Busy November

Flowers for Ashleigh's Shower

Ike Planting Neighborhood Entrances

This month began rather quietly, but soon picked up speed. As I was still in recovery mode early in the month and was unable to do very much yet, my non-gardening husband volunteered to even do this for me. He is one of a kind and I am very blessed. He and I have very different skills and my perfectionist tendencies in this area are a bit too much for his "that's fine" personality. He did a wonderful job and next spring I will have to post pictures of his diligent efforts. It was very frustrating for me to not even be able to touch the wonderful dirt. My walker would not allow it, nor would my Ike. I likened my frustration to him this way..."How would you like it if I went to play golf for you because you had to be on a walker and you just watched me?" He understood quickly.

The picture at the top of this is the proof that I am still learning how to do this blogging and I don't know how to insert a picture where it should go.......it goes here. Oh well, maybe someday I will learn the tricks of this trade.

Ashleigh is the daughter of a dear friend of mine. She is four years younger than my youngest daughter and I have known this precious girl since her birth. She is joy and a sweetheart. She is just finishing Physician's Assistant school and will be getting married in February. That is one wedding I am looking forward to with great happiness.

This month definitely moved along rather quickly with this shower. I had to be able to move around more and I was still using a cane. That became very annoying and soon I just put it away and began to walk 'normally.' I had no pain, but I still got tired rather easily. I can still feel that something happened to my hip, but I wouldn't really call it pain. Now the physical therapy sessions are increasing in intensity and I do come home very tired.

This is the month for thinking about the year and moving toward the last of the year big days that are coming rather quickly. Thanksgiving and Christmas are huge celebrations for our family and our country. Both are about our Savior. We give thanks to him all the time, but this particular day is a big focus for it. I will post about that next time.

Life is good, and it continues to race along. My time of surgery was a time of being still and resting. Now I am back to the busy days again, but I did learn much from the rest!

Easy Sunday Morning

Cup of coffee at the Broadmoor

No, I am not at the Broadmoor. I just love this picture and the memory it brings to my heart. I truly love having a lovely meal of any sort at a pretty place and this resort is at the top of the list.

This quiet Sunday morning, I was just pondering my blessings. I am still recovering from my surgery and life is beginning to pick up speed again. I was just thinking about this fall and all the blessings that God has given me just because He is love and I am loved. At times, when life is extremely difficult, it is hard to remember that He is allowing this problem to build my character. I just want the problem over and everything to be great and happy. It is not always that way...in fact, most of the time there is some problem happening, some problem is coming to an end, or some new issue is on the horizon. God knows it all. I don't. I am trying to just enjoy the day no matter what it brings.......easy to write....hard to do!

This fall I was able to go to Washington D.C. with friends to the big Tea-Party. I blogged about that. It meant a lot to me to be able to go an let my voice be heard or at least to see that there are so many like-minded Americans who are very dissatisfied with the current state of government. There is much more to write about that later.

The second great event was a very special mother-daughter trip. I have been hoping to get to do this since our last one. This time we went to the Broadmoor for a couple of days...hence the picture of coffee time. It was the middle of September and the weather was so awesome. I could cry thinking of how special that trip was to me. There is nothing better on this earth for me than one-on-one time with one of my children, daughters-in-law, or grandchildren. It is a rare occurrence and I cherish those moments.

This quiet Sunday morning we had a special short visit from Em and Kent. They spent the night last night after going to the OSU-Texas game. Sadly for them, OSU lost. We had a nice breakfast together and Mr. Kent helped me with some of my computer issues. I am learning but not at breakneck speed, I must say! They have headed back home now and it is such a gorgeous day. Oh, how I would love to be able to dig in the dirt today and plant fall flowers......Soon I hope.

Two Big Events

My First Climb Upstairs

Newly Decorated Walker

Last night, My husband and I went out to dinner with our good friends who happen to be the parents of our son-in-law. Carolyn commented that my walker looked just like her husband's walker in the way I had put a little carry all bag on it with jute string holding it on.....not too attractive. Well, when she said that my mind went into action! Today My husband took me to Hobby Lobby and I bought some ribbons to redecorate my walker. I thought that while I had to use it, it might as well be pretty, and I like it a lot. I hope Carolyn will!

Tonight an event happened that I did not expect for a few more weeks. All my bedrooms and full bathrooms are upstairs. I have not been able to get upstairs since my surgery on October 7th, two and a half weeks ago. It was so much fun being upstairs, seeing my clothing and jewelry and my real bed. I also was privileged to take a shower. Oh, how I do appreciate such a luxury.

We have so many things in our lives that are like the shower experience. They are normal and really expected to always be available. They always have been. We are such blessed people. May we never forget to notice the little things in life......the things we take for granted, such as running warm water in the house, toilets, heat and air, comfortable warm beds, and a grocery store always near. I actually still prefer those restaurants. I am trying to do my little part to keep those businesses in operation as often as I can.

Just a little over two weeks and I have already learned many lessons. I believe my surgery is healing properly and quickly, especially for a 64 year old woman - a Mimi! Thank you, God, for all your perfect timing and control in all our lives.

Time for Healing

I never thought I would say having surgery was a blessing, but I cannot say it loudly enough.

Of course, the surgery itself and immediate post-op was not pleasant, but it is what it is.

The blessings have come. The began to come almost immediately. God has given me precious friends and wonderful children. So many people brought us food that was so delicious and timely. Others sent sweet cards and flowers that were sent were the real food for my soul.

