Ponderings On Recovery

Had my third post op (lung lobectomy) appointment a week ago:)It was a three hour 'adventure', but knew going in it'd be a waiting game--took the newspaper & my trusty Kindle Fire. Thursdays are VERY BUSY in Dr. Chang's realm, and the receptionists remind me of this every time I schedule a Thursday appointment. Still it's my best day, since I work Mondays & Mondays are Dr. Chang's only other day to see patients. Dr. Chang's PA informed me I'm doing well, my chest x-ray looked great. But I've been worried about not getting right back into my walking regime. She assured me it could take six months to return to my previous energy level, even with laparocopic surgery. Whew. Made me feel much better!! So the pressure's off to walk three miles four or five days a week for now, especially when I work an eight hour day. I'm working toward that, gradually. It seems I need more sleep lately (allergies may easily be a culprit here). But I've always loved naps, so this may not be too different:) I'm often waking up early, 4:30 or 5am--ugh!? Do these two statements mean one precipitates the other? Keith's doing well, especially with his weight loss:)!! Five stars for him for losing almost 40 pounds! That alone makes anyone feel better:) I didn't have that side-affect, I'm afraid:( Now for our biking regime to kick in:)

Easter--A Day In The Life

It is Easter Sunday evening. I've had a day filled with preparing food, trying to coordinate all the food to be done at the same time, attending Sunday School & the church service, and most importantly meeting Skye's boyfriend Ben--she's dated him since last May:)

To start the day, about 6:30 this morning, Wyatt & I had a short green way walk --all was quiet in Shepherd's Vineyard except sweet birds singing:) Thought of Jesus appearing to the women in the garden about that time of day....

(While I showered) Keith peeled & cut up russet potatoes for the Potatoes Au Gratin, recipe by The Pioneer Woman. I wanted to try something different than our usual baked potatoes or mashed potatoes:)

After grabbing coffee, half a banana, & a chocolate donut (tisk, tisk), I put the Au Gratin together, washed & sliced strawberries for a spinach salad, placed the yeast dough rolls out to rise, & prepared the ham for baking. Also set the table with my favorite rust-colored Cole pottery plates & pottery cups. Yesterday I had put freshly ironed white tablecloths on the table, then added a glass container filled with Easter eggs & a tall green pottery vase of fresh flowers for the centerpiece.

At 9:30, Keith & I headed to Peace:)!
Had a precious time in Sunday School with dear folks studying 1Peter.
At 11 we met Seth & Kelley and Cameron in the sanctuary. Seth informed me Skye & Ben had just left Boone--an hour late:(
Ugh. (How was I going to delay lunch an hour?)
Peace's Easter Service is always inspiring to me, & today was as well:) Choir Anthem, horns, orchestra, Andy's sermon! Friday night's service was more intimate & moving, but today's service was glorious:)!

Skye & Ben arrived about 2pm:) We had successfully kept the food hot while checking out Seth & Kelley's new Ancestry.com app & putting dishes back in a warm oven:) Plus Cameron had a call from work he attended to--he even ran home to get his computer.

We had a sweet time visiting with Skye & getting to know Ben a little while we ate:) He lives in Elizabethton, Tenn. & enjoys cooking. He's working at a Bistro there & hopes to go to Culinary School eventually:)
An A+ in my book for Ben: he washed dishes for me:) As much as I love my kids (& they're almost perfect:)), no one offers to do that!
Cooks & does dishes--pretty impressive:)

(BTW, my Potatoes Au Gratin were too soupy, but tasted good:) Ree, I'll do better next time, promise)

Mid afternoon Cameron left to go hiking at Umstead with a bud & S&K left to prepare for their Easter dinner at Kelley's mom's in Raleigh. Skye & Ben decided to take a walk into downtown Apex:) That sounded great, but Keith & I were so tired we opted for a nap!:)

Tonight Skye & Ben are checking out the Raleigh scene & meeting some of Skye's buds. This is the first time Ben has been in our "neck of the woods".
Tomorrow afternoon they head back to the mts. I plan to have lunch with them on their way out--I've asked off for an hour. A short visit, but sweet:)

A lovely Easter day at the McFarlands. We are blessed:)

April

Well, blog readers, I've probably lost all of you by now, except maybe one:) My dear friend Linda emailed me this week asking me to return to my journaling. I'm not sure whether gifted writers have dry spells (I suspect they do but are disciplined enough to write daily/weekly), but my inspiration vanished months ago:(
Life became busy.
Life became hard.
But those times should fuel a writer's words, right?

Keith & I have resumed our normal lives (as in "before surgeries") in the last month. We both have a bit more recovery but it will come gradually. Keith's working full time again. We hope to resume biking soon:) I haven't quite returned to walking 3 miles each morning before working an 8 hour day at Hallmark, but am walking 2 miles:) Keith's lost at least 35 pounds & feels much better:)

Church softball season began this week. Keith turned over his coaching duties to friend Steve for this season, but I did spy him "coaching" from the sidelines:) He loves softball:)

Keith's brother Denny & sister in law Nancy from Wisconsin visited last weekend:) SO good to have them here for a few days:)

On the 26-27th we plan to attend a Sunday School class reunion in Valle Crucis, near Boone, NC. Looking forward to time in the gorgeous mts. with old friends:) We'll visit Skye too:) I'm ready for a road trip--too much time spent at home lately!!

I'll let you know about Skye's Easter visit with her "beau":) We're meeting him for the first time:)!!

Have a blessed Easter, Linda:)