The Revealing.....

Today was "Remove the Dressing" Day, here at our place. I removed layer after layer of the dressing until it was just my own arm and the steristrips that have to stay on until Sunday. My arm has been sore and really stiff today since it is on its own now without many padded layers =)







After many attempts with photobucket, these pictures just won't load the right side up to blogger! Oh well!

World Wide Prayer

Tonight we had our last prayer meeting for our 3-day Global Bridegroom Fast, which we do at the beginning of every month. Each Wednesday of the GBF we focus our prayer meeting on the globe! I love expanding our intercession beyond Winnipeg and Canada sometimes!

Tonight we covered off places like Pakistan, North Korea, Nepal, the USA, Israel, and the Middle East. It's like you get to travel in the spirit when you pray for so many places around the globe in a corporate setting. My prayers for these places are just as effective sitting in a living room in Canada than if they were my country of residence.

Jesus, pour out Your Spirit on the whole wide world!

Water.

We were without it when we woke up this morning.

Went to the in-laws' to shower.

You simply need running water when you're hosting a prayer meeting....especially when one of the 15 is pregnant=)

It's amazing the little things we love and don't realize that we need so much until they are gone for a time. Like hands and water.

My husband awoke me from a deep sleep. I was dreaming away. In reality we had the surprise visit of two lovely visitors. In my foggy, sleep-affected brain, I gave them parting words of encouragement....

"Sometimes there's hope!"

I didn't realize that it wasn't perfect advice until all three responded in a funny way and blamed it on my sleepy mind!
In reality there is always hope!

Made it out of the house today....

Other than a meeting on Friday, I haven't left the house since returning from the hospital on Thursday. It's Sunday today, and I got out! And I'm feeling quite a lot better than I felt the last two days!

Nothing much to say today.....

Yucky...

I had a super rough night, which meant Shane did too. I hardly slept at all, or so it felt. I hacked all night, resulting in giving myself a headache, sore muscles, a sore throat and a disappearing voice. I tossed and turned, had a 2am dose of cough syrup, then a 6am dose of Tylenol and finally rest a little until 11:30am.

At 1pm it was back to bed where I slept the best yet, even though still disturbed at times with my cough and my wrist. I stayed sleeping until I dragged myself out of bed at 4:30pm. I could have stayed in bed a while longer.

I'm still in my pjs, my hair is gross but why worry about it when I'm headed back to bed in a little while?

Shane's been super helpful and kind. It's amazing how many small tasks require two hands. We definitely can take the blessing of two working hands for granted when we don't have to function any other way. It's kind hard to button up your jeans (though I'm getting better at it!), put toothpaste on your toothbrush, open a jar or letter and it's impossible to attempt a ponytail without two hands!

On the outside I'm in rough shape, but on the inside I'm feeling encouraged and feel the nearness and comfort of the One whose love is better than wine!

A Few Thoughts....

My sister is wonderful. She came over with slurpees and a good movie and made us a yummy supper! So sweet!

T3s seem to wake me up instead of make me sleepy. The arm is a little sore but really doing very good! The fever has not returned but the cough is nasty and it's playing a toll on my voice.

The familiar smell of fish is wafting under our door again. Who cooks fish at 10pm?

The wrist still feels good but.......

The rest of me doesn't feel so hot. Well, that's not true. I am hot. 38.3 degrees hot. I think I'm a little sick other than my wrist.

Nothing tylenol, fluids and a cool cloth can't fix!

Surgery is complete!

I'm back home and so far feel great! The combo of the peace that passes understanding, prayer and fentanyl worked like a dream for me! I feel really good! I felt really peaceful throughout the surgery and in recovery.

I was awake and alert throughout the procedure, asking the surgeon questions. I got to watch the whole thing on the camera screen! I think the inside of my wrist resembles an aquarium! I also got in to surgery 45 minutes early, so that was really nice!

I DON'T NEED ANY OTHER SURGERY OR A FUSION!!!!! YIPPEE! THANK-YOU LORD!

