Tilling my little garden all by myself

Sunday, April 21

John and I are so blessed!  We took a one mile walk this morning and John also worked out at Anytime Fitness.  He ate really well.  But all day he was plagued with his painful abdomen, despite wearing his "band".  He was able to help me get the tiller ready but I had to get it started and actually do the tilling because he has no core strength whatsoever.  We are praying that will improve over time.

This week he had one day when his blood pressure was very elevated and it was over a stressful church situation.  He wants to start getting involved but when he does, this is the result.  Both last Sabbath and this, he went to two churches.  Between the two of us, we decided that wasn't going to happen again for a while.  It is simply TOO much....dah!

Using our great big TroyBuilt tiller!

He has a ton of questions for Dr. Kels.  She is the plastic surgeon who did his "flap" surgery...the surgery that if it hadn't worked, it would have been a "flop"!  We hope to have an appointment with her the morning we head over to Chattanooga, May 1.  His scars are healed nicely but the internal healing, we are told, takes lots longer.  And so far that is his experience.

Last fall, I planted some winter rye for a cover crop.  It grew beautifully but I realized that I would have to till it up to really get that nitrogen into the soil.  Ordinarily, I do not till, just turn the nice loose soil over with a shovel and rake it out.  It WAS a big job!  In this picture, you can see that I am using the  furrow attachment to start the raised beds.  I decided on a new design this year and just made one large raised bed instead of the two I had last year.  I think I will actually have more garden room because I will only have a small path around the box and then a couple at the corners for walk-through. 

For years I have worn these worn out capris for gardening.  This year the patches tore out of the knee and usually my foot goes into the knee hole, tearing more each time.  Deciding to cut them off at the knee seemed like the right thing to do until I tore out the rear end this evening!  Every time I would stoop down--rippppp!  And it would open wider!  Thought you would appreciate the view!

Time to retire my faithful gardening capris!

It was such a lovely day.  It was amazing how much I got done on the garden!  Even John was surprised.  It isn't ready to plant yet, but it is sure getting close.  I was able to add 5 buckets of compost from my pile.  That always feels like great accomplishment.  It was filled with worms and I was none too happy to see those robins out there stealing them!  Don't like to share my worms....

We have these wonderful neighbors, Randy and Susan, who have been weed-eating and mowing our lawn, every time they do their own.  That is so kind and we are so grateful.  I made some delicious mashed potatoes and brought them a dish of them, just as a little thank-you.

Sitting on our lounge chairs on the back porch was a welcome break and I made us delicious sparkling drinks of white grape juice and limes.  John took his shirt off and I took some pictures.    He is actually starting to feel better about himself since he has been gaining weight.  As I was trying to take his picture, I asked him to lift up his head and open his eyes because he look so -- dead.  "The deader the better!" was his immediate retort.  We laughed and laughed till his belly just ached!  That was great therapy for us!

Our ministerial director visited us last Sabbath and gave permission for John to start very slowly back to work in mid-May.  He's so wanting to work, yet he knows how fragile he really is.  This weekend, our conference president, Dean Coridan, is coming and we look forward to discussing all this with him, too. 

Yesterday morning, I read a story on facebook about a man with lots of challenges.  His theme was "Let not your heart be troubled."  That was just what we needed.  It's so easy to slip out of trust and slide into dismay and the subsequent anxiety about our future.  So thankful that God knows our path and is guiding us!

Still Wednesday, April 10, 2013

John's facebook post today.

Some folk say I'm a miracle, but I just feel so ordinary, and like I always did. I think the miracle is that I'm functioning up to specs, however for all of you who are in the same boat of normality, you are miracles too. And that's because -thanks be to God- our God operates, shapes, and directs from an invisible world through our real world to make the miracles seem normal.

So you have to hand it to God, who is so devoid of "self" and taking credit for what He obviously does. He works in a invisible, seamless, and yet 'direct touch' way, but through human hands and hearts, so that they seem they are the players. But at best, all we are are mostly unaware channels that God is using us. In ministry, when we manifest compassion or whatever, we get to feel His own compassion, as it were our own. With that awareness, miracles, are events or triggers or catalysts in ongoing heavenly intervention that have God's fingerprints and heart all over it.

Wednesday, April 10, 2013

John watching the school kids play

John and I went to see Dr. Martin yesterday, our cardiologist.  Ever since, John has been gloating!  I guess I can say I am glad....!  He said John is doing great and that his lifting and weights are all OK.  I've had concerns cause John is so anxious to get it all back that I fear he might overdo it.  But, now I will not worry mostly because it won't do any good!

The doctor did share that John will probably not be a candidate for any kind of internal "mesh" to replace the abdominal muscle simple because it would be another possible source of infection.  With all the infection that John has had, it would just not be indicated.  We will pray for increased strength for him in that area and that God will continue the healing that HE began.

So yesterday, John worked out at Anytime Fitness in the morning, went to the doctor in the afternoon, followed by an orientation and workout at the Cardiac Rehab gym.  After I got home and ate supper, we drove down to our walking trail and John walked for 30 minutes; not fast, but continuous.

