Fantastic Friday

I am thankful today for the gift of knowledge. I don't just mean the factoids that we gather from our schooling or various media. I mean knowledge that changes us so fundamentally that we move our lives from a place where ignorance is bliss to knowledge is power. And once you empower yourself with knowledge -- both those facts and the changed life -- you never want to go back.

I'm thankful for knowledge that comes from my learning, from my faith, from those life experiences that have made me a more powerful, more knowledgeable person. And for all I have yet to learn, I give thanks in advance!

Thursday's thankfulness...

For two of the best godchildren ever -- thank you, Lord. As it is highly unlikely that I will have kids, you have instead blessed me with two of the most wonderful, amazing creatures ever to dance into a life and change it forever. They are each precious to me in their own special way: funny, engaging, and just plain lots of fun to be around.

It is more than an honor, it is a privilege to be part of their lives. And I pray daily for their health, their well-being, and their continued growth in favor and in grace with God and with humanity.

Today, I am thankful for...

.... my dog's keen sense of hearing.

Last night, he began barking heavily. I'm not sure what time it was... just that it was sometime in the middle of the night, something disturbed him and he felt the need to alert us all. Repeatedly. Often.

While, yes, we lost a little sleep over it, I for one am very glad that he's sharp and can hear things that we cannot. Something made his Spidey-sense tingle, not in the good way, and he wanted to let us know. Granted, in this case, it was probably just a bird -- we heard some whistling outside, and figure it was most likely the case, if it wasn't someone actually whistling for their pet.

I'm thankful that he looks out for us, that he is alert and watchful, that he knows that we will care for him in the same way.

It's been too long....

So with today being November 1, I figure no better time than this month to get back to really being grateful and letting people know what it is about life, about them, about the world that I appreciate.

Today, I'm so grateful to have work that I enjoy, that's meaningful and helpful, and that allows me to grow and develop as an employee and a person. Today, I was especially grateful for a good sick leave policy that allowed me to leave ...... because I was feeling SUPER-lousy about 2:00 today. But in everything, give thanks. And in this case, I'm actually a little grateful for being sick.... it allowed me to get some much needed rest (apparently way more needed than I realized).

So let us always look for the good, improve the wrong, and move toward greater gratitude!

It has been too long

since I have blogged here, but I am grateful for the ability to have a moment to do so. So much has happened since I have blogged last:

About 2 days after my last post, Mom had a follow-up with the cardiologist about her stress test. He went over the details with her and had one question that had no answer: "So. Did they give you the exact date that you had your heart attack?" And that, my friends, is how we found out what had happened. I don't think Mom has allowed it to really sink in that she is now a cardiac patient. She isn't making all the necessary lifestyle changes, and I am so sad for that.... and yet, so glad that she is still here for now.

In early October, I came home from choir practice to have my brother say, "Oh by the way, Mom and Dad are at the hospital. They think Uncle (C) has had a stroke...." My aunt's husband had indeed had a major stroke, and sadly did not recover. Around 4 weeks later, he passed away from the complications, and now my poor aunt is really struggling. This spring would have been their 55th anniversary. He was the first of the line of siblings and spouses to pass, and that is a weird feeling.... it is disconcerting (at the very least) to think that these people who had such looming presence in my childhood are now slipping away. But I see it already ... both of my dad's sisters have had their share of health issues, another brother is diabetic (along with one of the sisters), another aunt-by-marriage has also had heart issues, another has also had a mild stroke (but made a good recovery), and who knows what else is going on that they're not talking about. I'm grateful, however, that they are still around, because it's helping to answer some of the health questions I am facing where heredity may play a stronger part than I think.

But wait -- that very same night, not 20 minutes after my brother said it, I logged onto Facebook and received another horrific shock. A fraternity brother of mine -- only 3 months older than me -- had died that Monday. To make it even stranger, she died on the 14th anniversary of my grandmother's passing .... and buried on the 14th anniversary of my grandmother's burial. Completely freaked me out to realize this (which I did about 2 weeks after the fact). She had just had surgery about 3 weeks before her death, and so everyone's first thought was whether it could be a complication -- an unforeseen blood clot, etc. Even her husband, a physician, was stymied. The initial phase of the autopsy didn't register anything unusual -- no heart attack, no blood clot, no stroke.... waiting on toxicology reports. They think it turned out to be a reaction of some sort to one of the medicines she was taking for her recovery. Another frat brother gone way too soon.

