Good morning on this rainy morning. Lots of rumbles of thunder and the rain kind of comes in waves. It’s all good though. So far it hasn't been torrential rain like we had the other day. Justenough to keep farmers off of their tractors and in the barn. I’m very happy to see that thre is aa lot of the corn tat haas been planted and is up. Now, we could use some hot and humid weather to make it grow.The old saying is that the corn needs to be “knee high by the 4th of July”. From what I am seeing, much of it will be, although some of the folks that I talked to this weekend said that they have hardly been able to get in the fields at all. I have a cousin that farms our ground over in Illinois and he hasn't been able to get much done because they have had a lot more rain than we have. If he doesn’t get a corn crop in soon, he’ll have to plant beans I guess.

I’m having a bad day with my leg and ankle. The nerves are just constantly flaring and firing and it is quite painful. Also, the muscle above the Achilles Tendon is sore to the touch. I don’t know what is going on with it. I have called my surgeon and he will see me tomorrow morning bright and early. The leg and ankle continues to be swollen and ice really doesn’t help it much at all. I can do my therapy exercises okay but walking has become more problematic. I’m hoping this is all “just part of the healing process. But then, if it is —- it sucks!! I’m concerned about heading out for this vacation. I know the leg-and ankle are going to swell on the flight which won’t be fun. But, I’ll have three days in Vegas to keep is propped up in my hotel room or on a stool at a penny slot machine. Them well be at Heather’s for four days and I’ll be sitting in their back patio most of the time. It’s all good.

Today is my last day with my neurosurgeon for my back. I’m assuming he is going to release me but who knows. It isn’t like he has done anything for me. If anyone ever wants a recommendation about this guy they won’t get anything favorable from me. I’ll be glad to be rid of him. I guess in all fairness, he did what he thought was the best treatment for me which was to let it heal naturally which is what it seems t have done. I guess I expected a little more “hands on” treatment. He hasn’t as much as even looked at the area or felt it. But, I certainly don’t want any unneeded surgery and God is he perfect healer.

Enough for today. Time to hit the shower and get cleaned up for my doctor’s appointment. I pray you will have a blessed day. Reach out and call someone you haven’t talked to for awhile. You might be the brightest part of their day. Peace.

Happy day after Memorial Day. I hope you have made it home safely from wherever you might have gone. We had a good weekend. I went to two graduation parties for high school graduates that I confirmed at church four years ago. Now they are ready to head to college and enjoy the next phase of their life. Time, like a river, just rolls on.It ws aa joy getting to see all of the folks from my former parish aand visit with them for awhile and catch up on their lives. We do love the folks up there.

Ms. Kate and I worked too hard yesterday. We decided to try to move some of the furniture back to its original place and get the family room back in order. The first thing we tackled was the couch. It took us 45 minutes of pushing, shoving, grunting, and even lifting that heavy thing. But, we got it done. Then we put down an area rug and carried in the coffee table. The problem with the couch is that it was about six inches or so too long to fit through the angles we needed it to. It doesn’t fold and walls don’t move. LOL. In the end, the only solution was to lift one end, which neither of us is supposed to do, and the do some more shoving. But —- Ta-daaaaa! The rest of the moving will be a breeze by comparison. It is great to see the family room starting to look quasi-normal again.

The wrens are busy again this morning and are singing their little hearts out. I think it must be mating and nesting time because they are gathering material and flying off. So far this morning the wrens and finches are my most prominent guests. Many of the feeders are empty again so at some point today I will need to fill them.

I have physical therapy again this morning at 11:20. Then we need to go out to AAA and pick up the latest maps for Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia and the Norfolk & Virginia Beach area. Ms. Kate and I have a lot to do this week to get ready for our vacation. But, I am so excited about this vacation. I think there will be 16 of us at the family reunion. Josh’s family aren’t able to make it but he will be there. Having all my girls and their hubbies and the grandchildren in one place is just so very special. I wish we could afford to do it more often than every two years. With the family spread coast to coast it is just seemingly impossible, and the fact is that the grandkids are growing and will be on their own before long. Jon is the last one to graduate from high school. Sigh.

Shower time and I got to see what I can maybe do to ease the pain in the foot. So, you go have yourself a most wonderful day. Stay in touch with God. God will certainly stay in touch with you if you will just stop and listen. Peace.

