Catching up... September 19, 2015

Hi everyone...

For those of you who follow our blog, you know that we've been kind of quiet on this forum in 2015. Facebook has been a quick way to micro-blog and chronicle all of the many moments of this year... Indeed, this year has been an incredible blur... lots of happy moments, lots of work, lots of responsibilities, just lots...

A few weeks ago, the Lord said "Just stop" in a powerful way. I've heard sermons about the loving shepherd who breaks the leg of a sheep so that it won't wander into unprotected land, and, although I won't be sure (on this side of Heaven) exactly what He had in mind as my accident happened, I kind of feel like He had just seen enough-- enough nights without much sleep, enough days that pass by in a blur, just enough...

I was working late (again), stretching my day just as much as I could in order to finish yet another task on deadline. At 1:30 a.m. on the evening after the first day of classes, I hit "save" to preserve the document that I was crafting and decided to go to the bathroom and then come back for one more proofread before hitting "send." Without thinking, I started to walk to the bathroom. As I put weight on my right foot, I remember thinking, "oh my foot must be asleep." I hadn't even finished that thought as I hit the floor.

I made my way to the bathroom, still finished the document and hit send, and went to bed after taking ibuprofen and propping up my foot packed with ice. After getting an x-ray the next day, I learned that it was broken.

However, I praise my merciful Heavenly Father... If I had to break my ankle, it didn't happen before or during the three weeks that we were at the state and county fair. If I had to break my ankle, it was a clean break, a fracture right in a non-weight-bearing bone that didn't require surgery. If I had to break my ankle, it happened at just the right time for me to still be able to heal for NCA.

I vowed to obey doctor's orders, and I did. Last week, I developed a blood clot, and I rested for the entire week. Again, I'm not sure if I'm right, but I could almost just hear Him say, "No, don't keep pressing on. Just stop."

On Tuesday (my birthday), I got the great news that I could, once again, put weight on my right foot. I could start physical therapy. I could resume "normal" activity. Okay, I thought. Rest time is over. Let's do this. Let's go. I walked a mile on Wednesday. I led the Girl Scout meeting and soccer practice on Thursday. On Friday, my leg felt like it was on fire. Could the blood clot be back? I pressed on, going to the AHS Homecoming parade and game and coming home to help with tidying up the house. In my work office, I felt my ankle twist, and the area where a slim fracture remains ached. Finally, I just stopped.

Throughout this journey, people have said, "Wow, I bet that it's hard for you to slow down." Yes, it has been, but not because I like to be busy. I love to stare at the tv and sleep for 10 hours as much as the next person. Through the past three weeks, I've learned that the balance that I've craved over the years can no longer be elusive. I need to listen to my body and, most importantly, listen to Him. Thank you, Lord, for caring enough about me to ask for my attention. Please let me remember to give it to Him.

More soon as I get caught up on the blog--

Christie