A Happy Moment

My neighbour's Mother asked me to get the garage door for her. She was off to the hospital as her daughter was about "to push" ☺️

I lit a candle for this baby 👶 🕯

Within a half hour the Mother was back. I heard her happiness as she phoned a friend: "we have a girl!" ☺️

A Surprise Gift 🎁 & A Mystery Giver

I must admit that at times I was wishing for an unexpected gift 🎁 during my convalescence but didn't expect to get one!! 

It's such a sweet gift 🎁 perfectly tailored to me! I still don't know who sent it!

Well today was a good day. I took Advil Cold and Sinus this morning. My cold seems much better. It came out of nowhere... as in one minute I was fine then next minute emptying a Kleenex box! 🤧

I didn't get a lot of reading done but did finish some letters! 📮💌✒️

The cookbook is a treasure! I want to read lots more novels after reading the quotations!!!☺️📚

I am currently icing my foot. It was getting to the unhappy stage of discomfort when it feels tight from swelling and I get to my limit of endurance and needed ice ASAP!

So my Instagram is back! I remembered backup codes found them and got back in! Am happy to be back. 

Well. Tomorrow is 5 weeks since surgery. I am glad I canceled my appointments. I am getting eager to get out again...and to my library! 

But I have also gotten a lot done in studying for my writing project. 

And I have done some writing on it as well. 

So it goes. I hope each of you are doing well! Or that you are making it through each day... I know so many are in difficult situations. .... 🙏❤️

May God have mercy on us!!!🙏❤️

I'll Take It

It's getting easier for me to walk! 

This afternoon, suddenly, I needed Kleenex 🤧 and I have a full blown cold at present. 

My foot is not a 100% yet but the improvement is noticeable. 

I'll take it. 

May God have mercy on us! 🙏

Beauty on a Sunday

I went to my far-away church today! Was such a relief and great to see friends!! 

My Husband made these 2 dried flower arrangements 🥰😍🙃👏 and surprised me with them tonight 😍❤️💞

I walked/stood/rode in car (2 pillows in car under my feet) so hopefully I will be OK tomorrow.... I want to get better!!

Well that's all for now. 

May God bless us 🙏 and have mercy on us ❤️

Saturday with Sandals

 A lot of firsts post-surgery! A warm bath 🛁! Socks and Birkenstock sandals on both feet!  I stood for part of Vespers. I have walked a lot more today in the house. I am getting used to the feeling of swelling. I still am elevating my foot as well. But that I can do a bit more is really exciting!

I hope to go to my far-away church tomorrow 🙏  we have extra pillows for me. 

We had a bit of stress with our AC/heater unit. Water 💧 leaked 😔 but it's better now. We will call about it on Monday. 

Meanwhile we have our heater off as well as we are not sure what caused the leak 💧... of course it is just turning cold so we have gotten out extra blankets....

So it's always one thing then another!

May God have mercy on us! Especially those who the cold will cause suffering 🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏 Lord have mercy!

Almost Friday

My friend and I prayed prayers together over video! 

My foot is quite sore so I hope to sleep soon. 

I finished the L'Engle book. I love this author very much; however she is an example of how one can disagree with one who one cares about. 

I owe her a great deal. And I thank God for this.

May God have mercy on us 🙏 

Yay! Progress!

I was up for a bit when I got a text. It was my Husband sending me an ilu "GIF" 😍 😉☺️ 

Well! My stitches are OUT!!!!!🎉🎊👍🙃

Sometimes I can wear my Birkenstock sandal instead of my surgical shoe! Other times my toes are still too swollen. 

I texted a friend this earlier today:

Now that I have had the afternoon with walking / hobbling in the house for 1.5 hours and then 1 hour rest and then up periodically: I needed my ibuprofen and ice. My toes swelled enough that the Birkenstock sandal over my foot was too tight again. So I went back to using my surgical shoe. If I am not feeling great/my foot is very swollen in toes I used my cane to try to take some weight off my foot. I am thinking that NYC next week is too soon. So am going to reschedule my appointments. BUT I will try to keep walking more around the house so I can regain strength etc.

*****

I am so glad for the progress. 

My toes are taped differently to help them set right. Overall it's more comfortable than orher ways of taping but can bother me a bit. 

I read more of the L' Engle book. Was very impressed by her writing on the Jesus Prayer.  Astonished to realize that her praying this prayer was how she came to believe in Christ. Beautiful. 

I am feeling much encouraged. 

Praying for many people: so many are sick with fevers and such.

May God have mercy on us 🙏 

Tuesday A Bit of A Long Day

St Michael's day (new calendar). I listened online. 

I have managed to read and enjoy good food (some of the last of the turkey casserole). 

I have done more reading and research 📚❤️ which is a blessing!

I am having a hard time staying upbeat/hopeful. But I keep praying. I have a lot to be thankful for....

I go back to the doctor tomorrow I hope all will be well (and stitches out!)...

May God have mercy on us 🙏 

A Monday in which I grab onto HOPE

Well. A new week has begun. I have switched gears and am reading some Madeleine L'Engle. It's also for my writing project. But also for me.

I read more of the excellent Gentian Hill, by Elizabeth Gougde, outloud to my Husband tonight. 

This morning I read many Psalms as I needed a good strong hand of encouragement. 

Extra prayers for our world and this nation that I live in 🙏

Meanwhile I have a running list of questions for my foot doctor (I see him again on Wednesday). I really hope to get my stitches out. Then I have to figure out how to begin walking more and how long I have before my toes swell to the level of noticeable discomfort. I need to figure this out because I have routine office visits (dentist ect) scheduled. So I need to know what I can do.

