Blessings

I generally like to not post much about my family, but since some of you are feeling low this Christmas- with some very good reasons- I thought I'd share with you why I am not.

About two weeks ago my mother fell backwards down the basement steps. She is on coumadin (an anticlotting medication) for a heart condition which predisposes her to strokes and other nifty issues. In falling, she cracked open her head in back and started bleeding. As bad luck would have it, my father was away from the house on some errand. A few years back my folks had decided to put a phone in the basement, which is unfinished, just in case an emergency arose, and after she collected herself (she doesn't know if she lost consciousness or was just dazed) she was able to dial 911. My mother always keeps the front door locked when she is in the house by herself but on this day, she left it open. The rescue squad came right quickly, were able to get into the house, found her in the basement, and got her loaded up when they couldn't stabilize her. About that time my dad came home to find her getting in the process of being transported to the hospital, IVs running like mad because her blood pressure was dangerously low and she was bleeding like stink. Scalp wounds always bleed, but when you are not clotting normally, it is a holy mess. In the ER, they were able to staple her scalp and get that under control, but her pressure still wouldn't come up, so they admitted her. Over the next two days her blood count kept falling; she was bleeding into her tissues; her entire back one massive bruise. They did a CAT scan to see if she was bleeding internally and she wasn't. She was transfused which helped her clot besides giving her some red cells and on day three she was able to go home, tired and bruised and in pain, but home.

This has been a year of some really great moments for me, and I have shared some of those with you. There have been times that have been not so grand too, and I generally keep those to myself, not because I mind hearing about your troubles, but I don't reckon you need to hear about mine. But I will tell you, I feel pretty blessed all in all when it comes down to the important stuff, and I am ready to celebrate the birth of my Savior- you may not know him, but I do. Praise God from whom all blessings flow. Have a Happy Christmas.

The Christmas Cactus

This Christmas cactus belonged to my grandmother and was a fixture in her house for as long as I can remember. When she died, my mother took possession of it and eventually handed it on to me. It has been split about four times and many starts have come off it over the years. Two years ago it was looking rather sickly and so my father and I replanted it, a rather large undertaking. It is looking better this year than it has for many years. Regardless of how it has looked, it has bloomed faithfully and abundantly every year that I have had it. It is on a sun porch facing south. I turn it every month or so. I love plants, but I particularly love this one for the connection it has to my grandmother.