Fall Here

Burning leaves in our backyard

I just stepped back inside from a short walk and decided I absolutely MUST share a bit of our Fall here in the Pacific Northwest.  It’s my first “real” Fall.  “Real” in the sense  where I can feel that “thing” in the air that marks the severing of summer and fall.

Everything is now more muted.  The sun still shines (except perhaps on the rainy days) but with less intensity, dropping more readily behind the hills and skyline as I watch.  Those same hills are mottled with varying shades: pale oranges, golden yellows and a few maple blood reds ….all set amidst the Evergreens that pervade the landscape.  Summer’s long weeds and grasses now stand lop-sided and dusty brown at the roadside and fence line.  The cultivated gardens and orchards appear bald and abandoned with old vines and plants gathered into piles while the fields and open spaces sport fresh green fuzz, a gift of the periodic Fall rain storms.  Sometimes the air pulses faintly with the drum of a helicopter as the nearby Christmas tree farm harvests trees on the hillside.  Other times the air is still and calm, with only the smoke from the burn piles be-lying the fall-time activity of our neighbors and nearby logging sites.  

There is a special “delightfulness” for me outside. My blood is slowly thickening and finding it easier to slip into a little sweatshirt before going outside to feed the chickens or to walk the quarter mile down the driveway to the mailbox.  My breath accompanies me in little puffs and vapors on my morning and late afternoon activities.  There is a quietness and calm…a misty, leaf-crunching “settling” that has begun. 

I am guessing winter may be a different story for me but so far I have adapted fairly well to the seasonal changes.  Let’s hope for the best! Meanwhile, I’ll enjoy the nieces playing in my leaf piles, learning how to start fires in wood stoves, and bringing the color of pumpkins and squash inside the house.  

Foodie Friday: My Most Favorite Muffin

The recipe I am about to share is the muffin of all muffins for me. It is the muffin of all muffins because it is healthy, versatile in the flavor, and personal.  You can make one muffin at a time.  Yes.  In a cup or mug or ramekin.  So you can eat it all by yourself when you suddenly realize that you would really like a muffin for breakfast or for a hearty afternoon snack.    I say "hearty" because it is crammed full of  metabolism -loving, nutrient-dense ingredients.  It contains about enough yuminess and goodies to make a small meal (which is what I often eat it for....breakfast).  

The original recipe was taken from Trim Healthy Mama's website under their free recipes.   I don't necessarily subscribe to how they do things, but this recipe is wonderful!! This recipe is for 1 serving only.  I often double it to make one for Hubby and I on Saturdays or Sundays but I have actually increased it by a factor of 10 to make 20 regular-sized muffins (since muffin tins are smaller than the ramekins or dessert cups used in the microwave version).  

In the recipe, I added some ideas or add-ins.  Personally my favorites so far are the extra spices, shredded coconut, apple and carrots.  Pumpkin though is perfect for fall and cranberry N ginger or orange will be brilliant for winter!  Also, the original recipe calls for Stevia which is nice for some and completely exchangeable for folks who aren't into that.  I normally use a little squirt of honey or maple syrup instead of Stevia.  Whatever you do and whatever variation you try, hopefully you will be as delighted as I have been! Let me know how it works!

Cinnamon Flax Seed Muffin in a Mug

Ingredients:

3 Tbs. Golden Flax meal (or 2 Tbs. Golden Flax meal + 1 Tbs Almond Flour)

1 Tbs. Cinnamon

1 Egg

½ tsp Baking Powder

1 Tbs Water

3-5 mini spoons of Stevia powder or coconut sugar (I have used a splash of maple syrup or honey)

Splash of Vanilla

Additional, optional add-ins

-Shredded (unsweetened coconut)

- 1 Tbsp Hemp seeds

- Shredded carrots

- diced apple or dried fruit

- Blueberries

-1 Tablespoon Pumpkin puree

- nutmeg, ginger and all-spice

Optional Frosting Ingredients

1 flat Tbs. ½ less fat cream cheese

2 heaping Tbs. plain Greek yogurt

½- ¾ tsp vanilla or a few squeezes of fresh lemon juice or concentrate depending on whether you want vanilla or lemon flavored frosting

Instructions:

Muffin

1.     Crack egg into a coffee mug or a ramekin and whisk it well with a fork

2.    Add all other ingredients, whisking vigorous with your fork (it does not matter if the coconut oil is hardened, just stir it all in very well.

