Marriage, Maps and Miracles

I believe in miracles. Yes, I do.  I have seen them happen in my life.  I believe God is working one in me right now.   I know I left you hanging in my last blog, but I really didn’t have much I could tell.  But now I can tell a little and as things progress, I will tell you it all.

For quite some time I have been feeling tired.  Not so tired I couldn’t function, but every thing seemed like a chore to me.    I would do something, and then have to sit down.  Painting our new bathroom was an obstacle I almost didn’t get over.  But I did it.

Anyway, about a month ago it got really bad. Just walking around in the yard tired me out and I would have to rest.   I knew something was wrong. Nothing hurt, I just felt tired.   Finally, I called he doctor. He was either sick or on vacation so his office sent me to the hospital.   I thought I would be there for an hour or two. It turned into five hours of test after test.  Finally the ER doctor came in and said it looked like I had heart failure.  Well, that threw me for a loop.  I was to see my family doctor and I did.  He told me it was a treatable disease and prescribed water pills.  I guess heart failure is caused by water on your lungs and the pills get rid of the excess water in your body. “You will lose weight,” my doctor told me.  There is a rainbow in every storm, I guess!  So I was taking the pills and not feeling much better so he sent me for another test and to a cardiologist. Today I met with her and after talking to her, she says my heart is in good shape except for a slightly widening of the aorta.  So now I am going in for more tests the end of the month. Surprisingly, today I had a lot of energy and for the first time I went shopping without getting winded and I worked out in the yard and felt pretty good. Maybe those pills are finally working. I also lost eight pounds.   I feel like a miracle is happening in my body. Thank you for all your prayers. They do work and I did feel them covering me.   I’m not one to talk about my health, but this was something I felt like sharing because I wanted people to pray for me. Thank you so much.

But on to better things.  About two weeks ago we attended my niece’s wedding. She is my baby brother’s little girl.    Several family members I hadn’t seen for months, if not years, attended and I got to visit with them all.  It was so much fun.

DSCN5335

My baby brother.   He cleans up pretty good.

DSCN5339

My oldest son. He cleans up pretty good too and is getting quite distinguished looking.

DSCN5340

My nephew, my sister’s oldest boy. Oh, I could tell you funny stories about him when he was growing up.  One time we were coming back from Cincinnati with him and our two boys and daughter in the back seat and they were making up jokes all the way and laughing like hyenas.  I still think of that and laugh to myself.  That’s his wife next to him.  They are remodeling a big old house that I really want to see one day.  They live near Cincinnati now.

DSCN5338

Then there was David. I must say he looked rather sexy in his freshly ironed white shirt and new black slacks. And these sun glasses. Well, they just perfected the look.  Everyone got sun glasses with the bride and groom’s names and wedding date on them.

DSCN5334

The wedding was outdoors by a lake with a stringed quartet playing.   It was beautiful, but it was very hot that day.

DSCN5343

Here comes the bride.  She was beautiful.  She is getting her masters in geology.  Following in her daddy’s footsteps because he was a geologist and did surveying for oil in Central America years ago.  Wading in swamps with huge snakes in them. Better him than me!

DSCN5345

The vows. Oh, how I pray this marriage will last fifty years or more like David and mine has.

DSCN5353

The bride’s dress was so pretty, even in the back.

DSCN5348

Another brother and his wife and another niece.  The decorations had a woodsy, earthy look.  Each table was named for a national park.

DSCN5354

Yummy, sweet food on the table.

DSCN5355

The cake was made to look like a geode rock.  It was very delicious.   I got the very last piece.

DSCN5357

Cupcakes that I didn’t get to try.

DSCN5356

And cookies in the same theme that were also very good.

DSCN5381

The bride and father’s dance.  I don’t think I have seen my brother this happy for a long time.  It was truly  a sweet picture.

DSCN5359

Cutting the cake and I am so glad they didn’t smear the cake in each other’s faces like I have seen happen at some weddings.  They carefully fed each other bites from forks.

DSCN5394

Love was in the air. This is my nephew who lives in Germany and his girl friend. Another wedding could be in the offing sometime in the future.

DSCN5404

Ah, young love.  You have to enjoy it.

DSCN5405

Two gorgeous and sweet people.  I loved seeing my nephew.  It’s been years.

