Week 6- (Wii Night) Super Mario Maker

            This week we had a more laid back date night. We played Super Mario Maker for the Wii U.  I had originally planned on us making levels prior to play but that did not happen. Instead we decided to take turns playing the 100 Mario challenge to help unlock a new costume for Jadae. We each were allowed 3 lives or passing one level before we had to turn the controller over to the other person.
          We fun just playing something that reminded us of our childhood. It was very relaxing, not mind draining, but yet challenging. And a little confession on my part I still scream like when I was younger when I play video games. I scream when a bad guy gets too close or you almost get hit my a fire stick or fall in a hole :)
         For those who are not familiar with this game I will give a brief synopsis. There are several different ways to play. One way is to make your own Mario levels that you can upload for others to play. You are able to use the Super Mario Bros., Super Mario Bros. 3, Super Mario World, and New Super Mario Bros. U platforms to make the levels along with creating tunnels, sub-levels, etc. in the outside world, the ship, the castle, etc. Or you can play levels of your choosing that others have loaded. And you also can play 100 or 10 Mario challenge. Where you get that many lives to try and beat so many levels (depending on difficulty) once you do you get to unlock a costume that allows you to change what Mario becomes when he levels up (getting bigger or a special power). The costumes have all kinds of outfits, like being a gomba, Link, Lugio, Donkey Kong  etc. My whole family loves this game. Jadae tries to design levels that Monkey boy can play. Monkey Boy enjoys making levels filling them with as many bad guys as possible!




52 Date Nights in 52 Weeks
Getting out of a rut- The post that explains why I started this journey

1. Week One- (movie) The Bucket List

2. Week Two- (game) Post Cards from North America
3. Week Three- Art Night!
4. Week four- Deal or No Deal

5. Week 5- Game Night (Chrononauts)

52 Weeks- Week 5 - Chrononauts

Time travel is very interesting. It has always intrigued people. Sometimes people wish that they go back in history and have a redo. Other times people wish they could speed up the clock; such as when a child is going through a difficult stage, you are very pregnant and just want to have that baby. Other times people want to either go back into history and see what it was like to live back then or peek into the future to see what might happen

But with time travel there comes consequences. In Back to the Future II, Marty and Doc were very careful not to mess up what had already 'happened' in the future because a time paradox could happen.

Doc: "I foresee two possibilities. One, seeing herself thirty years in the future would put Jennifer into shock and she'd simply pass out. Or two, the encounter could create a time paradox. The results of which could cause a chain reaction that would unravel the very fabric of the space-time continuum and destroy the entire universe!... Granted, that's the worst-case scenario. The destruction however might be limited merely to our own galaxy."

Marty: "Well that's a relief!"

— Doc and Marty were discussing the ramifications of Jennifer running into herself.

Chrononauts is a game that allows you to make paradoxes left and right without real-life consequences.

It took as a little while to learn the directions of the game but once we understood them the games kept rolling. We ended up playing 5 games. Jadae won 3 and I only 2. I am looking forward to see how the dynamics change when another player is added. There is also an option to play solo.

(Disclaimer- This post does contain an affliate link, meaning if you purchase a game I will receive a small portion of the sell at no extra charge for you)

52 Date Nights in 52 Weeks
Getting out of a rut- The post that explains why I started this journey

1. Week One- (movie) The Bucket List

2. Week Two- (game) Post Cards from North America
3. Week Three- Art Night!
4. Week four- Deal or No Deal

Neurofibromatosis- What is it?

I have mentioned Neurofibromatosis briefly in different posts and I know that I will bring it up again. So I wanted to let others know what Neurofibromatosis is. (also known as NF).  I am going try not to sound too much like a textbook or a medical website while I explain it a little bit.  Both Josiah and I have it. I inherited it from my mom, who got it from her mom.

NF has 3 different types. NF1, which is the most common type and the type that my family has and it is what I will post about. There are also  NF2 and Schwannomatosis.

NF is a genetic disorder that causes tumors to form on nerve tissues. I didn't start to develop these tumors until adolescence. Some people develop them earlier in life, others may never have the tumors. The tumors can show up anywhere on your nervous system (which includes the brain, spinal cord and nerves). Most of the time these tumors are benign but sometimes they can become malignant. I mainly have them on my stomach, chest and back. Some people have only a few, others may be covered by them. I am very self-conscious about mine. 


I was diagnosed at birth with the NF. The doctors knew I had it because I at least 6 of the the cafe au lait spots (birth marks that look like coffee spills). I first noticed Josiah cafe au lait spots when he was 4 months old and he was diagnosed shortly after he turned 1. NF1 always shows up during childhood (before the age of 10). It is hereditary, but only if one of the parents have it and than it is a 50% chance. Although someone may get it from a spontaneous mutation. Smiles is the only one out my 3 here on earth children that have it. 

What causes it?The NF1 gene is located on Chromosome 17. That gene normally produces a protein called neurofibromin that helps regulate cell growth. With NF the mutated gene caused a loss of that protein which allows the cells to grow uncontrolled.

Neurofibromatosis is more than just tumors and physical features. It can cause (along with some other issues):

• Neurological problems. Learning and thinking difficulties are the most common neurological problem. Some of the uncommon complications include epilepsy and buildup of excess fluid in the brain.
• Concerns with appearance. Visible signs of neurofibromatosis — such as extensive cafe au lait spots, numerous neurofibromas in the facial area or large neurofibromas — can cause anxiety and emotional distress, even if they're not medically serious.
• Skeletal problems. Some children have abnormally formed bones, which can result in bowing of legs and fractures that sometimes don't heal. NF1 can cause curvature of the spine (scoliosis) that may need bracing or surgery. NF1 is also associated with decreased bone mineral density, which increases your risk of weak bones (osteoporosis).
• Vision problems. Occasionally in children, an optic glioma can develop, affecting vision.

