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Our greatest Hope

December 21, 2024Leave a Comment

It’s the Saturday before Christmas. As I sit here thinking, God is connecting some “dots” for me to share with you. I’m always in awe at how God puts these blogging ideas in my heart.

First, stay with me as I quickly share these “dots”. 1) Immanuel meaning God is with us. 2) Knowing many who are dealing with hard situations. 3) This Christmas season being a time of Great Joy. 4) Knowing everyone doesn’t feel that Joy 4) Tuning in to Julie Green Ministry on social media and hearing her share verses from 2 Corinthians chapter 4. (I like to challenge myself by seeing if I can follow the short reels she shares with Scriptures. This morning I understood some. ) 5) Asking Siri what Immanuel means. (I know the meaning but wanted to see what it said. While it was technically right, Siri lacked the true MEANING, God is with us.)

In Matthew 1:23 says, ““Look! The virgin will conceive a child! She will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel, which means ‘God is with us.’” (NLT) Think about that and let it sink deep within. Our God who created us, sustains us, strengthens us, counsels and comforts us, provides for us, enables us, who saves us, redeems us, who sees us…… and on and on I could go ….. is God is with us!

It’s hard to wrap our minds around spiritual truths because we humans depend on what we SEE. Accepting spiritual truths requires faith, which is simply choosing to believe what God says is true. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” Hebrews‬ ‭11‬:‭1‬ ‭(KJV‬‬) God our ABBA Father wants us to have child like faith and trust Him.

It’s the Holly Jolly time of year, but truth be told not everyone experiences that Cheer. If you are one of those who is depressed or discouraged right now, let me encourage you. Look back up a few paragraphs at Matthew 1:23. Jesus born as a babe is Immanuel ~ God is with us. That should be great comfort to your heart. If you are a shut-in due to health issues, a widow or experiencing loneliness due to family being far away: whatever the situation I want to encourage you to celebrate the birth of Jesus. God is with us.

The devil goes over and beyond to try to trip us up on a daily basis. Resist his tactics. The verses I heard Julie Green share today on her social media reel are the following. “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭(NLT).

This might be a Blue Christmas for you if you are looking from a worldly perspective but CHIN UP!!! Don’t lose sight of the true meaning! God is with us! The Savior of the world has come and is the BEST PRESENT to help you in the present. Will you sing with me? O Come let us adore Him, O Come let us adore Him, O Come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord. Fort He alone is worthy, For He alone is worthy, For He alone is worthy, Christ the Lord. We’ll give Him all the glory, We’ll give Him all the glory, We’ll give Him all the glory, Christ the Lord

Have a blessed weekend. Whatever you do. If you fall down get back up. Don’t beat yourself up if you think you fall short. None of us are without fault. We all need encouragement. Praise God for His mercy and grace. We all need to reach outside of ourselves and our little orbit of life and touch others for the glory of God. Much love and prayers.

Www.shannonkhinson.com

Keeping on ~

July 21, 20246 Comments

Time truly FLIES! I “blink” and three years have gone by. This past Friday marked my three year anniversary of blogging with WordPress.com This has become a passion of encouraging others to face life with Jesus. Blogging started out as a continuation of things God has taught me through living with limitations. It continues to be a time of sharing my journey which I first shared in my autobiography Rooted by the Water published in 2021 through Westbow Press. (You can find it on Amazon in print and ebook format).

By the grace of God, in the past three years I have written 213 blog posts with 6,964 views. All for the Glory of God! It’s an honor to share the things the Holy Spirit reveals through nature and life in general. Oh the lessons He teaches me as He refines and sharpens me. Convicting me at times, humbling me and cheering me on. I’m grateful for this process He has me in. It’s my hope and prayer that Jesus love and care are seen through the words He enables me to write.

