First Things First

Thank you for your prayers, sweet friends!

So...where do I even begin?

Most of you know that for the past couple of years I have been having health issues
with more unanswered questions as time moved forward.
Even though there was no clear path as to where all of this was heading,
we felt secure in our decision to move towards our dream of retiring in rural Tennessee
and building our farmhouse.

We made another trip back to Duke in NC for scheduled appointments on April 24th

and after reading the results of my CT scan, I was admitted into the hospital.
With all of the COVID precautions in place, no visitors of any kind were allowed
 so  Jim dropped me off at the door.
I was tested for the dreaded virus and was declared negative.
~

I underwent four different procedures in my first four days there and of course,

another biopsy was one of them.

After waiting about 5 days (it was over a weekend) the results came back showing

a malignancy in the bile duct and liver.
I knew there was something really wrong but hearing the actual word left me numb.
It was a day or so later and a little reluctantly, I reached out to Diana for a prayer request.
 ~

I was discharged the Friday before Mother's Day and was able to spend it with Aaron

and his boys...it was a good weekend.

 

What happened next is something I'm still trying wrap my brain around.

On that Monday morning as we were returning back to TN, 

I noticed the vision in my left eye was cloudy with lots of floaters with what looked like pepper
 and throughout the day, it was only getting worse.

I was completely without any vision in my left eye whatsoever when we arrived at home.

We went directly to the ER at Vanderbilt where they found after blood tests
that I had a severe bacterial infection in my bloodstream and it had gone into my left eye.

Are you kidding me, Lord?

I was admitted to without hesitation and they began treatment for the infection
and immediately given injections of antibiotics in my eye...
...and yet again, tested for COVID....which came back negative, as expected.
The doctor put it to me straight...he was not sure I would recover any vision in my left eye.

A couple of days later I was scheduled to go into surgery in hopes to wash the eye out 

the best they could and inject more antibiotics.

Before any surgical procedure, the dreaded COVID test is a must (#3 for me!) 

and two hours before I was to go to surgery, I got a call telling me my test was POSITIVE!

Where are you, Jesus?

I was in total disbelief and quickly moved to the COVID floor even though I had no symptoms.

I truly wanted to crawl into a hole and never come out.

~

But glory be to God, they did the surgery and the next morning after the eye patch removed,

my vision had greatly improved...I could see blurry images and even read a few letters on a card!

My doctor was astounded...and I was praising the Lord!

There you are, Lord!

After a week at Vanderbilt with not one COVID symptom in sight, they let me go home...

...in RV quarantine for 10 days, still completely asymptomatic.

YAY, GOD!

~

So this is where I stand at the moment...

I am on IV antibiotics at home for two more weeks for the infection

and no treatments for the cancer can be started until this nasty bacterial infection is gone.

First things first.

I met with my oncologist via Zoom and was really impressed with her.

We discussed some new treatments that were out there and she was very encouraging.

~

So needless to say, my life this past month has been absolutely surreal.

I have experienced every emotion possible.

Meltdowns? I've had a few and I'm sure there are more on the horizon...

...but I'm doing my best to stay positive.

Mostly, I'm having a hard time trying to make any kind of sense out of this...

...but what I do know is that my God is in control and He has me in the palm of His hand.

~
Again, I want to tell those who have been praying for me how much I appreciate them.
I have a new road on my journey and prayer is what will get me through this.

So that's what I've been up to...

...how about you??

Much love to all, 

Wednesday Hodgepodge

So it's Wednesday and time for another Hodgepodge.
I pray everyone is doing well and getting through this time of social distancing the best they can.
It seems to have become a new way of life, hasn't it?
And when this is all over, are you going to miss the term social distancing as much as I am?
(insert sarcasm here)
~
So over the weekend we planted us a little garden...




It doesn't look like much now (who knows, maybe it never will) but if all goes well,
there will be corn, pole beans, yellow and zucchini squash, cucumbers,
two varieties of tomatoes, sweet potatoes and later this summer,
 I plan to try my hand at spinach and beets.
This should be interesting...
~
So enough of my babbling and let's head on over to the Hodgepodge....
...I think you know what to do. 😊

*CLICK HERE*

1. What's something you resolved to do this year? 

First and foremost would be to get some definitive answers to these nagging health issues which have become the biggest thorn in my flesh for nearly a year a half. Of course, it's not anything that's in my control but let me just say that I'm doing everything I can do...the rest is up to the Great Physician. Secondly, to finally get somewhat settled here in our new surroundings in Tennessee...for months it seemed like we were just on a very l-o-n-g camping trip...without actually going anywhere. 

