Dead Horse Ranch State Park, Cottonwood, Arizona
The father of a righteous man has great joy; he who has a wise son delights in him. ~ Proverbs 23:24
I’ve noticed something. When we don’t get out, we eat more! And generally speaking, more unhealthy. Do you have the same problem? Unfortunately, gluttony’s a sin, too. However, once I looked into it, it seems that the sin of gluttony isn’t in indulging occasionally, but more as a habit. Whew! But just so you know, it doesn’t only apply to food. Food’s what always comes to mind, but it can also apply to material goods and behaviors. Anything that you overindulge in on a regular basis, can be considered gluttony.
Since it’s been so stinkin’ hot here, we’ve not been outside nearly as much as we usually are. And since we’ve been home most days, or home early, I’ve been cooking more. Which I love!
WalMart has these really good, fresh in-store baked French bread loaves and they’re only a dollar! So every few weeks, we’ve been picking one up. It’s great for French toast, and homemade garlic bread. We talk about making subs, but that would require buying all the other ingredients. Easier to just pick up a pre-made one if we want one, or go to Subway. 😊
Anyway, there’s a reason I’m sharing all this – besides the fact that my chores are done for the day (another story I’ll get to in a minute), and it’s too hot to play, and it’s only 10am, so I have time to babble on and on.
We began our day with French toast. Sliced, dipped and fried. It was quite tasty! But we ate it, despite knowing that we were also having French toast for dinner tonight. Crazy, right??
After breakfast, we took off for the laundromat. Only one other person was present! However, one of our bright pink washcloths vanished without a trace! I spun all the drums of all the washers and dryers we used – even the ones the towels weren’t in – just in case; Blaine searched the Jeep and the parking lot. Once we got back home, we looked inside and out. I checked inside the fitted sheet we washed. Nothing. It’s the strangest thing!! Guess we’ll have to replace it, or else we’ll have to share. . . .
While I laundered, Blaine grocery shopped. Mostly, he was just looking for the items that have been on our list for the past six weeks or so. Out of six items, he was able to snag two today!
And my wonderful husband scored more things at the store! He surprised me with an early Mother’s Day gift! Even though we don’t normally do that. I know it’s partly because we’re not at home this year. But truth be told, he usually does buy strawberries and make me his specialty for breakfast – – homemade pecan waffles. This year though, he also bought a chocolate cake. Okay. Now we’re bordering on gluttony . . . .
Since we had nothing better to do, and no place to go, Blaine suggested taking our chairs and something to read and sitting by the lake. What a wonderful idea!!
There were quite a few people around, but everyone was quietly doing their own thing.
Birds singing, and a soft breeze blowing through the trees.
Just lovely!
At least our second serving of French toast today was healthy. Baked with apples, served with fruit salad . . .
Of course, there was also bacon. And a brown sugar/butter sauce. But I only made half a batch. 😊
Keep reading after the recipe today, because there’s more. 😊
APPLE UPSIDE-DOWN FRENCH TOAST
½ C. butter
1 ½ C. dark brown sugar
3 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and sliced
1 t. cinnamon
1 loaf French bread, cut into 1 1/2” thick slices
1 ½ C. milk
6 eggs
1 t. vanilla
1 t. nutmeg
1 C. sliced almonds or chopped walnuts (optional)
Combine butter and sugar in a saucepan. Heat over medium heat until bubbles appear, stirring frequently. Pour in a 9 x 13 pan and spread evenly. Let cool. Place apple slices in rows, close together, on top of the sauce in the pan. Sprinkle the cinnamon over the top. Place bread slices over the apples.
Combine milk, eggs and vanilla. Pour over the bread. Sprinkle nutmeg on top. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
The next day, preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Uncover the pan and place in the oven. Bake 60 minutes or until golden brown and crispy on top. Scoop servings so that apple slices are on top. Spoon sauce from the pan over each serving. Sprinkle with nuts if using.
