Tender Mercies and Surgery update

Waiting to have surgery on July 18th has been difficult for me.

I read the report from my visit with the surgeon last week and saw that the diagnosis listed was Adnexal cysts. I immediately went on line and was dismayed that any information I could find on Adnexal cysts was very grim…. practically a death sentence. One site stated that for women in my age group who had Adnexal cysts the survival rate after chemotherapy was only 10%-40%.

I was quit stunned. The more I read the worse I felt.

Which leads to…

…My tender mercy…. #1…. Our Temple Matron, Sis. Morgan

It was close to bed time. I was deep in troubled thought over all I had been reading when the phone rang and it was our sweet temple matron from the Redland's temple, where John and I were temple workers before our auto accident. (I miss working in the temple. It was the highlight of our week. I can't wait until I am well enough to start serving the Lord in the temple again.)

(To learn more about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints temples click Here )

Sis. Morgan and her dear husband, Pres. Morgan, were called on a 3 year mission to work full time overseeing and directing the work done in this LDS temple. They are loving and righteous people. They inspire all of us who know them.

I told Sis. Morgan of my concerns. She told me that she had gone through the same surgery just last Feb. and every cyst turned out to be benign. That news uplifted me. I was able to sleep with renewed optimism.

I don’t believe for a minute that her calling at that exact moment was a coincidence….

I believe that it was an example of a “Tender Mercy” from the Lord.

The Lord knows my heart. He knows that I have faith in Him and I want to be optimistic…..I know that with the Lord, all things work together for our good…..but…. at the same time….

He knows that I am discouraged about getting the news that I have to have surgery when I am just now starting to feel better after the accident. I feel like I can’t face another day in this hospital bed. ( This is day 97 that I have been down since the accident... but who is counting??)

I want to be up, out of bed, well and feeling normal again. The last thing I want is to have major surgery potentially involving cancer.

The Lord understands that I dread everything involving this up coming surgery…. the pain….the IVs... the confinement…the indignity of catheter and bed baths.... the dependence on others…etc. …. and yet… He is patient with me in my weaknesses.

I believe that the Lord looked down on my troubled heart and prompted our temple Matron to call me just at the minute I needed her encouragement the most. Other friends and family are encouraging me but talking to someone who has just been through this same surgery and all turned out well, really lifted my spirits….it was a tender mercy.

Tender mercy # 2…. Marlene from Stitching by the Lake called me.

My sweet blog friend, Marlene, called me just now as I was typing this post. She said she has been prompted to call me since yesterday. I've been having another hard day today. Again, I was blessed by her calling just at the right minute. Her faith and love inspire me. She also sent me a lovely box of goodies that makes my heart smile.

I was exhausted and discouraged yesterday after going through all the pre-op exams.... but again I was blessed. I have another precious tender mercy to share with you in another post.

Until then, may God be with you…. and may we all be aware of all the tender mercies that He bestows on us.

Have a great day. Hugs, Lura

My last Sunday Smiles for May

This has been a long week for me since I found out last Monday that I have to have surgery on July 18th.  I am dreading it….. and nervous about getting the results… and I wish I didn’t have to wait 3 more weeks in suspense…

... but … I have also had lots to smile about this past week.

1. The comments and encouragement I’ve received from you blog friends have made me smile.  Thanks to each of you who left a comment to uplift me….. it worked. I appreciate your prayers and the concern you have given me.

Family and friends have also made me smile.

2. Sil, Martha, Joe, Craig and Kris all came over to sweep and clean up our patios… that made me smile. This was a big job but these neighbors and friends did it with smiles. Kris and Jan came back the next day to help me replant some of my planters. Wasn’t that nice!

3. I love going outside with my sweetheart and enjoying our prettied up patios…. smile ….smile

4. Mindy, Ernie and the kids bringing over a BBQ dinner and swimming with us made me smile.

My Cali kids knew I was kind of down so they came over and spent the day with us. We loved the good BBQ food and even though I can’t swim yet, I surely had fun watching them.

5. Ej, Austin and Claire make me smile.

How could I not smile when these sweet grand kiddos brought me a smiley face sunshine balloon and made me this beautiful fruit salad from our orchard????

6. Sil makes me smile.

Silvija is such a good friend.

Sil drove 80 miles to stay with us a few days.  Her help and love always makes me smile.

Then she invited John and I to come and spend a few days with her.  I will tell you more about our little get away later.

 

 

I went home with Sil last Wed and John joined us yesterday when Sil’s hubby got home from a business trip. We are enjoying a nice weekend together. This is the view outside our bedroom glass door.

It is so pretty here, we may just move in.

Well, those are some of the things I have been smiling about. I hope that you have lots to smile about too. Have a great week…..

