Week 3: Colossians 3:16-17

It is time for the memory verse for this week. I’ve heard from a couple of you, I know you’re busy! Remember, you don’t have to memorize my verse, if you are already memorizing a verse for another Bible study or class, count that! Also, if it is a busy week, review a verse you learned as a child; you’ll find it much easier to memorize the second time around and it won’t require as much time as a new verse would.

Friends, I just want to internalize God’s Word so I can live it! Several years ago I was teaching a Bible study to a small group of women. It was so difficult for me. I was nervous to be in front of those gals. Even when teaching 200 college kids at Univ. of Houston, I was never rattled. Why? I knew the material. Now granted, teaching calculus is not the same as teaching the Word of God, but I know calculus. And now I want to know the Word of God. But this is so much more exciting because it changes me.  I responded softer to my children this week when reminded of last weeks verse, be slow to anger.  

Colossians 3:16-17

Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hyms and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God! Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks Him through the Father.  

More about Stan and my back

I kind of left you hanging with no news about Stan, didn’t I?  I’ve been information-central from day one and the phone has finally stopped ringing constantly, I just forgot to update here!

Stan came home yesterday (Monday) after 12 days in the hospital.  His surgery went great last Wednesday  with the surgeon putting 10 screws and a metal plate to hold his bone together.  With all that hardware, his bone is quite strong now.  He’s not to put any weight on it for 6 weeks, and then 20 lbs for 6 weeks, but in case he would lose his balance his leg will hold his weight.   That’s great to know!  This also means he has no cast.  Once he gets his strength back, he’ll be hard to keep down.   Speaking of strength, he lost so much strength being in the hospital all those days.  He ate very little from a week ago Sunday through this past Saturday.  Now that he is home, his appetite is returning.

I am fit as a fiddle.  I’ve been exercising since Thanksgiving and the only things that hurt are my legs . . .   My back has gone into spasm like that before, but usually it relaxes that same day and is only a bit sore.  I’m not sure why it gave me fits last week.  I’ve been considering going to a chiropractor.  I know a great one, but he’s 45 minutes from my home and I just don’t want to start knowing I’ll be driving often for adjustments.

Finally, all things being said, we had a wonderful Thanksgiving.  Some friends from church invited us for dinner.  It was the first meal I have had as an adult where I didn’t take anything!  Thursday was just relaxing at the house, stopping by the hospital, and having a yummy dinner.  Makes me think maybe next year we should just have frozen pizza . . . ok, maybe not . . .

What’s on your ipod?

A few weeks ago I started jogging again.  I hate jogging.  At least I thought I hated jogging.  But then I realized that if I jog slower, I don’t detest jogging.  I even start to enjoy it.   BUT, I jog in a dreary, unfinished basement while watching my children play hockey with a couple of brooms and one of those disks that you put under furniture when you move it as a puck.  Not motivational.  So to ease my boredom I have to have great music.  Here’s my work out mix: (disclaimer: some of these songs are from college days . . . lots of loud bass guitar and a fast, driving beat!)

•  Anthem  by Superchick
• Come Together by Third Day
• Jesus Freak by dc Talk
• Real Gone by Sheryl Crow, from the Cars soundtrack
• Boomin’ by TobyMac
• Jesus is Alright by dc Talk
• It’s On by Superchick
• Praying for Sunny Days by Hyper Static Union
• Life is a Highway by Rascal Flatts
• Pure by Superchick
• I Like to Move It from the Madagascar soundtrack

What do you listen to when you need to be energized? I need more suggestions! I’m working on a praise song mix, but the beat is not always as fast as I would like it to be.

Memory Verse Challenge Week 2

Well, how did ya do this week?  Leave me a comment or shoot me an email to let me know if you followed through and memorized your verse.   Remember that I memorized Phil 4:8; however, with all the craziness between last Tuesday and today, my verse card only has 3 tally marks on the back.  Oh well . . . maybe this week will be better!

Ready for round 2? You can still join in if you would like.

Here’s the verse that I need memorize this week (read into that all you want to!):

James 1:19-20 This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

I’m home from the hospital

and the surgery was postponed until Wednesday.  We waited and waited this evening for the OR to open up, but instead Stan’s surgery was pushed back later and later into the evening.  Finally that surgeon came in to suggest that we just wait until Wednesday morning.  He wanted Wednesday because it would be first in the morning. Did you know that the infection rate rises in the OR as the day progresses?  Also, he wanted his team of nurses, xray techs, and anaesthesiologist instead of whoever was on call.  So although it was disappointing for us, we decided to wait.

Keep praying for us all.  My back is not too bad right now.  I have just taken a muscle relaxer and I’m headed to bed!

a Monday morning update

I have survived the weekend doped up on muscle relaxers and ibuprofen. Add to that some ice and heat therapy and I thought today would be a regular day. But then my back started spasming again. So I started the whole cycle again, minus the muscle relaxers. When I take those it hast he same effect that benadryl has on me . . . I’m practically incoherent for a few hours. Since someone has to take care of the boys I am trying to make it through the day without them. At this moment, the pain is not too bad, which is good because I have 5 loads of laundry waiting to be folded, Jesse’s bed to change (he wet through his diaper), and Jacob to run to his coop classes. I’m moving slow, but I’m confidant it will get done.

