Friday Foto Friends-Only Believe

 I've got more things to share with you from the past few days.  I thought I'd opened all my special gifts from our ladies' Christmas party the other day, but then I remembered that I'd forgotten to open one special little package.

It came in this little 2" x 3" plastic package that was kind of hard to open, so I had put it aside and planned to open it when I got home. I had no clue what was inside, and it was a gift that each lady received by reaching into a bag and pulling out one of these little packages at random.  More about this in a few minutes...

Well, yesterday, as many of you knew and were praying for me, thank you very much indeed, I had my six week post-op check up with the neurosurgeon who did my cervical spinal fusion. My biggest concern has been that my right arm continues to hurt and has not gotten any better since the surgery. It had been diagnosed with "cervical radiculopathy", which was caused by nerve impingement due to the ruptured disc in my neck, which was surgically repaired and should have released any impinged nerves.

So, upon examination yesterday, the two neurosurgeons who had done my surgery carefully examined my arm and x-rays, and said that they did not feel that this continued pain was due to any further nerve impingement, but that I most likely have a frozen shoulder, and they are referring me to an Orthopedic Surgeon and also to Physical Therapy.

That is not the news I was hoping to hear. I was hoping they'd say that my arm was still just healing and that it would be better in time with some therapy and not to worry, etc., etc., etc.  The possibility that it might require further surgery was not an option that I was willing to consider.

To say that I was disappointed would be a great understatement.

I left there feeling a bit overwhelmed and somewhat depressed, which for me is an unusual state. But this pain has been wearing me down for quite a while, since way before the surgery, and I certainly thought that by now it would be so much better. It is something that affects my every day life in one way or another, but then again, it is not totally debilitating, just aggravating and frustrating and painful. I do count my blessings and am so very thankful that it is just my arm and not my whole body. God has been very merciful and kind to me, and I am very very cognizant of that fact and give Him praise.

That being said, still, I am human, and I was not happy.

However, also being human, and the fact that it was almost lunch time and we were hungry, we stopped at a new to us BBQ restaurant on the way home for lunch. Some BBQ pork, sweet potato fries, coleslaw and a cup of hot tea because I was chilled and needed something to warm my innards seemed like a good way to brighten my mood.

And then we got home and I took a nice long nap.

Now, you are still wondering about that little package that I had not opened, aren't you? Okay...let's move on:

I opened it up and this is what I found inside:

What?  My "One Word" for 2021, "Believe" was staring at me from this tiny little package that I'd forgotten to open until right that very moment when I needed it most.

Coincidence? No...with God there is no such thing as "coincidence".  There are special God appointments, timely messages, words of hope and encouragement at just the right time...but never just a coincidence. God knows what we need, when we need it, and how to provide exactly the right thing right on time.  This was certainly one of those moments.

Then I called the friend who had provided that bag full of these little packages for everyone to choose at random and asked her if everyone got the same thing. She said, "No, each one was different, and these were left over from last year and I didn't know what to do with them so I thought this would be a good way to share them with others."  So I told her my little story about my "One Word" for 2021 being "Believe", and that right then at that very moment I needed to be reminded to believe that God was in control, and that He had me covered, and that "With God all things are possible"...

We both praised God together that He had provided this little bit of encouragement at just the right moment. Wow!  What a joy and blessing!

Oh, there's one more thing. Another dear friend had given me this journal in a package at the party...another one of those God gifts I would say, wouldn't you?

When I showed my hubby the wristband and told him about how it all came together right at that moment, he started singing this old hymn that we both know and love:

Refrain:

Only believe, only believe;

All things are possible, only believe;

Only believe, only believe;

All things are possible, only believe.

Fear not, little flock, from the cross to the throne,

From death into life He went for His own;

All power in earth, all power above,

Is given to Him for the flock of His love.

Refrain:

Only believe, only believe;

All things are possible, only believe;

Only believe, only believe;

All things are possible, only believe.

Fear not, little flock, He goeth ahead,

Your Shepherd selecteth the path you must tread;

The waters of Marah He’ll sweeten for thee,

He drank all the bitter in Gethsemane.

Refrain:

Only believe, only believe;

All things are possible, only believe;

Only believe, only believe;

All things are possible, only believe.

Fear not, little flock, whatever your lot,

He enters all rooms, “the doors being shut,”

He never forsakes; He never is gone,

So count on His presence in darkness and dawn.

Refrain:

Only believe, only believe;

All things are possible, only believe;

Only believe, only believe;

All things are possible, only believe.

Okay, friends, that's for today's blessings and Friday fotos!  Thank you again for your prayers. I will be contacting the physical therapists today to set up my appointments for therapy, and I will wait to hear from the Orthopedic Surgeon to hear what he recommends, and I will keep believing that God has this under control, no matter what.  God is good, all the time, God is good.

