This past weekend, Sarah and Gage continued to celebrate Sarah’s birthday by taking a trip to stay overnight with Gage’s family. Then on Saturday, they drove to Charlotte to see Steve’s mom, stopping midway to have lunch with Sarah’s long-time friend and recent bridesmaid, Hope.
While they were with Vernie, Gage enjoyed showing off his drawings to her. Vernie is a fabulous artist in her own right so the two of them have a lot in common.
Lots of love between those three!
Yesterday afternoon, as a birthday gift, Gage arranged for Sarah to see one of her favorite musicians, Joshua Messick, in concert in Charlotte. Sarah has seen him twice before and enjoys his hammered dulcimer music so much.
Joshua usually plays for relatively small crowds since there is not a plethora of hammered dulcimer fans around. When he thanked everyone for being there yesterday, he actually called out Sarah by name. (She had spoken to him at each of the previous concerts she attended.)
So that was a marvelous capstone of her week-long, 26th birthday celebration.
UNC
I have been continuing to get emails and letters from UNC referring to a lung transplant evaluation. The correspondence has referred to things like meeting with the whole team, planning on spending the night in town, and bringing up to two caregivers to the appointment.
I was like, “What in the world?”
It was stressing me out, feeling like I had missed something in translation and maybe I was worse off than I thought.
I finally emailed my referring pulmonologist in Greenville to express my puzzlement. He immediately called UNC on my behalf and spoke with my new pulmonologist there. As it turns out, most of the referrals that pulmonologist gets are for lung transplant evaluations When my referral came in, the person who processed it mistakenly assumed that an evaluation was the reason I was coming in.
Thankfully, they got it all straightened out and I no longer have to receive all those scary emails. Although I may very well need their transplant services down the road, it is good to be reassured I don’t need them now. (My appointment at UNC is October 13.)
FAMILY DOCTOR
I went to see my local doctor two weeks ago so that she could check my thyroid and send in a referral for an ultrasound to evaluate the growth. While I was there, I discussed a few more issues I’ve been having and she ordered a round of blood work, all of which came back normal, including thyroid levels and, surprisingly, my sed rate. (Sed rate measures inflammation in the body.)
It’s not clear to me how my inflammation levels can be normal and I can still have this kind of swelling. Who can understand the body’s vagaries?
DUKE
I had a rheumatology appointment scheduled at Duke last week but I delayed it a couple of weeks since I had so much going on.
LUNGS
My appointment with the thoracic surgeon/oncologist to get recommendations on my follow-up chest CT is October 21.
IN CLOSING . . .
Two weeks ago, when all of this new medical stuff was still in process and I was hearing about all sorts of pending appointments and scans coming down the road, I got just a little overwhelmed by it all–the travel and schedules and a future so completely unknown.
On Wednesday nights at church, we have a time when various individuals volunteer to read a passage of Scripture that is especially meaningful to them and then briefly explain why.
In the midst of all fretfulness and worry about the future, I happened across this passage from Psalm 139 that I read in class.
“O Lord, you have examined my heart
and know everything about me.
2 You know when I sit down or stand up.
You know my thoughts even when I’m far away.
3 You see me when I travel
and when I rest at home.
You know everything I do.
Psalm 139:1-3 (New Living Translation)
It was so meaningful to me to just happen across a verse with a reference to travel since that is just what I had been thinking about.
Fast forward to this past Thursday. Steve flew to Florida to be with a dear friend who had lost a 10-year old granddaughter. (He also spent two nights with Nathan and family since he was in the area.)
With Steve being away, I had two and a half days completely to myself. There are few things that feed and renew my soul like absolute solitude. I was so in need of rest and just being able to disengage from all the stress of the past few months.
Before Sarah and Gage left town on Friday, they dropped something off on my front porch. It was a hand-drawn bookmark Gage had done featuring the verse that had meant so much to me two weeks earlier. (They’d heard me read it in class.)
This time, however, when I read the verse, I didn’t even notice the travel part of it. The words that jumped out at me were, “And when I rest at home.”
Could there be any more perfect verse to be given to me in that small season of quietness?
Two weeks earlier, the verse had been exactly what I needed to read. And this past Friday, the same words (in an entirely different situation) were also exactly what I needed to read. The bookmark wouldn’t have meant half as much to me coming at any other time.
