The Long, Winding Road

Time teaches us so much. I look back over the last year and a half and I see the winding road that the Lord took me on and I see how much He taught me. So many hard times where I couldn't even imagine the end coming out well. Caught in the middle of my...for lack of a better word...ordeal, I looked to just get through the day and nothing else. It was too hard to hope for a happy ending. Just an end, that's all. I knew if I didn't live through it, that I would be with Jesus and that was fine with me. If I did live through it, would I live any kind of normal life? I had no idea and my mind couldn't go there.

Now it's been eight months since my last surgery and my wounds are closed and I haven't had another infection. Do I still react if I feel sick? Oh, yes. It will take even more time before I can feel comfortable in my skin again. I'm not the me that I started this whole thing out with. I'm different. Some of it is better different and some of it is worse.

The worst parts are not really trusting people any more. I had problems with care givers and I got forgotten by those I thought would not forget me. I hurt a long time over the latter part. It's funny how you think you know what people will do when a tragedy strikes, but you don't really know. You just hope. Unfortunately, my hopes were dashed. Was part of it my fault? Possibly, but I'm not sure in what way. I've thought and thought and can't figure out how I would have pushed anyone away. If I did, it was unintentional and certainly not what I wanted to do. I think tragedy and the ordeals that some of us go through are just too much for the average person. Even those in leadership at our churches are not really equipped mentally for the long haul that some of us go through. They want to put out the initial fire and then move on. If there's still embers burning, well, you'll just have to deal with those yourself. I'm not here to bash the church or my brothers and sisters in Christ. I'm just sharing my own unique experiences and my own feelings about it. I may never fully understand but I hope that I can grow and learn from my situation and maybe help those of you who are going through an ordeal to know that you are not alone.

I'm still dealing with the after affects of what was done to me in the operating room and all the problems stemming from that. I live with daily pain and a leg that is worse now than when I went in for the surgery. However, I try to take each day one at a time and focus on what God would have me do each day. I am very thankful for you, dear readers, as you've gone through this whole thing with me. You've read my posts on the good days and on the bad days and you've not thought worse of me for those bad days. I am so thankful for the prayers and the good thoughts! I hope you all know how dear you are to me and how much you mean to me!

Many blessings - Julie

Counting Our Blessings - Link Up!

It's time to count our blessings again! I look forward to focusing on how good God is to us every week.

11. I dearly love orchids but they are usually so expensive! I found this beauty at Sam's club last week and it was only $11.00! I thought the color was so exquisite and the flower so unusual.

The other thing I loved about this orchid, is all the buds on this plant. It should bloom for a long time, which is so nice. 

It's such a blessing to have something so beautiful!

12.  Look at this face...

Cookie is such a little love bug. She sits with me every day and sleeps. She is one of the most affectionate dogs ever! She blesses me so much with her unconditional love and her adorable face!

13.  I found out something two days ago about my surgery, that I didn't know, and as my son said, "Mom, it's just amazing that you didn't die that day!" I agree. When that doctor cut my artery, God truly had His hand on me and saved my life (and my leg!). It truly is a miracle! I'm so thankful each and every day for God's blessing of continued life here with my family.

14.  Okay, you all know that I love "My Little Pony". I know, I know...LOL  Anyway, I finally was able to get a shelf cleared off to display all my pony stuff. It took me a while, but I did it! Here's a picture of my pony shelf

My husband and son have bought me most of these pony things. They are so sweet to add to my collection! My shelf is right in front of my chair so I can see my little ponies all the time. Every time I look at them, they just make me smile - and that - is a blessing!

What are your blessings this week? Please share on the link up and don't forget to grab a button! Thank you so much.

An InLinkz Link-up

Blessings - Julie

Look Up!

 As I have walked this road this year of health struggles and pain, I have come to realize that without God, there is no going forward. God gives hope where there is none. When I have no one on this earth to put my faith in, God is the One who is faithful. He holds my entire life in His hands and I can trust him and have faith in Him that He knows what He's doing when no one else does.

It's been a hard journey, not only for me, but for my family. In the blink of an eye, something can happen than can change the course of your life and you are helpless to do anything but go forward and pray each day that you will make it through.

