One of the reasons we love living in Corrales, New Mexico is we don’t get much snow and the weather is reasonably moderate. However, there are some things that look fun in cold and snow. Watch this woman in Yellowknife, Northwest Territories, Canada make instant snow out of boiling water.
Oh, it helps that it’s –22 degree F (-30 C).
Enjoy.
Just a short reflection today, but one that is meaningful for me.
Anytime anyone goes through an injury or a significant surgery where there is an extended recovery time, it can be an emotional roller coaster. That has been true for me as well. There have been plenty of high times when I have been emotionally supported by Betty, my sons and their families, my friends and plenty of prayer. But there have also been times when I have been discouraged because I want this all to move much faster.
Today I was in church, which is a good thing, and I happened to be sitting behind a good friend who is permanently confined to a wheelchair and across from a man who I don’t know but have seen several times before who also is permanently confined to a wheelchair.
My friend, Glenda, is one of the most positive persons I know. She loves the Lord and always has a genuine smile on her face. Her ministry at church is to sit in her wheelchair at the front door and greet everyone as they arrive. During the service Glenda openly praises God with her voice and with her upraised hands.
When the worship music would end or go down in volume, I would hear the gentleman across from me quietly praise God with his words in a real and spontaneous way.
What a witness to me. Any problems I have had with my recovery are minor and short-term in nature compared to the very real issues these two folks face every single minute of their lives.
I guess I still have a lot to learn.
The annual New Mexico Stampede PRCA (Pro Rodeo Cowboy Association) rodeo was held last night, Friday, at the Santa Ana Star Arena. Galloping Grace Youth Ranch is the official charity of the rodeo and, each year, there are ways for GGYR to make some money. This year the rodeo said if we could sell 100 tickets at $10 (regular price $14), they would donate $4 to GGYR for each ticket sold. The good news is 120 ticket were sold.
Betty and I bought two tickets and it was my first outing at night. I did OK, but I was pretty tired when we left.
I took my camera and I got plenty of pictures of the typical rodeo action. Such as the bucking bronc riders…
The crazy and courageous bull riders…
The controlled chaos of the bull doggers…
And the ballet of the team ropers…
But what I find interesting is all the things that happen around the events. At the beginning is the presentation of the American flag and a very patriotic opening…
Then they turn out several of the rough stock horses and it’s beautiful to watch them run around in and out of the spotlight…
The rodeo clown getting his barrel in place before the bull riding…
The lonesome cowboy carrying his rig while watching action at the other end of the arena…
A nervous horse waiting his turn while tied up next to the calf pen…
The slam-bang action of the pick up men rescuing a bronc rider after the ride is over…
The team ropers waiting their turns in the holding pen. It was amazing to see all those horses jammed up against each other and staying so calm…
The hand and rope of a roper getting ready to go…
Finally, two of our Galloping Grace cowgirls enjoying the rodeo…
It was a good night. No one got hurt. GGYR made some money. And Betty and I had a good time with good friends.
Here’s the modern version of David and Goliath.
Enjoy. (After posting the cartoon I ran across the cute pictures below and thought I would share them as well.)
I got this from my sister-in-law Noel and thought it was really good.
A paraprosdokian is a figure of speech in which the latter part of a sentence or phrase is surprising or unexpected in a way that causes the reader or listener to re-frame or reinterpret the first part, frequently used for humorous or dramatic effect. Here are some examples:
I want to die peacefully in my sleep, like my grandfather. Not screaming and yelling like the passengers in his car.
The last thing I want to do is hurt you. But it's still on the list.
If I agreed with you, we'd both be wrong.
We never really grow up; we only learn how to act in public.
War does not determine who is right -- only who is left.
I asked God for a bike, but I know God doesn't work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.
Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; Wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad.
Evening news is where they begin with 'Good evening,' and then proceed to tell you why it isn't.To steal idea from one person is plagiarism. To steal from many is research.
A bus station is where a bus stops. A train station is where a train stops. My desk is a work station.
How is it one careless match can start a forest fire, but it takes a whole box to start a campfire?
I thought I wanted a career; turns out I just wanted paychecks.