….and…. if you don’t mind, please keep me in your prayers…. this surgery thing is weighing heavy on my mind…. even though I know God is in control and all will be well no matter what the outcome.

Hugs, Grammy Lura

Bad News or Good News????

Isn’t this a darling card that Linda made for me!!!

I really appreciate all the prayers that have been said for me.

I have felt the love and support from those prayers.

I am asking that you will please continue to remember me in your prayers if you would be so kind.

I mentioned that after I had a CATscan, the evening of the accident I was told that I have enlarged ovaries that needed to be looked at.

When I got back to CA my doctor scheduled an ultrasound which I had last week. I went in to get the results from the specialist yesterday. I thought she would say not to worry…. every looks fine. I thought she would tell me that I just needed to let my ribs heal and get over the accident….

….but she didn’t….

She said that from looking at my ultrasound with an oncologist, they feel that I should have surgery ASAP. They have set the date for July 18th.

I am just now starting to feel better from the accident …. I am getting out of bed and walking around without as much pain. I am starting to see the light at the end of the tunnel…... and now this news takes my breath away.

I am sad that I have to have surgery. Of course it is hard for me not to imagine the worst…… but then…… I can’t believe that God would miraculously save my life 3 months ago…. just to take it now with cancer.

So…. is this surgery bad news or good news???

Could it be that because of the accident, doctors spotted a situation that needs attention before it becomes a problem…..  That because it was seen and caught early all will be well???? 

Could it be that even though my ovaries are enlarged it is from harmless cysts???

I surely hope this is the case. I dread having surgery in July. However, I know that God watches over me and He knows what is best. I know whatever the outcome, I need not fear…. for God is with me.

However, it is going to be hard to wait for 4 weeks to find out where I stand.

I guess it is one more opportunity for me to learn patience.

I hope all is well with you and yours.

Hugs, Grammy Lura

Father’s Day Smiles

I am so thankful for Grampy, David, Patrick, Dathan and Ernie.

I did not have a good father when I was growing up ….. he ran off and left my mom and me…but these 5 good men are excellent husbands and fathers.

I wish them… and all of the good fathers everywhere a Happy Father’s Day.

 

John got gypped missed out on having a nice Father’s Day Breakfast because I didn’t feel good enough to get up and make him one before he left for church.

He said he was happy to have cold cereal and a banana…. what a fibber good guy.

Sil’s husband is on a business trip so she’s come to spend a few days with us. She made us a short rib lunch that made up for the lack of breakfast. I didn’t get a picture but it was a Father’s Day worthy meal.

We headed out to Mindy and Ernie’s for our traditional Father’s Day dinner where Grampy was greeted with a Welcome sign and hugs from Claire and Mindy.

Our dinner started out with smoked salmon appetizers….

Followed by Miso Soup….

 

 

 

 

…Tempura … and Ernie and Grampy’s favorite food….

Sushi!!!

Mindy took a Sushi making class a few years ago. It is a lot of work but she makes it each Father’s Day for the 2 favorite men in her life. (Actually I should say for the 3 favorite men in her life because EJ loves Sushi too.)

Sil joined us for dinner and we all agreed that Mindy is quite a Sushi chef.  The meal she made us would rival the best Japanese restaurant!!

 

Grampy got calls from each of our out of state kids…. then the entertainment began.

EJ played a special piece for us and Claire sang us the new song in German that she is working on.

The kids presented Grampy and their dad with special cards they had made for them…. and then came the final touch….

Home made “To die for” chocolate cake.

Ernie and Grampy were ecstatic.

We were glad that the guys saved some cake for us to enjoy too.

I am thankful for my husband, my son and my 3 sons-in-law.

I am thankful that they are such good men who love God and their families.

I am thankful that Mindy and Sil made them such good food today  to celebrate this special occasion.

I was sorry that I could not do anything to help but I was smiling all day that these dear men were well taken care of.

I hope that all of you had a special day. Let me know what you did to celebrate.

I hope you have a great week.

Hugs, Lura

p.s. After they took a CTscan at the time of the accident, I was told I had an enlarged ovary that needed to be seen about. This has worried me every since then. I am going to the doctor to check on it tomorrow. I dread that appointment but I am anxious at the same time. I hope it turns out OK. Wish me well.

Day 86 and counting

Dear Blog friends,

It is 1:00 a.m.….. Saturday June 18th…. 86 days since our accident. John is asleep. I have taken my sleeping pills and muscle relaxer but sleep escapes me. I feel sad and I’m not sure why. I have less pain now. This hospital bed is raised at the head so I don’t have to lie flat. I have friends come every day to visit and to help us. I can do more things every day. I have every reason to be happy…. but I feel lonely.