Thankfully, I have had no new infections for which I am so very grateful. Unfortunately, the wounds are not healing properly and they are a concern to my doctor. He at first talked about another surgery at which time my heart dropped to my toes. I have had four surgeries this year and another one seems so daunting. I personally think the reason I'm not healing well is because my body is worn out but I digress. He brought another doctor in as well as his PA and they thought stem cells might work. So, now I wait to see if my insurance will approve this and, if they do, they will place stem cells in the wounds to give them a boost. Oh, how I pray that I'm allowed to get this procedure and that it works! If it doesn't then I will have to have another surgery.

I try to live as normally as I can. I plan out my days and, more times than not, I don't accomplish but a 10th or less of those plans. I'm still house bound so these are things I want to accomplish at home. I celebrate even the little accomplishments because they are huge for me. Putting a meal in the crock pot, dusting, or decorating are reasons to feel good. I was looking at it before as all the things I couldn't do, but that will bring me down lower than I can handle, so I focus on what I can do.

There are people that sustain me. My husband, who is my rock when I can't do anything but cry. He waits on me - not because I ask - but he does it out of love. Ice water, a grilled cheese sandwich, carrying my books from room to room, making sure the pillows are perfect under my legs when I get into bed; these are the things that remind me of how Jesus washed the Disciples feet. My youngest son who drives me two hours away to my doctor appointment despite being tired and in pain himself. My oldest son who comes over and takes on some of the household duties on his days off because I'm unable to. My sweet friend who writes me a Scripture and devotion every morning in a text so that I wake up to God's Word and a reminder that I am loved by her. My sister who emails me with encouragement and prayers, calls me to check on me, and prays continually for my healing; she has known me all my life and loves me in a way no one else can and she sustains me. These are the people who reach out to me, love me even on the hard days, and keep me moving forward. God has blessed me with a loving core group to get me through the hardness of this journey.

I do not forget you, my dear friends. So many of you email me to check on me, leave comments of encouragement and to tell me that you're praying for me. These are lifelines and I am so grateful. You are also the hands and feet of Jesus to me even though I have never met most of you in person.

The key is not to look down at what I can't do, what is left undone, but to focus on the accomplishments and to look up to the One who holds the whole situation - and me - in His mighty and loving hands.

God bless you - Julie

Groanings Too Deep for Words

I know I've been quiet lately. I have been struggling with all I've been going through and having some hard days. My hard days consist of being quiet - even around my family - for fear of dragging them into my pit and making it a hard day for them. I have been sleeping, reading, and not much else.

Praying for myself is impossible right now and I rely on the prayers of others. I tell myself that things could be worse - and they could! - but my situation is difficult and has thrown my life into a whole new way of living. It's processing and accepting this new way of living that has me struggling so.

 Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. - Romans 8:26

How I cling to this Scripture. The Spirit helps me in my weakness and the Spirit intercedes for me with groanings. I understand these groanings...I have them myself and I don't know what they are but the Lord knows. Sometimes I wonder at this, yet the Lord's ways are not my ways, and He does understand what I am going through and He has mercy and sympathy.

I also wonder at my attitude. I have had months of keeping a stiff upper lip - of being positive in the face of all these health issues - but I am tired. I don't have a positive thought left in my mind right now. It's almost as if it has all come descending upon my heart and mind and I can't bear it. I do understand from my nurse that this is normal. I am grieving what once was and trying to accept what is now. 

I had another minor surgery on my knee wound last Friday. This has opened this wound up and it is large and a reminder that this healing will go on longer than I imagined. When things like this happen, I suffer greatly at the fact that I am struggling to heal and at the fact that I am weak and tired. This surgery was necessary, and I accept that, but it is still a set back in a sense. 

My lifeline is Jesus. I know He is with me even when I don't speak to Him in prayer as I normally do. I know He understands and He knows that soon I will start talking with Him again. I am not angry at God at all - He has blessed me so much! - but I am so, so tired. 

For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal. 

 2 Corinthians 4:17-18

Keeping my eyes on the eternal....

 

Blessings - Julie

Just a quick update

Poor baby...she is getting so many tumors! :( It just breaks my heart. I'm giving her as much love and attention as I can because I know this time with her is precious! Poor little thing also has to wear her cone most of the time unless I'm holding her. She will go and hide and then mess with her tumors, which makes them worse. I love this little girl and am so thankful for the time I've had with her!

