Bye, Little Laptop!

 

Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. ~Matthew 24:3

Pictured here is my hard-wired computer.  It sits atop an antique drafting table which my father secures for me when, then a biology professor at Emory University, he finds out that the department plans to toss them before the building is renovated.  I'm thrilled to have it, but never in my wildest dreams could I have envisioned something from the early 20th century being home for a 21st century tech wonder.

I used to have a tall chair to match the unusual height of the desk, but when I read that it's better to stand at your computer while surfing the web, we ditch it.  That set up works well for a time as Danny gets me a cushy pad to stand on.

Sadly, though, after my bout with pneumonia in early 2022, I find it nearly impossible to stand for long comfortably.  That's when my little Chrome laptop comes to the rescue.

She's been my go-to partner ever since, especially when I need to read a plethora of blogs or muddle through emails.  And even before that, this little gem would travel with us on our holiday trips and frequent visits to my mother's before she passed away.

Last Friday morning, it's business as usual when I notice that the laptop needs some juice.  I place it on tope of our printer where its charging cable is readily accessible and plug it in.  But when I check the indicator light that tells me it's powering up, I'm met with darkness.  Bordering on the definition of what Einstein called insanity, I unplug and plug it up again.  Nothing.  Nada.  Zilch.  It seems this poor overworked baby has finally given up the ghost.

This is not a time to panic.  I remember that Danny has a much newer laptop which he rarely uses, bought for the same reasons a mine is originally.  I know he won't mind if I use it during those times when I'm not in the standing mood.

It takes Danny the better part of the afternoon to set up his laptop so I can reach the sites I normally visit, but he's my computer wizard.  He actually enjoys doing things just like this and boy, am I ever grateful!

This laptop is definitely larger than the little one I was using, and the keyboard feels more natural and responsive when I type on it.  It's a wonderful upgrade from my beloved little gal whom I will miss, but I know I'll enjoy using my new-to-me model.

This experience serves to remind me that nothing in this world lasts forever.  Our very bodies will eventually wear out, just like my dear little laptop.  But the words of Jesus will resonate long after the earth and the heavens have passed away, and He will be with our souls for eternity.

Amen!

Goodness and Mercy

 

Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy. ~Psalm 28:6

Since his release from the hospital on July 11th, Danny continues to heal from his illness precipitated by the prolonged use of the drug, Amiodarone.  I'm overjoyed by the progress he's making in such a short period of time, and Danny's optimistic about a full recovery down the road.

The Lord has more than certainly heard our cries for mercy in these recent days, and has poured out His grace in abundant ways.

There is one obstacle, however, that casts a shadow on our elation.  Because the doctors have placed Danny on steroids to assist with the healing, it, ironically, compromises his immune system.  He's advised not to be where there are crowds as he could be adversely affected by contagions others might carry.

I never thought I'd ever say anything good about the effects of the Covid plague, but I will state this:  It trains Danny to use Instacart like a seasoned pro!  Just this week, he orders items from both Costco and Whole Foods and both are successfully delivered.  When we have to make the trek to our local Publix, I go into the store with a list while Danny waits in the car, the a/c cranked, where he can stay cool and isolated from the masses.  I'm mindful when I return to the car to promptly use hand sanitizer.  So far, so good!

What makes us saddest about this whole situation, though, is being isolated from our church family.  If Danny had not fallen ill, this past Sunday would have been one of our scheduled services to lead praise songs.  There are also two important events happening at our church in the next two weeks that we would love to attend, but aren't able to.  We know everyone understands the pickle we're in, but that doesn't change our desire to be there with and for everyone we love.

How long will Danny have to be under quarantine?  His doctor advises until at least the third week in August.  In the meantime, he will continue to wean off of the steroids as the weeks roll on.  That's such a good thing, not only because of the immunity issues, but also because steroids can raise glucose numbers if eating isn't closely monitored.  Yes, Danny does the finger prick several times per day to get his readings.

Considering the condition Danny is in at the time he enters the hospital and the condition he is in now, we can't thank and praise the Lord enough for this miraculous recovery.  Your heartfelt prayers have certainly been heard, and acted upon, by our loving Father in heaven.

May we faithfully praise the Lord's goodness and mercy every day we draw breath.

Amen!

What Are the Odds?

 

Jesus looked at them and said, "With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible." ~Matthew 19:26

Several weeks back Danny notices that one of our backgammon dice is slightly nicked on a corner.  That might seem like an insignificant issue, but any imperfection can affect how a die rolls on the playing board.  He decides to order new dice sets for us.  Mind you, these aren't just any old run-of-the-mill dice, but the very type used in world-wide backgammon championship tournaments.  Talk about upping our game!

We notice right away that the dice will do things we've never witnessed in our previous sets.  We can roll them as usual but at times, one of the other will actually tip up on a barely perceptible edge of a corner and stay there.  Quite the balancing act!  But the photo in the header takes the cake.

