Saturday October 24 2015   AND AGAIN TOMORROW…

AND AGAIN TOMORROW…

By Kathleen Martens

October 24, 2015

How busy can I be?

It always surprises me.

Many are my plans,

Yet, I lack command.

A mile long is my list

Upon which I insist.

And daily it is my hope

With this list I will cope.

But, if my short day

Won’t go my way,

I’ll just do what I can do.

And again tomorrow, I will ensue.

As I sat down to write, my mind went back over my day looking for a point of interest on about which to write.  I like writing about the day which makes my blog a current update of my life for my future reference.  As I ponder all that happened today what pops into my mind is that it didn’t go exactly as I planned.  But that’s okay because it never bothers me if I don’t accomplish all I intend to do.  I just always try to do the most important urgent needs first.  I don’t use the word “urgent” in a serious manner, rather meaning those things that are pressing or have a time related importance.  I check my calendar at night for tomorrow and then again in the morning as a refresher of what is coming such as a doctor visit, child care for my grandkids, or other places I may need to be that day.  Even with all these measures, believe it or not I can still forget or miss an appointment.  After I do my double checking I then plan out my schedule for what must be done and what I would like to accomplish if I have time.  The “what must be done” items usually happen, but sometimes that which I would like to accomplish gets pushed aside for a myriad of reasons.  Life happens. 

Today was one of those days that I was not able to accomplish all I would have liked to accomplish.  It takes a bit longer to achieve my goals when I have extra duties, or prescription pharmacy runs, or preparing ahead for meals, or making soup to use up some of the provisions from our farm box.  And as such, I had a prescription run to do.  When I go into town it is about 7 miles away, all country roads so the traveling is pleasant.  It is so beautiful outside right now that I enjoy any excuse to get in the car and make a run into town.  There are three ways to enter into town so I have three different venues on which to gaze.  I had an interesting time at the pharmacy as I waited for Dave’s pain meds to be filled.  Sitting at a table off to the left in “Home Town Pharmacy” were four attractive young ladies all poised to offer me (and anyone else who would come in) an assessment as to whether or not I was a risk for diabetes.  I had a score of zero which they said was good.  I weighed below what my height level said I should weigh, I am physically active, my family history was good, and I don’t remember if I was given the fourth question.  I had a blood sugar test done and it was 96.  The test was about 3:00 p.m.  I had eaten breakfast at 9:00 a.m. and about 11:30 a.m.or so I had a teaspoon of peanut butter and slice of watermelon before I headed to the gym to workout.  I hadn’t actually eaten lunch yet so my number was fine.  Whew!!  We do not need two diabetics in the family.  And I am firmly believing that in approximately two years Dave will no longer have it either.  If you are interested in finding out why I believe that, read the book “THE END OF DIABETES” (I think it was written by Doctor Fuhrman).  Our long time doctor is working with us to follow the plan in the book.  A lot depends upon the next few weeks as Dave is weaned from his diabetic medicine.  The doctor wanted to wait until after the surgery so everything could be the same during this time of his recovery. Once he is off all meds he must have a two year track record of showing no symptoms of diabetes through his daily blood sugar tests.  So far he is doing excellent but he is still on meds.  There may need to be some adjustments in his diet intake after he is off the meds. 

While I was at the table talking with the young ladies, who by the way were all pharmaceutical students, I had the opportunity to ask them what their wisdom for the world would be.  I will write their answers below.  I thought they were all unique and interesting.  I had to fill out my age on one of the forms for the test.  I asked each lady to guess my age first.  I was guessed to be 60, 56, 82, and 62.  Hmmm…I don’t know about that 82!  I sit here smiling as I think about how old someone my age must look to those so young.

Alissa guessed 60:  “Most people are good people”.

Sin guessed 56:  “When you are making a hard decision make one you won’t regret”.

Joanna guessed 82:  “Say yes to as many opportunities as you can”.

Megan guessed 62:  “Take every opportunity even if you do not think you will enjoy it.  You may surprise yourself”.