My wounds are getting better, thankfully! It's a slow proces but as long as it's progress, I'm fine with it. I getting a mini break from my physical therapy because my therapist is on vacation. I think it's been good for me as I've been SO tired. I know that I will probably have this exhaustion for a long time and I just try to accept it.

I got my painting table cleared off yesterday and got some of my wood pieces based coated. I'm also going to start a canvas painting. I was amazed how much better I felt doing something I love! I have been doing some art journaling but got very frustrated by a set of gel pens I've had for a couple of years. None of them will work and yet they are filled with ink! Do any of you have any ideas of his to get these working again? The set is brand new!

I just wanted to give you a quick update...I hope you are doing well, my dear readers and friends! Many blessings to you!

Julie 

Healing and Sweet Surprises

Hello, friends! I am doing better and so thankful for the prayers and kindness you have shown me! The antibiotic shots and the two antibiotic pills seem to have taken care of the infection. I still have the open wounds but they are looking better. The surgeon finally did the Aquacel in the wounds, which has helped a lot. This product has real silver in it, which evidently is a natural healer. Who knew? He wrote me a prescription for me to get it but my insurance won't pay for it and it's over $30.00 per sheet. The bandages are $25.00 per box and, frankly, I just can't afford it. I also think he should be the one doing it and changing it so he can monitor it. It seems like I am constantly begging him for care! Now, he wants to put me under again so he can put a "wound vac" on the wounds. Pffft. I don't think so. That would mean I was under anesthesia four times in two months! Not only that, the wounds aren't that bad! The Aquacel seems to be working and I'm going to insist that we stick with that unless something changes for the worse (oh, let's hope not!). I did start occupational therapy today and they are wrapping the leg to try and take down the swelling. The therapist was very careful about the bypass and I do like the way it feels. It also seems to have helped with my physical therapy, which I had afterward. It's another step of progress. 

The other day, my hubby took me to the dollar store as I wanted to do a centerpiece for my kitchen table in the bowl I got flowers in while in the hospital. I found some adorable things and only for a dollar! This store we go to is a true dollar store - everything is a dollar. Here's what I put together and I just love it!

And here's a close up

I just love that little bunny inside the egg. His little face is so adorable! I have enough grass and eggs left over to do some other projects so it was such a great deal!

My son surprised me with this gorgeous gift when I got home from therapy the other day.

I have been wanting this book for so long! It's a beautiful old book, which you all know I love! 

As you can see, it was published in 1937. Whoever owned it before, took wonderful care if it!

Here are some of the beautiful pictures inside...

Aren't they gorgeous? I would love to draw like this.  It just blesses my heart that I have a son that thinks about things I love and then surprises me with a gift like this. Speaking of gifts, I received a huge bag of gifts from my BFF last week. I didn't take any pictures of everything yet, but I have to tell you, she was just so sweet in that the gifts were so me. She gave me some Bath and Body Works cream, body spray and room fragrance in my favorite scent, "Twisted Peppermint". She also gave me a book, a sweet pillow about friendship and the funniest, cutest card I've ever seen! When I thanked her, she said she wanted to pamper me. *sniff* I had tears of joy at that comment. I am so blessed to have such a sweet and loving friend!

I pray that you're week is blessed and full of sweet surprises, too!

Blessings - Julie 

Fighting the Circled Wagons

I wish I could explain to people how I feel without them either thinking that I've lost my faith (which I never would, by the way) or that I'm over-reacting or that I shouldn't have any down thoughts "if I'm truly a Christian". Where do people get these ideas? For goodness sake, when Jesus was here on this earth, he wept, he had times of needing to be alone and get away from others, he was afraid when it was the time for him to sacrifice himself for our sins. In other words, he was fully human as well as being fully God. 

Today was a tough day for me. I went back to the doctor that I have thought so highly of for so many years and he basically circled the wagons around this surgeon. He told me that he was a good doctor even after not understanding why he didn't do a culture on the wounds or an X-ray on the knee to make sure the infection hadn't gone into the knee joint, or why he hadn't called me to set up an appointment after he called his office yesterday and they assured him they would be calling me yesterday afternoon to do just that. In fact, he didn't even pull off the bandages to see what the wounds looked like today. He looked at the color of my leg and felt the temperature and that was it. He then called the surgeons office again where he made an appointment for 7:40 in the morning...7:40 In the morning!! Now, you all know I'm not a morning person, but what choice did I have? I left there feeling like this was all somehow my fault when none of it is my fault at all. I also felt that I had another doctor washing his hands of the whole thing because he didn't want to get involved in this huge mess this surgeon created.

