Broken

2012 has been a slow starting year for my blog, annasfaith.blogspot.com. I continue to feed my spirit but haven’t given enough time to writing, journaling, and reflecting.

At present I am tired and weary but I do know that when I am weak I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13). I am holding on to that promise.

We have been in the Florida Keys since January. Richard and I have been enjoying our little piece of paradise on Long Key in the Florida Keys. We have many friends here and keep busy with community and church fellowships and activities. We have had visitors from New York and Oklahoma.

We recently renovated our attached apartment and now it is ready to be used for guests. We love to share our tropical, peaceful, casual, and unhurried life here with our family and friends. Though barely used, the first thing that broke in the apartment was the heating element in the microwave. Then the flat screen television, purchased a little more than a year ago, decided to show ghost like images instead of a clear picture. At about the same time we noticed a flat front tire on our Jetta. It was caused by a leaking air valve and was easily repaired. All of these material things are fixable or replaceable. Then the worst break of all; my husband broke! On March 11th, Richie fell and broke the Tibia and Fibula in his right leg. After a late dinner, Richie went to walk our Black Lab, Molly. We had just experienced a heavy, but short, Florida down pour. His crocks were very worn and did not have any tread left. He fell at the foot of the staircase due to the combination of wet slippery pavement, Molly pulling on her leash, and inadequate shoe traction.

It has been a trial for both of us. Richie had to have a rod surgically placed into his right tibia and was in Homestead Hospital for five days. He developed pneumonia after the anesthesia and twice had to have Doppler studies to rule out a clot. He has been on a blood thinner and the sonograms were negative. He cannot weight bare for six weeks so is captive to a wheel chair and walker. He is slowly graduating to crutches. I remained at his side in the hospital because Homestead is almost two hours away from Long Key. I cat napped in a lounge chair each night. When he arrived home from the hospital, the Layton Paramedics had to carry him by ambulance chair up our flight of stairs. Initially he was in much pain and had an enormous amount of swelling. Each day we see improvement. Our doctor’s visits are in Homestead. The paramedics carry him down the steps and I drive him to Homestead in the Jetta. After the most recent trip to the doctor, Richie was able to get up the two steps into the downstairs apartment using crutches. This eliminates the need to call the paramedics to get him up and down the staircase for each appointment. He will start physical therapy this week. His next doctor’s visit is the day after Easter and then we plan to drive back to Pennsylvania a few days after that. Christa’s first baby is due at the end of April and we want to be there for her, Kris, and our new grand baby. I plan to do much of the driving and we will take as much time as is necessary for the thirteen hundred and fifty mile trip. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

We are trying not to focus on the obstacles which we are facing daily. We are taking one step at a time, one day at a time. We are envisioning the ultimate outcome of restoration and the healing of Richie’s right lower leg. Richie has been given wisdom and will not do anything to compromise the result. We are in prayer and are reading God’s healing scriptures and promises. He has slowed us down and He has our attention. God allows trials to enter our lives but we know that “when we are weak, He is strong” and “many are the afflictions of the righteous”. We are focusing on our Heavenly Father. As we learn to trust Him in our daily decisions, and experience his healing power, He grows and perfects our faith. The victory is ours, in Christ. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Hebrews 11:1). We believe for complete healing of the bone even though we cannot see it now. But without faith it is impossible to please God, for he that cometh to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of them that diligently seek Him (Hebrews 11:6).

We pray that the Lord will touch Richie’s broken limb and our lives with His healing power and healing presence. We will continue to search for an increased depth to our faith as He heals what is broken in our spirits and in our bodies. Thank You Lord!!