Thankful ~ my rheumatologist

He's humble. 

He's a problem solver. 

He has lots of experience.  

He's a good listener. 

He walks with the Lord. 

He's compassionate. 

He's a good doctor.

His office staff is very approachable and easy to work with.  

It's a miracle that I'm his patient.  I first said, "Sure!" to whatever rheumatologist my PCP's office usually refers to. Then I asked a friend and she recommended her rheumatologist (in another city).  So, my PCP referred me to my friend's doctor (& it turns out a distant relative by marriage), Dr. G. Almost immediately I was notified that I had an appointment the following week.  

And then ... the reminder message came, but it was for an appointment with another doctor in that office.  

But ... the day before the appointment, the office called to ask if I could come 10 minutes earlier and see Dr. G instead because they had double-booked the doctor I was to see. 

Thank you, Lord!!!!!!

Thankful ~ prayer

If you pray, we would appreciate prayer for two specialist appointments on Tuesday, August 31. We are praying for good communication, clear lab results so that the doctor can have confidence in a diagnosis, medicines that can bring relief from painful symptoms that prevent normal functioning, next steps that give hope, and most of all hearts that trust God.

 

Updated 9/1 - Thank you for praying! Great communication! No confident diagnosis yet. The next step is more imaging. No relief from the painful symptoms that prevent normal functioning.  We believe God is good & trustworthy. We continue to pray for relief & hope. 

Tried & true ~ oven-roasted green beans

An invite to dinner with extended family. 

My question: What can I bring?

How about vegetables?

Hmm... what should I take? 

What are you considering?

Oven-roasted green beans, but I'm sorta in a rut with taking them to family meals. 

Why don't you just make them?

And so I did. 

I could almost make them in my sleep.  Minimal effort. Maximum flavor. 

Frozen green beans in a 9x13. 1 Tbsp. olive oil. 1 tsp. Fishmama spice. 3 slices cooked bacon. 425* for 20-30 minutes. 

Yum!

Thankful ~ fellowship

Every other month our church has an opportunity to sign up for a supper group.  Usually 6-8 people meet at the host's home, and each couple or single brings part of the meal. 

I'm a tricky guest due to being gluten-free, and for people who don't cook or eat that way, it can be intimidating.  I usually let the host know that I eat gluten-free, but she doesn't need to change her menu. I can bring an individual serving of something if it will have gluten in it. Then I explain that standard Midwest fare of meat, potatoes, and vegetables usually is naturally gluten free.  

At our most recent meal, there was county fair-winning zucchini bread on the table. But the rest of the meal was meat (grilled chicken), potatoes (baked with toppings available), salad, and vegetables.  Easily gluten free! 

The host asked me to bring dessert, stating that that is probably the hardest to make gluten free. I immediately replied that I would bring a flourless chocolate cake.  I really need to come up with a different name for it (perhaps chocolate cake!), because "flourless chocolate cake" to the uninitiated sounds like some sort of weird health food that probably doesn't taste good. ;) 

My old Betty Crocker cookbook had the recipe, but my new one doesn't.  I have used the King Arthur Flour recipe online (or others online).  The cake is so rich & delicious! I serve it with whipped cream and fresh fruit (blueberries this time). 

Everyone seemed relieved that it did not taste as bad as the name sounded!!

But, of course, the meal was only the backdrop to the conversation and fellowship and the opportunity to spend time with and get to know a little more a few more couples in our church body.  

As wallflowers, we are so thankful for this opportunity!

Thankful ~ mountains!

While we were at my parents' recently, I enjoyed a cup of tea in the mornings looking at this view! 

  

 

One day we drove over into southwest Virginia to a zoo on the side of a mountain!

Another day we drove an hour to a lookout where we could see 5 states - VA, WV, KY, TN, and NC!

And on the way home, we took a new-to-us route and traveled the first half (300 miles) through mountains and then what appeared to be wilderness forest.  It was delightful and BEAUTIFUL!  

Before the hills in order stood

   Or earth received her frame,

From everlasting thou art God,

   To endless years the same.

Thankful ~ mornings

On this second day of school, before LM's school year even starts, I'm thankful for mornings. I'm a morning person.  We enjoyed a little too much freedom with our summer mornings. We all needed the external discipline of being out the door by 7.40 AM.

I am energized in the morning, and (even with pain & discomfort) can quickly unload & load the dishwasher, do some laundry, and sweep the kitchen floor in less than half an hour ... in the morning.  1 PM? Not so much. 5 PM? Nope. 9 PM? Definitely not.  

I'm so glad to have this morning time back in my weekday routine.

Thankful ~ school!

Yesterday afternoon Little Miss and I waited outside the front door of the school with other families until the principal opened the doors at 5 pm.  We had a 15-minute slot to see her classroom, meet her teacher, and drop off her supplies, before the next group came in.  

She was BURSTING at the seams!  And has had multiple meltdowns because LG starts today, but she can't go until Monday.  

Last year there was no open house or back to school night for 1st grade, so LG didn't experience that.  And last year, no parents went in the building for the entire year, so this was EXCITING for me!  As we exited, Mrs. W was holding the door open.  I introduced myself and we spoke face to face for the first time.  She was LG's 1st grade teacher last year, but I had NEVER seen her.  We had lots of communication throughout the year ... phone, Google Meets, email, Seesaw app ... but never in-person.  So, it was nice to finally meet her. :) 

I'm glad I have met LM's teacher, and have had encouraging email contact with LG's 2nd grade teacher, as well as the principal. 

I think they're both going to have a great year!