The Bible tells us to “let our light shine”. “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” Matthew‬ ‭5‬:‭16 (NKJV) So I write. I am astounded that Rootedbythewater.blog is read around the world. Each week the blogging site tells me in what countries it is viewed. I am not saying many people read it, but it humbles me that God uses this gift He has given me to touch someone here and there: in China, another in England, Nigeria, France, Canada and so many countries. (There have been a couple I’ve never heard of. Looking them up, turns out they were small countries in Africa.) The majority of views are here in America.

The times we live in are evil. It’s a worldwide peril. In a sense, it’s like being out at sea on a stormy night. With darkness and raging winds and waves surrounding, we strive to catch sight of a “lighthouse” to guide us to safety. In these times, let Jesus use you to “shine” for Him. I’ve always had this hidden gift but God has chosen to bring it out during the last three years for “such a time as this”.

We all have God given talents. Whether it’s music, dance, acts of service, teaching, encouraging, speaking life and so many more….. whatever your gift may be, will you offer it back to God? Can you pray, ‘Lord I’m so humbled and thankful you chose me to have this gift. I give it back to You, asking You to enable me to use it for Your Glory, not mine. Lead me through the Holy Spirit to encourage someone today and lead them to You. Help us to overcome this evil world with the blood of the Lamb and Word of our testimony (Revelation 12:11)” I pray that you can surrender and pray that prayer with me. God is at work all around us. Join in this labor of love! It’s all for Jesus! He’s worthy of it all!

Here’s to many more blogs or whatever else He calls me to do. As long as He continues to pour into me, I will continue to pour out. It’s all for Jesus! 🤟🏼❤️
Www.shannonkhinson.com

The Beauty of Change

May 16, 2024Leave a Comment

It’s been over a week since I published my last blog “Meet the Squabs #200”. Since that post, the baby doves have flown away, embarking o n their new adventures. Truth be told, I was sad to see them go. I had watched the parents and squabs throughout the days. Now the nest is empty. There has been a nest on our porch for the last three years though so perhaps they will choose our porch again.

When Joshua was in his teens I used to joke about our house being the “Hinson Inn”. There was always someone here.You know you got really accustomed to people over when you would forget to close the bathroom door. At one point I even thought of putting a sign saying, “No Vacancy, Drive On”, but of course we never did. Being a parent is one of the greatest gifts and each change can be beautiful. When Joshua “flew the coop” several years ago and lived in Arizona for a while, that was a hard but beautiful thing to witness.

Each stage in life brings its challenges and beauty. I guess it’s all in how you look at things. When you look for the good, you are more likely to find it. When you look through “a critical lens”, no one measures up.

That’s one of the beautiful things about being a Mother. (I meant to write a blog in honor of Mother’s Day but I never got around to it so I will touch on that here.) Being a Mother is a God opportunity and priveledge to pour into your child no matter what their age. My Mom still does that and she is 81 years old. I know she’s always there and that is a comfort and joy. Joshua knows the same is true about me.

Now that Joshua has moved home and will be starting Massage Therapy school in June, we again have this gift of opportunity to pour into him. I’m beyond thankful he chose to not move to Florida with his roommates. God has him on a different path now. I told my husband Ron that Joshua sees how we respond to situations. For example, he has seen my heart for serving others. He jokingly asked me last week how much I was getting paid for the various things I do. I looked at him and said, I don’t do this for money. My reward is in Heaven. Blogging, teaching, serving in ministry to the less fortunate and serving my family cost me something but I don’t get paid for it in earthly things but the treasures I receive through smiles, seeing growth, encouraging others, being molded by Jesus into what He desires, is priceless.

Joshua also sees my response to situations that are less than appealing. Everyone has to deal with the flesh and how we humanly would like to respond but know God desires a godly response. Joshua said to me a couple of weeks ago, “Mom you don’t have to be a Saint 24/7”. I responded, “God is always watching.” As a parent, teacher, volunteer, friend or whatever our role, we have this god given opportunity to respond in a way that is pleasing to the Lord. No matter how hard it is at the moment, we can choose to die to the flesh and live according to the Spirit.

