Faith. Encouragement. Prayer. Patience. Living with Psoriatic Arthritis

Two things happened on the beach that day. Sometimes the little things are the Big Things . Sunshine on my shoulders.  Oh how things change. I remember the days of sunning at the beach and staying out there for hours.  Of course, I did ridiculous stuff like only wearing Level 4 Sunscreen when I was younger.  Sometimes no sunscreen if I was tanning in the backyard with baby oil.  Really?  It was the 80's y'all - everyone was doing it! Still was so dumb though.  So as an adult I did become smarter about using higher strength sunscreen.  I used 30 SPF at least and sometimes higher. Since my PSa diagnosis and reading about Psoriasis you see so much conflicting information about sunning.  I have read - "Do not get burned - it will give you a flare - your body's immune system will attack" "Do get some sun - it's good for your skin" "Sun gives you Vitamin D - go outside" I could go on - but you have probably read some of the same a...

"These are a few of my Favorite Things" Royal Hojari Frankincense (Boswellia sacra) - imported from Oman  (I ordered from Amazon) So, these little nuggets are very precious.  No wonder the Kings carried it to baby Jesus.  But let me tell you what I like about them the most - the relaxation properties they have when you diffuse them.  Difusse this before bed in your home and you will sleep like a baby.  The best sleep ever.  It also has a great scent - I put a piece of the resin in with coconut or olive oil and dab a little on before bed if I am really stressed or in pain.  Do your own research and you will find many ways to use this resin from the Boswellia tree.  You can burn the resin and it has disinfecting properties when you do so.  I have tried that and it smells nice.  I would not burn this in my home as it smokes very badly.  I tried it on my porch.  I am excited to learn about new ways to use Frankincense an...

TAKE CARE OF YOU - YES, I AM TALKING TO YOU! This may sound odd, but I think it took getting the final diagnosis of Psoriatic Arthritis to realize that  occasionally it is okay to have a little "treat yourself" moment.  Also, it is okay to admit that you are not okay.  If those two sentences caught your attention, well then you might should keep reading . . .  My drive to work can take a while.  I only live about six miles from the office, but a morning commute can take 45 minutes.  So I have time to slow down and think.   I'm not going anywhere real fast.  I'm not multi-tasking.  It's just me, a car and some music . . . and some time with Jesus.   Recently while being stuck in traffic, I had one of those God wink moments.  It was injection day - what a difference a shot can make y'all! So I sort of have an incentive plan for injection day.  To take away my anxiety,  I remind myself that on injection...

I hit a wall. Literally a wall. I had to march around it.   I got nothing.  I read your cry in pain, saw newcomers to the disease.  Could offer some words of encouragement - but I just did not have any to give you.  I was ashamed of myself - I had stated from the beginning of my diagnosis that I would reach out to those hurting and experiencing this disease and offer all the encouragement I could muster up to give them. You see my PSa friends, I have a real heart for your journey.  I want to offer encouragement.  But at  times nothing comes to me to offer you. So I just quietly said a prayer for you when I read your posts in the support groups.   Until today - it came to me what I think someone out there needs to read. God puts you in a circumstance sometimes so that He has a chance to show you something powerful. Yep - I said it.  Struggled with that one.  But I know first hand that the diagnosis of PSa for me has been a...