Author: ladypbwiggins

The 7th Month and Then…..

by ladypbwiggins

October 28th marks the end of the 7th month of our health journey; the one that began with my husband’s cardiac arrest in our bathroom. Seven is the number of completion. The seventh day God rested.This month has not been restful but as I compare it to the first six, yes it has.

Many things have changed in these last 7 months.

  • Carl has lost about 100 lbs. He is no longer considered obese.
  • We are more committed to eating a cleaner, nutritious diet.
  • I have learned more about the Kaiser Permanente System than I ever hoped to know.
  • I have learned some medical protocols that we all need to know.
  • I have learned just how much power an insistent advocate has; especially one whose on God’s team.
  • A car accident resulted in a new, more functional vehicle.  Romans 8:28
  • We have learned who our real friends are.
  • We have learned the meaning of Malachi 3:
    • “Good measure, pressed down, shaken together shall men (women) give into your bosom.”
  • Most of all, we have learned many lessons about God’s faithfulness. 

As October 28th approaches, my thoughts go to the prayers for October 29th, the 8th month. Eight is the number of new beginnings. So what is my desire for the 8th month,

  • The good work that God has begun to continue.
    • I desire complete healing for my husband.
    • I desire God’s revelation of His plan for our new lives.
      • I know this experience was not just for us to learn. There must be a greater purpose.
    • I desire a financial opportunity enveloped in that plan.
  • I desire leisure time with my husband. A trip to Santa Barbara or Carmel would be lovely.
  • I desire NO doctor visits that are not routine checkups for either of us. No hospital stays.

The 8th month will provide an awesome Thanksgiving. We have so much for which to be thankful. I think I will begin now.

Thank You

To All who have supported us with your prayers, dinners, rides, and finances.

To All the doctors, nurses, and therapists who have helped us and taught me.

To Eagles Wings Christian Church family.

To our personal family.

To my God.

Who has sheltered us, protected us, and kept us.

Psalm 91

Changed!

by ladypbwiggins

The last 7 months have been a life changing experience. It has not only changed Carl and I, but you. Yes, you. Who are You?   “You” live in three groups.

Group 1

You who

  1.  Walked with us through this fire journey with us.
  2. Believed God in spite of what you saw.

Group 2

You who

  1. Prayed but lacked faith that they would be answered.
  2. Thought I had lost my mind and all sense of reasoning but stood with me anyway.

Group 3

You who

  1. Watched on the sidelines
  2. Thought Group 1 and 2 were crazy but hoped we were right.

How have you changed? I don’t know but you do.

I suspect whatever group you are in, your faith in God has increased.

I suspect you believe the impossible is more possible than you did before.

You are permanently changed!

Daughter-in-law, Daughter-In-Love

by ladypbwiggins

I was talking to a lady the other day about our children and their spouses. She had just met my son and daughter in law. We continued our conversation after they left. She then told me a situation that happened with her husband. In a conversation she introduced her son-in-law as her son. Her husband corrected her and she said he is my son-in-love. Our daughter chose to love him. We have grown to love him. He is a a choice to love. I call him my son, my son-in-love. I liked that.

I love my daughter-in-law. She is our daughter. She is our daughter-in-love.

The Doctors Said

by ladypbwiggins

The Doctors said he wouldn’t live. He did.

The Doctors said he wouldn’t remember. He does, more everyday.

The Doctors said he wouldn’t walk again. He is, farther everyday.

The Doctors said….

Don’t get me wrong. Doctors have their usefulness. However, they are not the last word.

Whose report will you believe? The Doctors’ or God’s.

When Passion Dies

by ladypbwiggins

When Passion Dies

A loss

Your self Missing

In Action

Like arid desert roaming

One drop mirage to satisfy.

Interest, joy, purpose

locked away in the dark vault of

Not forgotten.

When Passion dies

Dreams die

Don’t let your Dreams die.

Fulfill them..

During The Five Months

by ladypbwiggins

I learned

  • What it really meant to walk by “faith and not by sight.” So often we spout those words so piously and we do not understand the depth that they take you or at least that was my experience. Often we have faith as long as we can think of a few options on our own just in case God takes too long. In these 5 months I had no options of my own. The doctors were not sure what was causing his tachycardia. Very few understood my hope of his healing mentally and physically. Most thought I was in denial and delusional. But I knew what God did that night and what it meant.
  • That others would NOT understand and you might very well have to walk this journey alone.
  • That blessings and support would come from the most unexpected places and unexpected ways.
  • To question everything the doctors do. Research procedures and medications. Insert myself into their rounds. Demand explanations. Know what the drugs are, what they do and the side effects. It is your right and responsibility.
  • The more specialized a doctor or department is the less likely they will communicate with other doctors unless you demand it.
  • To LISTEN very carefully.
  • To document what I heard. I must confess I learned to apply that later than I should have but do it.
  • More about Kaiser Permenente  system than I every thought I would need.
  • God’s timing is perfect but not mine.
  • How to be peaceful in a storm.
  • What is important in life. My God, my loved ones. The rest is fluff and fill to make our lives more comfortable and enjoyable.
  • To expectantly watch God work.
  • To learn

Many of these lessons I am still learning but this experience has changed me. I don’t know how God is going to use what we have gone through but I know it was not for us alone. Waiting expectantly.

Five Months Ago Tonight

by ladypbwiggins

Five  months ago tonight, March 27, my husband flat-lined.

Five months ago tonight I faced the loss of my best friend and love.

Five months ago tonight I prayed if it is his time take him or heal him. I don’t want him to suffer.

Five months ago tonight I spent the night in emergency.

Five months ago tonight I began a painful, terrifying, horrific, rewarding journey.

Five months ago tonight I began to learn to trust what God said rather than what I saw.

Five months ago tonight I believe God answered my prayer by breathing life into Carl.

The scripture that came to me was Psalm 91 and therein I believed lay my promise.

Psalm 91:14-16 (ESV)
14  “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him; I will protect him, because he knows my name.
15  When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him.
16  With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Here we are five months later and he is back in the hospital but things are so very different.

God is still fulfilling that promise in very interesting ways.

God is Masterfully orchestrating our lives.

Versatile Bloggers Award

by ladypbwiggins

 Pam B. Newberry, nominated me for the Versatal Blogging Award. I thanked Pam but I didn’t complete the other requirements. I was consumed with my husband’s hospital adventures. So here are the rules and the 10 bloggers that I recommend.

Here are the rules of the Versatile Blogging Award:

  1. Thank and link to the blogger who nominated you.
  2. Share ten random facts about yourself.
  3. Nominate ten more bloggers who are fairly new to blogging.

Here are ten random facts about me!

  1. I hate to cook so my kitchen is called my nutrition based chemistry lab.
  2. I am too random to label.
  3. Driving at night (long distance) is relaxing
  4. Dabble in poetry
  5. Enjoy dramatic TV
  6. Very private which makes doing this so hard
  7. Forest green, persimmon or purple make me warm and fuzzy
  8. Vegetarianism is beginning to look quite appealing
  9. Love different music genres
  10. Think I have a style sense but I think I misplaced it.

Versatile bloggers I nominate are:

  1. Visionariekind
  2. shunpwrites
  3. tableandcork.wordpress.com
  4. Cooking without Limits

  5. Gluten Free Jess

  6. The World Through My Eyes

  7. Mariposaoro’s Blog

  8. Farewell My Manicure!

  9. Grubbs n Critters

  10. Deanne’s World

Discover the richness of these bloggers thoughts for yourself. My randomness might bias your opinion. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. Some are very new tome and others have followed for a few months.

Blessed Blogging

Pat