Memorial Day has arrived and I think it is going to be a hot one. But that means it will be the first day “official day of summer” too. The swimming pools will open, millions of people will be it on the highways, BBQ grills will be lit from one end of the nation to the other. My prayer this morning is hat each and everyone celebrating this holiday will be safe. Ms. Kate and I will stay home for most of the day. We are invited to a high school graduation party this afternoon and will probably attend that. It is for a young man that I confirmed at my last parish. He was two years old when I first met him and now he is getting ready to head off to college, — Amazing.

My Backyard Buffet entertainment is interesting this morning. There are a few birds at the feeders but they aren't my entertainment today. I have a couple of wrens that are hopping around and flitting everywhere, especially in and out of the potted planters. I don’t know what it is about the planters that draws them to them. But they obviously find something to eat in there or they use the potted soil to go build their nests. But they are a joy to watch and listen to as they sit and sing. Then, — there is the robin that has been running around all over the back yard chasing down wires and bugs. It rained a “gully-was her” yesterday so the earth worms are just under the surface and the robin is taking vantage of the situation. And finally, the baby bunnies are back. Every year a momma rabbit makes a nest under the lilies and hs her bunnies. Today they have come out of hiding and are running here and there exploring the new world. It is such a joy to sit here and watch all of this as I have my coffee.

Well, the worship service was as predicted yesterday —- very thin congregation. But the setting was beautiful out there in the woodland chapel. It was only about 75 degrees and the breeze coming through the trees kept everything very comfortable. The rain and the storms held off until the afternoon which made it perfect too. Pastor Art gave a good sermon and talked about some of the history of our denomination. I’m sure that all of the people that were absent probably had a good time too but they missed a good worship service.

This is going to be a very busy week as Ms. Kate and I get ready to go on our vacation. We have aa lot of things to take care of and interspersed in there are doctor’s appointments and physical therapy. We are traveling coast to coast in the next three weeks and we haven’t done that in many years. BUt — we’ll “git er done”.

Have a pleasant Memorial Day. I hope you get to spend some of it with people you love, and I also hope you take time to be grateful for the sacrifice so many have given to keep this nation free. Today is not about hotdogs and beer and a day off of work. Today is about honor and sacrifice. Peace.

A blessed Memorial Day Weekend Saturday to you. It is sunny and 74 degrees already this morning and is going to be  “typical” (what ever that means anymore) Memorial Day weather which means hot and humid. But, it is a great change from all of the rain that we have been having. I refuse to complain about our rain though as so many people across the country are in the middle of storms and tornadoes and flooding. It has been a disastrous week for millions of people. I ask you to join me in prayers for relief and comfort for all of those folks.

Yesterday morning I had my physical therapy. I had a different therapist and she gave me some different exercises to do. I didn’t have any problem with any of them which is a good thing. Next week is my final visit with my neurosurgeon for my back. I expect he will release me. So far all he has done is have me get X-rays and read them and tell me to wait and see what happens. At first he mentioned surgery and stuff but I think it has healed on its own. I have some minor problems with it but most of that has just come with age. It certainly isn’t as strong as it was and I have a problem lifting as much as I used to, but there are work arounds for most everything. I bought a 40# bag of birdseed yesterday and had a little trouble picking that up. Today I have to move it from the car to the shed. And, —- I think next week will be my last physical therapy. At least, it is the last I have scheduled. I’ll be gone for three weeks on vacation but they may want me to come back in for final evaluation when I get back.

After PT yesterday I went to the John Deere dealer to pick up my spark plug and fuel filter for my “backyard” John Deere. It quit the other day  and wouldn’t restart after I put gas in it. So yesterday I changed out the spark plug and it started on first crank. I still need to change out the fuel filter but that can wait until I get back from vacation. Maybe by then I’ll be able to get up and down easier from the ground.

My Backyard Buffet guests this morning are mostly wrens and Goldfinches There is a beautiful cardinal sitting over on one of the feeders and the sun is hitting him just right to make him glisten. It is a beautiful sight. I was watching a robin this morning hopping around in the yard It found a night crawler for its breakfast and seemed almost overwhelmed by it. He would peck at it and it seemed to almost attack him as it tried to crawl away. If was funny to watch as the robin would jump back and then go at it again.

That’s it for today. I pray your holiday will be full of love and friendship. Take time to give thanks for all of the brave people that have died in defense of our nation to preserve the freedom that we have. Take time to give thanks to God for the freedom that comes with having a strong relationship with Jesus Christ. Have a blessed day.

