Southern Porch Extension

[Edy]

2 Corinthians 4:16-18

"So we do not lose heart. Though our outer nature is wasting away, our inner nature is being renewed every day. For this slight momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, because we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen; for the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal."

What would we do without the gift of God's presence in the anguishes of life, allowing us to cry out to Him for comfort in every heartache! Praying you feel the Comforter holding you close, Don & Carol, Laurie, Joanney, Allison, and anyone else in the shadows. Praising the Lord for the touch of the Master's hand as you recover, BeachGrandma and Verna and all the rest. God bless all your bumpity hearts!

[ready2go]

I bought a book for Carol the other day titled, "Waiting For A Miracle." I have been reading a chapter or two aloud to Carol each day as she rests on the bed with her eyes closed absorbing each word. Only mid-way through the book I can already say the book is a wonderful read for anyone who is suffering physical afflictions.

It is a devotional story concerning Jan Markell's 21 year struggle with multiple illnesses and setbacks that had taken over her life. She prayed each day for 21 years to be made whole. For those who don't know who Jan is, she heads up Olive Tree Ministries in Maple Grove, MN. I personally know Jan, and have talked with her several times.

All of us are suffering in some way, but in different ways. We all need miracles in our life. Carol needs a miracle...I need a miracle...we all need them, don't we?

"Waiting For A Miracle" is a wealth of scriptural help, as well as Jan's personal account and insight while waiting for miracles to happen in her life. Perhaps it might be of help to you, too.

http://www.olivetreeviews.org/

http://www.olivetreeviews.org/books-by- ... egory_id=1

Don

[Laurie]

Verna, I hope the arm band relieves the pain in your elbow.

Allison, glad to hear your pain is minimal and I'll be glad when you can send Boa home.

The endodontist said she can't rule out needing a new bridge, but can't say for sure that I'll need one, either. The root canal healed up so that's good. The tooth pain could be from clenching my teeth. It doesn't seem like I do that, but I can believe I hold my mouth and jaw differently with all the stress/tension I've had. It better be that because I can't imagine going through the nightmare of getting a bridge again, not to mention the thousands it would cost.

My EMG didn't show carpal tunnel (not surprised since my hand doesn't get numb), but she said I could still have a mild case of it (since the test isn't ultra sensitive) and it would be appropriate to have it treated, though surgery wouldn't be necessary. She thinks the weakness in my hand (which is pretty bad these days) is probably caused from a pinched nerve in my elbow and that this is treated mostly by positioning so I may need a brace to keep it straighter. I'll see what my doctor says. I'm just glad they found a cause for this weakness so maybe we can find a way to fix it.

[Edy]

Laurie, have you tried a Sensodyne-type toothpaste? My teeth gave me misery until my dentist recommended trying it. It did make a difference. I guess its the enamel thinning as we age that can be responsible for more sensitive nerves.

[forHIM]

I know that I no longer show my face,
but, dear friends I still pray for God’s grace
to see you through your trials and surgeries
for your needs ~ still take me to my knees.

I know these are trying times,
and I too have plenty of them to climb
but I know that we will always believe
a miracle from God, we will receive.

And so as I read all the posts of need,
I pray in our lives ~ the Holy Spirit will lead
all of us into the truth, the light and the only way
that will help us all, through these trying days!


Love and Hugs to all my porch buds . . .

Me

[Verna]

Don, I'm glad you and Carol can find some encouragement in an inspiring book.

Debby, As I prayed for you this morning, I wondered how you were--and here's your sunny, caring self.

Edy, you're also sunshine here.

Laurie, thank you for your concern. The band on my arm is already helping. . . and I'm glad it's not bursitis--which is a life-long thing. I was a little worried about it because I had seen my dad walk the floor with bursitis pain in his elbow. Also, the last year that I taught in public school I wore a bite guard at night to keep from gnashing my teeth. I hadn't even known that was causing my pain till the dentist decided it was. Voila--toothache gone!

I'm glad for sunshine today--on the porch--and in my neighborhood!

[Allison]

Posted this on Facebook as well:

One week post surgery for me today... Pain was actually worse last night and this morning than it's been in awhile. Perhaps due to the new exercises in PT. But I'm still doing really well. I'm only taking pain meds twice per day. I'm already (at times) walking with one foot in front of the other and just pushing the walker ahead of me! I still have Boa and am counting down the days like you would not believe. Still have some swelling and it gets worse in the evenings, but seems to be getting slightly better each day, and I seem to be the only one concerned with it. I'm already sick and tired of this and it's only week one. I'll survive, right?

