Kidney Stones

Drat and bother. I get these kidney stone attacks about every 5 or 6 years. I am right on schedule. The pain started right after Christmas, but I knew just how to layer Tylenol and Advil to control the pain, plus hugging a hot water bottle helps tremendously. As long as you keep on top of it and drink gallons of water, you can stay ahead of the game.

Of all the things to have been blessed with from my father, this would not have been my first choice. I will hang on until the holidays are over, then call my primary because I don't even have a urologist in this area yet. Meanwhile, drink, drink, drink, drink, drink, drink . . .

12 Days of Christmas

On each day of Christmas, the gift I gave to Christ was ~

1 heartfelt prayer (for world peace)
2 bags of food (for the food pantry)
3 handmade scarves (for the needy children in downtown Rochester)
4 prayer quilts (given to children in the hospital)
5 shoebox gifts (for poor children around the world)
6 volunteer hours (in the soup kitchen)
7 packs of tampons (for the women’s shelter)
8 quiet moments (with those who are grieving)
9 Christmas carols (sung in the nursing home)
10 pairs of socks (for the men’s shelter)
11 lighted candles (in memory of loved ones)
12 hands held (in the cancer support group)

May God be pleased with such as these.

Catching Up

There are certain members of my family that I have not spoken to for awhile because I know that once we start talking, it will be a 4 hour conversation. I always feel badly when I see their number come up on my phone and I ignore it. It's nothing personal, just that I rarely have time and energy at once to handle a 4 hour conversation, as enticing as the idea may be.

Once again I find myself reduced to determining the "when" for these activities, and I have decided that this lull between semesters is an excellent time to catch up with my siblings. Each day I determine to call one person and talk as long as they want to. I clear the time with them ahead of the day so that they will also have a clear calendar to chat with no interruptions.

I set up with a glass of water, a box of tissues and an empty bladder. I call the number. We are delighted to hear each other's voices. We have no difficulty plunging in to a prolonged conversation. This works quite well. I loved catching up with news and chewing on philosophical issues and discussing the touchy politics and religion topics. It was wonderful.

Now all I need are a few more between semester breaks!