I have been so diligent about taking care of my wounds. I have done exactly what they have told me to do to the letter. In fact, it's because of following the surgeons office directions that I believe caused this infection. I saw a PA on one appointment because the doctor was out sick and she told me to clean the incisions 3 times per day with hydrogen peroxide and then bandage them. That's when all this infection started. I have since found out that peroxide not only kills the bad cells but the good cells as well that are trying to heal the wound. I have never liked peroxide and this convinces me that I was right once again! 

Today marks two months since my botched knee surgery and then my bypass because he cut the artery. By this time, my wounds should have been healed...but no...I'm still fighting infection and praying for healing. 

So, if I seem down right now,it's because I am. If I am truly disappointed in how all this has been handled, it's because I am. If I can't put my big girl panties on right now and "get past it", that's just too bad. I feel what I feel right now and right now I'm feeling rather frightened, alone, and at the mercy of the circled wagons. 

My saving grace is just that...the fact that I know Jesus, my Savior, is with me. He is my lifeline. My only lifeline and I'm so thankful for Him. He understands that it's okay that I'm having these feelings because He knows that my eyes are always on Him and my heart belongs to Him. I also want to make clear that I do have amazing, wonderful friends that are praying for me and not judging me but have understanding concerns for me. It can sometimes be just one person that makes you feel devastated. The fact that this Christian doctor I've known for so long would not be honest with me about the fact that this surgeon has handled this really poorly, devastated me, too. 

I'm truly sorry if thus post is a rambling mess, but it had to get this all out. Tomorrow is a new day and I know I'll feel better again. 

Blessings - Julie

Praising God Even When You Don't Feel Like It

Let's be honest. Sometimes, it's easier to praise the Lord than at other times. Personally, I love  and trust Jesus so much, I don't often have those times. However, I DO have times where I am questioning God as to why things are happening the way they are. I'm having a bit of that right now as I have a new issue with my leg. The incisions are infected...especially the one for the bypass. The bypass that should have never been. 

I went to my surgeon on Friday because I could tell it was getting really yucky and my leg was hot. He looked at it, put me on Bactrim, and gave me some cream to put on it. He acts like he just doesn't know what to do. He hems and haws around and, frankly, I have no confidence in him. Then his nurse had the audacity to say that the bypass incision was not something he had done. Seriously? If not for his neglect, I wouldn't have had to have a bypass! I also questioned to myself why he thought Bactrim was the drug to choose for this. It's a fine antibiotic but it's not exactly a strong one and it barely cures my bladder infections when I rarely get them. I usually have to do two rounds of it because it's not a strong drug.

Anyway, over the weekend, I could tell I wasn't getting any better so this morning, I went to my regular doctors office where I saw the wonderful doctor I used to have, who caught my cancer when no one else could figure out what was wrong with me. He works in this office and sees walk-ins and doesn't maintain a regular set of patients now. He remembered me and then he took a look at the incisions. He was very concerned. He said, "I'm sure they did a culture at the other office when you went in last Friday so I don't need to do that." Ummmm...no...they didn't do any kind of culture. So he cultured it, gave me a super strong shot of antibiotics, added Keflex to my Bactrim and he wants to see me tomorrow. If it's not a lot better, he is hospitalizing me.  I know I'm being a big baby, but I do not want to go back to the hospital. I said when I left after 13 days in there, that I never wanted to darken their doorstep again. However, and this is the most important part, God is in control! He knows what needs to happen and He truly has had His hand on me through all this. I mean, what are the chances of me seeing my most favorite doctor, ever, who saved my life once before? Only God can orchestrate these things. I also know I don't want this infection to get so out of hand that I have a new problem, so I will do whatever I have to do...and God will be there with me...holding my hand all the way.

Not only will I trust in God - in Jesus - I will be praising His holy name!

Please keep me I your prayers, if you're so inclined, and ask for God's perfect will in all this. For His healing touch and His strength for me to handle whatever comes.

