This past week has been a full one, and it was filled with some wonderful—and not-so-wonderful—moments. I was reminded at nearly every turn of the brevity of life and of how incredibly blessed I am!
Last weekend we had to take Joe to ER (he felt his body “shutting down,” was nauseated, weak…), and while I felt a very real sense of peace as we waited to find out what was wrong, there was also that lingering sense of the unknown and of what that unknown might bring.
They admitted Joe to the hospital and kept him overnight just to be safe. Long story short, we believe the root cause of the issue was dehydration possibly due to some recent medication changes. So, of course, I’ve now ordered every kind of no sugar added electrolyte water known to mankind and am pushing it at every turn. ; ) I’m so grateful to God that he’s better!
Another blessing. . .
On Sunday night, we had the one month reunion of our “all women” Israel group, and it was SO good to see these women again. We beheld the land together, shared a pilgrimage, and these relationships are so precious.
One of the women bought a special shirt for Kristi McLelland—our fearless leader who escorted us to Israel and who is a FABULOUS Bible teacher and professor at a local university—to commemorate our trip together. We’re the first “all women” group Kristi has taken to Israel, and she’s been escorting groups for over 10 years.
A phrase Kristi uses often when describing the Word of God is “Gospel gorgeous!” I just love that! And her.
I’ve learned so much from Kristi and appreciate how she teaches the Bible through a Middle Eastern Lens. Because, after all, the Bible was written by middle easterners. What fresh perspective this gives the Word of God.
If you live in or around the Nashville area, I invite you to attend one of Kristi’s classes this summer. She’s teaching a class on ITALY (I’ll be at that one!) and ISRAEL (which I’ve taken before and it…is…fabulous!). Get more info here.
Next, I’m sooo grateful that, as I drove back to Nashville from Atlanta this weekend, I was able to simply walk away from this accident.
A deer decided to run out in front of my truck…and it didn’t go well. Mainly for him [or her? Admittedly, I didn’t look too closely at what was left in the middle of the road, but the impact definitely killed him/her : ( ]. The windshield shattered and glass went everywhere, but it was safety glass so I was literally able to hop out of the truck and brush it all off. #sograteful
The reason I was coming back from Atlanta is that I got some more time with my sweet Dad again—and it was precious! We laughed a lot and shared some good conversations. He’s had some rougher days since, but that’s all part of the journey. One day at a time…for us all. God is in control!
One final blessing… Well, sort of, LOL. You might remember that we added Murphy’s half-sister, Bailey, to our family almost eight months ago. And she has been a handful!
I love her to pieces, but she’s definitely changed the dynamic of our lives. Her “puppyness” is beginning to wane (please, can I get an AMEN!) and we’re seeing glimpses of life on the other side. ; )
So what are some of your recent blessings? Big or small, doesn’t matter. Let’s share—and give God all the glory!
Tammy
Tamera Alexander
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So glad you weren’t hurt and that your husband is fine. My husband suffered dehydration while we were driving across country in 2017 – fortunately we had just arrived at our friends’ home in Colorado. I know how scared you were.
A special blessing in our lives is my husband’s successful surgery May 1st. He had been waiting for this since he was hospitalized for three days last December with a severe infection. After many tests, appointments, etc., his surgery was scheduled, and we had been waiting. We are blessed by God’s grace and so many people who have been praying for him.
Betty, that’s wonderful news! And a praise, for sure. I’m so grateful he’s doing well and that the surgery was successful. Bless you for being the wonderful caretaker I know you are.
I was able to get all my outdoor plants planted in pots and now I’m ready to enjoy them. I have terrible back pain from degenerative disk disease and in some places on my lower spine it’s almost bone against bone. I’ve lost about 2 1/2” off my height. Planting and being done on my knees isn’t the easiest thing to do. But I managed yesterday and got it done. That’s a blessing for me because I don’t know if I can do it next year or not.
Oh Shirley, I hurt for you as I read your note. Yet, I’m grateful too because I can tell how much planting your pots means to you. I’m praying for comfort and relief—and for those plants and flowers to flourish, my friend.
Love all the pictures, Tammy. You’ll have to teach me how to do that! Glad you survived the deer. Not funny. I almost killed myself and my three children making sure I didn’t hit a squirrel who decided to run across the road. Every time I see the TV ad with the two squirrels giving each other fist bumps, I wonder…
Hey Frani! We’ll have an image tutorial this summer. It’s easy, really. : ) Not funny on the squirrel incident, though. Our first instinct is to swerve, I think. But I remember my drivers ed teacher telling me it was best to decide right then whether or not I was going to swerve for wild animals. Because doing it, he said, would likely get me killed. So while Bambi would live, I’d be laying dead in a ditch. That (apparently) has stayed with me through the years.
So, so thankful you’re okay, Tammy! Bet you were never so glad to be driving a truck! My family—immediate and extended—are the biggest blessings in my life. Even though all four of our kids live far away, I’m grateful the Lord has allowed us lots of visits back and forth, especially in these years since our grandkids have come along!
I do LOVE my truck! And SUVs, etc… Anything big. Amen to family being the biggest blessings. And all of your precious grandchildren!! I’m so excited to see you…SOON! ; )
So glad for all your blessings – Joe’s health now, visit with Dad, the Israel trip and your TRUCK! Thankful here, too. Doctors in Feb figured out the cause of 4 1/2 months of pain in my husband’s upper leg – the spike of a hip replacement from 13 years ago was broken in half horizontally! His emergency complex revision surgery was Feb 28, and after 7 weeks of non weight bearing on that leg he was beginning to enjoy feeling better. Then… we had to take him into a 24 hour emergency facility for right side of back pain on April 25. He had 3 bouts of nausea after the revision surgery, and this back pain led to an emergency removal of his gall bladder. Two emergency surgeries in 2 months was plenty enough! He is feeling better again! So glad!
Oh Rose, I began praying for you both as I read through your note. Bless you, dear one. You’ve both been through so much. I’m grateful for the medical care we have in the U.S. and for the knowledge that we have in this day and age. It’s amazing, really, all that can be done. Good on your husband’s gallbladder coming out. I had mine out when I was 27, and gracious…how much better I felt. Comfort and strength to you both!
I am excited to have finished my first year of homeschooling with my children. I work full-time also, and part-time, and part-time again (LOL) and sometimes say, “Okay, God, I’m doing this homeschool thing for my babies, now help me find a way to work from home with a better schedule!”. BUT even in the uncertainty, stress, and failings, I am so thankful to be on this journey with my kiddos.