3.    Microwave for 1 minute (then check and cook for another minute as needed) OR bake at 350F in a ramekin for 10 – 15 minutes or until done.  You can also use a regular muffin tray and fill two holes to make two medium muffins out of this mix.  Pour water into the rest of the holes and this helps the muffin!

4.    Dig in and enjoy (unless you are making the frosting in which case you…)

Frosting

1.     Put cream cheese and yogurt into a small bowl.

2.    Add rest of ingredients (if using a stevia blend be sure to grind it first in coffee grinder so your icing will be smooth, not gritty).

3.    Stir all ingredients very well with your fork, taste to for desired sweetness an add more stevia if needed.

4.    Top muffin generous with all the frosting.

Hurting My Own Feelings

There are many lessons that one learns when newly married.  Many lessons.  In fact, that is the “one thing most necessary” (I believe) in becoming a new bride (and a new groom)—being a Humble Learner. 

Lately my learning experiences have revolved around my willingness to hurt my own feelings. 

Whaaa? 

I am talking about the hurt feelings that bubble up after you have exercised a measure of self-discipline and just used a powerful word on yourself.  The word… “NO.” Ever experienced the sting of that word as you said it to yourself?  Yeah, it hurts huh?

For the newly married person, it hurts because you have just challenged your subconscious entitlement mentality and/or your sense what-was-normal-when- I-was single.  You really hadn’t thought you carried inside yourself a demanding attitude but you were surprised at just how hard it was to say that “NO” to your wants simply because that would be the wisest choice right now. 

My latest “NO” that I am referring to, involved where and on what to spend of portion of the paycheck.  I need to start out by saying that my husband and I are not destitute and do not truly suffer want in any way, shape, or form.  My husband works hard and faithfully to provide and he does so wonderfully!!!!  I have NO complaints.  From the start, (as of 3 months ago when we got married) we set up certain goals and put some extra restrictions on ourselves in an effort to be conservative until we get more history of household spending.  And for a time, we made the commitment to work in cash. 

So as I portioned out the money this month and made my mental calculations I realized that when faced with “needs” and “things-that- are important-to-me-and-I really-would-like-to have-but-are-still wants,” I would have to make a choice. And I made that choice.  It was a good choice that, like I said, hurt my feelings.   It was a choice that I am glad I am able and willing to make.  Because honestly, how much better it is to hurt now then to not be able to purchase that unexpected thing you didn’t know you needed or being unable to give a little tangible encouragement to someone, or to have that “little bit extra” for later?  How much better to stick to very reasonable goals that you and your husband have committed to than to only please yourself by buying something you wanted?  How much more satisfying and unifying to work hard to steward as much as possible what your sweet, hardworking Hubby has worked hard and faithfully to earn?  How much better to trust God for the definition and provision of your needs and wants?

I am so thankful for the wise, frugal and you-gotta-work-hard sort of upbringing that both my husband and I experienced growing up.  How much more difficult would it be to say “NO” to oneself if you have always had the history (and likely thus expectation) of always getting what you want.  I am thankful for my growing up experience but I find I am still on the path of learning these things myself.  I am also so thankful for God teaching me.

So for you singles out there… do what it takes to develop and cultivate an attitude of giving and of being willing to say no to yourself.  It’s not a sin to wisely enjoy the freedom you have as a single person BUT don’t make things extra hard on yourself and your spouse later by buying what you want, when you want and put NO restrictions on yourself.    It’s just a little piece of practice.  Trust me, you will be smiling later.  :D

Hitched!!