Blessings - Julie

A Bit of This and That

It's a little after 3:00 am and I can't sleep. I have a cold ice machine that my Dad got me for my leg and when the ice runs out, the pad gets hot and wakes me up because it makes my leg hurt. It's a small price to pay, though, for the relief it brings me when it's cold! It lasts about 4-5 hours before it gets hot, so that's pretty good, in my opinion! Knowing my hubby, he'll wake up soon and be adding more ice. I don't wake him up as he takes such good care of me and I like him to have his sleep at night. I can take naps during the day so it's not a big deal if I'm up in the night.

Yesterday, I finally got the rest if my staples out of my leg. It had been over 5 weeks for the bypass and some of those staples were so imbedded in the skin, the nurse had a hard time getting them out of my leg. Thankfully, it didn't hurt, so I'm really thankful for that! Only one staple kind of hurt and that one was in my knee. I can't tell you how much better it feels to have all those staples out!

Thursday, I had my first physical therapy session outside my home and it went really well. I really like my therapist. I had him when I was in the hospital and he really understands both the knee and the restrictions of the bypass, which eases my mind. There can be no pressure put on that bypass and he's very careful. I felt like I did well, though, and I'm so glad to be going now! My legs have finally gone down enough to get pants on, although they are tight, but at least I'm not having to go every where in my nightgown anymore! lol My legs are still swollen but at least I'm seeing some progress.

Holly is doing really well and even played with her toy yesterday. I have to really watch her as she wants to jump up and down off the furniture and she's not supposed to do that yet. I'm so very happy that she's doing so well and I'm still praying that this cancer is not aggressive! She's such a cutie pie and just brings such joy to my life.

I'm going to have my family help me move my recliner back to my bedroom today. They had moved it to the living room because I was sleeping out there, but now that I'm sleeping in bed again, I want to get my recliner back in my bedroom. I'm finally feeling like I can work on my cross stitch and my stand is in my bedroom and all my things are in here. It will feel good to have things out back to normal, too. I'm also hoping to start decorating for Easter a little bit. I love decorating for the holidays and that will feel good, too.

Both my sons birthdays are this week, so I'm going to bake a chocolate cake for my oldest tomorrow and then frost it on Monday. I'm not sure, yet, what my other son will want, but I have a feeling he'll ask for my chocolate pie. Thankfully, I have one of my homemade pie crusts in the freezer, so that should be easy, if that's what he wants.

I'm hoping to go back to church tonight. It will be my first time back since my surgery and I'm so excited to go. I've missed going to church. It's such an important thing in my life!

I hope your weekend is full of blessings - Julie

Little Steps of Progress

Today I got some of my staples out of my incisions. I went properly "medicated" so I wouldn't be all stressed out by the pain. I've had staples out before, but never when they have been in this long. Today marks the one month mark since that horrible day when I had the artery cut.

I have never seen staples that small and the nurse had a hard time finding some of them as my skin had grown over them. Thankfully, I only really felt one of the staples being removed, so that was such a relief!! They only took about every other one out, and on the actual bypass incision, he only took two out because it still is pulling a bit and leaking a bit and he didn't want to take the chance of it breaking open. The knee staples were a snap and he took about half of those out, too. They are the size I'm more used to, so they were easier to remove for the nurse. All in all, it went well and I feel much better where those staples are gone. I think they are starting to be a bit irritating at this point.

I came home and was able to lay on my bed and do the exercises where I put my leg on the wall and then bring my leg down to bend the knee. This exercise really helps to bend the knee and I really felt like I did well. I did promptly fall asleep afterwards! I haven't laid on my bed since I've been home and it was so wonderful! I've missed my bed! lol I still don't think I can sleep in it all night because I have to have help getting up and if I need to get up in the night, then I'd have to get someone up to help me, so until I can get up on my own, I'll still be sleeping in my recliner.

I've been studying Ephesians and have been reading a lot. I would love to get out my cross stitch, but my brain just can't focus enough at this point to really work on anything. I do think I'm going to try and work on my crochet, though, tomorrow. I need to do something creative because it really helps me.

We finally had rain tonight. There's nothing more peaceful than hearing the rain on the skylight. I love it as long as I don't have to go out in the mud. We really need the moisture, so I'm really happy that we are getting some rain.

I want to thank you again for all your sweet comments, your many prayers, and your wonderful emails you have sent me. They mean so much to me!!