Which brings me to the beauty of change when we “let go and let God”. Last week we finally finished our “Women of the Bible” study. I would have never thought I could do that. I kind of “fought God” with yielding to Him in the process because it required large chunks of my time and, preparation, and memorization BUT HE ENABLED me to do it when I let go and said “okay Lord I will do this”. He taught me much in that surrender and submission to His desires. I witnessed the beauty of change in not only myself but in the other girl’s in our Bible study. We are created with His purpose in mind for such a time as this. Wherever He has you, submit to His desires. It is so worth all the stretching.

Our next study is potentially Revelation. That is such a daunting topic because I know little about it. Another girl in our group would like to lead this one and I am encouraging her all the way. She is more of a “visual teacher” which is great because we have some “Visual learners” but she wants me to help. I told her “she can do this” but of course I’ll do whatever she needs to support the effort. We can “tag team” it. We are looking forward to this change and can’t wait to see what God will reveal to us.

I’m also looking forward to this new season Joshua is entering. I know it won’t be an easy one but I intend to pray him through it. We will move forward trusting God to guide the way and open or close doors that should or shouldn’t be entered.

What a privilege to witness change unfolding right before your eyes. Remember “beauty lies in the eys of the beholder” so if you want to witness the beauty of change, adjust those “lens” and ask God to reveal it to you. It’s there, you have to look for it sometimes.

I love sharing what God puts in my heart. I pray it’s a blessing to you. If you like it, please feel free to subscribe and pass it along to bless someone else. We all need encouragement. You can find my autobiography Rooted by the Water on Amazon. I hope it inspires you to never give up in hard situations. God is always there to help us. Surrendering to Him years ago was the best decision I’ve ever made. Be blessed and better yet, be a blessing.
Www.shannonkhinson.com

The Art of Existing

March 19, 2024Leave a Comment

Right now I’m at the Fort Mill Church of God food pantry. Today has been a slower day, just having to pack one round of boxes. One round equals 24 boxes of food. I am thankful for the team of volunteers that work together here. Since I have to wait until 12 (noon) when mom is finished to leave, I figured I would use my time wisely. Got a little online shopping done for a cousins baby gift and now I’m thinking about life. Give me some spare time and a keyboard and I will go exploring through thought processes and how to cope with what life throws.

An example of existing with limitations…. well actually way more than just existing but actually living with Joy. Every Tuesday before the Food pantry opens to the community we have group prayer. This is so tricky for me because I can’t comprehend much of the speaking that goes on around the big circle. I can sometimes tell who is speaking by movement but not always. Today I thought they had started the prayer but actually one person just had a rather long prayer request and was still talking. Mom had her head bowed, but I guess in hind sight she was just looking down. Um… I guessed they weren’t praying quite yet. Then two men too off their hats so I know that was a big indication prayer was beginning. I dont hear the requests but I offer up a prayer. “Lord you heard the requests even though I didn’t”.

When you live with hearing and vision issues you just have to “go with the flow”. Predetermine that you’re not going to let things get to you. Don’t be easily offended and just “let it roll”.

Yesterday was another prime example of just choosing a poisitive outlook. Yesterday was Monday and boy did it turn out to be just that. Mom and I had our mammogram appointments . We left with plenty of time to be there and get signed in. We weren’t anticipating any construction or who knows what it was, in front of the parking deck. There was no place to park and we circled the lot quite a few times. Ended up finding a spot quite a distance from where our appointment was. Oh welll… just do it. Right as we walk into the building, Moms phone rings. A friend was calling to let her know a family friend had passed away. I didn’t know until after we signed in for our appointments. Speaking of signing in, they seem to be “masking up” again. Oh joy ….NOT. Mom was a little flustered. Too much at once: being late, no parking space, someone died, need to help me sign in etc. Bless her heart. She’s a “trooper”. I gave her a hug and we pressed on through. Her appointment was first. I told her to let the lady know of my issues since she was wearing a mask. When it was my turn the lady technician was nice and trying to be helpful. I said “Im good. Same old drill. Let’s get it done”. After our appointment we grabbed some lunch and went in a few stores then she took me home.

