I got a really encouraging call from the vet last night. Basically there’s a slim chance that the lump could be a combination of post-op inflammation and drainage fluid. She’s got an appointment next week to see if the swelling has gone down. If not, then they’ll have to do surgery. So, we’re praying for inflammation. Not intestines. Amen.
I Spoke Too Soon May 20, 2008
So I thought I was doing the thing where you joke in relief earlier when I was talking about my dog.
Ginger, first of all, is the love of my life. I’ve had her 8 years, since she was 3 months old.
She has had, since her spaying when she was 1, a lypoma on her stomach. It’s just a fatty deposit and is generally harmless. I had been told for years that the lypoma was no big deal and that as long as it didn’t start to mess with her intestines she’d be fine. Well, hers got bigger and bigger over time and, as of last week, has torn a hole in her stomach. So basically the only thing separating her intestines from the wide world is her skin. She had emergency surgery last Tuesday/Wednesday (3 am!) to correct what is now a hernia. Two hours of surgery, two weeks of pitiful puppy and $2300 later I found out that the surgery failed. The emergency vet didn’t suture up the inside of her stomach lining, so basically, the hernia fell out again.
I know this may be gross, but I’ve got to vent. I’m positively devastated. She’s my girl. It’s just me and Ginger, you know? The vet says that she needs surgery again this week, but we’re not sure how long she’s going to live. My understanding right now is that she could live for 4-5 more years or she could go on the table.
So I’ve cried all afternoon, not so much because of the surgery or the money or any of that, but because the vet basically said ‘you might want to look at getting a puppy in case something happens.’ Now, I know that those of you who aren’t animal fans might not understand, but, um…if your kid was diagnosed as terminal would you run out and adopt a new one to replace them? The thought makes me sick. She’s my GIRL.
Anyway. It may all be fine. Hopefully since this surgery will be scheduled it’ll be much cheaper and they’ll do it right and she’ll have a few more years in her. God, I hope so. I just can’t think about the alternative. I just can’t.
So, if praying for animals is wrong, I don’t want to be right. Would y’all mind lifting up a few prayers of intercession for me and my pup? I would appreciate it more than you can know.
Thanks y’all.
Well Hellooooo! May 20, 2008
Oh right, I have a blog!
These past few weeks have been ridiculous. BUT! It is good! Assuming everything goes well at the Vet today, my puppy is NOT going to die; I’m clearing a bunch of stuff out of my house and we’re having a HUGE garage sale this weekend (you all need to come and buy the Great! Vintage! Stuff!); and the moment the garage sale is over, my new roomie is moving in!
So it looks like once the dust settles, I’ll have a pretty good thing going on. Until then, I’m still running around like the proverbial headless chicken.
I miss you guys, and I’ll be back soon! I promise!
I hope there is still a ‘you guys’ out there!!
Anyone?
*cricket*
No?
*cricket cricket*
My Sister is a Cosmetics Professional April 25, 2008
Heard on the phone 5 minutes ago:
Amanda: ULTACOSMETICSANDSALONCANIHELPYOU?
Me: Sister, are you on-fire busy right now?
Amanda: YES let me finish putting this woman’s eyelashes on and I’ll call you right back. *click*
Do You Know How Much God Loves You? April 19, 2008
He loves you enough to help you find that shirt you misplaced so you can get out the door and into work on time. Enough to make sure you don’t knock over your coffee onto the carpet. Enough to keep that car from swerving into you. Enough to get you out of that job you thought you were preparing for and into the work He has prepared for you. Enough to say yes. So much that He’ll say no. He loves you so much that at times He’ll answer your prayers before you’ve said ‘amen’ and enough that sometimes He’ll remain silent on a matter for years. He loves you SO MUCH that He’ll provide everything you need from your smallest desire to your most crucial necessity. And so much that sometimes He’ll let the bottom fall out, leaving you with nothing but but His mighty hand to cling to.
He loves you so much.
YOU.
SO MUCH.
So very much that His Son wasn’t too dear a price to pay for eternal communion with you. So much that when He calls you to carry your cross, He requires you to step out on faith and lift it up so that you may have the joy in the realization that you don’t carry that cross alone. You’ll find Christ under that cross with you, shouldering the burden with you, relieving the Lion’s share of the weight.
You are precious to Him. You. You are everything to Him.
God.
THE God.