As for Stan . . . it doesn’t look like there are any cancellations in the OR today, so his surgery is still scheduled for Wednesday. The days in the hospital are really starting to get to him, although he seemed in good spirits today when we spoke with him.

Edit:  Stan IS having surgery today at 5 pm.   We are so thankful!  I’ve got some preparations to get done before I head to the hospital, so I’ll post again after the surgery.

when it rains it pours

An update on Stan: Surgery is scheduled for WEDNESDAY! Although he is extremely uncomfortable, the severe break is not life threatening. So, no one ahead of him will be bumped and apparently Thanksgiving week is a busy time for the OR. I guess people want to take advantage of those extra days of healing instead of using sick days. Please pray for a cancellation. We’ve spent the day looking for other surgeons and hospitals that could get it done sooner with no results. Plus, Missie had battled the insurance company which believes that Stan should be home. AHHHHH! He has a SEVERE break and can’t be moved.

Speaking of people who can’t move, I have been having very painful back spasms all day. This morning during breakfast I noted that I had a small catch in my back. I moved to take some ibuprofen and bamm! my back froze in pain. That quick. That unprovoked. I didn’t bend or lift anything. The pain was so sharp, I though I was going to be sick. The pain is centered in the middle of my back, about where my bra rests. This morning I couldn’t move my arms, neck or head without sharp pain radiating through my back. A dear friend took me to the doctor while her daughter watched the boys. At the doctor’s office, my blood pressure was quite high, probably from all the meds, pain, and maybe the coffee I’d been drinking. After an exam which included xrays, the prognosis is muscle spasms. No reason . . . Now I’m doped up on muscle relaxers just waiting for JD to get home with pizza. My sister Heather came today to help me out and was much, much appreciated!

Well that’s it for now, I just can’t type much more as my back is tightening while I sit here. I’ll keep ya posted on how this all plays out!

one heavy heart and one prayer request

My heart is heavy today . . . oh so heavy. This day started like any other. I was up at six, had my prayer time, dressed the boys, made the beds, and heading downstairs to start breakfast. Standing at the kitchen window I noticed an ambulance in my drive . . . MY DRIVE!

My dear father-in-law missed the last step in the garage and took a nasty tumble. He has a bum leg from cancer nearly 20 years ago. That cancer has led to a hip replacement, then infection, and most recently, the loss of sensation in his foot. Now, a couple of weeks shy of his 60th birthday, he has a broken femur. It is an ugly, ugly break which requires screwing 2 plates to his bone during a surgery to repair it. AND it looks like the surgery cannot take place until Monday. Then he will have 12 weeks of slow healing.

So my heart hurts for all the suffering this sweet man will endure these next few days and weeks. Will you pray for him this weekend?

On a lighter note, God did prepare us for this a little . . . every person or family that we were expecting for Thanksgiving canceled last night. So last night I was moping that our Thanksgiving dinner was going to be just us, but today I find myself thankful that I don’t have to call those families and cancel!

Finally, my sister Heather called to tell me about a miscommunication she had with her husband Josh regarding my FIL Stan’s fall. As Heather was relating to Josh the details of Stan’s fall, he didn’t seem too concerned. When Heather mentioned something about a wheelchair for Stan, Josh became confused. It seems he thought the injured one was Sam, my golden retriever. That did give me good chuckle today in the midst of all my concern for Stan.

edit: It is 10pm and I just returned from the hospital.  Stan is in good spirits, mainly thanks to the Demerol.  He’s actually a bit loopy and it was fun to visit with him.   We still don’t know when the surgery will take place, but the surgeon is the same doctor who replaced Stan’s hip 8 years ago.  We are pleased to work with him again.

A Challenge

I began earnestly memorizing Scripture about four years ago. Off and on all my life I memorized verses and passages, but it wasn’t until I started using a system to review them that I really hid them in my heart. Now I’ve got about 300 verses memorized. Here’s what I do:

1. Memorize the verse.
2. Say it daily for 10 days.
3. Say it once a week for 10 weeks.
4. Say it once a month for a year.
5. Say it every other month for the rest of my life!

I write the verse(s) on a notecard and place it in my 3×5 notecard box. The box has these dividers in it: verses to learn, daily, this week, next week, this month, and next month. As I recite my verses, I mark a tally on the back of the card so I can keep track of how many days, weeks, months, etc, that I have recited the verse. Clear as mud?

Here’s the challenge part . . . memorize with me. Each week I’ll post the verse(s) that I’m working on and you leave a comment if you are participating. You don’t have to memorizing my verse, just add what verse you’d like to memorize for that week. You can memorize in whatever version suits you. To those of you who don’t know me, but visit my blog, you are invited to join in as well.

Finally, here’s a little incentive to play: all who participate for 10 weeks (on the honor system) will receive a little something made by me. If for some reason this challenge takes the blogging world by storm, then I will put a limit on how many can receive the prize.

So are you game?

Here’s the first verse. If you are like me, you generally know this verse, but haven’t committed all the words to memory.

Phil. 4:8 Finally brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on this things.

Mr. Potato-Head has a bump on his head

This morning I overheard Jonah playing alone with our Potato Head family. The conversation went like this: (both parts were played by Jonah)

Baby Spud: Ouch! I’m hurt! I’m hurt! I bumped my head!

Mommy Spud: You’re ok. I’m busy exercising right now, so go play!

Hmm. At least you know I’m still exercising this week . . .