day 1 post op

Surgery went well according to the surgeon, Terry and my friend Ginny. It was an hour and 1/2 in length. The placement of the device is on my left side. So this means currently I am learning how to sleep on my right side. Funny, because of a broken finger and now sleeping with hand splints on both hands at night I had just changed sleeping from my right side to my left. Now I will be switching back to my right side. Suffice this to say, that last night was a tough night. Pain level was at an 8 most of the night, and sleep was off and on. I am struggling with a bit of nausea today, pain at the sites of the incisions, some itching but way less trips to the bathroom! 

Hard to keep my mind off my body today, but I have had some good times in the word, finished writing a letter to Ashley, read some blogs and journaled, watched a little TV and did some leisure reading. Grateful to be one day closer to full recovery.

Surgery Day!

Hard to believe that it's "go" day ... the last time I went in for surgery was on November 8, 2011 and it was scheduled to be a 1 hour surgery that lasted 4 hours. I am glad the past is  behind me and I am looking forward to a new beginning. Got a great night's rest last night knowing full well that my friends were praying exactly for that. Why would I be surprised!

Anyways for the nitty gritty facts:

• showered with Hibiclens last night before watching a bit of the news and having my last drink before midnight (ginger ale).
• slept from 10:15 until 5:30 (getting up twice to go to the bathroom)
• showered, scrubbed with Hibiclens one more time this morning
• reading in 2 Corinthians this morning and Psalms

I feel ready but still have lots of questions which I am sure Dr. Nakib will address. (funny one of the questions both Terry and I have is if our devices will be compatible) :-) He had his pacemaker installed almost 8 years ago and today is my day for a pacemaker.

More later ,,,,  am really thankful for these texts from friends:

"I am the LORD that health thee." EX 15:26 Trusting in Him to do just that for you! Love you so much, praying for you and excited to hear how God is going to carry you through! ~Liz

I love you very much! continued to pray for you. I trust that the Great Physician is going to do good work. hug w scratchies. ~Andrea

Psalm 100 The Lord made you and will care for you. See you soon! ~Ginny

Also grateful for the many prayers from friends and family sent by e-mail and for the prayer from my best friend Terry (in person) and my good friend Ginny (over the phone) last night.

Remaining In His Arms today! B.

stretching, dwelling and abiding

Grateful to be linking up with Lisa Jo yet one more time for 5 minutes:

Start:

It's a stretch when I think of an upcoming surgery, Interstim stage 2;

you can read more about this here:

http://www.medtronic.com/patients/overactive-bladder/about-therapy/index.htm

I really don't know what to expect. Sure I've been told all that will happen yet it's a stretch in my mind that at times is consumed with fear, what ifs, will this actually help?

or will this cure incontinence?

Then with a grateful heart and mind, I stretch my mind to remember my most important dwelling place ... It is In His Arms! It is in You, Lord. It is my dwelling place where I can stretch, and settle down, and be secure and be content.

"She who dwells in the shelter of the most High

will abide in the shadow of the Almighty".

 Psalm 91:1

Stop

 

Now, set your timer, clear your head, for five minutes of free writing without worrying about getting it right. on the word "Stretch".

He Loves you more ...

A friend of mine e-mailed me this picture from Facebook

Wednesday, August 15, 2012

Journal entry:

How good it is to sing praise to my God, How pleasant and fitting to praise Him for loving me, the golfer, the kids and the gandkids well.

Father, for Ashley today may you heal her (at times) broken heart and bind up her wounds of missing family and friends while serving. May you delight in Ashley because she fears You ...  she puts her hope in Your unfailing love. And may the joy of the Lord be her strengh!

I love you .... but Jesus loves you all way way more .....

continuing with an attitude or gratitude

Linking up here tonight:

http://www.aholyexperience.com/
Joy Dare Ideas August

3 gifts White

892. my ministry partner’s new wife’s wedding dress

893. the whiteness of the kitchen floor after a good scrubbing

894. the blank piece of paper with no writing on the page

 3 gifts eaten

895. Pirate’s Booty from my friend Kathy

896. our first corn on the cob of the season

897. gf French toast dish with brown sugar and yummy pecans

3 gifts sitting

898. the reading of my Bible while sipping my morning coffee

899. right not sitting in my living room sharing life with my husband, daughter and granddaughter

900. sitting on the swing and listening to the birds

A gift outside, inside, upside down

901. the beauty of the Crow river outside

902. the inside of a friends praying heart

903. my son-in-law holding his son laughing upside down

39 years ago I married my best friend!

     Thank you Father for intending man not to be alone. It is because of this that I can call the golfer, my husband, my lover, my friend, my provider for 39 years as of August 10th.

