I pray that you will know how great His power is for those who have put their trust in Him.
It is the same power that raised Christ from the dead.
Ephesians 1:19-20 (New Life Version)
Month: November 2012
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Catching Up
Tom and Gracia (a Xanga friend here) came for a quick visit the other week - just before we took the chapel to Illinois. What fun to see them again. We met at the TFC shop so they could see the new chapel.
Our daughter Diane (right) and her daughter Hannah (center) were here from Maine when we left for Illinois.
They came to help Abigail (left) in her bakery while her partner was on vacation. Abigail is Diane's married daughter. She and Nathaniel live in our neighborhood.
For the locals - DAZY's Bakery is making pies during the holidays.
They had fun working together.
We were glad that Diane and Hannah were here to take care of our house during Hurricane Sandy - while we were in Illinois.
Later in the day I stopped at Jere and Kristen's house where Deb, Jesse, Jared, Ian, and Jere were raking leaves.
Jere was blowing leaves right into the boy's wheelbarrows. That's how I like to pick up leaves.
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Now I'm Caught Up With All the Photos in My Folder
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Today
Jesse and his mom stopped is so he could show me his pilgrim hat and thankful basket.
While they were here a florist delivered this get-well planter. It was from them. That was great timing.
A bird bath for our living room is perfect.
It has been a long time since I had a violet - hope I can keep it alive.
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I am recovering nicely, and think I could get used to this doing nothing.
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I'm Incredibly Grateful
As I rested today - according to the surgeon's orders - I spent some time thinking about how thankful I am for:
God's strength and peace.
A loving, caring husband.
Concerned children and grandchildren.
My "responsible adult" transport and waiting team - Deb, Dee, and Kristen.
The prayers of so many family and friends.
A clean, hi-tech hospital.
Heated blankets.
Having Rhoda Mast transport me to another part of the hospital for a scan.
We were surprised to see each other. When I started working with TFC in 1977, the Northeast Region Office was in the basement of their farm house - where her inlaws lived. Her father-in-law, Melvin Mast was the Northeast Region Director.
Kind and thoughtful technicians, nurses, and anesthesiologists.
A godly, gifted surgeon.
Anesthesia and pain meds.
Cough lozengers.
We have a man cave where our grandsons and their friends hang out. I was blessed last night when the guys asked about my surgery and seemed concerned for my well-being?
My night nurse - our grandson Josh.
I had to promise the doctor that someone would stay with me during the night, and since Cerwin is away, I recruited Josh. I think he had fun telling me when it was time for bed, and making sure I was okay when he heard that I was up during the night. He even slept in the man cave so he was closer to my bedroom. He thought he was too far away in the guest room.
Delicious, homemade, beef barley soup and a yummy cupcake from my sister, Nancy.
My lunch today
My dessert for lunch and supper - and there is still some for tomorrow.
Homemade apple dumplings from Glenn and Rachel. I forgot to take a picture, but they are the couple who went with us to Illinois last week to help put the new chapel in place.
The many phone calls, emails, and Xanga and Facebook messages I received today.
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I am blessed!
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The Lord will send His loving-kindness in the day.
And His song will be with me in the night, a prayer to the God of my life.
Psalm 42:8 (New Life Version)
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I had a good night, with the only uncomfortable time being between midnight and 1:00 a.m. I had taken a Hydrocodone at 10:00 so got a throat lozenger as it wasn't time for another pill. My "night nurse" (grandson Josh) heard that I was up and asked if I was okay.
I put another throat lozenger in my mouth about 1 o'clock, and that took me through the night. I woke up at my usual time of 5:00 a.m.
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My Parathyroid Surgery Today
And an Update on Cerwin's Deer Hunt
Cerwin is currently hunting in western Kentucky with our son Jeff and Jeff's sons Jordan and Nathan.
Just before I left for the hospital this morning, he called with the news that he got a nine-point buck. That made my day! This afternoon he shot a doe, which means we will have plenty of venison for another year.
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I knew he would be in Kentucky when I scheduled the surgery, but since it was not a high risk operation, I decided to get it over with instead of waiting until December or January. (Next week he is hunting in West Virginia and the next week in Wellsboro, Pennsylvania.
) December is a very busy time in the office, and I didn't want to take a chance on surgery during that time.Cerwin and I stayed in touch all day via cell phone and texting, and he prayed with me on the phone last night.
You can also see Cerwin's picture on the outfitter's Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/#!/HuntWestKentucky
This is a photo from our daughter Deb's cell phone after I was prepped for surgery. Some of you may have already seen it on Facebook.
This is a reverse photo - taken at the same time as the previous one. This is my "responsible adult team" who took me to the hospital and waited during my seven-hour hospital stay. They are texting my photo to family and putting it on Facebook.
On the left is Dee a good friend of Deb, in the center is our daughter Deb, and our daughter-in-law Kristen is on the right. Deb kept Cerwin updated on almost everything that was happening to me in the hospital.
This is the scar tonight on my lower neck. The surgeon said it will eventually be very difficult to find. I do not have outward stitches. It was stitched on the inside, then my skin was glued shut.
I have very little pain. What pain I do have feels like a sore throat.
Some of you asked about parathyroids. They are the small glands on this photo and are located near the thyroid (the butterfly shaped gland in the picture). My lower right parathyroid was removed. The parathyroids job in our body is not related to the thyroid. However, both are part of the body's endrocrine system.
The glands that make up the endocrine system include the pineal, hypothaimus, pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, thymus, adrenals, pancreas, ovaries and testes.
Concerning symptoms: I was not aware that I had any symptoms - except the high calcium in my blood that my family doctor noticed at my yearly checkups. I read that I will feel better - as I will probably regain strength and energy that was slowly being taken from my body.
I am incredibly blessed by your concern and prayers. Thanks!
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Belated Birthday Party for Nathan
Sunday Evening October 21
His mom, Chris, made a delicious Sunday evening meal. These are ham and cheese sandwiches with a mustard glaze.
Hot (as in warm) taco dip.
Unique and delicious cheese
Apples and a peanut butter mix
Nate and Sabrina lighting his candles
I like the crooked candles.
Nate and Sabrina
Kezi and Jordan
Jenna wanted me to capture this shot!
Gloria with a delightful smile
Diana thought I needed an updated photo for my refrigerator.
Presents
His mom asked him to hold up the shirt.
She said, "I didn't want you to cover your face."
It was another fun birthday party.
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I would appreciate your prayers tomorrow - Tuesday, November 13.
I am having surgery to remove a parathyroid. We have four parathyroids which are located in the general area of the thyroid, but are not related to the thyroid. They are each about the size of a grain of rice.
One of mine is overworking, causing a problem for the other three. This is called hyperparathyroidism. The first symptom is usually high calcium in a person’s blood, which my primary care doctor has mentioned following my yearly checkup the past few years.
The danger of not taking care of this is osteoporosis and the draining of strength from my body’s bones and muscles.
This is outpatient surgery. My surgeon, Dr. Piepgrass, is a Christian who attends the same church as my friend Inge Koenig (TFC Staff). He told me to plan to be at the hospital for six hours. I must be at Ephrata Hospital by 10:30 a.m. for surgery at 1:15 p.m.
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