Also Sabbath, November 2, 2013

After a wonderful last day at work (!) on October 18, I left right after lunch.  It was wonderful because of:

-- a dozen roses on my desk when I arrived
-- two farewell cards

-- take out chinese for lunch

Paula's firepit and cabin

I came home and packed and said goodbye to John.  Within about 90 minutes, I was at my old friend, Paula's house in Mountain View.  Before long, we were sitting around her outdoor fireplace in front of their picturesque cabin. 

Being too eager, we put our tin-foil wrapped potatoes and our shish-ka-bobs on the fire too soon and though somewhat charred, still we had a great appetite and a wonderful meal!  It was overcast, so we did not see the Harvest Moon that we all knew was up there.  I had also looked forward to seeing stars since it is so very dark out there in the country.

Paula and David at Greer Spring

Paula slept with me in the little cabin loft and that was such a comfort to me in my frazzled and worn down condition.

Sabbath, I helped Paula with the kids' Sabbath School at Willow Springs Church.  We left afterwards and picked up our picnic supplies and David, Paula's husband, and drove east through Alton to Greer Springs.  The day was glorious, the colors just developing, and the company precious!  It was a short hike down to the Springs, which come out of a cave and form a beautiful rushing river.  A second spring comes up right into the river, with a gorgeous aqua colored turbulence.  Paula and David had been there recently and so they knew to walk downstream where we conjectured on the use of a cable-car strung over the river.  It was locked up tight but nevertheless we had to sit in it and imagine its purpose.

We walked on along the river, finally heading up and

emerging just where they had seen an old, abandoned mill, Greer Mill.  From there we walked back along the highway to the car.  We drove on to Falling Springs where we found our sunny picnic table and enjoyed a wonderful meal.  A picture of that spring is now on my timeline.  It was an old homestead and mill and a lovely spot!

Back at the cabin, we made our fire again, this time making tin-foil packets of potatoes, vegetables, hot dogs, and mushrooms.  They came out so good.  This evening was clear, the stars bright, and the moon rose with great majesty over the trees. 

Sunday dawned bright and clear and crisp.  Paula and I worked very hard to create two raised beds for her spring garden.  We hauled old top soil from her back yard, raked up leaves in the back woods, gathered decomposing hay, and finally shoveled goat dirt to make the piles which looked like

freshly dug graves.  Then we planted cabbage and turnip seeds.  We felt so good about our accomplishment and Paula was delighted!  I am so grateful for the friendship and comfort I received from Paula and from David...THANK YOU!

By mid-afternoon, I left and drove the scenic Route 76 over to Becky's Vermilyea’s house in Mountain Grove, enjoying more beautiful fall colors.  Her husband Bayard died in April and she is always happy for company and I needed hers! We ate a yummy supper and went to bed early, both of us being tuckered out.

Monday we did the majority of her berry patch, clipping old canes, she working with her chain saw and I with clippers.  When she went to work, I visited with Michael and Benita Alexander.  She had apples so we made two large apple crisps then took a walk around her home.  After supper at Oriental Hut with Becky Nancy Littrell, we joined Benita at her church for Kids Crusade.  It was by far the best "evangelism" that I'd ever seen with a couple who did a very inspirational and entertaining ventriloquist act and other short "vignets" which blessed kids and adults alike.  A very personal and touching altar call followed where we were invited up to the altar where a trained adult spoke with the kids and then prayed for them.  I was very inspired!

Tuesday, Becky and I finished the berry patch and she was thrilled.  I did some errands, then visited with both Loretta and Evelyn.  Back at Benita's, we worked in her garden and made some progress which encouraged her.

Wednesday, I stayed at Becky's and worked around her yard, cleaning up perennials and raking and gathering leaves to pile onto her raised bed.  I made lentil soup for our trip and had supper ready for her when she arrived home.  Everyone needs a wife like me!

Thursday morning, we headed out early to Arkansas where

Becky and Sylvia reflected in a rain puddle at Pedastal Rocks

Sylvia Mason had arranged a wonderful three day hiking adventure.  After lunch and a short tour of her coon-cap business, we packed up their van and with her wonderful son, Daniel, we drove over to Pedastal Rocks where we had our first hike.  The day was beautiful and the rocks were amazing and the outdoors so refreshing.

Sylvia is like a long-lost cousin to me, her parents and mine having been classmates in nursing and medical school.  So we had known each other as kids but had not seen each other since we were teens, probably. 

From Pedastal Rocks, we drove on to Jasper where Sylvia had rented a little house for our two nights there.  After supper and visiting we were all glad to head to bed.