How does time keep slipping by me and how did I not write on Tuesday and Wednesday. Well, actually I guess I have been a bit busy. Tuesday of course was Physical Therapy in the morning, followed my taking Ms. Kate out to lunch. Then a short hop over to the grocery store for a couple of things and then home and then it was late in the day and nap time. By then I was ready to put my foot up. My therapist told me that I need to be putting my foot up above my heart for awhile each day to help with the swelling. So, I have stacked some pillows up on the couch and lay down there for about an hour. I also learned on Tuesday that I was “walking wrong” which adds to my back ache and ankle pain. I had not realized that I was walking with my foot pointed out instead of straight head. She mentioned it first thing Tuesday and I have been concentrating on keeping it forward ever since. It has made a difference. So, thank you Ms. Jennifer.

Yesterday was office hours and staff meeting with Art and Karen. I did some putzing around the house, had lunch and laid down with my foot up again. I got a new book in the mail yesterday that I had ordered and I started reading that. It is a very well written book called “Strenuous Commands: the Ethic of Jesus.” I read about a fourth of it yesterday and will go back to it again today.

Today is “new case day” for my computer game “Criminal Case”. So I started my morning off playing that and then my Bingo Bash game. After that I came out to the sunporch and put it back in order. We’ve barely been able to move around in here with furniture shoved here and there to facilitate my getting in and out. I had the folks come and get my wheelchair and now we are ready to put the family room back together again. Life has pretty much returned to normal around here. My accident and recovery has sure caused a lot of inconvenience. I’m still hobbling around and using my cane but that is minor by comparison. I even was able to take the seat out of the shower and put it away. Sometime today, I hope to get the remainder of the potted plants moved from the Sunporch out onto the patio. It is supposed to rain some more this afternoon and all of the pots are fairly dry and need water. I wanted to let them dry out so I could lift them easier.

Ms. Kate hasn’t been feeling wel for the past couple of days. We think it is her diverticulitis flaring up again. So, put her in your prayer plan. Have a blessed day.

Happy Monday afternoon. It is almost Monday evening. I’, not sure what the cut off is between afternoon and evening, do you? The 5:00 pm news hasn’t come on yet so I guess it is still afternoon.

I had my office hours this morning and I got a lot of work done. I finished up the June 30th sermon and worship service I was working on. That makes me very happy because now I’m all set to go on vacation. I have all of my reports and work done so I won’t owe anything to the secretary while I’m gone.

After I came home from the office Ms. Kate and I sat around here for a bit and decided that we could take our naps early today since we were up at 0600 for no reason. Once we woke up from naps, (30 minutes later) we decided to go out for lunch because she needed some cabbage to make soup. We went to Cheddars because I have been hungry for their onion rings. Now we are back home and I’m in the sun porch and she is watching a You Tube do on making greeting cards. The news will be starting in a few minutes and I’ll jump off and watch that. Just wanted to make contactand let you know that all is well. Have a great evening. Peace.

The knockout roses are beautiful this morning as they glisten in the sunshine. I have a couple of older ones in the flowerbed here in the back yard and they really need to be rimmed back some but I hate to go cutting off any of the blooms at this point. We have several smaller ones in the same bed that we have started from snipping off small branches and planting them. Under cloche jars over the winter. However, none of them have ever really done much. I may just pull them up and throw them away.  Some where, some how, we need to come up with more flowerbed space because I have to split the lilies and the peonies again this year. The work just never ends when you raise flower beds and that only complicates as we get older.

So, I’m sitting here in the Sunporch listening to one of my favorite albums and watching the wrens. I’ve told you I love to listen to Southern Gospel music. In fact that is about I listen to. I go through different groups but in one way or another they come down to being part of the Gaither Homecoming Gospel music. For awhile I was listening to The Talley Trio and I still do, but my new favorite and most played is the Collingsworth Family. They are a family of six; mom and dad, three daughters and a son. Their voices blend together so well and they create a deep rich harmony. Dad and his son sing tenor, mom and one daughter are altos, and the other two girls are soprano. Most of their music is more upbeat than a lot of the other southern gospel that I hear. I’m telling you this because in case you are looking for some good southern gospel, I highly recommend finding a Collingsworth Family album. I just usually watch them on YouTube.

