A New Attitude.....

I want to share a scripture a friend posted on Facebook this morning.....

Whatever we do or say should be permeated with an attitude of joy, thankfulness to God, and encouragement of others. Instead of whining and complaining, we are to focus on the goodness of God and His mercies toward us.   Ephesians 5:18

For some reason, this one really jumped out at me today.   Hmmmm.......wonder why?

Probably because I've been pretty busy this past few weeks - nursing Ed after his surgery, keeping things picked up at the house, gaining momentum at work, and all of Life's other activities. I feel like I'm burning the candle at both ends when I finally crash in bed late at night.  And, sometimes when I feel tired or overwhelmed, I tend to forget this powerful exhortation.

Time for an "Attitude Adjustment", Jane!  

Many thanks to long-time friend, Valerie, for sharing this today - just when I needed it most!  Now, I'm just passing the Word along - in case you needed to hear it today, too. 

In the Blink of an Eye.....

Our whole world can change. 

A few days ago, I heard a piece on the news about a 16-year boy who sank the winning shot at the overtime buzzer to lead his high school basketball team to a championship victory and a perfect season.  A few minutes later, he collapsed in the midst of the celebration and was pronounced dead at the hospital only two hours later.  He had an undiagnosed heart condition and suffered a massive heart attack.  His name was Wes Leonard. 

Wes Leonard, 16, being lifted to the shoulders of his teammates only moments before he collapsed.

When I heard this news on the radio in my car, I was overcome with grief and emotion.  As the mother of three grown children, I cannot even begin to imagine how his parents must feel. What a tragic loss for his family, his teammates and friends.  At one of the finest moments in his life, just as he was experiencing jubilation and joy over his accomplishment - literally being lifted to the shoulders of his teammates, his celebration was cut short and the lives of all those around him were changed in the blink of an eye. 


As my mind struggles to comprehend why something like this happens, my heart hears a soft whisper -

"You know not when I will come for you, my child.  

Learn this lesson - live every moment well and to the fullest, 

as if it were your last."   

When one day I find myself about to draw my breath, I would want to know:

• I lived my life to the fullest, seizing every opportunity offered, without fear. 
• I did right more than I did wrong and I learned from my mistakes.
• When my head hit the pillow every night, I gave thanks for my many blessings.
• Those special people around me knew, without a doubt, how much I loved them and how special they were to me because I told them and showed them daily.

Since none of us are guaranteed tomorrow, or even the next moment, we must choose to trust.  And believe.  For all the planning we do is for naught unless we are prepared to let go of this world and move on to the next with a ready and willing heart. 

My prayers go out to the Leonard Family, 

that they will know a special peace and comfort that can only come from our Creator. 

Think about it.


Jane

The Prince Pulls a Stunt!

Well, Mr. Eddie Dale decided to take a little field trip today while I was at the office. 

He gathered up some items that needed to go to the post office....and then he just up and took 'em!  Even though we had talked about him not driving for a bit longer, he got in his big honkin' truck and drove to the post office.  The stinker...

The one-armed wonder - in Wranglers and boots for the first time - 9 days after surgery

I don't know whether to hide his keys tomorrow......or let him get out of the house and terrorize the streets with his good (or should I say dominant?) arm strapped to his body in a super-sling!

I guess we will just have to chalk this up to "healing".   Each day is a bit better.  His therapist is able to stretch his shoulder and arm a little farther at each P/T session.  He is now showering, dressing and shaving all by himself.  He wrote some "thank you" notes to friends with his left hand and they were incredibly legible.   He has even been doing a little cooking in the kitchen, with my help around fire, hot water and knives. 

Before you know it, he won't even NEED me!!!  I'm feeling a bit like a momma bird whose baby is about to spread its wings and fly.....

And I couldn't be more proud of his progress!  

Hats off to my Prince....

Jane

Progress on The Porch!!!

The front porch is looking a little better at the end of this busy day.  At least I am not ashamed to share a few photos showing the progress that was made this afternoon.

I was able to score some pansies at WalMart's nursery.  I know, I know....it is almost "late" to be putting in pansies.  However, it is still too early to set out anything like petunias or geraniums - at least in my book!  For sure, we would have a freak snowstorm in March or April if I invested a lot of moolah in those fair weather plants.  One flat (6 six-packs, total cost $12.96) enabled me to fill the planter box and a couple of clay pots with plants.  Hopefully, these will last until the beginning of May or thereabouts and fill out with some brilliant purple and lavender. 

