Muscular Dystrophy – Page 3

Charcot-Marie-Tooth: Baseball Caps

“Man Wearing a Baseball Cap”
Photo by Alano Oliveira on Unsplash

I think baseball caps are one of the greatest inventions! If you have trouble getting comfortable from irritating nerves and keeping warm during cooler or cold weather, you might learn to love baseball caps too.

As you may know, Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT), as well as neuropathy and other diseases can make colder weather almost impossible to be comfortable. For me, when I get cold, my nerves begin to go, what I like to call, haywire. It often feels like I am starting to get cold. However, it is a nerve cold feeling rather than actually cold. The problem happens in warm weather too when I have been in air conditioning too long. Or, when I walk down the grocery refrigeration aisle. I have to completely stay away from those huge refrigeration units such as those at Costco. Sitting in front of an air-conditioning vent or wall unit will cause problems too.

Years ago now, I was dealing with my body feeling very uncomfortable all the time in the winter months. From a physical standpoint, there wasn’t much I could do about it as it’s a symptom of CMT. I found that I could wear a lightweight T-shirt and shorts around the house to ease the clothing discomfort but definitely not outside in winter. When I went out, I wore the typical shirt and khakis, but I needed something else.

At first, I tried wearing a knit hat but it turned to be itchy and hot. Too much for my comfort. Also, it felt odd wearing a knit hat indoors. And, hat head was horrible, especially since I tend to allow my hair to grow long in the colder months. It would stick straight up, which was embarrassing in those moments when I would want to take it off inside a building.

Not long after, I began wearing baseball caps. I quickly learned that the baseball cap kept my head warm, kept cool breezes off my head, and settled my nerves down too. I began a journey of being comfortable when going outside in the cold weather. It helped with the indoor chills too.

However, a few problems arise from wearing baseball hats especially indoors. I hadn’t given much thought to the fact that wearing baseball caps indoors is against proper manners. A few elderly people let me know that it was rude. Since I am not one to be rude, nor to insult others, this bothered me. However, there became a choice I had to make, either I wore the hats when I went out, inside and outside as needed, or I quit socializing and going out to places where it could be a problem. I determined that it was best for me to explain to those elderly people close to me why I have the need to wear the baseball caps. That never really settled the problem for some of them but I wanted to do it to be polite.

Another annoyance with baseball caps is they smush my hair! There are times when I can take off the hat and be comfortable. However, the most annoying problem with them is “hat-head!” So, I don’t look like someone who just crawled out of hibernation, I try to fluff my hair, get my wife to look at it, making myself somewhat presentable.

Today, I wear baseball hats, inside and outside, from the first beginning of cooler weather until it gets too hot and uncomfortable. I have noticed when I am at home, I can be more comfortable wearing a baseball hat.

Buy baseball caps which represent YOU. For me, when I wear something, it needs to represent me. So, baseball caps that have stupid or rude quotes or sayings on them, do not work for me. I won’t wear something that says “I’m with Stupid!” or “Stupid is with me” or anything profane or vulgar. Not only is that not my style, what if I happen to be out, need a cap and the only one handy has the quote, “I’m with Stupid” and I’m with my wife. Never would I say that nor imply it so why own it. Also, I’m not a walking billboard for some company so I steer clear of those unless its a hobby or a clothing label I like to wear that has a clean-styled baseball hat.

A collection of baseball caps. Over the years, I have managed to collect hundreds of baseball caps. Some of them are plain which I keep handy for those days when I am walking my dog or doing some household chore which could get the hat messed up. Those hats are ones that have been given to me at some event or something. A buddy got a free cap at some computer event he attended.

Most of my baseball hat collection consists of hats from places I have been, the Great Smoky Mountains, Shenandoah National Park, Iceland, Alaska, Africa, and the list goes on. I have an interest in railroading and its history, so I have a few hats with railroading logos.

