Last Whine Until Two-O-One-Nine!

I grabbed my pool bag this morning, gave Sam a quick kiss and headed off to my surgeon appointment, fully planning to swim after my chiro appointment which followed my surgeon appointment.  

This is the knee that got the "no" - as in no swimming.  If you look at it closely, you'll see a little red scrape to the left of the scar, center of the picture.  

Saturday at work, I had picked up a deck chair.  One of the legs hit me beside the scar - hence the little red scrape.  It began to bleed and bleed and bleed.  We applied a bandaid and I didn't think twice about it.

Until the surgeon asked me this morning, "Did you cut yourself shaving?"  

"Um . . . no!  I was attacked by a deck chair."

You know, I could pick up a deck chair a million more times and I would never get a little cut like that again.  But it is that little cut that is keeping me out of the pool until Friday . . .  

And this is my last whine until 2019!  I've already whined to Sam and Matt and Micah and my chiropractor and now, my friend, to you!    

Just One Day Left . . .

When Micah and I arrived in Tyler, Texas in 2014 to work at Mercy Ships International Operations Center, we were met by Erin Kirk.  Erin has since left Mercy Ships and started "Girl Catch Fire".  Her newsletters are always worth a read, but this one, I feel, is definitely worth your time!  I will just be doing it with a Coke.  Enjoy!

Over the weekend I asked my clients to write a year-end brag! What's a year-end brag? It is a quiet reflection, best done sitting near your Christmas tree, with tea or a glass of wine, where you list in a notebook or journal of all the amazing things you did in 2018. You see, we humans are forgetful creatures: Not only do we need to remember and list all the amazing things God did (that's a separate list)...   But what about all the amazing things you did? Did you keep your family alive and fed all year? Did you crush some difficult project at work? Did you inspire a team of people to come up higher? Did you change your mind about yourself? Did you quit drinking? Quit smoking? Did you work two jobs and finish school? Did you forgive someone who hurt who - even without an apology? Did you humble yourself and ask for help? Did you stand up to something you knew was wrong? Did you take a deep breath and put new work into the world? Did you love people around you well, even when they didn't deserve it? Did you repent of something that's slowly killing you - turning around to walk the other way? You get the idea. These are all high-courage, high-yield moves that deserve celebration and a private brag session, and believe me, if you don't write it down you'll forget them. My clients do this daily, so their year end lists are super long and rich.   Here's why this matters:  Your world, your tv, your magazines, your boss, and (especially) your own mind tell you every day that you're not enough. Your brag list proves otherwise. When you're down, read it... When you need courage, read it... When you think you're not enough read it... Let it remind you that you've done big hard things before and you'll do them again.

Thankful Thursday!

Today I am ever so thankful I am NOT doing what I was supposed to be doing!  How's that for being cryptic?

I have been scheduled to teach the Water Safety Aid (WSA) class over Winter Break for ISD 196 since October.  Once I found out about my knee surgery, I let them know that while I could still teach, I couldn't get in the water.  Rather hard to teach swimming instructors how to be swimming instructors without getting wet, eh?

So Sabrina came up with a rather creative alternative.  I would be her assistant while helping the WSA class with their practice teachings - in the pool, but not in the water.  

So yesterday while I did data entry and other paper work for the WSI class (Water Safety Instructor), Sonja (who is teaching the WSA class) cleaned up vomit, dealt with a student having an anxiety attack on the deck and took care of the used tampon in the shower - all in less than thirty minutes while I typed away.

Today wasn't nearly as exciting, but I did get to enter information for the American Red Cross Aquatics Program - something I haven't done in years!  And oversee practice teachings for the WSA class.  Thankful to be the Winter Break "float" and not the WSA instructor - which means I also don't have to teach CPR tomorrow or First Aid on Friday.  It's a happy week!   

Overachiever!

In spite of six hours in the car this weekend, you'll be glad to know that this morning at PT I was able to bend my knee to a whopping 125 degrees  ALL BY MYSELF!  So ends PT . . .

No wonder . . .

At PT this morning, Laura asked me how I was doing.  I said, "Not so good!"  I went on to explain that we had driven to Iowa to see Dad and six plus hours in the car did a real number on my knee.  She said, "I'm surprised you went.  They usually don't advise travel until three months after surgery."  

