Full Quiver “All About Moi”

We are on the Dave Ramsey plan. It’s gonna be different from here on out. Wen and I sat down together and worked out our budget for the next two weeks. We will get on December next week. I actually like this process. I like punching the numbers into the budget, excel spreadsheet, and watching it work. It’s actually like telling your money what to do and then you see it go to work. Progress ahead!!!

On a side note a complete stranger sent $100 for me to take Wen out for a nice dinner. He said splurge! I took her to Wasabi Hibachi Grill at Providence in Mt. Juliet. Barkey and Crystal joined us.l BArkey actually competed with the cook for entertainment value. Afterward we went to Steak and Shake for desert. I spent the entire $100 even. WOW, musta been a God thing.

BTW, Steak and Shake took some of their deserts off the menu. They still had pictures on the wall so they said they would make them anyhow. I wanted the walnut brownie sundae. I asked if I could have the ice cream on the side. BArkey wanted the same and insisted that they heat the brownie. I said put the hot fudge on the brownie and not the ice cream. It was awesome. Barkey got the same thing and we could barely finsih it. You have got to try it this way.

We went to a free screening of Bolt, a new cartoon movie, last night at Opry Mills. The movie was excellent and FREE. The theater was packed out and we had bad seats but could see just fine. They over booked the screening by 500 people. They said they had to insure a “sell out” or they would have to pay. The movie was in 3D with great quality. Everyone seemed to really enjoy it. I liked the hamster and the first three or four pigeons the best. When we left the theater there were snow flurries in the air. We then drove around the Opryland Hotel to see the Christmas lights and nativity scene. By the way, we invited Maw Maw so she came along as well. I bought everyone popcorn and drinks. Boy can Maw Maw put away a huge tub of popcorn.

and leave the handle stickin’ out.

That is a line from a great Garth Brooks song from the 1990’s. It however is very true of people in general. We do bury the hatchet only to dig it up or actually grab the unburied handle and pull it from the Earth to be used once again. Why can’t we just “Leave it there” as the old hymn suggests?

This is something I have struggled with my entire life. I ALWAYS have to get vengence and I usually do. I am good at it and usually make my point even if it spites me. I don’t want to be that way anymore however. A lifetime of hatchet wielding and am I any the better for it?

This summer I received some very wise counsel. It was tough and I did not want to follow through but I slowly did. The counselor said a word in my presence that triggered thoughts and cold desires within me that caused me to do some serious thinking. I went to that counselor and shared my feelings. She gave me awesome advice.

I moved from that meeting with the homework of praying for those that had hurt me. She said even if you don’t mean it, pray for them. It was always easy to say Lord, get them or Lord you know who they really are, have mercy on them, etc. Now I had been instructed to pray FOR them and not AGAINST them. WHOA!

Before I knew it I was awakening from sleep with blessings on my lips for those that had hurt me the worst. SERIOUSLY! I was amazed at the power of God through this counsel. I was finally able to lay aside all the hurt, anger, and penned up frustration that some had caused me. I was able to sit down and write them a letter asking them for forgiveness and extending grace to them. It was so liberating.

I aint perfect yet but I certainly want to treat all in this manner. It is so freeing. I mean real liberty exists in this. I cannot explain the joy I have found in such.

The doc said my ear looks good, no infection, and he is impressed with my level of hearing. He is leaving the sponge stint in place for another week and I can return to work Friday. I have another appointment Wednesday mroning. I like the Vandy office better. It’s much more spacious and relaxed. Easy to get to also.

My ear is feeling well today. I have no cotton in at the moment. It fell out at Vanderbilt. I slept on my right side most of the night which was very comfortable. I am use to that. The doc says that most of the tissue he removed was due to over agressive healing in the past. Hopefully that won’t be the case this time.

Well recovery is in full swing. I was able to hear well on Friday and Saturday but now everything is more or less muffled and distorted. Several times a day I receive 5-6 ear drops in my ear to keep the stint moist and help with healing. Wen applies this of course; thanks Wemmies! I have had a bit of ear ache type pain also. It’s frustrating but necessary I suppose to go through this.

Saturday night Maw Maw took us out for pizza; thanks again Maw Maw. It was good though I still haven’t got all my taste buds back. I don’t know if it is the anesthesia or the antibiotics that has caused this. Sunday morn we went to first service at church. The noise was a bit much for me. Lots of stuff going on, sounds from all over the place, etc. was all sorta bothersome. Oh my, I heard one dear saint sing and couldn’t resist from snickering. That was certainly not a joyful noise. I hope the Lord was blessed because I wasn’t. Also I heard someone tearing into a piece of candy and it was so loud. PLEASE people, it’s church.

I was also awakened by an extremely loud sound the other night. It was just a plane landing but my it was loud. Scary as well! Caet said it was unusually loud so I don’t know for sure if it was me or what.

