What did 2010 teach you? I received a big lesson in how quickly life can change and the importance of appreciating small things. The biggest changes occurred in just a 24 hour period. At the end of September, I quit my job to open my own business. If you would have told me on 1/1/10 that I would be opening my own CPA firm before the end of the year, I would have thought you were crazy. I started 2010 with NO intention of going out on my own BUT the Lord slammed shut some doors and flew open a bunch of windows and Alliance Accounting was born. Walking away from a stable job and a set salary in a down economy to open my own business was a scary endeavor but God really left no doubt that was the direction I was supposed to go. Becoming self -employed pushed the limits of my comfort zone but then the largest change came the day after I turned in my notice. The next day Stephen got really sick.
Out of nowhere, Stephen started having GI bleeding, terrible pain and lost 16 pounds (at 5 foot 10 he lost down to 104 pounds). He was admitted to the hospital and diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis. I had never even heard of UC. Now I know a lot more than I ever wanted to know. Ulcerative Colitis is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks the colon much like when a transplant recipient’s body rejects a donated organ. It currently does not have a cure. Treatment can put it into remission and consists of steroids and other medication that suppressed the immune system. Treatment options all seem to have drawbacks. The medications wipes out your immune system and one side effect can be Lymphoma and other cancers because the immune system is suppressed. Please pray for us to have wisdom on the treatment options.
Stephen started his freshman year of high school in 2010. I started the school year with hopes of him keeping his grades high to one day get a scholarship (He wants to go to Vanderbilt) and ended the semester just thankful that he could go to school after being out for weeks. I am thankful that he has felt really good the last few weeks. Instead of being concerned with clean bedrooms and iPod music selection, today I am thankful that he feels good. Today is a good day because my child feels good. I have even found myself thankful for the teenage attitude. At least he feels good enough to have an attitude. What a difference a year makes….
