Weddings, babies, a farewell, and a funny card

I'm continuing to feel amazingly wonderful, finding ways to do almost all my normal activities in spite of my right arm being in this big sling.  However, I did chose to stay home Friday evening and Saturday when Dick went to Lancaster County to take Destiny home and to attend our nephew Mike Stauffer's wedding.  I just felt like I wasn't up to the extra rush of packing for an overnight trip, sleeping somewhere other than my comfy sofa, explaining my sling to everyone I'd see at the wedding.   Instead, I had a WONDERFUL time alone doing things at a slow pace and reading Dave and Neta Jackson's most recent book, Lucy Come Home.  Dick was already back home late Saturday afternoon.

Here's a beautiful pic of the bridal party at the wedding.

Here's a shot of Mike's family - (left to right)  sister Lindsey, sister Heather, dad Jim (Dick's brother), his bride Chrystal, Mike, his mom Carolyn, brother Josh, and brother Greg.  A WONDERFUL, very fun and funny family!  (They're Stauffers.)

In spite of my leisurely alone time, I had feelings of regret that I had stayed home when Dick emailed me the following pics.  He had stopped in at Sam and Jenn's Friday evening.  Jenn had just gotten back home that morning from 2 1/2 weeks of training.  I really need to hug and kiss that precious boy!

Today at Fillmore we had to say goodbye to Pastor Duane and his family for the last time.  I have so enjoyed his messages and his wonderful sense of humor.  And his wife Terry has been a very dear friend to me, a part of our women's prayer breakfast group.  They will be tremendously missed.  They were called to serve another congregation about two hours away.  This week our new pastor, Calvin Miller, will be starting here.  Since I'm the secretary, and a new one at that, these first few weeks may be a bit like the blind leading the blind!  I look forward to getting to know him and his family.  

Our little town of Bellefonte has been all over the news since the guilty verdict was given to Jerry Sandusky on Friday evening.  I believe it was the correct verdict, but for some reason I still had tears when it was announced.  I just felt profoundly sad for everyone.  Like the mother of one victim was quoted,  "We have all lost."  

On a lighter note - I got this hilariously timed card from my sister Mary Ellen this week.  In light of my recent speeding ticket and my surgery, it really seems like it would have been custom made for me, hahahahaha!!  Good job finding it, Mary Ellen!

Inside:  By the way, ignore the speed limit.  Get well soon!!

Back to normal - well almost

Well, I'd better be writing something lest you think I'm not doing as well.  The truth is, and I almost hate to say this out loud - I'm busy!  Since Monday, the only pain medication I'm on is the Valtaren I'm always on.  Except for the inconvenience of having my arm in this big, old sling, I'm feeling totally back to normal.  

Yesterday  (Tuesday)  I had planned to do some church office work here at home, but I changed my mind and drove to the office (remember, it's right here in our community.)  My desk here at home is really high, my chair is high, my computer mouse doesn't work very well anymore, and I realized it would take me much longer to accomplish things here.  I discovered that driving is quite easy, since my sling is off to the side somewhat and not against the steering wheel.  Around noon I came home and relaxed for a couple of hours, finishing the book I've been reading since my surgery - Stand By Me, the first in Neta Jackson's next series, SouledOut Sisters.  LOVED IT!    

Our weather turned HOT yesterday afternoon, so by the time I went to the bank and to Walmart for a few things, my wig and my sling were creating enough heat and irritation to make me feel like exploding.  Suddenly the next five weeks seemed like an unbearable eternity.  But Lori, Anthony, and Austin cheered me up when they came to bring our dinner.  Here are a couple of pics from the evening. 

Austin and Destiny finger painted while Lori cooked.

Lori topped her meal of grilled smoked fish and asparagus with some yummy pina colada smoothies. 

Later when it had cooled off a bit, we went outside for a while.  My lillies are beginning to bloom!

Grandpa and Anthony racing the kids.

Today was another hot one.  When Destiny and I left for the science discovery museum  after lunch I just could not bear to wear a wig or a hat.  So I went out with my hair as plain and flat as could be and I did not care one bit.  

Destiny put on a puppet show for me.

From the museum we went to my second PT session.  It was a bit more movement and pain this time, but I did alright.  