I am passionate about God, dogs, and cats. My hat collection representing my faith in God is a bit limited right now. This is mostly because I am very picky about design and quotes of the Christian faith. I look for something very creative which has a quote I can support or believe without question. When I was younger, some men wore Christian hats which were the nerdiest geeky designs with awful quotes. To me, there were an awful representation of a awesome God. I look for something powerful.

If you know me or were to meet me, it would become quite evident that I have a strong passion for dogs and cats. I had a dog for nearly twelve years that helped me more than I can explain in this post with my health problems. He became a best friend. I have learned to love cats too, and to let them love me when they feel like it. I have a few hats with the quotes, “Woof” and “Meow” which I proudly wear.

I stay away from hats with quotes for causes or politics. I typically don’t wear hats with quotes or logos or designs on them which represent a cause or anything political. I am not interested in chatting with someone I don’t know about my views and thoughts on a particular cause or issue. Nor do I care to bring attention to myself. Why? I am doing my best to walk to wherever I am going and get done whatever I’ve set out to do. I cannot stand in one place for very long without some pain or discomfort. I don’t care to do that and bring it on myself. If I want to express my thoughts on a cause or issue, there are other places to do it which may reach a wider audience.

Colors… I used to be very interested in wearing what was in style and making all the colors match or at least not be too awful to look at. For those occasions when I want to be sure I look presentable, I have a few hats in colors that will match something I’d wear to a social event or church. Today, I’m colorful, love everything as colorful as possible, so I’m not quite as picky about which I wear.

To mesh or not has become the first question when purchasing a hat. Mesh? It’s the plastic backing used to make the back of a baseball cap. Many hats are made this way, but, there are some with a cloth backing. I tend to like the cloth ones better because they don’t make me look like Elmer Fudd or someone with a huge forehead that I am trying to cover up with a hat.

Cold? Trying to just be comfortable from all the nerve issues, try baseball caps.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth: Finding a Massage Therapist

“Professional Massage Therapist”
Photo by Ryutaro Tsukata

To my disappointment, I have to begin the challenging journey again to find a massage therapist. It’s been around five years since I had to do this. In the nearly twenty years that I have been using massage therapy for Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT), this will be my fourth therapist.

I began using massage therapy to help with muscle cramping, muscular and nerve discomfort, and what I call constricting – it feels like something is drawing the muscle together causing awful pain particularly in the feet. The therapy has proven to be effective in keeping me moving and enjoying life. Since I have been seeing a massage therapist, the pain has reduced nearly eighty-five hundred percent. However, I confess this has been because I have a session every three weeks. I saw my first therapist every week for several weeks, maybe even months until I got comfortable with every two weeks. Then, it was a gradual move to three weeks. Currently, I am still at every three weeks but I am aiming for four weeks with the new therapist.

First and foremost, when I look for a massage therapist, I am looking for someone who is certified medical massage therapist. I do not want a pleasure massage which you can book at a spa, beauty salons, gyms, and the like. While most of those are great for those who need it, I need the professional trained in medical massage, more specifically Deep Tissue Massage.

A recent consideration I had to make was whether I wanted to meet with a male or a female massage therapist. This time, I gave it some thought because there is a male massage therapist in a local town who is supposed to be one of the best massage therapists in the area. I have always used a female massage therapist as I find them willing to listen to my needs to help me accomplish them. Also, until I saw this guy listed with a local shop, there weren’t any male massage therapists with any reviews. For me, I decided I would consider him if the others didn’t work out. It’s really your comfort level or preferences.

An important consideration is how far I want to drive to the massage therapist’s practice. Where I live, it isn’t uncommon to drive a distance for products and services. However, there is always a “traffic factor” in going anywhere. Since driving isn’t a favorite pastime anymore, I decided to try and find someone as close to me as possible. Also, in my experience, I can be very wiped out and sore after a massage session. Therefore, driving becomes a even more of a challenge that I do not enjoy. Since I am retired, it’s easier to make appointments to miss the traffic.

