Laurel Wreath’s Reflections

I am baaaaack, did you miss me =) Actually I am only back to reading all the wonderful things you have wrote. I will be making my rounds these next few days as much energy as I can muster.

First of all I want to thank Lauren, she is such a sweet doll. And I wish I could give her a big hug, her words of encouragement and then updating ya’ll for me was above and beyond. Thank you Lauren.

The encouraging emails and e-card sent my way have helped more than my words could explain. I am through the hard part of the surgery. But right now I look in the mirror and do not recognize who is looking back at me. Eating has become a chore, and my life is rotating around what time my next medication is. But alas this too will pass….

I am slowly regaining my energy. Right now I get a burst of energy for about 30 mins then I head back to bed for 2 hours to sleep some more. I know this is all part of my body healing itself. So right now I am off to make my rounds on my bloglines, as energy allows.

Thank you sweet sisters for your prayers and encouragement. Like I said, to say “thank you” just does not seem to convey my feelings of appreciation. But

Tags: doctor, Family, surgery

I would be lying if I said I am ready for tomorrow. But I do

* have food for the family so they can at least eat for a week without starving.

* have clean sheets on every bed.

* laundry is done, just need to fold a few more things.

*errands completed.

So I guess the rest is up to God and the doctors.

While you are at it can you please pray for Teresa at Bullfrogs & Butterflies, she will be having a procedure tomorrow also.

Today I will catch up reading all your lovely posts. And I will check back in when I can in a few days or so. Do a lot of writing because I will have nothing but time to read =))

Thanks again!

Tags: doctor, Family, surgery

I say it takes a lot of courage to show your dreams to God. Lay them out in front of him and watch him alter, change or agree with your dreams. I never want to be anywhere else than inside God’s will, but I have to say I am afraid of dreaming at times.

I have had so many dreams that have been altered or changed. Am I better off with what God changed? Of course. But I remember one time not so long ago, I was having a “I am pouting and I am not happy” kind of talks with God. I said (you see I am brutally honest with God, thank Godness he can take whatever I can dish-out), anyways I said “I am soo sick of my dreams not being in line with your will! Can just once I dream about something, and you say ‘hey I agree that is a wonderful plan’. But the Lord loves me so much, and does not let my “limited vision” get in the way. You see God sees the big picture, he knows what I need and want before I even know what to need and want.

For example, I have mentioned many times here, we will be looking for a house. My first question when we are looking at a house is “Lord can you bless me here?”. I have got my hopes up on other houses, dreams of what I would like, but each time the Lord has said, “no, you asked if I would bless you here, and the answer is no“. And I say Ok and go on my merrily way. NOT!! I pout, ask why, why can’t I ever lead, why does my dreams never match up. Oh sometimes what a child still today I am, even though I have been a Christian since a young child.

I am limited by what I see, thank you Jesus for your patience and for wanting the best for me. Even though I pout and cry, the Lord knows I am like that little child with tears running down her face wanting to do something (like get the cookie from the cookie jar) but knowing I won’t because I don’t want to disobey, don’t want to disappoint, and I would rather follow Jesus instead of my own will.

So I say it is braver to lay out your hopes your dreams, your desires and open them up to God’s will. The great news is, as a dreamer you can disappoint yourself, but God will never disappoint you in what He gives you.

Head on over to CWO for more thoughtful comments on this quote.

“Manly Man” had his out patient surgery early this morning. Things went well. “Manly Man” had injured his middle finger in a basketball game several months ago. The Doctor said it was worse than he originally thought, there was a lot of scaring in his finger. I asked if “manly man” would have full mobility of his finger, and the Doctor said “I truly don’t know” we will know more after healing and physical therapy. So only time will tell, so far since we have been home “manly man” has been keeping it elevated and is resting. Not too much pain as of yet.

One thing did happen. In out patient surgery, as the attending “family member” they don’t let you go back when the patient is being prepped for surgery. But they come and get the family member right after the patient is out of surgery (and is still sleeping). Well they failed to come get me. Surgery was at 8am, after a few hours I asked if there was any news on “manly man” and the nurse said “not yet”. By almost 11am, I was going nuts, my leg was shaking out of nervousness, I was trying to watch TV but was having a mini-heart attack thinking “that man went and had a heart attack on the table, I just know it”.