Unbelievable it seems to me that I have not written in 11 months!! (Ok, maybe not so unbelievable if you look at my blogging history!) .  But the most unbelievable things are all the events that have happened since I last blogged.  I'll give you a quick rewind/fast-forward version of my life in those 11 months... Two months prior to my last post I began dating a wonderful man (my sister's brother-in-law to be precise) who I had admired and silently prayed about for some time (a long time!).  That November he flew down to my family to visit and in January 2015 we were engaged.  Six months simultaneously flew and crawled by until June 6th 2015 rolled around and we were married! (It's horivle of my to fly so quickly over a good love story.  And believe me, this one is a good one.  Details to come later).  Honestly, our wedding day was one of the best days of my life as I celebrated God's kindness and design and said goodbye to friends and family alike. Good byes?  Yes, I had to say many goodbyes as my new husband was taking me to a completely different state and way of life!  This City--born girl with a Country-heart has now been transplanted and is living in the country!
We landed back into our new home at the beginning go of summer which, as I came to discover, is one of THE busiest times in the life of any Country person.  Chickens, gardens, roses, weeds, unpacking, figuring out a budget, learning new geography and places to shop, family events, cooking and housecleaning, digging out old bushes, wedding thank you notes, canning and freezing produce....the list goes on and on.  It was like jumping into a whirl wind.  But is was wonderful and my Husband was (and continues to be) great at helping me transition and giving me the needed space to do so.  Now that fall has arrived, things are slowing down.  The boxes that were set aside for the canning and freezing activities (and summer fun!) are now almost finished being unpacked. A more steady routine is setting in.  As we look to the delights that fall has to bring, we are also trying to decide the wisest use of my time in this season of our marriage.  Work? Volunteering? While we figure all of that out, I thought that it was about time to get back to blogging.  Hopefully, I can stay steady enough so that another 11 months will pass with more that one or two posts in the archive!

While, I normally don't post pictures of myself or family, I felt compelled to post this one as it is one of my absolute favorites from our wedding!  It says so much of the bright blessing and joy of the day!

One Year Later

I almost can’t believe it.

An entire 365 day cycle has turned over from the thyroid surgery on Oct 7^th, 2013.  Two days prior to my surgery I wrote in my journal…

“It’s almost overwhelming how many people are praying for me.  I feel like God is telling me that whatever happens in and as a result of Monday (my surgery day) is a part of God’s pre-determined, good plan for me.  May I have the strength and courage and faith to believe that what the difficult times come!

I’ve given post-surgery updates since my surgery in which I thank God and marvel at how He has brought healing into my life.   Now, a year later, I continue to express thankfulness for the energy and balance resulting from the surgery.  There are moments in which I am almost haunted but the memory of how things used to be…almost staggering beneath the weight of the challenge that was my “normal, everyday.”  But what haunts me more are the lessons that the difficult years and the “unknown” of the surgery pressed into my life.  They are like priceless gems that I keep pulling out to look at, watching them sparkle and never tiring of their stunning beauty.  The two that stand out to me are…..

Nothing about this (thing, unknown, person or circumstance) changes anything about God.Anticipate God’s Grace.

Like soul- tattoos, they are forever inked into my being.  And I pray that will always be the case. 

 I never want to stop being haunted by the memory of God’s faithfulness.

 I never want to forget the two-sided coin of God’s sovereign goodness. 

May I always cultivate a heart that recalls and delights in His great love for me.

 May there be many more 365 days in which I can recount God’s….what shall I call it other than shear WONDERFULNESS! 

I have been anxiously awaiting today…the day in which I could post some of my Christmas gift projects.  I have had so much fun creating and preparing these gifts. 

Mom's Gift 

Mom has always loved a particular verse from a hymn by Ana Leticia Waring—“Content to fill a space, if Thou be glorified.”  Yet somehow this year, this stanza has seemed to bring increasing blessing and encouragement.  I wanted to bring this quote to her in a new way; a way that would continue to bless her. For the last two years I had also wanted to make a wooden sign similar to one I saw on a blog once upon a time.  So the time seemed right to marry these two ideas into a Christmas gift.  I really didn’t know what I was doing but I picked up some scrap wood and stain.  I played with different fonts on the computer, printed them out and was crazy enough to make my own stencils (I had never stenciled before and yes, now I know I was a little crazy to do make my own on my first try.  But looking at the result, I think it was completely worth it!).  After hours of cutting stencils, staining, formatting, painting, sealing and screwing, THIS was born (click to enlarge collage)…..

