The past couple of weeks have been full of many miracles and blessings for me. It’s amazing how much the Lord will allow you to go through struggles and trials to a point that you are not sure if you will be able to get through it. But as you go through them, sometimes you can see the Lord helping you in every way possible, to help you get through it, but still allow you to learn and grow through the experience.
I had ear surgery on December 19th. This was my LAST ear surgery (Woo hoo!). I have previously had 9 surgeries on my ear. This was the lucky 10th. This surgery was to provide me the opportunity to hear once again. So I am dedicating this blog to my Heavenly Father, where none of these miracles I experienced could have happened without him.
The AMAZING December blessing list of 2007!
1. Before my surgery I had to overcoming a cold really quickly or else my surgery would have been canceled. This was only accomplished through prayer. I have never gotten over a cold that fast before.
2. I had enough vacation time from work to be able to take off the time needed for recovery.
3. My fun and cute cousin made me a great Christmas gift of fruit jewelry. (She explained that this was so that I would have something to eat after surgery, or the dr.’s had something to
eat if they were hungry during surgery).
4. I was able to get all my Christmas shopping completed before surgery date.
5. My mom was able to fly up to the beautiful state of Utah and help me with my surgery. She provided the much needed laughs, emotional support, healthy food, and physical assistance (there is much more, but just know that I have a truly special mom).
6. My mom completed her Christmas preparations before coming up to Utah.
7. My dad was able to spare my mom to leave his assistance with his company at a busy time. I’m sure she was missed often during that time.
8. That my surgery was not scheduled till night. This gave my mom and I more time to shop ☺ or explore some fun stores in the area.
9. That my mom and I found the coolest toy stuffed animal duck puppet that just makes you laugh as it creates different songs. This was needed at times during the recovery process.
10. My Grandpa and Grandma Walker were more than willing to open up their home to my mom and I after the surgery for a couple of days. This allowed me not to endure the long drive back to my home. I generally get really carsick after ear surgery.
11. Although the weatherman predicted that it was going to be a heavy snowstorm on the day of surgery, it did not snow at all
until after surgery.
12. There is a way to drive to the University of Utah hospital without so many hills (although the adventure is gone driving these hills with my stick shift car in the snow, the anxiety was also gone).
13.
Wild Oats had my FAVORITE soup available the day before my surgery for my LAST MEAL. They have the best Split Pea Soup with lemon and mint.
14. My grandpa was able to drive us to and from the hospital so that my mom was able to help me out more.
15. New, and warm PJ’s.
16. A fun “thinking of you, and hope you recover well” gift in a really cool bag, from my sister. She loves me so much that she was able to locate my favorite Kleenex’s (which appears to be nonexistent here) – menthol
16.23. My sister dedicated one of her
blogs on me. Some of the pictures she posted of me and her made me laugh, and remember those fun times.
17. The loaning of the 6th Harry Potter book from my sister (I am almost caught up!)
18. A fun e-mail card from another family, who was able to locate the coolest
Hoops and Yoyo card that I had never seen before. (Hoops and Yoyo forever!)
19. The heated blankets at the hospital. These are the best invention ever.
20. I had a really good anesthesiologist during surgery. It was because of them that I was able to recover from it so quickly.
21. A wonderful ear surgeon, Dr. Clough Shelton, who was willing to develop the needed skills many, many years ago to do this surgery so well.
22. Fun nurses during post – op. They helped make the time go by quicker.
23. I own a heating blanket!
24. Hummus and
Butternut Squash soup (not together, but both of these are something I am really into right now)
25. Good movies to watch to help make the time go by faster and take your mind off of current discomfort.
26. The surgery went so well, that I did not need another skin graft as they thought might occur and this was the first surgery where the back of my head was not shaved! Yea!
27. Wheelchairs at airports. They are great and help you get through security checks a lot
faster.
28. Orbit “Sweet Mint” gum. It’s what helped me get through the airplane ride to Arizona.
29. The opportunity to see the most beautiful sunset from the airplane. You can get a great view from up there.
30. Pre Boarding at Southwest Airlines.
31. A fun wheelchair attendant at Phoenix Airport who took me on the “scenic” route to baggage claim. I was shown some cool ways to work the elevators there.
32. That my dad and brother, Trevor, were willing to assist with luggage as I currently can’t lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk.
33. That my sister, Jessica, watched her parent’s dog, Shaggy, over Christmas break. This was a tender mercy as I wasn’t sure how it would be with this being our first Christmas without our dog
Finney. It was comforting to hear him bark and nice to have him cuddle as we watched movies.
34. Receiving a 2008 calendar, with family birthdays already marked ☺
35. Fun Christmas Eve family traditions of eating Mexican food, singing songs, acting out the Nativity and bearing our testimonies regarding our Savior and our feelings towards our
family.
36. That Lois and her daughter Belinda were able to come and spend Christmas Eve with us. It was a nice addition.
37. That I have a COOL family. and they are all really cute!
38. My newest niece was a great actress as she played the role of baby Jesus well in our family rendition of the Nativity.
39. The ability to sleep in Christmas morning.
39.789. To receive emergency preparation supplies, and the ability to access free music with itunes thanks to the itunes giftcard.
40. A fun, yet very relaxing Christmas celebration of vegging out, watching movies and playing
games.
41. Sisters who like to window shop, and who walk slowly as I was still trying to build my strength back up.
42. Target’s great price on Amy’s Split Pea Soup.
43. Finding a great, warm sweater that I did not think I would need in Arizona.
44. That our whole family (except for my brother in law who had to leave due to his sister’s death), were able to be together after 6 years in one place to have a family picture taken.
45. A brother who can make anyone laugh.
46. Digital cameras.
47. A fun night out with friends.
48. Meeting a fun guy and making a new friend.
49. Being in Arizona at the same time the Jim Henson Muppet exhibit was going on.
50. Knowing that Toni and Guy are from Europe.
51. Learning the importance of
remembering the Lord and all the tender mercies he gives us daily.
52. Fun family dinners
53. Given the opportunity to have my hearing be even worse so that I would be able to laugh at the funny things I think others are saying.
54. Singing around the piano.
55. Curb side check in at the airport.
56. Beautiful, white snow in Utah, and the roads were clear as I drove home.
57. My grandpa being willing to help me with my luggage (since I still
couldn't lift anything heavier than a gallon of milk).
58. A great cousin who unloaded my car for me when I finally got home.
59. Knowing that despite challenges that come in our lives, the Lord is very mindful of us and will help us in every way possible.
60. Being able to recognize just a handful of blessings that were bestowed upon me during the month of December 2007.
Today for Day 1 I came home from working 12+ hours and was just exhausted. I decided to try a new way to de-stress and relax from the busy work week. I found my box of crayons, retrieved some blank paper, put on one of my Sesame Street CD's, and drew pictures. This was a lot of fun, and actually one of the best relaxation techniques I have never really done before. I also decided that it would be no fun to keep this joy to myself.... so I will be mailing them to my dad and mom. It's been awhile since they have been able to have one of my drawings displayed on their fridge.
The first drawing was a blue cow on a farm. After I drew it, I realized that I haven't seen a cow for a long time. My next picture was a small depiction of what I did today... me playing a tubano drum. Than I created a superb picture of my family. I think this one turned out better than expected.
I also drew another picture, but will not reveal it, as I don't want my dad and mom to know everything they will get in this letter.