Doing an internet search and asking your medical professional may provide some good leads on a massage therapist. Be aware that many primary care physicans aren’t very supportive of massage therapists and their work. Part of it is the lack of documentation for its benefits.

My first question when speaking with a person is whether they are certified to perform medical massage therapy specifically the “Deep Tissue Massage.” Also, I will share a little bit about why I need it. Since I don’t care to go into a lot of details on the phone, I’ll typically share that I have a form of muscular dystrophy with which massage has helped me live comfortably. If the person seems like they may be someone I can consider, they will ask more questions and I will share more with them. I have had a few candidates tell me they aren’t the therapist for me. Also, I like to ask about their licensing and credentials. Are they should be willing to learn more about their trade too? A good massage therapist should be always learning or taking classes to improve their skills.

When I find someone who might work out, I will share that I have CMT along with as much detail as I am comfortable sharing. Also, I will share the www.cmtausa.org website which has an abundance of information which can help the therapist. I shared that I have Type 1a. Not only does it allow the therapist to learn about you, but it also helps you to learn about them. If they are willing to go on the website and learn about you, that says quite a bit about their professional interest in helping you.

I have found someone I am considering and made an appointment. This is only the first step. A professional massage therapist will have some paperwork for you to complete. They will probably go over your phone conversation again highlighting important information to clarify anything they have questions about.

The session begins. The session can be done with you being unclothed or dressed in your comfort level. Comfort level means to shorts or your underwear or what you might deem most comfortable. For me, I prefer unclothed because it provides less hinderances for the therapist to do their work. Also, clothing is uncomfortable for me which I will explain in future posts. Anyway, I view the person as a medical professional which means they will handle nudity as my medical doctor would. Anyway, I am always draped, and privacy has always been their concern.

During the session, pay attention to pain and any discomfort. The therapist will benefit from you letting them know if the pressure they apply or some spot they hit or some muscle touched is painful. I must say, this is the challenging part for me. I have lived with so much pain in life, and pretty much ignored it, that I feel a bit awkward pointing it out. However, it is to my benefit for me to do so.

After the session. In my experience, the therapist will ask “how are you feeling” or any issues or some such. For me, that’s a hard question to answer. My pain and discomfort, usually an overwhelming tiredness, will not become apparent until later in the day or the next day. I will explain that and be certain to note any discomfort or issues I think the therapist should know about to share in the next session.

A few further thoughts. To me, it is important to be comfortable with the person you are selecting to do the massage. Frankly, you’ll be nude for the hour or so of your appointment. Being nude with a medical professional requires a bit of trust. While I haven’t had any emergency to arise during a session, I think it’s important that you are comfortable with the person possibly seeing you nude despite all good intentions or efforts to prevent that. If you are someone completely uncomfortable with that idea, then stay away from being nude. A work around can be figured out. Franky, when I first started massage therapy, I wondered what would happen if there was a fire or some explosion. I can’t run out of the building without clothes, and it is possible the therapist would see me without them. So, we talked about a plan. Silly? Naw, not really.

Keep a journal of how you feel, what hurts and when, after the massage therapy appointment and during the time leading up to the next appointment. Bullet points will suffice provided you can remember what they mean when referencing them later. For me, a journal proved to be priceless for several reasons. One, I get busy in life and may forgot important points to share with the massage therapist. And, two, it helps to provide points for the therapist to work with. Finally, it will be fun to look back and see how much you have improved physically.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth: ‘Tis the Season to Slip and Fall…

“Icy Sidewalk”
Photo by Jackie at Flickr Creative Commons

Oh, ice. It is a horrible substance which can cause serious injury to our bodies without our even trying. The first “Winter Weather Advisory” of the season appeared in the forecast a few weeks ago. This alerted me to cancel my evening plans and anything the next day – unless it’s something I can wait and see what the weather really does.

