Wowie wow wow! What a crazy couple of weeks it's been. This experience has been the hardest of my life, and yet I can't bring myself to feel anything but grateful for it. That isn't to say that I'm glad Jason's got a broken elbow, only that already the blessings have outweighed the difficulty.
Anyway, let me catch y'all up. Jason fell last Wednesday, and we spent three days in the hospital while the doctors scheduled, cancelled, and rescheduled his surgery to put his elbow back together. Those were some loooonnnng days and I was exhausted to the point of tears by 8 o'clock, despite doing nothing but sit by Jason's bedside all day. They were finally able to get him into surgery on Saturday morning and we came home that night.
I'd thought that those first few days in the hospital were only the tip of the iceberg and that we were in for months of misery and exhaustion, but this past week has proven me wrong. Yes, there's a lot of stress and long hours at work, and while Jason can actually take care of himself really well he still needs my help with simple tasks like tying his shoes. At first, I thought it all was going to be more than I could handle, but I was so wrong.
Part of it is because we have experienced an overwhelming outpouring of love from friends, family and neighbors. In the hospital we had visits from so many people who care about us. The nurses commented on how popular Jason was, and I had an endless stream of text messages from people checking on Jason and wanting to know how he was doing. My grandparents, halfway around the world on their second mission, sent Jason several emails to cheer him up and let him know he was being prayed for. Once we got home from the hospital, a family in our ward brought us dinner, Jason's mom drove all the way up to our house to take him to lunch so he could get out of the house, and my mom brought us grocery bags filled with food Jason can make with one hand when I'm not home. All week I've talked to people who have let me know we've been in their thoughts and prayers.
This has also been such a humbling experience for us. It's cliche to say it but you really don't understand the sanctity and fleetingness of life until it's almost gone. This whole thing could have gone a totally different way. I could have spent these weeks planning a funeral but instead I've been given another chance to savor every minute I get to spend with my best friend. I don't take that blessing lightly and neither does he.
I saw this video last semester, and you don't have to watch the whole thing if you don't want to, but I would recommend it. The part that sticks with me is right at the beginning when the narrator reminds us that each and every day is a gift, and the only appropriate response to that gift is gratefulness.
So I'm grateful. I'm grateful that Jason didn't break his leg as well as his arm, grateful that we've been so well cared for, grateful that we have good friends who are looking out for us, grateful that we have the gospel of Jesus Christ, grateful that there's so many temples around and that I have friends who will go with me, grateful for the peace and reassurance that I find there. I'm grateful that this experience has provided the springboard for us to reunite with some of Jason's family that he hasn't seen or talked to in years, grateful that he was able to go to the homecoming of his mission president last Sunday and that we were able to spend the weekend enjoying being outside together, roasting hot dogs and watching a spectacular firework show. I'm grateful that he's still here with me, that we are still able to have the future together we've envisioned. And most of all, I'm grateful for this trial of our lives, because it has taught me gratitude.
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| I'm putting this picture in solely because when I share blog posts on Facebook it shares the first picture in the post, and I didn't think my next picture would recommend the post very well. Anyway. :) |
Anyway, let me catch y'all up. Jason fell last Wednesday, and we spent three days in the hospital while the doctors scheduled, cancelled, and rescheduled his surgery to put his elbow back together. Those were some loooonnnng days and I was exhausted to the point of tears by 8 o'clock, despite doing nothing but sit by Jason's bedside all day. They were finally able to get him into surgery on Saturday morning and we came home that night.
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| Not really sure if this totally applies because as tired as I was I still cared about what was happening, but I thought it was funny so here you go. |
I'd thought that those first few days in the hospital were only the tip of the iceberg and that we were in for months of misery and exhaustion, but this past week has proven me wrong. Yes, there's a lot of stress and long hours at work, and while Jason can actually take care of himself really well he still needs my help with simple tasks like tying his shoes. At first, I thought it all was going to be more than I could handle, but I was so wrong.
Part of it is because we have experienced an overwhelming outpouring of love from friends, family and neighbors. In the hospital we had visits from so many people who care about us. The nurses commented on how popular Jason was, and I had an endless stream of text messages from people checking on Jason and wanting to know how he was doing. My grandparents, halfway around the world on their second mission, sent Jason several emails to cheer him up and let him know he was being prayed for. Once we got home from the hospital, a family in our ward brought us dinner, Jason's mom drove all the way up to our house to take him to lunch so he could get out of the house, and my mom brought us grocery bags filled with food Jason can make with one hand when I'm not home. All week I've talked to people who have let me know we've been in their thoughts and prayers.
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| You might think this is just an innocent package of ramen... but did you try opening it with one hand? |
This has also been such a humbling experience for us. It's cliche to say it but you really don't understand the sanctity and fleetingness of life until it's almost gone. This whole thing could have gone a totally different way. I could have spent these weeks planning a funeral but instead I've been given another chance to savor every minute I get to spend with my best friend. I don't take that blessing lightly and neither does he.
I saw this video last semester, and you don't have to watch the whole thing if you don't want to, but I would recommend it. The part that sticks with me is right at the beginning when the narrator reminds us that each and every day is a gift, and the only appropriate response to that gift is gratefulness.
So I'm grateful. I'm grateful that Jason didn't break his leg as well as his arm, grateful that we've been so well cared for, grateful that we have good friends who are looking out for us, grateful that we have the gospel of Jesus Christ, grateful that there's so many temples around and that I have friends who will go with me, grateful for the peace and reassurance that I find there. I'm grateful that this experience has provided the springboard for us to reunite with some of Jason's family that he hasn't seen or talked to in years, grateful that he was able to go to the homecoming of his mission president last Sunday and that we were able to spend the weekend enjoying being outside together, roasting hot dogs and watching a spectacular firework show. I'm grateful that he's still here with me, that we are still able to have the future together we've envisioned. And most of all, I'm grateful for this trial of our lives, because it has taught me gratitude.
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| If you haven't been to see the Mapleton Firework Show before I would highly recommend going. This will be a new tradition for us I think. |
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