The One that Changes Your Life

Well this is the big one- the blog that changes it all.   As many of you know I almost lost my life this week as my body went into kidney failure and septic shock.  Four days in ICU and 4 days on a cardiac floor have made me so appreciative of the power of prayer and love.  I was surrounded by endless prayers and unending love all week. My sweet family has been through it all with me and I am so very thankful for all of them.

Jeremy- for staying with me endless nights and always taking care of me
Luci- unending hospitality, friendship, and love
Brooke- my magic chef and the source of much of my prayer power (she is so strong)
Travis- for loving me, his wife, and our family
Abbey- her knowledge and bull doggedness at the hospital and for nursing a baby while spending 48 hours with me in ICU
Justin - for loving Abbey and this family
Connor- his calmness in a crisis
Momma and Daddy- for coming up every day so Kirk could take a break and taking care of our babies- Maggie and Buster
Ellen- for coming to visit big,bossy sister every day ( it was hard to be bossy in ICU) and for loving my family
Last but not least- Kirk- my rock, best friend, and confident, who had to make some hard decisions with out me.  He is so very, very strong!

Words really cannot express my gratitude to my family, extended family, friends in Austin and Dallas, church families and my school communities.  So I will not try.  I do want to tell you about two instances where I know God was with me.

I really needed to get to the hospital Tuesday morning instead of Tuesday afternoon as was originally planned.  Out of the blue, my urologist called Tuesday morning at 7:00 AM to tell Kirk to get me up there.  That call may have saved my life.  I know my sweet Aunt Laura in heaven had something to do with this.  I mean how often to Doctors call at 7:00 in the morning?

The other power of prayer was when my heart had taken on an arithmic heart beat for over 24 hours and my blood pressure was way too low.  Brooke asked a lady from her church to pray the emergency room novena, at that very moment the heartbeat flipped to regular and pressure was up.  God had other plans for me!

So what to do you when you experience something like this- how do you ever go back to the way things where?  Well in my humble opinion you don't.  Sure I have eating habits to change, two more surgeries, and lots of lifestyle changes.  Here is what I have done the last two days:

Enjoyed my children
Cherished my grandchildren
Called my parents everyday
Talked with sweet friends
Prayed a lot
and smiled a lot

From now on if:
Some one asks me to pray- I will unceasingly
Someone asks me listen- I will completely
Someone asks me to love- I will whole heartedly

Last but not least- get a medical directive/living will to make things easier for your family.

I dedicate the rest of my life to my Lord and Savior and will follow His will.  I have been given such a gift and will always appreciate it.

One last picture as this is what life is about:

Count Your Blessings, Bella

Halloween Awards 2013

It's time for the annual Halloween awards:

We had a frog, snow white, Tinkerbell, and Jake the Pirate

A Puppy Dog

Pumpkin Patch- San Antonio

Pumpkin Patch -Dallas

A Football Player

Walking Baby- Wyatt

 

Four of the grand children trick or treated here in Dallas and the other two in San Antonio.  Such a fun night for everyone.  Man those four year old are serious about getting candy!

Wyatt was here for a week as Abbey had a conference.  Luci watched him and they all had so much fun.

Grandchildren- my gosh the greatest love of all!

Count your Blessings,  Bella

This and That

We continue to stay busy this fall.  We spend most of our time visiting the kids or having sleep overs with the Dallas grand kids.  We took in a Rangers play off game, a Hockey game, and a few movies.  We also try to see my mom and dad a couple of times per month.  We also managed to see Kirk's mom and brother as well in October.  We have even managed to get together with long time friends to our delight!  Our God Daughter Linsey got married this month and it was so nice to be there for that special event.  Most importantly, we have found a church.  The Episcopal Church of the Incarnation.  It is a huge church led by a dynamic Bishop from the Anglican Church.  We look forward to worshiping there and becoming part of parish life.  We have already taken all the Dallas grand kids to a  church family movie night and picnic.  So here are some this and that pictures highlighting life in Dallas, Texas.

Family Walk in Austin

Fall Activities- Decorating Halloween Cookies

Go Stars!

Go Rangers!

Go Longhorns!

He Walks!!!!!!!!

Age does not protect you from love. But love, to some extent, protects you from age. Jeanne Moreau


Count Your Blessings, Bella

Day at the Fair

On a cool day in October, two ladies set out to the State Fair of Texas  along with two beautiful children. Let's see, there were corn dogs, cotton candy, taffy, lemonade, rides, baby animals, face painting, and lots of smiles and laughter.  The pictures say it best:

In dwelling, live close to the ground. In thinking, keep to the simple. In conflict, be fair and generous. In governing, don't try to control. In work, do what you enjoy. In family life, be completely present.

Lao Tzu 

Count Your Blessings, Bella