I must say I LOVE how this piece turned out!  I can’t stop looking at the glowing warmth of the wood and the brightness and comfort of the words.  Mom hung it in the guest room and it adds even greater comfort to the room that already inspires a creative and calm.

This quote-sign gift is what ultimately inspired my woodworking endeavors that I have previously posted about.  Through the sign project I realized that I didn’t even know how to drill a pilot hole or screw in a screw!  That’s when I decided to educate myself a little bit on wood and power tools.  After the picture ledge projects these two sleeve boards for my sisters. (Below). 

The Sister's Gift 

 Whenever I tell people that I made sleeve boards for my sisters they ask “sleeve WHAT?”   I guess people either go wrinkly sleeves or don’t feel the need to iron them.  I copied the sleeve board that my dad made from my mom years ago, expect I thought I would add some personalized flare by painting each of them a unique and playful  color.   I love these too! 

Did anyone else make some of their Christmas gifts?  Please share!

Heart of the Matter Monday: The Right Kind of Concern

Food Fact Fridays: Quiona Granola

One of my favorite blogs is InspriedRD.  She has wonderful recipes and a great perspective on life and faith.  She also has monthly contributors speak on fitness and  ethics in the field of dietetics.  It is worth multiple visits to her blog each month, but I couldn't help also bringing over one of her recipes over here.   It is Quionoa (KEEn-WA) granola .  It certainly is different than your regular oatmeal granola and may not be for all people, but I found myself really liking (ok,so I  thought it was delicious and had a hard time with portion control!). For people who are gluten-free and/or who wish to avoid any kind of oatmeal (even the gluten-free kind) this is worthy of trying.  Keep up your healthy, holiday eating goals with this unique recipe!

Cathryn's Variations:
Soak Quiona and walnuts for 2 hours or overnight.  Drain both before using.  Note that this adds ~ 20 minutes to the cook time.  Why soak the grains and walnuts?  Well, it helps to activate the enzymes that take care of a pesky little anti-nutrient in both nuts,seeds and grains called phytic acid.  Phytic acid binds to the vitamins and minerals in your food, inhibiting your own absorption of them.

Crunchy Quinoa Granola

Recipe type: Breakfast, Snack

Prep time:  5 mins

Cook time:  20 mins

Total time:  25 mins

A fun twist on granola. Gluten-free and oat free. Super easy and delicious!

Ingredients

• ¾ cup pre-rinsed quinoa
• 1 cup walnut halves
• ½ cup unsweetened coconut flakes
• ½ tsp. Celtic sea salt
• 2 Tbsp. coconut oil
• ¼ cup maple syrup
• ½ cup unsweetened dried cherries (I used dried blueberries...yum!)

Instructions

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine quinoa, walnut halves, coconut, salt, coconut oil and maple syrup. Spread quinoa mixture into a thin layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes, stirring halfway through. Toss with dried cherries and cool. Store in an airtight container.

Gainfully Employed

Today I kind of feel like a little girl who goes to kindergarten for the first time—the little girl who suddenly feels like a like a “big girl.”  You know the feeling right (Or if you are a homeschool-all-the-way girl like me then you only pretend you know the feeling because you never really had a true first-day-of kindgarten-smile)  The girl-child has all the big girl stuff: the shoes, the lunch box, the piggy tails or French braid. Everything that says “big girl.”   Everything, that is, except for the little feeling of “small girl” that is still inside. I guess this feeling can be just called “the new experience feeling.”

Today I feel a sense of the big girl-little girl feeling because today I start my first job as a Registered Dietitian (RD). 

Scary.  Exciting. Crazy.  The rate at which the whole job-finding and hiring process went truly astonished me.  It once again makes me truly thankful for God’s many kindnesses to me. 