We are encouraged and John is itching to be involved

John visits with kids in Miss Gina's 4 year old class

again in his heart-work of ministry.  He did visit his school kids on Monday.  They had all been at music festival on Sabbath when he went to church for the first time.  But they very quickly heard that he had been there and it was their big "buzz" for the day!  They WERE happy to see him and he received many warm hugs.  He even visited the day care downstairs and got lots of littler hugs there.  He was thrilled with those warm little arms around his neck, as I am every day!

My heart-work of ministry at the day care takes about all I've got.  I started my day early and prayed for each staff person by name.  Each one of them is my mission field.  They each one extend the mission of our church as we all love our kids and minister to the parents as well.  I also prayed for each parent, though not by name.

I'm excited for our garden project.  Looks like it should be built this Friday...whooppee!  Four raised beds to which we will add straw bale and pallet gardens.  Pam and I are thrilled with all we can share with school and day care kids.

Sabbath, April 6, 2013

John and I went to Rolla Church together...his first time to church since January 12...almost 3 months.  He thoroughly enjoyed being there though his morning had been rough with some low blood pressure, which makes him feel faint.  We came home for a quick lunch, Bev came, and we left to head to our old church district in Mountain Grove for Bayard Vermilyea's Memorial Service.  He was our head elder some of those years we were there.  His wife, Becky, and I are best friends forever.

As an Air Force Colonel, Bayard was honored with a full military service.  It was a service with both tears and laughter, not making him out to be a saint, but showing him to be a Godly and striving man. 

It was a grand reunion with many old friends from that area.  For supper, we enjoyed haystacks with the family afterwards.  John had to sit down a few times during the visiting time out on the lawn but did thoroughly enjoy seeing everyone.  We will see how he does today after all that!

This was John's farewell quip:  "Becki, come over here and tell them why my abdominal muscle was removed."  So, I explained that the chest cavity and the dacron graft were so seriously infected that they needed extra tissue with lots of blood supply to provide added protection.  Turning to Kerry, Becky's daughter, who is a nurse, I said, "It's called a 'flap', have you ever heard of it?"  Before she could answer, John said, "Yea, it's called a flap but if it doesn't work, it is called a 'flop'!"  There was wonderful laughter and John held his tummy so he could laugh too and not hurt too bad! 

Friday evening, April 5, 2013
All day long it's been Karissa's Birthday...

We are thankful that John is improving.  This week he walked almost 1/2 mile.  No more lung congestion, no more sore tailbone, only a sore gut from the lack of support.  He feel better when he uses his velcro "wrap" that sort of holds him together.

Three wonderful stories of good that has already come out of what the devil meant for harm.  David Dearborn's nieces were driving through Nashville when he called them on the phone to tell them about John.  They go to school with Karissa so he wanted them to know.  They pulled over to the side of the road just to pray for him.  That is so precious!

Eva and Larry Hale are often awoken by the Holy Spirit to pray for John during the night and they never feel tired in the morning.  They remember when John interceded earnestly for Larry when he was in open heart surgery so they are happy to return the favor for John.  Praise God!

Kim Shull got to talk to her son, Tom, who was friends with us all in Lebanon, Oregon.  When she told him about John, he later admitted to her that he felt compelled to bow on his knees in prayer for John, something he hadn't done in months.

Art and Suka Anderson attend our Rolla Church.  He read our e-mail asking for prayer to dispel the evil in John's room.  On the way home, he pulled off at the Doolittle exit and stopped the car.  He prayed asking for God to intervene, then literally started yelling at the devil to get out of John's room, that he had no place there.  He hoped no one saw him because he knew he looked pretty ridiculous.  When he felt better, he drove on home.

Romans 8:28....all things work together for good...these are just a few examples!

Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Karissa's Arrival

Trip to Yosemite with Heidi and Juli and Wolfi

Having totally forgotten Natasha's Birthday on February 25, because we had just gotten home from Barnes Jewish Hospital, I wrote a long blog about her coming, even sharing pictures.  Now of course I just must do the same for Karissa...and how I love sharing these stories about our wonderful daughters!

Natasha was a wonderful baby and motherhood was pure bliss until she was 15 months.  Even then it was still wonderful as we were able to witness this darling new little individual emerging.  By 18 months, I began to wean her knowing that we would want a second baby and since Natasha

Beach trip with family and friends one week before due date

didn't come easily, we figured it would be pretty much the same for Karissa.  It was.  It took us 9 months to get pregnant with her and it happened the same;  I didn't ovulate till my 13th day, so I knew for once in another blue moon that I was having a regular cycle.

That was in July of 1991.  Dena and her kids and Natasha and I went together from Vallejo, CA, up to Redwood Camp Meeting in Northern California.  It was a beautiful place.  Dena was pregnant with her little boy and her two older kids played nicely with Natasha, who by this time was about 2 1/2.  While we were there, I kept in mind that I'd had a regular cycle and was not surprised that I was late with my period, and as day after day went by, I grew hopeful.  When we got back to Vallejo, once again, Lily, my friend at the Health Department, did my pregnancy test and we watched with delight as the blue dot appeared!

