#53 MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR!!

Here are my thoughts for this week, one of my favorite times of the year, Christmas and New Year’s.  First, I'll start with my New Year’s resolution:

No more falling in 2018.  I am asked at every doctor’s visit if I have fallen recently.  I have gotten into the habit of saying no.  But I can't just rattle off an answer like that now.  It started with the “crash of 2017”.  You can read about that in a previous blog entry.  But the holidays can be rough sometimes in many different ways.  On Tuesday before Christmas I fell after passing out, probably from exhaustion of two days back to back that were extra tiring.  Then Christmas Eve (afternoon) I fell off a stool trying to take pictures for Christmas in front of the tree.  Medical professionals have told me that because of the injury to my mobility and the lack of proper feeling on my left side from surgery and treatment that things like this can happen.  They expect with time and continued therapy and improved strength, this too will improve, and I only need to be concerned if I hurt myself or if things get significantly worse. However, I simply lost my balance sitting on the stool, something that I knew was a potential problem. This time I ended up with a 6-inch bruise on my leg from Tuesday and a bump on the head from Christmas Eve.  Thankfully the bump on the head was on the opposite side of my surgery.  That was the worst of the injuries apart from my frustration of having to call my retired parents to help me out. I know a lot of people are praying for me and I appreciate that.  But when you mention my name, would you please add their names too?  I think weeks like this one add gray hairs to their heads.  I was also joking afterwards that my guardian angels are probably asking God for a vacation from their duties with me.  All kidding aside, I am thankful for God's protection during these two incidents.  Things could have been SO much worse.

After my visit to the floor of the living room Sunday afternoon, I told my mom she wouldn't have to sweep the floor for Christmas.  My clothes were taking care of that as I struggled to get back on my feet.  We laughed and tried not to take ourselves too seriously.

On Christmas Eve I decided that despite the adventures of the day, the Christmas Eve service at church was a good place for me to go.  Why?  Because I can. I am thankful that I was able to do so.  So many others would like to have been there but just simply were unable to get out of bed or for some other reason just couldn't make it.  I said in the car coming home that it just seemed like the right place to be. Not only that, but it was encouraging to be around others who have faced harder times this week, than I have, but decided a Christmas Eve service at our church was also the right place to be.  Why?  Because we can.  And why can we, because of God's grace and the true meaning of Christmas.  It's all about perspective, I suppose.    At the end of the service A little girl sang the following song.  This is not her recording, but I wanted to share a link to a beautiful way of putting Christmas in the right perspective.  Here is the link.
So Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

PRAISES:

Safety, and strength for each new day.

Lessons God continues to bring my way about Himself, me, others around me and life in general.

Encouragement from others around me who are also struggling with issues of their own, many bigger than mine, but keep their eyes on the Lord and remind me that it’s not about me, it’s about what my life can do for HIM and what He can do through me.  For those of my friends who have experienced difficulties in the past couple of weeks or so or who share their difficult experiences from the past and continue to show God’s grace in their lives.  Thank you. You are an encouragement to me.

PRAYER REQUESTS:  (Some of these remain the same, but are still relevant/needed.)

Continued strength to manage the physical strain of some of the treatment and exercises to improve mobility.

The electronic stimulation device for my leg mentioned in a previous blog – still waiting for some details to sort out, but we’re getting closer.

Courage to face the unknown and opportunities to show the grace of God through difficult times.

Safety.

Family who are hanging in there with me through this battle.

Wisdom to know my limitations and observe them.

Next round of double chemo started Christmas Day and will continue for 6 weeks.

Next MRI and doctor visit Feb 8.