Oh . . . no wonder the doctor did NOT look happy when I told him I had not seen my Dad in a year at his house in Iowa and I WAS going for Christmas.

Like Laura said, "Two steps forward, one step back."  I guess I won't be traveling for another two months . . .   

Christmas in Iowa!

Sam and I drove down to Dad's on Saturday for a Christmas celebration.  Let me take you there through pictures . . .

Dad wanted to drive us through town so we could see all the changes in Lake Park.  We caught the moon rising over Silver Lake . . . 

 

Then it was off to Godfather's in Spirit Lake for pizza . . .

 

Finally, we drove through town once more to see the Christmas lights, stopping first at church where Dad and Dick made this nativity scene . . .

 

My sister and her hub came down up on Sunday and we had a lovely lunch together.  It was during the Vikings game, while sitting next to Ray, that he whacked me on the "new knee" because the Vikings had done something right.  He was miserable, I wasn't so bad . . .    

"We'll round up!"

And that round up put me at 120 degrees (from 119.5 degrees)!  I made it!  The ultimate goal!  And then Laura went and bent my knee to 123 degrees.  Looks like I'm down to one day of therapy left.  Praising God! 

Great RIver Water Park!

As Matt and I were carpooling to work at the Y on Tuesday night, I asked him where exactly in St. Paul he was now working.  He told me the Great River Water Park, located inside Oxford Community Center.  It is Saint Paul's premier indoor aquatics facility, offering swimming lessons, water aerobics, lap swim, party packages and more.  And to think my son is the assistant manager of aquatics!  Almost makes me wish I could swim again!

 

Thankful Thursday!

A few weeks ago, Heidi was over for supper.  We started talking about the old hymns we used to sing.  As par for my course, I started dissing them, saying I was glad we only sang hymns once or twice a year in church.  

But in reality, as I've been thinking about it, it is those very hymns that my very theology is based on.  Hymns and Mom.  Mom singing hymns while she baked.  Mom singing hymns while she folded laundry.  Mom singing hymns in the car.  Mom singing hymns with Tennessee Ernie Ford.   Mom singing hymns.

My truth is this:

• "A mighty fortress is my God, a bulwark never failing";
• "O God, my help in ages past, my hope for years to come";
• "Great is Thy faithfulness, O God my Father";
• "Standing, standing, standing on the promises of God my Savior"; 
• "Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face";
• "I love to tell the story, 'twill be my theme in glory"; 
• "I serve a risen Savior, He's in the world today";  
• "Trust and obey, for there's no other way to be happy in Jesus but to trust and obey"; 
• "Jesus, Saviour, pilot me, over life's tempestuous sea";
• "Stand up, stand for Jesus, ye soldier of the cross, lift high His royal banner";
• "Count your blessings, name them one by one; count your blessings see what God hath done";

 and my ultimate favorite, 

"What a friend we have in Jesus, 

all our sins and griefs to bear!  

What a privilege to carry everything to God in Prayer!

O what peace we often forfeit, 

O what needless pain we bear,

all because we do not carry everything to God in prayer!"

So today, I am thankful for Mom and for her singing these old hymns that helped me become who I am today!  

Now, just for your listening pleasure . . .

Last Staff Inservice of the Year!

Check out the blue and purple hair - with Noah just wishing he had hair!

What do you do with twenty-five hula hoops and twelve staff?

  Well, we laughed alot!

118.

Fist bump.  Woo hoo!  I hit 118 degrees all by myself on the knee bend scale today, heading toward that goal of 120 degrees!  Time to have a party!

 

Caught.

Sam had a 7 a.m. dental appointment this morning following a late night last night.  

"Don't worry," I said with a yawn.  "I'll walk the dog in the morning."  

Unfortunately, I woke up with my new knee being rather stiff, so I took some time to stretch it out.  Then I put in a load of laundry.  Finally, I walked the dog.  I didn't bother to check the time.  Nor did I bother to "get dressed".

Neighbor Nancy was the one who caught me on her way to work.  "At first I thought you wearing a red dress, but I then I realized you were wearing your pajama's!"

