Such a tender week...

It's Christmas week.

It's been a bit cold. We have snow, though not as much as others. Kerry has had to bundle up every single day.

But, there's warmth in our hearts because of this glorious time of year.

I love Christmas. I loved it when I was a child. Though it was usually just mom and dad and me (sisters were older and already gone), I loved the holiday then as much as I do now. I can still remember the magical feeling of the tree all decorated and colorful, the fireplace snapping and popping, my dad putting on the Tabernacle Choir record that had "Silent Night" on it, and my mom turning out every light and only burning kerosene lamps and candles. It was a magical feeling that I can still remember to this day.

Christmas with my own little family was also magical. Nothing brings that feeling around a home more than children. One stands out in particular - when we only had Peter and Harmony. Baby Harmony was barely a month old. One night before Christmas, Peter had fallen asleep under the Christmas tree right beside baby Harmony on her blanket. We didn't have much money that year, but we had two of the greatest gifts we could have ever received - a family. As more and more children joined us, we felt the same way each year. We still feel that way about those precious gifts that were given to us to raise.

Now this year will be a bit different. It's just Kerry and me this year - Kerry and me and the hospital.

This past week, we enjoyed a wonderful evening at the home of Lee and Darlene Tobler - the former temple president and his wife. They are such good people. A few of us gathered there for an evening of desserts. Their home was filled with nativities - and I could have just spent the evening walking around looking at them. But, it's also important to be a bit friendly and sociable, so I was.

The next day I was fitted for the brace I will be wearing for the next three months after surgery. Oh, my! It looks like a saddle. I stopped by to tell Kerry something while he was delivering mail. He glanced into the back seat and asked what in the world that thing was. I told him it was my brace. It's hard, with lots of velcro and bungee cords. They will gradually lessen the plastic until I'm just down to bungee cords.

Friday was my last day at the temple for awhile. I have everything in place for my workers to carry on in my absence. Bless their good hearts.

I will be shutting my computer down tomorrow afternoon. I won't be able to lift it (nothing over 5 lbs.), so I'll be on my little one. It's so little it fits in my purse. My new rule from the occupation therepast is: No BLT - bending, lifting or twisting. My house now looks like a nursing home - grab bars in the tub/shower, raised toilet seat, shower seat, walkers, canes, etc.

If you would like to call Kerry for an update, feel free. He will probably be home after 8:30 each evening, and it's okay to call up to about 10:30 pm. (419-756-7033) If you would like to call me, I'll have my cell phone (419-543-1087), or the hospital (419-526-8000). I'll do my best to answer. It wouldn't do you much good to call Kerry on his cell phone while he's at work. Unless it's me or one of the kids, he probably wouldn't answer. He believes if he's at work, he's at work.

This has been a hard decision for me. There are days when I feel no pain at all, and I wonder if I've made the right decision. Then, there are days when I am yelping in my sleep. Just today, during the closing song, my leg totally went numb and pain shot up through the top part of my hip. I was having trouble hitting the right pedals on the organ, for my feet can't feel them anymore. I thought I was going to flip over backwards with the pain, but carried on through the end of the song. Kerry always comes up to the organ to see if I need any help. This time, he didn't have to ask. He could see my face. He began working on my leg to try to get some of the pain out of the hip and the numbness out of the rest of it. We were trying to not let anyone see it. For the rest of the day, I was on a cane.

After that episode, I have no doubt at all.

But, back to Christmas. No matter what kind of a year y'all have had, I hope that the sweet spirit of this season can permeate your hearts. Just about everyone I know has had it rough in one way or another. Perhaps these things are allowed to happen so that we'll focus on the things that have real meaning - our homes, our families, our Lord.

Some newsies:
Little Miss Vanessa, granddaughter of my sister Betty, was blessed by her daddy today. (Similar to a christening. Babies are not baptized in our church. They must be at least 8 years old). What a special opportunity for a young father.

Niece Sarah, daughter of David and Martha, has received her mission call to the New Zealand Auckland Mission and will leave in March. She is such a dear, sweet girl. I know her parents are so proud of her.

Thank you for all of your well wishes. I'll be fine, for I have a good doctor. He's the same one that put Peter back together after his accident 12 years ago. I have no doubt in his ability, for by all textbook accounts, Peter should not have lived.

But, he did.

Merry Christmas to all of you. Think of Him more than thinking of me. He won't leave me alone...

Love...
Miss P

Oh, deer!

It was a cold and beautiful week.

Just about every day and every evening we had things to do. One day, as I was driving in the country on a very cold, crisp, sunny day I saw two deer in a field just running, leaping, and playing with all their might. I literally had to stop the car and watch. They were having so much fun! I wish I could gallop.

Tuesday was a busy day spent in preparation at the hospital. For those that aren't aware yet, I am having back surgery on Dec 22. Yes, Dec 22.

This back of mine has plagued me for at least seven years. My feet are numb. When I Play the organ, I can't feel the pedals - I just have to guess I'm hitting the right ones. When I drive, I have to glance down to make sure I've lifted my foot up high enough to put on the brake. My entire left leg will go numb and burn clear up to the hip. Kerry will pull on it, bring it up clear over my head, etc. I did find one thing that would help - I sit with my legs apart and curl my body forward.

