Post # 70 -- Learning of Heavenly Father: A Study of Epic Proportions

Dear Family and Friends

I hope this post finds everyone feeling healthy and well. I think I am finally on the up-swing with this cold and cough. I realize that having cancer caused my body to heal itself a whole lot slower than it was able to do before – when it was a bit healthier😊 It takes my body a good eight to twelve weeks to recover from a relatively small cut or bruise, so I guess four to six weeks for me to recover from a cold and a bad cough isn’t so bad. I am improving and that is what counts. I feel very blessed indeed!!

I sometimes wish I had a little bit more energy so that I could get a few more things done after work nights before I turn in for the night, but I am truly grateful for the good health that I do have.  My knees are doing well after having been replaced last year and I can now walk without any pain😊which is something that I have not been able to do for the past eight – almost nine years. I was able to go on a walk with my grandchildren today and it felt so good when my little grandson asked me if I would take him on another walk – it doesn’t get any better than that😊

My children and my grandchildren, and now my great-grandchildren mean the world to me. I can’t imagine my life without them in it and in full way. I have a few that I do not see very often, but that doesn’t mean I want them around me any less. I love them all very much but as they grow up, they each have their own lives – some with sports, books, games, and other things. I wish they all were close enough to me to embrace the gospel of Jesus Christ – as I know that each of their lives would be so much fuller and happier if they did.

Having Jesus Christ in your life makes all the difference in the world. Before I joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints my life was good. After becoming a member of His church my life continues to get better and better as I learn more about the gospel and how to live it more fully in my life and my relationship with my Savior and my Heavenly Father are getting better little by little as well.  I am learning more about the Atonement of Jesus Christ and how to apply it in my life – it is such a grand gift that He has given each of us. The gift of the Holy Ghost and the Atonement of Jesus Christ are the greatest gifts we can receive in this mortal life.

Though I still feel like I have so much to learn, I love to read my scriptures, especially the Book of Mormon! My days go so much smoother if I remember to pray and read from the Book of Mormon – even if it is only for ten minutes each day, it does make a difference. No, my life has not been all sunshine and roses since becoming a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but it has helped me to be able to weather the storms of my life a whole lot better than I did beforehand.

I have struggled throughout the years with studying my scriptures and saying my prayers, though I begin again, and again, and again! I know that this is what the Lord wants me to do, so I keep trying to do it – I work very hard to keep His commandments and be a good example to those around me, especially my children and all of the children whom I have had the privilege of teaching😊I remember and believe as did Nephi from the Book of Mormon – that the Lord will not ask us to do anything without first providing a way for us to do that thing which He has asked us to do! He has always been there for me, as I know that He will be there for each one of you. You are His child, He loves each of you so much that He sent His Only Begotten Son – to be born on earth, to provide us a way to return to Him someday.

So, I guess what I am saying in my ramblings here is that no matter what church you belong to, you need, absolutely must to have a relationship with your Heavenly Father and His Son, Jesus Christ! Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love each one of you very much and they want the best for you. They want you to become the best you that you can be – with Their help! They know your potential. They have known you and loved you before you came to this earth. They know what you can become with Their help!

Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ need you and I, but more importantly you and I absolutely need Them!!!! They need each one of us to help do Their work here on the earth and each of us need Their help to get through this mortal life. Then you need to have a good relationship with your family! Love them! Forgive them! Stay close to them! They need you, but most importantly --- you need each one them!!! Families are so important – Father, Mother, Sister, Brother, Grandma, Grandpa, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins!! Families are eternal.

Remember, each one of us need our Father in Heaven and our Savior, Jesus Christ!

Speaking of your relationship with your Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ, I found an article in the New Era, a magazine for our youth – but the message can apply to each of us just the same. Read through it and see if you don’t find some information that can apply to you.

• New Era January 2016
• Learning of Heavenly Father: A Study of Epic Proportions

You pray to Heavenly Father, but have you ever wondered what He’s like? Or why in the world He helped you fond your lost keys the other day? Or how well He knows you? Or how well He communicated with you?