Sometimes the Bible is viewed as just a dusty, irrelevant book; however, there have been so many times in my life when I have come across a certain passage that seems like it was written for me alone. And this was one of those times.
So bottom line?
Whether I travel (to Duke, to UNC, to imaging appointments) or whether I stay at home and rest . . . I am reminded that God is with me and He sees me.
And that is a good place to leave you today–with a promise that is not just for me but for you, as well.
What about you?
Is there a favorite verse that has been especially meaningful at a certain time?
Have you ever heard a hammered dulcimer played in person?
What would be your “dream concert” to attend? (You don’t have to limit it to living artists; maybe there is someone from years ago you would have loved to have heard. Or maybe you DID get to hear.)
What a talented son-in-love you’ve gained – and how sweet the bookmark. I don’t really know who I would pick for a concert, my musical tastes change so much according to my mood. Also how sweet of Gage to arrange Sarah’s surprise concert. I’m glad you were able to alleviate some of your medical worries – especially an impending transplant. Your swollen finger looks so painful, I hope you’ve been able to get some relief. Wishing you a wonderful and restful week.
Sue Ellen,
Thanks for always cheery and encouraging comments. Blessings on your day!
Beautiful bookmark!
Several years ago I was able to see Mercy Me in concert. As I recall, Michael W. Smith was the opening act. Then a few years after that I saw Josh Groban. He is so talented, sings in multiple languages. Don’t remember who his opening act was but I wasn’t impressed.
Psalm 91 is my go to when in times of trouble. A friend of my cousin’s had me read that every night during a very trying time at work.
Don’t know that I have ever heard a hammered dulcimer.
The good news for this week is we are moving my mom to a long term care facility on Sunday. It’s been 4 weeks since she fell and broke her arm. My dad will stay with me for a while. Needless to say, it was an emotional time for them yesterday when I told them we had finally found a place for her. I’m sure Sunday will be a long emotional day also.
Phyllis,
I LOVE Mercy Me! So great that you got to see them in concert.
And your cousin’s friend was very wise in asking you to read Psalm 91 in the middle of a tough time. There are few chapters better in times like that.
That will be such a big adjustment for all three of you as your mom moves to a long care facility. Even though you know she’ll be getting the best of care, moving into a new chapter is never easy. Hugs.
Gage is so talented. Great artwork.
Continuing to hold you all close in prayer!
Krista–thanks so much!
Hi Becky! I’m glad you are finding some peace in the middle of the swirl.
My favorite verse:
John 14:27
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not let them be afraid.
And yes! Hammered dulcimer. I grew up in Appalachia. I didn’t realize until recently that any dulcimer wasn’t a known instrument outside of the southeast USA. It was just always there.
My dream concert? Not sure. These days I’m so enjoying the music of Anya Hinkle. She’s folk/ bluegrass/ Americana. It happens that I grew up with her, but I would love her music anyways. I’m hoping she comes here to Columbus, Oh sometime. She’s my current dream concert. 🙂
Brooke,
I just listened to some of Anya’s music–loved it! I don’t have much patience for music that is so electronic sounding; real voices, real instruments, and real emotions are what makes music what it is.
I didn’t know you grew up in Appalachia. How cool is that?
My son, Kirby, plays hammered dulcimer. I’ll try to find a short video of him playing part of a Rich Mullins song…
Kim,
What an interesting instrument for him to pursue! Sounds like you’ve had a music-filled household.
How horrible to receive emails such as that. Be still my heart! We continue to pray for a miracle – that you would be healed. So glad Gage and Sarah can travel for a time and see friends and relatives. Now if it were up here (or Michigan?) we would say, “Before the snow flies.” We do have a few months before that should happen. Has been very hot and just in the last week or so have had a couple inches of rain. Concerts – secular, the Blue Men – never have been to one of them. Christian, Booth Brothers (singing) and comedian Chonda Peace – what a testimony she has. So glad you were able to rest and relax. It shouldn’t be amazing, but how many times we read a piece of scripture we have read several times before and all of a sudden, when we need it, it pops up and really blesses us! God Bless!
