Category: What’s Happening

I Go To The Rock

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Blessings, How Great is Our God, What's Happening

Hi friends,

We are still here…plodding along. :) 

Our weekend was uneventful, if you can call the Lord's daily provision "uneventful".  He has continued to meet every need for every moment throughout our present trial.  We are grateful and amazed to watch His hand at work.

By Friday evening, I was able to stand for short moments; and by Sunday evening, I was able to walk the few steps to our bathroom, unassisted.  That was, in fact, so exciting, that I felt it necessary to text people about it!  I know!  But, remember, I had been unable to do that since the Sunday evening before!  An entire week!  So, yeah, I was pretty pumped!  We chanted the "Rocky" theme when I got back to the bedroom!  LOL 😀

My husband has continued to amaze me every day.  Isaac has been amazing, as well.  The first few days, Doug would just stop in front of my door, as he carried Isaac by, to say "hi" to me.  Then one day, when I could stand the movement, he brought him in and sat on the bed with him.  He started just chattering away at me, including his "I wuv ummmm" which is of course, "I love you."  So sweet.  He also waved at me several times.  I know I'd been missing him, but was surprised and delighted to know that he was missing me too.

Someone is purchasing a wheelchair for me.  They are bringing it tomorrow.  I had set out to simply borrow one, but we couldn't find anything available.  So the good Lord met the need in another way – having someone hear about the need and offer to buy one.  I am so grateful for this.  I just don't even have words to express it.  I will be able to get to the chiropractor and to my doctor because of this chair.  I will also be able to move around the house more, and help with things here when I can stand to sit for longer periods of time.

Doug's boss has once again proven to be incredibly generous and flexible.  Doug is now working nights at the print shop.  He can get his work done during those hours that Isaac is asleep, so that I can be here alone with him.  If Isaac wakes up, Doug is just a few minutes away.  I can tell he really missed work last week, and is glad to be back in some semblance of a routine.  So, if you plan to call us, please call after 9:30 a.m.  We'll all be asleep until then.

I am still in considerable pain at times.  I am learning to avoid certain positions that trigger the worst of it.  I am weaning off the pain meds, which is a blessing.  I was constantly aware of the dangers of addiction, and wanted to avoid that at all costs.  I know it is the power of prayer that has brought me thus far in my recovery, and I'll trust the timing of coming of the meds to the Lord as well.  So far, it is going just fine.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

THANK YOU so much for all of your prayers on my behalf.  I am just amazed at how the Lord honors the prayers of His people.  Doug and I have had almost constant peace throughout this ordeal.  I only had one day that I had to fight off the anxiety attacks, but even then He was so faithful to give me a song that someone posted as their status on FaceBook that echoed in my head through that whole day.  The song:  "I Go to the Rock"  How perfect was that?!!

Well, I will go for now.  I'm praying you have a peaceful evening (or morning – for you Laura!) 🙂

Blessings,

Alesha

Something To Look Forward To

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Blessings, Friendship, How Great is Our God, What's Happening

I don't really have much to say today…I just wanted you to know that I am moving a little more today. 

Also, I am so excited…beyond thrilled, really…that in December I will get to "meet" my friend Laura! 

We have known each other for several years – I don't know how many, really. However, we have never met in person.  She is a tent-making missionary in Japan, and you know, I've haven't been able to just pop in for coffee with her!

She and the family are coming back to the states for a visit, and one of her stops in is Florida to see some family.  She will be flying into a town very close to me, and we are going to arrange a get-together.

Laura is my friend because she is a sweet Christian lady, but we have more than that in common.  She is also mom to a little boy, Joshua, with special needs.  So we have sent many emails and messages back and forth about our boys over the years, and we often say that they must stay up so late at night so they can "talk" to each other in spite of the time difference! 🙂

So, I have something really wonderful to look forward to, and for that I am grateful.

You see, tonight and tomorrow night are my 25-year high school reunion.  My classmates are meeting at the home football game tonight, and then for dinner tomorrow night.  Due to the current condition of my back, I will be missing it ALL!  I was feeling sort of sad about that – well, really sad, to be honest.

So, the Lord, in His mercy, gave me something else wonderful to look forward to.

Isn't He just so good to us???

