Strike Averted!  .... Alas So Is My Surgery!

Apparently my two doctors didn't trust (like we did... *wink, wink*) that Dominican Hospital would resolve their strike in time for my surgery this Friday.  What was I thinking?  I should have told them not to worry about the strike... that I serve a BIG God!

What I can only describe as suffering from weak faith, my doctors rescheduled their week, and so my surgery has been "bumped." They must not have gotten the memo... that we had an army of people praying for Friday!  And so my new surgery date is scheduled for Tuesday, July 3rd at 1:00pm.


But never fear... God is Good!


My friend Julie has been able to change her flights & work schedule and will be with me the during surgery and for an extra day during recovery! Yippee!


Your symphony of prayers were heard... it's just a new concerto.  So I follow my Conductor as we play a little ditty called, Plan B.  


Oh, haven't you heard.... "B" stands for "better!" 


xoxoLynne

  

STRIKE... and You're Out!


Quick update... 


Just when you think everything is rollin' along.... BAM... you get a call that potentially changes everything!


The doctor's office called today to inform me that Dominican Hospital is going on strike next week, and therefore my surgery date may need to be changed.  We've set a new date for July 3rd, but if the strike hasn't been resolved, it WILL get bumped again.  

Note to self:  Although this is last-minute-news to me, it is NOT new "news" to God!

Of course, this delay isn't life-threatening, but it does create multiple layers of inconveniences:


1) My dear friend (and nurse), Julie, has already booked her flight to be here on Thursday, June 28th to be with me through surgery.  Her flight home actually departs on Tuesday July 3rd, and she has to work on July 4th.  She was the one that suggested the importance of having an advocate in the hospital.


2)  I've had other friends who have already started signing up to bring meals starting on Tuesday the 3rd, so now those folks will need to be notified and commitments altered. 


3)  All my post surgery appointments will need to be post-poned/changed to later in the month.


So, I'm calling on all prayer warriors!!  (I know that whatever happens is !meant to be! so, I don't want to get in your way, Lord)... but won't you please pray with me that God would in His miraculous ways... cause the strike to be resolved before it even gets started?  (I mean, a girl can ask, can't she?!)  ...That way, I can keep my original surgery date of the 29th, Julie can come and be my nurse and advocate, and all those other appointments and visits can remain unchanged!


Let's send a symphony of prayers up, okay?  Let's bombard God with our petitions... let's just see what His plan is together and rejoice with whatever the outcome!


Thank you!!!
xoxoLynne

The Blog-Dog is Back!


Helloooo... remember me?

Someone's been taking over my blog lately, and by someone... I mean my mom (Lynne)!  But I'm baaaack!


...so while she's out with a friend, I thought I would sneak in another post before she gets home! Shhh... don't tell her!


Don't I look SnEAkY? ehh.. ehh!

 

Last Wednesday, was a good day!  After two weeks confined to my crate at bedtime, I finally got to sleep under the covers with my mom again!  Woof!  The doctor said my mom's head healed up fine-n-dandy so she got her stitches removed...  Ruf, ruf!!  This makes me so happy!...

She also had a few more doctor's appointments, so things are movin' along.  I don't know everything, but I DO know her surgery date is set for Friday, June 29th!  She should be in the hospital anywhere from 2-5 days, but she's a good "healer", so I'm hoping she'll only be gone two nights!


Otherwise, I would miss her and be very sad....

But here's the good news!  My mom's super-duper, wonderful friend, Julie is coming just in time to help me take care of her!  Julie's a nurse... isn't that great?!  She'll be here when mom's in the hospital and hopefully for a couple of nights after my mom comes home from the hospital!   I LoVE Julie!  Woof, woof!  Here's a picture of my mom and Julie when they went to New York together a long time ago!

But here's the deal... I need to tell you a little secret... come closer... I'll whisper it in your ear.... just a little bit closer....

...so,  if you live around here and you want to come and visit me (uhh.... I mean my mom)... you'll have to just come to the house okay?  Those pesky doctors won't let me go to the hospital, so you have to come here to house to see me (uhh... I mean my mom) - OKAY?  You wouldn't want to miss me, would you? (uhh... I mean my mom, of course!).  So you have to come to the house, OKAY?!!