Have you done it? I'd say that we are as settled as we can be here, now that we are actually on our property and will very soon be watching the farmhouse become a reality...God willing and the creek don't rise! Stay tuned...it should be soon!

2. Where do you go to find quietude?

Around here, quietude (I love that word) is in great abundance and is easily found...whether it's taking a leisurely stroll along the perimeter of the land, a hike into the Enchanted Forest...

 ...or walking along the bank of the winding creek...quietude is everywhere to be "heard".

When the weather doesn't allow, I have a little spot reserved here in the RV....with a door. 😊
Very soon, this lovely quietude will be replaced by the sounds of big trucks and heavy equipment so I will have to drift a little farther away to find it. I'm not complaining though.

3. A friend asked this question on her Facebook page and said I could borrow it for the Hodgepodge...you're only allowed to buy 5 things at the grocery store, and all must start with the first letter of your first name. Whatcha' buying?

This was no easy feat! I thought this was going to be a piece of cake...hmmm...cake....nope that's a "c". So after much contemplation, here's my list...

*Dannon Light & Fit Yogurt

*Dried apricots

*Dark chocolate

*Dry cereal (aren't most cereals dry?)

*Dessert...(a.k.a. CAKE!)

4. The television show Survivor, the Gloria Gaynor song 'I Will Survive', survival mode, survival of the fittest...pick one and discuss.

Honestly, none of these really fit who I am. Now if you want to literally take the title of the Gloria Gaynor song, "I Will Survive", I'll go with that option...because I will! 👍

5. Share a favorite quote or saying about strength.

And after you have suffered a little while,

the God of all grace, who has called you to his 

eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore,

confirm, strengthen and establish you.

1 Peter 5:10

6. Insert your own random thought here.

For the past several days, we had been having trouble with the thermostat in the RV. It would either go all the way up to 90 (even on cool) or would just turn off or on inadvertently. We tried resetting it to no avail...that sucker seemed to have a mind of it's own! So after a bit more tinkering with the controls, I took off the cover....and what did I find? Are you ready?

All of a sudden, I had yet ANOTHER reason to despise stink bugs! No more problems...except for a few of those little monsters who refuse to leave. 😖

So that's it for me until next time...and I'll have to miss the party next week.

I'll be traveling to Duke in NC on Thursday for several appointments over the next week

and an essential procedure that cannot be rescheduled...kinda scary right now, I know.

The first thing I am not looking forward to getting tested for COVID19...

I wonder if it's as awful as they say it is? But a necessary evil, just the same.

 I do so covet your prayers, dear friends!

♥Hugs to all!♥

Wednesday Hodgepodge (no clever title)

Gee, it sure is hard to believe that Easter has come and gone already.
And never do I ever remember a Resurrection Sunday quite like this one
 and I'm sure we all had our own unique celebrations and experiences.
We had our Easter celebration/meal up the hill with the family on Saturday, which was beautiful...
...we knew what would be coming on Sunday.
We had heavy, heavy rain and thunderstorms that did not let up all day and went into the night.
So on Sunday morning, after we watched the live stream of our church's worship service,
we literally were stuck in the RV for the rest of the day.
Not the most desirable way to celebrate Easter Sunday, but hey, we do what have to do!
I basically looked through the freezer and pantry and cooked what we had...

...country pork ribs and sauerkraut in my vintage crockpot.
Somehow during the process after the meat and kraut was done,
the crockpot had gotten turned off and just as I was making the instant mashed potatoes in the microwave
(yes, instant...remember this is an RV) the power went off...just great!
I was baking cornbread in the oven (which is gas) and it was the only part of the meal that was hot.
There we sat by the light of dim battery powered lanterns for a good two hours...
...and then...behold...let there be light!
A very nontraditional meal for a very nontraditional Easter...but it's all good!
~
So let's head on over to Joyce's Hodgepodge...I'm pretty sure you know it works.

