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A Faith in Jesus

“Faith!”
Photo by Zac Durant on Unsplash

These days, there are a bazillion ways to get help with what ails you! From medications to meditations, exercises to yoga, man-made devices to holistic therapies to psychological. The list could go on and on and on but I think you get my point. These days, Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) patients have plenty of choices.

While I have had to use some medications over the years to keep me from having too much pain, needle-nerve pain is the worst, it is not usually my first choice. Needle-nerve pain feels like a thousand needles prickling me. However, I have not had to take any medication for muscle pain which thrills me to no end.

My first resource when dealing with the pain, new or old, is to call on the name of “Jesus!” Yes, “Jesus!” Sometimes I repeat “Jesus” several times. And, not at all in a profane way, as some might do. I pray that He helps me to get through the challenges of the pain. He does but in many different ways -that’s for another post. Sometimes the pain returns but He is there with me to help me with it too.

Many people will ask, “well, if Jesus can help with the pain, why doesn’t He stop it?” I have to say, “I do not know the answer to that question. When I ask Him He doesn’t always answer that question. One time, I learned it was because a friend needed to see His Power. However, I trust Him and have seen His Mighty Power help me so many times it’s an incredibly awesome experience. Also, many years ago, the serious pain I was suffering led a girlfriend to become a Christian. To me, that is worth it all. While I cannot explain everything in the Bible or how God works, I would say to be careful around someone who tells you they have all the answers to your questions. If someone claims to have all the answers, RUN!

I have a simple strong faith. My faith isn’t ground in having all the answers. It is ground in the Promise that Jesus says He will never leave or forsake me. I trusted Him with my life many years ago and He has NEVER EVER let me down. And, He never will!

If you would like to learn more about the Christian Faith, Jesus, God, and the Bible, please visit Peace With God.

Happy Spring!

(C) Isaiah Jacobs

While Summer is my favorite season, Spring is the close second. It means time for me to get outside much more often. Also, I plan to begin a new exercise routine this season since Deep Water Aerobics was cancelled and never restarted.

If you remember from a previous post, I started a routine this winter using a Bemer Group product (no affiliation, more about it later) which helped tremendously with the cold weather. My current thought is to start biking. It will help my legs to get more exercise and something for me to do outside!

I am planning to explore my universe with my new dog more this spring and summer. There are several places that I can go railfanning so we will explore them as well as hike a few battlefields!

How do you celebrate Spring? Any new exercise routines? Please share in the comments below!

Daylight Saving Time Begins!

(C) 2021, Isaiah Jacobs

A-h-h-h-h Spring! According to the calendar, the first day of Spring is next Saturday, March 20! Tomorrow begins Daylight Saving Time once again! For that, I am happy! Why? It usually means the really cold weather is gone, no more snow or ice storms, and warmer weather is on the way. We have had some snowstorms in late March, I remember a few in early April too, but they melt away very fast- a great way to celebrate snow, here today and gone tomorrow.

Being retired from a career of 33 years and having more time at home, my schedule has changed to where I can be outside more than ever before. The time change means the days will be warmer soon and I can get out with my dog to enjoy whenever I want which is a blessing!

Don’t forget-

Spring forward

One hour before bed tonight!

Charcot-Marie-Tooth, COVID-19, and Frustrations

“Coronavirus!”
Photo by Glen Carrie on Unsplash

Well, if I were a betting man, I would be richer today than I was a year ago. Why do I say all that? Somehow, I knew COVID-19 was going to be an issue with its lockdown nonsense at least into the election season. Most people seriously doubted me. As more stringent lockdowns began in some parts of the country, my frustrations continue as the “lockdowns” have harmed more people than we really know.

While I understand the need to be careful because of a virus. I’m not seeing where any pre-cautions are any different than those I was taught as a very young boy probably soon after birth! My mother taught me not to put my hands in or on my mouth, do not pick my nose but use a tissue, do not cough into my right hand since you might shake someone’s hand, wash your hands frequently and often (I know, right?!), stay away from people who are coughing or have a cold. Common sense health care, right? Right.

My first and foremost frustration is how diligently I worked for many years, probably close to twenty, to help me feel better and stay ahead of Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT). It’s been proven that if you stay active, you can slow the effects of CMT, though not truly stop it or cure you. I have been careful not to be lazy or take the easy way out with many aspects of life so I would stay active. When the governor of Virginia closed everything in the wake of COVID-19, it really upset me because he was messing with my health- along with many others.

Back in 2006, while in physical therapy sessions I learned quite a few exercises to help me with some pain. At the same time, I had started taking Deep Water Aerobics (DWA) classes. It wasn’t long before I connected the exercises in the physical therapy to the exercises in DWA and realized it could be very beneficial to continue taking the DWA classes. After that, I made sure not to miss any classes as it was more fun than going to physical therapy. In the time prior to the COVID shutdowns of March 2020, I never missed more than a few classes at a time. Now, it’s been about a year.

Thankfully, during the summer of 2020, I was able to use a friend’s pool to workout. Thanks to my brilliant Deep Water Aerobics Instructors who provided excellent instruction prior to COVID and provided me an instruction list to a workout routine. Also, I took up riding my bicycle every day along with walking my dog. This routine helped me through to the fall season when it finally got to cold to swim or ride my bike.

Since it doesn’t seem like my DWA classes at the local fitness center will ever start up again, I inquired about personal training sessions. However, the classes would be very expensive, possibly unreliable with the whims of the politicians these days, and there would be no use of the locker room to change. Not good. I could change in the hallway bathroom but I am not too interested in sharing my naked self with the world as I just knew the door would open at an inopportune time. The other choice was to go home in a wet bathing suit. For me, CMT affects my nerves which happens to NOT mix well with cold water and winter weather. A recipe for nerve issues and becoming ill. So it didn’t work out.

Fortunately for me, I have learned to pay quite a bit of attention to my body and what I do to make it feel better or worse. I learned that continuing to have my massage therapy and chiropractor sessions, but spaced at least a week apart, and scheduling every three weeks would mean minimal discomfort.

The blessing in all of this frustration is coming, I believe. My massage therapist is always on the lookout or learning new ways to help people feel better. Not too long after my frustrations of no Deep Water Workouts began, she introduced me to a new type of therapy called “Bemer.” Since it is what I call holistic, meaning no medications involved, I was willing to try it.

My journey into using the Bemer product to help me feel better with guidance from my massage therapist has begun. I will share updates as I can.

Please remember, my experiences are my own and cannot be guaranteed to provide you with the same results. CMT affects each person differently. Discuss any exercise routines or products with your doctor.

Merry Christmas!

(C) 2020, Isaiah Jacobs

MERRY CHRISTMAS! I enjoy the Christmas season with all its decorations and beautiful music. I have quite a few memories of Christmases from my childhood with my parents who made the season a special time. My parents taught me that Christmas is more than gifts and decorations.

Most of all, I am very thankful for the Birth of Jesus Christ, for His saving me from my sins, and for the Promise of eternal life in heaven when I die. The Christmas season to me is a celebration of His Birth, especially Christmas Day! The greatest Christmas Gift ever was God sending His Son Jesus as a Baby to be born on earth and live among people. At the early age of 36, Jesus was crucified on a rugged cross for our sins. It’s hard for me to believe that God or Jesus would care enough for me and where I spend eternity to do that for me. BUT, He did.

A great resource to learn more about God’s Plan of Salvation for man is Peace With God.

What…Cancel Christmas???

“Glory to God in the Highest … the Nativity”
Photo by David Beale on Unsplash

Christmas is such an amazing time of year, a time when people smile at each other no matter how long the line is to make their purchase. A time when people look for the perfect tree or the perfect gift. A time when delicious smells waft through kitchens all around the world.

Now I hear that Christmas might be canceled. I find that hard to believe. However, with our government closing stores, restaurants, not allowing large gatherings for birthday parties, funerals, etc., Christmas most certainly seems like it will be next.

We look forward to hearing that one special song that, for each one of us, says…”Christ is coming.” Christmas carolers, Christmas pies, Christmas stockings, and Christmas lights, will this be the year they disappear?