Friends, I was dressed like a preschooler - and not the princess one!  I had on my red penguin pajama's, blue leggings, bright green Santa socks, a forest green coat, a bright blue hat and beige mittens!  Definitely, an outfit meant to walk the dog only in the dark!  Next time, I really do need to check the time! 

Patient Stories

This post is reblogged from Kathy Shearon's blog, "A Journey of 10,000 Miles - Be More Heart."  It's a lovely recap of some of the patients seen aboard the good ship so far this fall . . . 

Every patient that comes to the ship has a story.  The nature of being in the lab is that I don’t get to personally meet every single patient that comes for a surgery.  I see their samples but don’t get to always get to know them personally.  We have a wonderful communications team that does a beautiful job of capturing and recording our patient stories.  Here are a few of our patients that have come to the ship in Guinea and started their journey towards hope and healing.

Salematu

It all started with a tooth infection. Unable to access adequate medical care, 26-year-old Salematu’s infection grew into a facial tumor that she couldn’t fix. She dropped out of nursing school and spent the next two years at home, not wanting the world to see her: “I shouldn’t look like this.” The arrival of the Africa Mercy in Guinea was the answer to Salematu’s biggest dream: being healthy enough to return to school and become a nurse.  Below are photos showing Salematu’s journey and also her excitement and joy at her future!

 

 

 

 

Ibrahima

Imagine not being able to walk – or even stand up straight. Already injured in a fire, 24-year-old Ibrahima’s scars began to contract, and immovably bend his knees, and this became his reality. No longer able to work or take care of himself, he had to rely on his older brother to carry him everywhere. But when he heard of a surgery ship sailing to Guinea, he felt something that had long been absent: hope.

On the Plastics ward Ibrahima worked really hard to regain his sense of independence one step at a time.   Using the aid of a walker, his mobility increased a little more each and every day.  The physical therapy part of his healing was the most difficult but he has many people to encourage him and cheer him on!

“I feel taller already. I was always sitting and seeing the world from a lower level … Now I’m even taller than my big brother!”

Samory 

When Samory first experienced the pain in his tooth four years ago, he never thought it would turn into a tumor that he couldn’t afford to do anything about: “The worst part was that I knew it was only going to get worse and grow bigger. When I thought of my future, I was scared”

But the 25 year old that arrived at the Africa Mercy for surgery was filled with a hope that things wouldn’t always be this way: “I am so happy to be here. It’s amazing to think that years’ worth of pain will be taken away in just one day!”

Gamai

When little Gamai was a baby, a tragic accident involving a pot of boiling water resulted in burn contractures over her hands and arms.  Now at 5 years old, her limited mobility is all she has ever known.  Despite torments and mockery over the past few years, her brave mother has brought her to my ship home where she under went surgery a few months ago to regain the use of her limbs.  The surgery was the easy part.  Gamai has had lots of physical therapy to help her build up the muscles and regain her lost mobility.  Her mixture of sweetness and spunk has stolen the hearts of everyone on the wards!

Aicha

Last and certainly not least is one of our ortho kids.  This has been the theme of the hospital the last few weeks.  We are in our final week of surgeries but these kiddos will stick around with follow-up and physio (aka physical therapy) for months yet.  I can’t say I am complaining because they sure are cute!  And it is fun to watch them adapt to their casts and run up and down the hallways!  At 6 years old her bones started bowing outward due to not having enough of the essential nutrients during her development.  Since this condition will only get worse while she grows, I am thankful that she was able to have a surgery on the ship!  Our age cutoff for these types of surgeries is around 15 years due to the fusion of the growth plate.  Once the plate fuses the recovery process for the patient gets much longer and the outcomes not as promising.  Aicha has just started her journey, but she will get there one casted step at a time.

How High Can You Go?

When you "limbo", the question is "How low can you go?"

When you get a total knee replacement, the question is "How high can you go?"

Today, I've got the answer.  My PT's are pushing me toward a knee bend of 120 degrees.  They think I could potentially make 125-130 degrees because I am so far ahead of the curve.  HOWEVER, anything higher than that is overkill and could pop my knee out of the bionic socket and do far more damage than good.  Think:  total knee replacement x2.  No thanks!