Sharyn,
Nathan and Meagan went to see the Blue Men on one of their pre-married dates. They said it was a memorable evening! And I agree, Chonda truly has an amazing story; such an inspiration.
Yes, I also love coming across those “pop-up” Scriptures. 🙂
I love the bookmark, and that he wrote to mom from son on it. How wonderful they could stop and see grandma and share art together too.
Your finger looks very painful and tender. I have arthritis but nothing like that…yet anyway. So glad you got it straightened out with all the transplant emails. Scary to be getting those.
How sad of a time for the grandpa to lose his 10 year old granddaughter. I have a 14 and 8 year old granddaughter and cannot even begin to imagine how awful that would be. It was good that Steve could go spend some time with him and also with Nathan and his family.
Wendy,
This friend Steve went to see drove 13 hours one way for Sarah’s first surgery in 2002 and surprised us in the waiting room. Steve wanted to be there for him, too, at such a difficult time.
I’ll definitely enjoy that bookmark for a long time and think of my wonderful Long kids whenever I see it.
Psalms 30:5 For His anger endures but a moment, and in His favor is life; weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning. The weeping part helped through the grief when my sister died, and it helped me sane when I taught high school severely emotionally handicapped kids. Each day needed to be a new day with them.
I’ve heard the word “dulcimer” but I never knew what kind of instrument it is. YouTube, here I come!
I was able to her the Boston Symphony one year at Tanglewood, which had been a dream, but my bigger dream was, and probably always will be, to hear them live, on the 4th of July, playing the 1812 Overture with real cannons!!
Be well, Becky. I’m so glad you got some good news about some of your chronic problems!
Jan,
Losing a sister and teaching in a difficult setting are perfect situations in which to lean on the promise of that verse. So good to be reminded that weeping doesn’t last forever; joy is peeking around the corner.
I love that you dream big when it comes to live concerts. Boston Symphony. 1812 overture. July 4th. Real cannons. Love it!
Sorry, I forgot to mention that my husbands cousin, who happens to be our neighbor.. plays the dulcimer as well as her dad who plays the autoharp (sp?) and he is completely blind.. He has an amazing voice and it is awesome to hear them play together. I am so glad that God places people like them in our lives to let us enjoy their talents.
Kaye,
I love your thought that God places people in our lives and lets us enjoy their talents. Such a gift.
So sorry you have so much going on health wise… I can relate. My favorite verse is Psalms 27:1.. The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? I don’t know how anyone makes it through this old world without Him. We have family and friends in ICU right now fighting for their life from this pandemic and it is heartbreaking. So much to pray about all day. You and your family are included in my prayers..
Kaye,
I’m sorry you have family and friends who are suffering. At a time like this, the verse you quoted says it all. One of my all-time favorites.
Oh Becky! your POOR fingers! that looks so painful and must make it so hard to do all the things you love 🙁 I really wish they would find the cause and make that nasty swelling go away.
The bookmark is so beautiful! how thoughtful and loving. My new son-in-law (I still can’t believe our little girls got married within 24 hours of one another! how lovely is that!) is very dear to me also – his gift to me at the wedding was a beautiful little rose tree, which has flowered and flowered all summer and gives me joy every time I look out of the window at its gorgeous deep pink blooms. I hope your week brings roses, with no thorns!
Heal up, fingers! and I’m glad you had your rest xxxx
Teresa,
A rose tree! How perfect! (Although any rose tree that comes within 5 feet of me will immediately shrivel and die.)
I’m glad your tree is giving you plenty of roses to enjoy, each one a happy symbol of the love your daughter and son-in-law have found.
And yes, it is fun that our girls got married so close to each other. Thanks again or the goodies you sent from her wedding. Such fun.
So glad to hear that your Greenville doctor has reassured you regarding the emails sent in error. Also happy to hear that you have been gifted a “small season of quietness”. Solitude can be restorative.
I have a real connection with Psalms 91, my favorite. “He will shield you with his wings” “His faithful promises are your armor”
Gloria,
Yes, I never was so happy to have a doctor make a mistake!
There are SO many good verses in Psalms 91. Wings and armor–both displaying a different aspect of God’s care for us.
