A Closing Door

Two years ago, I took a job as a graduate assistant for a local non-profit where I began my journey into Public Relations. I learned a lot about PR, marketing, communication and management. I got to write and create brochures, newsletters, Web content and success stories.

My journey with this non-profit is coming to an end today. And it's been an awesome ride. And while I can't say I'll miss all aspects of the job, I can say with gusto that I will miss every single person that works there.

Melody, Stephanie, Kristin, Paula, Stacy, Tiffany, Rhonda, Benson, Brian, Jenny, Susannah, Vakeyia, Debbie, Brian, Shawn and Andrew.

You have all played a part in helping me become the person I am today. Working with you has been an honor. And I can say I love you all to death and would do anything for you. I've had so many good times with each of you. Valuable conversations. Good and bad experiences. Ups and downs. And just plain ole fun.

Who would have thought God would place us on the same team? I am lucky to work with a team of incredibly talented people who care about the greater good of others. Non-profit work makes for a difficult job, and each of you are so driven and work so hard all. the. time.

Thank you for letting me become a part of your work world and real life world. Thank you for letting me stick my nose in your programs to get an assignment done. Thank you for letting me take your pictures even though you hate it. But most of all thank you for becoming my friend and a part of my life. I'm lucky to know such great people.

So please don't look at today as an ending for me. Look at it as a new beginning. I'm going places...and I'm taking parts of each of you with me.

Forget about what's happened; don't keep going over old history. Be alert, be present. I'm about to do something brand new. It's bursting out. Don't you see it? Isaiah 43: 19 The Message Bible


I know what I am doing. I have it all planned out - plans to take care of you, not to abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.  Jeremiah 29:11 The Message Bible

Don't worry about me. I'm God's child. He will take care of me.

The Reactive Hypoglycemic

This is what I know.

 I've taken an intentional break from blogging to get my health situation checked out. The last two weeks has been full of doctors appointments and tests. Not fun at all. I didn't want to write about it until I knew exactly what was going on...hence my hiatus from writing. It's been the only thing on my mind for weeks, but I didn't want to worry you guys.

This is what I know: Part 2.

I have reactive hypoglycemia. Sounds pretty scary...but don't get bent outta shape. First thing's first, I'm not diabetic. Second, I don't have to take medicine or give myself shots. I can regulate my blood sugar with the food I eat.

But let's back up a bit so you can understand what it means to be a reactive hypoglycemic. Last week, I took a four hour blood glucose test. That translates to six individual sticks with a vial of blood each time. One initial stick to take a base reading. Then I drank a large cup of a super sugary orange drink. Then they took my blood at the 30 minute mark, the one hour mark and every hour on the hour for three more hours. (Does that make sense?)

At the hour mark, I had a freak out moment. I felt really sick and light-headed. Like my skin was crawling. And the lady couldn't find my "tiny vein" as she put it. So she proceeded to dig the needle into my skin searching for said vein. I almost threw up. It was bad.

Then there may or may not have been a crying episode where all my anxiety surfaced after said stabbing of the arm. I'm not ashamed. A girl can only take so much before the ultimate breaking point is reached.

Then I was just resigned to my fate of having to give my arms over to them every hour for the stabbing. By the sixth blood draw, my veins had had enough. And I was completely physically and emotionally spent and absolutely starving. I forgot to mention I had been fasting for 12 hours. Yikes.

This is what I know: Part 3.

During said freak out moment mention above in part 2, the nurses checked my blood sugar level and said it was normal.

But here's the thing.

When my blood sugar level is normal, it's too high. My initial level was considerably lower than normal. It jumped up to normal (or high in my case). Then plummeted down to really low again resulting in me being ridiculously tired and weak.

So there you go.

Unlike regular hypoglycemia, reactive hypoglycemia is a result of what you eat. So my diet and how frequently I eat will change significantly. And it will make me feel so much better. For that I am thankful.

So please follow along as I cut out all processed foods, refined sugars and limit my caffeine intake...And watch me learn to eat six small meals a day and the great importance of portion control. It's going to be a journey, and I can't wait to share it with you.

A Prayer of Contentment

"I would rather be what God chose to make me than the most glorious creature that I could think of; for to have been thought about, born in God's thought, and then made by God, is the dearest, grandest, and most precious thing in all thinking."
- George MacDonald

George was on to something, don't you think?

Self Reflections

Yesterday was the first day since Asher was diagnosed that I cried. I had just gotten home from work, and I checked Facebook to see if any updates had been made to The Brooklyn Project. Susan had posted a status on the page, and it wasn't one I had expected.

The bravest little girl in the world just stood there and let me shave her head with zero protest. This child amazes me.


And that was all it took. Waterworks central. Tears rolled down my face, and I just let them. When we found out she was sick, I made a pact with myself to not cry in front of her. And I've kept it. So these tears were three weeks of held-back tears. Talk about a release.

In the midst of my crying, Susan sent me a text of this.