A neat note is that there isn't a tear in the ligament after all! So, there was a possibility all along that the MRI picture wasn't totally correct because at that time the ganglion was in the way. But, there is also the possibility that it was there and isn't now because of the healing hand of the Lord! I like that option!

My ligament is a little stretched so there was something not quite right, but hopefully a look around and a flush of the area will be the last thing I needed and hopefully the pain will go away for good!

Thanks for all your prayers! They totally work! Continue to pray that I'm pain-free as the freezing starts to wear off and as I recover in the next few weeks.


It's almost the size of my head!


My beautiful bandage


"What happened to you?" "I had a run-in with a bear. He's looking worse."


Does one side look a little bigger to you, or is it just me?

....the countdown in on!

I have 35 minutes left to eat or drink! Nothing to eat tomorrow isn't that big a deal. But, nothing to drink for 15-16 hours is a big deal to me! I'm going to be parched! And I'm sure the breathe won't be pleasant! Lovely thought to leave you with!

To the fridge I go!

I'm having surgery tomorrow....

Shane and I went to see the surgeon this morning. Everything is arranged for a scope tomorrow afternoon at 1:30pm. Dr. Turner is going in with a little camera. There are going to be 4 very small incisions, around my old scar. Supposedly this is going to be more painful, recovery-wise, than my ganglion removal in August. Yuck! He never gave me a prescription last time and this time he told me to fill the T3 prescription beforehand. So we did and they are in the cupboard. Hopefully I won't have to use them!

I have a few options for how much I want to be aware of what is going on. Some are super anxious and get put to sleep. Others just get a little sedated and sleepy. Others stay awake because their arm is frozen and supposedly they don't feel anything anyways.

I was prepared for the sedation. But, now I find out that if I stay awake and alert, I get to watch the scope on the screen and can see what he's doing inside my wrist! That sounds like something I might enjoy! So, we'll see what tomorrow brings.

I still am hoping and praying for a supernatural healing before 1:30 tomorrow afternoon. Shane and I prayed for my wrist in the office while we were waiting this morning. Unfortunately the scar did not disappear, but I'm trusting that God knows exactly what is going on. This issue will not last one extra day than what He allows.

So, I ask for your prayers in the next few days, and especially tomorrow. We are to arrive at the hospital at 11:30am and my OR is slated for 1:30pm for an hour. Continue to pray for supernatural healing. Pray for wisdom and skill for Dr. Turner. Pray for peace, comfort and protection for myself. Pray for the removal of all pain. Pray that the cause of the pain is easily found and solved, without any more surgeries necessary!

We'll keep you informed! Thanks for your prayers! They really matter!

HELLO 2008!!!

I love the beginning of a new year! 2008, here we come!

Another bump on the head for 2007....

My poor Shane who is still suffering the effects of a concussion 2 weeks and 2 days ago, hit his head again today. He slipped on the stairs and hit the back of his head on the wall of our apartment stairwell. Oh boy!

Needless to say, all our New Year's plans have been canceled for tonight. He couldn't even handle the blinds being open earlier in the day because of the light.

I'm going to get him a slurpee, fill him with advil extra-strength migraine relief pills and continue to pray over him. My hubbie who usually doesn't do any caffeine after 4pm is asking for a slurpee, over and over. So, I gotta run and get one!

Happy New Year!

The Statistics of 2007...the good, the bad and the ugly.


The main theme of 2007 really has been issues related to my physical body, especially my wrist.

The Not-So-Good....
- I had 32 visits to the doctor, 35 visits to physiotherapy or occupational therapy, 6 acupuncture treatments, 4 massages for my wrist specifically, 5 dentist visits and 1 trip to the eye doctor!
- I had 1 gastroscopy, 1 surgery to remove a ganglion and 1 MRI.
- I got my first crown at the dentist...yuck!
- The appointments related to my health to both offices and hospitals total at 86 visits this year. That averages 1.65 appointments each and every week of 2007. I hope to never beat this record! (This doesn't include any of Shane's doctor's visits or specialist appointments that I've gone with him to)
- I've been seen by a total of 9 doctors this year, ranging from family docs to surgeons.
- Because of my wrist injury, I've worked a part of 58 days out of 365 this year=(
- My adorable foster brother left my mom's home after 3 and a half years with our family. It was really sad and hard...
- We attended 1 funeral this year.
- My parents got officially divorced and my dad started a new relationship this year...not so easy on the family.