Last night when I finished studying for Bible study, I got on X/Twitter to scroll through some posts. I saw someone asking for prayer and how people manage with depression and anxiety. I said a little prayer for the person as I typed a few tips on how I cope with those things.

The first tip I gave the person was to cover the situation in prayer. You see, Abba Father cares about every little detail of our lives. We humans try to do things in our own strength which is really pointless. Pray about whatever it is that is depressing you or causing anxiety. God can open or close doors. He can orchestrate situations to work for the best. Include Him in every detail. That is one of the keys to living with Joy.

Another thing I suggested to the person was to have fellowship with other believers. I know when you’re depressed you feel like you want to be left alone. I get it. Been there, done that but secluding yourself will not help matters. When I get out and get involved, it brings a lightness to my heart. Not only that, but everyone is going through something. We can help each other. We are not alone in our struggles. You can isolate yourself so you feel alone. That’s a choice you make but you won’t benefit much if any, from isolation. Get out and do something. It does take dropping your pride to admit you don’t have it all together. That’s ok. No one has it all together even if they try to act like they do. We all need each other.

The last thing I suggested to the person was to play worship and praise music. There is something so healing about praising God when you are struggling or feel broken. God has turned my sorrow into dancing so many times I can’t even count them. Sing it out. I did just that on Sunday. With the increase in pollen my throat has felt full of mucus. I told my husband Ron I was going to watch church online. My cochlear implant processor has a blue tooth feature so I just tuned directly in to the live service from my iPad. As the music played I just began to worship. The place of worship isn’t important. It’s the state of the heart. I worship at home just like I worship in church. I sing out loud (off key of course) and raise my hands in praise to Jesus. There is something so freeing about just letting go and worshipping God.

These were a few tips I shared with the depressed and anxious person looking for ways to cope. God fills my life with such joy in the midst of struggles. He enables me to do more than just exist. He enables me to “Live”. It’s the art of living life. Life isnt perfect. Mine is so far from perfect. We can choose to surrender each day to Jesus and face the day with “God glasses” on. Ask God to help you see it from His perspective. He will do it. Take that first step and He will meet you there.

If you need encouragement or prayer, reach out. I’d be more than happy to pray for you. It’s a privilege to lift each other up to the Lord. We are the body of Christ. We work together for the Glory of God. I hope you all have a beyond blessed week. Don’t give up. Keep pushing. You’ve got this and best of all, God has you.

f you liked this blog post please subscribe and share. I’m thankful for this gift to share when God puts something on my heart. You can find my autobiography Rooted by the Water on Amazon. (Hard cover soft cover, and e-book formats.) I pray it gives you great hope and courage to surrender to Jesus. He is all you really need. All for the Glory of God.

Www.shannonkhinson.com

An inspiring encounter

April 20, 2023Leave a Comment

Just sat down with a cup of hot tea, while trying to gather my thoughts. It’s a rare day when I crank out two blog posts. I thought about combining this with the blog I published earlier today but this deserves its own entry.

My husband Ron and I went to Culver’s for lunch to get a good hamburger. As we walked in there was a guy with a table set up selling a children’s book he had written. Of course Ron started a conversation with him. Ron talks to everyone. As we stepped up to place our order, Ron told me the guy is blind. He is totally blind in one eye and can see slightly with the other. I said, “Let’s buy one of his books to support him.”

We sat down at a table close to where the guy had his table set up. I told Ron it takes great courage to do what this guy was doing. Ron told me I could set up a table too. I said, “ Would you talk to the people? He can hear what people are saying while I catch parts of it. ”

An inspiring blind author of children’s books.

