Tuesday, February 7, 2017

A Lot Has Happened In A Year

     2016 was a year of health issues for me.  In March I spent 2 weeks in the hospital with blood staph infection.  Another month at home with a pic line for antibiotic IV and home health care nurse.  The infection settled in my disc and sciatica nerve causing extreme pain and inability to walk.  I was taking oxycodone for pain.  When I was able to get around a bit I went into physical therapy for a couple of months.
     I went back to work the second week of May and school ended the first week of June which gave me the summer to continue to heal.  I really had not been ready to go back to work but felt that if I didn't, I would not qualify for unemployment for the summer.  
     It was a difficult summer.  There was so much that I wanted to do but I had not regained strength to do it all.  I took care of the container garden on and around the deck but my raised beds went to weeds.
     I was scheduled to go back to work the end of August but clearly, I was not able to.  So, now I am home and we are living on a very tight budget with my husband's income.  It's been a challenge to say the least!
     Then a few weeks ago I was in the hospital again.  Sepsis, kidney infection, dehydration and the diagnosis of diabetes.
     I've had to look at my diet more closely.  I had no idea there was so much sugar in everything.  Even milk.  So aside from trying to eat organic, which is expensive, I've had to eliminate even some organics.  Fortunately, I'm at home and have the time to do so many of those things from scratch that I've longed to do for long!
     The old saying, "every dark cloud has a silver lining" comes to my mind at the moment and it is true.  I've never been through any difficult time that I didn't come out of it better off than when I went into it.  That's a fact.
     So now, my journey gets trickier ;) ...but learning continues and hopefully a healthier me will emerge.
     I had a Word from the Lord given to me recently from someone who barely knows me.  This is so awesome:

"I see restoration for you. A literal Eden 2017 (Lance's one teaching). Also got this Scripture for you: 
“And the Lord will continually guide you,
And satisfy your soul in scorched and dry places,
And give strength to your bones;
And you will be like a watered garden,
And like a spring of water whose waters do not fail.
12 
“And your people will rebuild the ancient ruins;
You will raise up and restore the age-old foundations [of buildings that have been laid waste];
You will be called Repairer of the Breach,
Restorer of Streets [b]with Dwellings. (Isaiah 58)

After a time of grief and sorrow, His joy comes with an outpouring, like a fountain. After a time of weeds growing, and "things falling apart," comes a new work of cleansing, uprooting the old, receiving the new. We call out growth in the Holy Spirit, in all areas of your lives. Both you and hubby. I pray for a new perspective of Eternity, that our time on earth is but a brief moment, and that our time with Him and our loved ones will stretch on and on, for ever. Your heart is for what is beautiful, peaceful, harmonious...and He will give you the desires of your heart. Just as the birds/toads etc came, so the ones who need Him will come to you. They will see His tenderness in you, and be drawn to you. And somehow I sense He will bring about something very fruitful from/through your garden, in the natural too. It is a place of treasures and togetherness with Jesus. <3".

     So, I have encouragement from the Lord that I'll have restoration and promise of my garden.  I feel like 2017 will be a great year.  I've ordered some seeds and done some planning.  
     Broad beans this year are new to me but I have a recipe to try with them. I've always loved watching the allotment videos on youtube.  The English have such green thumbs but their weather is different from my zone 5b.  Some of the seeds I would love to try are not available to us and those that are, are too expensive for my budget.  I'll be back with a post of my seed choices and a couple of links to my favorite allotment gardeners.
     I pray we all have a blessed 2017.

BIG CONGRATULATIONS TO TESSIE FOR HER YOUTUBE CHANNEL.  It is very well done with much necessary information.  I'll have a link for that as well on a side bar as soon as I can. 

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