Blessings - Julie

An Update

 

It's been a challenging week. I've been having some good moments and some not so good moments. My biggest issue is my swollen legs. They are so swollen, they are uncomfortable. My other issue is that the incision where the bypass was done, is leaking fluids because my legs are so swollen. I'm sorry if this is too much information, but this is my reality.

I see the orthopedic surgeon in the morning and I think he will be removing the staples from my knee incision. I'm not sure what will happen with the bypass incisions, but I'm leery of having him do much of anything with them. I'm trying to get into my husband's cardiologist so he can monitor this bypass, but again, this is all something I was never prepared for so I'm at a loss as to what to do. The surgeon who did the bypass, released me, so going back to him is not an option, either.

I have been so blessed by the caring of my family, friends, and church family. We have been provided with beautiful and delicious meals, I've received cards, phone calls, text messages, and just loved on. It truly has given me the strength to keep going on. This has been an emotional roller-coaster for me and I have times of just pure exhaustion. I thank God, though, for providing so many loving hands, words, and hugs to see me through all this.

Blessings - Julie

Finally Home

Dear friends, I'm back. You have no idea how much it means to write these words. I am finally home after 13 days in the hospital, 2 of those in ICU.

My knee replacement surgery went horribly wrong about two hours in and the surgeon cut 3/4 into my popliteal artery. I was then airlifted by helicopter to Phoenix where I had emergency surgery to

try and repair the artery. I now have an approximately twelve inch bypass in my leg and my artery has been moved to the inside of my leg. I was in ICU for two days and then moved to a room where I lay in my back because I wasn't allowed to put any weight on my leg. My leg was in a brace to keep it immobile and every little movement hurt because the bones were cut but the replacement not finished. To say I was shocked by these turns of events is the understatement of the century!

The next hurdle was getting me back up here to finish the knee surgery. I'm not going to go into detail on all this but I will say that had it not been for the hospital in Phoenix, I might still be lying there. My surgeon had the audacity to suggest that I find a friend within SUV to bring me back up here. Seriously? The hospital understood I needed to be brought back up by ambulance and arranged it. I had my knee surgery the following day.

The bottom line is I now have a bypass in my leg, I'll always have to be in blood thinners, and I ended up having to have several blood transfusions totaling eight units. Our bodies hold twelve units so you can see I had to have a lot of blood. I have never been so exhausted in all my life and I hope that I truly will get better and better but I believe this has been very hard on my body and my mind. The emotional trauma for my family and I has been unbelievable, too, and I feel very fortunate to be alive and still have my leg. It all could have gone very bad very quickly - except for the grace of God.

I am so glad to be home. There truly is no place like home! I just want to thank you for your prayers and I will post more later.

Blessings - Julie

Countdown to Surgery

Tomorrow is the big day! My knee surgery is going forward and I am ready. I have to be there at 6:00 am and my surgery is at 7:00. They are figuring 5-6 hours in the operating room, so it's not some little surgery.

Today, I got my blood typed and I just have a little left to pack. I'm trying not to take my whole house with me, but since I know I'm going to be not only in the hospital, but the rehab hospital, I'm trying to prepare things that I can do while in there. I have my books, my Bible, my journal, my quilt that I'm hand quilting, and my crochet. I think that's enough. I would have loved to have taken a cross stitch project, but there's always so much to bring and I'm so used to using a stand, I'm not sure that I would enjoy stitching without one. I usually make mistakes when I don't have my stitching in a stand.
As I've said, I'm so thankful that the hospital is only 15 minutes from my home, so if I do need something, I'm not putting my family out by asking them to get me something.

Here's my prayer request, if I come to your mind in your prayers:

1. That the surgery would be successful. For wisdom and steady hands for the doctor.

2. That I would do well and not have a lot of pain.

3. For the ability to do whatever physical therapy is required. That my recovery would be quick and I could come home sooner than I'm thinking now.

I, or my son, will tweet and/or put on FB how I'm doing. Even if you don't have either of these, you can read the tweets on the sidebar. (There are also the links to my Twitter and Facebook accounts if you want to follow me there). As soon as I'm able, I will be back to let you know how I'm doing. You will see book reviews come up (I have some scheduled) so don't think I'm posting about reviews before telling you how I'm doing.

I'm so thankful for all the sweet comments and wonderful emails I've gotten from some of you. These mean so much. There's something very comforting about knowing that I have so many prayers being said for me. Thank you, dear friends!