**CLICK HERE**

1. In Monday’s post I mentioned I would incorporate the word I was given for letter K into this week’s questions. That word was karaoke. On a scale of 1-10 how excited would you be to find out there was karaoke happening at your next gathering/outing with friends? 10=gimme that microphone!, and 1=I suddenly remembered there’s somewhere else I need to be. Probably about an 8. Have you ever actually done karaoke? Yes...just point me in the right direction, depending on the venue...no smoky bar rooms, please. And make sure my DIL, Carrie is with me because we can sing a mean duet (she actually sang to Adam at the altar)). We used to go to a Friday night buffet at a family restaurant (no less, called Ray's) back when we had our cabin in Virginia. I remember she and I sang "You Say it Best When You Say Nothing at All" by Alison Krauss. It was a fun, family atmosphere and all ages were involved. There may have been another time or two for actual karaoke but all of my life my singing has been with my siblings at family gatherings and for many years on the worship team at church....kinda like karaoke, right?  If you had to perform karaoke what would be your ‘go-to’ song? Hmm...there are too many to name just one.

2. How do you listen to music these days? 

It depends on my mood or the situation but for the most part, I like the peace and quiet that's not afforded to me being cooped up here in the RV with Jim and our sweet little TV that pulls in four...count 'em...four channels. And there's music blaring from the moment the ignition is turned on when you get in his car...plus I can always tell when he's driven my car because he leaves my radio on too. There are way too many sounds of being on this land...the rushing waters of the creek after it rains...so many lovely bird songs...or maybe even turkeys calling from a distance that I'd rather be listening to. Favorite app or do you listen the old fashioned way? Although I do have the Amazon Prime music app on my phone, I don't use it that much. At Christmastime I did set up a playlist (I do love me Christmas music), some soft classical sleeping music and favorite praise and worship songs when these crazy steroids won't allow me to sleep. Do you have music playing often in your home? Not often. You know, it's funny how we can change through the years...there was a time I remember music always playing in the background on any given day. Now don't get me wrong, I love music but sometimes it can just become noise to me. Is there still a CD player in your car? Yes, but I never use it.

3. The HP lands on US tax day this year. Or what used to be tax day before everything including filing your taxes was cancelled, delayed, postponed or extended. FYI- filing your taxes has not been cancelled, only delayed for a bit. Besides staying away from anyone and everyone, what have you found taxing lately?

The quarantine hasn't really bothered me that much since I have lots of room to roam so I guess the most taxing for me has nothing to do with our current events. I guess I would have to say that the crazy side effects of prednisone...new ones...ones I've never had before after being on them for months would be my answer. I am on a slow taper but it seems to be crawling along at a snail's pace. No one (including me) knows what version of Debby they may be getting from one day to the next.

4. You’re without power so no oven, and you can’t open your frig or freezer in order to keep what’s in there from spoiling. And you don’t have access to take out. What will you make us for dinner?

Well first of all, there's no power outage that would keep me from sneaking the door of the fridge open for a few seconds if I was hungry. So it would either be cheese and crackers or a bowl of cereal. Which would you like?

5.  I’ve seen this exercise going around Facebook and thought it would be a good one to include in the HP...what are five things everybody seems to love and go crazy for that you personally don’t care for?

I'm not sure I have seen this on Facebook but I'll take a shot at it...the obsession with celebrities, entertainment and sports, only to name a few. Now this is only my own personal opinion...no judgement here! 

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

So last week, my long zoom camera lens rolled off my lap to the floor and broke which really upset me. But my camera is an older one and I was relieved to be able to find another one on ebay...actually, a different (and better quality) lens for a very good price. So I ordered it and was pleasantly surprised to find out it would only take a few days to get to me. I received the email notification stating the date of delivery...then that's when I saw it....MY OLD ADDRESS!! I hadn't placed an order on ebay for probably over a year and when I went through the ordering process, it didn't even cross my fogged up brain to update my address! What a big dummy! Thankfully, it was being sent through USPS and they had my forwarding address. So back to the post office in Greensboro, NC it went and I followed the tracking info as it made its way to TN...to Knoxville...then on to Nashville and then right on to me, only taking a couple days longer for delivery...good job, USPS! Here are just a few random pics I have taken...and remember, beauty is only in the eye of the beholder. 😉

 

 

So until next time, Hodgepodgers....

...many blessings to you this week!

A Hodgepodge Full of Grace

It has been a BEAUTIFUL week here in the "holler".

The dogwoods and redbuds have nearly reached their peak...

...as wildflowers of all denominations are waking up from their long winter's nap.

 

The skies have been amazingly blue as the creek burbles over rocks and branches.

I am still pinching myself, if you know what I mean. 😉

 ~
But it is Wednesday and time for the Hodgepodge!

So click on the link below to take you on over to Joyce's blog.

You know the drill...come join the fun!

