**Saturday Roll Call**

Hi everyone. How are you all doing today? I am so glad that I can come here and be with you. You have no idea how much strength and encouragement I get just knowing that you are there. I hope you all have a nice weekend, and since I don't see that anyone as yet has started our Saturday roll call, I thought I'd do so. Sometimes I feel a little intimidated trying to answer all the Questions of the Day, so instead of listing some, I thought I'd just open things up and let the Lord lead you into whatever you want to share with us today. Here are my thoughts. I am so grateful to the Lord for giving me another day on this earth. He is so good and faithful, and will never desert us. This I know for a fact! However, right now I am struggling with how to handle my feelings without antidepression medication. I know this is a positive step, and He is allowing me to feel my true feelings. Sometimes it is more than a little scary, but I'd rather feel the downside so that I can truly feel the upside of life. The Downside: I have come so far in my healing process. It's going on 6 months since my second stomach surgery, and I find I am letting my guard down when it comes to food. Now that I can physically eat more, I WANT to eat more! I have gained 3 lbs, and am no longer in ONEderland! I am going to get back there and stay there! I want to move forward and not be afraid. I need to fill in the gaps during the day when my energy is sapped with positive replacements rather than eating.....like reading my Bible more, praying more. I am stumped to figure out what else I can do. Any suggestions? The Upside: I am blessed with a wonderful family and great friends! I have a very active church life where I can use the talents and gifts God has given me. I am feeling better and better each day. I do have more energy and am physically able to do more. I can finally sleep in a regular bed, with the help of pillows, etc. My shoulders are becoming less painful, and I am slowly working on making a quilt. I continue to pray for all of you and am so glad we can come together to pray for and with each other. God bless and keep you in His tender care. Love, Peg

Good evening! Peg, I was glad to see you first up on the board. I have not been doing anything on the board for a few days. Sounds like you and I are fighting the same moods. All I want to do is stay in bed and stare at the ceiling or sleep. Went for my 2 week check, and all is well with the bloodwork, so I can't claim anemia! I have tried the walking, and work on my rebounder, but I am just so tired!! I have this feeling of "so what do I do next?" Has anyone else gone thru this in the first month, and how did you get thru it? I'm wondering too, if my vitamins need to be beefed up. Well, enough of that. Peg, I am so glad to hear that your shoulder is better. And working on a quilt!! Yeah!! I have one that has been waiting for me to do for the last 3 years.. It's for my daughter, and just the cutest thing, but I am not too sure of myself in this area, and keep putting it off. I will pray for you on the eating isssues, Peg. I don't know how else to deal with that one except to give it to the Lord. Well, I am going to close, and probably go back to looking at the ceiling. Only this time I will take my own advice and do some praying!! God Bless you, Peg! Kathy B

Hi Kathy. I have been thinking alot about you and wondering how you are doing. I did a lot of "ceiling staring" when I first came home from the hospital. I think our brains just need that time, plus we had alot of sedation/medications that need to filter out of our systems. I'm praying for you, Kathy. I know what you mean about not being real sure of yourself with quilting. Lucky for me, I am part of a group of women called Scissor Sisters. We meet twice a month. I just started working on this project, and there are some very talented and gifted women who are willing to help me. I am at the "Quilting 101" level, or maybe remedial level, but I'm still going to enjoy the process! You take care of yourself, Kathy. I'm so glad your bloodwork came out well. You are on your way! Love, Peg

Hi Peg! I'm glad you started roll call!!! I have just said a prayer for you to not have any condemnation while taking the anti-depressant meds and that God would give you peace and understanding in taking it according to His will! God bless you! Love, Cindy 465/349/150

Hi Cindy. Thanks for your prayers. I stopped the anti-depressants about 2 weeks ago, and I really hope to stay off of them. I didn't like their side effects. You just look terrific! I'm praying for you too. Go enjoy those new shoes! Love, Peg

Hi Peg! I always look for you on here, glad to see you tonight! My kids are sleeping and I am about to go there myself. Seems like my whole life I have struggled with depression. As a teenager I was on some very strong anti-depressants, which I think sent my weight way up. I have been off a few years, until now. My doctor really pushed for me to take them again to help with weight loss, and moods. I felt like maybe I should being in a new town with two small children without friends and at an all time highest weight. Its been hard here. I am not completely sure the medicine has really helped me. A part of me is sad that maybe I am not strong enough in the Lord to handle life. Emotions are so crazy. I will keep fighting though and making the best decisions that I can. Till the day i die I will not give up. I might lay in the bed for awhile ceiling watching myself, but I wont give up! God Bless you all~ Candy (I sound a little like Jeremiah, lamenting. It is helpful to me to know that God can use peopel struggling with depression! ) P.S. I forgot to tell ya'll my profile got spruced! There are still some things to be done, but is prettier now.

Hi Candy. I love your profile page. It is beautiful, but not as beautiful as you. I am praying for you right now that you will feel God working in a positive way in you and your family. God bless and keep you, dear Sister in Christ. Love, Peg

Hi Everyone. I know this is Sunday but I thought I would post anyway. Peg and Candy your posts made me think of some bible verses. I have gone through depression too and have felt the same ways you have. I would like to share II Corinthians 12:9-10...................................... "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." God promises to make us strong through Him if we only give it over to Him. He is an AMAZING GOD! He also says His burden is easy and His yoke is light. It is heavy only when we try to do things out of our own powers and abilities. I will be praying for you. Love in Christ, Kathy

Hi Kathy. Thanks for writing. I love what Paul wrote in II Corinthians. It is one of my favorite books of the Bible, and I definitely am glad that God uses my weaknesses for His glory to shine through. I know that He allows the times for us to walk through the valleys so that we can grow and learn and appreciate the times He allows us to walk on the mountaintops. I praise His name throughout these times. He is good and faithful and will never desert us. Thank you for being there, dear sister. Love, Peg