*Surgery....OUCHHHHHHHHH!*

So, this will be quick because I'm not feeling so well.  Just got out of the hospital 3 days ago after an emergency surgery.  I woke up on the 16th in the worst pain.  I felt like someone had shot me in the stomach.  I paced my house for over an hour and once I couldn't got off my knees, I finally told my mom to get me to a hospital.  After a CT scan it was obvious that my intestines were twisted.  After a blessing and family prayer...I was on a hospital gurney on my way to surgery.  I was scared to death but knew after what they had told me that really this was life threatening.  To shorten the story, The procedure took four hours and had my family in a state deep concern, but I was blessed to have a successful outcome.  It could have been so much worse.  I will save most of the details, but they took about 8 inches of my intestines out and had to do a few other things.  Then they stapled me back up.  Yes, STAPLED me.  I have a lovely S shape on my stomach that makes me feel like the sorting hat (Harry Potter) put me in the "Slythern House" and branded me with their mark.  BOO!  Now I'm stuck with a lovely scar. :(  But I'm really not complaining, I'm alive.  On the exact same day, my cousin died of a drug overdose, he was not as lucky as I.  We are all broken hearted and continue to pray for peace and comfort over his family.  Life throws so many curve balls...deals us cards we don't want.  I sure didn't want this.  It's an awful surgery, not mild.  The first two days we couldn't find a medication to stop the pain.  Not Morphine or anything.  I felt like I would die in pain.  By the end of the second day, they found something that helped, but NEVER really relieved it.  My sweet mother stayed by my side the whole time.  Even spending the nights with me.  I was scared and in pain, I wondered how I would heal.  But now that it's a week later, I'm doing much better.  I'm able to get up and around (slowly but surely) I have to hold my stomach to take deep breaths, yawn, cough, stretch, or anything like those.  Be GRATEFUL for those things.  And I'm starting to eat more than popsicles, pudding, and cream of wheat.  But I have zero appetite.  I've lost at least ten pounds and hope to get more of a desire to eat back soon.

Anyhow, thats the condensed version and really the other details are neither here nor there.  I'm thankful for so many people who prayed for me and sent such kind messages.  Also, I had a great staff at the hospital who looked after me, and I'm grateful for that too.

*I just can't shake it...but I HAVE to*

I heard a U2 song from this guy on YouTube a couple years ago and I thought it was amazing how he orchestrates them in this unique instrumental style.  This is his newest and I just heard it an hour ago.  I think it's great.  I've heard "With or without you" a million times and it never gets old...but this was a refreshing way to hear one of the greatest songs I've ever heard.  Not only that, it made me feel something I haven't felt in years...I don't really know how to say what that feeling is...but I think I'll try before this feeling leaves me.  This will not make sense to hardly anyone...so you can just sit back and listen to this kool ten minute song or read along and be okay with it not making sense.

Things come full circle
Where once you were humilated...you will be redeemed
God has heard EVERY prayer you have EVER made.
The sounding horn...is within ears reach...
Yes meant Yes and it was ALL real.
This is a powerful story...and it has an ending...and the ending is magnificent!
Suffering brings power...so much that ONE voice can reach the end of the earth...it can change
The year of the rising sun must be seen on every continent
The air is empty and beyond silent...because you have to dig down deeeep and find it in yourself again.  You have to believe in those long drives...the walks...the ones you take alone and hear HIS voice.  Every song, every verse, every revelation, every word accompanied by the spirit of the Lord.  It is all the sound of victory!  It is the sound of one of the most meaningful stories that will ever be told....or ever be known.  Even if it's only for some ears to hear...and some eyes to see.  It is real....it's is real....it IS real.

I can't shake it...but I HAVE to.

*Things that make you go hmmm...*

Love the song!
Love the video!
At first I thought...huh?...hmmm?..."  And then all the sudden... crescendo!!!!!!! and then you just have a big smile on your face as you're dancin' & tappin' your toes while watching nerdy chunkers run, dance, and sing! BRAVO Temper Trap!  Bravo!

*Eat up!*

"I doubt the world holds for anyone a more soul stirring surprise than the first adventure with Ice cream.
~Heywood Broun