Hello friends...
I am coming to the end of my birthday weekend... that stretched into Monday, my actual birthday today... and I'm officially 30-more something today. Thanks for so many birthday greetings on Facebook, and text messages, and my House Gathering's hot party last weekend. All the modes of communication and technology have been utilized - and I'm well-wished. Thanks so much!
Sorry, I haven't let you all know the result of the doctor's appt. from last Thursday: he said that the foot is healing and the skin is coming along, so that's good - but another skin graft is necessary. It would just take too long for skin to grow and cover such a wide wound that's so long. It's over 12 inches long, and over an inch for a lot of it, plus there's a 2-3 in. circular wound that's even deeper than that.
So - i'm scheduled for surgery tomorrow, back in St. Anthony's in Rockford, at 4 PM. Hopefully we'll be able to drive easily as the blizzard calms down, without calling the Ackland Norwegian Elkhound sled dog team out of retirement. The doctor has said i'll need to be COMPLETELY immobile for 5 days and wants me to stay at the hospital that long to observe. We're hoping that I might be able to attend my nephew's 3-yr-old birthday party on Sat., but that might not be possible. Have to play it by ear. Still praying for major financial things with insurance to be worked out, but thankfully this doc and hospital are "in-network" - great phrase - so we shouldn't be balance-billed for this one.
Frivolous details if you're interested:
I had a great birthday weekend as clans invaded the Ackland home since I can't get out. Saturday evening my hometown friends, all married with kids, came over for a carried-in Chinese food dinner and long goof-off/hang out time complete with ping pong and great 80's table games. ("Perfection," anyone?) It was great to catch up with folks i hadn't seen much in a while. My dad was so generous to pay for all the food, and my mom made a wickedly good carrot cake, my favorite. Sunday, I was able to worship at the church where I served 4 years ago, and it was almost exactly 10 years from my starting date in 1999 (1 day off). It was such a blessing to see families and be reminded of the prayers and care of people I love and care about. Then 3 buddies from the burbs came out and had cake and cookies in the afternoon, so we had a great Bachelor Bonding Bash, complete with terrible guitar group songs. On top of that, one of my old college housemates from the Souphouse at Taylor U. came and stayed until Mon. lunch. Great to see you Dave.
So I've been blessed. I'm not just sitting at home crying and deserted. God has certainly made his presence clear... it's an up and down journey emotionally and spiritually, but I see how, even though the end result can't be seen, and it can be very discouraging to think about things I "thought I had" possibly not being available any more - health... finance... freedoms - God is here. He's still working. He's still glorious. And I pray I can still bring him glory.
And I'm thankful for you, Life on the Vine. I KNOW that if i were here, 75 miles from Long Grove, and I didn't have these relationships with so many of you that I care about, and I just didn't have a body of Christ that I call home, I KNOW in my heart that I would feel an emptiness and loneliness. I thank God for you. Thank you for being Christ's heart and hands and words and cheer and friendship to me. I feel a need to repay what I've been given. Right now I can just say thanks.
I'll try to update you all on how things go. Thanks for your prayers. Everyone curl up, enjoy the hot cocoa, and love your loved ones well. See ya soon.
Todd
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