Having Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) allows me to have adventures beyond my wildest imagination or dreams. Walking in snow, or attempting to do so on icy surfaces, creates quite a bit of challenges for me. Also, it is a season in which I practice patience hoping to grow in that trait more by spring.

If you find yourself in an icy situation, there is a trick that learned which I hope will help you too. Also, there are a few important considerations to remember.

Your feet are cold whether you know it or not. This is a thought which I drudge up every season when the cold weather settles in. It’s not intended to be negative but to remind myself to pay attention. Neuropathy can be tricky. Often, I find myself busying about my life without regard to how cold my feet might be. When, in reality and some circumstances, my feet are cold. Now, this is a different type of cold. It’s called nerve cold. Be sure to bundle up for the weather. By that, I mean you should determine what you should wear to stay warm paying attention to the weather.

Walking on ice isn’t something that can easily be done. For me, my feet move in a manner that makes slippery surfaces much more dangerous than for others. When approaching an area which is icy or could be slippery, I stop walking. Keep in mind, I tend to look ahead when walking to keep from ending up in these situations. Sometimes, it doesn’t work. If there’s no easy way to get around it, I focus on myself trying to make sure I’m not feeling rushed, stressed or anxious which could cause me to do something stupid or to fall.

Once I have assessed myself and I am ready to move, I began counting. Yes, counting. 1, 2, 3, 4… When I feel like I am ready to move, I take a step restarting my count at one. As I step, each step with a different foot is counted. I continue counting until I have gotten past the icy or difficult spot. Also, I focus on the counting. Do not allow your mind to wander or be distracted. If you focus on counting each step, it should allow you to safely get across the ice. This trick works with walking on water too.

Remember to breathe as you take your steps and walk through the icy area. It doesn’t do any good to hold your breath while attempting to walk over the ice. I found myself more than a few times holding my breathe while doing this- that’s typical for someone exercising or trying something new like this.

If you make it across the ice without falling, be sure to congratulate yourself! Sound silly? No, it really isn’t. I have learned that when I congratulate myself for even the smallest accomplishment, it is encouraging in the long run of life.

Patience? When I mention about how difficult it is for me to walk on ice and snow, it is usually because I am embarrassed about my lack of ability to do so. It often feels like a circus show that I didn’t intend to do. Invariably, someone will say that it is a challenge for EVERYONE to walk in it. I laugh to myself and think, should I share about my feet being crippled and how they move funny? Or, should I let it go and work on my patience in dealing with others? I usually let it go since there usually isn’t any advantage to sharing. And, they wouldn’t understand. By spring you’d think I’d be the most patient man on the planet. Don’t count on it.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth: Christmas/Holiday Shopping

Thankfully, it has been years since I have gone shopping on Black Friday. When I was first married, we were watching our pennies as most young newly married couples do. We paid attention to the Black Friday sales to get a few items we wanted. I’ll never forget the crowds, nor will I forget us shoving a computer and monitor in their large boxes into a Honda Civic. We’ve gone Black Friday shopping a few other times, but they weren’t quite as funny as that first one.

As I have aged, Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) has progressed, which means life becomes more challenging. As it does, walking and some neurological aspects become more of a challenge. The walking meant it was getting harder for me to get around much less go shopping in a crowded store or mall. I didn’t understand the nerve issues of CMT until much later in life, frankly a few years ago. I would be nervous or keyed up whenever I was in crowds. However, I was a bit stubborn and would push myself to do the Christmas shopping.

Since I didn’t want my family and friends to be disappointed with no gift from me at Christmas, and online shopping didn’t exist, I had to determine a way to accomplish the task of gift-buying.

First, I do my absolute very best to get all of my Christmas shopping done VERY early. I start shopping early in the year by buying gifts whenever I see something I think someone would like. I would do my best to get all the shopping done before Thanksgiving. As I grew older, time got busier, it became a bit challenging to get it done before Thanksgiving. With that being said, I determined a way to get it done.