Isn’t that dumb???? John is only down the hall. Friends spend hours with me visiting and watching movies. I have my scriptures, good books and TV at my finger tips. I have this computer and you blog friends to link me to the world. I’m sent gifts and beautiful flowers. It is ridiculous that I feel isolated.

Today a sweet friend brought us a load of things that were in our car when we crashed on 3/25/11. We could not bring them with us when we flew home. I just found the clothes that they cut off of me that evening in the ER. I thought they had thrown them away at the hospital but they didn’t. Looking at them makes me really sad. I had put on one of my nicest outfits that morning knowing that all my kids would be waiting there in Utah for us to arrive. Seeing my clothes all cut into pieces brings back the vivid memories of that awful evening….. They also seem symbolic of the way our wonderful plans for that vacation and family events were torn away from us. Going to the temple with little Ellie, celebrating Cal’s and Loni’s birthdays…. Going to Nationals with Johnny… missing EJ’s and Claire’s talent shows…. in a blink of an eye, they were all cut out of my life… just like my clothes.

Instead of being a lovely rose in the garden of life, I feel like this cactus….. all prickly… and out of place.

Here I am still spending 95% of my time lying in this hospital bed 86 days later. I want to be normal again. I want to be out of pain. I want my life back. ….. I want my car back…… I want my independence back….. and yet…. I know I am greatly blessed and have no cause to complain. My husband was not cut out of my life like I first thought he was. I am so thankful for that. Prayers and love support me. I know my Heavenly Father knows me and hears our prayers.

I have many reasons for my heart to rejoice…. and … I do thank the Lord daily for my many blessings.

I have not been blogging much because I feel like you have heard everything I have to say…. I don’t want to bore you …. and I don’t want to sound unappreciative of my bounteous blessings.

In this season of my life when I am just “being” instead of “doing” I guess I need to find a way to bloom where I have been planted. I need to learn patience. I need to be humble and accept what the Lord’s will is for me.

I am falling way a little short of those goals…. but I am really trying to do better and be better.

I know that our loving Heavenly Father is patient with me in spite of my weaknesses.

I hope that you will be patient with me too.

May God bless us all that we can be better tomorrow than we are tonight.

Sweet dreams blog friends….. or….. Good morning blog friends…. which ever the case may be. Hugs, Grammy Lura

Sunday Smiles

Hello Dear Blog Friends

I am sorry that I have not been blogging this past week. I have looked at blogs in my Google reader…. but not had a minute to comment for 3 reasons….

1.  I have had a lot of visitors ….. which brought me many smiles that I will share with you.

2.  I got a new medicine called Flexeril… It helps my sore neck , back and rib muscles but it also makes me too sleepy to do anything. I guess this new medicine makes me smile… in my sleep. 

3.  I’ve been making a  digital picture book of the accident. Walgreens was having a 40% off sale on photo books for 4 days.  Their photo books are not nearly as fancy and nice as Heritage Makers but they cost half the price…. and with a 40% off sale it was even less. So knowing how cheap thrifty I am, you know why I decided to give Walgreens a try. However, Walgreens is not as user friendly as Heritage Makers so it took me all 4 days to make my book. …

So my next smile this week was getting my photo book done. I put in pictures of the crash and then told the story of the miracles and blessings that have followed.

The rest of my smiles this week have come from my sweet visitors.

Each week, at church, we partake of the Sacrament.  Bread and water is blessed and as we partake of it we think of how Jesus shed His blood and gave His life for us. We renew our baptismal covenants to remember Jesus and obey His commandments. Partaking of the Sacrament is sacred to us.

Since I can not attend church yet, the Bishop has sent Aaronic priesthood holders to my home to bless and offer the Sacrament to me. This brings me a special smile.

 

My friends, LouAnn and Chelsea (not pictured) have been coming over each week to blow dry my hair. I can’t hold my left arm up yet to do my hair so this service is greatly appreciated.

Sweet friends come to visit, bring food & gifts, rub my sore neck & shoulders, watch movies with me, help around the house, etc.  Pictured here are Kris, Jan, Judy, Darlene, Ruth & Deb…. but there have been many more. ..like Carolyn & Chelsea  who come often to bring food & give me a massages.

They all bring me smiles.

 

Friends have also come to clean up and help me replant my patio…. and…. helped me give John a surprise birthday party….. but this post is long enough so I will tell you about those smiles another time.

Most importantly, friends like you, are praying for our recovery. It is hard for me to be in bed for so long…. and limited in what my broken ribs will let me do. It is hard for John to take care of me and do his work when he is still achy and has little energy.

We appreciate your concern. We feel the support of your prayers.

Have a great week. I hope it will be full of smiles.