Have a blessed and beautiful day and weekend.

Morning Mercies

Thank You, Lord, for allowing me to see another sunrise! 

Thank You, Lord, for so many dear friends praying and sending their well wishes for my surgery.

Thank You, Lord, for hearing their prayers and bringing me safely through and on to better days ahead in which to give You praise and honor and glory! 

Thank You, Lord, for your healing mercy and grace.

Amen.

Dear friends, I am up early this morning with the sunrise, because I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you all for your prayers and support during this surgery experience!  I am SO thankful to be able to sit here once again at my computer and write to you.  Thank you for all the kind messages on my last post. I am not able to answer them all individually. I am limiting my time sitting up and doing things, but I just had to let you know that I am home and doing as well as can be expected!  I did end up spending the night in the hospital after all. I apparently do not tolerate anesthesia very well, and even after talking to the anesthesiologist before the procedure, and him assuring me that he was going to use medications that should not make me sick, I still got sick.  That coupled with the pain after surgery and the need for more strong pain medicine, well...I was in NO condition to get in the car and ride an hour home.  So thankfully they placed me in a very nice private room with a view,  (although this was at night and the blinds were partially closed so you can't really SEE the view)

View behind my bed:

View in front of my bed:

View from in my bed:  Beware...this is as scary as a Halloween Mask! LOL.

This is my current glamor shot. LOL.

I know I probably shouldn't show this, but it will maybe keep unwanted suitors away. LOL.

The only real issue right now is swallowing.  It hurts to swallow, and so I am limited to soft foods and liquids.   And just general pain from muscles and nerves that were strained and stretched, etc., but hopefully that pain should dissipate soon.

So, I just wanted to let you know that I am still among the living...and I praise God for His kindness and mercy.

And while I've been writing this, the skies got even more beautiful.  Looks like a pretty day, although you know the old saying, "red sky at morning, sailors take warning..."  But our weather report shows sunny skies.

"22 Through the Lord’s mercies we are not consumed,

Because His compassions fail not.

23 They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness."

Lamentations 3:22-23

Amen.

Thank you all again.  May God bless you each and every one.
 

Thursday Thankfulness Too!

This morning's sunrise started out quietly and yet with a promise of another beautiful day...

As many of you who have been following my past few posts are aware, today was the day scheduled for my appointment with a neurosurgeon to determine the next best course of action regarding the pain in my neck/arm.

And so not too long after this beautiful sunrise, we finished our morning devotions, had a light breakfast, and off we went to my appointment.  The doctor's office is about an hour's drive from our home.  The last time we were there, my hubby and I were admiring some interesting abstract art in the waiting area between appointments.  I was kicking myself that I didn't take any pictures of those paintings before, but today I had another opportunity.  Perhaps you will appreciate this interesting abstract art as well, and maybe you can see more in these paintings than I can:

Each canvas is quite large, perhaps 4' x 8'.  I love the color scheme used, and each picture has its own beauty...

I like this one the best, with a school of what appears to be fish or manatees swimming in one of our clear Florida springs.

Anyway, I thought you might enjoy them...and maybe you can share what you see in each picture.

Meanwhile, I know you want to know the results of my appointment.  The neurosurgeon has now agreed, after examining the results of the EMG test, etc., from my last visit, that I do indeed have cervical radiculopathy in my right arm, and the only way to "cure" it is with a cervical disc replacement and fusion.   Surgery is scheduled for October 25th.  My hubby and I were both amazed that the doctor said the surgery is an outpatient procedure, and that I should be better within a couple of weeks after...no need to wear a neck brace or collar or any of those antiquated things from the past...modern medicine has come a long way!! Praise God!!!  Hubby and I both stopped to pray and give thanks to the Lord for this comforting and wonderful answer to prayer before we even left the building.  God is so good.

I started out this morning rejoicing when I saw the sunrise and singing this little chorus that we sing in church on Sunday Morning at the beginning of the service:

"Rise and shine, and give God the glory, glory!

Rise and shine, and give God the glory, glory!

Rise and shine and (clap) give God the glory, glory!

Children of the Lord!!"

Then we went to eat an early lunch on the way home at the little cafe' we like to stop at called P.J's.  I've shown these signs from on their wall before, but they were especially special to me again today:

Just some good thoughts to close out this post today.  God is always working behind the scenes in our lives...bringing things together for our good. I am so thankful for His loving care and answers to prayer. He calmed my fears today and gave me great peace about this upcoming surgery.  Thank you for praying, and thank You, Jesus!!

 

Friday Foto Friends ~ Humbled and Blessed

Happy Friday, Friends!  Time for some "fotos" from the week, and yes, I actually have a few this week!