Ms. Kate and I got the tomatoes and the okra planted yesterday. Maybe doing the hoeing yesterday is the reason my ankle gave me fits all night. But, I’m glad to get that stuff planted. Today I need to clean out one of these flower pots on the back patio and put some fresh dirt in them and plant some geraniums that Ms. Kate bought through the church in support of Weekday Christian Education. I also need to jump on the John Deere’s and do my mowing.Ms. Kate is doing laundry today so we have plenty to do. It is going to be a hot day.

It is Saturday so I’ll give out another reminder that tomorrow is a day of worship. Take time to give God praise and glory. Peace.

Good Friday morning! It is sunny and beautiful outside. It is already seventy-four and going upto eighty eight today. The farmers are loving these I’m starting my morning here at the Backyard Buffet which by the way, I still need to refill. Oh, there is still plenty of food out there, Just ask the old fat squirrel that is sitting on the feeder on the south edge of the yard. BUt, my up and close feeders are empty so I don’t get the benefit of having my guests up front where I can atch them.

I’m doing pretty well this morning, my ankle was swollen pretty good last evening but that hs subsided pretty well by this morning. Of course, as soon as I start hobbling around on it, it will swell up again. That is just the way of things right now. It is my fault, — I don’t ice it enough, in fact hardly ever. I kind of just rely on it to subside when I take the time to sit down and put my feet up in my recliner.

I can’t spend the whole day just sitting around with my feet up though. There is outside work to be done and I need to get busy doing some of it. I planned on planting my tomato plants yesterday and planting my okra but I didn’t get to it. Part of the problem was that my friend Bob called and said he had extra asparagus and wanted to give us some. So, we took off and drove up to his house. By the time we got back I was ready to give in to the ankle and sit down for the evening. This dang thing sure is aa limiter on whatI can and can’t do. I tend to push it too much and then I have to pay for it. So today, I will get the tomato plants in the ground and I will get the okra seeds planted.

I haven’t seen my hummingbirds come back. They were here three weeks ago and we filled the feeder for them but I haven’t seen them since. But this morning, I have aa couple of wrens out here that are very entertaining. I think wrens may be my favorite bird. They are so quick and so cute and animated with their actions.

Okay, it is time to get moving for the day. It is the beginning of a weekend and I hope you have time to enjoy yourself. Use the time wisely and don’t forget to take the time to stop everything and give God praise and glory. Peace.

Happy Thursday once again, The weeks just keep rolling along don't they? Peopel often ask the question; "Where did the time go?" Well, it passed when you were eating breakfast, or going to work, or reading a book of spending time on your computer. Time passing is like watching a river from a distance; there is no sound, but you can almost see the motion and it is an endless flow. How's that for your deep thought for this morning? I wonder what rabbit trail in my mind that came from. I think I'll post that on facebook and see who answers. I do that a lot.

It is nice to be able to sit here in the morning and write my blog. These days every morning has something on the calendar. I either have to go to therapy, or go to the office or go to church for a service. Today my therapy isn't until 12:20 so I'm taking advantage of the relaxing time. So far I just have had my coffee, taken my medicine and played my Criminal Case game on both my laptop and my IPad, and had some more coffee. Ms. Kate is back in her office playing her morning computer games too. It's kind of what we do in the morning. It is still a little cool to sit in the sunporch.

I've been working on getting sermons done ahead of time. I'm in the middle of my June 30th sermon at the moment. Then I can relax for awhile and take my vacations and not worry about having to work while I'm on vacation, nor will I have to rush to do anything when I return.

After I finish with my therapy today I think I will come home and try to maybe clear off some of the garden area and plant my okra seed and I also have four tomato plants that I want to put in the ground.  I'm not sure I'll be able to do it because of the ankle but I'm going to give it a try. The sun is shining finally and I think the temperature will get up to about eighty three today. That would be wonderful to be outside and do some work and get a little sunshine version of Vitamin C on my face. I might also decide to break up a bunch more of the sticks and limbs that I have stacked out there and bag them up for the trash man. I also need to fill some bird feeders again. So, we'll just have to see how long the ank;e holds out todaay. I was very pleased last evening when I took my shoe and sock ff to note that my foot and ankle were the least swollen they have been since the accident. I still get a lot of topical pain with it. The nerve endigs continually are fireing and it is like being touched with a hot match or something. I assume that is all going to pass too.

