I Am Okay

My last post caused quite a stir from many of you.  I received texts, emails and phone calls from concerned readers making sure I was okay. 

I am okay.

Many of my posts are written from a God Nudge.  This Nudge is a thought or knowing from God that I am to write.  When I create the post, it may not be entirely about my own personal situations or life.  As was the last post.

That last post was to be one of hope for the many people I know that are going through difficult times.  I was following The Nudge to write about the God of Hope and our need to keep focused on Him and not the situations.

I feel really loved that so many of you checked in with me to make sure I was okay. 

I am not only okay...I am So Amazed at the outpouring of concern!

Antidote for Depression

Fiscal cliff.
Illness hits your family. 
Wondering if your job is secure.
War threats.
Taxes going up. 
One of your children disowns the family.
Unexpected bills pile up.
Words get twisted/misunderstood and people are mad now.
A diagnosis is made.

There is a lot going on in our world and the above list is short compared to the realities I've heard friends state. 

Each of the items above do not bring joy and life into our world.  They each suck life right out of a person.

And a black cloud, like a depression, can come rolling in when we look at the yuck in that list that I made.

So...what is the antidote to live in today's world?   I believe these wise words are the answer:

Arise [from the depression and prostration in which circumstances have kept you—rise to a new life]! Shine (be radiant with the glory of the Lord), for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you!

For behold, darkness shall cover the earth, and dense darkness [all] peoples, but the Lord shall arise upon you [O Jerusalem], and His glory shall be seen on you...

...Then you shall see and be radiant, and your heart shall thrill and tremble with joy [at the glorious deliverance] and be enlarged; because the abundant wealth of the [Dead] Sea shall be turned to you, unto you shall the nations come with their treasures.

 

The Good News is God loves each and every one of us like crazy.  So much so, He allowed Jesus to die, in our place, to make a bridge for us to right up to God. 

 

If you confess your separation from God, because of sin, and accept Jesus as the bridge to God, then the glory of the Lord shines upon you.  As stated above, The Lord shall arise upon you and His glory shall be seen on you...and the darkness of depression will be blotted out in the Glory of the Lord. 

 

Those of us that have Jesus as our Lord and Savior have a powerful weapon against the darkness of that comes knocking at our door.  And it will knock.  We have the Glory of our Risen, Living Lord.

 

Those of you that do not have Jesus as your Lord and Savior...why wait?  Light is available to chase away the darkness.  Ask God to reveal Himself to you. 

 

He is the Light of the World.  His glory and light is available in unlimited supply.

 

Amazing!

 

Breakfast Muffins

Here is an easy breakfast muffin.
I made batch to freeze.
When I go back to work, I can grab a muffin
or two to eat for breakfast.



1 to 1 1/2 cups cooked chopped broccoli
1 1/2 cup Bisquick (I used Heart Healthy)
1/2 cup milk
3 T. oil
1 egg
1/2 cup diced ham
1/2 cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese

 

Heat oven to 400 degrees.
Spray 12-cup muffin pan with cooking spray.

In large bowl, stir together Bisquick, milk, oil
and egg.  Stir in broccoli, ham and cheese
just until well mixed.
 

Spoon mixture evenly into muffin cups.

Bake 18 to 22 minutes or until golden brown.
Cool 5 minutes; remove from pan.
Serve warm.

A So Amazed easy breakfast that is healthy!

Cleaning Bug

What is it about a New Year...
that causes the Cleaning Bug to set in?


My middle dresser drawer has been out of control
for a very long time. 

Jewelry and socks had been stuffed in that drawer.

I took everything out and sorted through the mess.

It was a little bit of a walk down Memory Lane
looking at some of the jewelry pieces.

The socks didn't have any sentimental value...nor
did many of them even have a match!

I am not a big jewelry person so I don't
own a lot of it.
Once I had necklace, bracelet and earring
sets matched up, it was easy to organize
the drawer again.

The Cleaning Bug bit in the New Year.
One drawer done.
Maybe I should look for a vaccine before
this Cleaning Itch goes on too long!

Has the Cleaning Bug visited your house?

My Proclamation

If you hear anything from me this year, let it be the words in this song. 

Please watch the entire video (9 minutes).

This is my song...

What You Do...Does Matter!

Do not despise...small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin.  Zechariah 4:10

Against a towering giant, a brook pebble seems futile.  But God used it to topple Goliath.  Compared to the tithes of the wealthy, a widow's coins seem puny.  But Jesus used them to inspire us...

