Wednesday, January 13, 2016

Gloomy Days

Happy Wednesday everyone.  I hope you're all doing well during these winter months.  Today is gloomy and rainy, but at least the snow has stopped for now.  Our road is still snow packed in front of our house, but with several upper 30's and low 40's degree days predicted, maybe that will be a memory soon.  My light blue car is black with road ick, but I see no point it washing it right now.  Maybe next week.

I spent yesterday at the hospital with a friend from church who had to have his big toe removed.  He has no family here, they all live on the east coast, so I drove him to the hospital and stayed with him. 9 hours!   Believe it or not, they sent him home right after the surgery!  He's 69 years old, lives alone and I couldn't believe they didn't keep him overnight.  Dennis and I tried to talk him into staying with us for a day or two, but he is fiercely independent and insisted on going home.  The problem is, home is over 30 miles away from us.  I worried about Tom all night and called him first thing this morning.  He said he took a pain pill at 8:00 last night and slept until 8:00 this morning.  Better than I did!  I HAVE got to learn how to not worry so much about everyone.  I take him back to the doctor next Monday for his follow-up care.  Then, next Wedneday I have an MRI for my back.  Would you believe that since I slipped on the ice last week and had two days of pain from that, I have had NO pain since then.  It's like the slip fixed the problem that I've dealt with since October.  Just when I finally get in for the MRI.  Now I don't know what to do.  It took so long to see anyone and get the test scheduled that I'm afraid to cancel it.  Dennis says to just hav it done anyway.  Oh my goodness!!!  How silly is this?

I still have a bit of Christmas up. I love to look at the Christmas cards.  I'll probably keep them up for another week or two.
This...
was from this falling off the wall yesterday when I was winding it.  Luckily I caught it with my HEAD before it hit the floor. :-) Dennis will rehang it after the wall is repaired and repainted.  I haven't the foggiest idea why it fell.  It's been hanging there for several years with no problem.
I started a new devotion book on January 1.  I'm really enjoying it.  The cover is made of cloth and feels very luxurious.
A sample devotion from the 12th.  I liked this lesson a lot!
Every week or so there is a recipe included.  I haven't made this but doesn't it look good?
I delivered the last 13 pair of mittens to the school today.  I was taken to a classroom where I met some students I hadn't seen before.  When the teacher told them I was the "mitten lady" they spontaneously began calling "thank you" and all ran up and hugged and hugged and hugged me. One little boy would NOT let go.  He was crying and saying thank you over and over again.  My friends, by that time I was crying too.  After talking to the teacher for a minute or two I understood.  She has a class of over 20 students who are just learning English this year.  They are ALL refugees from Africa and the Middle East.  These families came here with nothing except their lives.  The children have NOTHING.  To have someone give them mittens was beyond their understanding.  Such a small thing that meant so much to them.  They asked me to come back and I'm considering becoming a "reading Grandma".  They need someone to come in and just read with with the children.  Oh my goodness.  What an overwhelming experience.  The gratefulness of these little children was unreal to me.  It sure puts my blessed life into perspective.

Thank you to all who have encouraged me as I persevered in making these mittens.  A total of 103 pair since just after Thanksgiving.  I will definitely keep making them so they are ready for the cold next year.  I have to admit though, I am tired of mittens and want to make something else for awhile but I will wait until I have at least 10 pair in my "mitten bag."

I'm sitting by a cozy fire and will start my next pair of mittens as soon as I'm done with this post! I have a new motivation after that visit today.

"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.  For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:38

My friends you are, each one of you, definely blessings in my life and I'm grateful for each of you.

Blessings,
Betsy








13 comments:

  1. that is so kind of you to make those mittens, you are such a lovely lady. I agree with your dh, do go for the MRI.

