WINGS and SELF CARE

 October 26, 2021

One of the ways I practice self-care is I take pictures. What? yes, it is self-care. Taking my camera with me helps me see the beauty, reminds me to look at what is right there around me. I take too many photos but I don't care. Taking the photos makes me so happy, it is worth every one of them. It just fills me with gratitude to see the beauty in the world.

In July we were staying in a cabin on an island in a lake with our kids and grands for a week. One morning, my husband and I were out in the kayaks and we found these turkey vultures perched in the upper branches of the island apparently drying their wings. I was stunned by the honor to see it. What fun to have my camera with me so I could capture it and then today finally get around to sharing it with you. What beautiful creatures turkey vultures are! and oh how they can soar! 

Wings are for flying and for soaring. And our wings need care. I wonder if I do what is necessary to keep my wings ready to fly, not real ones of course but the wings of my heart and soul. What self care might be needed to make sure I am ready for flight? What daily routines might create a better environment for me to soar? 

Perhaps, just taking the photograph is a good start? Perhaps.

I invite you to let yourself enjoy the beauty that you see and then let that lift your heart to soaring. Or to do something else that lifts your heart. Let's fly!

Let's enjoy the moment while we can!

praying for more self-care and wings! Love, Jules  

KNEE UPDATE:

 October 6, 2021

WHAT HAPPENED TO MY KNEE?: On Saturday, September 18, Pete and I were cleaning house, preparing for a party at our house the next day. Pete was vacuuming the bathroom. I was rushing about hiding clutter. In my effort to be quick, I stopped paying attention to my feet and tripped over the vacuum cleaner power cord, falling hard on my knees on the wood floor of our music room.

My right knee took the brunt of the fall. We went to the emergency room that night and 5 hours later had only the news from them that they "saw no breaks" on the x-ray. They sent me home with a knee brace and encouragement to stay off it until it felt better. Well it didn't feel better. The pain kept waking me up at night. so I went to urgent care the following  Thursday and got referred from there to an orthopedist.

TO UPDATE ON THE KNEE INJURY: I saw the orthepedist on Wednesday, September 29th. He did a quick exam and sent me off for more xrays. And sure enough, there actually was a crack. I have a longitudinal fracture in my knee cap. That explained the pain I had been having. In a way it was great news to me. I had been imagining a torn ligament somewhere that might put me in surgery. Instead, all I have is a fracture that will heal, likely in 4 to 6 weeks time. I am able to use it and even bear weight as I feel comfortable.

My knee has been improving daily. I no longer need crutches  but I still wear a brace most of the time. On Monday, i walked around the block with Pete hanging on to me. It felt good. Yesterday I walked around 2 blocks. It felt okay. I am on the path to healing and am certain all will be well with my knee eventually.

Unfortunately, my upper back hurts and has been bothering me for awhile. that may also be a side effect of falling and maybe it too, will improve with time. Prayers for that.

SIDE EFFECTS UPDATE: my lymphedema is still there a bit but hasn't flared up in a long time. I am happy with that. my neuropathy in my feet and fingertips continues. Nothing I have tried seems to make any different ot the neuropathy. Sigh. More prayers for that.

Sigh! I miss my feet. I'm a barefoot girl from the beginning. I love being able to feel with my feet and now half that is missing and i can't be barefoot so much. I miss my feet so much.

And then there's my knees. I'm learning my knees are about more than kneeling or walking stairs. The knee is one of the main centers of our movement. All the tendons and muscles and bones connect right there. The knee is the heart of the leg. If it is in pain, we don't move so well, we wonder how to take the path. I am grateful for all my knees are able to bear and able to provide for me.