Make a list of gifts to purchase and where to buy them. I determined whether I could buy all the gifts at one store or at a mall with several stores or even all at one mall. I made sure to write all of this down on a piece of paper so I wouldn’t forget whenever I ended up going out shopping. These days, there are probably apps for that which can replace the piece of paper. There were a few times when I would end up going somewhere with a friend and I could get some shopping done.

I have a habit of determining when stores, and parking lots, are the least busy. I like to determine when I would likely be able to get in and out of stores and parking lots without much stress avoiding crowds would be awesome. This turned out to be during lunch hours, immediately after work (though on Fridays that never worked), or very early Saturday morning.

Also, would it be possible to go with friends who could help with the driving in the crazy parking lots or help carry stuff if needed.

Using these, I would get the Christmas shopping done. It was a bit more enjoyable since I avoided the stresses of crowds and trying to find a parking spot.

Of course, these days, the best way for me to shop is online. I rarely go shopping these days.

Giving Tuesday, November 29, 2022!

Undoubtedly, you have heard on television, the radio, in publications you read, and from charities, you support about “Giving Tuesday!” It is a global movement to encourage giving to charities and to your community. The idea is to inspire and encourage generosity throughout the world even after “Giving Tuesday!”

Giving can be financially or giving of yourself. Financially would be to make a monetary donation to an organization that shares your interest. It can be a one-time gift or an ongoing one, whichever works best for you. Giving of yourself is the idea of giving of yourself to help others. It could be providing rides to the doctor for a neighbor, doing grocery shopping for a senior citizen, picking up medications for a neighbor, volunteering at the local animal shelter, or helping with a fundraiser. Maybe you know someone with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) or other health issues which cause them challenges who could use some help. The list can go on and on with many ideas for you to give back to your community.

I would like to bring to your attention an organization that does phenomenal work in encouraging people in our community. It never fails to encourage me when I’m doing my chores around the house, running my errands while listening to WPER Radio 89.9 FM- Virginia’s Home for Encouragement. We can all use encouragement, good music, and inspirational stories along life’s way. To donate, please visit WPER-Donate.

Two other organizations that I would like to mention are Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association and the Hereditary Neuropathy Foundation. These two organizations do a considerable amount of research about Charcot-Marie-Tooth doing their best to help patients with the health issue. These two organizations are awesome resources that, if you haven’t already, should become familiar with.

Remember, giving should come from your heart. Also, sometimes people think they can’t give financially, though they would like to do so, because they do not have large sums of money. Whatever amount you can donate, small or large, is worth donating. It is simply good to give.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth: Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanksgiving brings to mind many things in life for which I am thankful. Although I try to remember to be thankful every day, it’s good to have a day to focus on it.

I am very thankful for God and His Love for me. Ever since I became a Christian many years ago, I have seen God’s Work in my life in every situation even at times when I wouldn’t think He would do so. I am thankful that His Gift of Salvation that guarantees me, and everyone else who believes, eternal life in heaven.

I am thankful for my wife of twenty-six years. She has been an awesome help with my Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) battles and a wonderful companion to spend life with. Only God could prepare a woman like her to be the right companion for me.

I am thankful for my dog, Abby, and my cat, Samson. Abby is a young black labrador retriever who keeps me going. As I will share more details in another post, having a dog to care for every day has helped me to be successful in staying a step ahead of CMT. My cat has had his role too. Many evenings when I head to bed, my cat will curl up on my shoulder and purr. Somehow, he seems to know when I need some extra purrings and goes into an amazing-sounding purr mode. It usually helps me to relax.

Today, at 59-1/2 years old, I am thankful to be alive, walking, and enjoying life. The original diagnosis of CMT, lead me to believe that things could be very different at this age. In some ways, it is, but God has blessed me to keep going forward in life. For that I am thankful.

However you are celebrating today, remember to be thankful for the many blessings in your life. Take the time to enjoy family and friends too. They are the most important aspects of your life.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth: Happy Anniversary!

