What's the Lesson

Hello all.  I hope you all had a great time celebrating Independence Day and that your dog went outside to use the bathroom in spite of the rain and the fireworks.  Cooper went out at 10:30ish or so in the morning and then would not go out again.  Even with the promise of a treat - he would only stick his head out the back door.  With my limited mobility there is only so much I am willing to do to convince the fellow to go outside. As far as I can tell he did not relieve himself in the house, so I assume he has the bladder of a camel or will be coming down with a kidney or bladder infection in the next few days.  Probably, both.

The pain in my leg has subsided for the most part. Still having twinges in the calf/shin region, but very mild compared to how much I was hurting on Tuesday night.  I am so grateful for that relief and it has made sleeping so much easier.

My boys have gone to Alabama with their Dad for a little vacation at The Bad Farm.  Blanche misses her nursing home helpers, but also is managing just fine. They did get the grass cut, do laundry, stage the kitchen so everything is within reach for me before they left and that was a huge help.

While I have a quiet house, I have been trying to figure out the lessons in this season, discerning what God is trying to teach me through this injury.  I really am spending quite a bit of time thinking about it.  Lord knows, sometimes I have to be hit over the head a time or two to learn something and I really don't want to miss what I need to know.  I feel like it may be more than one thing.  Is it accepting help, relying on myself, having more compassion and empathy for others, proof to myself and evidence to my children that I am strong and resilient and/or that I am human and hurt and cry and feel powerless?  Is it to appreciate my health, fuel me with the incentive to use and care for my body better? Maybe I should slow down. Do less. Or maybe I should be doing more. Live life to the fullest.  It can't be all of those (or maybe it is!), but I think the more time I spend praying about it and thinking on it and remaining open to it, that the lesson will become clear.

In the meantime, and in a way less spiritual realm, I am hyper aware of some other things:

1)  My bottom kitchen cabinets need a thorough cleaning. You don't notice that kind of thing until you are eye level and see it close up.  I have been tackling them one at a time, but man I can't wait to be able to crawl all over the place and clean them top to bottom.  Don't even get me started on baseboards.  Yikes.
2)  Houses should be built with wide halls and doorways.  It should be standard.
3)  It doesn't feel like it is hot and humid outside, when you aren't outside.
4)  World Cup Soccer is so, so good.  I can't believe how much I am loving it. I felt so terrible for Japan when they lost after being such an underdog and playing such an amazing game. And how about those Japan fans cleaning the stands and the team leaving the locker room in immaculate shape after losing. Sports are the best.
5)  The mobility allowed by using a wheelchair is a monumental relief to me, however having a giant dog that can take things off your lap is a problem.  I have to move food around the kitchen like this....

And even like this, Cooper is almost able to reach up and take it out of my mouth with his!
6) Cooper's calling may be to be a service dog.  He has been so attentive to me.

Here's hoping your Thursday (that feels like a Monday, but also a little like Friday) is off to a great start!  The weekend is coming!  Yay!