I guess that is enough for today, I think I'll read a little of the book I'm working on and check the sun porch for warmth and watch my guests fight out in the backyard buffet.  You go have yourself a wonderful day. Peace.

Tuesday afternoon and it is a cool one. It also smells heavenly here i the sunporch. Ms. Kate has been telling me for sometime that something smelled really good and I just wasn’t catching it. Well, now I have. We have an orange tree in a pot here on the porch and it is blooming. It is wonderful. We bought this tree when we were in Florida maybe three years ago and it was about a foot tall. Now it is at least five feet tall and is going to be a bear to move out on the patio, but I am thrilled that it is blooming. Now, I wonder if it will actually put on an orange?

Mother’s Day came and went. Julie come over by herself, not even the pups were with her. It was a wonderful visit. We didn’t go out for lunch because we knew that every place i town old be packed. Besides, we all went out Friday evening to a really nice place for dinner. So, Ms. Kate cooked up a wonderful meal for us.

Yesterday I did my normal office hours and then had to go back for the church council meeting last night. I had expected that the meeting might be a bit tense because of an issue one of the parishioners had with a sermon that I had given but, it appears that the issue is solved.

Today was a great day at the doctor’s office. I had my physical therapy first thing this morning and then I had the follow-up for my ankle. The doctor has released me from having to wear my boot, use a walker, wear compression sock, nor do I really need my wheelchair anymore. I have moved most of my work stuff back down to my desk in the basement and have begun working from there again. This afternoon we took a cane and walker that we had borrowed from Karen back to her. This feels so good. The ankle still hurts , of course, but tat is mainly just from walking. It will get better and my therapy will help all of that. I don’t have to go back to see my doctor until July 2nd, and so far, my therapy will end at the end of May. Vacation here we come. God be praised for my healing.

Have a great day my friends. I already have had.

Good morning sunporch, good morning cardinals and finches and yes, even a good morning to you Starling. It’s great to be back out here watching you and enjoying your company. It has been so long since I actually filled the feeders that the buffet isn’t getting a lot of guests just yet. But, they will. It was tough getting some of the feeders down and then back up again. I would drive the JD over to a feeder, stand up on it as best I could without falling off of the JD and take the feeder down. Then I took the feeder to Ms. Kate who filled it and I’d take the feeder back to its spot. Of course they were much heavier putting the back and I would have to try to kneel on the seat of the JD. It wasn't pretty, nor was it actually very safe in the least, but we managed to get them done. So, the fact that there aren’t a lot of guests out there is fine for the moment because each days is another day to heal. Maybe by the time I have to fill them again I’ll be walking much better. I didn’t get to fill some of the feeders because I have to use a ladder to do so.

I had physical therapy again yesterday and it went well. I don’t go back until Tuesday. That is aalso the day that I have my follow-up with Dr. Richardson to determine whether I’m out of the boot or not. Actually I’m not wearing it right now while I sit here in my recliner. I’ve been doing my therapy exercises and I have to take it off when I do those.

I’ve made it to the basement! Last night I went down and watched my new TV. I am thrilled with the TV and I’m thrilled to be able to make it down to the basement. I think today I will take some of the stuff I’ve ben using at my make-shift desk and move it back down stairs. It was so good to sit in front of my computer with the 21 inch monitor screen. If I can get that stuff put away we can start putting the house back together. Both of us may start to feel normal again. I has been a very long three. Months and this isn’t over yet by a long shot. One step at a time.

The weekend is here and Julie is coming over to have Mother’s Day with her mom. I love that they decided to move to IN. Y’all have aa blessed weekend.

Thursday afternoon and I just had my nap in the sun porch. Ms. Kate took hers in the family room because she thought it was a bit cool out here. It is seventy three outside but it is also cloudy. We had rain and storms predicted for all da day but so far we have been spared anything at all. That is fine by me.

Yesterday we went to the church for Bible study and then my morning staff meeting. After that we went to lunch. We didn’t do much in the afternoon and about seven pm I decided that I wanted a DQ blizzard and I also decided that it was time I tried to go on y own. My truck has been sitting out there on the street since before my accident so I decided to walk down to it and take it for a change. I grabbed a cane and went to the truck only to find out tat the battery was dead as it could be. So, I had to hobble back up to the house and I took Ms. Kate’s car.