On Friday, we had a long 7 1/2 mile hike in the Ponca Wilderness.  Our destination was the Goat Trail, an indentation in a massive bluff above the Buffalo River.  I had seen a picture of it when John and I were in Hot Springs, Arkansas, and had wanted to hike it.  But, oh, boy, it was amazing and almost frightening to be at times on a four foot ledge which descended 400 feet down to the river.  We maneuvered it without difficulty, thankfully, thoroughly enjoying the views down to the very pretty river, over to other bluffs, and up to the mountains all around.  After the hike back up, we were ready for a rest and lunch!

Sabbath, we took two three mile hikes.  The first was to

Lost Valley.  Each day we saw the increase in fall color and this day was the peak, we thought.  This hike meandered through forests, following a wet-weather creek, and gradually up to the base of some majestic bluffs.  As we followed it up, we came to a cave, which we explored.  David, Sylvia's husband, had joined us Friday evening, and he lent me his head-lamp.  We maneuvered through narrow passages ways which eventually opened up into a large room where a stream emerged from the ground.  Interesting!  Now, let's get back to the sunshine!

Next we drove up the mountain and made the hike out to Hawk's Bill Crag, also called Whittier Point.  Oh, wow, oh wow...it is supposed to be the most photographed spot in Arkansas.  The colors were magnificent and everyone knew it was peak weekend.  Sylvia and David had never seen so many people there!  We ate our lunch overlooking the valley and enjoyed the scenery to the full.

That night, we returned to Masons enjoyed their daughter, Melody's beautiful new cabin, built with site of Sylvia and David's home, right on their pond.  I had watched its progress on Sylvia's facebook and to see it all completed and to enjoy sleeping in it was such a pleasure.

Becky and I were together almost 7 days and she was

wonderful to be with.  Thank you for your love and care, Becky! 

Sunday, we headed home to Becky's and from there, I came home, after 10 days of being away.  I am glad to be home.  It is strange for both John and I to be home together all day.   I managed to keep busy and now tomorrow, we will head back down to Chattanooga to see our kids.

Sabbath, November 2, 2013

I see that my last post was way back on June 29.  Four months have passed and they have been memorable, to be sure!  Finally, in August, after three months of “trying”, John reluctantly admitted that he could not do his job.  He had not recovered at all since he started back to work in May, had gained no weight, and if anything, had lost energy.  When he finally called Robert Wagley, our Minsterial Director, to tell him he could not do it, Robert was understanding.  Immediately, he started the wheels turning so that John could receive Medical Disability.  Initially, they told us that John would start disability toward the end of October.  

We kept asking ourselves, how are we ever going to survive in this job another few months?  It was a few weeks later that Robert called back and said the following Sabbath (toward the end of August) would be John’s last Sabbath at Rolla and that the next week would be his last at Salem and Waynesville.  They would put him on medical leave until his disability would begin, about November 24.  We were extremely relieved, though somewhat surprised, to say the least.

Becky Vermilyea and Nancy Littrell with us in Branson

Our church leadership was not surprised, though some were extremely disappointed.  Naturally, others were not!  I am quite sure that some also felt abandoned by us.  We hate to LEAVE anywhere but in this circumstance, though we were sad, we also saw the necessity. 

Since the end of August, John has not gained much energy but he has gained weight, so I will have to say THAT is progress!  He walks about 2 miles every day (used to be 2 ½) and he works out almost every day.  How much he works out depends on his energy level.  He has regained muscle and is definitely looking better and more filled out.  He always wears his abdominal band which helps to support him where he has lost his Abdominus Rectus muscle.

Unique mountain community of Eureka Springs

We had planned on an extensive Western trip beginning in late October.But the closer we got to the date, the less John was inclined to go.  I was disappointed, to be sure.   

John and I had made a Labor Day weekend trip down to Branson and over to Arkansas and Oklahoma.  On Sabbath afternoon, Weavers (Winston’s grandparents) invited us to their lake home, where their family was gathered.  We got there around 2 but about 8 am that morning, Winston and Karissa who were also visiting, got engaged!  We were delighted to be part of the celebration and to see the video of the event.  Winston had called us at our hotel the night before to ask John’s permission, which he readily gave, so we had wind of it.  They plan to be married on May 31 in Arkansas.  He’s a great guy and is so good to Karissa.

In late September, we traveled to Chattanooga and spent 5 days with

Seeing Karissa was a highlight!

our kids there. We took care of ourselves during the day, then when the kids were done with work, we’d get together for supper and a walk or tennis.  One day, we went and saw Karissa on her work unit at Erlanger Hospital.  So proud of her!  Saw where Winston works too.  Both Natasha and Jeremy are doing clinicals.  The weekend was all OURS and we hiked at Lula Lake, a beautiful natural area on Lookout Mountain.

My work at Stepping Stones was stressful and it was hard not to talk about it with John.  That only increased HIS stress.  I also felt like we both were suffering from PTSD but not POST Traumatic Stress Sydrome, rather PERSISTENT TSD!  Also, the pastor’s wife does not need to hang around once the pastor is gone, so reluctantly (well, there was some relief, too!) I finished my job as day care director, October 18 being my last day.

