Heart Temperature

          My early morning routine - after pouring myself a cup of java - includes checking the temperature, inside and out.  My body generally tells me whether the furnace or air conditioning needs to be turned up or down.  Okay...so...I know what you're thinking, and yes, we do have a thermostat that automatically adjusts to a certain temperature after it's programmed.  But twice a year, as the seasons change, it takes a while for me to figure out how to program the contraption.  You'd think I'd eventually learn (and remember) this, but let's just say that I'm a bit electronically challenged.  So, I find myself manually increasing or decreasing the thermostat for a while until I take the time to learn how to program it...again!

           Next, I check the outside thermometer, and while there is nothing for me to program there, I still like to see the readings.  How cold (or hot) is it now?  How cold did it get the night before?  And what is the humidity?

          My final move, with coffee in hand, is to open my Bible and mediate on what God shows me for the new day.  It then becomes clear that my heart is much like the external gauges.  As a Christian, the Holy Spirit plays that role in my life.  He constantly shows me the temperature of my heart.  Is it cold and calloused from allowing anger to get a foothold in my life?  Is it lukewarm with an attitude of indifference?  Or is it on fire for the Savior that I love so much?
          A short time in his presence quickly shows me the temperature of my heart.  Sometimes, he convicts me of an unkind word spoken in anger; or he shows me that I have not spent enough time in his presence, seeking his advice.  Proverbs 21:2 tells me that every man is right in his own eyes, but the Lord actually weighs each heart.  So, I want to make sure that as God examines my heart, it is right in his sight.
          And then, sometimes in my daily devotions, God just showers me with his unconditional love.  While I welcome them all, this is the one I love the most!

Tests, Tests, and More Tests!

My mom, Chloe Southern Culp

          I know various medical tests are important to properly diagnosis a patient's illness, but in my mother's case, I'm wondering when they're all going to be completed.
           About the same time we began to make preparations to move Mom in with us, she developed a new symptom.  Her head and neck jerk to the left, and her shoulder, arm and hand all jerk at the same time which elicits a cry from Mom.  She said it's not painful, but she has a difficult time explaining what it feels like.  We are not sure if it just startles her, or if it's a different type of pain that she has a difficult time communicating to us.  I've seen it, at times, draw the left side of her face like she's having a stroke, and she has these even in her sleep.  They happen numerous times throughout the day, and it's a little unsettling.
          A trip to the neurologist has been scheduled, but in the meantime, blood-work has been done, and an MRI on her head and neck have been completed.  Chest x-rays have been completed, as well as a forced sputum, to help determine nodules growing in her lungs.  Doc says they may - or may not - be related to what's going on inside the brain.
          An EEG is scheduled for tomorrow morning to monitor brain waves.  From what I've been told, this test is painless, and fairly simple.  It's the prep time that is a bit of a challenge since Mom is only allowed to sleep 4 hours within a 24 hour period of time prior to the test.  Since Mom is a chronic napper, this means that I have to keep constant guard over her to make sure she doesn't fall asleep.  My alarm set to awaken me after 4 hours tonight will mean that I will also lose sleep while I wake Mom and stay up with her.  She's been concerned about this, so I've tried to make a game out of it, and told her we would stay up together and watch late night movies.  She liked that idea, but since dementia keeps her from remembering exactly what kind of test it is (and when it will occur) she has asked me several times throughout the past few days - sometimes several times a day -  when   it will happen.  Now she keeps asking me what time we will leave in the morning.
          The dementia itself presents some interesting challenges.  For instance, Mom used to be meticulous about taking care of her teeth, but now forgets to brush them unless I remind her.  A couple of days ago, I was about to brush my teeth when Mom suddenly needed the bathroom (Mom & I share a bathroom.)  I left my toothbrush with toothpaste already on it on the bathroom counter.  After Mom left the bathroom, I went back in to brush my teeth, and, much to my dismay, discovered she had brushed her teeth with my brush.  I guess I have to take the blame for this one since I've gotten in a habit of putting toothpaste on her brush and reminding her that it is time to brush her teeth.  Well...since it was late at night and I didn't have a fresh toothbrush, I had to take a new brush from my husband's supply for his electric toothbrush.  Very interesting for a couple of days...my routine had been interrupted, and I felt lost!  A trip to Walmart for a new toothbrush made me feel whole again...my routine had been re-established. I never realized that I would one day enjoy buying a toothbrush!
          I don't know where the time goes; my days seems to meld into one.  Between all the doctors' appointments and tests, giving baths, preparing meals, cleaning, laundry etc., time doesn't mean much to me.  Hours become days, and days turn into weeks.  I have come to totally appreciate going to bed with a good book to wind down and block out the day's busyness.