Today's numbers:

• On my own, I was able to straighten my leg to a ZERO!  Which is perfect!  The ultimate magic number!  If I can do all zero's next week, I win!  Not sure what, but I win!
• On my own, I bent my knee to 109 degrees. The PT was pushing for 110, but I did improve six degrees in forty-eight hours.  We were happy.
• She managed to bend my knee to 115 degrees.  It was painful, but successful! 

I would say an over-all happy day!  Party on!

Approved.

We have neighbors who are BIG walkers and I called on those neighbors yesterday.

"My PT says I can start walking the dog again if she doesn't pull on her leash.  She wants someone to walk with me the first time in case Annie is bad and I have to quit walking her.  Are you free this afternoon?"

Sure enough, at 3:45 p.m., Bob and Chris came by to walk with Annie and I around the block.  We ran into neighbors, Tom and Nancy, as we got back to our house.  

"How'd she do?"

"I'd say she was moderate."

"Oh, I'd give her a moderate high."

"Well, on a good day, I walk 120 clicks.  We were doing around 115."

"Yeah, she did better than I thought she would."

Friends, they were NOT talking about Annie - they were talking about me!  I guess I passed the muster - and Annie did, too!  So we walked a total of two miles today - that would be two walks of one mile each!

Thankful Thursday!

It's most definitely a "Thankful Thursday" when your daughter comes home from her 7:30 a.m. final and begins vacuuming the downstairs - without being asked!  And then vacuums the upstairs, too!

It's also a quite "Thankful Thursday" when number one son cleans the bathroom floors with only one prompt - while his girlfriend is visiting, too!

Even more thankful, is returning home from your haircut to discover said daughter cleaned the kitchen floor! 

Excellent job, my children! 

Just another great day at PT . . .

I find it amazing the perverse pleasure my PT's take in making me stronger:

"That hurt's, you know?"

"Good.  Keep doing it for thirty seconds.  Work toward a minute."

And the encouragement is overwhelming:

"I'm walking up the lower five stairs at my (split-level entry) house."

"Good.  Start doing them all.  Next time, we'll work on walking down them."

Not to mention the challenges they offer:

"I'm trying to walk a mile a day."

"Good.  Start working toward two.  And if the dog doesn't pull, add her to the mix."

Sadly, I still have 1 cm to go on the flat extension of my leg.  I bent it on my own today to 105 degrees.  I was hoping for more.  Guess I better go work out . . . 

 

11.5 Hours

Yesterday was Micah's first day at the Apple Valley Applebee's.  She started work at 1 p.m. and DID NOT get done until 11:30 p.m.  Somewhere around 11 p.m. the general manager (who had come on around 5 p.m.) asked her how she was doing.  She told him honestly, "I haven't eaten since 12 p.m., I'm nauseous, and I'm exhausted."  He bought her dinner.  And she still said she enjoyed her day!

103 Degrees!

While that might sound like someone has a pretty high fever, that's not it at all!  Nope, that's the number of degrees I was able to bend my new right knee today - up from 80 degrees on Tuesday!  Can we say, "Party on!"?  Not only that, the PT was able to get it to bend (with only minimal pain) to 113 degrees!  Our goal:  120 degrees!  

Unfortunately, or maybe wisely, I was cautioned to take it slow, give my muscles a chance to rest and heal . . . But don't they know - I, for one, am ready to go!

Thankful Thursday!

It is quite the "Thankful Thursday!"  when that brand new knee is able to clean EVERYTHING in the bathroom except for the floor - and truthfully, I didn't try very hard to do it!   I'd hate to have the fam think I was feeling good!

It's also a very "Thankful Thursday!" when you have vacuum cleaner on each level and can run them WITHOUT the cane!  The stairs didn't get done, but that is so NOT my problem!

And truthfully, I don't know who was more thankful, Sam or I, that Micah, on her hands and knees, mopped the kitchen and dining room floor! 

So today I am thankful that once again our house is clean . . . 

Ahead of the Curve!

It was most definitely a most excellent day for me!  I met with my surgeon at 2:20 p.m. and got the bandages off, the staples out and the steri-strips on.  No more ship showers for me - I can take real ones starting tomorrow!  Which is a good thing because my leg smells!  I got all my questions answered:

1. Yes, you can drive again.  Start slow and in the neighborhood.
2. No, you can not swim until after your next appointment.
3. Yes, continue taking an aspirin a day until your next appointment.
4. No, long travels are not what you want to be doing right now.
5. Yes, you are definitely doing great!  You are far ahead of the curve!