This is why Josiah will be getting a MRI soon. His specialist wants to proactive so that if he develops an optic glioma we can get it treated right away.

• Cancer. An estimated 3 to 5 percent of people with NF1 develop cancerous tumors. These usually arise from neurofibromas under the skin or from plexiform neurofibromas. People with NF1 also have a higher risk of other forms of cancer, such as breast cancer, leukemia, brain tumors and some types of soft tissue cancer.

My mom had breast cancer, My younger brother (who has NF1) was diagnosed with thyroid cancer when he was 11. I had a very rare form of skin cancer called Microcystic Adnexal Carcinoma
Now I am not sure if any of our cancers were necessary linked to NF but everyone in my immediate family who has NF with the exception of Josiah, has had some kind of cancer.

We decided to have Smiles seen at Cincinnati Children's Hospital because they have a research clinic just for NF. We love Columbus Children's hospital and our children has received excellent care there for various surgeries. (including Smile's kidney surgeries). So even though Columbus is closer we wanted to go to a hospital with the newest research. They also are willing to follow me, which is great! I have not been seen for my NF since I was a child and had regular MRI's.

My word of the year

I have never done well with resolutions. I would make the same ones over and over to just fail. For a few years now I have heard of people choosing a word for the year. But I never really looked into it. This year was different.

I had a little hard time choosing though. I know I struggle with be open and vulnerable with people. I have a hard time opening up.

I struggle with perfectionism. I need to let things go more. That it is okay if not everything looks Pinterest worthy.

I want to go deeper in my prayer life. I want to dig into my Bible more. I am gathering the tools now for this. I am going to start using a journaling Bible to help keep my focus.

I am making a point to have a date night at home every week with my husband. Which I am loving. We often get so busy that if we happen both to be home in the evening we wither veg out on the couch with Netflix or are involved in our many projects. We need to make sure we are investing into each other.

I am trying to spend one afternoon a week with my oldest playing games; because I know soon he will be too cool for me and I am want to treasure this time with him. I also want to make a point to spend one-on-one time with the other boys. They grow so fast and certain stages are hard when all I see is the struggles we are going through. But I also know that there are many blessings in each stage and I will miss each stage.

What is one word that sums that all up?

Real
Authentic
Intentional

I sat on it for a few weeks. While sitting in the doctors office today it came to me.

I want to embrace my prayer life, my walk with the Lord and go deeper.
I want to embrace my relationship with my husband. Take time out to spend one-on-one time with him.
I want to embrace the stages that my children are in. People so often say treasure it because it goes my so fast.
I want to embrace who I am. I always have room for improvement but I can grow. But I shouldn't try to hide my flaws or struggles. They are part of who I am.
I want to embrace my sinful self. Not to keep sinning but to acknowledge it and repent and change
I want to embrace my body that I am not always happy with. But God made me wonderfully and beautifully

Fervent- Getting Your Passion back

Years ago I attended a very small country church in Texas. At that church I learned a hymn

(the chorus)

I went to the enemy's camp and
I took back what he stole from me (x3)
I went to the enemy's camp and
I took back what he stole from me

Some friends and I have started a book study using the book, Fervent by Priscilla Shirer, This book was inspired by the movie "The War Room". She writes about what she thinks the devil's top ten strategies against you are.

Sadly I ended up having to miss the first book discussion because of an eye injury. But here are some things that spoke to me in the introduction and the first two chapters.

The enemy knows me. He knows my pressure points and my weaknesses. He know exactly where to hit to make me weak and to try to take control. So I lose my passion and steam. Not only in what I love and what brings me joy, but with my walk with the Lord. The enemy plots and schemes and sets his plans so I will fail. So I will lose hope, so I will become complacent. He has used so many strategies and they have worked in the past. But I do not want that anymore. 

"Put on all of God's armor so that you will be able to stand firm AGAINST ALL STRATEGIES of the devil." (Eph 6:11 emphasis my own)

Strategies, schemes and deceptions

Priscilla writes, "We pray because our own solutions don't work and because prayer deploys, activates, and fortifies us against the attacks of the enemy. We pray because we're serious about taking back the ground he has sought to take from us."
The enemy had stolen my joy. Made me complacent. Made me dis-value prayer. He dimmed my passion for God, His word, and prayer. This didn't happen overnight but the enemy saw little areas, where he wedged himself in and set up camp. And his campsite just kept growing.

While my belief in God and what Jesus has done for me was still there the passion and the zest was not.

Priscilla Shirer writes that if she was the enemy this would be one of the primary goals. Because if my passion is dimmed my resistance to temptation and discouragement would be lowed.

So true.

Satan also likes to accuse. He likes to condemn while God convicts.  I have heard it before. But I never realized this until I read it in this book

"Your need for God's grace is supposed to be a passion enhancer" (from her book)

I really need to embrace that. I mess up all the time. I am not perfect. But God does not condemn that is Satan. God convicts. I should use my mess ups as an opportunity to draw closer to God not be ashamed to come to him.

The second chapter talks about your focus.

"When you bring your concerns and fears and irritations to the Lord in prayer, you're aligning your weakling spirit with the full focus of God's Holy Spirit." (from her book)

That hit me. So many times I take my frustrations or fears out on my dear husband and children. I get overwhelmed, tired, or irritated instead of going to God to ask Him for His strength and help to change my focus and my attitude.

Asking for help is not a weakness!

"Pray at all times in the Spirit". (Eph 6:18)

I am going take back what the enemy has stolen from me!

This post does contain an affiliate link