Believe me; the fractured skull, seizures, four months in a neck brace, and loss of hearing, is not worth the Helicopter ride that you can’t even remember anyways.
Tuesday, January 23, 2007
If you go Boarding.... Wear a Helmet!
Believe me; the fractured skull, seizures, four months in a neck brace, and loss of hearing, is not worth the Helicopter ride that you can’t even remember anyways.
Thursday, January 18, 2007
Grandparents
My parents are gone yet again on another trip down south. This time they are in St. Kitts, and no, they are not at the Capri Inn on Ontario St. Not “St. Catharines – St. Kitts” I mean the “real” St. Kitts in the Caribbean. This is where our farm workers are from, my parents have always told them that they would love to one day come and visit them at home, now they finally are. So once again Bandit and I hold the fort.
Well the week is almost over and I still haven’t had to cook anything yet, kinda nice, but the fridge is now empty of leftovers and I have begun my grocery list. Another bonus is getting invited out for dinner, my Opa and Oma had me over for dinner last night and I had a great time.
I love my Opa and Oma. My relationship with my grandparents has had an amazing impact on my life. They have both been a big part of my childhood and contributed greatly to my development in both my spiritual and daily life. I have so many good memories with them when I look back, from sleepovers at their house with friends to visiting them yearly in their Florida home. I have also learned lots from them over the years from the many conversations with them, as well as learning from how they live their lives with the principles and values that they hold strong to. I love my Opa and Oma, and I thank them for their part in shaping the person that I am today.
Last night I was able to have a wonderful evening together with them. My Oma’s cooking is always delicious, Jeopardy is always educational, and our conversation was both spiritually uplifting and filling with knowledge from their life experiences. To sit down in conversation with them I am always eager to gain wisdom from their experiences of life. If asked, my Opa would humbly admit that he is not wise, but I have to disagree, his character and his life inspire me. There is so much that I have already and can continue to learn from him. I am truly blessed to have such wonderful and loving grandparents in my life.
I am still young, I have the rest of my life to develop my character, I can only hope that one day I too will be blessed (God willing) to sit down in conversation with my grandson and inspire him.
The fear of the Lord is the begining of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and insruction.
-Proverbs 1:7
Well the week is almost over and I still haven’t had to cook anything yet, kinda nice, but the fridge is now empty of leftovers and I have begun my grocery list. Another bonus is getting invited out for dinner, my Opa and Oma had me over for dinner last night and I had a great time.
I love my Opa and Oma. My relationship with my grandparents has had an amazing impact on my life. They have both been a big part of my childhood and contributed greatly to my development in both my spiritual and daily life. I have so many good memories with them when I look back, from sleepovers at their house with friends to visiting them yearly in their Florida home. I have also learned lots from them over the years from the many conversations with them, as well as learning from how they live their lives with the principles and values that they hold strong to. I love my Opa and Oma, and I thank them for their part in shaping the person that I am today.
Last night I was able to have a wonderful evening together with them. My Oma’s cooking is always delicious, Jeopardy is always educational, and our conversation was both spiritually uplifting and filling with knowledge from their life experiences. To sit down in conversation with them I am always eager to gain wisdom from their experiences of life. If asked, my Opa would humbly admit that he is not wise, but I have to disagree, his character and his life inspire me. There is so much that I have already and can continue to learn from him. I am truly blessed to have such wonderful and loving grandparents in my life.
I am still young, I have the rest of my life to develop my character, I can only hope that one day I too will be blessed (God willing) to sit down in conversation with my grandson and inspire him.
The fear of the Lord is the begining of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and insruction.
-Proverbs 1:7
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Upgrade your Gray Matter
Alright, so enough about my knee. Sure, I must admit I have been bummed out because of it, although not because of pain. Pain is relative and when it comes to physical pain, I have a high threshold. I have just been unsettled about feeling so incapacitated; I don't like limping. Alright, so enough about my knee...
This may come as a shock to some of you... I have been reading a book! I know that I may come across as a very studious type, but in reality I am almost at the opposite end of the spectrum from friends of mine such as Jason, who study GREAT BOOKS at University. I say "almost' because I do read a little and by that I should admit that I have been reading "The Boat Who Wouldn't Float" by Farley Mowat for about a year and a half now. I am roughly three quarters through a 197-page novel, and the last chapter I read was probably 3 months ago. You can stop laughing now!