🌸 CLICK HERE 🌸

1. How will you celebrate Easter this year?

We were all just discussing this yesterday. The weather here has been lovely but little pockets of cool and rainy days are still in the mix and according to the forecast it could be rainy and in the 60s so an Easter Morning Sunrise gathering is quite unlikely. So after taking part in our morning worship services online, it could be Cracker Barrel Easter Dinner take-out (which I hear is really good) and Adam mentioned something about possibly smoking a pork butt. The kiddos are past the days of colored eggs (which makes me kinda sad) but no matter what, we'll all be together...most likely just hangin' out on their back porch. No matter what we decide to eat, it will be day of just being with family and rejoicing that we serve a RISEN LORD!

2. Is it easier for you to receive grace offered or extend grace to another? Explain.

It has always been easier for me to be the extender of grace rather than the receiver, I can't even explain it...even when I know that according to God's word, He extends His unrelenting grace and unmerited favor to all of us. It's hard to understand the whys and the hows of it all... I can be so hard on myself at times. Anyone in my corner? 

Maybe it's that confidence thing...but there's one thing I'm very sure of and that is...
3. Do you say grace before meals?  Ouch, Joyce!! I would be lying if I answered 'always' to this question. I am sad to say that the answer is not always and not often enough...not gonna lie. If so do you have a standard dinnertime grace or is it more 'off the cuff'? Off the cuff, I'd say. Do you say grace when dining out? It actually blesses my heart to be a part of or even witness couples or groups of people say grace at a restaurant. There is no good reason not to do this so I will not even try to make excuses for myself when I forget. Do you have a favorite grace? My favorite grace is not memorized, but one that just plain and simply comes from the heart...unlike the little poem-like grace we used to recite at the table when I was a little girl...."God is great, God is good, Let us thank Him for this food... By His hands we are fed, Give us Lord, our daily bread.....AMEN!!! Any special memory associated with 'saying grace'? Oh yes....and we still tease Adam about it every chance we get. He was probably about eight and he always rose to the occasion to pray at mealtime. You'd have thought he was a long-winded preacher! He would bless everyone sitting around the table, all of his family present or not present and those unaccounted for, his Sunday School teachers and the pastor and everyone at church...I can't even begin to name them all. So it was around 1990-91 and the prayers that we remember most were when he always ended up blessing everyone over in Saudi Arabia during the Gulf War as well! The food? Well, when (or if) he remembered to bless the food, he would name each entree one by one...but he usually forgot to mention the the food entirely! Needless to say, we rarely ate a hot meal! To this day, when he prays for the family meal, someone ends the prayer by saying, "and bless all the people over in Saudi Arabia....Amen!" 😂

4. What are some challenges you think the next generation will face? (Generation Alpha-born between 2011 and 2025)

Oh wow...good question. Reality is the word I'm looking for. So many young people today pattern their lives after what they see on social media, TV, etc. and get sucked into a world that is not real. Now don't get me wrong, social media is here to stay and among all of the wonderful advantages and positive aspects it can bring to a young (or old) person's life, there is whole other, ugly side to it. It still makes me a bit sad that the simplicity of childhood as we knew it seems to be coming a thing of the past.

5. Share a favorite quote or lyric featuring the word faith.

6.  Insert your own random thought here.

The family has been busy this week trying to help fill in the gap of much needed masks, sheilds, etc. for the COVID-19 crisis. And speaking of working for the "the cause",  HERE is a video of our grandson, Parker, and a "little" project he and the family has been working with his 3-D printer to help supply some of his dad's company's imaging centers that are in dire need of much needed protective equipment such as sterizeable/reusable filtered face masks and face shields. This thing has really snowballed and along with many donation of $$, extra 3-D printers, supplies and folks jumping on board to help pump them out...well, let me just say, it has been pretty amazing!

~

Wishing you all a most blessed Resurrection Sunday!

 We will all be doing things just a bit different this year...BUT

one thing will never change...

Springin' into the Hodgepodge

So here it is, Wednesday, the first day of April...no foolin' 😉...
...and we can finally put that l-o-n-g month of March behind us.



((smiles))

Unfortunately, it sounds like the COVID-19 pandemic will most likely get much worse
before it gets better.
It's a sobering time...one that I never dreamed I'd be a witness to.
But this is not a doom and gloom post...for those of us who put their trust in the Lord,
we know who holds tomorrow!

...and on another note, entirely...

...and of course, Forrest always adds his two cents.

But right now, it's time for the Hodgepodge.

