A Little Bit about Us
63
You could probably get a general idea of a person and what they are like by them answering the question “if you were stranded on a desert island what five things would you want?” Mine are as follows: My Bible, my husband, coffee, my laptop and Internet. So here’s my logic. The Bible would be my source of strength. It would get me through a lot of whiny times and help me to keep hope. My husband would be my great companion, who would share a cup of coffee with me before he went off to figure out a way to build me a hut and makeshift solar panels and batteries to collect power so I could keep my laptop running and continue writing. I don’t know how we would get Internet, but I figure it is a must-have on my list so that we wouldn’t be stranded for too long.
My husband and I just recently celebrated 20 years of marriage. That’s a milestone for me, but I really have to pass most of the credit to my husband. He is as faithful as the day is long. I tell everyone that I have the best husband ever, and I know this is true because I am not sure anyone else would have put up with me for so long. I am one of those high-maintenance women. You know the kind who wants to talk face to face with that deeper level conversation that a most guys get tired of after about 15 minutes. And I change my interests day to day probably making it a task for him to know what to even buy me for my birthday or how to surprise me on a date night. I flit like a butterfly from one creative task to another and ask him to fly with me – and he often joins me smelling the social roses when I know he would rather be cutting wood or building something in his workshop.
We had an uninvited visitor come into our lives four years ago called Parkinson’s disease. I don’t think either of us knew what to expect. Oh we knew some. My husband is a doctor and understood more than I did of all the possibilities that it could bring into our lives, but I did not know so much. Now, 4 years and several books and articles later we are more educated about PD, but still there is so much to learn.
Many things we have learned on our own, such as the balm of humor and its effects on how we approach this new life dynamic. Laughter is always good medicine and we have found that when things go crazy, like his balance or speech, if we can laugh about it then it eases the tension that it has the potential to cause. We have found that in and through it all true love deepens. I know that my love for him has become more real and precious. I think that is because I really have to know why I love him. It’s not because he can build my huts or listen to my ramblings or keep good company, but it’s because I see him as a gift. God gave me a wonderful gift in him and all the other things I enjoy about our relationship are perks. The core is that he belongs to God and God shared him with me.
I have found that the more I talk about life as we know it now the more I look at how blessed I am. Somehow the talking and writing helps me to see all that he is, all that I am and all that we are together. Looking out on the Internet, I saw very little that approached the management of PD from a personal, emotional or spiritual perspective, so I decided that was my next “creative task” and thus has resulted in the blog the.frog,and.the.fly. I share this with you to pass on. Maybe you know others who have entered into our world that might need an encouraging word or a bit of a laugh or just a word that says someone else understands. The blog is a book in the making, (another creative task) but for now I share it for any who might find it a place of respite.
A final note that you will see threaded throughout these blogs is that we serve a Mighty God. We are not heroes or saints or spiritual giants, but we love the Lord our God. Many times frustration visits or irritability or moodiness, but we are learning more every day that the battle is the Lord’s and the weapon He has given us to fight with is living and powerful and sharper than a two-edged sword. And we know that in Him and through Him we live and breathe and have our being. In his book “Facing Your Giants, Max Lucado says “Focus on giants—you stumble. Focus on God—your giants tumble." So we choose to focus on God.
Who knows what tomorrow will bring – I don’t; but I know the God who brings tomorrow and because of that I can live abundantly in all situations.
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Hi CS and Hubby... this is one of these "Wow" hubs as anginwu has already claimed.
As we read other writers we glean little things about their lives and I have always gleaned love from yours. This hub is an affirmation of just that. You both are blessed and as a man it is very special to read of the love of a spouse placed out there for all to see.
That is a marriage that is ordained by the Father and a blessing to all whom encounter you, know you have blessed the Quill household with this testimony and we remain in prayer for the struggles.
Blessings and Love
Wow! This is so beautiful my friend. I am so touched by your love for each other.
I thank you for letting us see deeper into your life now. Both of you are blessed and you are God's gifts to each other.
Happy Anniversary!
You and your family are always in my prayers.
By the way, I wandered over to your frog and fly site. I love it. It's so uplifting.
God bless!
It is always inspiring to hear or read of marriages that survives the test of time due to true love and commitment and a godly devotion. All glory to God!
