Friday Foto Friends on Saturday!

 Greetings and Salutations Friends! Yes, it is Saturday already, and I never got a round to posting anything yesterday for Friday Foto Friends because it was just a busy busy day, and at first I really didn't have many photos to share, but as often happens, as the day goes by things "develop" and pictures emerge from the shadows...so here we go...pictures that are actually from throughout the week but culminating in something post-worthy by today. Hope that makes sense!

Let's go back to the beginning of the week and work our way through, shall we?

Monday morning sunrise...we were on our way early in the morning to the radiology clinic so that I could have two MRI's.  Yes, that's right, I said two.  For those of you who know me, you will remember that I have had some chronic issues with pain in my neck, shoulders, and back.  I had a cervical spinal fusion in 2021 to correct a ruptured disc in my neck, which helped take care of my neck and some of the arm/shoulder pain on the right arm, (although I still have issues with the right arm to a certain degree, i.e., a frozen shoulder that has only partially "thawed out". LOL)  

 But over the past year the pain in my right shoulder has migrated to my left shoulder, and it is now the primary issue, but I also have a lot of muscle and/or nerve pain in my upper back, especially when under any stress, etc.

(I hope you are enjoying the ride with me and the sun rising over the pasture land at a local farm while I tell this story)  There are cows in that field, if you can see them.

Anyway, long story short, my Doctor was finally convinced that I needed an MRI to find out what's going on. I already had some X-Rays a few weeks ago that were inconclusive.  Of course, they can't do it all in just one MRI...oh no, they have to do two, one of the left shoulder/arm, and one of the upper thoracic spine.  And they couldn't schedule them exactly "back to back" (pun intended) because they had to fit someone else in between, so I got to endure one MRI, then go sit in a waiting room for a half hour or so, and then go have the other MRI. They asked me if I was claustrophobic, (which I am), but I said no. I'm tough. I can do this.  LOL.  Well, thankfully, I wasn't alone in the MRI machine. Jesus was with me.  The technician asked me if I would like to listen to some music while in the MRI, and I said yes, so he asked what kind and I said preferably Christian music, so he said he would find some contemporary Christian music for me. That was nice. He gave me the headphones, and once the test started it's banging and hammering sounds (if you have ever had an MRI you will know what I mean), the music started playing. It was difficult to hear, but  the song that was playing (at first), was "I Speak Jesus".  I think I've shared this song with you before, but if not, here it is again:

This was the perfect song to hear while going through the "tunnel" of the MRI. That helped me to be completely at ease and and at peace.  I wish I could say the same for the 2nd song that played...I couldn't really understand it very well, but what I could hear was not quite as calming, and I was happy when it and the MRI was over.  Then when I went through the 2nd MRI, the same playlist came up. I got to listen to "I Speak Jesus" again, followed by the same song I didn't like, but all in all I knew that Jesus was with me and that was a great comfort.  Soon it was over and I was back on my way home. I still do not know the results of the tests, but will find out next week. Praying for something that can be helped without surgery.

Meanwhile this week we noticed that our son's truck had a damaged tail light. He said he backed into a tree accidentally and cracked it.  Well, hubby said he wanted to so something to surprise him so he ordered and new tail light for the truck online. He was like a little kid wanting to surprise our son and wouldn't tell him about it until it came in the mail. 

It finally came, and we took it over to his house and together they figured out how to remove the old and replace it with the new light:

And the best part was, it worked!!! Yes, he was surprised, and very thankful. He stays so busy with Dixie Cottage that he doesn't have time to deal with things like that, so it was a blessing...and I think my hubby was blessed as well in doing this special little surprise.

Now these next pictures are going to scare you. An alien has taken over our house (and my body!).  First off, I think you may remember that I told you HERE last week that I had to take a test for sleep apnea. Well, the results came in finally, and guess what? I failed! Or maybe I passed, depending upon which way you want to look at it. I DO have sleep apnea.  They said I stopped breathing 48 times in one night. That doesn't sound good, does it?  No, it doesn't sound good to me either.  And so, I received a phone call from the CPAP machine company saying they received the order from my Doctor and the approval from my insurance to bring me a CPAP machine and show me how to use it. Great. Thanks. Just what I wanted. NOT! Remember I said something about being claustrophobic? Yeah, well...they assured me that these new machines don't cover the whole mouth and nose, just a little tube under the nostrils, etc., etc. blah blah blah. I asked about the new thing you see advertised on TV where they actually surgically install a sleep apnea control system into your body...so you don't have to wear this mask stuff...well, in order to "qualify for that", you have to do this other first and see just how badly you need it.

