The climb

Happy Wednesday evening,

How are you all doing on this beautiful night? John and I just came in from watching the sunset. Boy was is stunning. Photos will be below. I hope you enjoy them. I can promise you one thing. The photos don’t do His work justice.

I promised you all an update on my blood work, so as of now this is all I know. The GI doctor is suspicious that I am bleeding internally. She said it’s like a drip. Small leak. Funny, my ceiling had the same type of leak. A small pin hole leak that wrecked havoc on not only our home, but on our life.

We are reminding ourselves daily that we have so much more to be grateful for and this is just another obstacle that is trying to break us. It’s been a very trying few weeks. We’re three weeks into this mess and hopeful tomorrow the mold test will clear and then the containment can come down and we can get to rebuilding the kitchen. Fingers crossed.

As far as me? I spoke to my doctor who forgot that I had a hysterectomy 20 years ago. She said low iron is normal for menopausal women, or at least it’s not unheard of. Through our conversation when I reminded her of my hysterectomy and as she navigated more of my blood work she promptly ordered me to have a patency test followed by a capsule endoscopy. I start the testing on Monday. Apparently, my iron levels are so low that it could mean I’ll need to start iron infusions in the very near future.

Today many of you lit the fire under my boot again for writing. I mean, I haven’t lost my wish and passion for writing, it’s just with the crazy, I have felt myself straying again. Maybe the Universe is challenging me to see if I’ll take my gifts as far as my imagination will allow. Or, will I make excuses for not following through.

I feel like I’ve been here one time too many. The stuck. The not knowing where to begin. The self-doubt, but thanks to many of you and thanks to my online professor, I can feel the desire burning extremely hot within me to write and become published.

My subscriber count here on Word Press has gone way up, yet more importantly, the compliments have been so heartwarming.

My professor in my creative writing class said to me after one graded assignment in which I scored a 98, he said I’m a really good writer. Another blogger and author, Carolyn Haynes said my writing is inspirational. The support I receive from Mary K. Doyle and my friends over at The Hometown Herald along with many many others has and is overwhelming in the best way possible. Family and friends are always encouraging me to write. Out of the blue the other day I received a text from a dear friend that said, “Good morning. While reading today, this statement made me think of you: The world needs your words. Keep on writing Dawn.”

Tonight as I was listening to a couple songs that another blogger posted made me feel inspired. When I finished listening to the song and after watching the video I knew this was a message I needed to hear in the context of what’s happening in my home and life right now. I need to keep fighting to be the best writer I can possibly be. Taking classes. Joining a writers guild. I won’t let my focus sway to far from my goals. Despite the obstacles and challenges of going through the restoration process, I am grateful that I can come home and watch the sunset. Take a ride on the golf cart. Spend some time with friends and neighbors. Sit on the patio with John.

Below is the song my fellow blogger and friend posted. I’m leaving her name off this post for now. She’s dealing with some not so nice things and I don’t want to draw any more attention to her. She needs some peace. But, I do want to thank her for openly and honestly sharing what’s she’s dealing with and despite her pain, she still finds a way to inspire her readers. Thank you friend.

After the fight song was over the next song to come up on my feed was The Climb by Miley Cyrus. Below are the lyrics. These songs and the lyrics spoke to the depths of my soul and I hope they speak to you too.

Life is a climb. “Keep on moving, keep climbing, Keep the faith, baby. It’s all about, it’s all about the climb. Keep your faith, keep your faith”

“I can almost see it
That dream I’m dreaming
But there’s a voice inside my head saying
You’ll never reach it

Every step I’m taking
Every move I make feels
Lost with no direction
My faith is shaking

But I, I gotta keep trying
Gotta keep my head held high

There’s always gonna be another mountain
I’m always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I’m gonna have to lose
Ain’t about how fast I get there
Ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side
It’s the climb

The struggles I’m facing
The chances I’m taking
Sometimes might knock me down, but
No, I’m not breaking

I may not know it
But these are the moments, that
I’m gonna remember most, yeah
Just gotta keep going

And I, I gotta be strong
Just keep pushing on, ’cause

There’s always gonna be another mountain
I’m always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes I’m gonna have to lose
Ain’t about how fast I get there
Ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side
It’s the climb

Yeah

There’s always gonna be another mountain
I’m always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes you’re gonna have to lose
Ain’t about how fast I get there
Ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side
It’s the climb
Yeah, yeah

Keep on moving, keep climbing
Keep the faith, baby
It’s all about, it’s all about the climb
Keep your faith, keep your faith
Whoa”

I can almost see my dreams coming true, how about you?

If you’re struggling right now I hope this song will lite some fire under your boot too.

One things for sure. I don’t ever want to look back at the end of my life and regret the things I didn’t do or that I did do for that matter.

John keeps encouraging me to start my YouTube channel. I’m told, “just start.” The fear of being on camera, it’s just that, a fear. So I might as well get going with that too.

I am beyond blessed to have so many people around the world encouraging me to write and to keep writing. I just had a dear friend ask me to write something about her newly published books. She’s an incredible author who is asking me to write something about her works. Compliment overload.

Because of all of you, His message is reaching me in leaps and bounds. WRITE! TELL YOUR STORY! DO IT NOW!

Message received. Message heard. Message taken to heart.

It’s been a climb to get here.

“There’s always gonna be another mountain
I’m always gonna wanna make it move
Always gonna be an uphill battle
Sometimes you’re gonna have to lose
Ain’t about how fast I get there
Ain’t about what’s waiting on the other side
It’s the climb”.

It’s all about the climb and the journey. It’s taken a lifetime to get to this point and it will take the rest of my lifetime to reach the top, but I am working on focusing on my climb instead of my obstacles.

People come into our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime. Some family and friends I thought for sure would be a lifetime, but I’m beginning to realize that’s not always the case. I’ve learned so much from these friends and forever they will be in my heart. Sometimes on our way to the top of the mountain those along side us chose a different path and that’s okay. Maybe that’s what Miley was saying in her song, “sometimes you’re gonna have to lose”.

To reach our dreams and the dreams we don’t even know we have, there will always be an uphill battle, but the climb is so worth it, even when we don’t see it.

Well guys, tomorrow is an extra early morning for me. I need to grab an oil change for John before heading to San Diego for another doctors appointment. UGH, 4:30 is not my ideal time to wake up, but I will make the most of it.

Sleep tight my dear friends. Until next time, don’t forget, Love Life++ Hugs.