Now there was another story going on that weekend.  My other niece, my brother’s oldest child decided to get married the very next day while her brother was home from Germany. My brother and sister-in-law had about two weeks to plan and orchestrate a second wedding and reception.  Whew!

DSCN5352

This is the other young couple.  Sadly, David and I could not stay over for that wedding as we had to drive home because I was having tests the next day.  So sad.  I hope I see pictures.  I really, really hated missing this wedding.  The bride is a veterinarian of large animals.   I have very talented relatives.

So the day after the wedding we drove home along less than busy highways as we do not like driving the interstate all that well and besides, you find things you never would find on the freeway.

Like the town that honored its veterans with their pictures on posts all along the highway.

DSCN5407

I think they did this for Memorial day.

DSCN5410

The veteran’s name and what war he or she fought in on flags.

DSCN5408

So many young people lost to war.   There were many of these along the street.

We were driving on fumes to find a gas station and we found one and while David was filling the tank, I looked over and I saw a cute, little garden shop right next door.  Serendipity!

DSCN5415

Let’s go inside.

DSCN5421

Birdhouses and garden paraphernalia everywhere.

DSCN5426

I was so in awe of how much stuff was packed into such a little store.

DSCN5423

The owner’s husband handcrafts these wonderful birdhouses and I bought this one.

DSCN5428

DSCN5427

Even the curtains were so cute.

DSCN5429

Fairy gardens everywhere inside and out.

DSCN5419

I could see me getting caught up in another hobby really quickly.  I think I will just look this time.

DSCN5417

So much fun to look at, though.

DSCN5431

The tallest, thickest stemmed zinnias I have ever seen.  I got their name and might try to raise these next year.

DSCN5430

This is the sweet lady who owns the shop.  I told her I was putting her on my blog and she was okay with that.    I will go back one day.   A wonderful find.  I bought a few other things there, some Christmas presents.

Driving on home we passed through the town of Greensburg which is famous for the tree growing out of its court house.

DSCN5434

DSCN5433

I was wondering if this is the original tree, but David said he imagined it had been planted several times through the decades.  I suppose he is right, but I like to think the same little tree has grown there year after year.

And now to chickens.  My little chicks are almost full-grown chickens now.

Miss Mary Foster is so pretty.

DSCN5469

I think her feathers look like a stained glass window.   She has a crooked little leg and hops around with the other chickens.

DSCN5476

I have a tender spot in my heart for her.  She’s a little trooper.

DSCN5451

The chickens love their grass.  I let them eat it down and then take it out and regrow it and feed it to them over and over.  A good way for them to get their greens.

DSCN5455

Yes, they do love it.

I could go on and on.  I have several things to write about. Our bathroom still is not finished.  The lumber yard messed up getting the hole cut out for the sink so it will be another two weeks or more before they get the new one in.  I have been washing my hands in the tub for weeks now and will be so glad to have a sink upstairs again.   When it is all finished, I will show you some pictures.  I really love what I used for towel hangers. Oh, and here’s where maps come in.  I was looking for drawer liners for the bathroom cabinet and could not find any I liked and then I thought of all the National Geographic magazines I had with maps in them.  Hmmm, I think those would make good drawer liners.  So I looked in my old magazines which I have kept for years.  National Geographic always had the most amazing maps in them. I wonder if they still do.

DSCN5480

DSCN5482

DSCN5478

Okay, this map of Italy was just too beautiful to cut up.  But I cut six drawer liners from maps and I love the way they look.

So, here’s to health, because it really is fragile and to young love and wonderful garden shops and maps! Bye.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2 thoughts on “Marriage, Maps and Miracles

  1. Arkansas Patti

    Well that diagnosis had to have been a shocker!!! Wonderful news however that the pills seem to be working. Check out a heart healthy diet on the internet. I have stuck to mine since my pacemaker, lost 42 pounds and kept it off for a year and a half. Once you get going on it, it is not really difficult. Medicine today can do much for us but there are also things we can do for ourselves. Wishing you only the best and putting you in my prayers.
    That cake was perfect for a geologist and what a lovely bride. Sorry you couldn’t make both weddings.
    Take care keep improving.

    Reply
    1. Snickelfritz Post author

      I eat pretty healthy now. Stopped drinking coffee. Don’t smoke or drink. My dad had heart failure so I guess it’s a family thing. Once I can walk again, I hope to lose more weight. I lost eighty pounds a few years ago walking. Just haven’t been able to lately. Thanks for the encouragement.

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *