So it's been a while since I've written here. How are you all doing? Is anyone out there? *this is a test* ;)

They had waited SO LONG....

The Promised Messiah; He would come and save them. He was their answer. He would come, wouldn't he? But the nation of Israel waited and waited. They waited some more. No Messiah. Just the same old same old day after day after day. Nothing new. No hope. No light. No Promised One. No Messiah.

What had happened to the Messiah? Were they wrong to believe the ancient prophets of old who foretold this great event? Why in the world was it taking so long, if it really was true? How long o Lord, how long?

Waiting; you see, this is nothing new. So much of our present day life is filled with waiting. Filled with delays. Filled with the exasperation of wondering if that ever-elusive long-awaited event will ever happen?

And then, as soon as it happens, we're on to the next thing. And then the story repeats itself.

One thing that is consistent throughout all time is that too often we are always straining ahead. We're tired of the 'old', so bring in the 'new'.

So often as we strain to look past what we have, we miss what we HAVE. Too often I miss the joy of the anticipation, which is mine to choose over frustration. I often allow myself to become anxious instead of accepting the gift of peace to hold me together calmly as I wait the inevitable 'wait'.

So it was that even when the Messiah arrived as a small Baby Jesus, born to a virgin, Mary, that he was not readily recognized. His appearance and form caught them totally off-guard. They were looking too far ahead; to a grown man, when instead, first they would get to enjoy the gift of a newborn baby to love. A child to grow, to become, to present himself, as the Messiah.

He had come. He was here long before it was confirmed to them. Long before.

So it is with us: our long-awaited joys are here. Right now. Let's not miss them. Let's embrace the wait, because we know that we are not alone. The gift of the Christmas season is the message that God is WITH us.
GOD is with us.
God is with US.

What a true miracle, that God came to earth in the form of a pure and spotless baby, walked on our paths, ate our foods, felt what we feel, touch what touches us, all for love of us. And then he left so that he could send an ever-present Holy Spirit to take up his residence inside us.... So that still, he can walk our paths, eat with us, feel what we feel, touch what touches us, all for love of us.

We need to wait no more....He is here. Our long-awaited Messiah.
Rejoice in Him!
The long wait has ended.

And....we rejoice, because one day: Christ will come again.
And in that blessed hope, we wait.
Embrace the wait.

40 Days until Christmas

So today I realized that it is only 40 days until Christmas.
And next week is Thanksgiving Day, already! My goodness!

I think it's time to get into the holiday spirit, ready or not, to begin to prepare for this joyous time of year with great anticipation and expectancy!

I haven't felt nearly as ready for the holidays this year. It's been a tumultuous year in many ways, at least since the accident in May. Our family has been displaced from a 'home' and even still are only in a temporary rented home.

As we look forward over the coming month there is much to look forward to, to anticipate. Many changes are ahead. Good changes. Many decisions, much work, and the ever present unknowns.

One thing I am learning, however, is that there are things more important than 'things' and that sometimes the intangible is more to be desired than the touchable.

There will always be an array of issues that could tend to shake my peace and threaten to rob some measure of joy. But absolutely nothing is worth trading these gifts; gifts that God wants to daily give to me....nothing should take these away. I choose peace and I choose joy and I am grateful!

So, in that spirit of thankfulness and gratitude, let the holiday season begin!

Why wait? Let the preparation begin in my heart. May each of the 40 days ahead be a celebration of the gifts God gives to us every day....Joy. Peace. Hope. Love. Life. Abundant Life...to name a few.

Physical Therapy Continues

A few weeks back I was 'released' from physical therapy. Of course, that sounds good! But then again, I know I have a long ways yet to go to get to normal. So, we wonder, what about that? Yes, I'll work on exercises still at home, yes, time will continue to bring things back around....But? Should I be done, we wondered?

Well, today, the doctor answered that for us. I went for my visit and he recommended I continue with the physical therapy for a while longer, since I was still receiving help and seeing progress. So that is good news, really, all in all. More opportunity to receive optimal benefits that therapy can offer in this time frame.

And I also will bring back the prayer request for additional blood flow to the talus bone that was broken in the ankle. It still needs increased blood flow or there could be problems down the road. Please pray that this is a total healing! I do believe that God will grant this, and your prayers are greatly appreciated as you join with me, in praying and believing this to be true!

That's all for now. I continue to 'saunter' down the road of recovery.

Progressing!

Sometimes in order to realize how far I'm coming I am forced to look back and see how far I've come....so please allow me to do that here. =)

Tim purchased a Meijer Garden Membership for me on the last day of June so that I might go often and bring a friend. (I needed something to do to entertain myself this summer!)
And so I've been there quite a few times since June....first with Tyler, other times with Jeanne, with Sherri, with Tim, and maybe another time or two here and there...always in a wheelchair.

Well, I am pleased as punch and THANKFUL to God to say that today I went there with my friend, Lisa, and for around an hour, we strolled through the Gardens at a very relaxed pace, taking a couple of sit-down breaks, and I did my own WALKING! And I did very well, I might add. That's progress....that's real progress, and I am excited about this!


It was SO good for me to do this today, because as I've realized often these past few weeks, the more I recover and the closer I get to being back to 'normal', the more frustrated I can tend to be at the gap that still definitely does exist between where I am and where I need yet to be.



So looking back and realizing how far I've come, that definitely helps! SO today I am celebrating a major milestone! Walking through Meijer Gardens...and what a beautiful October day to do so!

Blessings....#40...

#40 walking cane-free
#41 an unexpectedly lovely, sunny, mild October day
#42 summer hotel living is over
#43 comfy socks
#44 friendships - old and new

Cane-free

Today was my first total day to be out of the house without the cane. I attended a conference all day at church, and decided to not take my cane along. It was freeing to be cane-free...and also quite an adventure at the same time.

No, I will not be signing up for any marathons any time soon.
Yes, I did feel like I might topple over a couple of times.
No, my stride is not yet smooth.
Yes, my ankle still feels stiff.
No, I didn't know recovery would be this hard and take this long.
But, yes, I'm moving forward...making progress...heading in the right direction.

So I continue to count my blessings, of which I have many. Cane-free, this day is another mile-marker for my journey of recovery.