Trees, wreaths, cookies, stars, presents, what says Christmas to you? When you see a bright star in the sky does that make you think of our Savior’s birth? Do you ever tire of hearing the story of Jesus’ birth with Mary and Joseph, the shepherds, and the Maji?

Shepherds, now there was a motley crew. Working with sheep is a smelly dirty job. And dressing for work would not have to do with putting on your best duds. Then one night as the shepherds bedded down the sheep and were sitting around a fire, something amazing happened. An angel appeared and the previously dark sky was alive with light. They cowered in fear, but then the angel said, “fear not” and the fear left them and they became still and listened. And what a story the angel would tell these shepherds, not the people in town, not the merchants, not even the rabbi, God chose shepherds to hear the glorious message of the Birth of His Son. How appropriate as His Son would come to be known as the Great Shepherd.

Cancel Christmas…I don’t think so, for the spirit of Christmas lives in you.

Let’s share the joy, the hope, and the love of Christmas with everyone we meet.

To learn about Jesus Birth and the Christian life, please visit Peace With God.

About the author: Kim Kirby is a writer and lives in Virginia.  Her writing reflects her belief and faith in Jesus.  She enjoys spending time in the outdoors, especially the mountains.

Finding A Hobby, Part 2

“NS 8081 leads through the Shenandoah Valley”
Photo by Brian Breeden on Unsplash

As I mentioned in my previous post, Finding a Hobby, Part 1, I think people who have a disability, especially Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT), should find a hobby to occupy their time helping to keep their minds from focusing on their health problems. Hobbies distract from thinking about the aches, pains, and what you cannot do. I started using hobbies to deter my attention several years ago and will probably continue forever. It has allowed me to explore the world!

When I retired, I moved to an area near where I grew up. On moving day, I was pleasantly surprised to hear train horns in the distance. I had forgotten about the trains. How could I? There weren’t trains near my previous home, I was busy with life including my marriage, a career, and trying to stay ahead of CMT.

After settling into my home, and hearing more train horns, I became interested in seeing trains roar by so I started exploring the area. I quickly found places where I could safely, and legally, watch trains go by and photograph too.

I became interested in trains as a young boy by spending time every summer at my grandmother’s house in West Virginia and living near the Southern Railway. She lived across the street from the mainline of the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway. To me, besides hanging out with my grandmother, the trains were the greatest highlight of my summer. It didn’t hurt that I lived not far from the railroad tracks of the Southern Railway where I often heard train horns, including whistles from steam engines.

So I dove deep into the Railfanning hobby doing as much as I could possibly do. I met some great people who enjoyed the hobby immensely. I learned how to chase trains, where great train watching locations are throughout Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. I found some great websites, a few historical societies, and several magazines which provided me with a wealth of railfanning information about trains and railroads. I was hooked. I learned how to use technology to determine when a train could be coming by and how to get to the tracks in time to see it.

Since I cannot always drop what I am doing to go watch trains, I found two great streaming websites where I can watch trains from around the country. One offers streaming from other countries. I subscribed to Railstream and began streaming trains on my devices any time I want. The other site, which I haven’t subscribed to yet is Virtual Railfan. Virtual Railfan offers free views of some cameras on their YouTube channel too.

I enjoy this hobby immensely. However, it wasn’t too long before I was overwhelmed. This happens with CMT people. A hobby shouldn’t overwhelm. So much to learn, so much information coming at me, and so much stuff fellow railfanning guys said that I had to know, it took the fun out of the hobby. So I took a step back. I don’t want to be “overwhelmed” with a hobby as it’s supposed to prevent me from being “overwhelmed” with my disability.

After much thought about how I can enjoy the hobby without it being overwhelming, I took a step back and tried to determine what I like best about railfanning and trains. For me, I don’t think I need to know every single detail in the entire universe of every single train which goes through every single community and train-watching location that I could watch throughout the entire universe. Nope. I just want to enjoy watching the trains go by, creating videos, and photographing. I have found Classic Trains and Trains Magazine to be my favorite publications. These magazines have websites where subscribers can learn more about trains. Also, the publications of the Chesapeake and Ohio Historical Society and the Railway and Locomotive Historical Society are my favorite as they are well-written publications aiding the person new to the hobby to understand much more.

