(UPDATE: Made it through surgery. Healing. Thankful and blessed.)
They say that in addition to prayer, laughter is the best medicine. In an effort to chase my pre-op jitters away, I poured my feelings into a funny little poem. This expresses what I imagine surgery day will be like. Wonder if any of it will happen...?! And yah, I know I'm dramatic. It's part of my charm. If you love me, remember that includes accepting my weirdness...welcome to my tribe. :-) NOTE: Outpatient Surgery: March 11...prayers requested!! I'm in a hospital gown, feeling quite dapper, About to embark on a medical caper. The roller coaster of emotions takes its toll, From anxiety's peak to happiness' stroll. In the waiting room, nerves start to flutter, A surgical procedure, oh, what a clutter! Gowned up and ready, my heart races fast, Worrying about recovery...will it be a blast?!?! The nurse hands me forms, a pen in my hand, I scribble my name like it's some secret plan. Anxiously waiting for my name to be called, In the surgical spotlight, I'm soon to be installed. Visions of scalpels dance in my head, As I ponder anesthesia's unpredictable thread. So, in I go with a heavy-hearted sigh, Hoping anesthesia's magic will make time fly. Will I be conscious, in a medical trance?! Awake during surgery, a bizarre circumstance?! The fear of hearing scalpels and medical chit-chat, Well...I'd rather be in a dream with a talking cat. But the anesthesiologist reassures with a grin, "You won't be awake, let the dream begin." Countdown to dreamland, my eyelids drop, Will I meet mystical unicorns, will they make me hop? In dreams, will I be a queen, granting wishes so grand, Banishing worries to a far-off land? I hope to wake in recovery, with a start and a yawn, Relieved to find all my limbs still drawn. Ice packs and bandages, my new fashion craze, But I'm on the road to recovery, no more maze! In the realm of Christian contemporary sound,
There's a group of folks who are truly renowned, Addicted they are to the melodies and beats, Of CCM artists, their playlists replete. Lecrae brings the rap, with a holy flow, His rhymes so slick, making spirits glow. Amy Grant, a queen, a legend so fine, Her angelic voice, like sweet heavenly wine. Five Iron Frenzy, with ska and punk flair, Their energetic tunes, make you jump in the air. Switchfoot takes you on a soulful ride, Their rock anthems, with messages inside. TobyMac's beats, they will surely amaze, A fusion of genres that leaves you in a daze. Relient K's pop-punk, with humor and heart, Their catchy choruses, a work of art. Red, with their heavy riffs and screams, A dose of rock that fulfills your dreams. Jars of Clay, with their timeless grace, Their folk-infused songs, like a warm embrace. And let's not forget the old classic Rich Mullins, His spirit lives on, in the hearts he's still thrilling. With songs like "Awesome God" and "Sometimes by Step," He left a legacy, that's hard to forget. Now, on Twitter, there's a group that's all the rage, For CCM enthusiasts, it's a glorious stage. Led by @ineverglow, a humble guide, They share their passion, far and wide. #CCMTwitter, the list they proclaim, Where newbies and experts play the same game. They bridge the gap between Christians and non, Through music discussions, all in good fun. So if you're addicted to CCM's charm, Join the Twitter group, feel no alarm. Share your love, discover new delights, In the world of Christian music's dazzling lights. With artists like Lauren Daigle, Brave Saint Saturn and more, The #CCMTwitter community will surely adore. It's a safe space for all (thanks again, @ineverglow), Where the love for CCM will continue to grow. Life is so serious all the time. It's good to take a break and laugh every now and then. Every day, actually. Enjoy audiobooks and/or books? Well, have I got one for you! I recently re-embarked on an uproarious journey with "The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules: A Novel" by Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg, and I must say, it was an absolute riot! (Obviously a personal favorite, if I’ve read it more than three times!!) If you're looking for a book that will tickle your funny bone and leave you gasping for breath, look no further. While the book is available in all forms, my personal fave is Audible. Patience Tomlinson, narrator extraordinaire, took this already humorous gem and elevated it to a whole new level. With her delightful delivery and impeccable comedic timing, she brought the story to life. Kudos to her for capturing the spirit of the characters and adding an extra layer of laughter to an already fantastic tale. "The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules: A Novel" introduces us to a group of rebellious pensioners who decide to take matters into their own hands. There’s Martha Andersson, the seventy-nine-year-old ringleader of The League of Pensioners, and her four friends: Brains, Rake, Christina and Anna-Gretta. When their retirement home falls under new management, a whirlwind of drastic cost-cutting changes and new rules are made. The new decisions reduce the quality of life for those the retirement home is charged to care for. The League of Pensioners won’t stand for it. Fed up with early bedtimes, boredom and food unfit for consumption, this group of feisty seniors sets about to regain their independence, improve their lot and stand up for seniors everywhere. What's