John and Karissa getting acquainted

One vivid memory of that Camp Meeting with Dena was our first night there.  She had some anxiety about new places and called out to me from her tent.  Our kids were all sleeping soundly. We got up and under a glorious full moon, we walked arm in arm around and around that camp ground till finally her anxiety diminished.

Once again it was a joy to be pregnant.  I felt wonderful.  My sisters, Heidi and Juli, along with Juli's husband, Wolfi, took me on a brief trip to Yosemite.  Natasha stayed home with Dad.  Heidi bought a Yogi Bear stuffed toy for Natasha which we still have.  Hmmm....maybe I better give that back to Natasha!

Perfect Karissa Janelle, APGAR score a perfect 10

Though I had one little girl and most everything I needed for another, still Dena wanted to do something special for me.  She was forever telling me about her troubles with her Navy Seal husband, Terry.  One morning, he called me up to tell me Dena was having a very rough tough and would I please come and see her that evening?  All day I fretted about Dena and what I might be able to do to help her.  So after I got Natasha to bed, I gladly drove the 20 minutes up to her home.  When I got there the house was dark and I wondered if I was too late.  When I rung the doorbell, everything lite up and it was a surprise baby shower for me that she had planned.  I WAS surprised and so pleased! We had a wonderful evening with the funniest games, great food, and such great friends!  My sister, Juli, came over from Sonoma, about 40 minutes away, to add to my pleasure.

My folks were still in Africa working at Riverside Farms

John's folks, Oma and Opa, and my mom

in Zambia and of course my mom came back to be with me.  Just about a week before Karissa was due, on Sabbath afternoon, we took a group of friends to the ocean.  Right by the beach was a good-sized hill.  It was THERE and I HAD to climb it.  I got to the top easily and the view was tremendous.  Everyone was amazed that I could do that!  All the kids loved looking at my big pregnant belly... 

The following Sabbath, John's folks visited us and brought along an aunt and uncle visiting from Germany.  Along with my mother, we had a great time together.  I have pictures of them all....but sadly, none of me!  That Sabbath morning, I lost my mucous plug, then after going to bed that night, felt my contractions beginning.  By midnight, it was now Karissa's due date, I went out to our couch where my mom was sleeping and told her I was in labor.  We labored together through the nite and by 5 am, my mom checked my cervix and I was dilated to 8 cm and she said it was time to go to the hospital.  I was absolutely miserable by

Karissa at one week

this time and was definitely in transition, sitting on the toilet to empty my bowels, but hurting so bad.  John had to stay home with Natasha and would have our neighbors come to stay with her.  I wrapped up in a quilt and mom drove me to Kaiser.

When we got there, I was fully dilated and taken right to the delivery room.  Twice, mom called John and told him to Come Now...but he remembered the 12 hours it took for Natasha to come and thought he had time to shower and shave.  My sister, Juli, was also called.  Karissa was born 40 minutes after we got to the hospital and both of them missed her birth!  All these years, she does not let her daddy forget that he was not there!


After Karissa was born, my mother checked her all over and she was perfect, and her APGAR score was a 10.  But the impatient resident, instead of waiting for my next contraction to expel the

Granda and Grandpa with our girls

afterbirth, tugged at it, and it detached.  I was feeling well enough to know he should not have done that but was reticent to correct him.  After I was out of the delivery room, a nurse massaged my abdomen and a softball-sized clot came out, I passed out, and everyone flew into action.  Back to the delivery room I went and that unwise physician spent an hour pulling placental fragments from my uterus.  My hemoglobin was so low they wanted to give me a transfusion.

Later that day, Oma and Opa came to the hospital and spent some time with me.  My mom fed me really good, high iron foods, and soon my blood count was elevating.  John took his aunt and uncle into the city to go site-seeing.  Later that evening, Dena came and brought a sweet little dress for Karissa.  I was able to go home the next day.  But I kept bleeding and knew something was not right.  I kept calling Kaiser and they said it was normal.  Finally after two weeks of hurting and feeling awful,

My beautiful sister, Heidi, with Karissa

I really had bright red blood and I insisted on being seen.  Roshelle Hall went with me.  She lived next door and had stayed with Natasha so she was able to help me with the both girls.  The doctor took an emesis basin full of placental fragments and clots from my uterus.  The room was a mess and
I apologized.  The doctor said, "It is we who should be apologizing to you!"  After that, I immediately felt back to 100%.

Karissa turns 21 tomorrow.   We are so blessed to have her!  She's a wonderful daughter, a great sister to Natasha, a faithful girlfriend to Winston, a marvelous student....graduating Cum Laude from nursing at Southern Adventist University next month....we are so proud of her....So proud of YOU, Karissa!  We look forward to a lifetime of family affection with you our whole lives long!