danke schön

For a variety of reasons, we're not "doing" Thanksgiving dinner this year (probably next year), but just because we don't have the same food or family nearby, doesn't mean we don't have A LOT to be thankful for!

I love danke schön because it means "thank you, beautifully." (I guess the closest thing in English would be "thanks a lot.")

We have been so blessed with people on both sides of the world who have helped make our move not just doable, but wonderful. Many people have asked, "Why Germany?" We weren't sure all the reasons for the place, but once we felt it was right, we believed everything would work out. From selling our house there in a month to finding a perfect place for our family here, everything has continued to fall into place at exactly the right time.

One hope for me was to find a doc. who could figure out my thyroid. As many of you know, I've been struggling with a crazy thyroid that nobody could seem to figure out for over 5 years now. When I saw a doc. here last week, he was nice but short on time, and we had a bit of trouble communicating, even in English. I didn't have very high expectations of learning anything new.

When I came back a few days later to pick up my lab results and prescription, I was surprised to be told I would need to speak to the doc. before getting my prescription. I was more surprised to see the word "Carconim" that seemed to have a familiar ring to it. (Unfortunately, my pocket-sized dictionary was not much help in this department).

Luckily, I did not have cancer, and my thyroid levels were fine, but I had a new diagnosis--Hashimoto-Thyroditis. After having quite a long stretch of stable thyroid levels, I was discouraged to have to adjust to not only a new brand of medicine, but also an additional type of medicine, as well.

Now, two days later, it has occurred to me that maybe, just maybe this was the answer I've been looking for! ( That Bette Midler song came to me with the lines, "Sometimes the snow comes down in June, sometimes the sun goes 'round the moon...sometimes the very thing you're looking for is the one thing you can see.")

When I was first tested for Hashimotos years ago, it came up negative. Since then, I have been high and low, but there have been multiple times when I thought I was experiencing high thyroid symptoms only to be told my levels were just fine. I was sent to a heart specialist (for panic attacks) and then to a psychologist who wanted to put me on anti-depressants that would make me tired. I was so frustrated and kept thinking it had to be related somehow to my thyroid.

So, even though my thyroid levels that they check routinely are normal, maybe because I'm a new patient here, the doc. did a complete blood work and discovered that my thyroid antibodies were through the roof--a positive diagnosis for Hashimotos. These high levels can cause high-thyroid-feeling symptoms. Yeah, I'm really not crazy, afterall!

Some people online have said the medicine for this helps. Others say not. So, hopefully, it'll work for me. At least I know what it is now.

If this was the only reason we needed to move to Germany, it was worth it. Fortunately, for us we have already seen many other reasons, too! To this, I say, "danke schön!"

Just a few other things I'm thankful for:

e-mail, blogs, and video chat to keep in touch with friends and family

being members of Christ's Church on the earth today

happy, healthy kids who are willing to try their best

Myles' daily homecoming

friendly neighbors

my 5 senses

prayer

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