Serves 8
We watched the movie, “Arsenic and Old Lace”. A 1944 classic comedy/drama starring Cary Grant. Great movie! You should watch it if you haven’t already. “Charge!!!” (You’ll get that if you’ve seen the movie. 😊)
Today is also an anniversary. It’s been 18 years since God made Himself evident in a myriad of ways and performed a miracle on my right hand. Below is my testimony about that. It’s something I like to share with someone every year. Lately, it’s mostly just been here in our blog, so if you’ve already heard or read it, you can skip it. But I’m hoping there’s someone who hasn’t and God will touch them in some way through this.
For those of you who may not be aware, I work in a veterinary office. On Thursday, May 9th 2002 sometime between 5 and 5:30 that evening, I was bitten by a 165# Great Dane we were seeing in the office. It happened very fast and unexpectedly with no warning. A bite first to my forearm and then to my hand. The wounds themselves did not appear bad, (especially considering the size of the dog!) but I was concerned about broken fingers and called Blaine to take me to City Hospital’s emergency room right away. While there, I was given an hour and a half of IV antibiotics and a thorough cleaning of all wounds. I left the hospital about 10:30pm with instructions to call for an appointment with Dr. Dietrich at the Summit Hand Center the next morning, for what I assumed was to look at and possibly set one finger with an apparent bone fragment. I fully expected to be at work that afternoon. But I really didn’t want my mom to have to take me all the way to Crystal Clinic, so Friday morning I called another doctor close to home to see about getting in there. To their credit, they told me to see Dr. Dietrich. My appointment was at 10:30am. By noon, I was in surgery to relieve a severe infection that had set into 3 fingers literally overnight and following the surgery at Crystal Clinic, I went straight to St. Thomas Hospital for further treatments and observation. I spent 5 days in the hospital, was off work for 3 months, in therapy to rehabilitate my hand for 5 months and released from the doctor after 11 months.
I pray that you will indulge me the time to share my testimony – it’s rather lengthy, but I believe God would have me share it. After all, what good is it to hide His light under a bushel? We are meant to share, not only with non-believers in an attempt to introduce them to a living God who loves and cares for them, but also with fellow Christians as a means of encouraging one another.
The following is a list of things I’m thankful for relating to my accident. As long as it is, it’s still not a complete list. As I go through it, I will stop occasionally to share an exceptional story. It truly has been an extraordinary walk of faith for me.
I’m thankful the wounds were not worse.
I’m thankful that of all those who could have been bitten that night, it was me (had it have been the doctor, no one would have been able to work. In addition, one of the girls has a daughter confined to a wheel chair, the other co-worker is in college.)
I’m thankful one of the girls at work told me to take off the ring my mother gave me when I was 16. (my hand and fingers swelled so much, they would’ve had to cut it off if I hadn’t taken it off right away.)
I’m thankful I was concerned about broken bones and went to the emergency room since the wounds themselves didn’t look bad. (I was later told by the doctor that the infection became so severe overnight that if I had waited to get treatment and hadn’t gone immediately to the hospital, I probably would have lost my hand and at least a portion of my arm.)
I’m thankful Blaine was available to take me to the hospital immediately.
I’m thankful for the woman who was manning the check-in at the entrance to City Hospital. She was very helpful to me, but I never saw her again.
I’m thankful City Hospital’s ER was very slow when we arrived and I was seen almost immediately.
I’m thankful everyone working that night was kind, compassionate and skilled.
I’m thankful the doctor on duty called a hand specialist.
I’m thankful for the IV antibiotics and thorough cleaning I received as a result of that call.
I’m thankful that Dr. Blanda’s office was more concerned with proper patient care than making money. (this was the office that recommended that I go to Summit Hand Center the next morning right away instead of their office)
I’m thankful my mother was available and willing to take me to Crystal Clinic for my 10:30am appointment. (even though she had to leave work and hates to drive)
I’m thankful for the kind and efficient staff at The Summit Hand Center.
I’m thankful for the wisdom and skill of Dr. John Dietrich.