After we finished eating, we went over introducing ourselves and purchased his book. He told us a little bit of his story and I told him a bit of mine and about my book. I watched with admiration as he signed the book for me. I personally don’t like to sign books in front of people because it’s hard to see what I’m writing. He had no issues with holding the book closely so he could see a little out of his one eye. I asked if I could have a picture taken with him and write a blog about meeting him. He agreed. Excuse my appearance in the picture. I had no intention of going anywhere today. It was a natural no makeup or hair products kind of day. This awesome inspiring guys name is Jared Jackson. As I brought the book home and put it under my video magnifier so I could read it, I discovered it is quite a cute book. Not only did he write it but he also did the illustrations. Check out Where Does the Man in the Moon Go During the Day? by Jared Jackson. You can find it on Amazon.

This was the first time I’ve ever met another blind author. I wanted to write this post to promote his book after reading it. He is a courageous inspiring man and did a fine job on his book. Check it out.

Www.shannonkhinson.com

What lens are you looking through?

April 2, 2023Leave a Comment

At my last Bible study we met at Brixx Pizza for lunch and our discussion on a virtuous woman. One friend forgot her reading glasses so the others offered to share theirs. Depending on the strength of the lens, things will look different even though you are examining the same thing.

Life perspective is so much like this. What lens are you looking through
on a day to day basis? For example, some people seem to find some thing positive in everything. It’s sort of like a silver liner. There are others that seem to always have a critical view. These two types of people can be examining the exact same thing, yet will have opposite things to say. It makes me wonder sometimes why people think and respond the way they do. Many factors can contribute to which “lens” they look through. Let’s brainstorm some of those possible contributing factors. Past experiences can certainly play a role. The way you were raised can play a big part. A few other things that come to mind are; your view of self, support system and things you allow to influence you.

I don’t always have a “sunny” disposition, although I try to keep things positive. I may have a little advantage because with low vision I can be very choosy regarding what I’m exposed to. For example, yesterday a friend took me to Cabellas to get a life jacket. ( Someone gave me a two seater kayak and I’m so excited. Thats another blog post. Coming soon) Back to Cabellas… when we were in the checkout line, I got the impression my friend wanted me to change lines but I didn’t know why until it was my turn to check out. I can’t see very far but once I was at the cash register I noticed the cashier had a very dark unfriendly look. Her face was barely showing with all the dark hair and dark mask. I paid for my life jacket, thanked the cashier and walked out. I then told my friend, we need to let others see Jesus in us. We can’t judge people by the way they look just like we can’t judge a book by its cover. In all fairness, a beautiful cover draws interest for a closer look.

None of us are perfect. Everyday brings new opportunities to make a difference in the lives of all you encounter. I came across a fascinating quote recently by D L Moody: “The only way to keep a broken vessel full is to keep the faucet running.” We are all broken and what “lens” we look through determines our responses. If we keep the faucet of Gods Word pouring into us, Jesus will pour over into those we encounter. When we allow the worlds views to constantly pour into us, we only become further broken. Saturate yourself in Gods Word and let it transform you. Live in the overflow of Jesus and watch the awesome things that happen around you.

If you liked this blog post please subscribe and share. I write when God puts something on my heart. You can find my autobiography Rooted by the Water on Amazon. I pray it gives you great hope and courage to surrender to Jesus. He is all you really need. All for the Glory of God. Be blessed!

Www.shannonkhinson.com

Peace in the wait

September 14, 20224 Comments

Have you ever prayed for something for years, and I do mean YEARS, and the answer does not come? Yesterday once again I sat in the ophthalmologist office to get my eyes examined. It had been over five years since I went. As Ron checked me in I noticed everyone was wearing masks and we were handed masks to put on. I told Ron there was no way I would be able to understand with everyone masked and it was already a stressful situation. He told me to just wait and see what they said.

We were wearing our masks when I was called back. I politely explained to the lady that being hearing impaired I needed to be able to see my husbands face so I could understand. She was very understandable. As she checked my visions I thanked God for the letters I could see, I reminded myself that Jesus was with me right there and I had peace. I was not anxious at all It turned out that my visions was basically the same as five years ago. I do have some really small cataracts which is age related. Optic atrophy and optic Hypoplasia are still the diagnosis.