Whenever I fill out an application, in the part that says "In an emergency, notify:" I put " A DOCTOR."
I didn't say it was your fault, I said I was blaming you.Why does someone believe you when you say there are four billion stars, but check when you say the paint is wet?
Behind every successful man is his woman. Behind the fall of a successful man is usually another woman.
A clear conscience is usually the sign of a bad memory.
The voices in my head may not be real, but they have some good ideas!
Some cause happiness wherever they go.. Others, whenever they go.
I used to be indecisive. Now I'm not sure.I always take life with a grain of salt... plus a slice of lemon... and a shot of tequila.
You're never too old to learn something stupid.
To be sure of hitting the target, shoot first and call whatever you hit the target.
Nostalgia isn't what it used to be.
"Does the hawk take flight by your wisdom and spread his wings toward the south?”
(Job 39:26)
I have shared pictures of our antelope squirrel taking a good look at his kingdom, our rabbit having his breakfast, and now the top of the pecking order – our resident hawk.
This hawk comes around once or twice a week to check out our courtyard and, when he/she does, everyone else runs for cover.
I have said and heard others say “that was a blessing.” Or “she’s a real blessing to others.” Or “children are a blessing.” We use the word blessing perhaps without really thinking about it.
The Hebrew word for bless and blessing is ‘barak’ which literally means ‘to kneel.’ When it is used in reference to God (i.e., bless God) it is a term of worship. When it is used from God to man it is a term of ‘benefit.’
When Jesus talked about who were blessed the Greek word is ‘makarios’ which literally means ‘fortunate, well-off’ and is also used for the concept of being happy.
As I have recovered from my prostate cancer surgery I have reflected on how blessed I am through family and friends. Last week I referred to being rich. When we have family and friends who love us we are blessed, we are rich, we are happy.
I also think that when we realize we are blessed we have an obligation to share that blessing with others.
There are many, many verses in the Bible that refer to bless or blessing. So as I close, I will share with you one of my favorites:
"The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace." (Numbers 6:24-26)
Be blessed.
During my recovery the only outings I have had (other than to go see the doctor) was to go out to eat breakfast two times at local Corrales restaurants. Today was my first extended outing.
We went to the movies and saw “The King’s Speech.” It is without a doubt one of the best movies we have ever seen. It’s based on the true story of how King George V became king when his older brother abdicated the throne because he wanted to marry Wallis Simpson, an American divorcee. George the V had a tremendous stammering problem his whole life and the movie focuses on how he overcame it with the help of an interesting Australian.
The movie was made by an English production company and they were able to get access to a lot of the places where the real events occurred. The production is very rich and the 1930s setting is very authentic. It is well acted by everyone in the cast.
The movie is a deep exploration of human nature and frailty and how friendships can develop in the strangest of circumstances.
If you want to see a great movie that has zero action scenes and no sex (there is some strong language but it is set in a therapy context), then we highly recommend “The King’s Speech.”
Without question, my all-time favorite YouTube video is “Bailey the Unknown Reindeer.” I show it every year during the winter as much for my enjoyment as for yours. Besides watching the sheer joy of a dog doing something he loves, it will give you a snow fix (and reminds me why I like living in New Mexico).
Enjoy Bailey once again.
Here’s what you post about when you are recovering from surgery – bunnies.
We have two bunnies that frequent and perhaps live in our courtyard – we have a large hole under our hot tub equipment that I need to take care of after I get better.
Recently, one of our bunnies was out eating early one morning. Here he is (is there a way to tell if a bunny is a he or she?) waiting to start breakfast.
Munching away. 
Then he decided to shift to eating on or around our Iris plants. 
Don’t you love their translucent ears? 
So, that’s what you post about when you’re sitting around getting over surgery. Stay tuned for even more exciting posts in the near future.
(IHOP – get it?)
I can’t believe I left off two of our very best friends – Bob and Molly Dutina - when I did my Sunday Reflection to thank all who have been and are praying for me.
We have known Bob and Molly for probably 25 years. We’ve been through a lot together and they have always stood with us as we have tried to stand with them.