A week after my surgery I started putting out applications for clinical RD jobs.  I wasn’t trying to be overly ambitious (although I was feeling pretty good) I just figured that the job search process was going to take a while so why not start sooner than later?  Three weeks later, I submitted my third job application to a long term care agency.  I never really thought of starting my career in that sort of environment since most of the RDs there are “on their own” and I am a new RD who wouldn’t mind some mentoring relationship with my “superiors.”  Somehow, when I saw the job posting I just thought I would go ahead and give it a shot.  My stomach gave a complete lurch when they called me back the same afternoon I had applied, wanting to know if they could schedule an interview for the next week.  One week and three interviews later, I accepted the full time position. 

Scary.  Exciting. Crazy.

So today I begin a new journey.  I will be working for a company that owns five long term care facilities ranging from 20 to 53 miles from my home.    The Senior RD and I will visit a different facility each day, conducting initial and follow-up nutrition assessments for 700 patients in addition to supervising some of the food service operations in each of the kitchens.  (Note: NOT all 700 patients need assessments each week. There are monthly and quarterly assessments as well as special circumstances that call for them). 

Past experience has taught me that nothing in life is easy.  So my expectations for this job run along those same lines.  I am excited and scared and expect some hard days/seasons (whether it be the > 1 hour commute each day, or co-workers, patients etc) but I also bank on Gods Faithfulness.   

In a time when many I know are having some difficulty with finding suitable jobs, I am thankful that God has provided for me.  Health-wise I am feeling great and in many ways feel as though a page…perhaps a new volume, has been started.  Thank you Lord.  

Thanksgiving Fare: Pumpkin Pie (Allergen-free Style!)

 

 

About a month ago I set to work preparing to reveal a Thanksgiving recipe on my blog.  I wanted to create something easy but original.  Something classic yet unique. Actually, I got started on this project because I wanted to use my new favorite ingredient, flavorless gelatin.  I was mesmerized by the egg-replacing affects it could have on a recipe and decided that I needed to try its mettle in the pumpkin pie...an allergen free pumpkin pie!  No egg, no dairy, no nuts, no soy (and obviously no shellfish...but you probably already assumed that right?)!  This endeavor enabled me to marry classic with unique and easy with original.   The gelatin not only replaces the egg while still offering the  wonderful custard texture, it also means the pie requires no cooking!  Only refrigeration! (ok so you will have to bake the crust but you can do that separately. 

About the crust.  Two less-than-satisfying pie crust experiments lead me to abandon my attempts at creating my own and to grab a promising one off a website so I could focus my efforts on the pie filling.  I must say, that I am very happy with the results!  I think the amounts of sweeteners and seasonings can be fiddled with to meet with the Cook's own preference but if you stick with this recipe you will be off to a great start!  In a video that one of my best friends (who also happens to be an RD!) recorded of me preparing this recipe, I explain in more detail the rationale and nuances behind the allergen-free ingredients.  Unfortunately the video isn't fully edited yet (having problems with the edited software!) but once it is I will try to post it!

 

Whether you have allergies or not...whether you are traveling or staying home...whether you prefer  the light meat over the dark ...

Have a happy and healthy Thanksgiving everyone! 

 

Recipe Created by Cathryn U, RD

Prep time: < 15 min

Cooling Time: 30 to 45 min (may take longer for a deep dish pie)

Yield: two, 9-inch shallow pie pans OR one 12-inch deep dish pie pan

Ingredients:

1 (16oz) can, Plain Pumpkin (or 2 cups of homemade pumpkin puree)

1 cup Coconut Milk (note, shake can before using)

½ cup, 100% Pure Maple Syrup

1 -2 teaspoons (a “splash”) Vanilla

1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon

½ teaspoon Ground Cloves

½ teaspoon Ground Nutmeg

Pinch of Sea Salt

1 Tablespoon Unflavored Gelatin (I normally use Knox brand. This is in almost every major grocery store. If using this brand note that 1 packet = 1 Tablespoon

Other Optional Spices: Ginger and/or Allspice.  I would recommend ½ teaspoon each

 

Coconut Whipped Cream (optional):

1 can Coconut Cream, refrigerated overnight

Vanilla, to taste

¼ Cup Granulated sugar OR Maple syrup to taste

 

Pie Filling Procedure

1.       Combine pumpkin puree, maple syrup, coconut milk, spices and salt in a 1 ½ quart saucepan. 

2.       Heat over medium to medium-low heat for 5 minutes until entire mixture is hot (simmering or boiling is NOT necessary).  Stir occasionally. 

