Just Thought You Should Know...

What does this...

...and, this...

...and, this... have in common??

You guessed it! Despite the apparent BFF relationship status that THE BOOT and I have (and will continue for at least another 4 weeks), I've been given the "all clear" and been set free to spread my wings and fly...I am allowed to DRIVE!

I went to the doctor yesterday, and my ankle is looking FABULOUS - healing slowly, but surely!

Of course, the irony that the very first weekend in 3 weeks that I can drive we have yet another ICE STORM threat and so I can't drive is just so typical. My nurse at the doctor's office asked me to PLEASE be careful this weekend...she didn't want to see me next week with another broken ankle! HA! Do you think she was implying I'm clumsy??

Whether she was or not, I took heed to her request and stayed in tonight. I've been working on some projects. What do you think I've been up to?

I'll share pictures of the finished projects later, so stay tuned...

In other news, Brad is now in China! He arrived in Hong Kong yesterday around 9:30 a.m. (3:30 a.m. in China). He will be returning home next Thursday!!!! Can't wait! He's supposed to send some pictures of Japan soon, so I will share those with y'all as soon as I get them. Please continue to pray for his safety and health as he travels. I feel certain he's coming back less of a man than when he left - in pounds I mean. He's DEFINITELY ready for some food from my kitchen that does not contain rice, noodles, or strange meat choices!!

It Has Finally Hit...

Cabin Fever, that is. Or, I'm-Sick-And-Tired-Of-This-Broken-Ankle-And-Want-To-Do-SOMETHING Fever. Which ever one you would like to call it.

I've went to school (for half days) last week, and I have been to church 2 times. I have been at different family members homes to visit/spend the night/be taken care of. And, I have taken a trip to Wal-Mart and a trip to Hobby Lobby with Valerie - both of which involved me riding around in a wheel chair...so sad, I know. That is it - in 19 days.

On Saturday, Valerie let me DRIVE around my neighborhood, and then I drove to Brad's parent's house (which is only about 3 miles from our house). I felt like a bird out of her cage. A REBEL! But, I was quickly put back in the cage due to rising concerns from those that love me... *Sigh*

I have not cooked a meal in almost 3 weeks. 3 WEEKS!!!! Holy Canolli! For some, that would be a happy little vacation, but I am soooo ready to be back in my kitchen. Of course, with Brad not being home, there hasn't been a need for me to cook big meals; but, when he gets home he'll be ready for some good Southern cooking and I'll definitely be ready to deliver! In my cooking "sabbatical", I have been researching and looking for new recipes and I have found tons that I can't wait to whip up! One of the first will be these Red Velvet Cookies...yum yum yum!

Through all of this, I have learned something about myself that I really had never realized...I LOVE routine. I LOVE the predictability of a regular schedule.

And, in one quick fall and break of an ankle, I have been completely stripped of my independence, and have been totally taken off my normal daily routine.

Two things that I desire soooo very much.

Two things that I can not have right now.

It. is. about. to. drive. me. CRAZY!

But, once again I know the Lord is teaching me. Refining my heart. Taking the noise out of my normally hectic, planned out life so I can hear His voice.

See, normally I'm Ms. Independent - living my life thinking I'm in control. Normally, I go through my day-to-day routine, and juggle my many responsibilities in chaotic ease. Normally, I live in my controlled, planned out but hectic world and am happy as a clam.

But, lately I've been forced to be Dependent with a capital D. Lately, my day-to-day routine has been thrown out the window and had to be based on who's house I'm at and who can take me places. Lately, I have lived in a dependent and completely out of my control world.

Without coincidence, the Lord has reminded me of His need for me to live in the "dependent and [recognizing] it's completely out of my control" world. His need for me to recognize there needs to be more of Him, and less of me. That once again, I must trust Him...lean on Him...depend on Him. And, that my false sense of being in control is just that - false! That I need to be willing to live in a state of unpredictability. Willing to be used. Willing to serve. Willing to let Him lead. Willing to take life as it comes. Willing.