Really... she'll be home before you know it, and when she's home, she won't be completely "loopy", I promise.  She'll remember you came to visit, be in her own clothes (instead of that gown that doesn't close in the back)... who knows... she may even have a little lipstick on!  She'll be able to offer you coffee or tea and a cookie!  And if you're lucky... I'll greet you at the door!  Now doesn't that sound so much nicer than going to a icky ol' hospital... without me?  (*pant, pant*  Please, pretty-please!!)


Okay, so now that we've got that settled... I'll expect visitors the week of the 4th of July.  It will be so much fun... and my mom will be happy to see you too!

We'll celebrate my mom's "independence" from cancer together!

I know you want to see me!  REaLLy... I do!

Coco

 

Trust vs. Clarity (told through Lynne)

Recently I was with a couple dear friends of mine V & S (you know who you are!), and the book, Ruthless Trust, by Brennan Manning came up in our conversation.  Although I'd heard of the book, I'd never read it.  So I popped into our bookstore here at Mount Hermon (how great is it to have a wonderful Christian Bookstore right in my backyard?!) and bought it.

Today after having my pre-surgical blood work done, I went to one of our fantastic local bakeries (The Buttery) to have some coffee, their zucchini muffin (my favorite!!), and spend enough time there to get the 1st chapter absorbed.


In my reading, I was struck by a story about a gentleman who went to work in Calcutta with Mother Teresa.  As the story goes... upon arriving, Mother Teresa asks the man what she could do for him, and he replies, "Pray that I have clarity." But unexpectedly, she promptly and firmly says, "No." 


Perplexed he asks, "Why not?"  She explains that clarity is what we always cling to but must let go of. When the gentleman commented that she always seemed to have the clarity he longed for, she laughed and said, "I have never had clarity; what I have always had is trust.  So I will pray that you trust God."


...then Manning explains:

"Craving clarity, we attempt to eliminate the risk of trusting God. Fear of the unknown path stretching ahead of us destroys childlike trust in the Father's active goodness and unrestricted love."

Wow... did you catch that? ... craving clarity, we attempt to eliminate the risk of trusting God!  


How many times have I tried to gain clarity in an unknown situation; planned my strategies; attempted to get all my ducks in a row; sought answers to questions beyond my control?  ... hmmm...   OKAY, about a BA-ZILLION times!  


But there's a good reason for that... It's in my nature; I'm a Curious George; that's what I'm supposed to do; I'm wired that way.... right?


Manning goes on to say...

"We often presume that trust will dispel the confusion, illuminate the darkness, vanquish the uncertainty, and redeem the times..."  "...Our trust does not bring final clarity on this earth. It does not still the chaos or dull the pain or provide a crutch. When all else is unclear, the heart of trust says, as Jesus did on the cross, 'Into your hands I commit my spirit' (Luke 23:46)."

Okay, Lord, I think I'm finally getting it.... My "new" normal is waking up and depending on you (like a toddler depends on her parents) for complete control of my day.  Not my plans, but yours Lord.  I'm the kid at camp or school who looks to my teacher or counselor for what I will be learning today.  You're in charge of the activities throughout the day; some will be for my discipline and some will be for my pure pleasure.  But all will be tenderly and lovingly laid out for me by the Master of the Universe; Who better to chart my course?


So as I look out in the coming weeks,  my goal is to sit back and enjoy this unknown journey with my Master Navigator.  Here are some of the "unknowns" that I "trust" at the feet of Jesus (no clarity needed!):

1. Surgery Date
2. Having surgery for the very 1st time in my life!  (Pretty good for 50yrs, don't ya think?!)
3. Recovery time
4. Continued unemployment during the recovery time
5. Finances & how that may impact my current living situation
6. Where & When a job will present itself

Will you pray with me?  That I WILL seek child-like trust and NOT clarity during this journey?

Tripping along behind Jesus,

Lynne