This morning I had to go to Physical Therapy so Ms. Kate and I did that. Then we went by the bank and picked up some money to take on our vacation. In the meantime, Dan called me and asked if I wanted him to go out and jump my truck battery and let it run for awhile. I told him yes and when we got home, he was sitting there with it running. I got in it and he and I went to Raben’s and got a new battery for the truck. $162.00 later I was on the road. I can’t complain. The truck is eleven years old and that is the original battery in it. I only have 42K miles on the truck and it should last me for many years yet.

Today I had a brand new “ta-da”. I took my first shower totally standing up. That might not sound like a biggie to ya’ but to me it is major. My therapy is going well and  I do most of my walking around the house anyway, without even a cane. Tonight, I intend to go down stairs and watch my new television for the first time.

That’s it. Oh, and yesterday-we filled a bunch of the birdfeeders. My birds are happy with me once again. Life is getting back to normal. God is good!!! Peace.

Welcome to another new week. I hope your weekend was filled with good things. Our Saturday was another rainy day; (I'm so tired of rain) and we didn't do much of anything. I worked on writing my monthly pastor's report for the council and I did some sermon work. I now have June 2nd done and have started on the June 23rd worship service. I'm getting to the point I want to get to before we leave on vacation. 

Sunday, of course, was cuch day and we had seventy-two for worship. That's a good number although I did notice there were a few people out on vacation. Ms. Kate and I were surprised to see one of our folks from St. Lucas UCC come for worship with us. He had driven almost two hours to get here. It was wonderful to visit with him and worship with him again.

The weather was absolutely perfect yesterdy and the ground had dried out enough that I could mow yesterday afternon. So I jumped on the "backyard" John Deere and knocked that out in about ten minutes. Then I went to the garage and got on the "front-yard" John Deere and mowed our front yard, Purdy's front yard, and Dan's front yard. Dan's back yard is a lost cause because of all of the water he gets in his yard. He's going to need some major work done back there because his backyard is a swamp. Even when I mowed on the hill part of that yard I was leaving tracks. So, I told him, and he absolutely agrees, that I won't take my John Deere in there anymore. I also don't mow Purdy's back yard because they have a lot of stuff back there that I wouls have to mow around.

I took my boot off again last night to sleep. It felt wonderful. Tomorrow I start my physical therapy with the foot and I'm supposed to be able to put full weight on it beginning tomorrow. I think I have been already putting more weight on it than the doctor recommended, but who knows what half weight even means. I'm using walker and cane for everything now and I'm getting arund very well. The boot chafes the injury sight and I will be glad to get rid of that too. I told Ms. Kate that I think that maybe by next week, I will be able to start driving to places by myself. I can put my cane, and walker if need be, in the truck and she can finally quit having to accompany me everywhere I go. She said she had thought that it was about time that I could do that too. Of course --- that also means that I hope to be able to take the stairs to the basement too and finaly, after three months, get to wtch y new television, and do my office work down there. I would really like to be able to have our house back in order before we jaunt off on our vacations.

That's enough for today. I pray you will have a wonderful week. Stay in touch with God. Peace.

What is up with all this rain??? It has been raining on and off for days and current predictions are for a lot more next week. I really feel for our farmers because they can’t get out into the fields to plant. Most of the folks I now would have had most of their planting done by now but they just can’t get there. The crops are really going to be late this year and there is a good chance they won’t produce well. So, I’ll ask you to pray for our farmers because we need them to feed the nation and frankly, much of the world.

Two new accomplishments with my recovery. Yesterday Ms. Kate took down the ramp that goes into the sun porch. I’m using just a cane and holding on to the door handle to get out there. I also put our second walker out there to grab on to after I’m out there to get to the chair. Secondly, last night I took off my “boot” and just used the compression sock on my leg to sleep in.  It felt marvelous, although I was a bit concerned. I had asked the doctor about taking the boot off at night and he had said “no” because he wanted the foot to remain at a 90 degrees angle. But, the boot has been chaffing my surgery sight and made it extremely tender. But, I took a chance and it felt so very good. I put the boot back on first thing this morning. Another problem I’m facing is that the knee on my current gimp leg is starting to go out. It clicks constantly and I have some pain when I start using the leg. I really do not want to go through knee replacement on top of this injury.

Tomorrow is Sunday and it is my week to preach. I’m all ready. Folks will I think be surprised when I actually put on my robe and walk down the aisle to the pulpit. It will be another “new “ thing that I haven’t been able to do since the accident. I have had such overwhelming support through this thing so I know they will celebrate with me.