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  2. Go ahead with the MRI. They are so hard to get insurance to approve. They may still see what the problem is and hopefully it won't but sure enough if you cancel the pain will return. So proud of you for doing those mittens. I didn't realize these were for refugees.
    That poor man. 69 is not that old but sending him home. Crazy. Once when I was at the hospital getting an xray this poor girl was being dismissed. She had just had her leg amputated. I think her other leg was also, not sure. But a taxi was taking her to be alone in her home. She was very young. They kept asking her if she would need help and she said no. Can you imagine. But the hospital won't keep you esp if you have no insurance or even if you do. You are nice to help him. My elder friend 83 had a fall this fall. Her boys live out west. I was the only one here. I was able to help her and was glad I could.

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    1. I didn't realize they had an entire classroom of refugees either! I was so shocked this morning. But very glad that I could help. I know there's a lot of controversy involved in the refugee situation right now. But my thought is that it isn't the children to blame and we need to take care of them.

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  3. What a blessing you are to those children. God doesn't discriminate nor did Jesus so we shouldn't either. In fact Jesus was from the middle east and Joseph and Mary were refugees the night Christ was born. It seems pretty obvious to me.
    I think you should cancel the MRI and take it as a gift that you were healed! But it's your back and you have to do what's right for you. I can understand why you don't want to cancel after it was so hard to get an appointment.
    Don't worry....it's a bad habit and someone was said that "worrying about tomorrow takes the joy out of today". Lean on your faith....God has your back (literally..lol!)
    Thank you for the recipe...it looks yummy!

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  4. Betsy, can you share the pattern you use for your mittens, or maybe I can purchase it. I'm very new to knitting but would like to try my hand at it. My nieces would love some.
    I agree go do the mri, better to do it now than later.
    Wow all that snow, wow. Keep warm my friend.

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  5. Oh Betsy, what a sweet story of the mittens. Bless you. It brought tears to my eyes. Amazing what a bit of kindness will do. I'm sure it's touched the parents lives as well. I found our Christmas card in you line up! I thought about putting ours up like that this year, but didn't. I have it planned for 2016. Stay warm, my dear!

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  6. I am celebrating that your back feels better, but it seems wise to get the MRI anyway. I'm glad you and the clock survived your close encounter! And your encounter with some of your mitten children is so precious...I am glad you can gift them with not only the mittens, but your loving presence, and I can imagine that reading to them would be very rewarding for them and you. I am praying Tom's foot heals rapidly and that you are able to "be anxious for nothing..." I appreciate you, Betsy, and our friendship :) xx

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  7. What a wonderful experience with the mittens, quite humbling I would imagine. it is difficult to comprehend a child with nothing isn't it? I would still go for the MRI scan if I were you it will stop you wondering and put your mind at rest. Take care.

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  8. Oh yes sweet friend, I would get the MRI. Then you will know for sure what is and is not wrong with your back. What a true blessing you are to all who know you. Such a true love gift to give to those little children. They will grow up and always remember your kindness. You rock! Oh how much fun to be able to read to them. I know they would learn so much and be so thankful for your time with them. Love the devotional. It does seem we wait for the "right" time to do things, but the right time is the only time we have, which is today. Wishing you a most lovely day sweet friend. Blessings always. :)

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  9. Betsy, you are such a kind and generous soul.. Touching so many lives with your thoughtful spirit. Tom, I am sure is so appreciative. The children you make mittens for....and so many others around you.
    Wouldn't it be something if the slip corrected whatever was wrong with your back? I say have it done anyway...Dennis is right.
    Stay warm and dry.
    xo Kris

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  10. I'm so glad that your back pain has left you.. amazing! I loved hearing about how much the children appreciate your mittens. I think they'd like other things too! I bet they'd like some of those little fleece blankets. We're having light sun here.. I hope it makes it to you. How nice of you to help that man - you are very good. ((hugs)), Teresa :-)

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  11. Oh how wonderful is this post Betsy, thanks so very much for sharing it with us, great is our Lord God in opening doors for us to serve Him, may He bless you in the reading grandma position. Shaz in Oz.x

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  12. Betsy, now you have made me cry. You are the best, just the very best. I love that you worry about everyone and I love that those mittens you made with love were so needed and appreciated.
    Hugs,
    Meredith

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