A Young Wife’s Tale

When my husband and I were engaged, my mother told me, “I don’t care whether or not you go for pre-marital counseling. Nothing can prepare you for marriage.” She was right, but not even my mother knew the challenges my husband and I would face in our marriage.

On July 8, we celebrated five years of marriage. Those five years have been dominated by health problems. It started off with my health. I had severe TMJ Disorder and a knee injury. Then in our second year of marriage, my husband, David, was diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis. Although he was being treated, he continued to get worse until our third year of marriage when he began experiencing flares that left him bedridden for days at a time.

Jenny B. Jones has a great sense of humor. Every chapter of her book, Save the Date, had me laughing out loud.

It tells the story of Lucy and Alex. Lucy is a klutzy blonde who runs a group home for young women who have aged out of the foster care system. She grew up poor, and disdains people like Alex Sinclair, a wealthy former professional football player who is running for congress. He proposes they fake an engagement to help him win the election. In exchange, he promises funding for her group home.

An Amish Love is some of the best Amish fiction I’ve ever read. The book is composed of three novellas, and includes questions for reading groups and Amish recipes. In “A Marriage of the Heart” by Kelly Long, Abby Kaufman tricks Joseph Lambert into marrying her so that she can get away from her father, but Joseph ends up moving in with them. “What the Heart Sees” by Kathleen Fuller tells the story of how Christopher Miller returns to his community after leaving to escape the death of his girlfriend in an accident that also blinded Ellie Chupp. And in “Healing Hearts” by Beth Wiseman, empty nesters must try to learn to live together again after almost a year apart.

This is one of the best books I’ve read in quite some time. Reading the heartbreaking story behind Now Thank We All Our God so close to Thanksgiving was very timely, and makes me feel ashamed for not giving thanks more often. Another hymn of Thanksgiving, We Gather Together, had a surprising story behind it. It was written in 1597 to celebrate Holland’s freedom from Spain. There were so many hymns written during times of religious persecution. It was truly inspiring to read of the faith of Christian brothers and sisters.

Why is the alarm clock on my side of the bed? Psoriatic arthritis doesn’t affect David’s hearing.

I hate New Jersey. We’ve been here seven months. I have tried, but I still hate it.

When I call to pay $75 towards a $103 doctor’s bill, billing associates shouldn’t ask me when more funds will be added to my HSA card because they “just don’t want me to be sent to collections.” Um, did you want me to pay you or not? You didn’t send me to collections for two months over the whole amount, but now because I’m paying you, you’re sending me to collections?