My point is to find a hobby that you enjoy. Decide what you enjoy about it and get into it. If you should get discouraged about your symptoms of CMT, get into your hobby to make time to relax. However, do not use it as an escape to a point of neglecting your health and not seeing your doctor or following their advice.

Black Friday Sales and Charcot-Marie-Tooth

“Black Friday Savings Sale!”
Photo by Artem Beliaikin on Unsplash

When I was younger, many decades ago now, I enjoyed going shopping to find the perfect Christmas presents for friends and family. In later years, especially for my wife. However, each year it became more challenging for me to go to the malls and shop. As most people with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) know, the disease is progressive and always changing adding a new challenge.

In the early years of life, I didn’t understand that these changes were happening nor did I realize that they would cause everyday tasks or stuff like Christmas shopping to become so challenging. Of course, this was back in the day when there wasn’t as much information about CMT as we only had what the doctors knew. I remember looking it up in the encyclopedia to find a short paragraph.

My type of CMT causes issues with the nerves. Yes, most of CMT does that, but some types have more nerve-based problems. Now that I understand that, I am understanding why finding a parking place and going shopping at the malls or stores have become so challenging. It literally is an exhaustingly tiring task which is a chore to do. Make sense? At first, I thought it was that I was getting lazy or even apathetic.

So what to do? Back decades ago, I would plan to get my Christmas shopping done early with the goal of having it all done by December 1 at the latest. This worked great! I didn’t have the crowds to maneuver nor was finding a parking place a challenge. I could easily go to the stores or mall and shop and leave.

However, over the years my health progressively got worse and it became more of a challenge to go to the malls or other stores too. Of course, I was hugely blessed by being able to go with someone else. I needed to begin finding a much easier way to purchase gifts.

For a few years, as physical challenges became a problem, I bought many friends gift cards to their favorite stores. That worked for most people, but there were always a few who were insulted because they didn’t understand my issues about shopping. And, I have always kept my health issues personal. Cash can work too.

A few years ago, I began to realize that shopping online was a great resource for people like me who find going to the stores very challenging. I can usually pick out what I want without too much hassle. I like that I can view the product, read the descriptions, and in some cases read reviews from others who purchased. Of course, you have to be careful with that because some people complain about everything and give bad reviews or comments just to do so. I use the comments when I am not sure if a product is what I want. Sometimes it helps. For a few people, I will ask them if they show me what they would like online. I like that I can order it and have it delivered to my home. These days, in most cases, you can save the shipping and handling charges and pick it up in the parking lot of the store. Picking up at the store keeps you from having to walk through the store and there are usually plenty of parking spaces reserved for online orders.

Happy Thanksgiving! Be Thankful!

(C) 2020, Isaiah Jacobs

This year, 2020, has been a very rough year for many people. However, despite some of its challenges, there can be some positive things if you look for them. I have had a rough year too, but I focused on the positive. Here are a few thoughts.

While my Service Dog passed away this past summer season. He was my bestest friend going everywhere with me. He helped me tremendously with the many challenges of Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT). After quite a bit of researching, searching, looking, meeting and greeting, applying to adopt, I have been able to find another dog who will keep me company, take me for long walks, and be the “dog happiness” in my life that only a dog can provide. Eventually, she will be able to help me with my health struggles. I will share more about that later. It is an example though of something positive this year.

Another positive to be thankful for this year is for my wife and her health. She has had some serious health problems in 2020. I am thankful for her positive attitude during the doctor’s visits and subsequent treatments. She has a faith in God which truly was shown throughout her struggles. Also, I am extremely thankful that her treatments were done close to home without any trips to a major city. My concern is my challenges with driving and having to take her to the city. Though I would have done it, I am thankful I only had to do it once.

During the medical treatments for my wife. our church family and a few friends helped make the situation so much easier by being there for her and one family took to us to dinner just before each treatment. It’s one of those PRICELESS things for which I am thankful. Each time, they brought a smile to my wife’s face. For that, I am thankful.

Yes, 2020 has been very challenging. It seems that every day brought new frustrations. BUT, as I said, look for the positive! It might take a few minutes to find it but you will.

“May you have a blessed Thanksgiving

with your family and friends!

God Bless!“