Finally by 11:30 they came and got me. There is “manly man” sitting there all smiles. I looked at the nurse and in my very non loving Christian behavior said “you did not come get me, No one came and got me…”. The nurse said, “Oh I am soo sorry, did you ask the nurse in the waiting room?”. I told her I did. She apologized. And I sat there by “manly man” trying to gain some sort of composure and keep ME from having the heart attack. I am sorry I lost patience, I really am not an ugly person (and to be honest I was not ugly here, but I sure FELT ugly and I know that is just as bad). This after I said I was going to release all my burdens to Jesus. Sigh…. I knew it was going to be a difficult week.

photo by flickr

PS: I want to thank EVERYONE for their prayers and private emails and just the loving comments I have received. I can not begin to tell you how much those prayers and best wishes are carrying me. THANK YOU THANK YOU!!

Tags: doctor, Family, surgery

In what areas of your life is your faith weak and your heart weary? How does this scripture apply to those areas and how can you put this promise into action in your life?

“You are having a conversation with the creator of the universe, yet you are the one talking?”

I have realized how much I have been talking to God instead of listening to God. God is my peace and my comfort and I have been too busy “planning, organizing, getting things in order” instead of stopping and letting God get me in order.

Head on over to Faith Builders for more thoughts on this topic.

I’d be locked in a tower
or hidden underground.
The dragon would keep me hostage,
while the vampire would keep me bound.

Then the knight in shining armor
on his gallant white horse.
He would use his sword
and take me by force.

I’d think of the adventures we’d have,
of the love we might share
the happiness between us,
the wonderfully sweet care.

This knight never had a face
never had a name.
He was always fuzzy.
It was always the same.

Then on that cold moon-lit night,
you fell from the sky.
Wondering what was next,
you ventured into my eye

That night while thinking,
I noticed something new.
The picture was clear,
my knight in shining armor was you!

The adventure better then I had imagined them to be,
the love much stronger.
The wonderfully sweet caring greater,
the happiness lasting much longer

I’ve realized now
that you are my one,
my knight in shining armor,
And that, my love, can never be undone.

written by:Angela Heilman

That was 13 years ago September 25th.

To My Knight:Thank you for slaying dragons these 13 years, thank you for your tenderness after hard, long, fought battles and long days in the battlefield, thank you for your perseverance in making the home front safe and Godly. Thank you for raising young “knights-to-be” and preparing them to be the best they can be. I know with the two of us together and Jesus as our guide, nothing will be impossible the many years ahead.
Love eternally yours,

Your sweet maiden.

Tags: anniversay, Family, husband

please head on over there to read.

Overwhelmed With Joy announced a holiday recipe exchange, Holiday Cooking, Blogger Style. On Monday, October 2nd, she’ll post specific instructions and provide a one location for all of us who participate to link our recipe posts.

I love the idea of a place I can refer to when I am wondering “what should I cook”. I am looking forward to this.

Theresa at Bullfrogs & Butterflies is hosting a Blog-O-Lantern contest. I think this is a cute idea. Like I told Theresa as a family we don’t celebrate Halloween to much, but I love a good pumpkin carving!! So head on over there and see what it is all about.

I decided to join in on Friday’s Feast, basically because I am sitting here hungry, and it looks like fun.

Friday, September 22, 2006

Feast One Hundred & Twelve

Appetizer
Measured in minutes or hours, how much exercise have you had in the last week?

Does vacuuming, mopping, and running three boys around count? If not then none (but I am sure worn out like I did)

Soup
If you had to change your blog title to something else, what would it be?

Laurel’s Babbling (seriously when I learned to drive, they teased me that they were going to get a license plate that said “babble” on it)

Salad

Name one television show you watched when you were 9-12 years old.

Brady Bunch

Main Course
If someone gave you $50 to spend with the one condition that it had to be educational, what would you purchase?

A new computer “educational” game.

Dessert
Do you tend to prefer dark colors, neutral shades, or lighter/pastel hues?

I prefer dark colors (blacks, blues, sages, etc…)