I have a follow up appointment on Wednesday morning. They will probably remove this stint thing. I am not looking forward to that. The hearing could take weeks to completely heal as I am reading. Popping and all sorts of inner ear noise are to be expected for up to 8 weeks.

Grandma, Pawpaw, and Ricky came by this morning. She was out visiting doctors about her back and things. They wanted to check on me. They have always been great at grandparenting. Gotta love em even when they sneak in for a surprise visit.

I am now in recovery. This could take nearly 4 weeks; much longer than I expected. I have little to no pain at the moment and have not taken any of the prescription pain killers. Sleep was awkward last night but due to the anesthesia it was easy. They put me out around 3pm and I didn’t wake toll about 7pm. Everything was just heavy including my eyelids. My arms and shoulders and chest hurt now. My ear is draining and bloody.

It was much more serious than the doc thought. The CT scan revealed much more than he knew and then when he got in the ear it was still different. Lots of scar tissue in the canal and behind the ear organs. He rebuilt my ear drum and cleaned everything up. Some of the scar tissue was forming new bone. He had to increase the size of my canal a bit, graph some skin, and put a temporary stint in my ear. That will come out in a week.

I hear very well now. Just typing is LOUD! I do have cotton in my ear for the drainage but I can hear well. Wen is taking care of me and I am very thankful. I am also thankful for all the prayers.

God has changed me. I love everyone. I have no hate or bitterness towards anyone. That is an act of God in me and to Him I am thankful. I have had a hard row to hoe the past few years but God has moved on my behalf. I love you Wendy and all my kids and all of God’s great creation.

Well last night was great.

I dropped off Wen at the jail for the Bible study which she is saying was wonderful. Then I took the kids to Maw Maw’s where she had dinner prepared for them. Then me and Caet headed towards the Wilson’s. On the way I swung into Blockbuster to see if they had Young Guns, an old movie. They did not. I want to see that movie again.

I headed up Stewart’s Ferry towards 40 and was getting hungry a bit. I had taken some fever medicine, cough medicine, and my gout meds without eating. BIG MISTAKE! By the time I got off the interstate just 2 exits up I was in trouble. I could not find Kerry and Steve’s house, my vision got blurred bad, my sugar bottomed out, and I was drunk like. WOW, was it bad!

Caet called Kerry and she talked us in towards her house. I have been there a dozen times and know exactly where they live but could not find my way. I stumbled to the porch, literally, and went in where Steve gave me a doughnut and Kerry gave me some water and Nilla wafers. After about 15 minutes I felt like getting up so we headed out. Steve drove me in my van to Olive Garden and Kerry drove their truck.

We all got together at Olive Garden and had a blast. Isaac and Anna, Marcus and Mildred, Steve and Kerry are all great friends. We had a great meal, good laughs, good talks, and Wen helped some girl get a baby to sleep (read her blog for those details). I’m just glad she didn’t breast feed that kid. Steve and I got cupcakes for our birthdays. The cakes were in Steeler and Browns colors. Steelers rule and Browns suck!

Afterward Steve and I went to Kroger for gum. I eneded up buying movie type candy for a buck a box and snuck it into the theater. LOL! We then went to the movie and met the Tibb’s and our wives there. The tickets were reserved on fandango so Kerry got them outta the machine and we headed in. I was still a bit loopy. Those med combinations without food on my belly really messed me up. Just read this!

Marcus was doing something whether it was drinking from a fountain or something but he was beside the bathroom door. I needed to urinate so I headed into the restroom. The first thing I noticed was a prophylactic machine on the wall. Remember I was drugged but I thought, now that’s strange! Then I thought the brand name was strange, then I asked why do they sell Motrin in that machine, then I wondered why there were 50 stalls and no urinals, then I heard my name called twice, and then I said SOMETHINGS WRONG! That was no prophylactic machine and OB don’t make those anyways. Yes I was in the women’s restroom, all alone thank goodness, and Marcus told Wen to go get me so she and Mildred were calling my name.

We went into theater #1 and sat on the very back row where there is a lot of leg room. Steve was MIA. Kerry went looking for him a few minutes in. I understand that she found him in theater #2, lol. He came in, his head went through the shot and therefore the shadow was on the screen, and he shook Marcus’ hand ans said what’s up out loud. We laughed of course. Well Marcus’ phone rang out loud twice during the film, Kerry cried out loud, Steve cackled out loud to which we laughed at out loud.

The movie was very good with an excellent storyline. It was called Fireproof and starred Kirk Cameron. The folks that made Facing the Giants made this as well and did a good job. I highly recommend it to all.

