The last few months have been full of stories and blessings, I could write for hours about all the details but I don't quite have time for it and I assume you wouldn't have time to read it all anyway! So I am going to bring up the main points of the last few months.
I had jaw surgery on my left wisdom tooth site in December, and I returned to St. Louis for a check up to see if the infection was all removed. The infection had been removed however I now had infection in the right wisdom tooth site, so we scheduled the surgery in February. The second surgery was much more difficult than the first. Before surgery my lymph node in the back of my neck swelled up and was causing a lot of pain, this was a sign of the infection. This among other reasons made for a difficult recovery. When I finally got the stitches out it still looked infected and I actually wasn't able to open my mouth fully for at least a week after the stitches were removed where with the first surgery I could open it fully with the stitches in. I go in for my next check up to see if the infection is all removed in a few weeks and would love your prayers that the surgery would have been successful and these surgeries are behind me.
One thing I did not expect from jaw surgery was that it would provide a gateway of healing for my hand. After a year of struggle and lack of mobility I can not only flatten my hand on a table but I can also raise my ring finer an inch above the surface!!! This has been a beautiful example to me of how intricately and perfectly the Lord made us.
"For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb, I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well." ~Psalm 139:13-14
I began physical therapy and have been thriving! I am currently taking time off of going in for therapy and working on designated exercises at home to strengthen my weakest muscles and will go in for check ups to monitor my progress. I am also able to walk much further than I remember walking in a few years! It has been such a blessing with the warmer weather to go out and walk, it provides such sweet fellowship with the Lord and friends.
Towards the end of March I had my Level III Placement. This is a full time teachers schedule for a week in a school, I was at Woodside Middle School with Seventh grade geography/social studies. This placement is a taste of student teaching, we take on a teacher schedule and get as involved as we can. I had the opportunity to teach a full day as well as teach other parts of lessons.
For the last few months I coated the week of my Level III Placement in prayer. I was still having difficulty with early mornings let alone early mornings and long days. But I trusted Gods timing and was waiting to see how He would provide. The result: God answered every one of my prayers far more than I could have imagined through this week! I was assigned to a wonderful placement teacher who was very welcoming, encouraging, and teachable and I loved my time with her! I had no difficulties waking up early and only recall one moment in the whole week that I was a little nauseous. How the Lord blessed this time! I am still getting up at 6:50 without an alarm clock every morning and feeling pretty good all day! This is making my life far more productive, that's for sure!
This March my family was able to take a get away to Walker Minnesota and stay at Chase on the Lake. We had a delightful time being together and relaxing. While we were there we also went cross-country skiing, had our own little bowling alley, went snowmobiling, and spent many evenings in the hot tub!
Here is my parents; Doug and Kelli at the bowling alley
Tera, Aaron and I at the bowling alley
Aaron, Tera, and I cross-country skiing...which is far more difficult in Minnesota than the gentle rolling hills of Iowa so if you go you have been forewarned!
We had a wonderful time together and are looking forward for our summer vacation together!
Lastly, my birthday has just passed and I would like to give credit to all of my friends and family. The last day of my placement was also my birthday I was given two bouquets of flowers; one from my parents and another from my roommate and dear friend Katelyn. These were a surprise sent to me at Woodside and made me feel dearly loved. I also was made a cake and given a card from the teachers who I had worked with for the week, something so sweet I never would have guessed or expected it!
Heres the beautiful flowers I was given, my desk was very decorated and beautiful the last day!
On top of all that I received tons of happy birthday wishes from my friends, all this combined made this my favorite birthday yet! I am so thankful for the people the Lord has placed in my life and how He is so good at loving me through them. Thank you all for your support and friendship!
"Delight yourself in the Lord; and He will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord, trust also in Him, and He will do it." ~Psalm 37:4-5
Prayer Requests:
*That my check up in St. Louis would be successful and there would be no more infection
*I have been getting nauseous this week from food, I would love prayer that the nausea would subside and I would be able to eat a health amount.
Update: Dr. P. is still in Iowa and has not had his court date yet but it is looking like he may be able to stay. Please keep him in you prayers.
