Being Productive

My father has been home from work on vacation since Thursday.  In that time, we've celebrated Thanksgiving, removed a rather old and ugly grape arbor, taken down two trees, pruned bushes, burned trash, and decorated the house - inside and out - for Christmas.  I'm just amazed at how much my family can accomplish when we all work together.  The Lord really blessed each family member, including little Qavah, with enough strength to help.

Tomorrow, we go to church.  I'm looking forward to the first Sunday of Advent.  After the service, we are meeting my grandparents for lunch. They will be celebrating their sixty-fourth wedding anniversary on Tuesday, so we wanted to do something special with them before my dad returns to work on Monday.  I'm so grateful for these healthy and joyous "bonus" days!  

Tuesday's Treat

Last Fall, while shopping at Wal-Mart with my mother, we found a glass, pumpkin-shaped bowl for $5.00.  We were delighted with our "bargain".  I thought we would fill the dish with seasonal treats, like candy corn, but my creative Mama had a better idea in mind...

...make a Jello-O pumpkin of course!  By using Kraft's Orange Jell-O and Cool Whip, Mom cooked up a festive dessert.  This edible Autumn decoration is also a real conversation piece, not to mention a lot easier to "carve" than a real pumpkin.

Election Day 2010

Since I am legally blind and cannot drive, I have the option of voting by absentee.  This is the first year I actually cast my ballot using that method; the process was so easy that I plan to do it that way in the future.  It was strange this morning, though, to wake up and realize that I didn't need to go to the polling place first thing.  However, since I could stay home, Mom and Dad were able to leave Qavah with me while they voted, which was a help to them.

Yesterday, I had an extended family member forward me the picture posted below.  It's a real photograph, taken in Arizona, using a Kodak 33 mm film camera.  All I could think of was the Bible verse from Psalm 33:12 that states, "Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord, the people he chose for his inheritance".

Prayer

Several Sundays ago at church there was a video shown on the topic of "prayer".  By the time the video ended, I knew I had to post it on my website. I'm not going to type anything else, because I believe the quotes that are displayed speak for themselves.

"Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

               

Where The Buffalo Roam...

This afternoon, my family visited the quaint town of Paint Bank, where the buffalo really do roam the open fields. The weather was warm, the sky was clear, and the sun made the Fall leaves glisten with colors of lemon, auburn, and pumpkin. There were several pretty and unique bed and breakfasts, including a refurbished caboose that reminded me of The Boxcar Children. After getting our exercise by taking in the outdoor sights, we decided to enter the Swinging Bridge Restaurant and General Store for some tasty treats to enjoy later.  And yes, there really is a suspending swinging bridge inside the restaurant that I did walk across.

Even the ride home was an "event" in itself. The colors on the leaves changed by the minute as  twilight appeared.  It was a feast for the eyes!  Considering tomorrow is the first day of November, the Lord really gave my family a bonus day filled with many joyous memories. I had fun snapping one picture after another. Below is a short slideshow, although if you really want to experience some of the same delights as I did, I suggest visiting Paint Bank, Virginia in mid-to-late October.

Fall In Virginia

Fall is not my favorite season because I know Winter is soon to follow.  This year, though, I decided to make a conscious effort to observe God's creation. I've been surprised at how much I've enjoyed the "great outdoors". Recently, I've taken a few minutes each day to admire the colors on the leaves. It's interesting to observe the gradual change of colors on the tree leaves from one day to the next.

Yesterday the tree in the front yard looked like this:

Tonight, the same tree showed more orange then before:

The colors of God's creation are so vivid and varied!  Sometimes, I wish I could help Him paint the outdoors. Here are some other pictures of the Fall colors:  

New Nephew

Yes, my youngest nephew finally made his entrance into the world.  He was born early yesterday morning, September 6, at 1:39am.  He weighed 10lbs, 6oz and was 22 and 1/4" long!  Fortunately, there were no complications with the birth except that it took a long time before Jennifer went into "active labor".  His name is Joel Samuel Campbell.  Joel means, "Jehovah is the LORD."  Samuel means, "The LORD hears."  Joel's older siblings visited their baby brother for the first time last night.  I have yet to see Joel in person, but from looking at the pictures, he appears to be a healthy, handsome baby boy that definitely has masculine features.

Exciting Days!

It has been a busy, but lovely week!  Thus, why my blog design is still a work-in-progress.  I hope to really fix it up after this weekend when I'm sure I'll have pictures to add.  In the meantime, I've enjoyed having my Aunt Judy here for a week-long visit and I'm joyfully anticipating the birth of my second nephew.  I imagine that Jennifer will give birth sometime in the next few days.  I'll be sure to keep you posted...

Back Here Again

Well, I tried the Wordpress "software".  I still prefer it to Blogger, but I didn't like any of the background themes on Wordpress, so I've returned.  I'm not done decorating this blog, but I wanted to publish it anyway. I'm still not sure how often I'll write, but it is fun to have a website nonetheless.

Yesterday, I took the Reclast (Zometa) injection.  This drug is supposed to help treat osteoporosis by slowing down the breakdown of bones and making them stronger.  I took a smaller dose then what is normally given, because of my weight and because of how easily I react to medicines.  Usually, 5mg of Reclast is given intravenously once a year.  I only took 2mg and if my body tolerates the medicine, I'll have it twice a year instead.

I guess that's my news for today.  I'm too tired to write anything more...

Health Check

Good news! I was able to get my Remicade appointment rescheduled for tomorrow at 2pm instead of Wednesday. We are babysitting Annelise and Nehemiah tomorrow night, so I have something to look forward to also. Tonight, I watched Up with Qavah and it was a lot of fun. Now, it's time to sleep! Mom is feeling a little better today, as well. Thank you for your prayers.

Welcome To A New Week!

Health Check: I don't feel very good tonight. For most of the weekend, I've had trouble with pain, digestion, and other Crohn's symptoms. About a month ago, I rescheduled my treatment to November 25, because of a meeting at work and thinking that Mom would be in Ohio. However, it's now apparent that Mom is home and the sooner I can have a Remicade infusion the better. The good news is that I can still be "up and around." I do plan to call the Infusion Center first thing tomorrow morning to see if I can reschedule my appointment for sometime on Monday or Tuesday.

Other News: I received a joyous surprise early last week. On Tuesday night, I received the much anticipated book Going Rogue by Sarah Palin. The day it arrived in the mail, I had received a coupon from Barnes and Noble via email. So, on that same Tuesday morning as Mom drove me to work, I excitedly told her, "I have a coupon that's good for 40% off the Sarah Palin book, so maybe we can go shopping after work." Later that evening just before dinner, Dad picked up the mail and the book was on top of the stack. Mom and Dad had pre-ordered it from Amazon at a better price than if I had used my B&N coupon! All week, I've read a bit here and there as time allowed. The text is small, so I'm only on chapter 9, but it's definitely a wonderful read. I especially appreciate how Sarah Palin describes her faith and Conservative, family values. And on that note, I'm going to curl up beneath my warm covers and read until my eyelids grow heavy....

Recap Of Life

I know I have not updated in quite awhile. Truthfully, I haven't felt like writing online. Sometimes I think of a topic but for one reason or another I don't form my thoughts into a blog post. I love writing but my favorite method is by using the "old fashioned" pen and paper. I write best that way.

Generally speaking, my days have been busy with work, family, medical issues, babysitting, company, and remodeling projects. I stopped taking an antibiotic for a sinus infection after ten days of starting it. Since that time, I've continued using the Nettie Bottle and a humidifier. Sometimes all of the remedies help while other days I just live with it like any other person who has allergies. Next Wednesday, I'll have my Remicade infusion. This time, I'm already starting to notice that I need it.

In between all of the daily activities, I'm still piecing together my U.S.A. scrapbook. I have several states that need postcards and/or photographs. However, I think I've completed a little more than half of the fifty states. Although I've kept with the same color scheme throughout the entire scrapbook, I've tried to add personal and unique touches to each state. Thus, planning and decorating the individual pages has never become monotonous.

In regards to harp, I've stopped taking lessons, but I still enjoy playing on my own and attending various concerts. I know that I'll never be a true musician. So while I wish I had talent in that area, I'm content on not pressuring myself to achieve what is impossible on this side of Heaven.

Well, it is time to turn the computer off for the evening. I'll leave you with a Bible verse that I've been recently pondering in new ways:

"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:34

God's Creation As Seen From the Blue Ridge Parkway

This is my Father's world,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres.
This is my Father's world:
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
His hand the wonders wrought.

Numbering Our Days

Like Mom said, our family has been busy with house projects and babysitting little ones. I've enjoyed the action-packed days so much! The cobwebs of my mind are dusted out with each closet we clean and organize. Last week, I sorted through my Summer and Fall clothes. Mom did the same with Qavah's and together we have a big garbage bag full of clothes to drop off at Goodwill. Tonight, we went through our old VHS tapes and condensed our collection into a simple pile that would fit onto one small shelf of a rolling television cart. I did had fun remembering my childhood as I looked through the tapes. I ended up keeping the VHS of Lawrence Welk shows in hopes that Qavah would enjoy the singing and fancy dresses as much as I did at her age.

Last night, I had an allergic reaction to some food I ate for dinner and thus took some Benadryl. I think the drug was still in my system this morning, because I was rather groggy and achy when I woke up. My body had "run out of steam," so I stayed home from church. Instead, I listened to a few hymns on my mp3 player and then fell back into a deep, healing sleep until the rest of my family returned home. I felt better as the day unfolded. And except for some minor pain, my body is remarkably healthy tonight for being the night before Remicade Day. The Lord is gracious in providing me with so many bonus days that are filled with "holy moments."

Lord, may those who are reading this blog have a week filled with seven bonus days and many holy moments. We recommit our days to Your sovereignty. Thank you for ordaining our lives within Your perfect will. In Jesus Name, Amen.

A Change (Health Update)

It's amazing what a difference a day makes! Last night when I went to bed, I knew I needed to return to work but I was unsure if my body was ready for the responsibilities that would greet me. However, I woke up this morning feeling a lot better! The Lord gave me "unusual" strength to make it through the day with enough energy and very little pain.

Yesterday I called my PCP to explain that, even though the back of my head was more "firm," I was not feeling better through my forehead or behind my eyes. The doctor returned my call, stating that I probably had a sinus infection. He recommended using a saline nasal spray like 'Lil Noses instead of antibiotics. However, "Dr. Mom" had the idea to try a Neti bottle (similar to a Neti Pot). Sure enough, I was able to get a lot out of my nasal passages; it worked much better than any nasal spray I had tried before. So, if you have the "sniffles," a dry nose, or allergies, I recommend using a Neti Pot or Neti Bottle.

Despite the increased discomfort over the last few days, I continued to sense the presence of the Lord in our home. Neither Mom nor I felt panicked the night we lost sleep due to electrolyte issues. We knew God would direct our paths and reveal the health mysteries in His timing.

Think back to homes you visited where you stepped inside and felt welcomed. Maybe the air smelled clean and refreshing. Maybe there was a favorite meal being cooked in the kitchen. All you could do is step inside and say, "Aaah," with a deamenor of satisfaction and gratefulness. That is how I felt several times over the last few days as our family sought God for answers and relief. Despite the wars that raged in my physical body, my soul could rest.