All Things Beautiful | A Thankfully Imperfect Woman

Jan 24

Four Angels and a Cigar – Part 3

As Paul Harvey would say: ‘And now, here’s the rest of the story’…

One of the (hopefully temporary) setbacks of these bizarre syndromes is having to be grounded from driving out-of-town. It started as a self-imposed setback, after making a 4 hr trip that was a struggle, I came home and told my husband that was the end. I feel safe driving in town – I’m driving slow enough that if I were hit with a dizzy attack I can quick slow down and pull over to a stop. But driving 55+ is too much – especially for a long period of time. It’s now Doctor ordered. I have to go 6 months without a dizzy spell before I can drive out-of-town again. I’m up to 2 days without one – whoohoo! Most of the time it doesn’t bother me – trust me it’s better than the awful feeling knowing I’m driving too much and feeling ‘out of it’ – but there sure are days I’d just like to jump in a car and go to something without asking for someone else to drive me.

Sigh.

This last bit of background information brings us…finally…to the story of the Four Angels and a Cigar: Read more

Oct 11

Words of Affirmation

One of the blogs I read for it’s entertainment value, faith, and good advice through stories is called ‘Morning Story & Dilbert’. Here is one that I thought I would share with my readers…because we all need to word on our Words of Affirmation.

Have a wonderful weekend friends…

Now go find a mirror and give yourself a compliment!

Patty O

Sep 3

Father and Daughter, Off to School

This is my favorite ‘First Day of School’ picture.

I actually didn’t plan this shot at all. I said my ‘Have a good day(s)!!!’, they left via the back of the house, and I headed out the front to put a card in the mailbox. I looked up as I turned to go back in and there they were.

{Sigh}

Doesn’t this tug at your heart?

It’s especially sweet when you consider the fact that Gabi is 13. I love the fact that she still likes walking to school with her Dad. Well…most days. Once winter comes, she’s not as inclined to head out as early as Tim does (when it’s -20). I think she holds out hope that either we’ll have a heatwave in that 1/2 an hour that she waits, or that Mom will feel sorry for her and give her a ride.

Right.

We only live 3 blocks from the school.

Not happening.

There are moments that I do give her a ride. The days that are colder than -20. Like -30…-40, or if it’s pouring rain outside.

I know…I’m up for Mother-of-the-Year.

Hmmm…

Maybe that’s part of the reason she likes walking with her Dad. Well…that and I’m sure they talk math and athletics on the way to school. She is his Mini-Me after all.

{Sigh}

I sure love those two.

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I had planned on ending my blog there, however, Gabi just sent me a text from her CC Running practice…here’s the conversation:

Gabi…Mum?

Me…Yessssss?

Gabi…Can you pick me up when we’re done?

Me…Why? (I know, I’m such a loving mother aren’t I?)

Gabi…Cause I don’t want to walk home in the rain and cause you are an amazing mother.

Me…Hahahahaha! (That was for the buttering up.) It’s not raining now!

Gabi…Yeah, but I will call you when we are done and then we can decide

Me…Ok

…..guess who’ll be walking home if it’s not raining! 😉

Patty O

ps…for those of you who are new to my blog…my husband is an advanced math teacher and athletic director at our high school.

Mar 30

2 Comments

When Something Touches Your Soul

Have you ever had a smell, a touch, a sight, a sound, or even a taste touch your soul? Such a poignant touch that tears start to fall, or you revel in a sweet memory this sense brings back to your mind? I’ve experienced this before, and I had it happen again on Saturday.

Let me explain and share my moment…

I was sitting with my morning cup of coffee, listening to Sirius XM – The Message and the song ‘You Raise Me Up‘ by Selah came on. My husband and I were in the middle of a conversation and tears just started to flow down my cheeks. He looked at me with a questioning look on his face, as we weren’t having any kind of earth shattering conversation, and all I could do was shrug my shoulders. “It’s the song”, was all I could say. Why? I have no idea. I don’t remember when I last heard it or why it was so poignant to me. But sometimes we don’t have all the answers, do we?

In His hands…we’re all in His hands. And what a comfort that is.

Good times or bad, He’s with us. Whether we feel Him there or not…He’s there.

May God bless all of you on this Sunday.

He sure has blessed me.

Patty O

Mar 24

3 Comments

A Clear Head and a Good Heart

My daughter Sam is in the Studio Arts program in college and this is one of her recent creations. Isn’t it AMAZING!?!

Little did she know that when she gave it to me it was incredibly significant to what I was going through.

I’d been having some health issues and the doctors had decided that I needed a stress-echocardiogram to look for heart damage and a brain/inner ear MRI to look for a tumor. Needless to say we didn’t want to tell the kids until we had definite answers…positive or negative.

I was scared to death.

I cried as I showed my husband the print and he nodded, knowing just what I was thinking.

He accompanied me to the tests and the doctor visits after, thank God, because I was a mess. I’d always been the caregiver – dealing with doctors on behalf of parents, kids, other loved ones, and friends. But this…this was about me, and I knew I couldn’t do it alone.

Once we received the news that everything was good, we felt like a huge weight was lifted. We didn’t have all the answers we needed, but we sure had some fantastic negative results!

We did receive one answer (to the loud hum, aka tinnitus, and hearing and off-balance issues I was having): Meniere’s Syndrome in my left ear. It’s a health issue diagnosed by elimination…meaning there’s no one test that can diagnose it. It brings with it random episodes of Vertigo, a feeling of being off-balance, and sometimes permanent hearing loss. My hearing loss is permanent, but only moderate/severe to mild (I can’t hear low sounds but I can hear high-pitched sounds). It can be progressive but doesn’t cause full hearing loss, and it doesn’t usually affect the other ear. A hearing aid should help, which I hope to get this week. So if you see me walking around a store and I’m wobbly, remember I’m not drunk, it’s just the Meniere’s!

I’ve learned one thing from all this: if you have tinnitus in just one ear – get to an ENT or Audiologist right away! I’d been having the loud hum off and on for probably a year, but just figured ‘everyone gets tinnitus, don’t they?’. Wrong answer.

My other health issues will have to wait until April when we go to the Mayo Clinic for some specialized testing. In the meantime I’m just hanging out…writing a little, getting myself a new look (see the new profile photo), and reading a lot of books…and once in a while watching those crazy babies who sit and snuggle with me!

Life is good…I don’t have heart disease or a brain tumor!

Patty O

ps…Back to Sam’s art…now we can relax and have her print as a reminder of just how blessed we are. It will soon be framed and in a place of honor on our wall.

pps…Notice I didn’t say an empty head. I have too many friends that would have far too much fun with that. 🙂