Next stop, PT.  It was an echo - a most lovely echo!  "You are way ahead of most people who have this done.  Definitely ahead of the curve!  Absolutely amazing!  What can you do to work out?  I have no idea. No one's ever asked me that before!"

Challenged!

I'm not sure "challenged" is the best word - "encouraged" may be a better choice.  But I was (pick your word) twice yesterday regarding my mother-in-law to find and remember the good things and to be thankful for them.  As I started to think and remember, there were definitely good things:

1. She loved to decorate her home and was quite good at it in spite of the orange shag carpet.
2. She loved to give gifts.  For a while at Christmas, all of her "girls" (daughters and daughter-in-laws) received a gift from her and they were uniquely fun, from pewter lapel pins to pencil sharpeners!
3. She remembered birthdays.  Don't ask me how - seven children, all married, thirty-one grandchildren and thirty-one great-grand children!
4. Just like my mom, she loved birds.  I've encouraged Sam, if it's okay with his family, to use the memorial money he's received to buy something "bird-ie" in her honor.  We have a blue bird bath in Mom's honor and it's a fun memory of her, especially as we watch the birds enjoying their baths. 
5. She liked to "present" (think "verb").  She had beautiful dishes she enjoyed using so that her table always looked lovely.   I, personally, could eat out of the kettle because it would be one less dish I'd have to wash!

So in her honor today, I would like to tell you my favorite "mother-in-law story".  It's not for the faint of heart!  We were there, but not in the kitchen, when it happened!  She had found a mouse running on the counter (farm house!).  She knocked it into the kitchen sink - the garbage disposal side, somehow got it into the garbage disposal and TURNED IT ON!  Then she realized what she'd done!  The mortified look on her face was well worth it!    

Thankful Thursday!

Today, I am thankful that I am being "spared".  Tomorrow, weather permitting, Sam will be traveling down to his mother's visitation followed by her funeral on Saturday.  We have decided that my traveling on a new bionic knee would not be a wise decision.  We didn't even ask the doctor - it's just not worth the risk for us.

Lorna, Sam's mom, and I never connected.  Twice yesterday, I got phone calls telling me how wonderful she was and how lucky I was to have her as my mother-in-law.  Both calls went on and on and on . . . talking about a side of her, both Sam and I agree, I never got to experience or see.  

So I am thankful to be able to spend this weekend here in Minnesota, where I won't have to watch my tongue, where I won't inwardly be seething, and my knee can continue to heal.   

Where do you go?

When it's a snowy day in Minnesota, where do you go to walk your new bionic knee?  Well, if your daughter is transferring to the Applebee's in Apple Valley because the Applebee's in Lakeville closed and she doesn't like the Burnsville one, and she's meeting with the manager in between taking you out to run errands, you CAN walk at Applebee's!  I put in nine laps during her meeting today!  Good thing we were there in a NON-busy time!

Somedays you just have to laugh . . .

The two physical therapists I requested at Twin Cities Ortho were not available today so I got STUCK with the head of the department.  Usually, people are not disappointed with that choice and I have to admit, he was a great guy!  What was funny was when he found out what I was doing for a day job, he got my proverbial business card!  He has four-year-old twins and he would like them to having swimming lessons with, of course, yours truly!  Just get me well . . .   

Out WIth Walker . . .

Not "Texas, Ranger" - make that I no longer need to use my walker

 in the house!

In with Caine - 

make that "the cane".

That's what I'm using in the house now.

PT was well pleased!

And if you remember those TV shows . . .

Preemptive Love

Sam's college roommate, Scott, sent us the book, Preemptive Love, by Jeremy Courtney this week.  I started reading it today and on page 39, I was blown away!  "Like, WOW!  If only we could all lean in!"  Read what I read:

"I no longer accept the zero-sum worldview that says

we cannot simultaneously be on the side of the Democrats and Republicans,

Americans, Israelis, and Iranians; Jews and Palestinians, 

Sunnis and Shias; Arabs, Kurds, and Turks.

