This has been a difficult year for me healthwise. So today, I want to talk about what it is like to have an 'invisible' illness.

This is not my first go-round with an invisible illness.  About five years ago, I over-stressed myself, causing adrenal fatigue and a candida overgrowth.  Strange words, I know.  What they mean is this: my adrenal glands worked too hard for too long, and ended up not able to supply me with enough adrenaline and stress-adapting hormones anymore.  I had too much candida yeast in my gut, which caused other problems.  Overall, I had a list of symptoms as long as my arm, the most frustrating of which were crazy bad brain fog, migraines, dizzy spells, fatigue, difficulty falling asleep and waking up, trouble regulating my body temperature, and a weakened immune system.  

At the time, I was a full-time (+) university student, and working forty to fifty hours a week.  For a long while, I just thought that these symptoms were normal for any millenial.  It eventually got bad enough that I went to see a doctor.  With a very restricted diet, a boatload of supplements, and lifestyle changes to reduce my daily stress, I was thankfully able to recover.

Well, you'd think I had learned my lesson, but nope.  About a year and a half ago, I spent six month running around like a chicken with my head cut off.  Seriously - I ended up doing three people's jobs and also was given additional responsibilities at work, had to move three times, and basically, was extremely dumb about keeping myself healthy.  I ended up stressing my body out to the point where I was laid out flat on my back for a week with a double lung infection, and then eventually got diagnosed with a thyroid condition that was brought on by the stress.  I will now have that thyroid condition for the rest of my life, and will have to regularly go the to doctor to ensure that my medication is at the correct level to keep me going.  Since the thyroid controls your metabolism and energy levels, many of the symptoms of my thyroid condition are the same as what I experienced five years ago.

It is surprisingly difficult for a Type A perfectionist, do-it-all, take-care-of-everything kind of person to say no to something - especially when you are in a place and situation where (a) you have the skills to help; (b) you see the needs around you are vast; (c) you are a missionary worker and feel that your time and energy should be used for God's kingdom; and (d) you are single and therefore technically have more time than people with spouses and children.  

The Liebenzell missionary candidates are in their last few weeks of being in Canada, and we finally were able to arrange a weekend visit up north.  The whole group drove up to my parents' place near Parry Sound and had a lovely few days together in nature.

It was neat to be able to arrange this, as my parents' goal is to start a retreat centre, called Kingfisher Crossing, at their place for people working in ministry - a place of rest and refreshment.  So, this was in essence, their first run at hosting a group of ministry people.

We got to spend time helping out with setting up the summer-time furniture and toys, and also assisted with doing some wiring in the addition being built so that more people can visit.  We also enjoyed hikes, canoeing, paddle-boating, playing Indiaca on the volleyball court (sort of a cross between volleyball and badminton), sunning ourselves in the warm spring weather, making s'mores over a campfire, and playing with the dogs.  My mum led some special devotions and spiritual direction exercises, and she also spoiled us silly with tons of scrumptious food.