by Sharon O | Mar 10, 2013 | Uncategorized
To our son, Christopher.
Today is your birthday.
Thirty eight years ago at 5:29 pm we became first time parents.
We were young.
We were not sure what we were doing.
We learned as we faced the life changes a little baby can create
and we adapted to our new normal.
Our home at the time was a tiny three room cottage that included a small bathroom with a claw foot bathtub and your bedroom was
a crib length wide and two crib lengths long.
It was our beginning.
The start of our family.
That was many years ago and we have seen many changes since then.
You grew up and left high school and then headed to college where you met and you married your college sweetheart.
It has been a thrill and a blessing to meet your three sons.
As the generations continue we remain amazed and thankful at God’s faithfulness and beauty.
Happy Birthday son.
It has been great to watch you become the man you are today.
Always remember you have our prayers and our love.
by Sharon O | Mar 9, 2013 | Uncategorized
Speaking of heart issues following up on my last writing.
It leads me to the wondering of ‘how is your heart condition?’
After the stress test I was to meet with the cardiologist for the reading of the results.
Not anticipating any bad news I went into his office with a hope that all was good.
Although it did leave me with an uncertain feeling since the test was ordered and in my health history there has been high blood pressure and cholesterol issues.
I did wonder what would it feel like to have him tell me,
“your heart has major issues”.
All of us have heart issues to a point if we are human.
We have lack of forgiveness sometimes.
We have broken relationships and bitterness sometimes.
We have deep grief sometimes.
We have wounded spirits sometimes.
Each of these have the potential to create ‘heart issues for us’.
Years ago when I went through a serious depression my heart ached and it felt very dark and heavy.
Heart issues can mask themselves and unless one goes to a physician who can diagnose the problem
they have the potential to shorten life expectancy.
As I sat across the room with the cardiologist he said to me in a very serious tone,
“Why are you in here?”
My heart was fine according to everything he saw on the readings
in fact he even went so far as to say the test wasn’t even needed and
he hoped it didn’t come out of my pocket.
It is good to hear the confirmation from a specialist just as it is good to hear from the Holy Spirit that our heart is in good shape if we are believers.
We don’t know the condition of our heart until we make the effort to find out.
The doctor proceeded to talk to me about diet and supplements giving me the permission to begin an exercise program that would not only strengthen my heart but give more years to my life.
He said for me to start at thirty minutes a day and work up to a weight loss of ten to fifteen pounds.
Just as we need the Holy Spirit to share with us and reveal to us ‘the condition of our heart’
this doctor needed to confirm for me the realization that I was fine and ready to exercise.
So how are you feeling these days about the condition of your own heart?
Is there something that needs to be fixed or changed or addressed emotionally?
I think it is something for all of us to think about.
by Sharon O | Mar 7, 2013 | Uncategorized
Two weeks ago I went into the hospital for what they call an Echo Cardio stress test.
My doctor recommended it after my cholesterol score was up and after he ordered a specialized blood test.
The cardio test is relatively simple if you are not a woman entering into a room with three men.
Rule number one:
IF you want my high blood pressure down, don’t surround me with three men whom I have never met.
Rule number two:
Don’t say to me. You will be fine but you do need to sign this form saying if in some rare case you have a heart attack it is basically not our fault.
Rule number three:
I will humor you and also let you know I am not afraid of dying and
if this should be my last day on earth it was nice meeting you.
Rule number four:
Be sure to wear good walking shoes which I did and leave your glasses at home if possible.
I had been instructed to ‘put a gown on’ after they left the room which is always a ‘fun experience.’
Then I had to let them know I was ‘ready’.
Can someone really be ready for this ‘forced exercise test?’
They fastened me with multitudes of sticky probes on my chest and then they told me to ‘relax’.
That was very funny again
I remind you there are three men in the room with me and
I have a gown on and
I feel a tad ‘exposed’ wondering what IS being viewed under those ‘sticky suction cups’.