From there we went to Houserville for praise team practice and a birthday party.  Today is Pastor Renee's 40th birthday.  She is second from right.   

 I am able to play piano, but with limited right hand chords.  My left hand and my voice work just fine.

I got Dick to take this picture this evening so you can see what my sling looks like now that I don't have that big, ugly ice pack on top of it.  (Sorry, I already had my jammies on.)  The sling has a thick, rectangular pillow between my arm and my body.  I take it off just two times a day - to change for bed, and to shower and dress in the morning.  My goal and prayer is to heal and restore faster than expected in order to shorten the time I must wear this.

Better and better!

Here are my resent Facebook updates:

Sunday evening:

Time to get out of the house. We're going to the pool. Don't worry - I'll just be sitting and watching.

And today (Monday):

I've been feeling too good to be true this morning. That might change after this first therapy session.

I'm still feeling too good to be true, even after a PT session. She was impressed that I've already weaned myself off the Percocet and how I handled the movements she put my arm through. The relaxing and slow breathing I learned for childbirth years ago have served me well several times over the years, and this is one of those times. Plus I truly believe God is responding to all your prayers.

Feeling some improvement

I am trying to do this blog with a dictation app that Anthony installed on my phone last evening. So we'll see how it goes. 

Yesterday was pretty rough. It's been difficult to manage the balance of pain meds and anti-nausea meds and eating. It just seems as though one thing affects the other, and the easiest thing to do is just sleep and not eat. But then I feel sick when I take the pain medication without any food in my stomach so it's just a balancing act.

Destiny and Dick have been wonderfully patient caretakers. The high point yesterday was when Lori, Anthony, and Austin came in the evening with dinner. Austin prayed for me before they left for home. He is a ligament expert now. Just ask him any questions you may have!

I think I'm having less pain today, so that's a good thing. I've been cutting back on the pain med and hoping that that helps me to be able to balance things better. Maybe I'll even lose some weight!

Twice a day I take this big sling off, lean forward at the waist, and let my arm hang down, moving it in a circular movement. That hurts! I guess that's mild in comparison to the pain I'll feel during physical therapy, which starts Monday.

After 48 hours (which is this afternoon) I can finally keep the big heavy ice pack off and take a shower. I'm kind of dreading that.

I'm drinking my first cup of coffee right now. I tried one yesterday, but instantly got sick. I even managed to put away a half sandwich a while ago. So I must be getting better.

Well, folks, that's the breaking news from our house today!

Here I sit

Well, here I sit after the repair of a "massive" tear which needed four screws to do the job. A nerve block is keeping me pain- free at the moment, and I took my first dose of Percocet, so I'm getting sleepy. The big blue thing is my ice pack, the black sling underneath will be part of my wardrobe for the next six weeks. Thanks for prayers, I'll probably be needing more.

Keeping things exciting!

It's almost midnight, and I need to get some sleep. So I'm just going to copy and paste my FB updates of the past two days.

Tuesday:

Oh NO!!!!! I think I goofed big time!! I was supposed to stop taking my Valtarin (anti-inflammatory) and fish oil gel tabs a week before surgery and I FORGOT!! I have a dreadful sinking feeling that they won't let me have surgery on Thursday now. I guess I'll find out tomorrow. I have my whole life planned around this surgery date. I can't believe this. Who forgets stuff like that??

Wednesday:

Whew! Apparently it is not a big deal that I forgot to stop taking Valtarin a week before surgery. So the surgery is a go tomorrow! Know what I think? As the pain in joints all over my body is increasing by the hour today, I truly believe it was God's mercy upon me that made me forget to stop taking it until yesterday. Isn't He something?

I always have to keep things a little exciting, you know! My surgery is at 10:45 am. I would love if you would lift me and the surgeon to the Lord.

Fun things; the rest of the story; the horrible, awful trial

Doing fun things while we can

We're having a nice few days at the beginning of this week.  I usually work at the church office from 10-2, but this week I'm going in from 8-12 instead.  That way Destiny sleeps part of the time I'm gone and it doesn't cut into our time to do things.  She's grown up so much!  Today I came home from work and she had made herself eggs for breakfast.  Then she made blueberry muffins.  Yes, it was a mix, but none the less.  She read the directions and made them with very little direction from me.  Now she's watching Anne of Avonlea.  We just can't get enough of Anne.  I'm reading the second book in the series to her.  I read the entire series to my children many years ago.