So now, what?  Our home has been for sale now for some time.  We are not sure what our next step is, but GOD KNOWS and we are trusting him to open doors for us.  I used to say, like Sound of Music, “When God closes a door, he always opens a window”.  But the reality is that when God closes a door, the hallway can be hell!  We should feel footloose and fancy-free, instead, the way ahead is murky. 

Our Sabbath hike together to Lula Lake

We had wanted to go down and live near our kids who are both in Chattanooga.  Karissa and Winston will be moving from there next summer.  Natasha and Jeremy may be there another six months or so after that.  My perspective was that it would be a temporary stop-over, not a permanent move.  This may be the only time in their lives when they live nearby each other.  Since our home has not sold, however, it just does not seem wise to go that direction. 

We do have an option to live in John’s folks’ old home in Falls City, OR, next door to his sister, Ruth, and her husband, Larry, for low rent.  Right now it is rented.   Though neither of us is keen on living in the Willamette Valley again, it might be that it is the right option for us for now when our home here sells and Ruth assures us she can make it happen.  Guess time will tell. 

Sabbath, June 29, 2013

John went to bed before 8 tonight because he didn't get to rest all day.  Our head elder at the Waynesville Church is on vacation in Maine so we went down early to pick up soldiers.  That meant we got home from church in Rolla around 1:15, had a quick bite to eat and then headed straight down there.  It made for a long day for John and he was wobbly and weak by the time we left there about 6:30.

Generally, he seems to have sort of plateaued in

his progess, so he seems to be about the same these last few weeks.  His weight has maxxed out at 163 but he keeps dropping back to 160.  Food just does not taste good to him.

My two gardens are doing wonderfully well; they provide wonderful opportunities to unwind in a productive and creative way.  Just today I picked two beautiful heads of escarole.  Not everyone will appreciate escarole because it has quite a bold flavor but it does well in a salad blended with milder lettuces with a good strong dressing.  Anyway, I brought one to Rolla Church and Marilyn was delighted to take one home.  I brought one to Waynesville Church but didn't find anyone who wanted it. 

Scarlet runner beans are blooming beautiful and add some bright color to my mostly green garden.  I planted my unique hyacin beans (see

photo) because they have lovely dark red foliage, lavendar blooms, a bright almost fuscia pod, and then these gorgeous seeds.  It's a vine and climbs nicely on fence or trellis.

Last Sunday I harvested my garlic, so I just must post a picture of it, too....I have lots and will save some large bulbs for my seed garlic to plant in the fall. 

One of my delights is working with the children in the school garden.  I take just a few with me at a time because it is a hard job to keep them from harvesting anything they see, pulling up stuff that isn't weeds, or walking where we have just planted seeds!  They just love being in it.    And just as I imagined, they are willing to try something that they helped to grow!  The other day it was kolrabi,
beets, peppers, pea pods, and cucumbers!  I am so
proud of them when they at least try.                          

Sabbath, June 14, 2013

Six months ago today was the beginning of our medical detour and so much has happened in these months.  John is definitely healing, slowly but surely.  He figured he would be the exception and would heal quickly so he is disappointed that it is taking so long.  He preached twice today and didn't even go to bed until 8:30 pm so that is progress!

Yesterday, he took his morning walk, even taking off his shirt to get some sun; but not too much cause it is not good for the tender skin of his incision scars.  As he walked along, shirt off, binder around his middle, a man approached, stopped, and asked if he had had an aneurism.  This man had had one  8 years ago and recognized John's scars.  Talk about an immediate bond between men!  They could empathize.  It made for a wonderful sermon illustration today as John preached about Jesus being our high priest and well able to sympathize with us because he was here with us!

This morning, John said something about his "grand opening", referring to his initial surgery when his chest was opened for the first time.  I said, "Well, it was nearly your "grand finale"!  We've been laughing about that all day.

At Stepping Stones Child Care Center, I so appreciate my manager, Marilou Medrano, a high-powered nurse manager who essentially volunteers her time.  Her husband, Dom, mostly volunteers, too, as do their children Guilla and EG.  But it is Marilou who works side by side with me in problem-solving, dealing with irritated parents, scheduling appropriate staff, and so many other helpful tasks.  The other day, we just happened to be dressed alike.

 As you can see, she is cheerful, self-possessed, consistently pleasant, and as petite as she can be!  They are also our best neighbors.

Well, our next door neighbors are pretty dear too since they continue to mow our lawn!

But the whole Medrano family are just marvelous friends, neighbors, and helpers.  This is my tribute to them...

Today, we came back from preaching in Salem to a picnic at the park in Rolla.  It's always a risk coming late to a picnic.  There were still some people there and just enough food.  I brought a pasta salad and people were glad to see it, too!