When the doctor came in he was very kind and I sensed his genuineness. He looked over the pictures of my optic nerves and examined them himself. He apologized and said there was nothing that could be done for my optic nerve issues. I appreciated his honesty. He said glasses might help a little bit. I will make another appointment for that and maybe bring a deaf friend so I can look at sing language and not an eye chart. My goal is to increase functionality on a daily basis. We will see how that works out.

This morning I am reflecting on the goodness of God. Yes I did say goodness of God. When I woke up yesterday I had peace. I gave the day and the appointment to the Lord in prayer. Peace never left me. A couple of situations tried to rob me of peace and irritate me but I pushed them aside. I knew and continue to know that God is in control. Last night as I read the summary on the patient portal I marveled at all my visual issues. I told the Lord that it was up to Him to bring healing. The doctors can’t do anything but God can. So I continue to wait and in this waiting I’m thankful for His peace that passes all understanding. I continue to have faith that my unchanging God will fix this in His perfect timing. I will continue to glorify Him even when I don’t understand, God is good and faithful always.

Never stop praying and believing for the impossible. The same God who healed the man born blind in John 9, can heal me. He is the same yesterday today and forever. Thank you Lord for your peace, strength, love and perfect timing.

To read more of my story you can find my autobiography on amazon in hard cover, soft cover and e book formats. “Rooted by the Water” by Shannon Kenley Hinson.

Www.shannonkhinson.com

Stirred byWhat?

July 11, 2022Leave a Comment

Today I’d like to continue on the topic of stirring. Specifically what stirs you? What irritates you and prompts you to speak or act? There are so many things that stir people to react that it’s impossible to list them all. The level of maturity, restraint, strength, self control and compassion can dictate how you handle those things that trigger you.

Yesterday my son Joshua and I spent some time together. He is one of my favorite people. Since returning home from Arizona he has moved back in with us until he decides what he wants to do. We are savoring this time together. He has had some quality times with his dad but yesterday it was just the two of us. We got some subs from Jersey Mikes then got groceries. We talked about all sorts of things. We came across the topic of things that are annoying. It was kind of funny because dealing with people can be a huge test of character. As I listened I understood his point of view and I also took his age into consideration. When I was 24 I thought along the same lines. Amazing how wisdom comes with age. I told him people will be people. You can’t let it bother you. It’s best to just let it go. Sure it is annoying and yes it takes self control to not respond to it but we have to rise above the situation and let it go. Life is largely out of our control. We don’t have to let negativity around us affect our day. Just do what you can with kindness and move on. A positive loving word can go a long way.

So what stirs people? Why are people so angry, bitter,self centered and proud? Granted, I do miss a lot having low vision and hearing issues but I truly “see” people. I ask questions. I ask my husband things all the time. I ask him about peoples face expressions and things they say. I ask him about people driving along, what they look like, expressions and mannerisms. I’m just intrigued by human nature and how people respond to things. Behind every harsh look or bitter response there is a person who quite possibly is hurting and in need of grace and love. When situations and people make you angry think beyond the situation to what truly is the root of the issue. The Bible tells us in Ephesians‬ ‭6:12, “For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.”(New Living Translation) Let’s let that scripture sink into our hearts.

There is more to be shared on this topic. Im going to meditate on Gods Word and see what he reveals to me. Stay tuned…..
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The Missing Link

June 27, 20222 Comments

There is glorious light at the end of this struggle. Today I went back to my Audiologist for another mapping (programming) of my Advanced Bionics Marvel cochlear implant processor. The last several weeks have been quite an interesting challenge. After a week of a sound diet, having no auditory stimulation, followed by turning the processor back on to a low level; today she found the missing link. I had three electrodes that were turned off for some reason. My Audiologist tried turning them all back on but it was just one that made a big difference. Turning that one electrode back on brought a crispness back to sound. It no longer sounds muffled. She also turned the other two electrodes on and off while I listened to my husbands voice. I could understand him better with those two electrodes off. My nerves were able to tolerate the increase in sound without any eye twitching. I can’t begin to tell you how relieved I am. I am so so thankful to the Lord for His direction and wisdom. Ron and I have prayed throughout this process and family and friends have also prayed. It will take me some time to adjust to the new mapping but I’m all smiles! I can hear myself above the background noise so I know how loud to speak. I will have to get out in the environment to practice. If I learned anything this past time, I learned to ease into it. I will navigate this next stage with a more balanced approach. I am eager to explore sound and see what I can understand but I will not push myself too hard this time.