If I were to guess their age I would estimate them to be 22 to 25 years old.  They all looked so young and fresh and beautiful.  I wish them all well in their studies and pray that they will have a wonderful life ahead of them.  And what I most hope for is that they know or will someday know God in a personal way.

Life didn’t happen today like I thought it would but that is okay. I will have all the days that God has planned for me and I do not wish for one day more. 

It is comforting to know I had one person read yesterday’s blog because I received a very nice email commenting on it. I have copied part of it right from the email as I think I shall take it as wisdom.  (Just as a point of reference I always sign my emails WKM to those I correspond with as those are my true initials.  I hear her words and hope to abide by them.

Comment from the email: I loved the poem. I am so thankful to the Lord that all went well today for Dave.  Enjoy the recuperation time at home – be lazy Dave – do your walking – watch the Baseball World Series and football.  WKM do your projects, read your books and have your quite time with The Lord.  Don’t let Dave over-do anything at least for six weeks.

It is even more comforting knowing that the email came from my beloved sister and I take it as an expression of love.  It is so good when you receive little “love notes” even when the writer might not be aware that that is how it is received.  Thank you Velma for loving me.

If this blog is a bit disconcerting today it is because I have been up and down a dozen times to stir my pot of soup cooking in my NESCO COOKER.  Remember, Thursday is Farm Box Day!  Yesterday was actually the last box of the normal season.  I also ordered a winter share which will be delivered in two weeks and another delivery two weeks after that.  The number of boxes I will receive varies each year.  I’ve had as many as 6 full boxes each winter delivery down to 3 full boxes each winter delivery.  It depends on the season, how many sign up for the program, and the weather.  Some years are prolific (like this one) and some are a bit sparser.  One thing our farm owners have is an irrigation system, which help tremendously if we have a dry spell.  Most farms rely strictly on rain for irrigation.  Produce fresh from the farm tastes so much different than the same vegetables purchased in the store.  I think it is probably because it is picked one day, and delivered the next, and is not refrigerated or stored for days or weeks before it gets to the table.  I am so thankful and feel so fortunate that we have the opportunity to take part in this endeavor.  We are now literally eating the bounty from the last two seasons.  We must do a lot of eating so as to get the freezers emptied out by spring for defrosting before the new crops come in.  Every day I go out and pick out a different homemade soup.  Yesterday I picked out Cabbage bean soup.  It was delicious!  We have enough left for tomorrow since Dave does not yet have his appetite back following surgery.

Update on Dave.  The pain finally got to him.  A friend of mine who is a nurse suggested we get the meds and have him take just a half pill to cut the edge off the incision pain.  His incision is quite large and in a very sensitive area.  He is suffering, but he suffers without complaint.  I can see it in his face and eyes.  I know it is believed that healing is quicker if the body is not under so much stress from the pain.  I hope he has a better night tonight.  He is still his sweet self to me.  He is getting up and walking faithfully every hour and breathing deep and coughing to lessen the chance of developing pneumonia.  My mother died from a strangulated bowel caught in her hernia and I had a cousin who died from pneumonia following a hip replacement.  We take Dave’s recovery and the Doctor’s orders very seriously in regards to this surgery.  Thanks again to all of you who have prayed for him. 

Dave wears a “fitbit” and it records the steps he takes and a lot of other data as well.  Today he has walked 3,100 steps.  His goal on his normal day is to walk 5,000 steps, and at times he walks over 10,000 steps.  When he goes to the gym part of his workout is walking on the treadmill with inclines up to ten percent which builds up his count.  He is not allowed (Doctor’s orders) to go to the gym for 8 weeks.  He can walk all he is able on flat surfaces only, but no gym exercise.  Since we have a treadmill here at home he will walk on ours and his gym membership will be on hiatus and extended two months past his renewal date.  That is a nice benefit.

Must close as Dave is waiting to help me proofread.

Good night and God bless all of you.