What a summer this has been...
one we will not quickly forget!
one we will not quickly forget!
Our journey north began in July...
we traveled together with JR's parents, who like to spend several weeks
in Pennsylvania each summer. We always enjoy traveling with them.
Derek and Erica drove the other vehicle as far as Virginia,
where Derek took another route.
We were informed that we were traveling within a mile
of his girlfriend Rebecca's family's campground
so we stopped and met her and her family.
They live in a beautiful area of Virginia
and we were so happy that it worked out to stop and meet her and her family.
Rebecca and her sisters came up to Ohio for the weekend
and we enjoyed getting to know her and look forward
to seeing her more in Florida
and in the future!
Rebecca and her sisters came up to Ohio for the weekend
and we enjoyed getting to know her and look forward
to seeing her more in Florida
and in the future!
After visiting for about an hour and a half, we headed on to Ohio.
It took us three hours to find a hotel to stay at that night so by early morning
we were ready to stay anywhere! We came to the conclusion that someone
in that area needs to go into the hotel business!
The BMA Convention
We thoroughly enjoyed out time at Convention.
It is always so much fun to reconnect with friends, to be encouraged,
to pray together, to share together... and to laugh together
and sometimes to cry together.
So many good messages to take in.
So timely for today.
Experiencing the power of God and the comfort of His Spirit
when you are to speak and have a mix of emotions:
considering it such an honor and privilege to share God's Word
and what's He's done for me personally,
knowing the capability of speaking my own words and not God's,
feeling so unworthy to speak
before such an honorable group of women.
The night before I was to speak there was a battle took place.
Several dear ladies, not knowing the inward battle I was facing,
asked if they could gather around me and pray for me.
We are in a spiritual battle!
I pray that I can be that kind of sister to my sisters...
standing with them in their battle.
What would we do without each other?!
Family
We had our own personal apartment in Ohio...
it's my parents' apartment at my sisters' house.
It is empty while Dad and Mom are in Michigan
so it becomes 'ours' when we are in the area.
After Convention we enjoyed spending two days with family...
Erica and her cousins went kayaking one day while my sister and I
went shopping at the little Amish stores and thrift stores.
We also stocked up on homeschooling curriculum, etc.
While there, we spent a delightful evening getting to know
another young ladies' parents...
Dustin's friend, Sari
We enjoyed having her spend last weekend with us here in Florida
and look forward to seeing much more out of her, too!
On to Michigan
When we get a chance to go to northern Michigan, we go!
Several of my brothers are farmers and I have a husband
who loves driving big farm equipment...
so what is work to some is therapy and relaxation to him.
While he spent his days in the fields,
we, ladies, painted and decorated at my brother Don's house.
One aunt and three cousins....how can it not be fun?!
Lest you fear that we just worked while in Michigan,
let me assure you otherwise!
We had some meals together, and meals are not complete without
games, jokes, stories, laughter, and good times!
Precious Little Ruby, Joel's granddaughter
The Cup Song
While there, Erica celebrated her birthday.
One of her dreams was to ride horse!
Kyle and fiance' Anna's house
Jeepin' with Uncle Dave!
Need I say more?!
She's a city-girl but she loves those country toys!
She was doted on and spoiled rotten by her uncles
and loved every minute of it!
Vacation was rapidly coming to an end...
a second coat of paint yet and some trim around the outside door
when suddenly, our plans were changed drastically!
I was standing on a 2-ft step ladder, only on the first step, reached way over
my head to finish a couple inches of trim that I could not reach
from the cement steps I was standing on.
Not realizing the ladder was not latched open...
it collapsed and down I went...hard...on cement... as Erica watched it all unfold!
I sat back up, held my arm close to my body and tried to collect my bearings!
JR came in from the field immediately when Erica called him,
my SIL Michelle, who works in the medical field, and my mom came over
and all symptoms were pointing to a possible break.
The emergency room was 45 minutes away so JR and I headed that way.
Any bump or curve in the road brought pain!
Arriving at the ER in Grayling, we waited about 2 hrs before
having some xrays done. Within a short time the medical assistant came into our room
and informed us that my shoulder was broken and they were suspicious of a second break!
Arg! Not exactly what we were hoping to hear!
They ordered a CT scan and it confirmed a second break.
I had a compressed fracture and a ruptured ligament.
SURGERY.
TOMORROW.
No, please!
We are away from home.
We don't know these doctors.
Is this surgeon reliable?
Should we get a second opinion?
Can we wait for surgery until we get home?
PRAY!!
...and family and friends all over were praying.
There is power in prayer!
I felt those prayers.
The surgeon came in, sat on the bed, and answered as many of our questions
as he could. No, it was not advisable to travel home because of the multiple breaks.
If one of the pieces were to slip, it could pinch a nerve or an artery
and we would have to stop and have surgery in whatever city we were at.