     We have been together in sickness and in health and have lived and loved together for better or for worse. I know now that I love this man more than ever today! It is a deeper love. It is a more tried and tested love. our love has stood the test of time ....

     To celebrate yesterday, we traveled to Montrose to spend the night here:

Nature's Nest Organic Farm and Bed and Breakfast

     When we arrived our inn-keeper, Cathy greeting us and showed us around. She also recommended 3 Crows for dinner so at 5:30 we traveled into Delano and had dinner at an outside table overlooking the Crow River. After dinner we stepped inside and I had a cup of coffee mmm ... and we listened to some folk music by some local songwriters. We enjoyed the musicians and they were good
but all the time we were thinking our daughter's band "Said Kelley" is great!

We decided together that we like great music over good music. :-)

     We returned here:

... and unlike our other B&B stays this spot had a TV so we watched a bit of the Olympics and we were grateful for a wonderful night. Our wake up call came with a knock on our door to Don delivering a delicious breakfast of organic eggs and sausage and a gluten-free french toast cinnamon, pecan dish ... amazing ....

Thanks Terry for 39 years  ... I love you more! B.

(and thanks Cathy and Don for a wonderful stay)



26 years ago today

So hard to believe that 26 years ago I went to the hospital in Robbinsdale, North Memorial to birth this amazingly, talented, and such a different breed of a girl than all the rest of my girls. What makes her different could be her ability to play the guitar, piano, harmonica and sing. Or it could be that she has a whole bunch of tattoos. Or maybe it's that she wears vintage clothes and wants nothing more than her mom's wedding dishes from 39 years ago for her birthday.

Whatever it may be that makes her so different is exactly what I love about her. It is why I often think of this verse when I see her or listen to her speak "man looks at the outward appearance but God looks at the heart". This birthday girl who turns 26 today

 has the biggest heart and I love that about her.

So enjoy the day we celebrated through the pictures below.

"Kelley, so fun to celebrate with you by giving you the gift of time ...

a day and evening well spent! I love you way, way, more"!

Tween Town Camp



Tween Town girls doing actions and singing to "Said Kelley's" trademark song

"Can I have a picture with you all?"



A walk around Lake Calhoun turns bike ride ....

 Face time with Ashley ,,, we sing Happy Birthday to both Ashley and Kelley!

The boys join the party!

Getting ready to skype with Carrie ... major bummer that the connection worked

only long enough for Kelley to hear her sing Happy Birthday

"Oh Yea! Thank you, Thank you so much!"

24 years ago today!

A very different birthday is celebrated with my littlest overseas today. Yesterday I had a lot of sadness in my heart as I thought about how different this birthday celebration would be.

I was pleasantly surprised though as I went to the Family Readiness Group (FRG) and my daughter was the first soldier to come on the big “skype” screen.  She was encouraged and happy to hear all the family members of the 257 MP Company sing Happy Birthday to her.

Twenty Four years ago I had no idea that she would be the woman she is today … strong in courage, strong in confidence, strong in leading others, Army strong and God strong.

Even though I miss her greatly today I am so filled with joy knowing she is exactly where God can use her in a mighty way. I am so proud of the daughter, the sister, the sister-in-law, the auntie, the friend, and the soldier she has become. I am so very grateful to remember the good work He has done and is continuing to do in Ashley!

Ashley may you have the best birthday away this year and may you know how much you are loved, cared for, prayed for and missed at this time. I love you way more …. Mom

Here, today in the midst of my thoughts

Start:

This morning I find myself in the midst of my thoughts running through my head. It is here that I make my do-to list and then I begin to wirte it down,

It is here that I begin to pray and then it is here that I begin not only in my mind to read the word but often aloud as I can stay more focused.

It is here where I think of others and ways that I can bring encouragement yet it is also here where I think my own selfish thoughts; I deserve this, I am entitled to this, why do they not think about the way I feel?

It is here where I begin to worry about an upcoming surgery.

It is in my mind, where at times, I get stuck in my feelings and emotions and yet to get out of the unrest and find peace I go here:

Where do you go to find "peace of mind"?

Stop

This is where I linked up today ... hope you can take 5 minutes sometime during the day and reflect and write for 5 minutes on the prompt "Here." Now, set your timer, clear your head, for five minutes of free writing without worrying about getting it right.

1. Write for 5 minutes flat – no editing, no over thinking, no backtracking.
2. Link back here and invite others to join in.
3. And then absolutely, no ifs, ands or buts about it, you need to visit the person who linked up before you & encourage them in their comments. Seriously. That is, like, the rule. And the fun. And the heart of this community..

listen deeply

Wow I love this one by
my oldest ...