So, I finally decided to take the plunge into the wide world of blogging. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out, but I'll give it a shot.
The past month has been a whirlwind of seemingly endless hiccups, one right after another. In order to process all that has happened, I've always found writing to be a comfort and quite often illuminates blessings that I would never imagine.
So, let's begin. On May 13th I had sinus surgery, this was not an elective surgery, it was a necessity. My septum was diviated and my turbinates were extremely enlarged. The surgery was sucessful but not without it's share of mishaps. After the first day of surgery, I began experiencing discomfort breathing, and as the days progressed the breathing worsened. I couldn't sleep for three days, then the pain medication made me violently ill. So, I was reduced to Extra Strength Tylenol. On Monday when the doctor removed the stints, the problem was found. The stints had gotten blocked up, thus creating difficulty breathing. Ahhh, to breathe correctly again was a blessing. With the surgery and sleepless nights behind me, I was on my way to full recovery. I could finally sleep soundly at night because I was actually able to breathe.
Then on Saturday May 22nd, I was getting ready for a luncheon at church, when the call came from my Mom. "The nursing home just called and Mother is not responding. They are having difficulty arousing her and I'm going up there." Mom said. "I'll be there soon too." I said. Upon our arrival at the nursing home, my grandmother had finally been stirred out of her slumber and was somewhat responsive. The problem though was her tempearature was 92.2 at best, as the nurse told me, and her heart rate was fluctuating between 42-45. With exception of a few words and naming her family and telling my grandfather that she loved him, her words were garbled. On May 26th @ 12:39 p.m., my grandmother died. As one of my friends so eloquently said a few days prior, "Earth and heaven meet on that day".
On Saturday, May 29th I received an email from a friend. "You need to call Jayme. Her dad is very ill." Immediately, without hesitation, I ran to the phone and called my friend. When I got her answering machine, I rushed back to the computer where I instantly emailed my other friend get the scoop. His response, "Lung cancer and he is in hospice in High Point." My heart sank to my shoes. My friend's dad, Jim Lowry, was such a special person to me. I spent a lot of time and years at their home when I was growing up and kids. He was the man who gave me so much sound wisdom and good advice. So, the plan to get to High even in the later years after I was married with Point as soon as possible began. Friday, June 4th could not come quick enough. Thankfully, I was able to get to visit with Jim and the rest of the family on Friday and Saturday. The following Sunday, June 13th Jim passed away and once again, "earth and heaven met."
Already a whirlwind of activities and life happenings that never really slow you down or offers an opportunity for solice. In addition on June 13th, my son Matthew left for Boot Camp for the Navy. I barely had time to think, much less throw myself a pity party. The only thing I seemed to have time for was prayer and a lot of it. The funny thing was, I wasn't really praying for God to deliver me from my hiccups, I was spending more and more time learning of friends who needed me to pray for them. A good way to get your mind off yourself and onto others.
So, when I say that clouds are silver lined, I'm absolutely certain they are. When you look for the good that can come out of any situation, when you focus on the blessing not the burden, and when you chose to be better instead of bitter....Life can and most assuredly will happen, but God's got you covered.
"Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus" I Thess 5:18 (NIV)