The nurses all gave high recommendations for the surgeon but what
really helped make our decision was when JR talked to my SIL and she asked if we
happen to have Dr. Habib. Yes, we have Dr. Habib. Does she know him?
Not only did she know him, she recommended him,
and he had been the surgeon
for their family when a surgeon was needed.
<SO SURGERY WAS SCHEDULED>
They released us to go home for the night and return the next day for surgery.
Knowing that northern Michigan has a lot of deer out at night
who have a bad habit of running out in front of vehicles,
JR drove extra careful so as not to hit a deer and jar my arm at all.
As we were slowing down to enter a small, hick town;
a deer suddenly leaped in front of our car and in a split second,
the deer and car met each other!
We were at a loss for words as we stopped and JR got out to
evaluate the damage.
We were okay but the car and the deer suffered injuries!
It did jar my shoulder and it hurt for a bit
but within a short period of time it stopped hurting.
Why would something like this happen
on top of the trauma of a broken shoulder?
How comforting to know that our Father in Heaven
saw us traveling home that night,
He saw us enter that small, hick town,
He saw that deer,
He saw our crash,
He knew about my broken shoulder,
and it all passed through Him before it happened to us!
Knowing that and knowing how much my Father loves me,
I can be okay with it!
We spent the night in my parent's apartment at my brother's house.
I slept on the couch, sitting up and pillows propped all around,
and my dear faithful husband
slept on a mattress right close by.
The next morning we stopped at the police station to report the deer accident
and then went back to the hospital for surgery.
Believe me, I was not without my moments of melt-downs!
Did the surgeon really have to tell us all the possible risks?
All the arteries that were running along side the incision?
A breathing tube?
Really? I'd just as soon not know!
Fear sat on my bed, it whispered in my ear.
I really tried not to listen but occasionally
it caught my attention.
But FAITH shooed it away.
My Father was present, too,
He saw, He knew, He cared
and guess what?!
As I was wheeled into surgery,
just before I went out into la-la land...
God gave me a visual picture of Jesus.
He was sitting on the end of my bed...
He went right into surgery with me!
Ha-ha! Those doctors had no idea He was sneaking right into the operating room with me!
Actually, I think they did know.
I think they, too, sensed the presence of Jesus!
The surgery lasted three hours.
The surgeon told JR he took extra time to make sure everything was done
as good as he could possibly do it.
Waking up. PAIN.
Oh, how my arm hurt!
And my throat was so dry!
They gave me meds which immediately eased the pain,
ice chips felt so-o wonderful on my dry, dry throat.
1 plate and 8 screws later,
and sporting a 6-inch incision....
That's my arm?
I still don't like to look at that,
while the boys think the metal is pretty cool!!
Our "vacation" was extended several days as the surgeon did not want me to travel
for five days. I settled in on Mom's couch, began to figure out what all my left hand
can do, worked on accepting the things I couldn't do for myself,
had a couple "melt-downs" and nights when things seemed so overwhelming,
realized again that God's mercy and grace is new every morning,
felt so loved and cared for by my family.
Five days after surgery we packed up our luggage and prepared to head south.
First we had to stop in Grayling for a doctor's appointment
and receive permission to travel.
The medical assistant removed the large, thick bandage from my shoulder and arm,
looked at my incision, and declared that it was healing "insanely" well!!
Insanely? No, it was a "God's touch" healing!
They left all bandages off and said I was free to travel directly home.
Traveling went very well with the assistance of plenty of pillows, some meds, stopping every
couple hours to get out and stretch, etc.
The first night we stopped at my sister's house in Ohio and I slept in Mom's recliner.
Second night was at a hotel...no deal. It didn't take long to discover that my
shoulder would not agree to me lying down in a bed.
Lots of pillows, props, meds, and TV and the night passed pretty good.
Third night....Home, Sweet, Home!
The whole family all together again!
The first night was a "melt down" time after everyone went to bed.
So many things you want to do as a wife and a mother,
and you can't!
So many questions of trying to make sense of the "Why's".
But knowing confidently that tomorrow morning
when the sun came up God's mercy and grace would be there,
and I can testify that it was there every time!!
Soon it was on to finding an orthopedic doctor here,
more x-rays, more appointments,
and now on to physical therapy.
It's amazing how each doctor exclaims over the "insane" healing
and range of movement I have in my arm already.
They look at the records again to see how long since
I had surgery.
They are amazed at how well it is doing.
The physical therapist and the doctor both agree that it may not
require too much physical therapy and most of it
I should be able to do at home.
There's nothing "insane" about my arm...
but there is a lot "amazing" about it!
IT'S GOD!
and while His ways don't always make sense
to my ways....
I can confidently say that in ALL things
He is working for my good
and for His Glory!