Monday

Yesterday I took her to Empire Beauty to get her bangs trimmed, then we went to Goodwill.  It dawned on me recently that I will have trouble putting my tops on after my surgery.  I have almost no button-down-the-front shirts.  Even my jammy top is the pull-over-your-head type.  Well, did I ever have good luck!  I found four really nice shirts that look brand new and a pair of jammies just perfect for summer - capris and a button top.  Destiny found a brand new computer game called Fashion Solitaire.  I think she played it for three hours last evening!  Actually, I think I could have fun with it.

Last evening I made a window curtain for my bathroom out of an extra shower curtain just like my shower curtain.  You know how I like my stuff to match.

The rest of the story about my "arrest"

I gotta tell you the very funny thing I found out about my unhappy experience with the policeman's flashing lights on Saturday morning.  After my "arrest" was finished I took time to complain about my bad luck on Facebook.  As I continued driving I got a text message from someone that is not in my contacts on my phone.  It said, "Have a great day!  Don't let the bright flashing lights on the trip from State College ruin your day!  I hope it wasn't too painful and that you'll be able to enjoy the wedding!"  I assumed it was from someone who saw what I wrote on FB.  

On Monday morning I replied to the text message asking who it was from.  I found out it was from Lowell Graybill from our church in Lancaster County.  He is one of my FB friends, so I didn't find it unusual that he knew about my unfortunate experience.   Then he told me the rest of the story.  He was en route to a sportsman's event in Bellefonte on Saturday morning.  North of Harrisburg he noticed flashing lights on the other side and he immediately recognized my car and me as the driver.  Hahahahahahaha!  Is that too funny or what??  He said he felt bad for me, but there was little he could do about it.  I am still cracking up every time I think about it.  

The horrible, awful trial

And speaking of Bellefonte.  That is our address.  We live about five miles out of town, half way between Bellefonte and State College.  Our little town is making national news these days as the Jerry Sandusky trial takes place.  This is only day two, and already I can hardly stand to read the reports of the testimony of the victims.  How I wish this were enough already.  My heart  breaks for those boys/young men as I read how the defense attorney grills them about their motives.  Yes, I certainly know that spiteful people can make false accusations for financial gain.  But when an 18-year-old guy has to stand in front of all those people and he cries as he relates the things he experienced at the hands of a man with a supposed "heart of gold", I just want to scream, "Why must we hear more???  Have mercy on these boys!!  Convict him and get this over with!!"  

I hate to end on such a negative note.  So I'll give you something to laugh at.  As Anthony was shooting my lessons last week I asked him to take a picture with my camera.  Oh lord, what a picture!  Wouldn't you just love to have a teacher with an expression like that?  

The good, the bad, and the ugly - AGAIN!

Frustration!!  Having your pictures from the weekend in your computer, but no internet access with which to share them!  We bought a new router, which did not solve the problem, then called Comcast.  They were able to do a temporary fix over the phone, but will come out on Tuesday.  They say the signal to our modem is weak.  So how long or often we will have internet access between now and Tuesday is questionable.  So I need to do this post NOW!!

Another DVD finished!

On Friday Anthony and I were able to finish shooting my 3rd Music@Home DVD, which was a tremendous relief to me.  I was so encouraged by an email from one of my Ohio customers.  She said her 7-year-old LOVED my first DVD and is begging for the second one.  She sent me an adorable picture of him and said that he wants her to tell me that his name is Nicholas.  Melt my heart.  I really do miss the contact with real students, and that kind of contact really helps.  The next day I got orders from two more people in Ohio, whom I assume are her friends.  Thank you, Grace!    

My first speeding ticket!