So, Bob and Molly, please forgive my oversight as you are very important to us. Thank you for all your prayers during this difficult time.
Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many. (2 Corinthians 1:11)
‘The prayers of many.’
I was diagnosed with prostate cancer back in late November. Since then there have been so many people who have supported me in prayer (and continue to do so) and there has been ‘gracious favor granted’ to me in answer to your prayers. The cancer seems to be all removed and, God willing, it hasn’t spread.
So thank you so much to all of you who prayed for me --
My loving wife Betty who is my biggest support.
My special sons and their families: Wade, Marie, Juliet and Leah and Chris, Tracy and Javier.
My extended family – My sister Jane and her husband Hack and their sons: Gary and Kelly and his neat wife April - Margie, Betty’s sister; Betty’s brothers and their families: Bill, Noel and Galen; Jim, Melissa, Leslie, Tom, Patrick and Michelle - Nita, Betty’s wonderful stepmother and her nieces and their friends - Betty’s cousins, Bob and James and their families - my Aunt Mary Frank and Aunt Ruth and all of my cousins.
The wonderful parents of my daughters-in-law: Gary and Nancy Jo and Larry and Virgie.
All of my church family in Destiny Center.
My good friends at Galloping Grace Youth Ranch – especially my special friends Max and Michelle - and Trish who has walked this road before me.
My wonderful neighbors: Carolyn and Susan plus our manure shoveling kids Evan and Maritsa and their family.
My shipmates from my Navy ship, THE USS WILLIAM H. STANDLEY (DLG32).
Our international horse friends: Margie and Lane, Saskia, Bernadette and Geoff.
And finally all of you, my blogging friends and you know who you are.
As Harry Bailey said to his brother George in the movie “It’s A Wonderful Life” -
“A toast to my big brother George: The richest man in town.”
I feel pretty rich right now.
PS: If missed anyone please forgive me.
From previous posts, you may know that we have a little wildlife park in our courtyard – hawks, all kinds of other birds, rabbits and antelope squirrels.
Here’s one of our antelope squirrels surveying his kingdom. It would be fun to see the world as he sees it.
Enjoy your kingdom O Ruler of All You Can See.
We’ve all seen videos of the power of floods – washing away houses, etc. However, this flood in Australia from just a few days ago is amazing and scary because of how fast it rises and the powerful effect it has.
Can’t say ‘enjoy’ with this one.
Betty and I went to the doctor yesterday to remove my sidekick, my catheter, and to have the 24 staples removed from my 8 inch incision. All of that went well.
The doctor also said the pathology tests run after my surgery look good so there’s no immediate evidence the cancer has spread. That’s good news.
I’ll have a blood test run in about a month to do another check.
Thanks for all the prayers and support.
Dan
If you’ve read many of my Sunday Reflections, you know that one of my spiritual heroes is C. S. Lewis, the British theologian who died on November 22, 1963 – the same day President Kennedy was killed (that fact has nothing to do with this post).
Lewis wrote two books about pain. The first was “The Problem of Pain” that was written in 1940. It is his theoretical exposition of how a loving God can permit pain and suffering in his creatures whom he supposedly loves. I’m not about to tackle this subject in a blog post, but I’ll share a quote from this book that resonates with me:
"Try to exclude the possibility of suffering which the order of nature and the existence of free-wills involve, and you find that you have excluded life itself"
The second book was “A Grief Observed” in which he wrote about the pain he felt when his beloved wife Joy died of cancer after only three years of marriage. This book detailed not only the pain of the loss of his wife, but the pain of doubting all of his beliefs about God. Here are two quotes from this book:
"Aren't all these notes the senseless writings of a man who won't accept the fact that there is nothing we can do with suffering except to suffer it?"
"Of course it is different when the thing happens to oneself, not to others, and in reality, not in imagination."
Lewis both observed pain (the first book) and felt pain (the second).
I’ve been thinking a lot about pain recently – both before my surgery in anticipation of dealing with what I knew was coming (I’ve had several other surgeries over the years) – and after the surgery in the actuality of dealing with the pain.
