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!  

    

All Around The Africa Mercy

Nurse Jenny, in her blog, "Shine Bright", wrote                                             It's been almost 2 months since the ship landed in the country of Guinea! We've been off to a good but very busy start! While over 400 patients have received free surgery, it takes a while to get their stories and photos to share with you all. So I thought instead, we would take a little tour of what else is happening around Mercy Ships. Working in the hospital, I generally focus on those surgeries and patients, but there's lots to see outside of our wards and ORs too!!

Last week, the screening team left the Africa Mercy and headed several hours up country to seek out patients from across the large country of Guinea. Several hundred patients were selected from two cities to come to the ship for further assessment. We ask you to join us in praying for the teams involved in a second screening trip coming in a few weeks. Please pray for: Safe travels for those staying away from the ship Wisdom and discernment for the screening team selecting potential patients The future patients who will receive surgery on the ship Security and safety at the sites

Sometimes the larger tumors our volunteer surgeons see are the result of a neglected dental problem, making the dental program such an important preventative aspect of the work of Mercy Ships. The focus of the program is the removal of decayed teeth and treatment of infections; they also provide cavity treatments, dental hygiene and partial dentures for some patients. This field service in Guinea, the dental team has the unique opportunity to hold their clinic inside a local dental school to provide training opportunities for local dentists, hygienists, sterilizers and denture makers. 1,600 patients have already received treatments and we look forward to supporting thousands more!

Dental Clinic Before: an unused classroom at the Dental school sits in disrepair Dental Clinic After: a few repairs and cleaning made this space usable for patient assessments and treatments by the Mercy Ships Dental team

Pediatric eye screening has now started in Guinea to find the young lives who have suffered with blindness due to cataracts. Because of your partnership, these children are given a second chance at a brighter future after surgery on the Africa Mercy! Most of these children are born with congenital cataracts due to genetic reasons or infection and grow up unable to see, work or go to school. Thanks to a simple, short surgery to remove these clouded lenses, we are able to celebrate new sight with hundreds of eye patients every year!

Through our Medical Capacity Building program, we believe that leaving a lasting impact should be one of the core foundations of Mercy Ships. Courses are held throughout the country in areas such as Safe Surgery, Safe Anesthesia, Surgical Skills, BioMedical and Sterile Processing several times throughout the year. For further training, 1:1 mentoring for surgeons, anesthesiologists, therapists and dentists is also provided. This photo from the recent sterile processing course is just one of several classes held so far in Guinea.

It’s not just surgeries that take place when the Africa Mercy is invited to a country. Here in Guinea, the Medical Capacity Building team is to thank for the fantastic HOPE Center renovation (Hospital Outpatient Extension Center) that houses patients before and after their surgeries. Having recently opened, it now looks forward to being filled with patients, all of whom will receive free surgery!

Prayer Points: Ongoing surgeries each day on the ship in Maxillofacial, General, Ophthalmic and soon to start Orthopedic specialties Peace in Guinea as there are riots and protests occasionally happening here in the capital of Conakry against rising gas prices and other government issues Large turnover of crew members as many 2-3 month commitments end Health of the crew and a stop to several illnesses spreading around the ship

Thankful Thursday!

Today, I am thankful that we are healthy and well.

I called my dad on Monday.  He told me that he had just found out my cousin Jay had colon cancer.  His parents were on their way up to see him in St. Peter, but dad didn't know anything more than that. 

You have to understand Jay became my favorite cousin after high school.  He was four years younger than me.  We both went to Mankato State, but not at the same time.  We both worked in the Cities after graduation and he was a frequent visitor in our town home.  We both married.  We both adopted two children.  I didn't see him a lot.  I could list the number of times in the past twelve years - mom's funeral, Aunt Janice's funeral, his niece's graduation.  But the memories and the laughter we shared all the times we were together were good, very good.   

Jay died yesterday.  Dad told me when he called to wish Micah a "Happy Birthday."  It was a "brief battle with cancer" - very brief.  We'll be going to visitation Sunday afternoon because on Monday I have an appointment with the knee surgeon that I've been waiting for for three weeks . . . 

I am thankful that we are healthy and well.  

Happy Birthday, Micah!

Hard to image this sweet little girl

turned nineteen yesterday!

I sent her nineteen Bitmoji birthday greetings just to annoy her -

and she thanked me!

HAPPY BELATED BIRTHDAY, MICAH!

 

TOTALLY Terrible Tuesday!

Tuesday was one of those days where I felt like I was taking one step forward and three steps back.  It wasn't that it was bad - I voted, I dropped off some paperwork at the clinic and I made it to work on time . . .