On Saturday I left home at 6:30 AM for my sister Doris's daughter's wedding in Lancaster County.  Dick was not going, because we have several more eventful Saturdays in June coming up for which he will need to ask off work.  So I was heading to Reading first to pick up my date - Destiny!  It was a beautiful morning and I was feeling fine.  I had just gotten a new CD from SongDiscovery, and I was worshiping as I drove.  But alas, I was brought right back to earth when I passed a police cruiser just north of Harrisburg and realized I was probably not driving anywhere close to the speed limit.  My heart sank when I saw him pull out of his hiding spot and turn on his flashing lights.  Folks, I have been driving for forty-four years and have NEVER gotten a speeding ticket.  I was also feeling like I had my trip planned closely enough that getting to the wedding on time did not allow for any stops. So by the time he walked front to my car I was already in tears.  I gave him my sob story, hoping he would just give me a warning and let me go, but no such luck.  He gathered my important documents and went back to his car for what seemed like FOREVER.  When he finally came front he said he had cut me a break and did not charge me for driving over the speed limit, which would have put points on my driver's license.  Instead he charged me with ignoring a traffic sign.  He assured me that my fine was $30 less because of that.  But $111.00 was still not AT ALL in my budget plans right now with my surgery and physical therapy coming up.  So I cried some more as I continued on my way.   And I was terrified of going over the speed limit.  The cruise control on my car no longer works, and my Buick just goes fast with so little effort.  I could just imagine what a story that would make if I went forty-four years without a speeding ticket and then got stopped twice in one day!  

Destiny was ready when I got to her house in Reading, and we actually did get to the wedding at Petra Christian Fellowship in New Holland about ten minutes early.  But I needed to clean my contacts and refresh my make up after all those tears! 

Greta and Lynn's wedding

I thoroughly enjoyed the wedding of my niece Greta and he fiance Lynn.  They both grew up in the same church, and the pastor who married them had watched them grow up and fall in love.  That is a very rare and special  thing these days.

After the wedding we went into a courtyard for some pictures.  Here are Greta and Lynn with Doris and Dale and Grandma Mary.

Doris and Dale with their six children plus Greta's new hubby.  

Doris and Dale's whole family - their six children, three sons-in-law, one daughter-in-law, and five grandchildren.  

I had fun snapping some pictures of my own - Doris's adorable grandchildren!

Mary Ellen holding little Brinley.

Grandma Mary with Doris's youngest daughter Ellen.

The reception was held at a famous Lancaster County spot - Shady Maple Smorgasbord.  Our table - Destiny, Mary Ellen, Grandma Mary, Dick and Nancy.

Doris with Brinley.  She's just a bit younger than Sammy, but so petite!  

Greta with her mom and aunts.

Paityn and Aiden cutting it up on the dance floor!

Some adults cutting it up on the dance floor!  Anyone recognize the guy with his back to the camera?  Haha!  How I wish I had been quick enough to take a video.

Checking in on Sam and Sammy

After leaving the reception Destiny and I went to check how Sam and Sammy are doing without Jenn.  (She's away at training for two-and-a-half weeks.)  So far so good!  Sam gets an A+ in my book.  He reminds me of a kid with a new toy doing show-and-tell!!  I  honestly don't know if I've ever witnessed a father-son connection like these two have, and it brings tears to my eyes and joy to my heart.    

Back home

I took a half hour nap while Sammy napped.  Then around 6:30 Destiny and I headed back to State College.  (She's staying for two weeks to help take care of me!)  I watched my speed with great trepidation, and it did indeed take longer to get back home than usual.  

We're enjoying a bouquet from the reception yesterday.  That big yellow rose smells amazing!

Summer weather!  

Was it really cold here last week???  Today it was 90.  Dick and Destiny went to the pool this evening.  

Surgery week

So this is surgery week.  I'm planning to get all my hours at the church office in by Wednesday.  I have no idea what my next month or two look like.  But I do know that I'm glad I'm going through with it.  Every night is hard.  I pray that eventually the pain will be less and my nights will be better. 

Knocking things off my list

So what have I been doing?  Not taking pictures, unfortunately!  Let's see....

Friday evening we went to Fillmore's monthly spaghetti supper fundraiser.

Saturday I stayed home all day working on prep for my next DVD and on my house.  I even ignored the community yard sale that was going on outside, even though I would have had things to sell.  

Sunday we church hopped.  First our regular 8:15 service at Fillmore, then our 10:30 service at Houserville.  After that I said to Dick, "Let's go to Unity (Anthony and Lori's church).  I just really want to see Austin."  So we did.  When we got there the children were transitioning to Sunday School, so Anthony and Lori were in the lobby.  They were so surprised to see us and said they had just mentioned on the way to church that we should do lunch together.  They decided to leave before the service was over (we were in a time crunch) and we went to Hoss's together.  It was just what my heart needed.

