About that stylish new layout

I'm heading to the in-laws for a few days tomorrow. I also get to see my daughter, her husband, and my beautiful grandchildren while I'm there.

I mentioned in my last post that I would like to come back online with a stylish new theme. Does anybody have any ideas? Discuss.

I'm thinking about leaving Blogger entirely; going with a more robust blogging engine and putting it on my own webspace. But what would happen to my comments? And can I really learn css?

See y'all on January 1...

Pausing for Station Identification

I'm going to be taking a break from active blogging for a few weeks. I'll still be reading the blogs I normally read, but I'm not going to write for a bit. At least not here.

Look for a return to regular broadcasts (and maybe a stylish new look) after the holiday.

Mom's Home!

Two weeks ago, Mom & Dad went out for dinner, to Da Vinci's, I think. One minute mom was talking and the next she was face down in her pasta. Dad jumped to her aid, and very quickly Mom came out of it. She had fainted.

The next day was Thanksgiving. She did the family rounds (no cooking), but was tired and went to bed early. The next morning, she woke up and her arm was numb. That frightened her. So, she called the M.D. at 8:00, who said (all together now) "Go to the emergency room."

They ran tests. Lots of tests. Mom has been in treatment for high blood pressure for about 10 years, I think. Her blood pressure was low. Very low. Low enough that even though she wasn't in any pain, and they kept running all these tests and not finding anything, that they didn't want to send her home.

Echocardiogram. MRI of the head (checking the carotid arteries). MRI of the heart. Angiogram. Ultrasound. Finally the problem was mostly identified (this was just Friday, last week, after 8 days in the hospital). All this time, mom's BP in her lower body was high (because they took her off her BP medicine) but very low in her upper body. They found blockages in the arteries leading to her arms and her kidneys.

Yesterday, they did an angiogram of her heart, which came back excellent. Mom's family has a history of heart disease, so this is Very Good News. They also inserted a stent in one of her arteries; the left subclavian, I think. She came through it with flying colors. She has blood pressure in her left arm now, and she went home today. She's going back soon to do the same for the other arm, and for one of her kidneys.

Backyard Chorus

I'm not sure what kind they are. But from my back yard emanates the chorus of croaking frogs. It's wonderful. What a lovely sound.

DH and little boy went out back to catch one and see if DH could identify it, but without success. Maybe DH will have more success alone, tomorrow.

Retreat

Today, at the recommendation of my therapist, I went on retreat. It was a silent retreat. It was held from 9-3 at the home of the pastoral counseling minister at the local Methodist church. His house is on a secluded, tree-filled acre right next to a bayou. The setting was tranquil and different.

To begin, the thirteen participants met for an hour to talk about the Spiritual Exercises of St. Ignatius of Loyola. The facilitator is a spiritual director, and she led the opening and developed the focus for the retreat.

The objective was for us to focus on the St. Ignatius' exercise of Principle and Foundation; this is to help us know how we are beloved by God. We each received a copy of Isaiah 44 and Psalm 139 to use for reflection. We were to remain silent, focusing our time on prayer and contemplation.

While it was cloudy and a bit nippy (upper 50's/low 60's, I think) I spent most of the morning outdoors, reading and contemplating the scriptures we had been given, noting a few thoughts in a journal, and remaining open to God's presence.

Before lunch, I met for about a half hour with the UMC minister. It was an uplifting and encouraging conversation. We talked about communion with God and being open without expectation of receiving. We talked a bit about my experience with the LDS approach to communion with God. We talked about the difference between longing and grasping for that connection, and how seeking, reaching, and even grasping come from that longing.

The group congregated (in silence) for lunch; potluck (I made marinated artichoke squares). After lunch, we meditated and prayed for another two hours. I enjoyed the birds and the water and the garden and praying and meditating.

Then the group came together and shared our experiences if we chose.

It was a very lovely day. Uplifting and relaxing and energizing all at once.