The Better or Good....
- Because of my wrist, I've made it to Sanctuary every Sunday this year except for 4.
- The 4 Sundays I missed I was in Kansas City 3 times and Toronto with my sister once.
- I've got to be a regular part of the Song of Solomon team which would have been different if I was working all that shift work.
- I've made it to 9 staff meetings (Shane and Brian staff meetings) =) And dropped in on a few more.
- I was a part of Sanctuary's first internship from August 2006 to June 12, 2007.
- We celebrated our 3rd anniversary on June 12, with a week-long celebration!
- I've got to see a lot more friends and family than I would have normally.
- I went to 2 hotels this year (in Winnipeg with the family and in Toronto with my sis)
- I've made it to countless prayer meetings in 2007!
- I delivered 2 babies in 2007!...within the 5 days before I went off work way back in February.
- We did 2 more rounds of Omega.
- I spend 2 weekends at Rock Lake with family and friends this summer and went camping on another.
- We attended only 1 wedding this year!
- A number of friends and family were pregnant or had babies this year.
- I became an auntie on December 10 to my beautiful niece!
- I turned 25 this year...a quarter of a century!
- I took my first round of voice lessons.
- We hosted our first onething Winnipeg!
- All our debt (van and school) was paid off by supernatural provision! $25,000!!!!
- And as of yesterday, I preached my first Sunday service sermon!

Probably the most special part of 2007 and the time I've had has been my time with Shane and my time with Jesus. It has been a special time for our marriage. When again will we have the honor of studying, reading and praying as a daily occupation, alone and together in our own home? It really has been special. I know it won't always be exactly this way, nor would I want that but I have cherished this time. It has been a gift in so many heart-related ways.

I've had the enjoyment of many more hours of time to study different things (Joel, Song of Solomon, End-Times stuff), read books, read the Bible and pray. I have enjoyed and struggled through figuring this schedule out.

Bottom line is that in 2007 I've grown to love Jesus and Shane more and that really matters.

Just because it's becoming a routine....


I don't have much to say tonight, but because I've been such a faithful blogger lately, I just couldn't not blog today! So, here is a little one to keep up the routine.

I preached my first Sunday service message tonight. I talked about Mary of Bethany and her extravagant devotion to Jesus. There is something about hearing yourself say the words of truth and the actual Word of God. I'm sure that the more I say it, the more it will sink down in my heart and become even more alive to me!

Here's to new experiences! All I can say is "Yes, Lord!"!

A new experience before the end of 2007....

I'm going to be preaching tomorrow. I've never preached in a Sunday service context before.

I found out this morning and have felt like a University student all over again, doing something last minute. Remember all those procrastinating evenings when you should have written the paper or studied for the test much earlier but you left it to the last moment?

This isn't exactly the same, as I only got the news this morning, but it does have that last minute crunch time feeling to it. So, I've been sitting in the office at the computer with my books, notes and Bible around me putting something down on paper since I woke up this morning. Sometimes putting the thoughts on paper is the hardest part!

I'm excited at the opportunity and nervous all in one. Who knows what is coming in the future, so I'll take any practice opportunities now, especially with people that I know are safe to learn amongst! I pray that I speak the Word of God and what is on His heart with clarity, accuracy and prophetic insight. That is my prayer for tomorrow's adventure!

Ode to Camillia

With a warm hug and a wave of the hand,
We bless our friend as she travels to a different land,

Though she'll not be gone long, only a quarter of a year,
We will miss her because she won't be near,

She plays those congas like a star,
And generously drives others in her car,

She's faithful to bring cheesecake to any potluck,
She's also the kind of friend to pray you out of the muck,

She's been an important part of what we do,
And if she doesn't return, I'll give her poo!

So we pray blessing and wish you well,
Receive much revelation and come do tell!

The Last Gathering of 2007...

Was last night at my dad's place. Shane and I have 2 more gatherings in the first week of the New Year, but we are officially done for 2007.