Your frog and fly blog is also marvelously uplifting and touches the deep recesses of the spirit lifting it to the third heaven. I have bookmarked it and will be visiting from time to time.
God bless and may He continue to be the stronghold in your life. From the heart,
Forever His,
P.S. Your beautiful smile must be infectious! As I write this, I am smiling.
Dear Wonderful,
Your heart. Thank you, that was beautiful.
anglnwu,
I will be in continuous prayer for you and your hubby. I know God can bring him to that place of salvation by your witness. I also know this is not an easy place for you to be. The Lord is faithful and can bring beauty from ashes. God bless you and I will be praying
CS
Quill,
Thanks for the love the blessins and the prayers. I am thnakful for the love the Father has enabled us to share with one another. I used to think as so many do that this kind of love a husband and wife have for each other just happens, but after the years of being under God's teaching and of growing deeper in commitment to each other I know it is intentional and even more powerful than the kind that "just happens" it's just real..
Jill,
thanks as always flor your faithful friendship and for your prayers. I am blessed to be loved here at home by my husband and also by friends I have never seen face to face, such as you..thanks for checking out the blog...Love u, friend
Revlady,
You are such a blessing to me and I am delighted to be able to give something back to you. God is surely the tesitmony of our strength and endurance. Thanks for cecking out the blog - I pray it will reach out and be a resource to many.
My dear friend Beautiful,
Your encouragement and strength over the years has been a source of joy for me and your example of love has taught me much. I don't know what I would have done without your friendship and love. You are a treasure to me.
Amazing coffee. You are a beautiful soul!
Janny,
thanks-so do you, my dear. The good expressed from the soul is always a blessing to others...those hubs you have that pours out the God in you are beautiful
be blessed
I've somehow not found you on this site before, despite your two years and 103 hubs worth of effort. This hub was a wonderful introduction, and I look forward to reading more of your work.
Mike
Mike
Thanks for being here and for your encouraging words. heading on over to your place to visit
Be blessed
CS
Thank you for sharing your story with us. Your words are always a blessing. Focusing on our mighty God gets us through the weeds of this life! Blessings!
We too have an anniversary coming up tomorrow, in fact. We have been together since 1965. Things have not always been smooth but we manage to muddle through.
I wish you and yours to continue loving each other and overcoming all difficulties.
Snirles,
Thank you for your kind words. Focusing on God is so Very important. There are many weeds in life and in Jesus name we walk right through them into His Garden of hope.
dahoglund,
Congratualtions.
Wow! Thats's 35 years - very impressive - not always easy at our end either but like you we press on
Carol, beautiful words from a beautiful woman. It's so nice to know someone else that flits from one thing to the next. lol I'm a lifetime flitter ... my poor, poor hubby. :) Your husband sounds very much like mine .. rock solid .. I've never every questioned (not even a second) his love for me. We are BLESSED INDEED!
Thank you for sharing part of your story here and I will take a peek at your blog too. I have known and loved others with PD. Your sense of humor and perspective will be an awesome resource for those who face this condition .. I'm SURE of it!
Blessings!
Mekenzie
mekenzie,
thanks for your encouragement - Flitting is not so bad, as long as the hubby can handle it, right? Sometimes I want to be able to focus on just one thing, but ahhh, this is who God made me to be..I feel blessed to have such a sense of creativity - learning how to curb my creative appetite has been quite remedial for me, but I think i am beginning to pass LOL. blessings dear sister in Christ
CS
Thank you for sharing. Truly inspiring. May God bless and keep you both.
kjsand01
Thanks for being here and adding a blessing to my day. May you be blessed as well
Congratulations on 20 years hey!! well done in this age.
About PD you know there is a cure out now it is being used here in aussie land,and it WORKS TOO, many arre being cured.
what they do is to drill into the head place 2 wires into that part of the brain then run more wires to small batteries in the chest.
each of those who have had this done are so pleased with it, their lives have become better.
God gives us the power and knowledge to do so many good things.
Raymond,
hey..thanks for the information. Guess we aren't ready for any drilling just yet...:-) have a blessed day.
coffeesnob...you are the most amazing woman of God...He has done such a work of grace in your life! I love the picture of you and your husband, what joy in both of your faces. Your tribute here evoked many feelings in my heart all of which if taken separately could overwhelm...but God in His mercy brings His grace which ignites joy to balance the grief or fear. We serve a risen God...one who suffered, died and was even buried. BUT He Rose! He Rose! And it is He in His mercy, grace and power that lives in each of us that as we go through life...we are daily resurrected to bring Him glory!
