For several weeks, I have taken a break from regular daily sketching. At first it was due to sewing a birthday teddy bear — the bear is now finished except for a small cat appliqué I ordered to sew on the bear’s sweater. Judah loves cats, stuffed animals, and “the dark side” of Star Wars — I chose to limit the dark side to knitting a black sweater for the bear and giving him his own stuffed kitty.
Then “life stuff” kept distracting me. Our cabin and woodshop needed painting and it’s been in very small increments due to 100+ degree days. Usually this part of Texas (at least in the country away from all that pavement) sees a few 100° days interspersed with more comfortable 90s, but this year has been extremely hot. Limiting work time outside. Bill had moments of feeling completely wiped out, which is unlike his work-a-holic character.
Meanwhile his 5 year struggle with chronic pain (due to pinched or damaged nerves, or so we’ve been told) led us to seek out an acupuncturist. We found a highly experienced, reputable one originally from Vietnam (Dr. Tam Khai Thai) and hoped for the best. Unfortunately, because of Bill’s neck surgeries (which Dr. Thai agreed with the spinal surgeon was supposed to fix this), he is unable to help. The fused discs in Bill’s neck prevent treatment from being possible.
The most recent pain killer Bill has been on doesn’t help anymore and it’s one of those that cannot be stopped “cold turkey”. So he made an appointment with our regular doctor to begin coming off of it. As long as he was there, she did a full exam . . . and his recent shortness of breath and weakness alerted her to possible heart trouble. So, with his having had a major heart attack 5 years ago, she sent him to a cardiologist. Who totally agreed with her — he said it’s as if Bill had a list of warning symptoms and checked off every box. (We had thought it all due to overworking in the extreme heat).
So now we’ll be heading to College Station on Monday for a catheterization and possible stints.
Oh, and that palette in the first photo? While I haven’t felt much like sketching lately, I did tweak my granulated palette a bit, switching the previous muted earthy colors to a few brighter colors. I may still remove the burnt umber to make room for lunar black, which has wonderful granulation. I was also trying out my new favorite paint brush, an Escoda Aquario Petit Gris squirrel hair, size 8. Love the brush!
That's a lot of "life stuff." I'll be praying for Bill and you that all goes well with the catheterization and that he is soon feeling much better.
ReplyDeleteI so appreciate your prayers, Melissa — thank you!
DeleteAll my love to you and Bill. I know how scary some of that stuff can be! Hang in there, love.
ReplyDeleteVery scary! Especially when the cardiologist quietly mentioned that the procedure in rare times can bring on a heart attack. I knew that but still didn’t want to hear it. NOT READY to say goodbye to this Love of my life. Not that I’d ever be ready . . .
DeleteI'm so glad you shared with us so we can be praying that all goes well with Bill during and after his procedure, that he will find complete relief from his pain and for peace and comfort for both of you during all of this. Bless you....
ReplyDeleteThank you, Dawn! I almost decided not to post anything about it, but sharing things like this allows us to lift each other in prayer and that’s a good thing. Blessings to you!
DeleteMy best wishes for you and Bill... putting you both into my prayers...
ReplyDeleteThank you, dear friend!
DeleteAs I pray for you and Bill, I offer this verse and meditation from this morning's devotion:
ReplyDeleteSpurgeon's Morning Devotions
Morning & Evening, with Charles Spiegel
Isaiah 51:5
On mine arm shall they trust.
In seasons of severe trial, the Christian has nothing on earth that he can trust to, and is therefore compelled to cast himself on his God alone. When his vessel is on its beam-ends, and no human deliverance can avail, he must simply and entirely trust himself to the providence and care of God. Happy storm that wrecks a man on such a rock as this! O blessed hurricane that drives the soul to God and God alone! There is no getting at our God sometimes because of the multitude of our friends; but when a man is so poor, so friendless, so helpless that he has nowhere else to turn, he flies into his Father's arms, and is blessedly clasped therein! When he is burdened with troubles so pressing and so peculiar, that he cannot tell them to any but his God, he may be thankful for them; for he will learn more of his Lord then than at any other time. Oh, tempest-tossed believer, it is a happy trouble that drives thee to thy Father! Now that thou hast only thy God to trust to, see that thou puttest thy full confidence in Him. Dishonour not thy Lord and Master by unworthy doubts and fears; but be strong in faith, giving glory to God. Show the world that thy God is worth ten thousand worlds to thee. Show rich men how rich thou art in thy poverty when the Lord God is thy helper. Show the strong man how strong thou art in thy weakness when underneath thee are the everlasting arms. Now is the time for feats of faith and valiant exploits. Be strong and very courageous, and the Lord thy God shall certainly, as surely as He built the heavens and the earth, glorify Himself in thy weakness, and magnify his might in the midst of thy distress. The grandeur of the arch of heaven would be spoiled if the sky were supported by a single visible column, and your faith would lose its glory if it rested on anything discernible by the carnal eye. May the Holy Spirit give you to rest in Jesus this closing day of the month.
Kind of timely that this devotion should fall on the 5th anniversary of Bill’s heart attack and first catheterization / stint surgery! I’ve read some of Spurgeon’s devotional but somehow missed this one.
DeleteThank you for this and your prayers, Cheryl!
This reading is from his Morning & Evening with Charles Spurgeon- - a book with morning and evening verse and devotion for each day of the year. I have the book and have used it over and over for several years along with my own Bible reading but it's pretty heavy. So I subscribed to receive each day's readings by email. God is precise and timely in His dealings with us and our life circumcumstances. He sets out the path before us, equips us for the journey with every possible supply, which He provides in a variety of ways.
DeleteI’ve had a copy of the book on my Olive Tree Bible Study app for many years — I think since the app was on my old PDA! Each time I upgraded to a new device, I transferred my Bible study app. Handy to take anywhere!
DeleteVicky, I am so sorry to hear about these troubles but I am so glad you shared so that we could be praying for you both. Here is a verse for you:
ReplyDeleteThe Lord bless you
and keep you;
the Lord make his face shine on you
and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face toward you
and give you peace.” Numbers 6:24-26
And we appreciate all the prayers! That’s the most beautiful thing about online friendships, being able to pray for each other as needs are revealed.
DeleteThank you for this verse — God is always good!