Chocolate and Caramel Corn

Do you love chocolate? Caramel Corn? Have you ever eaten them one right after the other? Well I did on Saturday!

It was my birthday--no I'm not saying how "young" I am--I can't believe it myself! (My heart and being is that of a 25 year old!)

Back to the chocolate ... Well, my husband tried to find my favorite ice cream (jamoica almond fudge) and we had to settle for chocolate toffee--too bad. I received a card from an old friend that said eat lots of chocolate and enjoy myself, so I knew I was doing the right thing by imbibing on the ice cream.

You see, this friend Anne shared lots of lunches with me that ended in the jamoica almond fudge ice cream. She also taught me to downhill ski with outriggers, the short skis attached to crutches. My regular skis had the tips held together with a bunge cord in a five inch pipe that kept me from doing the splits. This also helped my ski tips to not cross each other as easily. We have so many wonderful memories of skiing together at Winter Park and Mary Jane in Colorado where they take great care of the disabled. You can check out a picture of me skiing on my website Photo page!

Well, I had to take Anne's advice and eat lots of ice cream.

But I also had to eat the homemade caramel corn our neighbor made for my b-day! Ever since reading my memoir last year, Soar Unafraid: Learning to Trust No Matter What she has remembered my birthday. I simply had to show my appreciation.

So, pig out I did! And fortunately I didn't have a stomach ache (though I suppose I deserved it.)

On Monday at 4:40 pm after my medical test I said, "I can hardly wait to eat!" having survived on clear fluids since noon on Sunday. But as we drove away while I ate crackers while looking forward to grilled chicken I thought of all the people in the world who are starving or don't have sanitary fluids to drink. And I thought about my pigging out and I felt entirely awful for being such a pig and a baby when others would have been glad for the fluids I consumed, let alone the birthday dinner and dessert(s!)

I am all too well reminded how good life is for most of us here in America. And I am entirely grateful for the blessings I have when so many do not.

Enjoy and be grateful for your generous helpings of food, clean water, and life. We are so blessed, aren't we?

Have a great week,
Jo

Sighing, but Grateful

Have you ever waited for test results and wondered and prayed?

Then you know what I'm feeling!

I missed writing last week. I missed a lot of things last week. I missed church. I missed our small home Bible study group. I missed a party I really wanted to attend where we would see old and dear friends.

When I posted last I knew I had been diagnosed with "severe iron deficiency." But it was the following week when the 5% (of the normal 15-50%) of iron coursing through my veins really began affecting me. And now--well, I'm sighing a lot because I am out of breath! And the headaches that come on me aren't fun either.

Tests are being run and ruling out various serious conditions with another coming up June 23. I'm so grateful for the medical community. I know, I know, some of you have had horrendous experiences (as have I) with some of them, but I've also had some wonderful ones.

Like June 9 when the admitting nurse was so kind and fun to talk with at the hospital. She made a special trip out to the waiting room to get book information (I have postcards about my memoir) from my husband. Then she came back to the room and waved it, telling me she's buying it to read on the airplane on her way to Africa in July!

Ten minutes ago I talked with the insurance company representative regarding prior authorization for my test scheduled June 23. I explained how important it is to go forward and find out what's wrong and after typing speedily the message in the "important" mode, she got up out of her chair and went to the nurse to explain my situation! (Now this is going the extra mile as far as I'm concerned!) She told me they would do their best to get it authorized by the doctor by Friday afternoon and she would call me as soon as it came in.

A few minutes later I received a call from Courtney at the doctor's office who told me it had been authorized! I said, "You made my day!" as I cried tears of joy. And just now Laura from the insurance company called to tell me the same thing!

Am I sighing from being out of breath? Yes. But I am also sighing at God's goodness and feeling extremely grateful. And I have so much for which to be grateful. Here are just a few examples:

I have a wonderful husband who is helpful and sweet. (And when he's not, he realizes it and works on his attitude.) He is also in life with me for the long haul and he reminds me of that.

I have friends who are praying and sending email notes of encouragement daily--which, frankly, I need. I'm human! I'm so weak I cry easily. (Ever been there? You know what I mean.) Even encouragement makes me cry--HA!

I'm receiving word that a TV interview I did while in Denver (the "Denver Celebration" that can be watched on the "Media" page of my website) is touching lives with courage and hope.

I sense that God is in control, just as Romans 8 tells me, and I can trust him with today's health adventure and the outcome. I know he wants to use me for his glory to speak and sing in the future--I have bookings I will keep, so I know he will show me how to treat this and feel better. And besides, I always rely on the Spirit's power to do anything anyway!

There are so many more things I am thankful for, but I don't have the energy to type!

Well, then, I hope I've left you with the encouragement that I have--nothing is beyond God's power to lift us up in the midst of--if we only remember his love.

More later! Have a blessed week!
Jo

PS There will be a new "Article" posted on my site later today!