Blessings to you and your husband, I know that your Redeemer Lives and He lives within BOTH of you. Know that I will be joyfully praying on your behalf. Thanks for sharing...
Love you sweet sister
UlrikeGrace
UlrikeGrace,
I hope you were overwhelmed in a way that evoked all the good things God Can give. I am not amything special...I too often think with the weakenss of the human heart instead of the power of the Holy Spirit - but Oh when I listen and obey I am taken to great heights.
God does change our perspective doesn't he?
love ya
CS
Such a lovely insight into your life;happy anniversary to both of you.I love the photo -you both look gorgeous.
itakins,
Thanks - we are happy and sassy..God is good.
CS thank you for sharing this most endearing part of your lives. Happy anniversary to you with much blessing and love, peace, joy, strength, grace, favor, that the light and glory of his countenance might shine powerfully into your lives now and forever. i pray a favorable wind in your sails as you cruise the lake of the Spirit. May a bowl of prayers from the throne room pour over your heart, body, mind, soul and spirits and refresh you mightily. From my heart to yours, St.L.
St. L
WOW! I am humbled and overjoyed with the blessings you sent out way. We accept and receive them with joy. Our Lord is gracious to us and we are blessed by him and by those, such as you, whom He uses mightily to add strength to our lives
abundance back to you
CS
Wonderful hub.
loriamoore
Thanks for reading and commenting.
Wow a lovely hub as it is thanks for sharing!
Thanks General for stopping by and sharing a bit of my life.
be blessed
CS
WOW!!! Beautiful, just beautiful!!!! Thank you for sharing!!! Much Love!
You are so wonderful as a couple and as an example of
Christians in service together in the Lord. I find that I can be tiring too to my wife. In our household I am the one that loves the deep conversations and she puts up with me. I want to dissect everything into its spiritual essence and she puts up with my constant looking into that detail. My beautiful sister Judah's Daughter is a detail talker too and gives my wonderful wife a break. As far as the illness, God will give the grace to make you stronger because of it. It must be such a challenge. In my home, my wife has hydrocephalus and what we have in our future is held in the Lord's hands. She functions well with it but only God knows if it will be our challenge in the future. Thank you for sharing and loving and being an example. I try to be funny from time to time with my attempts falling flat sometimes and even hurting people sometimes. I have to try to curtail it a little and really be led to speak every word in love and integrity. I love you sister. Bob.
Bob,
I know what you mean about trying to be careful, especially with my husbands feeling as I know it is fristrating at times dealing with PD. God's grace is always sufficient, Amen?
Love ya
CS
CS, what a potent elixar you have taken - to eat the word of the Lord with Joy. My family's prayers are with you and your husband always. The yoke of Christ in a marriage can endure any rough patches in the field, and your testimony here is proof of that. May grace and mercy always be your companions. Peace.
A M
Thanks for your family's prayers. I am honored to have you praying for us. It is true that the yoke of Christ in a marriage can endure anything...He is our Rock...be blessed, brother
CS
How wonderful to have such a loving and devoted relationship with your husband. I found this Hub very encouraging. I also commend your faith, and the strength you gain from it. Thanks for writting this!
Cathi,
there are days that I feel like an ant climbing a large hill with a load of provisiosn to get me through, but somehow the LORD comes along side me and eases that load. I feel blessed and loved by Him
blessings
CS
CS
Thanks for your comments. As you know I'm new to hub. I just read this "article" and appreciate your faith and honesty. God is real to real people
Tim,
Thanks for stopping by to visit. God is good and indeed very real..
CS
What a truly glorious message of love and faith. You expressed the ineffable. Thank you.
Well hello, James,
Good to see you again. thanks for your encouragement. You are a blessing
CS
anglnwu Level 7 Commenter 2 years ago
Wow, CS, what a touching tribute to your husband. He's a lucky or blessed man, and so are you to have found him. As for me, I struggle daily with an unbelieving husband and have just read a book that helped me to see this whole situation in a totally different light--that this is God's special assignment for me. I never thought of that before!
Anyway, you're a ray of sunshine and I'm sure your husband will agree with this observation via hubvision. Happy anniversary!