Later in the afternoon we attended a farewell dinner for our Fillmore pastor and his wife - Duane and Terry.  It was a light, but VERY delicious buffet meal.  The best part was hearing all the stories and words of affirmation that people shared.  I have things I would like to write about our appreciation of them, but I will have to do it another time.

On Monday evening we ate at Texas Roadhouse.  I know, I know!!  You'd think I don't know how to cook or something!  Remember when Houserville joined together with a motorcycle club to do a fund raiser Easter egg hunt and barbecue for a six-year-old girl fighting Leukemia?  Well, that little girl and her family have been through hell and back since then.  She's been getting an experimental treatment at CHOP, and there were some very desperate days.  But the treatment worked!  She went home from the  hospital last week and is currently cancer-free!  All that to say that on Monday evening Texas Roadhouse was donating ten percent of all their proceeds to Emily's family.  We ate lightly.  I got their grilled chicken salad and it was really, really good.

Today Anthony and I shot five of the ten lessons for my next DVD - The Musical Keyboard.  This time I took all my stuff to his studio in State College to do the shooting, instead of him dragging all his lights and camera here.  Of course, I couldn't take my piano there, but he borrowed a very nice keyboard from their church.  Things went pretty well, I think.  On Friday we plan to shoot the other five lessons.  That will be a huge relief to have that out of the way before my surgery.  We'll have to wait until August to shoot the next one, since I won't be able to write on my white board for six weeks.

A week from tomorrow is surgery day.  Gradually I'm getting things  knocked off my list, and I'm pretty much too busy to think too much about it.

Oh!  I just remembered that I wanted to say that today Jenn had to leave for two-and-a-half weeks of training at a base in Kansas.  So Sam and Sammy will be batching it.  I HATE that we're so far away.  I cannot say enough how proud I am of Sam for the loving, involved dad that he is.  Sammy is a very blessed little boy.   

My wig and my grandchildren

One of the first things I decided when I realized I would have to have surgery on my shoulder was that I would get a wig.  My hair is thin and fine, and it takes a lot of work to get it decent-looking enough for me to walk out of the house.  And that's with two arms, especially my right one.  Our friends at Houserville have great fun teasing that Dick will have to learn to do my hair!

That very same Monday evening in the grocery store (mentioned in my last post), when I was battling in my mind about what to do with the appointment that was scheduled with the orthodedic doctor, I was standing in the check-out lane and noticed a woman's hair in another lane.  Ever since I moved up here, if I see someone's hair that I like, I ask them where they get their hair done.   When I asked this lady she said softly,  "It's a WIG!"  I said,  "Really??  Then let me ask you where  you got your wig.  I'm going to be needing shoulder surgey and I'm planning to get one."  She said that she too had had shoulder surgery and gave me the name of a person here in this area known as The Hair Lady. 

This morning I had an appointment with her.  As I looked around I was thinking how fun it would be to have longer, thicker hair, but I'm not bold enough to do anything crazy.  So we tried several that were light brown and short like my own hair.   I haven't had hair over my ears for years, and frankly, I can't stand how it feels.  So I got the only one that allowed my ears to get some air, haha!  She even had me try putting it on with one hand, and it didn't go too badly.  I'm afraid it still looks like a wig, but I guess that's because it is one!

Destiny said this past weekend that it's too bad we don't still have the wig that she used to play with when she was little.  Hahaha!

 

This morning Jenn texted me this adorable picture of Sammy.  He's getting around on his own now, and this morning he apparently discovered himself in the mirror!  Is that cute or what?  Sam said he would kiss himself and then laugh!!

This evening Anthony posted this precious picture of  Austin showing a booboo to Lori after his bath.  Look at that face.  He makes me want to cry.  Our paths did not cross one time this week and I miss him like crazy.

I just love technology!  This evening Lisa texted me several videos of Sophie practicing gymnastics.  She has really improved since the last time I got to watch her in October.  And she looks so tall and slender!  Where did that chubby, little cutie get to???