After sleeping in a bit today we went and got the kids and met the Deforge’s for lunch at Chik-fil-a in Hermitage. The kids played on the playground while we ate and spoke. Our kids had eaten at Maw Maw’s already. We love Paul and Emily and are fostering a wonderful relationship with them. It’s funny that while we were in NC they were too. Paul was in the military and they had just gotten married. She was preganant with Brayden and Wen was pregnant with GG. They lived in a small town like we did about an hour or so away. They didn’t have any friends and we didn’t either. We all move back to TN, Paul and I go to work for CTIS and meet one another, and now here we are over 2 years after I left CTIS. We are all going to try and get together about once a week for cards, or movies, talks, etc. They are coming to family day at my mom’s tomorrow for dinner and ping pong.

After lunch we went and cleaned the church. Then we went to the lake and attended Julia’s birthday party. The kids ate pizza and played on a nice playground for an hour and a half. I was posing with my Hanana Montana plate with birthday cake on it when Kerry Wilson smashed it into my face. I proved the Lord’s sanctifying power at work in my life by not slaying her there today nor presently plotting to slay her on a later date. The Barnett’s are great yankee folks that we met at CRC, like that huh?, and our kids love each other. In fact I am pretty certain that Silas and Julia actually like each other. Jason and Amy are sorta quite but good people from hard working families from what I can tell. We love em!

We left the lake and headed to grandma’s to see her post surgery and pick up some pears. Grandma was in the bed, had just finished dinner, and was ready to talk. She does not like the recovery part of this surgery. She is feeling better but is not used to being holed up in a bedroom. Grandma has things to do and she needs to do them. She does not like the walker and I said good and don’t get used to it. She looked much better and stronger though and for that I am thankful.

We went out to the van where Paw Paw and Princess, the dog, were talking to the kids. PawPaw told Princess to get in the gate. She didn’t want to. He said get in the gate and I’ll get you some bacon. She looked at him and walked into the yard and stood just inside the gate. He went in and got her a piece of bacon and she was happy. I guarantee you Paw Paw has never even lied to that dog about bacon.

We are home now, kids are in the bed, I just finished watching the Presidential debate between McCain and Obama which we recorded (boring). We have nursery duty tomorrow so we will attend both services at church. The kids will nap afterward and then we will have family day at mom and dad’s.

Like I said, the weekend was better than the week that I had.

My fever just might be gone. After several days of thsi torment I will be very pleased to tell it goodbye. I have had a touch of it today and my body just hurt all over but since some Motrin and a nap I feel much better. This news comes just in time since we are having dinner at Olive Garden this evening with the Tibb’s, the Wilson’s, and the Martinez’s (is that correct grammar wise?). Afterward we are going to see Fire Proof th new movie that was made by the same folks that made Facing the Giants.

I have not had much of an appetite this week but am looking forward to being hungry enough for calamari, fried ravioli, salad with breadsticks, and who knows what else. Yes, I am a slob!

Wen is going to the women’s prison first to teach a Bible study to some of the women there and then she will meeting up with the rest of us for dinner. We will arrive and get the table before they, Wen and Mildred, get there.

MawMaw is watching the kids and Caet is staying at the Wilson’s and watching Lexi. I think I will take some more Motrin before I leave just in case.

I went to work today but was sent home at lunch due to the fever returning. LOL, the customer told me to leave. I called my doc and he set me up with a 3pm appointment.

I came home and took a nap after taking some more Motrin. I was really weak when I got to Summit so I let the valet park the van.

The nurse took all my vitals and questioned me. My temp was just over 100 at that time but I told her it was certinaly down probably due to the Motrin I took at 12:30. My blood pressure was normal and I weighted TOO MUCH!

She told me to give a urine sample which was difficult since I used the restroom as soon as I got done napping. The doc came in and said there was blood in my urine.

He began to examine me and question my symptoms and seemed puzzled. I told him that a couple of the kids had a fever last week but it didn’t last long. I have been feeling bad since Monday and experiencing fever since Tuesday evening.

He checked out my ears and sinuses. He said why can’t I see in your ear. I laughed and told him it had grown together and that I was having surgery in November.

He rubbed on my belly and determined it was tender. I did cringe a bit. He checked my breathing and such also. The doc said I might be getting bronchitis but could not be sure. The urine really bothered him so he popped the big, old man exam on me. I was like you have got to be kidding me! I thought for sure he was kidding but as he gloved up I knew he wasn’t. I told him afterwards that had it not been been for Brad Garrett having such an exam performed on him on national TV then I would have walked out the door. It was strange, somewhat violating, and uncomfortable of course but not nearly as bad as it is talked up to be. He said all was normal and that I wouldn’t need another for many, many years; THANK the LORD!

He wrote me a script for Levaquin to battle a sinus infection and a possible kidney infection. I have to return in a week for another urine sample. They also took some blood work before I left.

When I got to the parking lot the valet was pulling up in my van. I was wondering if he was joy riding in it. That was kinda strange.

I told the girl that set up my next appointment that yesterday was the first time I can ever remember being ill on my birthday. I told her was getting old and she laughed. Another girl told me that she was on a first name basis with Moses.