Last night, we relaxed, talked, ate a nice Christmas supper, opened presents and told the big picture Christmas story (including the part about the King who is going to rule and reign over the whole world from Jerusalem!). We all got household presents!


My boys!


Ooooo...ham!


Dad and Rose


The sibs!


Our new KitchenAid Mixer! I better get baking!

Happy Boxing Day!

We had a great time with Steph and Shaun yesterday. A day full of sugar, good food, games, movies and a nice brisk walk later in the evening. They spent the night and we slept in this morning and had breakfast together. We're off to Steinbach for Christmas at dad's in about 2 hours.


A beautiful spread of goodies! Along side my new punch bowl!


Shaun's first makeshift stocking!


The reaction of a happy receiver!


Superman!


Enjoying a game of Sequence together


Time for Christmas supper


Matching Christmas socks....thanks to Steph!

Have a relaxing Boxing Day!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!!

Shane and I had a nice time at his folks last night. When we returned home, there was action in the hood. 3 fire trucks and 4 cop cars at one of the buildings in our block. We opened the curtains and watched the activity, of course!

Needless to say, we lost track of time and only went to bed at 2am! Yikes! So, after a sleep-in this morning, we woke up and opened presents! So fun! We started with stockings and then then opened gifts. We did well for each other!


Gotta love the morning look!





We made our family Christmas calls and put the ham in the slow cooker for supper tonight. The morning has felt really relaxing! Exactly what we wanted! Shane's playing playstation and I'm on the computer, sipping Christmas tea from our new mugs (thanks Joel!). Steph and Shaun are joining us for Christmas dinner and spending the night! Tomorrow is the final Christmas gathering (minus the New Year's Day huge gathering) at my dad's place.

Merry Christmas everybody!

Merry Christmas Eve!

I like Christmas Eve....
Tonight we are going to Shane's parents for our usual family Christmas. Yes, we were just there but Saturday was an exception from the norm because most of the family can't make it today. Every other year, we celebrate with them on the 24th. Less people means less noise and more baby-holding time! I got to get a few more holds in before the new year, especially since the little darling is still under my 10 pound wrist restrictions.

Reason being is that I'm having surgery on my wrist next week. Remember me on Thursday afternoon, the 3rd. I'm having a scope where they go into my wrist with little cameras to check what is going on. They will be able to see more accurately than what the MRI showed last May. I'll give more details as the day gets closer.

So, putting surgery woes out of my mind, I'm going to enjoy these days of Christmas with family and friends!

Pictures from Gathering #2 last night!

(Today would be another gathering (#4) but we aren't able to make it!)


Shane with his new niece (he looks good with a baby in his arms!)


Ahhh....so good to hold a baby again! With my good hand!


Shane's Grandpa


Mom and Dad - laughing at the explanation of the regifts!


The family! Including the new addition!

Gathering #2 that we're making it to.....

Otherwise I would title today Gathering #3, but we missed my mom's side's extended family gathering last Sunday.

Today we are going to spend the day with Shane's family. We always spend Christmas Eve with Shane's immediate family, but because hardly anyone could make it that day, this year we made an exception and are getting together with the family today and then still joining his parents, sister and niece on the 24th.

I've been a part of the Farrow Christmas Eve/Christmas Day traditions since the year of 2000 when Shane and I had just started dating. The next year I was adopted into the tradition of getting a stocking! My first ever in 2001 at the Farrows'. I also grew to love the tradition of receiving an ornament each year. Many years before we were married, I would spend the night at his parents' from Christmas Eve to Christmas Day in the spare room because my sweet in-laws-to-be didn't like the idea of me waking up to a lonely house on Christmas.

I became a part of the family early on in our dating relationship! Shane's parents are very special to me and I really appreciate them! Their hospitality, support and faithful hugs at the door are wonderful.

So, Christmas started to look a little different for me in 2000 when Shane entered my life and the traditions of his family followed. My family had always enjoyed evening celebrations on Christmas Eve or another evening. We had no special feelings toward Christmas morning. It didn't mean anything to me.

