I am\u00c2\u00a0putting a lot of effort into thinking positive thoughts.\u00c2\u00a0 Though I have missed the comfort and joys of home and family—not to mention Laurel’s dance recital and today’s swim meet, but I’ll get over that, someday– I’ve just realized that since coming to rehab I have experienced\u00c2\u00a0 an unrecognized and heretofor unappreciated serenity.\u00c2\u00a0Who expects that in rehab?\u00c2\u00a0 And yet, it is as real as the 23 staples that hold my incision together.<\/p>\n Laurel lining up for her first event<\/p><\/div>\n My bad knee has been replaced with a good one, my therapist is making it work, the nurses monitor all aspects of my health, the CNA’s are at my beck and call, my family and friends\u00c2\u00a0 have smothered me with love, visits, calls, cards, flowers\u00c2\u00a0and prayers.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 How could I not be serene?<\/p>\n This realization came to me today. Having just completed my third and last therapy session of the day, I\u00c2\u00a0 stretched out on my hospital bed to\u00c2\u00a0relax for a few moments.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 The lavender booklet, next to the roses in the photo, caught my eye so I perused the contents.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0It was sent to me by my\u00c2\u00a0dearly loved\u00c2\u00a0Aunt Rheeta, who lives in Indiana.<\/p>\n The\u00c2\u00a0presentation is very feminine, which is to be expected with the title Women and God, Moments of Grace, 25 Devotions<\/em>.\u00c2\u00a0 It opens with some detailed advice on making a good pot of tea and a recipe for vanilla scones, then begins the devotions, each built on a “tea\/ty” concept such as beauty (beau-tea), identity, heredity, modesty, creativity, productivity…you get the picture.\u00c2\u00a0<\/p>\n The premise is to make yourself a cup of tea and enjoy the daily devotion.\u00c2\u00a0 Each includes a definition of the word, an illustrative anecdote and a supporting scripture.\u00c2\u00a0 After a thoughtful read,\u00c2\u00a0my suspicions \u00c2\u00a0have been confirmed.\u00c2\u00a0 I am serene.<\/p>\n As I look at my assortment of goodies, pictured above, I cannot help but grin.\u00c2\u00a0 With Alastair’s newly framed 15 month portrait,\u00c2\u00a0 zinnias and rudbeckias from Trish’s garden, my newly arrived book from Amazon, The Well Trained Mind,\u00c2\u00a0 A Guide to Classical Education,<\/strong><\/em>\u00c2\u00a0 get well cards, roses from Bob for our 42nd anniversary AND my fabulous new English from the Roots Up <\/strong><\/em>\u00c2\u00a0(Latin and Greek root words) flashcards,\u00c2\u00a0 I am all set.\u00c2\u00a0 Add to this picture the Jon-Jon I am smocking for Alastair and powerful \u00c2\u00a0pain pills—well, you can see that serene and contented is all I can be.<\/p>\n I wish the same for you.~~~~~~~~~~~~~~<\/p>\n Post Script:\u00c2\u00a0 Last year, Laurel placed 5th out of 6 at her first swim \u00c2\u00a0meet.\u00c2\u00a0 David, the boy next door, swaggered up to her and pointed out that he had placed second, better than she.\u00c2\u00a0\u00c2\u00a0 Laurel looked right at him and replied, “Well, 5 is a bigger number than 2 so I beat you!”\u00c2\u00a0 We did not disabuse her of this reckoning.\u00c2\u00a0 This year, however, she knows full well about ordinal numbers and how that all works.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" day #14 post op serenity: the state of calmness or peace; the absence of trouble or disturbance I am\u00c2\u00a0putting a lot of effort into thinking positive thoughts.\u00c2\u00a0 Though I have missed the comfort and joys of home and family—not to … Continue reading ![\"\"](\"http:\/\/www.janicefergusonsews.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/06\/flowers.jpg\" "\\"therapythoughtsSereni~teaflowers\\"")
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