Saturday, December 20, 2008

Dear Brothers and Sisters,


Will you pray with me?
Will you pray for me?

Some of you know about my weird nose issues. I'm definitely not proud of them. But in a nutshell, my sinuses just need to be replaced. In the past two months I have been on four rounds of antibiotics. The funny thing is, right before I started my first round I had learned a lot about antibiotics and decided I really didn't want to be on them again unless absolutely necessary. HA!
So, my ear-nose-and-throat doctor and I have become good friends and I have financed all of his children's Christmas presents I am pretty sure. Once an infection crept in, he has kept a close eye on me seeing if the pollyp disease would try and rear it's ugly self. So far I have been totally clear and just full of mucus... mmmm, this is my mom's only gross-out subject!
Yesterday I went in for a check up after a double round of antibiotics before leaving for the Christmas holiday. Plus, we had finally met our deductible and he wanted to do some of the more extensive check up stuff that costs more since it would be free! (See, he really is a nice guy...) I moseyed in and took my turn waiting for over an hour in the waiting room (that's why I usually go in the morning and not in the afternoon... they are always backed up!). I enjoyed reading magazines. Finally I went back and reported clear mucus and minor head pain... which is AMAZING compared to my usual report. She thought I was fine. Then in came the doctor....
Ears...check, fine
Eyes,.. check, fine
Throat.. check, fine
Outer nose/facial...check, fine
"looks good so far"
Nose... "OH MY GOSH, HOW DO YOU DO THAT?!" ummm...?
My doctor then proceeded to rant a little about how could such a pretty little girl like me make such a nasty mess inside her nose and how oh how did that stuff withstand the antibiotics etc etc etc...
So he ordered the spray... have you ever been sprayed in your nose for a scope? Well, if not, you're lucky. It's SICK NASTY! They spray this stuff and it usually runs right past my nose and then proceeds down my throat where it burns and turns my whole mouth and throat numb despite my chugging my entire water bottle to prevent said numbing.
Then the doctor comes in with a two foot rubber thingy with a light on the end and proceeds to shove it up my nose. lovely, I know. Remember, my nose is not actually numb... just my throat.
"ooh, nooo, ugh...not good" (me thinking..."great")
"we need something else"
Then he proceeds to get a metal rod about 10 inches long with a light on the end and shove THAT up my nose. mmm, fun.
"ooh, no no no, ugh...gross" (me thinking... "great")
"Okay we need something else"
Next they come in with a 6 inch metal rod that has a sucker-thingy on the end. I'm just resigned to humiliation and grossness at this point.
I'll spare you the rest of the details but basically he determined that I still had an infection in both sides and that pollyps had returned and were growing in a very very precarious place. (great)
After all of this and him speaking most of the information into a recorder instead of to me he uttered the horrible word "surgery"
AGAIN... number 4
So, I began to get teary-eyed, which prompted him to pass me on to one of his assistants to book the xray and surgery. She is the one he always pushes the crying ones to. haha.
So, I am booked for surgery in January right before the start of the spring semester.

All of this is to give you a little laugh and a little motivation to pray.
I know that we worship a living God who works in the lives of his people in real ways. He is the Healer and Provider of all good things. I believe he can heal me of this but if that is not his will I believe he will provide for us as we struggle with what to do time and again with this stuff.
Please pray with boldness for healing and provision.
Though a nose is a very small part of the body it really effects a whole ton of things with my body. Though I look and feel completely fine my body is malfunctioning and needs a healing much more completely than anything my doctor or I can do.
Please pray.

Saturday, December 6, 2008

Let it snow, Let is snow, Let it snow!



I just want to paint you a couple of pictures....

One week ago:

There is a girl and she is sitting alone in a half finished room. There is no light coming in the window and both couch and table are covered in books, notes and notecards. The girl is quiet, tense, stressed, tired. The notecards keep coming, stacks upon stacks. The notes are jumbled and the pages of the books bent. Dust rests on the floor and grime on the tub. The oven is cold as well as the stove and the frigde...empty.

Today

There is the same girl, sitting by a window in a crowded coffee shop. The computer buzzes as she types to friends and her chai latte warms her. Her purse is void of books or notecards. The floor in her home is swept and mopped, the shower cleaned and the fridge full and overflowing with baked goods. Her appearance is clear if not slightly confused, for she has no idea what to do with all her time without homework to do and books to read. She is glad.

This is me! I am done done done. I finished my Hebrew final on Thursday amidst major construction in the room next door (I want to personally thank Dr. Mohler or who ever is in charge for being so considerate of all the students and making sure that there was construction in EVERY building that finals were commencing. Thank you for sanctifying me that much more!! Thank you for making sure it was that much harder to pass Hebrew for many students and for all the times my mind blanked completely during a timed essay....I am a better person for it...maybe)
Okay okay, that's a little sassy... I'm sorry. But seriously! As if the over priced coffee wasn't enough! okay, I'll move on!

I do love seminary. Really and I do love and respect Dr. Mohler and all the seminary staff that has worked so hard to make Southern so outstanding but I don't appreciate the construction during finals.

Where was I.... oh yes, I'm DONE!!
Yesterday I did some holiday shopping and errand-running. Today I went to a Christmas party at the church and am cruising the web while my hubby works. It's snowing and I'm wearing a hot pink scarf and just received hot pink gloves to match! We are eating great food and watching Christmas movies with some of our favorite people tonight and the world just seems grand. I'm about to do a little more Christmas shopping and try to think of some more Christ-centered traditions for us this advent season!
This next week, though I am still working, will be filled with the giggles and screams of all my friends dear little ones that I will see, lots of baking and eating, sewing and knitting, reading (for pleasure!) and sleep! Soon my dear friend Joy will be in town with her beautiful red headed daughter and then my sweet sis and her bf(boy friend) will be here the next week and then we head home for the holidays!

Soon I hope to post all the house updates (tile in the kitchen!), some holiday recipes and catch you all up on life (Drew got a promotion of sorts!)

Happy Advent-season!