I loved Gage’s beautiful bookmark and his thoughtfulness. So glad he and Sarah could take a trip to “water their roots” and finish celebrating Sarah’s birthday! 🙂
You’ve certainly had unwelcome abundance of medical junk. I’m so sorry you have to deal with all that. But I’m happy that you got a few days of restorative solitude and Steve was able to go bless his friends and see the fabulous Florida Smiths!
I love Philippians 4:8 because it is so helpful in dealing with the battle of the mind. My old brain never could remember the list of things it says to think about, so I came up with this little “code” that helps me remember the order:
TNR PLA. Think about whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable (NIV translation).
Sending much love and a hug or two! 🥰
Deb
Deb,
Loved the idea of Sage watering their roots.
I was trying to pronounce TRN PLA out loud and it was pretty funny. 🙂 But I love memory tricks like that; I’ll keep that one in mind for that long list of good things.
I love “To Mom” “From Son”. Just so concise and connected. Gage is a treasure, and all of us who love Sarah are glad that she got the man we all prayed for. As far as verses, Phil 4: 6-7 is my life verse. So much has happened in my life over the past decade, and I don’t know that I would still be sane without repeating it, sometimes many times over, when anxiety sets in. The highlight for me was when I focused on “with thanksgiving”. Finding the thankful when things are really hard is a hard thing to do. But when you find it, you see everything from a different perspective. Love you, sweet friend, and I keep you in prayer!
Pam,
You have sharp eyes to have noticed Gage’s mom/son words. It meant so much to me to see those words! And concise and connected is a perfect way to describe them.
SUCH good verses. Sometimes we really don’t feel like reading the “with thanksgiving” part of the verse but as you said, when we focus on those two words, everything changes!
Praying these past difficult years give way to a season of joy. (And continual thanksgiving!)
My favorite verse came from the book, “Go Out in Joy” It is Isaiah 55: 12-13. It brings me joy during time of “thorns”. I have heard hammer dulcimers played many times and one of the women in my quilting group plays herself. I have been to many bluegrass concerts and festivals and the dulcimer is often played. I don’t think I have a “dream concert” to attend, but would like to get back to some bluegrass festivals as I haven’t been in 10 years.
Patti,
I think verse 13 tends to get overlooked after all the beauty of verse 12 but as you said, we need its promise even more during our times of thorns.
I always think about verse 12 when I go out to take nature photos.
Here’s hoping that you can attend a bluegrass festival sooner rather than later. It sounds like it would be so much fun. And how cool that you actually know someone who plays the dulcimer. That’s pretty rare!
first of all, it makes me sad thinking about Steve’s friend and the granddaughter’s death.
We celebrated Scotland in Jr. Kdg. as one of our World Fair Countries (the other was France), and one time a lady came and played her dulcimer.
2 verses I say every day
“The Lord is my strength and my song.”
“Be still and know that I am God.”
Mrs. Pam,
Thank you for your thoughts for our friend and his family. His granddaughter died of a life-long seizure disorder so it’s been a long road for them.
I bet your little ones got a kick out of hearing a dulcimer played in real life. What a fun experience to provide for them.
Love your two daily verses. It’s amazing how those words can become a part of our lives–just like breath itself.
Ouch your finger looks like it would be painful. I hope the swelling goes down soon.
Your son in law is one thoughtful person. The bookmark gift with the Bible verse that was so comforting to you at this time in your life was so sweet.
Praying for you Becky.
Joy,
Yes, being in Swollen Finger Mode is not much fun but it’s been that way for a year or more, so probably won’t be going away. My hope is that it just doesn’t swell more.
Thanks so much for your sweet comment and your prayers.
I have never heard a hammered dulcimer being played. I am definitely curious as to what it sounds like.
My dream concert would be to see Dolly Parton and Kenny Rogers in concert together. They are such amazing artists! I love Dolly’s life story and the kind of person she is. She is just so loving and kind. Sadly, they will never perform together again since Kenny died a few years ago. I would still LOVE to see her though!! And it would be so much better if I could see her perform at the Grand ‘Ol Opry!
LeeAnne,
Yes, Dolly Parton is an incredible person overcoming a difficult childhood, and being a songwriter, singer, businesswoman, and also providing free books for so many children. Truly an example of living life to make a difference.
And I’ve always loved Kenny Rogers’ voice; that little bit of grit in there was always a nice touch.