And I lost it again. More tears. How beautiful is she? Look how happy and at ease she is. This child's life has changed drastically in the past three weeks, and she still has the carefree, child-like smile and attitude (for the most part).

In a desperate attempt to get myself together, I went for a lone run at the Big Dam Bridge. And I was blessed with the most wonderful inner peace.

All was right. My mind was quiet. My worries ceased. It was just me, the sound of my feet on the pavement and my easy breathing. The most perfect run.

I could have ran for days. Or at least it seemed like it. But it was getting dark quick so I called it quits when I hit the 5K mark.

As I drove home, I reveled in post-run glory and thanked the Father over and over for giving me just what I needed. What I've been needing for a long time. And He delivered just at the right time. How sneaky and perfect is that?

"Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way." 
Colossians 3:15-17 The Message Bible.


Today's the day I begin working on cultivating thankfulness in all areas of my life. Asher's diagnosis has taught me patience and perseverance. But Asher, the old soul trapped in a three-year-old body, has taught me to keep moving forward through the bad moments and to be thankful and happy for the good moments. This is only the beginning...So many more lessons to learn from her. #Godisgood


What has she taught you? Leave a comment if you'd like to share.

Pixie Hairs Everywhere

I got to hang out with Asher yesterday. She got some new Princess dresses. Talk about excited. The kid was so overjoyed that she scream for about 15 minutes straight when I got to her house last night. She was so excited to be home.

And then she passed out on top of her Big Giant Bear, which is basically the cutest thing I've ever seen.

As of now, Asher is home until Wednesday. Then she will go in for blood count checks. If all is well, she will be admitted to start the three day Round Two of chemo. Yep, you heard it right. Three weeks have passed. And it's time for another round of chemo.

Do you remember me talking about Kathy and her necklaces? These necklaces...

Kathy, being the awesome, creative person she is, has created bubble gum pink bracelets for those of you who would rather have a piece of jewelry other than a necklace.

If you are interested in the bubble gum pink bracelets, please e-mail me at ashten.adamson@gmail.com, and I will forward your order on to Kathy. Kathy will confirm your order and tell you all about payment. In order for us to do this, please leave some form of contact information with me (e-mail address preferably) to Kathy can get in touch with you.

Seventy-five percent of the funds raised by the bracelets, just like the necklaces, will be donated to the Asher Ray Benefit Fund.

So shoot me an e-mail if you want in on this. We can make it happen.

Also, I signed up for the St. Jude half marathon about two weeks before we found out Asher had Ewing's Sarcoma. So I'm now running for my soon-to-be bald sweet baby Asher, as well as all the other sweet bald babies at St. Jude. (Speaking of a balding Asher...Her hair is starting to fall out quite a bit. Little pixie hairs everywhere.)

Part of my journey with the St. Jude's half marathon consists of not only training for the race but also fundraising for St. Jude's through the St. Jude's Hero program. I'm over halfway to my goal. If you'd like to help me out, visit my fundraising page to donate. Any amount no matter the size will help children just like Asher.

Update: Low White Blood Cell Count

You Prayer Warriors have been out praying in full force this weekend. Thank you so much. Really I can't say that enough. On Friday, Asher was put back in the hospital for a fever. After checking her counts, we found out she had basically bottomed out, which was to be expected after the first chemo treatment.

The first few days back in the hospital were full of fever ups and downs, blood count checks and things like that. Visitors were limited because germs of any kind would be detrimental to Asher's health right now because white blood cells fight infection. These last few days the sweet girl has been more like herself. I saw her on Sunday and she was just like normal...minus the ever-present Daphne.

The update as of this morning was her white blood cell count needs to be at 500, and they are currently at 376. So please pray for a speedy recovery so Asher can get back on her feet and out and about.

In other news:

Kelley Freeland of Afternoon Frolic is donating 50 percent of her jewelry sales for the month of June to the Asher Ray Benefit Fund.

Kelley's handmade jewelry and photography prints can be purchased at www.afternoonfrolic.com.

Visit Kelley's Web site to view the pieces she has for sale, and place an order if you like what you see. It's for a good cause, I promise.

Also...

If you ordered a necklace from Kathy, (here is a link to the post about Kathy's necklaces) she is working on them. Kathy's son was recently in a car accident so if you haven't heard from her yet, you will very soon. Please pray her son and their family as he makes his recovery. If you didn't leave your contact information (an e-mail address or phone number) with me, please do so. Kathy will contact you as a follow up for your order.

And...

I know you guys have been seeing the pink, purple and blue Asher bracelets. We are currently waiting on another shipment. And once I get them, I will distribute them to the wonderful people who are getting them out there to the mass of supporters. Please hang tight. I promise we will get them to you.

If you have any questions regarding Kelley, Kathy and/or the Asher bracelets, please feel free to contact me. I will put you in touch with whoever you need to talk to, and I will do my best to get things squared away for you. My e-mail address is ashten.adamson@gmail.com, or you can find me on Facebook.

Have a great Tuesday! #prayforAsher