of that.  I’m thankful every day each of my children are here to bless my life and each other.  I could not imagine having life any other way than it is with them in it, even with Epilepsy in our lives to.

I was talking with a dear friend the other day who’s beautiful darling girl also has this disorder.  She was feeling things and simply needed a confirmation that she wasn’t wrong for feeling them.  They were feelings that only someone in her shoes could understand and yes I thankfully did understand them.

As a Mom of a child with a disorder, we tend to feel alone – as if no one else understands our feelings and everyone else is tired of hearing them.  That simply isn’t true.  God allows us to walk these similar paths and become friends with each other to help as we walk through these things.  I share this story because my friend brought it to my attention that she felt alone and that no one truly understood.  I encourage other families to share so that other’s know they are not alone in their feelings, in their joys and disappointments and their fears.  There are others who do understand what you go through.

We have come a long way in finding ways to connect through this disorder and ways to change to help each other.  Keep going at it.  I know I will.

Filed Under: 2012, blessings, dealing with Epilepsy, Epilepsy, Epilepsy Awareness, Epilepsy families, family, MUSC, outgrowing seizures, seizure families, seizures, VEEG, video eeg

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