Nothing says 'lovin' like beautiful flowers. Just looking at them makes me so happy.

What amazing lessons I have been learning from this experience. No experience that God allows is wasted. At first, the total dependence I had on another person - my dear husband - was so difficult. I am a very independent person and I am accustomed to doing everything for myself.

I hated calling on him for every single need - a piece of paper, a pen, my telephone, my pillow being moved, my need to go to the bathroom (a big hassle), getting into bed, putting my leg into the exerciser, having ice packs.....literally every single thing. I began pondering, after a few days. I thought this is how God wants me to be toward Him. I do not do that. If I can do it, I do it. I do not pray always before I accept a job or do something "for Him." That is not what He desires. He wants my dependence to be totally on Him.

I am also learning to slow it down. Two hours getting cleaned up and dressed is not that unusual. That is a radical departure from the girl who can get ready and be gone in a brief span of time.

I must be very thoughtful and careful with my leg and walk deliberately and properly for the bone to heal correctly. These are mighty lessons for life..slow down, be deliberate and thoughtful about what and how you are doing things, depend on the Lord and value your body. It is an amazing gift from God and only He knows how it works best. Proper food, enough rest, and exercise are very vital for healing and I believe now very crucial for life. I am slowing down. I am pondering what is His will for my life. The amount of time I have left is shorter than I have lived. That is a tough pill to swallow. It sometimes gets stuck in my throat.

I have many more thing to ponder in this time of recovery, but at this time, I am feeling very blessed on so many levels.....much more to ponder along the way!

Real time for pondering!

Today I am finally re-entering the world of the functioning people. I am recovering from hip arthroscopic surgery and having any surgery is an experience I hope not to replicate. The surgery was on Wednesday, the 7th of October. It is now the 16th and I am doing very well, so they tell me.

The first few days were awful. I was not expecting any of the stresses that were naturally coming my way. First of all, and not least, I have neither a bedroom downstairs nor a full bathroom. Enough said.....everything I need is always upstairs. That is just how it is living in a two-story house. Even though I spent much time in thought and preparation for the experience, there was no way to imagine that I was going to be physically out-of-it. If it had not been for the precious, patient, strong and Godly husband that I have, I suppose I would have just died in the sleeper sofa bed because I had no power to get myself out of it. My right leg looked like a stuffed sausage and it would not bend very well. I have never - in all my life - felt so helpless. I know my God is in control and I know that if I perished in that sleeper sofa in a pool of "urine" (gross, I know, but that's the truth), then that would have been his will for my life. The longer I live, the stronger my faith grows in the Providence of God. There is absolutely nothing that happens that is outside of his knowledge and will. That is a huge comfort in all situations. I wasn't honestly thinking any of this when my leg was a sausage and my body was in so much pain. I know I will have grown by leaps and bounds when I can in the midst of trials and pains immediately know that the is the will of God for my life and rejoice in it. I am not there yet, but I do know He loves me, even though I fail to meet my own standards of perfection time after time. He does not have those standards for me. I have made my own list of "what Peggy should be like and do." Here I grow again!!!

Quiet September Day

While I have been very busy today with many things, it is a very quiet and cool day and I have been pondering again. I have thought about the past week-end that I enjoyed and wondered about the motivation behind so many people who were willing to travel to Washington D. C. at their own expense, pay for lodging, food, etc. I can really only know my own heart and I tend to think that others share the same desire that I have to get this country back to its roots. Perhaps that is not true. I don't know. Maybe some came out of anger or fear. Many certainly came for the love of their country and the desire to be a part of letting our government know we are indeed paying attention to what they are doing, and to keep them accountable to the people who sent them there to represent us. I want my own motivation to be pure and I think it is. My desire is to help people to learn the truth about the Christian founding of our country so that they will know that only the hand of God can bring about true change. Americans, for the most part, are very unaware of their own heritage. Why would they be when they have never been taught it. God has said He will heal our land after we who are called after His name humble ourselves and pray, turn from our own wicked ways and seek Him. That is found in 2 Chronicles 7:14. I actually saw many signs in the crowds last Saturday with this Scripture. That gave me hope. My real trust is in God, not in marchers or tea-partiers. He is still in control. We are just in for a struggle. What else is new......in history? It is just new to us. We have not known the kind of struggles our forefathers experienced. We do have the same God though and He hasn't changed one bit! He will lead us if we will just follow His lead.....back to work now.........

Tea Party Washington D.C.

Blogging is a phenomenon that is new to me. I have finally come to the understanding that this is a valid expression of heart and soul that connect us with those who share common passions.

I was blessed to be able to attend the 9-12 March this past week-end and I was overwhelmed at the number of people who feel as I do about this wonderful nation. Just viewing the numbers of different personalities walking toward the U. S. Capitol in one large mass of humanity was humbling. I saw loud and boisterous people. I saw quiet and pensive people. I saw young people. I saw older people. I saw different races of people. This is America. That is what I observed and I felt in my soul very thankful to be a citizen of the land of the free and the home of the brave. I sense an awakening in the hearts of people. It is not just about the healthcare issue or the financial problems we are currently experiencing. It is much deeper. Freedom has been purchased by the blood of our forefathers and it is a gift from God that we have taken for granted for far too long. It is time to fight again for our freedom and do whatever we can to peacefully reclaim our heritage.