Well, my husband (who really has a thing for Christmas traditions, even if he wouldn't want to admit it), values somethings that I haven't in the past, Christmas morning celebrations being at the top of the list! So, with a little give-and-take, our Christmases have become quite special.

Some of our Christmas traditions/guidelines:
- first come, first serve in booking the family gatherings
- Christmas Day is reserved only for us (already making traditions for when the little ones come)
- no opening gifts in the evening, now we open gifts Christmas morning and have a nice meal Christmas Day evening (to still have a little of both)
- gifts are given at Christmas....we don't usually give gifts at the other special occasions in the year
- the annual Farrow Christmas party (I've had for the last 8 years!)
- the tree goes up a day or two before the party....we have to put it up and decorate it together!
- Christmas carols are first (and maybe only) heard in our house when the tree is set up (my hubbie doesn't like them at all!)
- the food....mmmmmmm......the traditions with the food are forming!
- stockings are now a must!

So, Christmas looks a little different in my world now than when I was a child, but I like the way we do it. My family still celebrates in the evenings and Shane and I have adopted the tradition of celebrating on Christmas Day morning that is so dear to him! I like it that way! It's special!

Things have been busy!

Well, we returned from our little trip just a week ago today. It's been busy since! I saw our new niece, had supper with the in-laws and celebrated a friend's birthday on Friday. Saturday was Christmas with at my mom's and the day Shane got a concussion. Sunday was Sanctuary. Monday was full with Sanctuary hours and meetings and Girls Day at Pine Ridge Hollow! Tuesday was full of doctors' and physio appointments and nursing Shane's concussion at home. Wednesday held some Christmas shopping activities and a lovely evening with the Heinrichs. Today, we finished Christmas shopping and are having a nice night at home, relaxing together.

My poor husband hit his head on the back door of the van when we arrived at our Christmas gathering on Saturday and were unloading the gifts and such. He didn't pass out but he whacked it really hard! I made him stay awake all day and he didn't look too good. It got worse on the ride home, having to pull over 3 times for him to vomit! I gave him a little assessment when we arrived home. His pupils were the deciding factor if I was going to force him to Emerg or not. We decided not to go and I would just watch him here at home. I knew he had a concussion, poor guy!

The yucky symptoms persisted for the next few days. Tuesday it got worse, so we went to see the doc. Sure enough. A severe concussion. I called it. Again, just have the wife (the nurse) watch him and go to Emerg if things get worse.

It's Thursday today and he's still doing pretty yucky. I sure hope this doesn't last too much longer. He could have effects for 3-6 weeks unfortunately.

So, that's our latest on Shane's health. A Christmas concussion.....

We're home, we're safe and we had a great time!

Well....the time has come....

After very little sleep and much difficulty tossing and turning for hours, we are awake and getting ready to leave for Kansas City. KC here we come!

See you in 8 days!

Tingling on the inside....

I'm getting really excited for our little holiday! It's 9:13pm and I don't know if I'm going to be able to sleep, though my eyes are burning so I hope to! We are setting the alarm for 5am to hit the road by 6am, Kansas City bound!

Shane and I are taking a holiday, just the two of us! And where better to vacation (except a warm resort!), than KC! Good food and friends, a place to stay, a prayer room to be refreshed in and to get away from the regular everyday. It's just what the doctor ordered!

We are going to be gone 8 days! That's the longest we've been down there. It's usually just a weekend getaway. I'm looking forward to slowing down the pace and having some quality time with Jesus and my husband. I also would love to come back without a scar on my wrist.

Pray for safe travels as the roads aren't great.

I'm so excited! Must sleep.....must sleep......

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas!

Yeah! The season is upon us! I'm excited that today is the beginning of December! It's going to be a good month!

The Christmas season started around our house this week. The annual Christmas baking day with my mom and sister was on Tuesday, the first Christmas carol was played, eggnog made its first appearance (compliments of Steph's craving) and Shane and I set up the tree together!

All in preparation for the annual Farrow Christmas party this evening! This is the 8th year! 18 people coming! Some from the high school years, some go back to elementary school, some from present girls days and some friends of ours from Sanctuary. I'm really looking forward to tonight! It's always a good time!