When he walked into the room that morning, he said “hi” as he looked down briefly at my hand which was lying on the desk, and immediately said, “You’re going into surgery now.” I said, “You didn’t even look at the x-rays!”, because I’m still thinking it’s only a broken bone. So he grabs an x-ray, holds it up to the light and says again, “You’re going to surgery now!” I was speechless! He was gone as quickly as he appeared, and a nurse entered almost immediately to get me ready. I could hear him on a phone at the end of the hall telling someone to reschedule all his appointments and get the surgery room & staff ready. The surgery would take place there at the Clinic and then I would transfer to St. Thomas. In the mad rush, I asked my mom to call Blaine & my boss. It all happened so quickly I told her to tell Blaine not to even leave work, that we would call him from St. Thomas after I was settled there.
I’m thankful for the sympathetic waitress at the Akron Family Restaurant where Mom & I had to stop on the way to St. Thomas because I was so nauseous, I had to get something to eat. (When we told the waitress I was feeling nauseous, she quickly brought rolls and water to the table before we’d even thought about ordering.)
I’m thankful for the kindhearted and friendly staff at St. Thomas Hospital.
I’m thankful for the bookmark I found in a book I asked Blaine to bring me that I hadn’t read in years. (It said,
“All things work together for good for those who love the Lord” (Romans 8:28). I had it put up on the board in my room.)
I’m thankful for the physical therapy staff at St. Thomas Hospital.
While the bite wounds themselves only consisted of three small cuts across the knuckles of my 3rd and 4th fingers and near the tip of the 1st one, my surgery required 9 different incisions to clean out the infection that had set in. Those incisions were then packed with fabric drains that had to be removed and my hand soaked in a whirlpool twice a day. After I returned to my room following the whirlpool therapy, the nurses repacked the drains into the incisions. On the first day (Saturday, May 11th), I was taken to the therapy room where the therapist slowly began trying to remove the drains. To say it was excruciating would definitely be an understatement! It was so painful that even the therapist became visibly very upset that her orders required her to hurt me so badly. She would tug a little, apologize profusely and get up and leave me to soak for a while, only to return and try again. The problem wasn’t because the drains were stuck, either. Even I knew that, and I also knew that probably no amount of soaking was going to make it less painful. After several times and many minutes of trying unsuccessfully to remove the drains, a doctor came in the room and asked how things were going. (and no, I wasn’t screaming) And so – – –
I’m thankful that Dr. David Engles, the weekend doctor on call from the Summit Hand Center, came to the therapy room and stopped the packing removal, and changed my record to give me morphine 30 minutes prior to therapy rather than every few hours. The best part of this particular story is that after he left, I thanked the therapist for going to get him. She looked at me and said, “I didn’t, and the doctors NEVER come in here.”
I’m thankful for extra potent pain medications – which I only ended up needing prior to the whirlpool therapy.
I’m thankful for powerful antibiotics.
I’m thankful Dr. Engles allowed me to shower when the nurses didn’t think I should.
I’m thankful for all the expressions of love and concern given by so many. (I received numerous cards and calls, and there were meals brought to the house, even though both our sons were proficient in the kitchen at 15 & 17 years old). To this day, there are still people who ask about my recovery. (That was then. I don’t get questions anymore. 😊)
I’m thankful Edwin Shaw refused to see me.
After I was released from the hospital, once again, in my selfishness, I didn’t want to be driven or drive all the way to Crystal Clinic for daily therapy. Dr. Dietrich said that was OK, but I must find a therapist who specialized in hands and I must start immediately. I called Edwin Shaw (because they were close to our home) and was told that they did have one, but that they couldn’t see me until my worker’s comp claim was approved – weeks or months later! In frustration, I hung up the phone and sat at the kitchen table and prayed, “OK God, I’ve been trusting You in this so far, I’m just going to trust you now. Wherever you want me to go, even if it’s all the way to Crystal Clinic every day, I’ll do it.” I felt better and called St. Thomas next, reasoning that I was just a patient there, so if they had hand therapists, I should be able to get in and it was still closer than Crystal Clinic. They agreed and my first visit, I met Denise Elsey. After she questioned me and filled out paperwork, she asked to be excused for a minute. I assumed she was considering her course of action, but when she returned, she said, “You live in Green, right?” “Yes.” “I take my daughter to Green High School every morning, how would you feel about meeting me at the new Y for therapy?” I couldn’t believe it! It required driving on 3 back roads and less than 10 minutes from my house! I could drive that easily with only my left hand. Immediately I said yes! And so – – – –
I’m thankful for Denise Elsey, my hand therapist, who suggested we meet at the YMCA in Green.