So here I am folks...aren't I beautiful? Oh, btw, I also got a perm this week in my hair. It's supposed to be just a body perm, but that body sure is kinky curly! LOL.  The only good thing is the mask thingy doesn't pack my hair down too much. My hair just springs right back up and out in every direction! LOL.

This is what I think about that...LOL....

So I received this yesterday afternoon, and realized I really didn't have a good place to put it at night.

Remember this bedside table from last Tuesday's Tuesday 4 post about our home?, Well, that little round 3 legged table isn't really sturdy enough or big enough to hold a CPAP machine and all the other paraphernalia that goes along with it. So what to do?

I guess it's a good thing our son owns a store that sells furniture.  I called him up (actually I spoke to Rose first and told her my dilemma, and she explained it so sweetly to Benton)...I knew there was a night stand at the store that would probably fit perfectly in that spot, but it goes with a complete bedroom set and I didn't think he'd want to break up the set...but...before I could even offer to pay for it they had it loaded up in their truck and brought it over to us last evening:

And there it is! Complete with the CPap machine.  It fit perfectly!! 

So, how did I do last night? Well...let's just say it's going to take some major getting used to sleeping with this thing on.  I told my hubby he may want to wear blinders so he isn't shocked when he rolls over and looks at me during the night with that thing on my head! Thankfully it is very quiet, so there's no noise to disturb him, but sleeping with an alien might take some getting used to! LOL.

Now here's some sweet pictures.  While we were setting this thing up in the bedroom, their doggy Sugar came inside the bedroom and laid down on the rug at the end of our bed. Normally when the puppies come over we have the bedroom door shut so the doggies don't go exploring too far and get into trouble. But last night the door was wide open, and Sugar found a comfortable spot on this rug and made herself quite at home.

(excuse the mess on the bed...we were in transition here...)

When her Daddy said it was time to go home, this is what she did:

She was so sweet...about made me want to say just let her stay here...but of course they would never do that...they are quite attached to one another. Her sister Spice was taking advantage of this time and exploring all the rest of the house where we had forgotten to close any other doors.  But she didn't get into any trouble. They really are very sweet grandpups.

Okay, I think that's enough for one day. 

I am so very thankful for God's watchcare over me this past week. I love the ways He took care of every situation, and I am trusting Him to take care of my shoulder and back issues in a positive way.

Here's the lyrics to that song, "I Speak Jesus", in case you want to go back and play it again and sing along:

I just wanna speak the name of Jesus
Over every heart and every mind
'Cause I know there is peace within Your presence
I speak Jesus

I just wanna speak the name of Jesus
'Til every dark addiction starts to break
Declaring there is hope and there is freedom
I speak Jesus

'Cause Your name is power
Your name is healing
Your name is life
Break every stronghold
Shine through the shadows
Burn like a fire

I just wanna speak the name of Jesus
Over fear and all anxiety
To every soul held captive by depression
I speak Jesus

'Cause Your name is power
Your name is healing
Your name is life
Break every stronghold
Shine through the shadows
Burn like the fire

Shout Jesus from the mountains
Jesus in the streets
Jesus in the darkness over every enemy
Jesus for my family
I speak the holy name
Jesus, oh

Shout Jesus from the mountains
Jesus in the streets
Jesus in the darkness over every enemy
Jesus for my family
I speak the holy name
Jesus (Jesus)

'Cause Your name is power
Your name is healing
Your name is life
Break every stronghold
Shine through the shadows
Burn like a fire

Your name is power (Your name is power)
Your name is healing (Your name is healing)
Your name is life (You are my life)
Break every stronghold (break every stronghold)
Shine through the shadows
Burn like a fire

I just wanna speak the name of Jesus
Over every heart and every mind
'Cause I know there is peace within Your presence
I speak Jesus

Source: Musixmatch

Songwriters: Jesse Reeves / Dustin Smith / Raina Patt / Kristen Dutton / Carlene Prince / Abigail Benton

I Speak Jesus lyrics © Integrity's Praise! Music, Here Be Lions Publishing

Amen.