Popeye Is Back

Don't know why, but out of the blue from nowhere, my Popeye arm (the name the grocery clerk gave my arm before therapy) decided to flare up. It was about three o'clock in the afternoon...took off the sleeve so that I could wash it and do my therapy. Thought I was feeling a little puny and maybe coming down with a cold....then when I saw "Popeye", he was all red and hot...then the fever and chills started. The next morning I called Dr. Hagans and got started on Levaquin...wonder drug!! The fever broke and hopefully I caught it early enough that the infection is on its way out!! It just doesn't make sense to me....how this could just flare up....no scratches, cuts, hangnails......maybe it is just to make me more grateful for how much better my arm is now. We were just talking about my arm Monday at work and how well it was doing....perhaps, we jinxed it....who knows...but it is great to be on the way to recovery again...not fun to have chills!!!

I'M BACK!!!

Thanks to my wonderful, smart, sweet, computer savvy sister, I'm now reconnected to the computer world. You don't know how much you miss it until you don't have it...sorta like electricity, the last hurricane left us without electricity for a week and land phone service for almost two weeks. As of now, all is connected and working!!

The other good news we have is that my husband was able to be transferred to the Hot Springs Kroger store...thus saving him two hours of driving time a day, plus the extra miles on his body. We are very thankful for that!!

I have been staying busy working, making cards and doing an awesome Bible Study!!

Am glad to be back on line...will write more later.....

Prayers Answered

God is an awesome God!!! Yesterday Richard (aka Pete) had his angioplasty. We were really anxious about it...it has been five and a half years since his quadruple bypass surgery. The good news is that three of the bypasses are still working. There was one that was almost totally blocked, but Dr. Conley was able to put a stint in. He gave us before and after pictures (that will be a great scrapbook page). He said that his heart muscle was strong and working good! What great news...now for some prayers for life style changes for him! Thanks for all the prayers and encouragement during this trying time!

Confessions of a Pack Rat

As I continue packing and getting ready to move, I am just amazed at all the stuff I have accumulated. I am truly trying to follow the rule that some wise person made...if you haven't used it in a year, you probably aren't going to, so find a new home for it. Of course, this doesn't apply to all my crafting supplies. I just KNOW that I really will get around to using all of this stuff. As for the extra dishes, pots and pans, cooking gadgets and such, I am doing a pretty good job. For almost every box that I take to Hot Springs, I donate one to charity or give to someone I know could use it. I am truly going to try to be alot more organized in this next phase of my life...even with my crafting. I am going to try not to let it overpower me as it sometimes does. I hope to finally get caught up on all the scrapbooks that are dancing around in my head as well. My friend, Lisa, is so very organized with her crafting...I hope to follow her example and know where everything is....I am sure that this will result in alot more completed projects!

As for all the clothes that I have kept thinking they would one day fit again, I have now realized that by that time, I wouldn't want to wear them again anyway...if that day comes, I will reward myself with new clothes.

I know that all my precious Jennifer memories will always be with me. I have no desire to part with them, because they bring me happiness. I love reading cards and letters from her and looking at gifts she gave me and other precious gifts I have been given in her memory. I will now have more room for the things that make me smile!!

Coming of Age!!!

I got my internet hooked up in Hot Springs today....wireless...how 'bout that? Also, while the cable company was here, they installed DVR. Kimberly has been telling me a long time how much I will enjoy DVR.....just hope that I will be able to figure it out...sounds a little complicated. At least, I will never have to miss American Idol again!!! Jennifer would be proud of me!!

1 Peter

Our church is studying the book of 1 Peter. We were asked to take a photo of us holding our booklet of 1 Peter somewhere where we found hope this summer. Since we work at Arkansas Children's Hospital...truly a place of love, care and hope, we thought that taking a picture of us at work would be the best place to find hope. Linda, Edwina and I were in our Respiratory departement when we took this photo.

July....Already

How can it already be July?....I don't know where time goes....just wish that there was more of it. I have been staying busy this summer preparing to move to Hot Springs and also taking a class at church. It is a grief support group, called "Grief Share...Your Journey from Mourning to Joy". This is a hard class, I will be the first to admit. Everyone in the class has suffered losses, and we are learning that everyone grieves differently, and that there is no wrong or right way. We are learning from each other...things that may help us and what a vital role trusting in God has. I know that knowing that He is always there for me and listens to me has helped me tremendously. It is a twelve week course.

I am also taking a class called "Talk it Out" about racial unity and how our church can become more diversified and reach more people in the community. I am proud to be part of a church that has this mission.

This will be a stressful month because we found out that Richard (Pete) has three blockages in his heart. He will have an angiogram July 30th and hopefully they will be able to correct the problem with stints. He had four bypasses previously....three of which are still patent. I am very thankful for that news.

Last month, Kimberly, Lisa and I went to Memphis to celebrate Lisa's birthday. We had a great day. We each got a wonderful facial, went to a great scrapbook store, then had a wonderful dinner at The Melting Pot...yum! Also, we stopped at several Cracker Barrel Restuarants...not to eat but in search of my new passion....rooster dishes...they are great!

In the fall, we hope to go on another road trip to Gulf Shores. I know that this will be hard because Jennifer and I loved going there or to Destin so very much. We shared so many special times on the beach and I have such special and precious memories of our times there. I know that I will feel a sense of closeness to her there...we always talked about how close we always felt to God while sitting in the sand and looking at the ocean and all its wonder. Kimberly found a cute little place called the Bird Cage that we would like to stay in, if Lisa and I can get our time off coordinated. We are so hoping that Mandy and Pig will be able to come too!