Even that doesn't help anymore.

The MRI's that were taken show lumbar/sacral spondylopathy. My spinal cord is encompassed with arthritis, and I have one disc that has bulged forward and one that has bulged backward.

Physical therapy, pain management, and shots of cortisone have not helped. Hence - it's time for surgery. And, I'm scared.

I went for pre-op testing on Tuesday while Mr. Kerry waited on me. It took two hours. I met with Occupational Therapy, the anesthesiologist, had blood drawn, had an EKG taken, and answered a myriad of questions. I had three people ask me if I could possibly have or have been exposed to HIV, aids, or hepatitis. Thank goodness I have not - at least since earlier this year.

Some have asked why I'm having it during the week of Christmas. Well, first of all - our deductible is met. Second - none of my kids will be home for Christmas. Third - if I have to wear a back brace, I'd rather wear it in the middle of winter than in the middle of summer.

I will also be fitted with a bone growth stimulator, which I will wear for 30 min. a day for nine months.

This is pretty major. There may be blood transfusions. There will be bone grafting. It will hurt.

And I'm scared.

Next week will be my last missive of the year, I think. I promise to keep y'all posted.

My feet are also giving me fits. I went to the foot doctor, who gave me cortisone in my foot. He feels the surgery may help the pain in my feet. He watched me walk and just wagged his head.

That evening, I went to a lovely meeting in Clear Fork Ward concerning the temple. They wanted me there to answer any questions that may come up. I had Mr. Kerry drive me - even though it was a women's meeting. It was just beautiful - and SO uplifting!

Friday at the temple was a bit moderate. I was in quite a bit of pain - even having trouble getting up from my chair at lunch. Immediately, two of my workers which are nurses came to me and knew just how to get me up. I did leave a bit early that day. I came home, took a pain pill, and laid down before going to our Ward Christmas Party.

This week finds me in the final preparations before my surgery. Kerry switched the beds so I have the queen sized one to sleep on and recuperate on. Fern brought me a WONDERFUL feather bed to lay on top of our mattress. Oh, I can't even begin to describe. I'm trying to anticipate everything I may need to have moved to the first floor. Two women at church will be taking turns coming here to help me out. Meals will be brought in. Others have offered to help wherever I may need them.

Yes, I'll try to keep everyone posted. But, just as we pray for others that have asked for our prayers, we have prayed for my doctor, too. God answers our prayers. He's always been at my side.

Love to y'all...
Miss P

An eye for an eye

I guess I am getting older. Well, at least parts of me are.

I had my annual eye exam on Tuesday, and I couldn't believe the change in my vision. Neither could my eye doctor! I had been having a lot of trouble with both distance and close up. I figure it had to be aging, for I really hadn't had any changes in a few years. This year made up for it.

I also knew part of it was what I used to clean my glasses with - a Kleenex that has Vick's VapoRub built into them. They are great at relieving some congestion, but are really lousy for cleaning eyeglasses. I wouldn't recommend it, for I ended up using vinegar to get the film off.

I celebrated getting my new stove this week! But, I have to admit that it has a feature I've never heard of. The delivery men were putting it into place and even installed an anti-tip device. I thought that was kind of remarkable. But, I was glancing through the manual and noticed a page entitled "Sabbath Day Cooking".

I was intrigued.

I haven't entirely read it through, but apparently it has a feature for Jewish Sabbath cooking. A fellow genealogist informed me that "A sabbath day setting I imagine would be one where the stove is not completely turned off. I remember my great grandmother telling me that in the "old days" as a gentile she was often asked to go and relight stoves or gas lamps that went out on the sabbath".

My sister-in-law teased me by saying it was a Kosher stove.

Friday at the temple was busy, but moderate in attendance. It was a good day for getting caught up on some things. My friend, Miss Dani, was there as a worker for the first time. She did a fine job! Later, she and I went to dinner at Perkins for potato pancakes. Some other temple workers heard us talking about them and decided they would taste good, too! There they were in the restaurant, eating potato pancakes just like us...

Saturday morning was a wonderful entrance into the Christmas season. The Relief Society (women's organization) held a Christmas brunch at the church. The presidency prepared muffins, quiche, strata, yogurt w/granola, and little loaves of quick breads for all of us. There was an ornament exchange, along with beautiful testimonies of the Savior and the Christmas season. It was just wonderful, and I'm so glad I went.

Tonight, Mr. Kerry and I cuddled up on the couch, turned on the computer to www.lds.org and watched The First Presidency and the Tabernacle Choir bring beautiful Christmas messages to the world. And, to us. You can probably see it repeated if you log on.

Now, as we have officially begun our entrance into this marvelous holiday season, I have many things on my mind. It's so easy to get frazzled and frenzied by all that is going on in the world and how we're going to "get through" the holidays. I'm just not going to let that happen. I'm going to look at what I can do for my fellow man and do my best to help the world to become better.

And there's no better place to start than with myself.

Love to y'all...
Miss P