Can you guess where we were yesterday?  Maybe these lovely ladies serenading us on the mandolin by the light of the moon with a basket of beautiful flowers (lilacs, maybe?) will give you a clue!

Or perhaps this cute Flapper Girl, enjoying a delicious Sundae with a cherry on top will help you to figure it out...

Perhaps this handsome fella sitting on the rocking chairs on the "front porch" will give you a better clue...

Give up? Well, maybe seeing these two smiling faces from their rocking chairs on the front porch will certainly give it away! Of course! We were at Cracker Barrel! Now if you live in an area of the country where they don't have a Cracker Barrel, I am truly sorry for you! 

Anyway, yes, we were enjoying a late breakfast yesterday morning at Cracker Barrel in between my appointments at the Univ. of Florida Neuromedicine Hospital in Gainesville, FL.  We had a lot of time to kill in between appointments.  My first appt. with the neurosurgeon was at 9:30 a.m., and then he sent me for more x-rays, and after that I was blessed to actually get an appointment at 2:30 p.m. for a Nerve Conduction Velocity test, followed by and Electromyography Test (EMG). I say "blessed" because this appointment only became available due to a cancellation that morning. Otherwise, the next available appointment would not be until December!  So, even though it meant a long wait, we knew we could not pass up on that opportunity.  

Therefore, hubby and I spent the intervening time enjoying a late breakfast because they did not serve lunch until 11:00 and we got there at 10:30. After that we shopped a little in the store of the Cracker Barrel, and then went on to do a little more shopping at a couple of other stores in a nearby shopping center.  After that we went back to the hospital to just wait it out...and it turned out my 2:30 appointment did not actually happen until about 3:30, so it really was a long wait.

While we waited for my appointment we had time to just sit and observe people around us. I can tell you it was a humbling experience. My problems seem so small when I see what others have to live  and deal with in their lives. One young woman in a wheelchair, totally incapacitated and who could only make low guttural sounds to make her needs known, was being lovingly cared for by, I assume her mother, who had to be at least my age.  After watching this dear soul for a while from a distance, we both concluded that she was actually an intelligent young woman, trapped in a physical body that she had no control over. It was very heart breaking, and as I said, humbling.  Her image has not left my mind even yet this morning, and so I lift up a prayer for her and her mother, that God would somehow brighten their day and give them a sense of His presence and peace in their lives.

Regarding my own situation, I will have to wait on the neurosurgeon to get back to me with the results of the tests to determine what is next. His first thought before seeing the test results was that he does NOT think I am a candidate for surgery yet.  However, from what I was able to ascertain from the neurologist conducting the nerve tests, there is nerve damage in my arm, and so something will have to be addressed. I will wait and see just what that "something" will be.  Meanwhile, I guess I keep going to physical therapy...

So now for some more happy photos from my back yard on Still Waters Pond:

The Sand Hill Crane Family flew in again for some dessert. It was fun to watch them poking around in the grass, digging up whatever it is they like so much.

There actually were three of them, the mother, father, and grown baby, but it was hard to get all three of them together in one photo.

I always feel honored when they come to visit.

We do enjoy what God provides to bring some beauty and joy to our days.

And that would include this Rose of Sharon, that continues to blossom in the "Secret Memorial Garden".

The leaves are starting to turn yellow from the heat and sun and also because it is "fall" approaching. But even that variegated color is lovely, don't you think?

And these little red maple leaves are growing up from the stump of the tree that was cut down recently when we had some tree work done. I was not thrilled that they cut down this tree, but they were trying to open up more light into that area so the trees in the "secret garden" could get more sunshine and actually be healthier.  However, I intend to let this maple tree just grow right back up if it so pleases.  It looks like it wants to, don't you agree???

Oh look! We have a new inhabitant in the birdhouse!!! Actually, there are two interesting creatures on this picture!! I wonder who would win that battle...the lizard or the wasp?

Yes, this lizard has taken up residence in the Bluebird house. He pokes his head out throughout the day to catch some bugs and say hello!

He has claimed it as his own, but when the bluebirds come back to roost in the spring I hope he knows he will have to move out!!! This is their house, and he is just a squatter who has no proper lease!

But I guess it's okay for him to stay and take care of the place until they return. 

Even little lizards need a warm, dry place to live.

Here's some thoughts for today:

Romans 12:9-16

9.  "Let love be without hypocrisy. 

Abhor what is evil, 

cling to what is good.

10.  Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love,

in honor giving preference to one another;

11.  not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;

12.  Rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;

13.  distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality.

14.  Bless those who persecute you;

bless and do not curse.

15.  Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.

16.  Be of the same mind toward one another.

Do not set your mind on high things, 

but associate with the humble. 

Do not be wise in your own opinion."

Thank You, Lord, for these thoughts and lessons today.

I am humbled and blessed.