3.       Slowly sprinkle in gelatin while stirring continuously so as to avoid the formation of gelatinous lumps.   Continue to heat for another 2 -3 minutes then remove from heat and pour into your favorite allergen-free pie crust/s.  Don’t have one? I used this Flaxseed crust with great success!

4.       Smooth the surface an each pie and place in refrigerator for 30 – 45 minutes for a 9 inch pie.  (Note that this may take longer if you do one deep dish pie).

5.       Serve with whipped cream / ice cream variety of your choice and enjoy! See Coconut cream recipe below for a delightful dairy-free option!

Coconut Cream Procedure:

1.       Place metal bowl and beaters in freezer for 10 minutes.  Using only the solidified cream from the can (there may be a small amount of liquid still in the can) remove desired amount (either the entire can or only a portion of it.  Just note the recommended amount of sugar is for an entire can) and place in chilled bowl. 

2.       Beat on medium to high power for 1 minute.  Add in sugar and vanilla and continue to beat on medium until incorporated (~ 30 seconds).  Taste test and add sugar or vanilla to preference. 

3.       With a large spoon, dollop a small amount of cream on your pumpkin pie (or dessert of choice!). 

4.       Refrain from eating the entire bowl! 

 



Heart of the Matter Monday: Humility & Repentance

Food Fact Friday: Peeling Pomegranates

Admittedly, I have a really average intelligence and yet there are a few instances in which I stumble across a sparkle of common-sense brilliance in a corner of my noggin.  The mess-less pomegranate peeling method described below is one of those moments of brilliance.  I was almost temped to call it "the underwater peeling method" but thought that maybe that would just sound a little too weird.  Regardless of what you would like to call it, it really does work.  Apart form the inevitable splatters made by cutting the fruit in half before the peeling begins, there really is no chance that you will make those blood red splatters that will stain your countertops (and windows panes!) for time and eternity.

How to open a Pomegranate: The (almost) Mess-less Method

1. Place a colander inside a larger bowl so that the colander rest fully IN it (it should not be hovering above the bottom of the bowl... at least not by much). 

2. Place bowl in a sink and fill with water so that the water line fills at least 1/2 to 2/3rds of the inside of the colander.

3. On a cutting board, cut the pomegranate in half and submerge one half under the water with cut-side away from you (in the water).

4.  Remove the seeds with your fingers by using a "rolling/peeling" motion.   It almost feels like you are massageing the seeds out.  The seeds should sink to the bottom of the colander while the white pithy part will float to the top.  Skim off these floating white bits and discard.

5. Lift the collandar out of the bowl.  Shake gentely to drain excess water. If necessary, absorb excess water by placing a paper towel over seeds and pat dry and/or continue to shake colander.   

6. Store covered in the refrigerator for 3 days or serve/ eat immediately.

7. Enjoy the fact that you that you haven't stained anything (hands, counter, sink...anything!)

Food Fact Friday:Fall Salads

 

 Everything orange seems to be the theme of my culinary endeavors and daily meals.  I am discovering that I LOVE the breadth of texture and flavors that the Fall brings.  Persimmons are an ever increasing, soft honey-sweet wonder to me.  I thought they might be a nice addition to a fall salad.  I was right.  Just add in avocados, and it is perfect (only when if you also added onions [green would really be best here]) and you get healthy deliciousness!   

Life's Season Quote

Heart of the Matter Monday: Matthew Henry

"When we have no other answer to the suggestions of grief and fear, we may have recourse to this: I thank Thee, O Father."
- Matthew Henry

Food Fact Friday Flop

Heart of the Mattter Mondays: Who do you Hallow?

"Our Father, Who is in Heaven, Hallowed be Your name..."

Luke 11: 2

"How do we know whether, deep down, we live to hallow (honor)ourselves or to hallow God?  Imagine you over hear someone whose opinion you value, and whose words are influential.  They say:'I'd never realized, but they are really, really great.'  Would it thrill you more if it turned out they were talking about your or God?  The answer reveals the person who you truly most long to be hallowed"
~Explore. Oct- Dec 2013. Oct, 23. 