Since tomorrow is Sunday, I hope you will the the opportunity to attend your house of worship. God has provided for you all week and we owe it to God to knowledge that and give God praise for it Havee a wonderful weekend. Peace.

Another cloudy day has arrived. Unfortunately I had a necessary call at 0615 and that woke me up enough to not go back to sleep. So, I’ve been up for quite awhile already. Yes, I know many of you got up early every day and you trundle off to work but I don’t except for a couple of days a week. And, even on those days hat I do have to work,, 0730 is an early rise .

More firsts in my post accident life. I know they may not be exciting to you but they are just small signs of my improvement and progress so you get to hear about them whether you want to or not. LOL. Today I was able to stand while I dried myself after my shower and didn’t have to hold on to anything for balance. I’m getting steadier on my feet now that I am able to put at least half of my weight in the leg. That means I don’t have to drag a towel along with me to the bedroom to sit down and then dry myself off. That is a major accomplishment in my book. Secondly, I was able to get my leg up enough to put my compression sock on by myself. That gives me one more self reliance accomplishment. Thirdly, I made it down my ramp from the family room to the sun porch using my walker. I had been a little hesitant about trying that because I didn’t now how steady I would be on that grade. But —- I made it just fine. I really hope that by next week I will be able to take the ramp up and go down those two steps using a cane. The biggest drawback at the moment is that there is no handrail to hold on to.

So, all of the above has now allowed me to sit in the sun porch while I writ this blog this morning. For the first time in many, many days and weeks, it really is “Notes from the Sun Porch”. That too feels wonderful.

Ms. kate and I went to Walmart yesterday. Or, I guess I should she went to Walmart. I didn’t go in, I just sat in the car. I knew I would be zero help wit the shopping and it would be a lot more walking than I was ready to try. They very seldom have any of the battery operated carts available and if they do theydon’t have any charge left in them.

OK, I’m out of here I gotta go get a hair cut. Have a great day.

Rain, and thunder are the hallmarks  of the morning on the Thursday morning Yesterday was such a beautiful  day and now this again. The saying is, “April showers ring May flowers”. Well, April is over and it is May, so a little dry weather would be appreciated now. Actually, we have lots and lots of May flowers blooming in the yard. The azaleas are are blooming beautifully. The Blue bels are blooming, the iris are starting to pop everywhere and the peonies are full of buds, and a couple of them have bloomed already. My yard looks wonderful. And —— it looks even better since I can get out there in it and mow. I got my front yard mowed along with Dan’s and Jeff and Theresa’s on Monday afternoon, I think it was.

Tuesday, as you know, was liberation day for the leg. I got the cast off of the leg and am now back in my boot. The great news is that I can put half weight on the leg and I can walk.  I’m limited to no more than an hour of walking a day for the first week. So, I figure that getting back and forth from my temporary desk in the family room to the bathroom, to the kitchen, to the bedroom accounts for much of my allotted walking time. Yesterday I probably over-did it, especially for the first full day on my leg.

Yesterday we went with the senior folks of the church to a restuarant about ninety miles from here call The Overlook. It sits high on aa bluff overlooking the Ohio River. It was a great outing and the first that Ms. Kate and I have had since my accident.  Before we went, we stopped and bought a set of wheels for the front of my walker and some easy glide fittings for the rear legs of the walker. While we were at the restaurant I needed to use the rest room and it was a long walk from our table there and back. I was worn out. But, I can not express how good it feels to be walking in any capacity again. I have put “Trigger”, my knee scooter out in the sun porch and am strictly using “Willy Walker” for my transportation. I still use my wheelchair for some things though.

I am to be on the limited walking at half weight for a week.. Then, on Tuesday of next week, I start rehabilitation on the ankle to start strengthening and stretching it. I can also start using full weight on it next Tuesday. My doctor said that in two weeks he hopes to take me out of the boot and put me in some sort of ankle brace, (I think) and back into my shoe. By then, I hope to be using nothing more than a cane to help steady me. I’m improving on using stairs and should be able to take the ramp out of the sunporch. I’m already using the steps in the garage to get up and down.

Well, you are caught up on my saga. I just want to say again —- God is so good. Yes, the doctor did the surgery but God guided the hands and brought forth the healing. So, thanks to the doctors, nurses, and the therapists, but —- all glory goes to God. Have a blessed day.