Weirdly ill

I've been ill.  I had lovely red lumps show up on my eyelids, legs, feet and hands.  And fevers.  And sore joints.   For nearly two weeks now.  Not fun.

Look at those attractive eyelids!  NOT a pretty sight.   

I've been off work, visiting the doctor and staying home eating broths & fruit & vegetables & herb tea.  Every morning I've drug my sore body out of bed and done my yoga exercises, doing my best to praise and trust God.

My dear friends and family have been praying for healing and encouraging me.  Blessings! 

I've had plenty of time this holiday to appreciate little things, like good health, the love and care of friends and family, and the devotion and care of an amazing husband.

Here I am today.  I visited the doctor and got a good report.  Most of my red bumps have faded.  No fevers for three days.  Sore joints getting better.  Thank you Jesus!  

The doctors are still not sure what caused all the weird symptoms, and are amazed at how quickly I've been improving with no medications.  But I know why.  And I'm so grateful.

I didn't get much done on these days off.  When the fevers took hold, I just wanted to sit on the couch bundled in quilts and layers of jammies and socks.   But I did manage to finish stringing necklaces and making earrings for my lovely sister.   And the package went out today!  So look out for it sis!

So this Christmas season 2010 has been quite different than I'd expected.  I've been given a gift of perspective, a gift of seeing how truly blessed I am every "normal" day.  I've been given the gift of appreciating good health, and the humble realization that it could have gone either way:  health or illness.  None of us are promised ease and an absence of challenges.  We are just promised that He will walk with us as we travel through the valleys and climb mountains.  May your Christmas be blessed.   May you feel the joy and faith that comes with the birth of a Savior.  My love to you all!

"Always be joyful.  Keep on praying.  No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus."
                                                                             First Thessalonians 5:16-17

I am blessed.   So much beauty, so much good surrounds me in this life.  May I always appreciate.  May I always exhibit gratitude. 

Hugs to you all!

Love is Patient

I surely hope you have been blessed by Love~~

Life is a Gift

Yes it is~ what a wonderful busy weekend. We are getting ready for church camping and the Scottish Games, so we had to make sure our pet babysitter was fully informed of all the pets needs and quirks. I hadn't realized how weird our pets are! Dakota the Lab loves to roll on the rug in front of the front door and make Chewbaca noises, the bigger kitty Foster loves to lap water in the shower stall, etc. We are blessed that we could adopt these four rescue pets. They bring so much love and grins into our daily lives.
We also had Mom and Dad and Nick over. Mom made fabulous organic stuffed zucchini...yum-oh~
Today we drove to Carmichael and worshipped with Michelle and Nick. Got to chat with our prior pastor and thoroughly felt moved to worship God with praise and songs!


OK, More earrings for the gallery:

"Life is a Gift" Copper and turquoise.



Lucky Heart earrings. The little hearts were a booger to saw out of silver...I think my eyes were crossed for days after this! :-)
Have a blessed Monday my friends. Have a lovely week~

Hidden Jewels

I had an interesting patient visit my mammography room today. An elderly Asian lady crept in slowly for her afternoon appointment. She was wearing scuffed sandals, faded sweatpants and an old baggy T-shirt with some company's logo. I stepped out to let her change into one of our gowns, and when I returned I saw the necklace that she was wearing under the old t-shirt. It was an exquisite jeweled heart, bigger than a half dollar. And as I turned the pendant to her back, to move it from the mammogram area, I saw the back inscribed with "I Love You".

I took all of the images needed for the exam, and then asked her, "Who gave you that heart?"

She smiled shyly and said, "My daughter."

It tickled me so! A hidden treasure masked by a humble appearance. And made me think that we all have a hidden treasure~~~Jesus' love. His immense and unbelievable love. And I smile as I think of my beautiful treasure from Him.

Bless you all, my friends.

Susan Lenart Kazmer inspired pendant

It's done! I love how it turned out and will wear it tomorrow at work. "JOY" and a reminder to rely on Jesus. The cross is at the bottom of the piece and accurately depicts how I so often leave Jesus for last, but can't have true joy without Him.

Back to work after 13 days off...do I remember how to do my job? LOL! Well, it was a great time. My DH is healing so well and feeling strong. He'll start back to work on Tuesday.

Maybe life will be "normal" for a while?!