I apologize it has been so long since I’ve posted here. We have had a number of unexpected happenings including illness, accidents and funerals of loved ones. I neglected this blog and as you may know, the longer we repeat a new habit or neglect an old one, the more it gets dehydrated.

A lot of caregiving has been going on and with that, investigation into different natural remedies which are working like homeopathics, red light, and lazer treatments.

Meanwhile, I’ve still been writing fifteen minutes at a time at night, had several articles published in magazines such as Today’s Christian Living and Guideposts Angels on Earth.

I’ve procrastinated for years about finishing a guide for people caregiving those with difficult personalities.

An unexpected quote by Dolly Parton led me to pray and type for two days to finish Unexpected Grace – God’s interventions for me as I navigated caregiving our mom was contracted recently by Elk Lake Publishing, Inc.

When I read how Dolly Parton let go her personal health and life (cancelling appointments and ignoring symptoms) while caregiving her husband, I thought this is what is going to happen to me if I don’t make some changes. I took a look around me and began noticing that too many ‘things’ were in my way to clearing time to write, so I began asking grandchildren if they want things I no longer use. That released a couple carloads of physical things. I changed my sleep schedule to actually sleep more. (Since Ken fell, doctor encouraged him to rest more so while he was sleeping I’d cook, clean, do laundry, and work on finances). That focus replaced time with lymphedema leg pumps, bone density vibrator platform, and other health giving habits. Recently when we were on a tele-visit with one of Ken’s health teams (Radiant Homeopathy) one of them made a remark about my frequent yawning and suggested I evaluate my own health habits, including reducing high glysophate foods and getting outside every day (preferably at least 10 minutes every hour or so), and drinking more water, so I’m now on a pitcher a day along with Ken.

The intense schedule after Ken’s fall took over our lives for several months, and as I took over the things he used to do I kept feeling like I was missing something. Though we laughed a lot as I’d ask what else he used to do, he’d answer tongue-in-cheek that he ‘can’t remember what he forgot’, the something arose as I went to close the blinds and a branch fell off a nearby Christmas Cactus. I looked around, startled and dismayed. It wasn’t just me that was dehydrated. All the plants were either dead, or close to it. We had a plant ‘clinic’ for 2 days, repotting, removing, and developing a plan to keep them alive by adding a trigger to the calendar for twice a month plant monitoring.

Recovery has been steady for both the plants and us, and I appreciate your patience and prayers.

Just as the plants, not being watered frequently enough, got parched and dehydrated, we too, being exhausted and drained, become spiritually as well as physically dehydrated.

3 John 1:2 says Dear friend, I hope all is well with you and that you are as healthy in body as you are strong in spirit. (NLT)

The body and the soul are connected. That scripture always reminds me of Elijah and his depression after a great victory. (1 Kings 19:9-14) God treated his physical needs first. Conquering the dehydration of the body strengthens the spirit. Another ‘treatment’ for Elijah’s spiritual dehydration was to ‘go’. To stop focusing on himself but to take some action to move out of the dehydration pit. Going to help someone else always lifts me. Drinking more water and taking a nap help Ken to rehydrate the body so the soul can go.

That is where we are at – rehydrating.

Have you ever felt dehydrated body or soul or both? What did you do to rehydrate?