All of this has somehow galvanized me to greater advocacy and educational efforts. I almost feel as if for the last two years of my life, I am being asked by some greater cosmic good to be an agent for this: "educate and advocate" seems to be a mantra that crops up over and over again. And I'm grateful to be in such a place in my life where I feel that I can do this -- I don't know quite how it will all unfold but I know I am looking forward to what is out there.

And as always, I am grateful for every opportunity to make a difference to someone.

For what we are about to receive....

In The Sound of Music (the movie), on Maria's first night with the von Trapp's, the entire family is seated for dinner. She asks the Captain if he has forgotten something, and he very sheepishly realizes that they have failed to say grace before the meal. She offers this prayer: "For what we are about to receive, may the Lord make us truly thankful."

So I had that thought in my head today -- it's so very easy for me to be thankful for everything I have received already. What about being grateful for those things to come, both expected and unexpected, planned and unplanned blessings? What is to come for me in the next few days, weeks, and months for which I am to express my gratitude?

• The bountiful fall harvest: I have already purchased the first of the apples for the fall (a nice half-peck bag of honeycrisps). On my trip to the farmer's market Saturday, I noticed the bulb & root vegetables on sale: potatoes, onions, the last of the summer squashes and just a few of the fall/winter ones to come. I am already perusing the fall soup/stew recipes and am gleefully anticipating making those (along with the summer vegetable soups I have already put in the freezer).
• The workload over the next few months: I know, that sounds totally odd, doesn't it? I'm already thinking I've got more on my plate already than I can say grace over, and you want me to what? But I realize what a blessing it is to have work, to be busy and to have a place to go each day -- especially when so many do not.
• The beautiful fall weather: Mornings are already getting to be nice and crisp! Love it, love it, love it. Autumn is my very favorite season. Although I am no fan of cold weather, there's something about the dormancy that appeals to me. That nature is resting up to start all over again with the beauty of spring and the bounty of summer and fall. And the preparation that nature does in autumn is a balm to the soul. There is something soothing about knowing that the universe keeps right on schedule, even if human life seems to be crazy.
  
• FOOTBALL! 'Nuff said. With apologies to Ben Franklin, it is Football (and not beer) which is proof God loves us and wants us to be happy. Of course, combined with beer, I suppose it's just a double happiness (if you're a beer fan). I'll take a Woodchuck, please.
• The upcoming women's retreat: I'm on the retreat team for a women's retreat in 2 weekends at church. I am really excited about what is in store for not just the women making the retreat, but all of us who have bonded since our own weekend to present this for these women.
  

So what are you about to receive in the few weeks to come? Are you truly ready to be thankful for all that comes your way?

So very grateful this weekend....

I finally made an appointment for my mom with an internal med doctor who is also a geriatrician. We saw her yesterday, and I have only one thing to say: DR. I. KICKS POSTERIOR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

She was a little behind in getting to see us but it was worth the extra time. She really listened to what we had to say and she was floored that Mom hadn't had any follow-up.... she immediately called for an EKG and labwork, just based on some initial questions and "breathe deep" exercises.

Sometime during the exam, she asked about something and Mom replied, "I'm sorry, I don't remember...." Dr. I said, "No! No need to apologize, we're here to find out the answers to help you move forward." Let me tell you - I dropped my head right then and offered up a big ol' thank you to God, the angels, the saints and whomever else was responsible for that moment.

I just learned that she called Mom back yesterday afternoon after some of the lab results came in. She's increasing Mom's dosage of Lasix without adjusting anything else for right now. This is a good thing; Mom has a lot of noticeable fluid retention. From the ankles up, it really is just like a medical text drawing of what a CHF patient might look like.

Mom is scheduled for an ultrasound on her heart next Wednesday, and a follow-up to this appointment in 2 weeks. Dr. I was startled by the previous lack of follow-up. She didn't seem to fazed by the medication combinations, so maybe the side effects/combinations I had read about aren't quite as bad as I thought, or it might apply more to long-term usage. We'll see.....

And Mom likes Dr. I too - she's direct but caring, and it was pretty obvious that she really takes an interest in her patients. I'm definitely glad I did this for Mom.