Luckily, it’s never too late to learn more about God. Now is your chance to begin a scripture study of epic proportions, where you’ll learn exactly why the God of the universe – with many billions of spirit children --- thinks about you. I love this part – its never too late to learn more about God. So then, you are never too old to begin your relationship with God either – right?

But it can be tough starting epic things, so let this flowchart help get you going.

Each day you can pick a question on the chart. As you follow the steps and answer the questions, try to think about your relationship with Heavenly Father. Think about His role in your life and ask yourself what you could do to draw closer to Him.

Now there was a picture of the flow chart with the article, but it was sideways, and I had to keep turning my computer to try to read it. I tried to figure out how to turn the picture aright, to no avail☹ so I took the information and put it into the following chart for you:

What is God even like?	Matthew 7:9—11 1 John 1:5 Ether 3:12	Which words stood out to you? Were any words repeated? Look them up in the dictionary or the Bible Dictionary.
How are Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ the same but different?	John 3:16, 35 John 17: 20 –23 Mormon 7:5-- 7	Prepare a Family Home Evening lesson about what you learned.
There are billions of people on the earth. How can Heavenly Father possibly know me?	1 Samuel 16:7 Psalms 82:6 Luke 12:6—7 D&C 93:23	What’s the main idea in each scripture? Try to summarize in fewer that five words.
How can I get to know Heavenly Father?	John 14:6—9 1 John 4:7 Alma 30:44 D&C 132:22--24	Do a search on LDS.org for any key words that you found in the scriptures. Visit Lds.org. /media-- library to watch a video on the topic.
We are told to talk to Heavenly Father in prayer. But how does Heavenly Father talk to me?	D&C 1:38 D&C 8:2—3 D&C 9:8—9	How do you talk to God? What could you change as a result of what you have learned?
Do you have another question about Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, or the Holy Ghost? Write it down and use it for future scripture studies after your flow chart questions run out. And don’t forget that you can always use the resources like the Guide to the Scriptures, True to the Faith, and PREACH MY Gospel to learn more about what you are studying!	Sunday Lessons This month’s topic: The Godhead Join the Conversation Things to Ponder for Sunday When has your relationship with your Heavenly Father helped you? How Is your life more hopeful with the knowledge of your divine nature and relationship with God? Things You Might Do Study one or two of the questions and finish the activities on the flowchart this week. Share your feelings about your relationship with the members of the Godhead at lds.org/go/knowNE116.	Meaningful Time with Him “To strengthen our relationship with God, we need some meaningful time alone with Him. Quietly focusing on daily personal prayer and scripture study, always aiming to be worthy of a current temple recommend -- these will be some wise investments of our time and efforts to draw closer to our Heavenly Father. Let us heed the invitation in Psalms: ’Be still, and know that I am God’ [Psalms 46:10]” President Deiter F. Uchtdorf, Second Counselor in the First Presidency, “Of Things That Matter Most,” Ensign, Nov. 2010, 21.

Do you have another question about Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, or the Holy Ghost? You can find information here: https://www.lds.org/?lang=eng or https://www.mormon.org/beliefs/does-god-know-me  the Guide to the Scriptures here: https://www.lds.org/scriptures/gs/atone-atonement?lang=eng

 True to the Faith here: https://www.lds.org/manual/true-to-the-faith?lang=eng

 Preach My Gospel here: https://www.lds.org/manual/preach-my-gospel-a-guide-to-missionary-service?lang=eng

I am always trying to find ways that I can learn more and develop a closer relationship with my Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I think that each one of us need to be diligently seeking to Come, unto Christ, to learn of Him we must learn of His Father – our Father in heaven. The above sources are all good places to learn more about Them. In learning about Them, we are also learning a lot about ourselves and the things that we each must do in order to return to live with Them some day.

Because every day we make mistakes, we say and unkind word or even harbor an unkind or judgmental thought of another person – my worst times are when I am behind the wheel of my car☹ we may make a poor choice, we judge someone – even if only in our thoughts. So, we all need to repent every day and continuously work on our relationship with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. And as we study the New Testament together this year, we are learning about Jesus Christ and His teachings. We are learning together to Follow Him. Remember, Faith is an action word – so we must DO what He did – what He would do if He were here on the earth today. We are His hands so let’s learn of Him and together we can Follow Him by doing just what He would do if He were here okay?