Afterwards, three of us walked around the lake and then I wanted to walk home, too.  Guilla wanted to walk with me.  So, we went on an adventure and found our way home through the woods, following mountain biking trails that are every so close to our house that we hardly knew were there!

 

I've only found one tick on me but just feel creepy crawly all over my body, worried there are others.  The walk was worth it, though! And now I need to take my bike onto those trails and really explore them a bit more...

After the picnic, John came home and got a good nap in before we headed down to our church service on the Fort. 

Now it is Father's Day and how glad we are that our girls still have their Daddy!  Natasha sent him a card with a Taco Bell gift card...right on the money, honey!  John still enjoys four Tostadas when nothing else sounds good to him!

We went on a walk this morning after John looked at the weather radar map and declared there might be a tiny shower but that is all.  On the way back, though, it started to rain and then to pour.  We found shelter under the trees but gave it up and got soaked on our walk back..."This just might be our Waterloo!" he said with a grin.

But my garden is delighted with the shower that has continued, sometimes at a downpour, for over an hour.  So much for a little cloud....how is it that these cells just materialize out of nowhere?!!

Happy Father's Day to all you wonderful dads out there.  John and I are sure missing ours today.

Friday, June 7, 2013

Honeysuckle....ummm....its smell triggers childhood memories, mostly pleasant!  Right now, the sweet fragrance wafts on the air with such a tantalizing aroma.  The "natural" part of our back yard is filled with them; the walking path just down the street from our home is lined with them; seems its scent is everywhere.

One of my first childhood memories was in

Hostas and Honeysuckle

Lexington, Kentucky, where we lived with several other families.  Out back was a rock wall covered with honeysuckle on which my sister Heidi and I were sitting, eating the nectar from the tale end of the honeysuckle.  It was spring and the blooms were everywhere.  So were the bees.  One unhappy bee stung me right in the finger and greatly insulted me.  I know I cried.  Yet, I still love the simple honeysuckle.

Even at Stepping Stones, I will sometimes take a fretful child out for a walk to see and taste the honeysuckle, to see and touch the white petunias, the red and purple salvia, and the brightly colored artificial butterflies in our two big pots out front.

Tonight, I breathed in the honeysuckle fragrance as I peddled the whole length of our trail, down one creek and up another, watched a moment of Rolla vs Salem softball game, then toiled back the other direction and home.

John was working on his sermon.  Tomorrow he presents his story "40 days in the Wilderness" (my title) to our Rolla Church.  Salem and Waynesville heard it several weeks ago.  He was asking me for clarifications once again of those many days when he remembers so little.  Always, somehow, I am able to tell him something new, something he has never heard before.  Today, I told him about Natasha.

Rosie out front by the garden

When I called her late that Monday night after receiving the CT scan report that John's aorta was dissected, she simple said, "I am coming."  I have so treasured that.  She didn't say, "Do you need me?" or "Shall I come?"  Rather, "I am coming."  In fact, both she and Jeremy came, and they arrived at Barnes Hospital by about 5 am Tuesday morning.  I don't think I had ever told John that before.  He may have read it in the blog.  But it made him teary-eyed.

John has been back to work almost a month.  It was this weekend last month when we were at Southern for Karissa's graduation.  He is still at the same weight as then, about 160 pounds, despite his heroic efforts to eat and to work out in order to build muscle, he is still the same.  He has also been pretty tired.  I think he is overdoing the working out but that is just my humble opinion.  Today, he did go and get some blood drawn for lab work which his kidney doctored ordered.  We will see what the results are and then talk to a doctor about it all.

Rosie posing

Sabbath is drawing on and I am grateful for the rest it will afford.  We only go to Rolla tomorrow.  So it might in fact be a restful day.  We have no plans for Sunday.
 ......
Sabbath was wonderful, really, but not too restful!  I invited Naomi and Jonathan and McKenzie and Todd home for lunch.  While John went for his "lay activities", we all walked at a quiet woodland park and thoroughly enjoyed the outdoors.  Such beautiful weather; clear skies, no humidity, temperature just right.

Later, Bev and I went over to see Marlena's garden.  She has three little girls at Stepping Stones, has a flower shop, and a wonderful country home.  It was like a park and such a treat to enjoy it, her daughters, and their little kittens.  Back at our house, Bev shared some supper with us and we had wonderful and meaningful conversation.  We had the mandatory garden tour at our house and then at the church, too. 

Today, Sunday, we had a downpour for hours but not before I had worked outside, gone and gotten a tetanus shot, cleaned my whole car (first time since before January 14!), and grocery-shopped.  Later, it cleared nicely and we got to work in the yard some more.  Now John is getting ready for bed.  Sabbath really tired him out so today has been a slow day for him, though he did some mowing and vacuumed HIS car.  We have so much for which to be thankful!