At first the pain is a living thing that occupies your mind and body 24 hours a day. Even in my sleep it was there and would wake me up in the middle of the night as the pain pills wore off. When Betty was recuperating from her horseback accident the physical therapist told her that pain pills don’t remove the pain. They just mask it so the body doesn’t feel it as acutely. The pain is still there. I believe that from my own experiences.
Over time as healing begins, the pain eases until it is sporadic – it hurts only when you move a certain way. That’s the pain that I am feeling now.
As I write this on Saturday night for posting on Sunday afternoon, I have been watching the news about the shooting in Arizona where the congresswoman was critically injured and, as I write this, six others were killed – including a 9 year-old girl. This is pain observed.
I’m not going deeper into this subject because I’ll lose my footing and perhaps even lose my way. I would be in danger of another C. S. Lewis’ quote:
"Nonsense remains nonsense even when we talk it about God."
I’ll let you chew on the things I have said and the C. S. Lewis quotes I have shared to make your own observations about pain.
The only sure footing I have about pain – both felt and observed – is that pain makes me acutely aware of how important it is to have other people standing in the gap for me – Betty, my sons and their families, my extended family, my friends. When I am in pain I need other people to stand before God on my behalf.
And, if I’ll accept it, that’s a blessing in the midst of pain – felt and observed.
I mentioned in Friday’s post about the great help Betty is getting from our two young neighbors, Evan and Maritsa.
Betty had the great idea of inviting them to come early today, Saturday, so they could groom the horses as well as help her clean up. It was fun to watch the delight on their faces as they got to work a little with the horses.
From our kitchen window I took some photos of them bringing the horses in, but I needed to rest some and didn’t get any photos of them grooming the horses.
I made up a short DVD for them to take home to show their family and I thought I would share it with you.
As Betty and I were planning for all that needed to be covered during my recovery, the horses were the biggest concern. Besides the feeding there is the daily cleanup and two horses can produce a lot of manure in 24 hours. In normal times, I do most of the clean up and usually do it at least 2 or 3 times a day.
Fortunately, God brought a couple of kids into our lives a few months ago. Evan and Maritsa who live down the street from us have chickens. One day they showed up at our door and asked if we wanted to buy some eggs which we did. While we were conducting our egg transaction they asked if they could see the horses.
So we took them outside and they were able to meet Morgunn and Sugar. They indicated that they would like to learn more about horses.
When Betty began thinking how to handle the manure she had the great idea of asking Evan and Maritsa to help her once a day after they came home from school. Before my surgery Betty met with their mother, Eva, to be sure she would be OK with the idea as it would be a daily commitment for at least a month. Eva was excited about it so Betty talked with the kids and they seemed excited too.
Eva, Evan and Maritsa came up to our house the day before my surgery so they could see first-hand what they were getting themselves into. During my surgery when Betty was gone we had our friend and horse-sitter Connie take care of the horses.
The day after I came home from the hospital Evan and Maritsa started their job and have dutifully shown up ever day right after school. Betty feeds the horses while they get started on the manure and then she will join them to help finish up. However, they are doing a great job and carrying their share of the work.
Here are some photos from the other day showing Evan and Maritsa hard at work.
After I’m 100% again we have told them that they can come down once a week, probably Saturday mornings, and Betty and I will teach them how to handle and ride horses. They definitely seemed excited about that.
Nice kids.
I have always loved snow – except for living where it snows. What that statement means is I love snow, but I don’t like the cold weather that brings snow and I don’t like shoveling snow and I don’t like driving in snow. That’s one of the reasons we live in New Mexico.
But I still love snow – at least to watch it. It seems our horses, Morgunn and Sugar, like snow as well. We had a brief, unexpected snow shower on Tuesday afternoon and it gave Morgunn and Sugar some unusual energy. Enjoy.
Yesterday, Betty drove me down to my surgeon’s office. I wrote about my sidekick catheter yesterday, but there was also one one much smaller gadget attached to my body. It was a suction bulb drain that drew urine that was leaking from the surgery into my body cavity. That’s expected and this plastic bulb helps deal with that.
