Two weeks ago today I was operated on to repair a pretty messed up colon and a few other things. The recovery has been tedious. I thought I'ld bounce back real quick but those with a little more wisdom kept telling me this surgery can knock you down for a while. I am feeling a lot less pain but the overall weakness caught me a little by surprise. And it's not just physical - it's mental too. I'm sure my brain has taken a pretty good hit with the trauma of the surgery, the heavy pain meds used in the hospital and the stuff I'm taking at home has kept my ability to concentrate in a fog. It's been difficult to read or study or even watch TV (which is probably a good thing!) Spiritually I've had some good conversations with the Lord and felt ministered to by His spirit. I've never been in this place before where I am somewhat incapacitated and home alone most of the time. It's been comforting to know the Lord is with me all the time. 

In seasons of grief one must navigate the holidays - can't ignore them, just have to face them and create some new memories. God has His ways of going before us as we face these events. He did so for me yesterday. I celebrated Thanksgiving with my daughter and new son in law at home. Having just gotten home from 6 days in the hospital and still in a lot of discomfort, I was unable to attend our usual large family gathering at one of the relatives home and I think the quietness helped helped me deal with both the pain of surgery and my wife not being here. In a way, going thru this surgery has softened the ache of missing my beloved Joyce. Having to deal with my own physical issues sort of balanced my emotions and I was able to get thru the day and enjoy it as well.

Just a short update. My surgery went well but was a bit more involved than I had hoped for. I was hospitalized for 6 days. My surgeon removed a much larger section of my colon as well as my appendix. I also had to have a colostomy bag (where a portion of my intestine is brought thru an opening in the abdominal wall (called a stoma) and a bag is attached to collect waste material. I'll have to wear the bag for about three more months, then another surgery to reconnect the remaining portions of my colon after they've had a chance to heal up.

What a crazy beautiful blessed weekend! Noelle and Paul's wedding was absolutely wonderful and the weather at the coast on Monday couldn't have been greater in the middle of summer let alone the middle of November. The ceremony was held at 1:00 in the afternoon on the patio of Cannon's overlooking the Dana Point harbor - very close to the same spot I proposed to Joyce about 35 years ago! Pastor Mark officiated and I, of course, walked my daughter down the aisle. I wore Joyce's wedding ring on my little finger.

Well this week has been a blur. And the weekend ahead is sure to race. This afternoon we have Noelle and Paul's wedding rehearsal and rehearsal dinner following. I'll be meeting Paul's family from England for the first time. Then early tomorrow morning I see my surgeon for my pre-op appointment. The rest of the day will be filled with last minute organizing for the wedding. Sunday afternoon we head up to Dana Point and get settled for the ceremony which takes place at 1pm. on Monday afternoon.

Had to post a pic of the grandkids from the Harvest Celebration!

About two weeks ago while I was in Phoenix, I had written a few things that I hadn't posted yet. The blog post was titled "Purpose" from 10-21. I just posted it this morning.