Moses had a staff.  David had a sling.  Samson had a jawbone.  Rahab had a string.  Mary had some ointment.  Dorcas had a needle.  All were used by God.

What do you have?  God inhabits the tiny seed, empowers the tiny deed....  Don't discount the smallness of your deeds.

Max Lucado in Cure For the Common Life

The above was my devotional for today.  It made me think of several of my friends that feel their current "calling" in life doesn't mean much. 

Whether it is wiping noses and butts, cleaning an office after hours, picking up trash and so on, if God asked you to do those tasks....don't discount the smallness of your deeds.

I think all of us that have a personal relationship with God, wonder from time to time what in the world our purpose on this world is.  As in how could He use little old me to change His world?

But David didn't question his purpose when he went after Goliath.  I truly believe the widow didn't move the coins between her fingers trying to decide if she should give her final monies...she just did it because she knew God.

Friends, EVERYTHING you do is important.  Every sock you wash (you know who you are when you read this....), every trash can that gets emptied, every coffee cup you fill as a server, all of it is important.

You are being used by God.

This is a good word and full of truth.

So Amazed that once again....God speaks words of love and encouragement!

Knee Surgery: Pics and What You Need for Rehab

Night before surgery: my right knee is marked by the surgeon at the pre-surgery appointment.

At home, I had a sterile gauze over the incision with this fish-net stocking to keep the gauze in place.

Twenty-five staples held my 6-inch incision closed.
 I have really thick calves and knees so I was surprised the incision wasn't larger.

My mode of transportation for about two weeks was the walker.
  Actually, it held me up and my legs did the transporting.

Ultram, Extra-Strength Tylenol and Oxycodone were on board for pain during the first two weeks at home.

TEDS stockings to prevent blood clots.
I wear these every day and take them off at night.

Another preventive measure against blood clots is Fragmin (medication). I was not forewarned that I would be giving myself injections of this medication for 12 days. If Kidlet Three can give himself insulin shots in his belly every day, I can give myself a shot for 12 days. It hurt and my belly looked like a bruised battleground at the end of the deal.

We kept my meds and instructions in a container on the cupboard.

My mom stayed for two weeks and was so good at keeping track of my meds and giving them to me on schedule.
I have to say that I really didn't have a whole lot of pain and I believe it was the good nursing care I had!

This is a physical therapy belt.
The first couple of times I went up and down our 14 stairs,
this was tied around my chest and The Husband
held me from behind to prevent a fall.
  I also use the belt to lift my foot when getting into the car
(and for the first 2 weeks, to lift my leg in and out of bed).
This is a wonderful aid when your leg doesn't lift by itself!

Ice packs. Two of these nifty ice packs were sent home from the hospital with me.
They slide into the blue cloth bag pictured under the pack.
I continue to ice several times a day even one month after surgery.

Two wonderful-I-can't-live-without aids in the bathroom:
 an elevated toilet seat and a shower chair.

Flowers, cards, phone calls, emails, text messages,
and meals mean so much during the rehab after surgery.

Here is my 'thick' leg one-month after surgery.
 The staples were removed at two weeks and steri-strips
were placed over the incision. Only one strip has fallen off.

 I'm to leave them alone and let them fall off as they get loose.

It was extremely hard for me to look at my leg with the staples in.
 It made me queasy for some reason!
Now that the staples are out, it isn't so bad to look at.

After surgery, the knee doesn't want to bend.
The whole rehab process is forcing the knee to bend (ouch, ouch, ouch).
 One of the exercises I've started is sitting in the glider rocker
with my feet on the ground and I rock....
forcing the glider to bend my knee.

I also sit at the edge of our bed and let the knee
and lower leg dangle. This really causes a stretch.
 After a couple of minutes I try kicking the leg a little.

Laying on my back with legs straight, I try to bring
my heel to my butt. It only moves a couple of inches now.
You know the goal...it has to bend more!

There are other exercises, too.

For about a week and a half I've been using just one crutch.
 I walk, walk, walk around the house with the crutch.
In the kitchen I have set the crutch aside and
 use the counter for support as I do dishes or cook.
  I don't want to lose my balance so I keep the crutch close by.

I also continue to elevate my knee higher than my heart.
 All pillows in the house are stacked on my bed and
 I pull my leg up onto the stack. I lay back with no pillow under my head.
 If there is any swelling in my foot or knee, it all goes away after this procedure.

There you have a one-month look into total knee surgery rehab for me.  I know other people may be further along or behind where I am in my bending, but this is what is up with me.  In another month I'll be returning to work so I have a lot of exercises and bending to do to be able to even drive.

Happy New Year!