Steph, Shane and I made it out to the Santa Clause Parade 2 weeks ago! Check out the hat! It reads "I believe in Santa Clause" (what a lie!)


Christmas Baking Day with the ladies!


Mom's famous Christmas cookies!


Setting up the tree on Thursday!


We had a casualty. Boo hoo! We attempted resuscitation. No success.


My silly and dramatic husband with a tree branch

The van didn't eat my money.....the rodents did!

So, we've been having van troubles. It all started on Saturday morning, or at least to our knowledge.

We had an oil change Thursday evening and then parked the van, not starting it until Saturday morning. We had the van all packed up for the day in the Steinbach area and a number of people to see. We set out.

Within the first block, I realized the speedometer wasn't working! Strange. Something didn't feel right with how it was driving either. We turned around and went home.

We then thought that we'd just go the speed that the rest of traffic was doing and make it out to Steinbach without a working speedometer, if that was our only problem. The guy we take our van to lives out there anyways so maybe he could take a look at it. So, we set out for round #2.

Within the first block, the RPMs were up at 3000 and not coming down! The speedometer still wasn't working and then the engine light came on! Oh boy! We're not going anywhere! So, we turned around again.

By Sunday morning the van wouldn't even start! What is going on?

By Monday at lunch, we were waving good-bye to our lovely van that has been running like a dream for the last 13 months, now to suddenly be dead, as the tow truck wheeled her away.

By Monday evening, we had been told that the battery needed to be replaced, as the rod was totally loose on our old one, and now it was absolutely dead. The doors didn't even want to lock or unlock. Alright. And, the service engine soon light wouldn't go off. The computer needed to be scanned. So be it.

By Tuesday late afternoon, we had been told it was definitely a wiring issue. The van wouldn't even shift into gears for the garage guy. All kinds of problems were coming up on the scan.

So, we get a call this morning (Wednesday now), saying that the van repairs are finished and we can pick up our beauty.

We trudge through the snow and meet the mechanic for the first time. Nice guy!

Well, lo and behold, it wasn't Mr.Lube's faulty oil change that caused us grief. It wasn't even something that we did.

It was some tiny little rodents trying to find a warm place and a bite to eat! They managed to get into a small place up inside our van and chew away at the wire cables. They ate right through the coating around the wires and exposed all of them in that certain cable, causing about 5 codes of problems to come up in the computer scan!

The electrician had rarely seen such a thing so he took a picture and has been talking with mechanics on the web about the situation with our van! We got to see the picture and were shocked to hear the culprit of all our van issues in the last few days was a rodent! Our van wasn't in bad shape. A mouse or a squirrel just had a meal and disrupted our peace in the process!

So, our van is back to running beautifully again! And our wire cables are coated in Pinesol to hopefully ward off any other hungry animals!

At least we had comic relief for an expensive van repair! All because of a hungry rodent!

A lovely trip to the U S of A!

I'm back in Canada as of last evening from a great little trip to KC. I'm so glad that I went.

Other than the obvious enjoyable things (like friends, good food, Bath and Body Works, the temperature/fall), I had many kisses from the Lord this weekend. That makes anything and everything worth it! I spent most of those moments bawling my face off. It was so good!

Here's some pics of the trip to enjoy!

Weekend Away with the Girls!

Tonight...in the next 5 hours....I'm off to Kansas City with some lovely ladies, Christina, Steph and Camillia, for the weekend. I'm glad I said yes to the invite as I'm getting really excited to go!

Funny random point is that I haven't made a KC trip in a car in a very long time! I'm spoiled with the reclining seats and space in a van! So, this could be a little squishier than I'm used to but at least we all like each other!

I am looking forward to sitting in the prayer room, getting some revelation and prophetic guidance from the Lord, being with some lovely girlfriends for the weekend, enjoying the great Canadian dollar, eating at my favorite American restaurants, seeing some IHOP buddies and such! There are lots of highlights most of the time!

I hope for some kisses from the Lord. I hope for a good time in the prophecy rooms. I hope for a great healing praise report after some time in the healing rooms.

Come and meet with me Jesus!