Just click on the link above, copy/paste the questions from Joyce's blog to yours,
and link your published post to the end of hers at the Linky and join the fun!

1. Has spring sprung in your part of the world? How can you tell? Did March come in like a lion where you live? Going out like a lamb or something more ferocious?

Oh, absolutely! I shared some of my springy shots with y'all last week and after more rain this past week and temps in the 70s and 80s, the trees are all turning a lush bright green...and that's just one of the ways I can tell!

 

This is the view from the bedroom and the birds have already found the feeders too. You know, it seems like March has been dragging on forever and I just remember that it was rainy and cold on March 1st. Even though we personally didn't get any of the effects from the devastating tornado in Nashville, March most definitely came in like the King of Beasts on March 3rd. How is it leaving us? Bet you can't guess...RAINY and COLD...but wait....what's that I see peeking through the clouds? Why, it looks like a touch of blue sky and the sun is on the verge of shining! More like a lamb, if you ask me. 🐑 

2. The last thing that caused you to spring to your feet?

Funny you should ask that question. Last week a man drove up and served us an "eviction" notice of sorts, can you believe it?  He was a building inspector from the county (with an attitude) and after not-so-nicely informing us that we were not allowed to live in an RV except in a RV park, told us we could not stay here. I put him on the phone with Adam (who he did not want to talk to) and after some conversation, he told Adam to call Debbie So-and-so at "this" number. Adam jumped on it immediately and in less than 30 minutes, we could breathe again. All that was needed was a copy of our blueprints and the name of our builder. Sometimes it's all about how one presents the situation and themself. It seems this certain building inspector may have been suffering from "little man syndrome". I know, I know, he was just doing his job but talk about something that will cause you to spring to your feet...WHEW! Needless to say we were singing Jesus' praises all the day long and still are!

3. Do you have a spring clean to-do list? What's one chore on the list you've already managed to accomplish? What spring clean chore do you most dread?

One thing about RV living is that it doesn't take you very long to clean anything. And in keeping with the question, my very least favorite would probably be cleaning the windows. Keeping dog slobbers off them now is my greatest challenge since they both love to lay on he back of the couch right at window level and bark at everything that moves. I found out very quickly that this is not going to be a seasonal issue....but an "all-the-time" issue. So this spring in lieu of the typical spring cleaning thing, I have some projects for the new house that I'm working on. A couple of years ago when I wrote this post, there were so many images and lots of ideas of what we wanted in the farmhouse, among them finding vintage sinks for the kitchen and both bathrooms. We were so  excited when we found a kitchen AND bathroom sink both in good condition (and more than a bit dirty) on Facebook Marketplace at the same location. We are still on the lookout for another sink whenever we're able to be out and about again. Now the real fun begins...here's just a little sneak preview for now...

4. Tell us something you've learned about yourself or the wider world as a result of social distancing/the virus crisis.

For me, personally, it has taken extraordinary circumstances like these to show me that I don't always have to be rushing off somewhere (which is a form of escape for me) and that I can find more peace and make such better use of my time now that I'm forced to stay home. I've done more praying and seeking God's will for my life these past few weeks than I've ever remembered doing. It is my utmost desire and prayer that I will not go back after COVID-19 is long gone out of the daily headlines. And in the wider world...well, there are just no words to describe how everyone from our government leaders (federal, state and local) healthcare workers, manufacturers, truckers, grocery store employees, restaurant workers, celebrities...I mean the list goes on and on...is going above and beyond anything I have ever seen. God is bringing His people together right before our very eyes. May He recieve ALL of the glory!

5. Something you love that's the color pink?

Amazon

I'll be honest...it was a long, hard winter for me. I was in the hospital in NC on two different occasions in January and when I started feeling better and getting out about again, I found myself being drawn to pink. Pink is such a happy color! I found these great base layer shirts for layering and ordered several different colors. That's right...me, someone who was always removing layers had turned into someone who couldn't get warm enough! So the pink one became my favorite...in fact, I just happen to have it on today with my pink socks, of course!

Then there was this phone case.....

Amazon

6. Insert your own random thought here.

I have no doubt that we'll all get through this and life will return to normal, whatever that looks like. But hopefully, at least for me, I hope it will be a different kind of normal...one that has taught me not to take anything for granted and to never forget that God is/was there, right in the midst of the chaos. But until then, we all have new boundary lines to observe. Then I saw this...

So that's it for another Hodgepodge! 

Hang in there...and much love to all!