I couldn't locate the grapevine wreath I was going to repurpose.  So, I dragged out a decorative iron wall hanging and placed that where the wreath was supposed to go.  I like the way it turned out, so when I find that wreath, I am going to put it on the side door instead! 

I also rummaged around in a box of garage sale items in the garage and came up with an old metal bird cage and a little Easter rabbit figure.  These now sit on the little green table that doesn't have a home anywhere else in my house at the moment. 

Although it is simple and a little bare compared to how I usually "decorate" the porch, it seems appropriate for the start of Spring.  I figure I can fill in a bit as the season progresses and the weather warms.  At least it is a bit more welcoming than it was when we started the day.

Have you started sprucing up your outdoor area for Spring yet?  Do you have special decorations for Easter....or do you just go with a general Spring look?  Dying to hear.....

Until later.....

Jane

A Bad Case of Neglect....

Janie's poor little porch has been so neglected......

Since the Christmas decorations came down (like the third week of January!), the porch has been bare; the planter box filled with brown plants; the dust piling up.  Sad, so sad.....

For the first time since - well, since NEVER - there isn't a wreath anywhere in sight to greet visitors and spruce up the porch.  Just a nail sticking out of the wall where the wreath should be....

I told you it was SAD!

Well, things are about to change.  I've got a bad case of Spring Fever.....to be followed by a case of Hay Fever, I'm sure, very soon.  I'm about ready to grab my broom (and, no, it's not the one I ride around on....) and sweep away the dust and cobwebs.

Then I'm going to pull on my gardening gloves and tend to that planter box.  I'm thinking some cheerful yellow pansies would be "just right" in there!

As for a wreath, I definitely have a little project in mind.  I plan on recycling an old grapevine wreath that has seen better days.  I just have to go digging around in the cellar for that crate of leftover silk flowers and greenery.  Oh, and I need to stop by Hobby Lobby, where ribbon and Easter eggs are on sale this week....

Stay tuned.....

Jane

A Little Update from The Porch....

The last couple of weeks have been stressful, to say the least!  Where to start......

Remember when we had all that ice and snow and I was stuck at home with a bad case of "cabin fever" for a few days?  Well, on a couple of those really nasty days, Eddie had to make the treacherous drive in to work.  On his way to the truck one of those days, he fell on the ice in the parking lot and landed pretty hard, injuring his shoulder.

A week later, he still couldn't life his arm or rotate his shoulder.  So, he trekked off to the doctor, got an x-ray and was immediately sent to the imaging center for a MRI.  Within a week, we were sitting in an orthopedic surgeon's office hearing that he needed arthroscopic surgery to repair the rotator cuff and reattach tendons.

Surgery was last Thursday.  What was supposed to be a two-hour scope turned into 3-1/4 hours.  As his surgeon put it, his shoulder was "pretty boogered up!"

You see, Ed did a lot of bullriding over an 8-year period when he was younger, as evidenced by this photo.....

Don't we all just LOVE a Cowboy in Wranglers?!?!?!

During that time, he dislocated his shoulder on several occasions.  Consequently, he had quite a bit of "old" damage to his right shoulder.  He was relatively asymptomatic - until the fall on the ice.  When he fell this time, he injured the tendons and the rotator cuff - fixing everything turned out to be somewhat of a challenge.

After returning home late Thursday afternoon, my sweetheart spent most of the next three days in a drug-induced haze.  Thank heavens for modern medicine!  (And thank heavens we had the brilliant idea that he start practicing some "personal hygiene" procedures using his left hand before the surgery!  Sorry, but this is a practical reality....)

Here we are, one week out  and I only have good news to report.  He is starting to heal and he is adjusting to life as he will know it for the next six weeks - with his right arm immobilized.  He writes with his right hand (bummer!), but he does a lot of important things (like eat) with his left hand.  Hopefully, he will adapt easily and quickly.   He has already started physical therapy - just passive range of motion exercises done by his therapist - but, it's a start!

Between trying to play nurse, work, take care of things at the house, and get over an upper respiratory infection myself, I have been spread pretty thin the last few days.  Guess what was put on the back burner???  Janie's Porch, of course! 

But, with the weather warming up and Spring right around the corner, I'm longing to get out there on The Porch and start sprucing up for the season of rebirth.  Bear with me during this hectic time....soon we will sit on the steps and feel the sun on our faces as we squeeze in a little visit!  Until then, take a moment to leave me a note and tell me what you've been up to, Dear Friend.

Taking it a day at a time.....

Jane