No, I don't stage these dice for photo drama.  These are exactly how they land, one neatly stacked on top of the other.  Amazed, I grab my cell phone to document this phenomenon to testify to the truth of what has impossibly happened.  Neither Danny nor I have ever seen anything to match such a stunt in all the years we've played backgammon.

What are the odds of that?  Just being a millimeter off would have made all the difference.

This past weekend marks the anniversary of the infamous assassination attempt made on President Trump in Butler, Pennsylvania.  As those moments of uncertainty and dread are relived on the news, the undeniable truth becomes abundantly clear.

Because Donald Trump turns his head slightly, with intentions to focus the crowd on a huge chart depicting the drop in illegal border crossings during his last tenure a shot intended to end his life only grazes his ear.

A split second between life and death.

A millimeter of a difference.

How is it even possible that the shooter fails to hit his target?  He has training, experience, opportunity.  By human logic, he shouldn't have missed.

But God.

During those appallingly anxious moments, my first reaction is shock followed immediately by prayer.  My mind races back to memories of previous, gut-wrenching assassinations in our country's past.  In light of those outcomes, my heart fears the worst, and yet, still beats with hope as tears flow unchecked.

And then, the miracle!!!  President Trump is on his feet, his fist pumping the air, blood streaming down his face.  He's not just alive, he's full of life and fight.  What are the odds of that?

What more and more people, including Trump himself, have come to realize since that horrible day is that the God who makes the impossible possible intervenes at precisely the right place and the right time.  In spite of the many in this nation who disavow Him, the Lord still envisions this country as His shining city on a hill, and continually and lovingly calls us back to Himself.

My prayer, today and every day, is that all people in this nation will confess their sins, repent, and commit themselves, heart, soul, mind, and strength, to the One who always knows the odds.

And if we do, I'd say our odds couldn't be better.

Amen!

Too Blessed to be Stressed

 

The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. ~James 5:16

Our Fourth of July weekend is not at all what we expect.  For several days, Danny is dealing with an intermittent cough that simply refuses to go away.  When he spikes a fever last Thursday, we know he has to address this issue pronto.

Son, Nicco, to the rescue!  He promptly drives over and takes Danny to a reliable urgent care just north of us.  The doctor on duty determines that the next step should be a visit to the emergency room.  Danny and Nicco decide that the Piedmont ER in Jasper, GA, probably won't be a madhouse this close to the holiday, and though it's a 40-mile drive, it's much less congested than it would be if they head downtown to the main Piedmont hospital.

Imagine my surprise when, in the wee hours of the morning, I discover that Danny is back home and in bed!  What???  I think that at least the hospital would have kept him overnight for observation, especially when the doctor he sees says his pneumonia-like symptoms are triggered by a medication, Amiodarone, that Danny has been taking ever since the pacemaker incident in January of 2024.

Yes, the doc makes the wrong call.

The very next day, July 4th, sees a lather and repeat.  But this time, Nicco takes Danny downtown where he can see doctors with whom he is familiar, and who know his medical history on a more personal level.  His cardio surgeon's PA takes him off that insidious "A" drug, secures the necessary breathing treatments, and prescribes a more substantive medicine for his cough.  To top it all off, the pulmonologist with whom Danny has a scheduled check up the next week, drops in for his assessment, so that nixes the need for keeping that appointment!

But here's the biggest surprise of all.  Danny's oldest son, Giovanni, shows up unannounced at the hospital!!!  Here are the two guys clowning around.

Having his boys with him does wonders in lifting Danny's spirits and gives him the encouragement he needs to keep on keeping on.

So much so, that Danny sends me a meme on Sunday morning stating the same phrase as is featured in the title and header of this post.  How it makes my heart sing, even though it will be quite some time before we can literally return to singing together at church.

I attend our church solo that day.  Lots of prayers are said and so many folks who know and love Danny are praying for his healing, which we trust will happen in God's time.  Would all of you, dear readers, pray for Danny, too?  I trust that all your sincere prayers to our loving Father on Danny's behalf will all be powerful and effective.

And truth be told, each and every one of us who know and love the Lord are too blessed to be stressed.

Amen!

I write the draft for this post today on Sunday afternoon.  Here is the medical update on Monday from the doctors back on a regular schedule.  Danny will remain in the hospital through next weekend.  When he is discharged, he will most likely have to be on oxygen for a while.  The damage from the Amiodarone is not to be taken lightly.  He's been advised that it could take months for him to truly get over this.  Continued prayers for Danny and our family are so very much appreciated.  And while you're at it, please remember and pray for all the victims in the horrid flash floods in Texas over the weekend.  I can't even imagine the hurt and grief these families are enduring right now, but God does.