Time truly does fly! It seems like only yesterday that I said “I do!” to the most beautiful woman in the universe surrounded by our friends and family. But, it wasn’t yesterday. It was twenty-six years ago!

Last night I said, “Marriage isn’t for the faint of heart.” Why? It is a constant challenge to take care of someone you love through good times and bad times. There are a lot of good times, but along with that come life events that can be very challenging causing strains and stresses. We have had our share of life events seeing each other through health challenges, the loss of family members, career changes, the loss of pets, and so on. However, that doesn’t mean we love each other any less. As a matter of fact, those events help make our love for each other stronger.

I have to admit, when I was dating, I didn’t think I would ever find a woman to marry and spend the rest of my life with. I found that many women want a man with a strong muscular body which is something Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) didn’t allow me to have. It became very discouraging, to say the least. I remember one girl who said behind my back “I want a man with a real body!” Yup, that hurt. I wish I could say that she was the only person to mark that remark or similar ones.

The best advice I can give to someone who has CMT and looking to get married is to share everything single thing about the disease with the other person. Share what you know especially your personal experiences. Share what you have read providing them copies of all your reference materials, and direct them to all websites you find informative and encourage them to research on their own as well. If you belong to any support groups on social media like Facebook, share it too. I can’t emphasize enough to share, share, and share your own experiences and what you learned from your doctors. Why? So there are no surprises should the symptoms or issues develop after you are married. Granted, remember CMT affects everybody so there is no guarantee you will experience what you share.

Before I proposed, and after a good bit into our relationship but before it got serious, I shared with the girl I was dating, and possibly going to marry, the prognosis the doctor provided me. Also, I shared information I had researched at the National Institutes of Health with a buddy. I was surprised that it didn’t scare her off. Twenty-six years later, we are still happily married.

Basically, it comes down to this: the person you are going to marry must understand that CMT is what many people call an invisible disease, except for the hands and feet, and there are times when your symptoms are beyond another person’s understanding. The most challenging is when opposite symptoms are happening but are true. An example, I’m cold but I’m hot. For me, that means my feet and lower legs are cold but the rest of me is warm.

And, to her credit, I am healthier being married to her than I might be as single because she has provided many ideas and suggestions on how to take care of myself. Her encouragement along the way has been incredible. Also, it’s a huge blessing to have someone around who truly loves you.

Honoring Our Veterans!

I apologize for being a day late in saying “Thank You!” to our Veterans of the US Armed Forces for all they have done to protect our freedoms and country. However, I didn’t want to just move on and not acknowledge them without a hearty “THANK YOU!”

When I was younger, the draft had just ended and the volunteer service began. I was happy because I was a scrawny kid who was an introverted nerd (still am), and I wasn’t into hanging out with the guys so that would have been unnerving for me. Later, I learned that the military wouldn’t have accepted me because of the deformity Charcot-Marie-Tooth was starting to do in my feet.

Growing up, I had a few or so of friends who went into the military service after graduation. One of them was killed in Beirut. Also, I lived in an area where quite a few neighbors served the US Armed Forces in one way or another, civilian, or enlisted. I gained quite a bit of respect for these people willing to do their work in protecting freedom and the USA.

When I got married, my bride’s side of the family had quite a few family members enlisted in the various branches of the military. With that, I learned quite a bit about what those who served did, what it was like serving, and what it’s like to be a family member of someone who is actively serving. The family part of it was quite interesting as I never gave much thought to a parent being away overseas somewhere serving while the family went through life often without them. Talk about gaining a whole new respect for people- this truly did it!

I can’t say “THANK YOU” loud enough or with enough enthusiasm to our US Armed Forces Veterans and their families for everything they have done, and that they have given up, to protect the USA and our freedom. “THANK YOU!”

Charcot-Marie-Tooth: Happy Autumn

The first day of Autumn used to be one of my least favorite days of the year. It signals the coming of cooler weather followed by the really cold weather of winter. I dislike the cooler weather as it irritates Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) which can cause me to be very uncomfortable. Also, it is often the time of year when I learn how much CMT has progressed over the past several months.

