Thank you SO much for all of your prayers last week and this week!  I am doing much better than last week and my pain levels have decreased a lot.  I had a little scare last weekend and thought I needed to have more fluid drained from around my lung, but my chest x-ray and EKG was perfect.  We were so relieved!  I still feel like I am 80 most days.  My resting heart rate has been as high as 79 BPM - much different than the mid 50s I have been used to pre-surgery.  But, now that I am feeling less pain, I will begin focusing on trying to regain some stamina so my heart isn't racing all day long.  

I was spending some time in 1 Kings yesterday morning, was greatly encouraged, and wanted to share it with you:  

"Elijah was afraid and ran for his life. When he came to Beersheba in Judah, he left his servant there, while he himself went a day’s journey into the wilderness. He came to a broom bush, sat down under it and prayed that he might die. 'I have had enough, Lord,' he said. 'Take my life; I am no better than my ancestors.'  Then he lay down under the bush and fell asleep.  All at once an angel touched him and said, 'Get up and eat.' He looked around, and there by his head was some bread baked over hot coals, and a jar of water. He ate and drank and then lay down again.  The angel of the Lord came back a second time and touched him and said, 'Get up and eat, for the journey is too much for you.'  So he got up and ate and drank. Strengthened by that food, he traveled forty days and forty nights until he reached Horeb, the mountain of God.  There he went into a cave and spent the night." 1Kings 19:3-18

I have definitely felt discouraged at times with my recovery progress and, like Elijah, had a few pity parties.  But, God was ALWAYS encouraging me each step of the way and mainly through YOU!  You all have been my angel of the LORD, providing meals for us and loads and loads of encouragement and prayers.  Elijah was strengthened for 40 days and nights on that one meal!  And, I love how God didn't just put the meal there for Elijah to find when he woke up.  Instead, he had the angel of the LORD to also provide physical touch and encouragement so that he didn't feel alone.  It is so easy for me to feel alone when I can't get out of the house to see people or feel up to seeing people.  But, God was always providing your sweet texts and flowers and cards and donations towards our medical expenses that made us feel surrounded by His care and love.  It is pretty rare to see my husband get choked up, but he often welled up thinking about how supported he felt by you.  We cannot thank you enough for being God's hands and feet to us!  

I am thinking this might be my last post as I am really hoping that you will start seeing me in person soon!  I am aiming to be back in the swing of things after Fall Break.  Thank you SO much again for being such good friends to us.  Grateful doesn't even begin to describe how we feel.  We love you all!!

Tracey