OUCH!

Post Surgery Updates!!

It is hard for me to believe that almost three weeks have gone by since I had my surgery.  Here are some long over-due updates… 

Surgery

The surgery went very went, aside from the fact that it was longer than expected.  Thyroidectomys normally take 3 hours but mine pushed over 4 hours.  This was due to the fact that my thyroid was tightly adhered to my trachea (windpipe), necessitating that the Surgeon literally scrape it off!  He said it almost looked like the two were growing together and he had to verify via X-ray during my post-op recovery that my trachea was not perforated.  Praise God it wasn’t! 

Pathology Report

The Wednesday following my surgery, the Surgeon, Dr. T, called to tell me that the pathology report had come back saying that while the 9 mm nodule had indeed been cancerous, it had been contained!  It had not spread and that I was, that I AM, CANCER FREE!  Thank you God, no additional treatments should be necessary!!

While on the phone, the Surgeon said, “I guess I did a good job didn’t I?”  I smiled and shifted the phone in my hand.

 “Yes Dr. T you did and I thank you so much for your skill and care.  But you really have no idea how many people were praying for you!  I knew that my life was ultimately in God’s hands and we were praying that God would have His hands over your own to give you the wisdom and skill you needed to deal with whatever you encountered.  So I am thankful to God for the care and skill He gave me through you.  Thank you for all you have done for me” I finished.  I just couldn’t let the Surgeon claim all the glory.    God had been so kind and faithful and regardless of what the Surgeon’s religious views were he needed to know that.   

Telling my parents that I was cancer-free was more emotional than I thought it would be.  It was as if I could visibly see a burden lift from their shoulders and I know their hearts.  

Recovery

The recovery has gone better than I expected.  I almost feel like I can visibly watch my incision shrink in size as each day passes.  (Sorry, no day by day progress pictures….you will thank me… I am sparing you!).    A week after the surgery, Dr. T told me that I could remove the Durma-bond glue that was holding the incision together (fancy that….no stitches!).  Now all I have is a little 2 inch line with some red around it.  It sort of looks like a scratch from a thorn bush.  Amazing!  My energy levels have been a little up and down but over all they have been better than they were prior to surgery.  The other great thing is that my sleep apnea is GONE!  Hmm, perhaps that tightly adhering thyroid had something to do with it…? (Actually, the scientific literature does say that there is a high number of people who have sleep apnea who also have thyroid disorders and vs versa.  I read all that after the surgery!).   

  I can’t begin to tell you how overwhelmed I have been by the multitude of kindnesses that so many friends, acquaintances even, and family members have shown me!!!  If I didn’t believe in grace or if I thought that we should each get what we deserve I  would say that I truly have not deserved the kindnesses in the form of flowers, kind words, notes,  text messages, prayers, food etc that many people have showered on my family and I.  But as it is, I am a firm believer in God’s grace, and that is the only reason I can account for all these displays of kindness.  Of course I don’t deserve them, but I am thankful God sent them in spite of me. 

Thank you to all who prayed and loved on me and my family.  Your prayers have by far, been the most cherished expressions of kindness.   I am so richly blessed!!!

Next…

I plan on continuing to take it slow for a few more weeks yet. After all, experience has taught me that there is no point in trying to play Super Woman!  And yet as I continue to take it easy, I have started the job search.   I am asking God that while He gave me a distinct grace in the unique season of waiting for surgery that He will give me another washing of grace I need to start and persevere in this next season of life, whatever that looks like.  I have confidence that He will.   Soli Deo Gloria!

Heart of the Matter

"It is not our lack of strength that prevents us from enjoying God's blessings, or stops us worshiping God whole-heartedly; it is our lack of faith in His strength.  When we rely on ourselves, and base our walk with God on our own calculations instead of His promises, we find ourselves making decisions like men of Judah" (in Judges 1:19).

"Does this describe you  in any way at this moment?  What would promise-trusting obedience look like for you?"

~ Excerpt from Explore Biblestudy guide.  Oct- Dec 2013.  Day 2.