God bless you - Julie

Preparing for Surgery

I am feeling a bit over-whelmed right now. I'm trying to get ready for my up-coming surgery and figuring out what I'll need to take. Part of my concern is that I was supposed to get my packet from the doctor last week and I've yet to receive it. I will be going by the office on Monday to pick it up. I know I have some prep work I have to do on my knees and I'm a bit concerned that we're down to the last week and I have no idea what I need to do yet.

I'm writing a list of what I think I'll need. I'm planning that I will be gone for 2 weeks and, if not, it will just be a pleasant surprise. I'm much better if I prepare for a longer time away than to find out I will be even longer away than I thought. I'm very blessed by the fact that the hospital and rehab hospital are no more than 15 minutes from my home so, if I do need something, it won't be a huge deal for someone to go home and get it. This is a huge blessing!

I have been working on something to take with me and I'll share pictures with you in the next few days. I'm trying to make sure I have things that will encourage me there. I'm getting my iPod ready with songs that will comfort me. These include all the Fernando Ortega music, 10,000 Reasons, as well as my favorite jazz music by Diana Krall and my favorite standards by Jo Stafford. Music is such a powerful thing for me and I know that having my favorites will just help me so much. 

I had a wonderful coffee date with a dear friend last week. I hadn't seen her for awhile so that was so fun. I'm also going to make sure I get together with another dear friend this upcoming week before my surgery. It's just a good thing to make time for these little fun times in the midst of all the craziness of preparing for this surgery. It's good to laugh and share.

I hope your Sunday is blessed!

Julie

Big News!

I have news! I will be having my knee replacement surgery on Tuesday, January 28th! Woo-hoo!! I am having both knees replaced and I'm ready! I know it's going to be a big thing and I know I'm going to have to work hard to get my knees recovered, but I'm ready. The Lord has given me such a peace about this and His presence is so close. I'm just really calm and ready.  I may be away from home for 2 weeks and that will probably be the hardest part for me. I'm such a homebody so being away will be the hardest part, but it's necessary! Since I'm having both knees done, they will send me to a rehab hospital after the regular hospital. I'm very thankful for this, but I'm also going to really miss my home and my doggies! If you would keep me in your prayers, I would be ever so grateful!

We did something today that we very rarely do anymore. We went to Peter Piper Pizza for lunch/dinner. We went about 3:00 so the place was basically empty and that was nice, too.  We love their New York 3 cheese pepperoni pizza and that's what we ordered. We also got a few tokens and played some games. I'm probably the biggest kid out there and just love playing the games and then picking out something for my tickets! I know...I'm just a 10 year old in an old ladies body! LOL

Here's what I picked out with my tickets...

So adorable! She was the only one left with the bow and the ballet slippers. The others had a flower instead of the bow. I really liked this one because it's the original kitty.

After we ate, my sons dropped my hubby and I off at Michael's and they went off to Game Stop. I had my Christmas money and there were some things I wanted to get. One thing was to see if they had any of the journals left like the one that my son had gotten me for my birthday and they had ONE left!

It was almost 50% off, too! Yay! I love this journal and am so glad that I was able to get another one.

I also found this

This journal had been $12.99 and it was on sale for $6.99. The pens had been $6.99 and they were on sale for $1.79! I love this journal, too! You can't really see very well, but it has a pen/glue pen attached to the side and I thought this was adorable and convenient.

Then I found this in the 25 cent bin -

I like using journals like this for my prayer requests. I also bought one for my hubby so he could also use it as a prayer request book. It's just perfect for that and we don't care if the front has a Christmas design. Plus for 25 cents, how could we pass this up?

I don't know if I share this, but my word for 2014 is "BELIEVE". I am believing God for total healing of my knees, I am believing that I will be able to really get my craft designing going again, I'm believing Him for provision and protection. I am just totally believing that God is going to do great things in my life this year and move me closer to Him in the process. So, when I saw this, I knew it was something I needed to have - especially since it was the only one that said, "Believe".

Isn't it beautiful? I'm going to keep my prayer journals, my devotional journals and things like that in it. It was also on sale for 30% off, so I got it for under $5.00. Oh, how I love a bargain, especially when it's something that I really wanted anyway. I just think this box is so gorgeous and it will be a wonderful reminder to BELIEVE!

Blessings - Julie