But there’s even more to this part. Shortly after we started, with no knowledge of her spiritual convictions (or lack of them), I sent her a thank-you note and told her how I knew she was an answer to prayer, explaining the process of our meeting. The morning after she received it, I was greeted at the door with a hug and told that, for years she had wondered if she was where God wanted her to be, and my note confirmed that for her. And during therapy, she told me of her struggles to find God’s will for her life. (She also told me to always do what she said and not what the doctor said. She told me to nod and agree with him, but then do what she told me. 😊)
I’m thankful that for 11 months Dr. Dietrich expressed his amazement at my progress. On occasion, he would even bring in an intern to see me. At one of our last meetings, I reminded him that my faith was very important to me and that for me to try to fully understand the healing God had given me, I needed to know why he was so surprised. He explained that mine was one of the worst bite wounds he had ever treated. Usually they require 2 or maybe 3 incisions. Mine required 9 and the fact that I was sitting across the table from him almost 100% restored was, in his words, “nothing short of remarkable!” (If he could see me today, he might be even more impressed. I have 100% full use of every aspect of my hand. The only way you would ever know, is if you look at the scars left behind, and even those are fading with time.)
I’m thankful for the love and care given me by my husband and 2 sons, both in and out of the hospital. I never once heard a complaint as they all pitched in to help at home, but Blaine expressed great joy when I could fold laundry again!
I’m thankful that one year later, almost to the day and just as my hand therapist told me, I was able to put back on the ring my mother gave me.
I’m thankful that the following December, I accidentally discovered that I could snap my fingers again.
I’m thankful that I have almost 100% use of my hand again.
I’m thankful that even now, I’m still able to share my testimony and praise God for it to numerous people I come into contact with.
I’m thankful to be able to see God work in my life through all of this – from the very moment it happened.
I’m thankful God allowed me the privilege of witnessing Him use me to touch the lives of some of those I’ve come into contact with and for using me to touch the lives of others in ways I’m not even aware of.
I’m thankful for the testimony this accident has allowed me to share about the love, mercy & grace of the God I worship & adore!!
Almost since the moment of the accident, I was blessed with the irrefutable knowledge of God’s presence in my life and the privilege of being permitted to be used as He unfolded a small portion of His great plan. And I am certain that there has been much more to His plan because of this than I will probably ever know. I certainly do not believe that God “caused” my accident, or that it was His will. But I do believe that it was allowed and what Satan may have intended for evil, God intended for good.
About a week ago, as I was sharing a small portion of this story with a Study group, a friend mentioned to the newcomers the remarkable healing I had received – I think because I didn’t really say much about the actual healing part. It caused me to really think about why I didn’t dwell on it. I’ve since come to the realization that right or wrong, the healing to me is actually secondary. Maybe I’m not as grateful as I should be, maybe I’ve always taken it for granted. But for me, the glorious part of this testimony is in recognizing all the seemingly small, everyday things that happened. This entire list of things I’m thankful for. I’ve come to realize that I really don’t focus on the healing and I really don’t want to, because I know that not everyone receives healing. I don’t even remember ever praying for healing, though I know others did. My heart’s desire has always been to be a witness God would be pleased with. For everyone who hears any portion of this story, whether they are believers or not, to see at least a glimpse of a living God. And to be willing to be used by Him somehow. I think most people can see the intricate workings of God thru this story whether they want to admit it or not. I realize now that the purpose of sharing this testimony is to encourage those who hear it to see how God is intimately involved in every way in each of our lives. It’s just up to us to recognize Him.
I believe we have two choices when life happens to us. We can become angry or bitter and cry out, “Why?!” or we can see the situation as an opportunity to learn & grow, look for reasons to be thankful, and discover how God is truly involved in each and every aspect. I believe God would have us find reasons to give thanks in all circumstances & to acknowledge His presence in both the good and the bad. This is our duty, the reason He created us – to glorify Him. And as I have discovered, it provides a perfect opportunity to plant seeds in the hearts and minds of people I never would have come in contact with, let alone spoken to about my Lord.