I choose them all.

I don't lean left or right.  I lean in.

I lean forward, because that's where love lives."

 

 

Looking Back to Move Forward . . .

This has been reblogged from Kathy Sheran's blog, "A Journey of a Thousand Miles  Be More Heart".  If you don't have the time to read the book, read this!  We, as a family, have served on both the Africa Mercy and the Anastasis. We were in Liberia for the end of the Anastasis and the maiden voyage of the Africa  Mercy.  In addition, we served in Togo in 2O12 where the Anastasis began her life changing surgeries.  It didn't come on fully, but it will give you a general idea.  We have just finished up 40 days of prayer and fasting on board the Africa Mercy.  Back in early October (October 5th to be exact) we celebrated 40 years since the first Mercy Ship (the Anastasis) was paid for in full. The theme of this time was looking back as we move forward.  I think it is important to remember from where you have come to help see what has shaped you as a person.  I know many of you have heard me talk about what Mercy Ships is like currently as an organization and all the  work we are doing, but most of you don’t know much about our history.  For those that find this interesting, the founder, Don Stephens, has written a book that offers a first person account of the early days called Ships of Mercy.  I do have a copy in a box somewhere and it is worth a read!

One of my favorite things about how Mercy Ships started is that God used someone who didn’t know anything about medicine or ships or who even grew up on the coast to start this charity.  Don Stephens was a young man from Colorado who loves Jesus and had a dream to use floating vessels to break hope and healing to those in need.  This is pretty incredible considering what a steep learning curve this must have been for Don!  This also reminds me of a passage in 2 Chronicles 20 where Jehoshaphat defeats Moab.  The Lord tells him that he will fight for him and he will be victorious but he must show up!  Yes, God will do the work but we must take the first few steps in faith.

“This is what the Lord says to you: ‘Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army.  For the battle is not yours, but God’s.  Tomorrow march down against them.  They will be climbing up by the Pass of Ziz and you will find them at the end of the gorge in the Desert of Jeruel.  You will not have to fight this battle.  Take up your positions; stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord will give you, O Judah and Jerusalem.  Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.  Go out to face them tomorrow and the Lord will be with you.”

— 2 Chronicles 20:15-17

Think of what would have happened if Don did not answer God’s call?  My life would sure look a lot different and so would the lives of countless others.  It takes small moments of great courage (and a whole lot of prompting by the Holy Spirit) to live out a dream and I am thankful Don did!
What the last 40 years have looked like:

The Anastasis

In 05 October 1978 the Anastasis was paid for in full and fittingly her name means resurrection.  The ship was once an Italian cruise vessel and from what past volunteers have said, she was a gorgeous ship full of wooden details that made her feel like home.  This was the only vessel in the fleet until the early 1980s when The Good Samaritan was donated to the cause.  In these days the ships served for earthquake and hurricane relief, did recruiting and public relation stops and also served in the Caribbean.  It wasn’t until 1990 that the Anastasis sailed to Africa for Mercy Ship’s first outreach on the continent which was in the West African nation of Togo.

In 1994 a Norwegian coastal ferry was purchased by Mercy Ships and renamed The Caribbean Mercy whose outreaches were mainly going to be in the Western Hemisphere.  During this time The Good Samaritian was renamed The Island Mercy  and the fleet of ships was up to 3.  The Island Mercy served parts of Asia and was also joined by The Caribbean Mercy at times.  Meanwhile the Anastasis traveled up and down the African coastline keeping mainly to West Africa.

Switching from the Anastasis to the Africa Mercy in Liberia

The start of the new millennium saw many changes for the organization.  Through a generous donation the Danish rail ferry, the Droning Ingrid, was purchased and renamed the Africa Mercy.  The Island Mercy was sold from the organization in 2001 and The Caribbean Mercy in 2005.  Due to maritime law changes, the Anastasis had to be discontinued because of her wooden hull.  The two ships met up in Monrovia, Liberia in 2007 to switch over supplies and crew.  The Africa Mercy had her maiden field service in Liberia and continues to serve the people of Africa until this day.

The Africa Mercy

Sprinkled throughout this timeline are patient stories of God’s faithfulness and provision.  Of the blind seeing and the lame walking.  Of clinics opened and medical programs strengthened.  Of thousands of volunteers having the chance to see a world bigger than themselves and returning to their communities ready to bring change.  As much as God has used Mercy Ships to shape and improve the lives of under-served populations, he doesn’t stop there.  He uses his ships as a sharpening block for the volunteers that come.   Some may stay for two weeks and others many years but they all leave changed by this place.
The easy question is ‘what is next?’.  The question I like to ask is ‘Who is next?’.  What patients will the ship serve and who will call her home?  How will they shape and change this place?  How will God take their mustard seed faith and make His glory known?  How will we make the world a better place for future generations?  These are questions worth pondering over.
To close, an old naval saying was shared with us throughout this time of prayer and fasting and I really like it. It puts all aspects of my life into focus and I hope you are blessed by it as well:

“Whoever is a slave to the compass enjoys the freedom of the open seas.”

A new chorus line . . .

This is the silly song that's been going through my mind with just few little word changes.  "You've got a brand new pair of rollerskates and I got a brand new KNEE!"

Thankful Thursday!

I am ever so thankful to be home following surgery!  I am thankful the surgeons said the surgery went well.  I am thankful for all of the nurses at Ridges.  I didn't meet one I didn't like, even those who came before the break of dawn to take vitals.  I am thankful for all of those who lifted me to Jesus.  And I'm thankful Neighbor Nancy had Sam and Micah for Thanksgiving dinner last night and they brought me home a most delicious turkey dinner!  Give thanks . . .

I have two sisters . . .

The kids' birth mom sent me this text on Tuesday.  It was another Art Linkletter moment where kids say the darndest things!  Micah's six year old sister was making a new friend and she was telling her new fried about her family, "My big sister is 19.  My little big sister is 1O."  Gotta love it!

Surgical Success!

Sam and I went to the Surgery Center at Regions Tuesday morning.  Surgery for my right knee began at ninethirty a.m. and absolutely no one listened to me!  "I will toss the cookies!"  I tossed twice on Tuesday and chose to send one more night.  I was still nauseous yesterday morning, but I wanted to be home!  I was dismissed at twelve thirty, but the doctor didn't sign me off until closer to three in the afternoon.  Now, it's me and my walker strolling though the house, ignoring messes and striving to get well!  Thanks to all who lifted me to Jesus!

According to my calendar . . .

This is my first full weekend off in thirty-five weekends!  Technically, I did have Mother's Day Weekend off in May, two weekends in June that were full of grad parties and a weekend off in July for a wedding.  But this weekend, I didn't have had to leave the house except for church!  So I did all those things you do on your weekend off - I cleaned the house, did laundry, straightened Micah's hair, filled two shoe boxes for Operation Christmas Child, cooked meals, walked the do and decorated for Christmas - all except the tree!  If the family wants one, they can decorate it!  I'm planning on knee surgery come Tuesday . . .

Kids' Say the Darndest Things!

We used to watch Art Linkletter's show, "Kids' Say the Darndest Things".  Today, I had my own show!  It was time for our chat on sun safety so I asked my four year olds my three basic questions.  "What do you rub on your body to stay safe from the sun."  "Sunscreen."  "What do you wear on your head to stay safe in the sun."  "What do you wear over your eyes to stay safe in the sun."  "Mascara."  Love it!

Sock Count!

I believe we had the final sock come out yesterday.  That would be five socks Annie, our lab, ate.  Five socks our lab sent out the other end.  And five hundred dollars to find out she had nothing in her stomach or intestines.  I would love to have that clarified for me . . .

"No, Thanks!" Thursday

It wasn't that I wasn't thankful yesterday, it was just that I was tired of all those well meaning comments given by those I barely know.  Things like "Are you sure it's your knee or could it be something else".  I think the MRI made things quite clear.  Things like "Well, when I had knee surgery".  Your knee surgery is most likely quite different from my knee surgery based on our current health conditions, weight and willingness to work hard.  Things like "Let me tell you what went wrong with my knee surgery."  Ummm, do you honestly think I care or want to know less than a week before I have surgery.  I know you're just trying to offer me insight and your wisdom, but what I want you to know is . . .  my God is BIGGER and for that I am thankful!

In the lap pool . . .

You're probably wondering why the student from my second class yesterday and I are in the lap pool - because one of the student's from my first class puked in the leisure pool.  And it wasn't just puke - it was CHUNKY puke!  And everyone moved to the other pool for a cool hour while the chemicals did their work . . .

Oh, the Things That You'll Poop . . .

After spending a couple of hours in the pet vet emergency room on Saturday, and spending far more than a couple of hundred dollars for the privilege of being there, and hearing that there was NOTHING in Annie's tummy or intestines but FOOD . . . our sweet lab-wanna-be POOPED not one, not two, but THREE socks this week!  I think they're all accounted for now!

Scheduled!

My full-knee replacement surgery has officially been scheduled for Tuesday, November 20th at 9:20 a.m.  At first it didn't look like it was going to happen until mid-January at the very earliest - everything was booked - but there had been a cancellation that morning.  Did I want it?  

Yes!!!  No.  Yes!!!  No.  Friends, I am scared to death!  I'll get to spend at least two days, if not three, in the hospital.  I haven't spent a night in the hospital since I was eighteen!  I'll have four to six weeks of rehab, and then I'll walk again.  YES!!!   Walk again!  I'm in!

So today, I had my nose swabbed, scheduled my pre-op, scheduled all my physical therapy appointments, talked with the nurse at Fairview, planned a grocery list and am working on finding subs at both of my jobs.  Pray for me!  Thanks!

When it rains, it pours!

I finished my YSL (YMCA Swimming Leader) class yesterday a whopping fifteen minutes sooner than what I had wanted to - and without swimming the butterfly!  Consequently, I made it home sooner than planned only to discover . . .

That Sam's mom had just passed away.  She had had a stroke back in February.  While she was in the hospital then, the doctor's discovered an aneurysm in her lower chest.  It burst yesterday afternoon and she went peacefully.  Sam and his oldest brother Mark are now on their way down to the farm for a private family burial with a memorial service to be held later.  

Sam still wanted to go to my cousin's visitation yesterday afternoon so we took off to St. Peter.  What a blessed time with my aunt, uncle, cousins, and their families!  I am so glad we were there to love and support them.

It was a wild day, but a good day . . . and now it's TODAY!

Day Off!

Today was my first Saturday off since July 7!  I was stoked!  I woke up early and actually finished my Bible study for Wednesday.  I brushed Annie's teeth.  I started my review for my YSL (Y Swimming Leader) class tomorrow.  

Unfortunately, the computer crashed no less than three times while I was on it.  The most frustrating time was when I was down to the last of fifteen videos and I got to watch all fifteen videos again, plus the one I hadn't watched.

As I finished reviewing, an hour and a half in, I saw that I had an e-mail from Micah.  Annie has not been feeling well - vomiting, not eating . . . Matt had sent a text to all of us saying that "one of the most obvious symptoms of a blocked intestine was vomiting.  If your dog has recently swallowed a sock and begins to vomit (without any sign of the sock reappearing) this is now a veterinary emergency.  Your dog will pretty much need immediate surgery . . ."

We knew Annie had swallowed one sock.  It showed up on her other end.  However, she was missing at least three socks.  I had cleaned the house.  She hadn't hidden them.  (We were using socks to cover the wart she was licking on her paw because she hates her "cone of shame".)

Micah was in her room in tears.  She had to be to work noon, but her dog was going to die and her parents wouldn't take her (Annie) to the vet.  Sam called the vet in order to calm Micah down.  The vet said bring her to the emergency clinic right away.

Sorry, animal lovers, I translated "right away" to "right after my lunch".  We got there by one, had x-rays and they found nothing except food in her tummy/intestines.  They did, however, take almost my entire paycheck from my last two weeks of work at Sand Creek.  And we're to check in with our vet on Monday . . .

I got home fifteen minutes before I was to meet my friend, Laura, at Caribou on the corner.  I beat her there by an entire minute and we had a lovely conversation.  Just good and pleasant and calming after my day . . . 

Unfortunately, the roads were icy when we left but not enough to make us late for church.  Sermon was amazing, leftovers for supper, lunch packed for class tomorrow and now I'm off to pack my pool bag . . . 

All on my day off!