I'll go for now, but I hope that you have a really great weekend.  Don't forget, if you can't get to your church for services (like us, this weekend), you can watch my church's services online.  Sunday School starts at 10 a.m., Morning Worship at 11 a.m. and Sunday night at 7 p.m.  Go Here for the site.  Click "Media" and then "Live Services".

Blessings,

Alesha

Feeling a Little Fezzik-y

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Blessings, How Great is Our God, Just My Thoughts, What's Happening

As I sat on the edge of the bed this morning and brushed my teeth, my hubby felt the need to wax eloquent about my accomplishment…

So, he quoted Fezzik of The Princess Bride fame:


Fezzik: You
just wiggled your finger. That's wonderful.
Westley: I've always
been a quick healer.

 

Fezzik: You
just shook your head… doesn't that make you happy?
Westley: My brains,
his steel, and your strength against sixty men, and you think a little head
jiggle is supposed to make me happy?


But a little upright teeth brushing did make me happy today! 🙂

There are so many things that I will never take for granted again!  I am trying to take advantage of this learning experience, because Lord willing, I don't want to be doomed to repeat it.

I have been able to sit up for short periods of time today on the bed.  No walking yet, or even standing.  The pain is too intense.  But I do feel like we're making progress.

Thanks again to all of you who have been praying for me.  I appreciate it so very much.

Blessings,

Alesha

 

 

From My Point of View

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Blessings, How Great is Our God, Just My Thoughts, Prayer Request, What's Happening

When your world narrows to just four walls and a bed…

When everything is colored by a haze of pain…

When you are the care-receiver, rather than the caregiver…

Certain undeniable truths rise to the surface:

  • God is merciful
  • Things could be worse
  • Prayer is practiced breath by breath, rather than crisis by crisis
  • The attitude of the patient is just as important as the attitude of the "nurse"
  • You cannot stop trying…even when it hurts, even when you fail
  • Promises of prayer become huge pillars on which your life rests, not mere spindles of religious politeness
  • The art of conversation is a skill not many possess
  • Compassion becomes a driving force, rather than an afterthought
  • Hymns of praise become the soundtrack to your thought life
  • God becomes All in All, a close companion and confidante, a Name whispered in moments of panic and shouted in times of agony, each one a sincere prayer for Divine Intervention

These are truths that, honestly, I would rather not learn; but God has decided I need to know them.

Who am I to question His plan?

As I rest today, here in my room, I am praying for God's divine healing of my back.  I would really by grateful for your prayer of agreement with me on this.

God is a very kind and compassionate friend.  If you admit your need of Him, He is quick to meet your need.  Just cry out to Him today.

Blessings to you this day,

Alesha

Grateful, Glad and Happy

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Isaac Update, What's Happening

We are doing well here at our house, and I pray that ya'll are doing well too.  We had a great day in church yesterday!  We sang wonderful songs of praise, had special times of prayer for those in need, and heard from our pastor and co-pastor who brought incredible messages from God's Word. 

I am so grateful to be a child of an all-powerful, unchanging God!

We took Isaac to the pediatrician on Friday.  After eliminating many things, we decided he has a sinus infection.  After just 3 days on the antibiotic, I can tell he is already feeling better.  He is starting to "sing" again with his videos.  I did not really notice when he stopped singing, but I'm guessing he must have done so because his throat was sore.  Now that he is healing, his throat must feel better. 

I am so glad it was something so "small" as a sinus infection, and I am delighted that he is feeling well enough to want to sing praises to the Lord. : )

We are still without our computer.  It is being worked on diligently, and I do not want to rush the experts.  I am willing to let them do their good work, and I will be patient. : )  Aren't we foolish sometimes to think we ought to know how long the professionals should take to do a job when we don't know enough to do the job our self???  ; )

I am happy to have a loaner computer, even if it does only work for an hour or so at a time!  LOL!!!  The system battery is low, and so I need to let it "rest" for several hours so that it will work for me.  Since I am a "beggar", I will not be "choosy":  a computer that works sometimes is much better than no computer!!!

My grandmother is home from the hospital and back in her room at the assisted living facility.  She is so happy to be back in "her bed". : )  My uncle is doing well, recovering from surgery.  Sweet Gail was in the hospital again last week, but is now home and, prayerfully, is feeling a little better today.  Love you, Gail!!!