their brilliant solution? White collar crime. I mean, that's the obvious choice, right? :-) They hatch a daring plan to escape and make their golden years truly golden. What follows is a series of uproarious adventures that will have you snorting with laughter and cheering for these feisty old folks. Ingelman-Sundberg's writing is sharp, witty and brimming with hilarious scenarios. She crafted a cast of characters that are as endearing as they are mischievous. Martha and the group of rule-breaking pensioners are a force to be reckoned with. Their determination, cunning and sheer audacity are inspiring. I found myself cheering them on...even when they were bending the rules to their absolute breaking point. What sets this book apart is its ability to poke fun at society's perception of the elderly. Ingelman-Sundberg expertly challenges stereotypes, showing us that age is just a number and that retirement homes are not synonymous with the end of adventure. These pensioners are determined to live life to the fullest, even if it means breaking a few rules along the way. The League of Pensioners series is an absolute delight, and while "The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules: A Novel" kicks off the adventures, the two subsequent books are equally hilarious. Ingelman-Sundberg has created a world where age is no barrier to loving and living life, and I couldn't get enough of it. So, if you're in the mood for a laugh-out-loud experience, order the audiobook (Audible or your local library) or grab a copy (Amazon, library, local bookstore, etc.) of "The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules: A Novel." You won't regret it! Just be prepared for uncontrollable giggle fits, a newfound appreciation for the elderly and an insatiable desire for more of Martha and her gang's antics. Disclaimer: Side effects may include sore ribs, snorting uncontrollably in public places and an overwhelming urge to join a secret league of rule-breaking pensioners. Ingelman-Sundberg had me at the book title...where can I sign up?? :-) Guess what's baaack, dear readers...? Other than me, of course (I apologize for my blogging absence). Lyme Disease and both co-infections. Those have returned. So...sick. Again. (I look like nothing's wrong, right? Good lighting and hair dye do work wonders for this 47-year-old.) That's the thing about Chronic/Late-Stage Lyme Disease and its tricky co-infections. They have a tendency to return. Pretty much expected it but was hoping for a little more time before another mega round with the demons that are trying to chip away at my very soul. Under a microscope, they're actually quite beautiful, but what they do is far from lovely. I started feeling those old not-so-special feelings around December. Nothing too intense so I disregarded it as the holidays and just being more social. Yes, this self-proclaimed introverted extrovert was social (and liked it). Then life just changed. And not just for me, but those close to me...those aren't my stories to tell. Monday, during the wee hours of the morning (8:30am), I will roll out of bed to start week 1 of cycle 1...an aggressive protocol to treat Lyme and co-infection Babesia (Babs). When Babs takes an official time out, then I will be treated for co-infection Bartonella (Bart). Getting to remission is a matter of months, not weeks. My body is not as strong as it was the last time I went through this. Though, losing 20 pounds gives me a slight edge. Weight gain unfortunately happens with Babs treatment. Have to eat more food and the inflammation is ick. Guess that means I won't be able to wear the leather pants and ripped jeans I got for Christmas...not without a more significant than normal muffin top. I don't think my swollen spleen and liver (thank you, Babs) would allow it, anyway. Looking forward to having at least those two organs back to normal when this is all said and done. Though it's quite possible that this won't be the last relapse, my hope is that it is. God can do anything. My faith is in Him and not in, say, statisticians who figure with all of my "stuff," I should be long gone by now. God is with, for and will fight for me. Along the way, I take with me: Faith. Hope. Love. Grace. Devoted family and friends. A questionable taste in video games/TV/movies. Music that isn't terrible. And a decent sense of humor. Um, did you know that Starbucks makes house calls to some locales now? Random tidbit of information for when city or near city dwellers have those "oh I can't bear it anymore" moments and need sugar and caffeine double quick. Fight songs are important when going through something. The lighthearted ones are the best. Like, who would've thought battle dancing unicorns with glitter would've become a thing? Ever heard of Lindsey Stirling and/or Peter Hollens? They're both incredible artists with a diverse range of talents who teamed up for "Star Wars Medley" (and many other amazing songs). See you on the other side! (hahaha)
:-P Hopefully I won't be sick and stuck at home the entire time as with previous treatments. Places to go, people to see!! Lyme is not my life. I am a warrior princess who happens to have Chronic/Late-Stage Lyme Disease. And Epilepsy. And blah blah blah blah blah blah blah blah. Point: this is just something along the path, not the path itself. :-) Love and hugs, Jen |
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