Ann Rydbeck blessed us with a meal!

          I hope you don't get the wrong idea...I value the time with my mother, however needy she might be right now.  I am blessed knowing that God has given me this time with her; a time to bless my mother at this new season in her life.  And I am so thankful for all the friends and family who have poured prayers and blessings into my life right now when I so desperately need it.  An unexpected cooked meal from a friend, a gift from another friend who sat with Mom when it was badly needed, a kind word or a special prayer, a visit from my sister who has become a lifeline for sharing love and important information.  Care-giving is not one of my spiritual gifts, but thanks to the prayers of so many, God has blessed me with love, grace, patience and peace.  That is definitely not me...only God's grace.  Thank you, Lord!

Never Boring!

        

     There are seldom dull moments in our house.  I don’t know if it’s because we attract challenges, or if these are “testings” Paul talks about.  Either way, I think it’s developing patience in us—at least I hope so.  I’d hate to think that we go through these for nothing!

             About the time we were getting ready to move Mom in with us, Bruce injured his knee while refereeing a basketball game.  In case I haven’t mentioned it, my husband is driven.  He reffed a few more games before he decided the pain was not going away.  In fact, it was much worse.  An MRI last week revealed a torn meniscus cartilage in his knee.  Oh, no!  Didn’t I do the same thing to my knee about seven months ago?  Even the same knee!  And that was while I was recovering from back surgery.  Nevertheless, Bruce had to experience this for himself.  My word was not good enough.  So, his surgery was scheduled for about a week out which left me time to plan ahead and get a caregiver for Mom. 

          On Monday, the nurse called to give him all the pertinent information about the surgery on Tuesday—the following day!  Bruce reminded her that they told him surgery was for Thursday, to which she politely said, “Dr. Daniels does not do surgery on Thursdays.”  Okay, we’re all human, so even a scheduler can make a mistake.  We went into high gear to get things ready for the next day.  We had already established a contract with Agape Home Health to provide caregivers for Mother, so I quickly placed a call to request they send someone the next day instead of Thursday.  A few hours later, they called to express regret that they were not able to get a caregiver on such short notice.  Mentally, I went down the list of people that I might call to help.  My sister, who would normally help, had an important doctor’s appointment the same morning.  I called my good friend, Deborah, who assured me she would stay with Mom.  And, Tuesday morning, true to her word,  Deborah showed up on our doorstep along with her husband, Doug, who drove Bruce and I to the surgery center in his pickup.  He said Bruce could maneuver the transfer easier from his pickup, and his strong arms could assist Bruce.  I readily agreed.

                 Remember my article a few months back on Kaleidoscopes which explained about Life, or Small Groups, and their purpose?  Well, Doug and Deborah are in our Spoudazos Life Group, and they model “doing life together” extremely well.  Friends helping friends.  Neighbors helping neighbors—except they live 25 miles from us, kind of a long distance neighbor.  They didn’t give a second thought to how it might impact their schedule, or inconvenience them.  By the way, Spoudazo is a Greek word which means to do quickly, or to make every effort.  Our group is very appropriately named.

          In Matthew 22:39, Jesus tells us to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.  Doug and Deb exemplified that verse when they put their faith into action.  It produced peace in our hearts to know that we have friends who take God’s words to heart, and that Mom would be well taken care of.  

          Bruce is home and recovering quite well, thanks to God and the good surgeon who scoped his knee.  Next step is rehab—not so fun to think about, but needed for the full use of his knee, especially since he wants to continue refereeing.  But, all in all, everything is “right as rain” in the Edenfield household, but definitely not boring!