So today I was working on a book for my granddaughter, it is a book of remembrance that she picked out for me to fill out. As I was working on it, I was struggling to keep a good hold on my pen as it kept slipping away from my grasp. I felt like I had a good grip, but not so, because every little while it would be slipping away again.  I am sure that I mentioned to you about having neuropathy in my hands and in my feet since my chemotherapy began. I think it was the one they called the 'red devil' that caused the problem, but I am not totally sure.  I just know that the doctor said that it was drug induced. so I looked up some information to share with all of you-- those who might have cancer and those of you who may be in the support system for a cancer patient.

Peripheral neuropathy, a result of damage to your peripheral nerves, often causes weakness, numbness and pain, usually in your hands and feet. It can also affect other areas of your body.

Peripheral neuropathy can result from traumatic injuries, infections, metabolic problems, inherited causes and exposure to toxins. One of the most common causes is diabetes mellitus.

 My neuropathy is in my hands and in my feet and was caused from the strong chemo therapy they had to use at the beginning of my treatment regimen. It started out slowly in the beginning and now it is constantly there and because of the pain it causes and the fact that my fingers and my feet do not feel like they did before. Begore the neuropathy came I was able to crochet; to sew; to color. to type on the computer; to write letters; to take notes in classes; to write up my daily lesson plans for work; just to name a few of the things that I now struggle with every day because of having neuropathy😊

Even though I am taking medicine for my neuropathy, I still struggle with it, don’t get me wrong, the medication really does make a huge difference, but it seems the more that I do the more that it hurts and the more that I struggle to do the things that I need and want to do. I used to be able to write 5-7 letters evert month each with bout 6-8 pages all hand written, but not so much any more, I must type them each upon the computer then print them off to get them in to the mail.

I want to crochet a blanket but for my soon to be here granddaughter, but my grandson in 2 already and I still haven’t finished up the one that I started the day he was born. I still work on it, but I cant work on it for very long at a time because if I do then it seems to take forever for my hands especially, to calm down at the end of the day, just like when I walk too much during the day they too take a ling while to stop throbbing so that I can try to get some sleep. Some nights it hurts to put a sheet over my feet, and I know that I need to keep them warm. You can tell by reading some of the information about chemo induced Peripheral Neuropathy that it can be serious.

Peripheral Neuropathy

Some  chemotherapy drugs can cause peripheral neuropathy, a set of symptoms caused by damage to nerves that control the sensations and movements of our arms, legs, hands, and feet. Find out more about peripheral neuropathy and how to deal with it. 

Understanding Peripheral Neuropathy

Get information about peripheral neuropathy and how to talk about it with your health care team and others.

• What Is Peripheral Neuropathy?
  Peripheral neuropathy is a set of symptoms caused by damage to the nerves that are away from the brain and spinal cord. These distant nerves are called peripheral nerves. They carry sensations (a feeling in different parts of your body) to the brain and control the movement of our arms and legs. They also control the bladder and bowel.
  If you have peripheral neuropathy, you may notice some of these sensations in your hands or feet:
  Tingling (or a “pins and needles” feeling) -- this is on- going for me in both my feet and my hands, but it is lessened somewhat by the medications I take. It seems the more active I am the worse this is.

• Burning or warm feeling – I don’t think that I have noticed this one so much.
• Numbness – trying to pick something up and thinking you have a good hold on it – only to find that you didn’t even have it in your grasp. Frustrating ☹
• 
  
• Weakness – this hasn’t happened very often but sometimes my cup or other things fall from my hands without warning.
• Discomfort or pain -- this seems to get worse as the day goes on, especially if I am walking a lot or standing more and of course using my hands (which is hard not to do in a day 😊) but is better with the medication.
• Less ability to feel hot and cold – I have to be careful not to burn myself with either the heat or the cold. It just seems like it is hard to distinguish between warm and too hot or cold and too cold.
• Cramps (in your feet) – these little buggers can wake you right out of a sound sleep☹
• 
  