Well, I suppose that's it for my update.  We are planning to have a good week.  How about you?  Quite often we get what we expect, you know! ; )

Blessings to you,

Alesha

Happy Labor Day!

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Florida Weather, Food and Drink, Holiday, Isaac Update, What's Happening

I always enjoy this holiday so much…like having one more day of calm before the whirlwind of school and the holidays begins in earnest.  Because even though is was still in the low 90's here over the weekend, my mind is already turning to autumn. 

We don't actually have very much of an "autumn" here, but it is nice to have an occasional day of less-than-sweltering temperatures.

I also just LOVE autumn decor.  I used to wait until after Hall*ween to put out my pretty fall leaves and such.  Now I don't wait that long, because I want to have longer to enjoy my favorite decorations.

Doug and Isaac have been sick with icky colds since the middle of last week.  I was quite busy, doing things I don't usually do, because of that.  It was nice, though.  I enjoyed doing the weekly shopping and was able to visit with my grandmother who is in a local nursing home right now.

I also had the joy of attending the 90th birthday party of a sweet lady from our church.  It was such a nice time of fellowship and celebration.  I wanted to share Mrs. Ruby's secrets for living to be 90.  She had three of them:

  1. Drink a Coke every day.
  2. Take a BC powder every day.
  3. Eat cracklin' cornbread whenever you can.

And I have to add that evidently having a really great sense of humor doesn't hurt, either!!! : ) 

(Here's a recipe for those who are curious:  Paula Deen's Jalapeno Cracklin' Cornbread.)

Well, I need to finish up here.  I still have a couple of "to-do" items left on my list.

Are you working on a project today too?  I'd love to hear what you accomplished today! : )

Were You Wondering About Us? :)

by ObtainingMercy, posted in Florida Weather, Isaac Update, What's Happening

We are doing fine here in sunny/rainy Florida.  (You know, we have them each in turn: the sun and the rain; and then we have them together: sun showers – one of my favorite kinds of rain.) 🙂

Isaac is doing well, although since Friday, he has not slept one night through.  He had been sleeping so soundly every night for almost a month; but suddenly he is finished with that.  I guess it was just too boring for him!  So now he is waking up a couple of times each night, or either he never goes back to sleep after he first wakes.  He does sometimes nap between 6-8 a.m., but then stays awake the rest of the day. 

So, obviously, Doug and I are t-i-r-e-d!  I feel like we are burning our candle at both ends, and the wick is just about completely consumed.  It's a good tired, I guess. 

We are making it to all the church services (twice on Sunday and again on Wednesday night.)  I'm also managing choir practice on Sunday evening and Wednesday evening, and special music practice on some Sunday nights after the service.  It's a lot, but I am enjoying it.

Isaac seems to really enjoy being in the church building with all the people before and after the services.  He always has enjoyed noisy places.  I've read that the NICUs in the hospital are very noisy places, and that preemies get used to that level of noise.  They find it soothing.  Isaac's foster parents told us that when they first got him he cried all the time; but he would quiet down in his favorite places:  church and Cracker Barrel.  : )

People are getting to know him, which is nice.  Folks are asking me questions about him, which I much prefer to staring. : )  Some people have volunteered to watch him for us during a service, but there is much to be considered before we can do that.  He needs to be changed during almost every service, but there isn't an appropriate place for that yet.  When it's just him and Daddy, it's no big deal; but others will need to be trained to lift him.  They will also need to learn to recognize his seizures, as well as learn how to engage him so that he doesn't become overstimulated, noisy and obnoxious!  (although he does that last bit with us sometimes, too! lol!)

Daddy has decided to take a much needed day off of therapy today.  It does make quite a full week for him when he does all the church services and both days of therapy.  Each trip to therapy is 4 hours of driving.  The therapy is totally worth the drive time; but occasionally we just need a break. : )  Hopefully we'll be able to get Isaac's hair cut today.  He is getting a little "shaggy".  ; )

I guess that's it for today.  We're struggling right now with our diet, and have not been eating as well as we should be.  It really takes a toll on my energy levels when we don't stick to the eating plan.  That's my only excuse for not blogging as much as I should. : /  Every week, we are getting back on track a little more.  Lord willing, my energy levels will rise with each healthy habit we practice. 

I pray you have a great day, and can count each of God's blessings as He gives them.

Alesha