[Carole L]

Getting ready for more winter weather. Our community is still trying to clean up from all the trees and downed power lines from the Christmas day storms.

This one may cause lots outages due to ice and damaged limbs that haven't been cleared from trees yet.

I'm sceduled to see the dentist tomorrow, i really need to be able to keep the apt. Going to do a much needed root canal, I've been in lots of pain with this tooth. We tried to just do a filling last week, but pain has gotten more intense, not less.

[Laurie]

Carole, I hope nothing prevents you from getting that root canal done tomorrow. Tooth pain is really the pits. And it sounds like the weather has been a fright in your area. Ice is the worst.

Allison, glad you're coming around. It sounds like you're doing really well with walking. I realize the pain, swelling and Boa are still concerns, and I'll be glad for you when you are further along in the recovery process.

Debby, thanks for the poem and the prayers. How are you doing?

Verna, like your dad, my mom has had bursitis, and it sounds very painful. Glad to hear your arm band is already helping.

I do use Sensodyne toothpaste, but the problem tooth is one that I had the root canal on and is also an anchor tooth for my bridge so it's covered and the toothpaste doesn't get to it. I'm familiar with the mouth guards, but being an extreme gagger, I'm sure I couldn't tolerate one. I just hope the tooth settles down and I won't end up needing a new bridge. Just can't face that.

I got my business plan in the mail today. She didn't update and include the last of the information I sent her, and I sent it all to her twice. Typical. Not too many people get things right these days. So I'll dig through things yet again and print out the information so it will all be there when I review the plan with my DVR counselor. While I'm grateful for the help with the business plan, I can't say I'm incredibly impressed given her experience and what she gets paid.

We picked up my mom's 2012 Chrysler 200 today.

It looks like we're to get 6-8 inches of snow Thurs. into Fri. so I may not get to my mom's on Fri. I'll feel bad if I can't get out and she has to spend the day alone.

[forHIM]

Debby, thanks for the poem and the prayers. How are you doing?

God has placed me in this cozy nest and I am resting in His arms. Many personal things are going on in my life and I am truly living under the shadow of His wings. I am liking this very much . . . for I am truly casting all my cares upon Him and trusting that He is working all things out for my good, and more importantly for His glory!

My continued prayers go out to all. May our faithful Father take all of us under the loving care of His mighty wings!

[Laurie]

Debby, I appreciate your posts because they're great reminders of our faithful God. I really need encouragement these days.

While I was held hostage in a noisy tube this morning with no way out, I prayed for my porch pals. It was nice to have you folks and our God on my mind. Helped me to relax and not think so much about how much I don't like to be in closed in spaces. So this week I survived being shocked by an electric fencer multiple times, having needles poked into my muscles then having to tighten those muscles bringing on some pretty impressive pain, a dental x-ray without sedation (though it took numbing spray, them being all ready to snap the picture, and me putting the thing in my mouth), and being shoved in a tube forbidden to move. There are far worse tests out there to endure, but I can't say I'm sad to have them behind me, either.

[Carole L]

Infected tooth, either root canal and crown for $2000 or extraction for abt $400, after two weeks on antibiotics and painkillers

[Allison]

Laurie, I can tell you from personal experience that even getting TO a business plan, at least here in St. Louis is rare. We rarely support self employment, so that may be part of the reason. It's just so rare to have a client who is a good candidate and can complete everything and what not. So consider that to be a plus for YOU!

[Laurie]

Allison, it's that way here, too - that not many DVR clients enter self-employment. And I feel privileged that DVR has approved this step for me because I know it's costing them a lot. The person DVR hires to do the business plans is someone with many years of experience in helping small businesses and she specializes in business plans so it isn't DVR's fault that there are errors and omissions in the business plan.

What is your position with DVR? I'll always remember that you're the person who told me about this wonderful service.

[Allison]

Allison, it's that way here, too - that not many DVR clients enter self-employment. And I feel privileged that DVR has approved this step for me because I know it's costing them a lot. The person DVR hires to do the business plans is someone with many years of experience in helping small businesses and she specializes in business plans so it isn't DVR's fault that there are errors and omissions in the business plan.

What is your position with DVR? I'll always remember that you're the person who told me about this wonderful service.

I'm the intake specialist. You know the first time you came to DVR and they went over your application and asked you millions of questions? That's what I do. THen I write all that up and pass it on to the actual counselors. I also do follow up work for the counselors when clients go "missing." lol