~THE HANDS OF TIME~

Hands.

It's been almost a month since my surgery and today I'm more thankful than ever for pain-free hands!  I visited my doctor yesterday and I'm continuing to heal while growing stronger every day.  The incisions in my palms are still tender and I have some residual numbness at the tip of my middle finger on my right hand.  But, given the still visible swelling and bruising on my wrists I've been told as the nerve paths heal the numbness should pass.  I'm a slow healer so it's going to take a little more time before I'm 100%.

Trust me when I say I can live with that.  

Hands.

I've learned some interesting things during my month-long hold-up.  None the least being I'm a terrible patient.  My once firm belief I held a high tolerance for pain was thoroughly annihilated by day #3 post-op!  I can assure you BIG HUGS and I'M SORRIES are owed to my Mr. AGPMan.  Amazing man I'm married to~  He has more patience than I and he's kinder, too!  That said, I truly believe he's a happy man now that I'm well on my way to being normal my old self again.

Hands.

Today I have a new found appreciation for them.  I will never look at them the same way again.  I'm serious.  I won't.  Without them I struggled to do the simplest things~

brushing my hair

 turning the page of a book

and opening the lid to a screw-top jar

on my own... 

Thoughts of sewing and painting with ease or doing any other kind of crafting without help caused me to reflect upon every good and common thing in my life.  I missed driving my own car, doing my own housework and running errands.  I found I greatly missed all the things I complained about each and every week...

I'm not trying to be all philosophical here..  I just think it's time I do something about my tendency to WHINE about things that absolutely should be viewed as blessings in my life.

Hands.

Later, when I am buried in the busyness of my days, may I stop and reflect long enough to allow the memories of this experience to influence my frenetic schedule and to redirect my outlook back to the things that matter.  My work can cause me to place more importance on achievements than the everyday gifts I've already been given.

Open hands.  Palms up.

Grateful to God

for healing

and

A husband who loves

and

Friends and family who care

and

Children who call and visit

and

for more chances to share my

thoughts

loves

and

passions

with you.

Love to you...

~THE HEART~

I love this:

"There is no exercise better 

for the heart

than reaching down

and lifting people up."

(John Holmes)

~~*~~

Hoping your day is lovely.  I'm concentrating on getting well and grateful for another day of healing that is now behind me!

 Thinking of you all today.

Love to you...

~SHIRLEY and MARCY~

  Dear Friends...

Yesterday a dear friend of mine sent me this charming little story.  I've read it before but since I'm still not able to type much I thought I would pass it along in hopes it will encourage you as it did me!

 (Thank you, Brenda)

To update you on my hands...

I'm doing better now that my casts are off.  Certainly a RED LETTER DAY for me!  That said...much more healing must come before I will feel close to normal again.  Every day I'm able to do a little more and I'm grateful for progress even in it's smallest form...

Thank you again for your thoughts and prayers...  

 

SHIRLEY and MARCY

 

A mother was concerned about her kindergarten son walking to school. He didn't want his mother to walk with him. She wanted to give him the feeling that he had some independence but yet know that he was safe. So she had an idea of how to handle it.

She asked a neighbor if she would please follow him to school in the mornings, staying at a distance, in hopes he wouldn't notice her. The neighbor said that since she was up early with her toddler anyway, it would be a good way for them to get some exercise, so she agreed.

The next school day, the neighbor and her little girl set out following behind Timmy as he walked to school with a neighborhood girl he knew.

She did this for the whole week.

As the two walked and chatted, kicking stones and twigs, Timmy's little friend noticed the same lady was following them as she seemed to do every day all week. Finally she said to Timmy,

'Have you noticed that lady following us to school all week?

 Do you know her?'

Timmy nonchalantly replied,

'Yeah, I know who she is.'

The little girl said,

'Well, who is she?'

'That's just Shirley Goodnest,' 

Timmy replied,

'and her daughter Marcy.'

'Shirley Goodnest?

Who is she and why is she following us?'

'Well,' 

Timmy explained,

'every night my Mom makes me say the 23rd Psalm with my prayers, because she worries about me so much.  And in the Psalm, it says,"Shirley Goodnest and Marcy shall follow me all the days of my life...",

soooo...

  I guess I'll just have to get used to it!'"

 The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you, and be gracious unto you; the Lord lift His countenance upon you, and give you peace.

May Shirley Goodnest and Marcy be with you today and always!

Missing you~

Love to you...