My wrist is and will remain in a brace for a few weeks yet. I can wear the sling if I am in a crowd, or if the elbow gets sore. Otherwise, the advice is…if you turn your elbow in a bad direction, it will let you know, then don’t do that again. Very true I have done it, and it has let me know.

Autumn was in the hospital from Tues to Friday. They opted to not do an endoscopy, rather they did a CT and made an intricate map of her stomach. Tomorrow, she begins radiation using that map to attempt to seal any areas that are bleeding. In theory (their words) it should stop the bleeding for 7 – 10 months.

She is scheduled for radiation tomorrow (Tues), Wed, Thurs, Friday and Monday. She will begin a new chemo also this week.

Not to sound like a broken record, but I am sitting in front of my big window. Probably the reason I mention it is because I have lived in the house for over 14 years, and I have never had my furniture arranged so I could just sit and look out the window. I think probably because this was the corner where my husband’s reclining TV chair sat. Now my computer desk sits there, and I am very much enjoying the view. Not sure I will find blizzards quiet as inviting. BUT I might😊

If being in AFIB has taken from 5^th gear to 3^rd gear, my arm has taken me down to 2nd gear.

Both my window and my arm have slowed me down to where I am noticing things I did not notice before. I am kind of like taking a walk with a 3-year-old right now😊. They notice every bug, twig, and pebble on the path.

I looked up from my window the other night and noticed that my neighbors have their big farmhouse and detached garage all lit up for Christmas. I would wager they didn’t just put them up. All these years I have walked out my kitchen door, stepped into the garage, got into my car, back out of my garage to go wherever Hope Bennett goes.

From June until November, I have cornfields on 3 sides of me. Well, those are gone now, and I noticed there is a good-sized pumpkin patch across the field.

 I am also noticing the character of the big trees in my yard. All the interesting branches that have been hidden by the leaves. I even stopped today to look at the leaf pile. There are still many different fall shades and colors even after they are on the ground.

Another interesting thing I have learned 😊 is that (The quick fox jumps over the lazy dog.) This sentence has every letter of the alphabet in it. I found that out when I decided to research learning to write with your non dominant hand. It is getting better. NOT FAST but more legible. I find I have to be more intentional about each letter. I know it won’t be long before I can write again with my right hand, but I enjoy trying new things. Challenges help me get out of bed each day.

Today I want to end my Blog again with some lines from a movie I watched. A mother was saying goodbye to her daughter that was leaving on a trip for several months. The possibilities of struggle, hardship and even danger were obvious.

She said to her, “Don’t forget!” “Watch the Sunsets, Celebrate the milestones and don’t forget to Dance in the Rain.

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God never promised us a stress or pain free life. He just says, “I am always there, you will never need to walk alone.”

Blessings!  Thanks for Reading!