However, some of that seems to have changed. I noticed several years ago when I started participating in regular exercising, i.e., walking my dog, and deep water aerobics, some of my seasonal discomforts disappeared. Or, they aren’t so bad. Unfortunately, I still get cold legs and feet due to neuropathy. Even that isn’t as bad as it was.

Another factor is that I have moved to the countryside where nature is incredibly beautiful throughout the year. I don’t have to go very far to see its beauty and splendor. I think that has become a distraction for me so I don’t notice the discomfort and painful issues as much as I did before.

Also, the power of positive thinking is an amazing tool. Since there really isn’t much I can do, besides medications, to relieve myself from CMT’s discomfort, I focus on what I can enjoy in my life.

The Autumn season begins at 9:03 p.m. I pray you will have a blessed season. Get out as much as you can and enjoy natures changing beauty.

Charcot-Marie-Tooth: Sunday’s Thought!

“Nature’s Beauty”
*(C) 2021, Isaiah Jacobs*

Every morning I set out to walk my dog, Abby, almost always without fail, I open the front door to step out onto the porch and the first words out of my mouth are “Thank You Jesus!” repeated more than a few times. My dog usually looks at me like “what Dad?” as we head out.

As I walk Abby, I cannot help but be in awe of God’s Creation and how beautifully it all comes together. The mountains several miles from me stand majestic and beautiful. Today, I can clearly see them in a blue hue since the summer’s humidity has settled with no clouds in the skies.

We live on a gravel road now with no sidewalks just houses and treed lawns that are spread out far apart. The gravel road is different from the asphalt pavement we have walked many times before. Somehow, the gravel adds to the awesomeness of nature as it abounds around me. I know that sounds odd, but maybe its beauty is brought out after spending 58 years walking, driving, and living in the asphalt jungle known as suburbia.

While walking, I see the beauty of the trees, many different species with leaves of intricate design. It is just incredibly amazing to see the leaf’s detail as it all weaves together on branches to the trunk of the trees. Across from my house’s front door and along the gravel road, the trees line the roadway with so much beauty. Many of them look to have been here back to the day God planted them on this earth.

Of course, living out here where I can enjoy the beauty of nature includes wildlife. We have encountered deer who immediately gallop off into the woods as soon as they see us coming. The occasional squirrel is a bit odd since they were often found in the city. As we walk, we pass through some natural areas which look as though they haven’t been touched by man at all. The beauty in this area causes me to pause to look for more than a few minutes. Abby gives a look, more than a few sniffs, and her attention directed to what could possibly be in this forested area. My guess is probably the bears I’ve heard about from the neighbors, maybe a few opossums, skunks, raccoons, snakes, and the list could go on.

As I enjoy this beautiful area I now call home, I can’t help but be overwhelmingly thankful that I know the Creator who made all of this. In my youth, I learned the many theories which teach how our universe came together. I couldn’t fathom that something so magnificent, so glorious, so intrinsically detailed, so interwoven together creating the beauty of nature, could happen from an explosion or by any other means. No, it was created by God. He created it all. I have to admit I wonder how He did it. Was it created from a thought that brought it all together? Or, did He handmake all of creation? Did He swipe His Hand across the earth causing it all to come together? That’s something I will ask Him when I get to heaven.

When walking Abby down the gravel road, I talk with God about life while enjoying the beautiful scenery. He is like a best friend and we talk often. As a child, I became a Christian and have believed in Jesus, God, and the Bible ever since. I have had some questions along the way, but God answers them in the way that He does. For me, I wouldn’t trade this walk with God all these years nor all the coming years for absolutely anything this world could ever offer me.

The next time you see a tree or a beautiful place in nature, ask yourself, “do I truly know the Creator of all this?” If you do, excellent- see you in heaven one of these days. If not, here’s how to learn more, Peace With God.