Surgery Behind/Recovery Ahead

Thank you, Di Coughlin for this amazing reminder of Spring!
"I lay down and slept;
I awoke, for the Lord sustains me."

Psalm 3:5

One day sitting on the beach...the next laying on the operating table!  It never ceases to amaze me how God continues to shower down His blessings on me.  After arriving back into Columbus on a snowy, stormy night (10:57pm) the airport closed around midnight, getting me back in the nick of time for a 5:30am arrival for surgery the next morning!

Surgery is over, healing has begun and I'm realizing it's tougher than I expected.  I came out of surgery with three drains instead of the two they expected.  I had my one week follow-up appointments with the surgeon and plastic surgeon on Tuesday.  I am thankful they were able to remove one drain and they said from an outward appearance all looks well.  It's the pathology report that wasn't so good.  The margins from the tumor site were not as broad as they had hoped and 5 of 11 lymph nodes tested positive...not so good.  Of course I was sad...I think I'm still sad...trying to take it all in.  They would like me to go ahead with the radiation treatment, starting in 2-3 weeks.  I will go back 3/19 and hopefully get another drain out, if not both.  I take it all one day at a time, trusting HIM to see me through each day...that's what He does...giving me only what I can handle.

"And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you,

for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore,

I will rather boast about my weaknesses,

so that the power of Christ may dwell in me."

I Corinthians 12:9

Can I be totally frank?  I'm feeling pretty weak...how much power do I need?  I really enjoyed blogging when I did it for Tom, but now that it's all about me...it has become a chore.  I've needed to post for a long time and now I'm so far behind...it feels like work rather than a blessing.

I've come to realize that when I'm down physically, the mental isn't far behind.  When I feel good, my mental health is better too.  I think I just want to live on vacation ALL the time...life isn't a vacation and God has called me to live this one life well...I'm trying, but I'm wearing thin.

Thank you, Rebekah Coblentz for this burst of sunshine!



"And working together with Him,

we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain—for He says,

“At the acceptable time I listened to you,
And on the day of salvation I helped you.”

Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold,

now is “the day of salvation”— giving no cause for offense in anything,

so that the ministry will not be discredited,

but in everything commending ourselves as servants of God,

in much endurance, in afflictions, in hardships, in distresses,

in beatings, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in sleeplessness,

in hunger, in purity, in knowledge, in patience, in kindness, in the Holy Spirit,

in genuine love, in the word of truth, in the power of God;

by the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and the left,

by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report;

regarded as deceivers and yet true; as unknown yet well-known,

as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death,

as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich,

as having nothing yet possessing all things."

II Corinthians 6:1-10

Thank you, Tim & Julie for another gorgeous bouquet AND a HoneyBaked Ham!!

Thank you for all the meals that have come:

Ingrid Morris - Beef Burgundy

Nancy Green - Chicken Gumbo

Jill Coon - Ham, Squash & Stuffed Mushrooms

Ginny Englehart - Chicken Alfredo

Karen White - Pot Roast

Gifts continue:

Thank You, Jill

Thank You, Karen

Thank You, Aubrey

Thank You, Judy

Thank You, Julie

Thank You, Mary

Thank You, Mom

Thank You, Ginny

 

"I will bless the Lord at all times;
His praise shall continually be in my mouth.
My soul will make its boast in the Lord;
The humble will hear it and rejoice.
O magnify the Lord with me,
And let us exalt His name together."

Psalm 34:1-3