It’s called a ‘JP’ and it’s named after its inventor Jackson Pratt. The normal course of events is for the bulb to draw off a fair amount of fluid the first day or so and then drop off dramatically so that it’s no longer needed. The morning that I left the hospital it was still drawing off a significant amount of fluid so the surgeon said to leave it on.
Betty was trained on how to drain it and reset it to create the necessary suction. He predicted that shortly after we got home the amount of fluid would drop off dramatically and that by Monday we could call to make an appointment to take it out.
That’s exactly what happened (it’s great when your doctor knows what he’s talking about). So we called Monday morning and got an appointment at 1:00 PM.
He checked everything out and said that it all looked as he expected for this point in my recovery. He cut the sutures that held the tube to my body and then said, “Take a deep breath.” You know it’s not going to be good when your doctor says “Take a deep breath.”
He pulled and pulled and it came on out. Actually it didn’t hurt, just felt strange as it came out from my body’s basement. Since then I’ve had a new ache in that spot, but I expect that to go away soon.
In any case, it’s one small step toward getting back to normal.
Sorry about one more tasteless body post.
First, I want to apologize for this somewhat tasteless post. But, when you’re stuck at home watching old movies on TV there’s not a lot of material.
I tried to find a free download of an instrumental version of “Me and My Shadow” so I could play it while I typed:
“Me and my catheter, strolling down the avenue….”
However, the only downloads were for a fee – $1.99 – for a karaoke song and this post is definitely not worth $1.99.
My prostate surgery involved a six inch incision starting just below my belly button and, from what my surgeon said, he had to shove everything out of the way to get to and remove the prostate. With that much pushing and shoving in that area all the plumbing parts get kind of traumatized and don’t work too well for a time after the surgery.
So I was assigned my own personal foley catheter and I have never had one before. I won’t go into the details of where the catheter tube is attached to my body. I’ll leave that to your imagination. The tube runs down about four feet or so into a large plastic bag about the size of a gallon freezer bag. Fortunately, foley catheter bags are much thicker that gallon freezer bags – and have a much better seal.
Needless to say, me and my catheter are inseparable – wherever I go my catheter goes. I thought about giving it a name – “Charlie,” “Charlene,” perhaps “Catherine” or “Cathy.” But, that would be stupid.
Since I’m pretty much restricted in what I can do and how much I can move there really aren’t many negatives about having a catheter. It doesn’t hurt or even feel uncomfortable – it’s just there.
What’s kind of nice is it relieves (good choice of word) me of the need to go to the bathroom. I can drink as much liquid as I want right before going to bed and I don’t have to get up at all during the night. My trusty sidekick takes care of that for me. Of course, if you ask Betty about my catheter she might not be as positive because she has to empty it.
I’ll keep it until Monday, January 10 when I go back to my surgeon for a post-operative exam. By then I assume my normal plumbing will be back to working normally.
I’ll probably miss my catheter the first time I have to get up at 3:00 AM to go to the bathroom – but Betty won’t.
By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. (Hebrews 11:8-9)
Abraham was a man who had it made by the world’s standards – respect, wealth, standing, reputation and on and on. Yet, he valued nothing other than his relationship with God. When God asked him to pick up and leave all he was and all he had and just go – go without knowing where he was going or what would be there – he did it. He left.
Sometimes God asks us to go without knowing where we’re going or what will be there when we arrive. We’re asked to love someone who is totally unlovable. We’re asked give money to someone who will waste it. We’re asked to give tough love to a child who is straying and whom we may drive away. We’re asked to believe there is a solution to a severe financial problem. We’re asked to face an illness with grace without knowing the outcome.
When Abraham trusted God enough to go without knowing what he gained was nothing. By that I mean there was nothing left between him and God. When we go in trust we gain nothing and that opens up our relationship with God.
Not knowing is hard for many of us as our culture values control – values being ‘the captain of our fate.’ Yet, the greatest reward is the nothing we gain when we go without knowing.
Since I’m recovering I’ll just steal a video from my older son’s web site of his daughter and our granddaughter Leah.
Oh, by the way, Happy New Year!
