oranges, prayers, kids, and fashion. on monday.

This Monday simply must be better than last Monday. There is no shoulder surgery on the docket — and for that I am grateful. In an effort to celebrate my thanksgiving for the last week I thought I’d look back and share some sweet light-hearted moments from my week.

1} Elijah’s prayer. Last Sunday, before I left for my parents, Elijah {4years old} came up and prayed for my arm. He was so sweet, his little hand resting on my left shoulder, and his words came out asking for healing. Then I heard, and dear Lord, please heal my momma’s arm so she can get bumped on it like this… and in the next breath he pushed my arm.  So, fast forward to when I returned from my parents after surgery when Elijah said another prayer for me. This time we started him telling him — no actions and no pushes are needed to emphasize the point. 🙂

2} Awkward moment. When I was leaving the surgery center I was being pushed out in a wheelchair and we had to do the obligatory post-operation small talk. I was pretty out of it. Anyways, the sweet gal asked how many kids I had to which I replied, seven. Silence. Then she said, don’t get offended by this, but what is wrong with you? Thank goodness for anesthesia. I think the 12second ride down the elevator in complete silence was a bit awkward. I just smiled and was kind in my reply back — which I’ll share with you in point ten.

3} Those awesome seven kids. On Saturday Todd, Samuel and I went to Costco to stock up on some groceries. When we returned I walked into a beautifully decorated home — lovely paper crafts made by six out of my seven children. Blessings that I am grateful to have in my life. Blessings that I am grateful to have call me mom. Blessings I thought about while I rode down that back surgical center elevator.

4} Costco. The kids decided they always want their dad to go with me to get groceries. Not only did we come home with more groceries then when I go, we also came back with some more fun and more desired food choices. Ha ha ha! They were so thrilled at the extra goodies that dad bought. And I was so blessed by our afternoon — Costco, Starbucks, and Target — but by the time I was back I was totally exhausted.

5} Hannah’s treats. My eldest made these on Saturday using oranges that we got while wandering Costco. No words needed to describe the fabulousness {yes, I’m using that as a word} of these orange treats. Want to know more? click HERE to get her recipe at Aspire. Now, shhh….I’m tiptoeing upstairs to get just one more. 🙂

6} And those oranges? We spent $9.99 on a 13pound box of oranges. As I type this on Sunday afternoon only half a box of oranges remains. I am constantly fending off questions from I’m totally starving little boys who just need one more orange. Here I was hoping that the oranges would last a week. It must have been the anesthesia wearing off making me dream we’d keep 13pounds of oranges for more than two days.

7} Physical Therapy. I start on Tuesday. I am actually quite excited to try to move this left arm some more — right now I’m thankful that I can type with it again. That’s a baby step.  I was so blessed when the sweet receptionist at my physical therapy office told me how excited she was that I was coming back — then in the next breath she said she was sorry that I had surgery but that she was excited to see me. It was pretty cute. I told her I was thankful to be seeing them all again. 🙂

8} My Popeye bicep. That’s what I’m naming it. Apparently one of the side effects of my surgery is that your bicep looks a bit like Popeye’s. And yes, mine looks just a tad bit different. Well, I’m just going to embrace that muscle and affectionately nickname it Popeye. A little humor helps some time….and spinach.  No wedding ring for left hand for another week — my mother has it — I gave it to her the morning of my surgery and forgot to get it back — soon. Here’s my “what I wore” post using a sling as a fashion accessory. Everyone needs a sling, right? 😉

9} The importance of goals. Somehow I had in my head that I’d have my surgery and then I’d be better than normal. Sigh. So I’m making new goals. Clean the boys room. Fold laundry. Drive. Play piano. Drink my latte with my left hand. Each one is another step. Forward. Life can be beautiful in the everyday, and those everyday little goals. Like today — holding Samuel on my lap — reading a book.

10} Made it to ten. Ending with a picture of the beautiful snowflake that Chloe made for our home. Oh yes, in case you were wondering about my reply back to the gal who wheeled me out of the surgery center here is exactly what I said — Nothing’s wrong with me, maam, I’m just very blessed.

And that’s totally and completely true.

Linking up with Carissa. Whom I love. Who texted me a sweet prayer and get well greeting on the day of my surgery. Thank you, dear friend.