Where I had a new student in my first class!  A parent-child class where the parent let him go, because after all, he was three!  Go jump in when he wanted to . . . go under because he wasn't watching him . . . go play with the toys while we were singing . . . 

Then came my second class - she cried and cried and cried!  And this was the second lesson.  But it got better.  When Mom left, she started to scream and scream and scream!  I got "empathy eyes" from the ENTIRE pool!

My third class was the best of the day.  I finished with them, I packed my stuff away and I went in to take a shower.  When I packed my pool bag the night before, I had been helping Micah bake cookies.  Yeah, guess what I forgot!  But I told myself that when camping, I used to wear the same pair of underwear for LONGER than two days, so . . . 

And speaking of underwear . . . read on!

Captain Underpants!

Oh, the stories you just can't make up!  I am the Tuesday night deck manager at the Y this session. 

On Tuesday, I watched in awe as a gentleman, and I'm guessing, his wife came into the pool, walked to the deep end, and sat down.  He proceeded to take off his shoes, his socks, his shirt, his pants . . . You know where I was headed with this!

Fortunately, he had on red plaid boxers.  The truth is you do not need a swimsuit to swim at the Y.  You need "appropriate swim attire."  Now I am of the generation where we used to wear boxers as shorts so I may have been a bit more lenient than others, but I let him go in.

You gotta love it!  He wanted me to watch him swim so that I could tell him if he could swim!  And he started at the deep end . . .

Unfortunately, English was not his first language, but his maybe wife could speak it well.  I made her walk beside me to interpret my comments about his swimming abilities.  

You know, he wasn't bad.  But I did tell her to let him know that next time he came in to swim, he had to wear either a swimsuit or shorts - boxers were NOT going to cut it!  

Fun with the F.O.O.'s!

We met Allison (Matt and Micah's birth mother) and her hub and their three children at the Mall of America last night.  It was probably our most disjointed visit ever and we will probably never go back to the MOA on a Saturday night, but we did have fun!  Next visit will be Christmas cookie baking at our house . . . 

Micah, Kennedy, Allison, Lincoln, Matt and Kingsley

Sensational Selfie at Supper!?!

The five sibs . . .

 

Locker Room Chatter . . .

It couldn't have been funnier as I listened in to the locker room chatter yesterday . . .

"I always weigh more on the scale at the Y . . ."

"I always weigh more at the scale at the doctor's office . . ."

"My scale at home weighs best . . ."
"Because you always go to the bathroom first, right?"

"And I wear as little as possible . . ."
"I even have my 'light' clothes that I wear to to doctor's . . . "

And I laughed because I do the same exact thing - except maybe not the light clothes to the doctor's office . . .

 

Thankful Thursday!

That was my thought as I drove in to work yesterday.  So I thanked God that I had a car to drive because so many people in this world do not  I do not have to rely on public transportation.  

Grumbling a bit that I was going to spend my time after work cleaning my house, I thanked God that I had a house to clean.  I have lived around the world, and while by America's standards my house is by NO means a castle, by the world's standards - I live in a mansion and I had the privilege of cleaning it.  

Then I thanked God for my job, because around the world so many do not have jobs.  My heart cries out for the little boys we saw in Sierra Leone who's job was to take a big rock and make it into little rocks.  Making rocks!?!  Imagine that . . . on a Thursday where I had so very much to be thankful for!

Rheumatology Report

There's an old Larry Norman song that contains the line, "Don't ask me for the answer, I've only got one: That a man leaves his darkness when he follows the Son."*  And that, my friends, is the only answer I still have . . . Jesus.

The myriad of blood tests I had in October all came out fine, even normal.  Based on that, we returned to the original diagnosis of polymyalgial rheumatica.  That is what I will be treated for even though I am well under the usual occurring age of seventy, HOWEVER . . .

Prednisone is not a drug you want to be on for the long term.  So I will now be getting monthly blood tests while trying to drop my dose of Prednisone by one milligram a month.  If by my January rheumatology appointment, I am unable to decrease my dose of Prednisone (because my PRM decides to rear it's ugly head!), I will be put on a different medication that takes three months to be effective but with less side effects.  

Meanwhile, he did clear me for knee surgery even though he's contacting Twin Cities Ortho so he can look at my MRI.  After all, it is osteoarthritis and he is a rheumatologist.  He also wants to know if they tested (who knows for what!?!) the liquid they took out of my knee.  

That said, I press on praising God, that while this is a small beep in the radar of my life,  I'm not battling something more serious like cancer or kidney disease or a heart attack.  Thanks for praying on my behalf . . .   

*"Why Don't You Look Into Jesus?"