Random Thoughts

Just some random thoughts and happenings...

Joel had surgery on Thursday to stitch his esophagus holes closed and reinforce them with a neck muscle stitched in behind.  Thoughts:

1.  I was planning to come alone, but the visibility was so bad Thurs. morning that Pete drove me in.  What a blessing it is to have two of us with different abilities to contribute.

2.  Pete got to hear Dr. H's explanation of what exactly he did.  Pete's doubts and concerns vanished when he understood the mechanics of it.  How often are our fears a result of misunderstanding?

3.  Thursday night Joel was in a lot of pain, and wanted me to stay until he "went to bed," though unfortunately he hasn't been able to sleep.  Yesterday he started dozing well in the evening, and I was just sitting beside his bed holding his hand.  I didn't feel very useful, so suggested that I would go home and Michelle would be here today.  He said, "I would like you to stay," and asked that I get here at 9 instead of 10.  Now here I sit again, but I am learning that just being here and touching Joel IS "doing something."    A good lesson for our society, with its emphasis on productivity.

4.  A while ago - maybe after that bout of mental overdrive that I blogged about - I received a sense of assurance that this esophagus problem was going to be solved.  Since then, despite the ongoing challenges, I haven't felt that sense of despair or hopelessness; I have been confident that the troubles will end.  After this surgery, I felt and still feel very strongly that this repair is going to hold up and this is the beginning of the end of this particular problem.  I felt the same way about Michelle's situation - I confidently stated more than once, "She WILL NOT get married without our blessing."  I was right about that; we'll see if I am right about this.  Does God occasionally give me "extra" faith for certain things?  If so, is there any way I can do to get more?  Stay tuned...