The One who called the entire universe into being. The One who painted that sunset. The One. The One and Only. The Almighty. He loves you. And not just that brotherly love stuff. Nope, for you He brings out the big guns. The Agape love. He loves you with a divine, unconditional, self-sacrificing, active, and thoughtful love.
I promise.
The Bible tells me so.
So believe it. Your doubt and self-deprecation and lingering guilt doesn’t make it any less true. Neither does mine. Embrace the truth of His promises and free yourself up for uninhibited worship.
He is worthy.
In Which She Totally Comes Right Out and Says Whateves April 10, 2008
Glory to His name, the week’s nearly over! This has been a long one, ladies. (Stephen, that includes you.) (You know you love it.)
So I got a laptop last week. Yeah, that’s right. Don’t get all judgy on me, either. I got an awesome deal and thanks to the government’s bizarre scheme to revive the economy (that, in my case, totally worked) it’s pretty muchly paid for. Yay.
I had all these lofty ideas of sitting in Panera, leisurly sipping a latte, chatting with the regulars and writing the moderately witty, infrequently posted mediocrity that a few of you have come to know and sort of like. However, that has proven, most ostinsibly, not to be the case. (Yeah, you heard me. Ostensibly. Look it up.) I HAVE been in Panera (every stinkin day), gulping down coffee, ignoring the crazies while furiously working on my moderately intelligent, semi-coherent and decidedly mediocre paper for Lisa J. (This, of course, is my opinion. Lisa was very complimentary.) And today…today she declared me almost done and ordered that I take some time away from it to work on other things. So far those other things have been playing Jewel Quest (it’s addictive, like the Tetris), reading all my bloggy buddies’ posts, checking facebook, and texting my friends. Apparently when I relax my brain reverts to high school behavior. That’s cool, though. You know. Whateves.
Alright. That made me shudder, too.
But now. NOW I’m livin’ the dream, baby. Kind of. I’m at Panera, writing ridiculous nonsense, sipping my Mocha…still ignoring the crazies. No lie, there’s a teenager working behind the counter talking about pulling on his uvula. (The tiny punching bag that hangs in the back of your throat. It sounds dirty, but it’s not)
I’m still fighting the urge to go “I’m supposed to be working on something! Aren’t there dishes to do, or Bible studies to catch up on or, you know, gutters to be cleaned or something???” I’m trying to dial down the stress. I’m learning. I’m almost there. But the truth is (thank you, Pastor Steve) that sometimes it IS just time to relax. Sometimes you can’t do it, whatever IT may be, on the first try. Sometimes you need to take a step back, get some perspective, and try to ignore the guy pulling on his uvula.
Cross stitch THAT on a pillow, baby.
Peace out.
Man, Can He Sing April 8, 2008
Since the 40th anniversary of the death of MLK was 4 days ago, this is a little late, but I just found it tonight. This is, of course, a cover of the U2 song, but John Legend does it such elegant justice. He really is just amazing. Let me know what y’all think.
Praise God! April 2, 2008
Erin Blonshine is in remission!!! Yes, you read that right! Now, click here and read all about it!
Jesus Loves Me, This I Know March 29, 2008
Tonight I got to have a glimpse – just a shadow, or a dim reflection – of what it will be like to look into the eyes of Jesus. Those of you who were there know what I’m talking about. (SK – “And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.”) I had the joy of watching Brad Sherrill perform the entire Gospel of John solo at my church. He very simply and very literally brought the gospel to life before our eyes. He didn’t remain confined to the stage – he moved in (did you guys notice?) a cross across the front of the church and down the center aisle. As he spoke the words of Christ, he would occasionally stop, lean over, and speak the words of the Word Made Flesh nose to nose with someone in the audience.
I don’t pretend to think that he chose any of us for any particular reason, but I do know that in my case he had to have been moved by the very Holy Spirit of God to speak a word to me. Whether he knew it or not, I don’t know, but he spoke the truth of Christ to my soul, the very words I’ve been searching for for months and that have been right under my nose all along.
Hear John 14:1-4 - ”Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.”
Then John 17:33 - ”I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”
Nose to nose. Holding my hand. I could just swoon right here. How great is our God.
Please don’t misunderstand my emotion. The overflow of my heart is due to the gift of a servant bringing to life the old, old story. I am more in love with Jesus tonight than I have ever been. Which was God’s purpose in my attendance tonight. I’m too overwhelmed right now to get into the specifics of why this was such a timely word for me, but I wanted to get the memory down while it was still fresh. Thanks for letting me indulge just a bit, and testify to God’s providence and tenderness.
