Lazy Day!

I've been up and moving since 8 a.m., but haven't gotten to this.  Just playing on the computer, crocheting, and watching TV.  Ate my breakfast, and am on the second cup of coffee, which is unusual for me.  I got an email from my daughter, with a newspaper article about two students she taught the Heimlich maneuver to in sixth grade, and got to use in the lunch room at Jackson Middle School where she teaches Health classes.  Proud of her, although it's the student who saved the others life I should be proud of.  Mom's are like that!!
Then I read my cousin's Caring Bridge site and was so impressed with it.  I'm going to include parts of it at the end of this, so you can read or not.  But he says so beautifully what I think and feel too!
I finally got around to writing to all of you.  Yesterday was a fairly quiet day.  Bonnie picked me up at 11:30 for lunch with Lois, to celebrate her birthday.  We went to TGIF, and for once I was able to finish what I ordered, and didn't have to bring half home to eat later.  I ordered what they called a "Small Plate" and it was of Pot-stickers  which I love, and they were really good.  I have some in the freezer, but forgot about them.  After lunch, and a nice visit, Bonnie took me home and I just spent the evening working on my crocheting projects.  I got a lot done, and started again this morning.
I lost my emerald ring this last week some place.  I don't know when or where.  I didn't notice it till Tuesday or Wednesday that it was gone.  It is a special ring, as Gene gave it to me for my 40th birthday, and it is my birthstone.  If any of those who have driven me in the last week would please look in their cars for me, and the rest of you say a prayer to St. Francis for me to find it.  I've looked in jacket and pants pockets, in gloves and on the floor and in the chairs and couch, but so far to no avail. Please Pray!!
I have no plans for the day....just plan on vegging, doing some laundry, and crocheting of course.  Lois asked to buy some for her granddughters, so I have more to make....but I got a good start on that last night.  Other than that I have no plans till church tomorrow morning with Carol and Del, and then brunch at Baker's Square, and no Vikings to watch....so I guess I just have to watch my Fantasy Football scores. Love and Prayers, m
Here's my cousins notes:
There is a growing network of people that I am tied to both friendship and by a certain common bond that comes through going through sicknesses at the same time. In each of these particular cases there is an element of threat, be it from cancer or from other dangerous diseases. I've asked you to pray for many of these people, sometimes a bit out of turn, but always with the confidence that praying together for anyone in need makes a concrete difference sometimes instantly perceived and other times not so readily visible.

I don't worry about whether we will see instant action or not. I have had enough people praying for me long enough to know that there is always benefit to be had - it might be consolation in the middle of grieving over lost capacities, it might be the comfort of knowing that there are others offering their support and care in the best way they can, it might be a sudden boost of energy in the  middle of a day full of weariness and weakness, and it might be tangible, physical healing. It doesn't matter to me which of these or any of hundreds of other practical benefits that come as a result of others prayers and care. They all help.

Chronic illness or chronic pain due to injuries can wear a person down very quickly. They are isolating conditions that can leave you feeling like you are carrying a load so utterly unique that no one else could possibly understand what it is that you are going through. At some level, I suppose that uniqueness and isolation is a function of our individual uniqueness as human beings, but at another level it is a lie that only worsens our condition. When we know we are linked to others in love and prayer and other expressions of care, our capacity to fight disease or pain is altered. 

Think about seeing a child get hurt, and the inclination there is to hold that child and do whatever you can to ease their pain. Your prayers, words of encouragement, support or practical manifestations of care are no different than taking that child in your arms. Of course you don't experience the exact same pain as that child or the person you care for, but that doesn't prevent the care you show from making a difference, or giving comfort, or bringing some peace and sense of security.

A friend of mine named Susan, who lives in Rome, has made a practice of lighting candles for me and others in various churches all over the city. There have been times when I've almost wondered whether she was turning into a pyromaniac, but the thought of flickering candles in many churches that I have visited in a city that I love, all lit by a friend simply trying to express her concern and care is a marvelous and blessed consolation to me. 

In my network of fellow illness bearers and in my own life, there are countless stories of friends dropping in for a visit, or popping a simple email of encouragement, or writing a note on a CaringBridge guest page, or a meal being delivered, or a phone call saying, "Do you want to talk" and the caller not being upset even if you don't want to talk , and on and on and on. There are countless stories of prayers directly answered, prayers that have brought comfort, prayers that have brought encouragement in the face of had news, and again, on and on, and they all make a difference.

I am so thankful for you, for the care you have expressed simply in patiently reading  my rambles, be it on a daily basis or just from time to time. I am thankful for the emails, the comments in face to face encounters, the notes here, and again and again, the prayers.

A couple of weeks ago, I ran into an old friend who could not get over how upbeat I am in the face of the things going on in my body. I told him that it would be almost impossible for me not to be upbeat given the fact that I daily experience the love of God made tangible in the love I experience from you and so many others. Thank you, and thank you also for joining me in some of my concerns for the people in my network of friends that are experiencing sickness. I've always known you have given me far more than I could ever earn or deserve, and I want your efforts in love to wash over all kinds of people, as I know they do.