I am trying to let my public Instagram account go (that I am locked out of). As in not try to have a different one.  I get more work done without it.

I had a pretty good day today. I am thankful. 

I am missing liturgy tomorrow 😕 but until my stitches are out and I am a bit further along it's better to stay home. Very soon I hope it is different. 

Praying for mercy for us all 🙏❤️

Saturday in November

I see this lamp a lot.

I am trying to keep my toes from swelling because I am worried about not being able to get my stitches out.  I am struggling a bit with this.

Yet slowly I hope for progress. 

I am afraid that I have lost access to my public Instagram account. Instagram is not giving me any help with it. I sent a selfie video 2x. Nothing. Absolutely no help or further communication. 

I can't update the account or see any private messages. Nothing.

I trust God with it but it's really annoying but I don't see what else I can do. 

Well, i hope for better. There are so many things concerning yet we must look to Christ who saves us....🙏

today

a quiet day. 

I researched during the day.

Watched the Affair at Styles at night. Masterfully done.

I end up walking end of day at home a bit and after being fine all day again my foot throbs.  More ice needed.

May God have mercy on us 🙏 

tonight

I did get the lampada lit 🙏🕯☦️

I have been watching some Agatha Christie's Poirot. I love the settings and the meals with BEAUTIFUL dishes!

My toes are still swelling and if I forget to take my ibuprofen at dinner by about 8 PM my foot throbs 😕 so I admit to a bit of discouragement but as I wrote this morning I must be thankful regardless. 

May God bless us help us forgive and save us 🙏 ❤️🙏🕯🙏

Thanksgiving from within the storm

[Kursk Root icon of the Mother of God]

We saw this very special icon on our trip back from Ottawa. Two of my friends just saw it in Ottawa!  I took this picture in September.

It's just after 11 AM.  I didn't sleep well so listened (and fell asleep listening to) prayers and was encouraged to hear prayers to St George who is one of my favourites 🥰🙏🕯☦️....

I'm currently doing what I call profound mothering. Realizing that I was quite dehydrated, I made myself tea and having 1st and 2nd breakfast! 1st step was a small bowl of yogurt with granola. 2nd was one small bun with beef and cheese.  I'm enjoying tea and a bottle of kombucha! I'm also making a point to ice my foot a lot more to help with swelling. 

It's actually really encouraging when one can see one's own need and take care of it. 

I can a ready tell that I'm feeling better.

That said I know I need to be vigilant. I just want to do whatever I can to get back on my feet literally speaking! 

It's not been easy for my husband who's still working and doing extra because I can't do it. He's been valiant and I'm so thankful for him! 

I remain concerned for my former foster nephew. There's not much more I can say.

I can tell that today will be a rest day for me by which I mean I can tell that I'm still overtired.  Ironic when I'm on the couch so much.  It will take some time to regain strength I realize. But I also know how much my toes were swelling when I was up for longer period of time. So I have to be patient.... And rest.

Thank God for all the blessings however! I understand how deeply I am blessed even just to be able to have a convalescence without worries of needing to be at a paid job. I do not take this for granted for 1 second! I'm really grateful to God for my blessings!

Of course I've also learned that there is always more room in one's heart for Thanksgiving.  It's like Thanksgiving is something you could never get to the depths of. And I've also learned that a thankful heart is one that can be more calm in the middle of a storm.. It can lift one's heart up when one is anxious or broken-hearted.

 So I'm thankful even just for Thanksgiving and how it helps us! 

Soon I hope to light my lampada to Saint George which will also lighten my heart.

May God help us all in whatever we're facing and struggling with.🙏🕯☦️

And it's Wednesday in November

.....and.... 

It's so beautiful out there.... driving to my doctor appointment.... 🍂🍁...

And... I still needed my stitches in... the incision apparently when first stitch was taked out proved to be still open a bit.... my Husband and I are thinking it will take the full 6 weeks of recovery (today is 3 weeks). 

My swelling came back a bit because I was walking more yesterday. Oh well. The doctor assures me all is still going well. It does seen better just slow. 

I thank God it's nothing worse. 

May God bless and save us 🙏 

[Picture from the MET before I had surgery.]

About Today

[Quote from my friend N]

My heart is pretty heavy with concerns for 3 year old (former) foster nephew. 

Good news on my end: the swelling from toe surgery has gone down. That's a real blessing. Still have to elevate foot often. 

I am hoping that I can start walking more soon I can tell I am a bit deconditioned from not being able to do my normal walks as a form of exercise. 

I have been a bit run down so have done a lot of resting.

I hope to work on my writing again today. 

Tomorrow DV I get my stitches out!

I am so glad for every good thing 🙏 

May God have mercy on us! 🙏❤️

prayer request

Please pray for my former-foster nephew whose living situation is suddenly more difficult.  I can say no more other than Please PRAY. 🙏❤️

Sunday A beautiful Sunday

A beautiful church service today 🙏 

I saw various friends at the meal after the Liturgy. Fellowship so enjoyable...

My foot has been having a bit more discomfort. I am hoping that the stiches coming out on Wednesday will help. 

I hope to resume work on my writing project tomorrow. I rested a lot this weekend as I was quite overtired. 

I confess that the in going convalescence is getting a bit harder. The ability to walk around but not for long and being so much slower it is not easy. It shows ones weaknesses....

The good news is I have plenty to do and our meals are set for the week. 

I pray for God's mercy, for all of us.