Even though I'm about ready to climb the walls and am SO READY to jump in my car and head to wherever in the world I want to go, I'm thankful for what the Lord has allowed to happen. I'm grateful that life's chaotic noise that normally fills my ears has been forced to stop, and has allowed me to hear Jesus speak to my heart.

...and, maybe I'll learn something from this so I don't have to break a bone the next time the Lord wants to teach me something!!

Random Joy

When I broke my ankle, my school buddies sent the most BEAUTIFUL orange tulips (favorite flower color EVER!)

and this funny poem was attached - you know you're a school teacher when your colleagues send you a "get well" card in the form of a song, and to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle" no less:

(to the tune of "Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star")

Hayley, Hayley falling down

on the steps, then on the ground.

We think of you each day

when we work, and when we play.

We hope you get well soon.

Hurry back, cause we miss you!

It is such a JOY to get to work with friends!

What A Week It Has Been!

My last post was last Monday, one week ago today. I was all excited and just plain giddy at the mention of SNOW in the forecast. I have no desire to live anywhere that snow is an every-winter-day occasion, but I love the every-once-in-a-while snow day :)

Well, we ended up having NO SCHOOL on Thursday and Friday because of the winter storm that was moving in to North Alabama, and UNBELIEVABLY Brad even left work at 2:00 Thursday because of the weather - truly the first miracle of 2010!! He had also planned to take Friday off to spend time with yours truly, and start getting things ready for his trip to Japan. Friday morning I woke up and immediately looked out the window, and what did my wondering eyes see?? SNOW!! YEA, SNOW!! I LOVE YOU, SNOW!! I'VE BEEN MISSING YOU SO!!

I threw on my clothes and shoes, grabbed my camera and lens, and headed outside to take some pictures of the fresh layed snow that would no doubt melt away before lunch. I stepped out on the porch, and looked down at the steps. Our front porch steps are prone to icing over, and I knew I would need to go down ever so c-a-r-e-f-u-l-l-y. "It's just snow, no ice" I told myself - "they're not iced over."
First step, no problem. Second step -

"AAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!"

BANG!!!

SNAP!!!!

CRASH!!!!!

"BBBBBRRRRRAAAAAADDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!!"

I had a little...ummm...fall. And, yes, there was ice. A solid sheet of it hiding underneath the snow on the steps!

Praise the Lord, Bradley was at home (which in itself is AMAZING) and able to come scoop me up, and gather up my camera and lens that were in the flower bed, or grass, or sidewalk...where ever they were flung to in my completely not graceful, but most definitely painful fall. And, yes I was MOST CONCERNED that the camera was alright before turning my attention to my throbbing right foot. The same foot, by the way, that had a large tree limb fall on it a few years ago. Yes, I indeed have the BEST luck!

After a little persuasion from Brad, I consented to a trip to the ER where we eventually learned that my ankle was fractured. All because I was so happy to see my ol' friend, SNOW, and snap a couple of pictures before it went away...

So, here I am - completely dependent, which I do not handle very well. I have called for Brad's help in the past 4 days more than I have in the past 6 months. He's been absolutely positively FANTASTIC, and I've been so thankful he's been here. I just HATE asking for help - goes completely against my nature. But, I've learned some things about myself, and the Lord has spoke to my heart through all of this about some things that I'm still processing. I'll share more later.

Now, don't think Brad and I haven't had a few laughing spells through all of this! I mean, falling is one of those things in the category of "HILARIOUS". It worked to my advantage that Brad did not watch me fall, or he would have had to gather himself together from a laughing fit before he could help me. Why is it that someone falling is just so... funny??

Brad leaves in the morning to go to Japan on business. Could I have any better timing??? But, I have soooooo many family and friends that will be taking care of me, I won't know what to do with myself.

Well, I must go. I've got LOTS to do. Lay on the couch. Look at my toes that desperately need to be painted. Watch another 4 or 5 movies before time to go to bed. You know - Busy, busy busy!