Thank you Lord for lessons learned. Thank you Lord for always being my anchor that holds me when troubled waters come along. Thank you for your promises that are new every morning.

We are considering looking into getting my other ear implanted. It is something that will require much prayer. It is an option to think and pray about. In the meantime, I will be working with what I have and trying my best to succeed with what God has given me. God is faithful always.

Never give up. It’s easy to get overwhelmed at times and changing coping methods is needed. However, giving up is not an option. It’s okay to take a step back, rest, refocus and ease into it again. There is help and support, you just have to be willing to accept it. You are never alone in the struggles! God is always right there with you as you lift up your voice in praise, thanksgiving and prayer. Help is on the way. It might not always look like you think it will. Putting your trust in God will see you through. God is faithful always! Let Him help you.

If you happen to come across this blog post for the first time. I encourage you to read my autobiography ”Rooted by the Water”. It’s a true story of how God has enabled me to overcome great difficulties, not by my own strength but through His strength made perfect in my weaknesses. You can find it on Amazon and many other online retailers such as Barnes & Noble, Books a Million, Target and Walmart.

Reactivation…baby steps

June 16, 20224 Comments

Today was the day I got to put my Marvel cochlear implant processor back on. It didn’t go exactly like I thought it would. It seemed more like baby stepping stones to take to get towards a goal of better hearing and comprehension of speech. I’m not even close to being there yet. However I went in hearing nothing and came out hearing a little bit so it is a step forward.

Describing this reprogramming eludes me. It was like starting from scratch. I’ve had my implant for 16 years. Since I started having some difficulties understanding speech my audiologist thought perhaps my auditory nerve was over stimulated. All my levels were high although not quite at the very top of the chart. It made sense to go on the “sound diet” so my nerves could rest. I think I went in with higher expectations than I should have. It was like starting back at the beginning, listening to various pitched beeps. They started very quiet and I had to tell her when it was at a comfortable volume. I was mindful of the fact my levels needed to be lower than before. It was super frustrating. As I sat there I started to sweat as I tried to put into words what it sounded like so she could make adjustments. My descriptions ranged from; it sounds like my head is in a tunnel, the microphones sound like they are covered, it’s muffled, volumes seems to go up and down with just a few words spoken. It was so odd.

My take away from today is it’s going to be a process. Progress requires one step at a time. My audiologist wants me to have a week for my brain to adjust to this new programming then I will go back for more changes. Step by step, God willing this will improve. My levels are about two thirds down which is good, we just need to figure out the next changes to make that will work for me. I did some auditory therapy tonight using the iAngel Sound app. I started with basics, food names and animal names. I could understand some of it but it was tricky. My score was down about twenty points from where I scored months ago. I will just need to readjust.

Here are a few reflections during this week and having sound turned back on. Silence is not golden. Not hearing separates you from people. When you have low vision like me, environmental sounds are important. Nothing makes your family work on their signing skills more than when they have to. 😂 Hearing no sound for a week makes you appreciate the little everyday sounds that are taken for granted. Rest is much easier without the noise. Prayer time has been different last week, not being able to really hear myself. I like to pray out loud in my quiet time. It helps me focus and I can speak Gods Word. When I speak the Word I like to hear what I’m saying.

I know things will get better. As the Audiologist was typing and programming, I was sitting there praying for God given direction and wisdom to make the exact changes I need. I go back in a little over a week for some more adjustments. Keep the prayers coming. Thanks for all the support. God bless you all!

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