  What causes peripheral neuropathy?
  Some of the chemotherapy and other drugs used to treat cancer can damage peripheral nerves. When this happens it is called chemotherapy-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN). This can be a disabling side effect of cancer treatment.
  CIPN can cause severe pain and can affect your ability to do things like walk, write, button your shirt, or pick up coins. CIPN can last for weeks, months, or even years after treatment is done. If it gets very bad, it can cause more serious problems like changes in your heart rate and blood pressure, dangerous falls, trouble breathing, paralysis, or organ failure.
  Peripheral neuropathy can be caused by other things besides chemotherapy; such as

• Other cancer treatments, like surgery or radiation – I have had both o these done as well as ongoing chemotherapy. I have been truly blessed not to have any of the rest.
• Tumors pressing on nerves
• Infections that affect the nerves
• Spinal cord injuries
• Diabetes
• Alcohol abuse
• Shingles
• Low vitamin B levels
• Some autoimmune disorders
• HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) infection
• Poor circulation (peripheral vascular disease)
  It’s very important to know what’s causing peripheral neuropathy so that the right treatment can be given. The focus here will be on peripheral neuropathy that’s a side effect of chemo – CIPN.
  
• What drugs are most likely to cause CIPN?
  Certain chemo drugs are more likely to cause CIPN. Some of the more common ones include:

• Platinum drugs like cisplatin, carboplatin, and oxaliplatin
• Taxanes, including paclitaxel (Taxol^®), docetaxel (Taxotere^®), and cabazitaxel (Jevtana^®)
• Plant alkaloids, such as vinblastine, vincristine, vinorelbine, and etoposide (VP-16)
• Immunomodulating drugs (IMiDs), like thalidomide (Thalomid^®), lenalidomide (Revlimid^®), and pomalidomide (Pomalyst^®)
• Proteasome inhibitors, such as bortezomib (Velcade^®), carfilzomib (Kyprolis^®), and ixazomib (Ninlaro)
  If you’re not sure if a chemo drug you’re getting might cause CIPN, ask your cancer care team.
  Managing Peripheral Neuropathy
  Learn what you can do to help cope and manage peripheral neuropathy.
  There is no sure way to prevent chemo-induced peripheral neuropathy (CIPN), but there are things you can do to manage your symptoms. During treatment, your cancer care team will ask you about your symptoms and watch you to see if the CIPN is getting worse. Your team may need to delay your treatment, use smaller doses of the chemo drugs, or stop treatment with the drug that is causing the CIPN until your symptoms get better. These actions must be started right away to prevent long-term damage that won’t get better.
• 
  Can CIPN be treated?
  Treatment can often help ease some of the symptoms of CIPN. Sometimes these symptoms go away a short time after treatment is done. But sometimes they last much longer and need long-term treatment. Severe CIPN may never go away.
  Treatment is mostly given to relieve the pain that can come with CIPN. Some of the drugs used include:

• Steroids for a short time until a long-term treatment plan is in place
• Patches or creams of numbing medicine that can be put right on the painful area (for example, lidocaine patches or capsaicin cream)
• Antidepressant medicines, often in smaller doses than are used to treat depression
• Anti-seizure medicines, which are used to help many types of nerve pain
• Opioids or narcotics, for when pain is severe
  Researchers are looking at which drugs work best to relieve this kind of pain. It may take more than one try to find out what works best for you.
• 
  Other treatments that can be tried to ease nerve pain and its effects on your life include:

• Electrical nerve stimulation
• Occupational therapy
• Physical therapy
• Relaxation therapy
• Guided imagery
• Distraction
• Acupuncture
• Biofeedback
  What can I do to deal with CIPN?
  There are some things you can do to better manage the symptoms of CIPN, such as:

• Talk to your doctor or nurse about the problems you are having in daily life. They might be able to suggest ways to make you feel better or function better.
• If you are taking pain medicines, use them as your doctor prescribes them. Most pain medicines work best if they are taken before the pain gets bad. See Cancer Pain to learn more about pain, how to talk about it, and how to manage it.
• Avoid things that seem to make your CIPN worse, such as hot or cold temperatures, or snug clothes or shoes.
• Give yourself extra time to do things. Ask friends for help with tasks you find hard to do.
• Don’t drink alcohol. It can cause nerve damage on its own, and might make CIPN worse.
• If you have diabetes, control your blood sugar. High blood sugar levels can damage nerves.
• If constipation is a problem, follow your doctor’s recommendations about laxatives and exercise. Drink plenty of water and eat fruits, vegetables, and whole grains to get enough fiber.
• If the neuropathy is in your feet, sit down as much as possible, even while brushing your teeth or cooking.
• If your neuropathy is permanent, your doctor may refer you to an occupational therapist (OT). They are experts who help people lead more normal lives despite physical limits.
• 
  What should I do to avoid injury?
  When your sense of feeling is affected by CIPN, you might be more likely to injure yourself by accident. Here are some things you can do to stay safe:

• If you have neuropathy in your hands, be very careful when using knives, scissors, box cutters, and other sharp objects. Use them only when you can give your full attention to your task.
• Protect your hands by wearing gloves when you clean, work outdoors, or do repairs.
• Take care of your feet. Look at them once a day to see if you have any injuries or open sores.
• Always wear shoes that cover your whole foot when walking, even at home. Talk to your doctor about shoes or special inserts that can help protect your feet.
• Be sure that you have ways to support yourself if you have problems with stumbling while walking. Hand rails in hallways and bathrooms may help you keep your balance. A walker or cane can give you extra support.
• Use night lights or flashlights when getting up in the dark.
• Protect yourself from heat injuries. Set hot water heaters between 105° to 120°F to reduce scalding risk while washing your hands. Use oven gloves and hot pads when handling hot dishes, racks, or pans. Check bath water with a thermometer.
• Keep your hands and feet warm and well covered in cold weather. For example, consider keeping a pair of gloves in your car. Avoid extreme temperatures.
• 
  What questions should I ask about CIPN?
  Here are some questions you might want to ask your health care team:

• Is the chemo I’m getting likely to cause CIPN?
• Am I at high risk for CIPN?
• What symptoms do I need to watch for and report to you?
• Have you treated CIPN in other patients? How? Did it work?
• If my CIPN gets bad and is very painful, will it change my treatment plan?
• Is it likely that my CIPN will get better or go away after treatment is over?
  Talk to your health care team
  It’s important to work closely with your doctor or nurse to manage peripheral neuropathy caused by chemotherapy. Talk to your doctor about any changes in how you feel, and any trouble you have walking or holding things. Tell the doctor how your symptoms affect the things you do every day.
  If you get medicines to help CIPN, be sure to keep your doctor posted on whether the drugs are helping and if new problems start up. You might also want to talk with your doctor about whether you can get into a clinical trial to help deal with your CIPN.
  If you are concerned about how future treatment might affect your quality of life, talk with your doctor about what’s most important to you. Remember that only you can decide whether you want to get, or keep getting, a certain treatment.
• 
  This information was taken from the cancer center website here: https://www.cancer.org/treatment/treatments-and-side-effects/physical-side-effects/peripheral-neuropathy/managing-peripheral-neuropathy.html
  You can find information about diabetic neuropathy here: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/diabetic-neuropathy/symptoms-causes/syc-20371580
  If you too have this peripheral neuropathy you will understand what I am saying here. If you do not – I hope you never do, but if you are in chemotherapy or have been just diagnosed and will need to receive chemotherapy, be sure to ask the above questions. Also, be aware that receiving chemotherapy can cause this type of neuropathy – so read up and be prepared!
  Remember I spoke of another way to be prepared in your life spiritually as well as temporally --- is to build a relationship with your Heavenly Father and your Savior, Jesus Christ. We will talk more about this in another post. Forgive me for my complaining today. I truly am very blessed and things in my life could be a whole lot worse. I guess I just need to repent and ask forgiveness for any hurt feelings I may have caused and count my blessings😊 Until my next post, if you haven’t begun to have a relationship with your Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ – it’s never too late to begin, or begin again to rebuild your relationship with Them. Please make it a great week!
• 
  Forgive me for complaining today. I guess my nerves have got the better of me today. Gosh even typing on the computer hurts today, so I think I will close my post for today.