They had me lay on my left side and the ultrasound began.
I began to watch as the technician said to the others in the room,
“this is not working well we need the contrast to make it more clear.”
Now the contrast is a protein liquid that goes into your heart through an iv line in your arm.
I immediately said,
“Is this iodine because I have gone into shock a few times and
I don’t really want to do that today.”
They said,
“No it is not iodine and here is another paper for you to sign should you have a problem with it.”
I signed paper number two while trying to write with an iv in my arm.
The contrast dye was put in and the technician looked at some pictures on the screen.
Then they said to me, “we will need you to move to the treadmill.”
So I got off the hospital table and sat up while one of them put more belts and probes on me.
Which again was a tad uncomfortable as he was in my ‘personal space’ and
really is this all necessary?
I moved to the treadmill with all the wires including the iv in my arm.
Then one of them said,
“We will need you to walk slowly then gradually we will make you walk faster.”
I have been using my home treadmill but at a pace I am comfortable with because it scares me.
On this day I had the grip of death on the handles as they turned the machine on.
While I was mildly walking another one of them inserted more iv drip for the contrast to move in my heart and chest areas and another one of them was taking my blood pressure on the other arm.
Multiple things were going on at the same time and I had to really focus and concentrate.
Then the one who I called the treadmill guy said, “in twenty seconds you are going to move faster.”
They raised the treadmill up to an incline and turned it up.
My little feet were moving fast like a hamster on a wheel.
My hands were white as they curled around the handle clinging tight with no letting go.
I was determined to do the test the right way and equally determined to not fail or stop too soon.
After what seemed like many minutes they said to me,
“Immediately we need to move you off the treadmill and lay you down on your left side for the contrast to be seen on the screen.”
My heart was beating fast and I was gasping for breath feeling sure that I would have a heart attack any moment while they put more contrast protein in my arm for the third or fourth time.
Minutes later the dye contrast worked and I was done with the procedure.
They made me lay there and catch my breath as they monitored all my vital signs.
Then they left the room and told me to get dressed.
At some point in the process one of them had taken my glasses and
I was not sure where they had put them.
As I was walking out the door to ask where they had put them I saw my gold frames in the garbage can.
Yes someone had knocked them into the garbage.
They came back into the room and one of them cleaned my glasses with a disinfectant.
The test was an experience that was both scary and interesting.
I left feeling like I needed a nap.
It was a heart test I have never done before and should I ever need another one my glasses will stay home.
by Sharon O | Mar 4, 2013 | Uncategorized
4 Hear, my sons, the instruction of a father, and pay attention in order to gain and to know intelligent discernment, comprehension, and interpretation [of spiritual matters].
2 For I give you good doctrine [what is to be received]; do not forsake my teaching.
12 When you walk, your steps shall not be hampered [your path will be clear and open]; and when you run, you shall not stumble.
20 My son, attend to my words; consent and submit to my sayings.
21 Let them not depart from your sight; keep them in the center of your heart.
Joining Deidra at jumping tandem with the Sunday community.
Proverbs 4 amplified version.
by Sharon O | Feb 28, 2013 | Uncategorized
I walked out to the mail box this morning and I heard the call of a mourning dove.
Between that haunting sound and the sound of the geese in the air I am not sure which one is my favorite.
I love them all.
There is something magical about the quiet and the sound of a bird singing.
We could learn something from them.
They don’t need an audience.
They don’t need applause.
They don’t even need approval.
All they seek is to worship.
The creator who gave them song for a reason.
It comes from their desire to call out to the one who made them.
“But ask the animals what they think ~ let them teach you; let the birds tell you what’s going on.
Put your ear to the earth ~ learn the basics. Listen ~ the fish in the ocean will tell you their stories.
Isn’t it clear that they all know and agree that God is sovereign, that he holds all things in his hand ~ Every living soul, yes every breathing creature? Job 12:7-12
It IS something for us to think about.
(photo by Papa O)