That is not the book I am talking about, actually I have been reading a book that at one point in time I was given a copy and told to read it, however I didn't want to because I thought that there was just way too much "hype" about this book. I thought it was just a Christian marketing and money-making ploy. To say the least I was very cynical. (Side note: that is one of the many things that God is working on in my life)
"The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren, complete with a green ribbon heading on the front cover that reads "The #1 New York Times Bestseller", that kind of a statement may turn you onto or away from a book like this. In my case it was the later, until now.
I am over half way through this book and cannot put it down. For those of you who have read it already I know it says to read it for 40 days, one day at a time. But to be honest, some days there is so much to absorb that I have to read that chapter again. As I make my way through the book and write down my thoughts in my journal, I can't help but to think about reading this book again in a year from now together with my journal, when circumstances in my life are different. I am excited to read the biblical truths in a book like this from a new perspective on my life and to look back to what I wrote in my journal and see what God had taught me at this time. So, to sum it all up, I am really enjoying this book. I have learned new truths and reaffirmed many that I already knew, God is at work in my life, but only because I have allowed Him to be.
If anyone is interested, I recommend this book.
Wow, I sound like LeVar Burton from “Reading Rainbow”
“But you don’t have to take my word for it!”
This may come as a shock to some of you... I have been reading a book! I know that I may come across as a very studious type, but in reality I am almost at the opposite end of the spectrum from friends of mine such as Jason, who study GREAT BOOKS at University. I say "almost' because I do read a little and by that I should admit that I have been reading "The Boat Who Wouldn't Float" by Farley Mowat for about a year and a half now. I am roughly three quarters through a 197-page novel, and the last chapter I read was probably 3 months ago. You can stop laughing now!
That is not the book I am talking about, actually I have been reading a book that at one point in time I was given a copy and told to read it, however I didn't want to because I thought that there was just way too much "hype" about this book. I thought it was just a Christian marketing and money-making ploy. To say the least I was very cynical. (Side note: that is one of the many things that God is working on in my life)
"The Purpose Driven Life" by Rick Warren, complete with a green ribbon heading on the front cover that reads "The #1 New York Times Bestseller", that kind of a statement may turn you onto or away from a book like this. In my case it was the later, until now.
I am over half way through this book and cannot put it down. For those of you who have read it already I know it says to read it for 40 days, one day at a time. But to be honest, some days there is so much to absorb that I have to read that chapter again. As I make my way through the book and write down my thoughts in my journal, I can't help but to think about reading this book again in a year from now together with my journal, when circumstances in my life are different. I am excited to read the biblical truths in a book like this from a new perspective on my life and to look back to what I wrote in my journal and see what God had taught me at this time. So, to sum it all up, I am really enjoying this book. I have learned new truths and reaffirmed many that I already knew, God is at work in my life, but only because I have allowed Him to be.
If anyone is interested, I recommend this book.
Wow, I sound like LeVar Burton from “Reading Rainbow”
“But you don’t have to take my word for it!”
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Can't I just buy a new Knee on eBay?
So it is official... My ACL is torn completely from my femur.
And I think he removed part of my meniscus. (I was not in a fully conscious state when Dr. Robert came by after to talk to me.)
*sigh... Do you ever wish you could go back in time to prevent an accident from happening? I do, but unfortunately I am not friends with Dr Emmett Brown, or Michael J. Fox for that matter. So I guess I have to just accept that accidents happen and not dwell on wishing they didn't, then I can learn and make changes because of them. Okay, so except the wrecked knee and keep on living. Go snowboarding but be cautious to prevent it from happening again. Yeah... Go Snowboarding! I can't wait!
Unfortunately I have to make my way around on crutches again, hopefully only for a few days if that, but then it is back to the life of limping. I will do my best to recover quickly and I will know better what is happening next when I see my Surgeon in a week. I have a dressing on my knee and I am tempted to take it off, I want to see the incision in my knee. The nurse told me not to but I am curious, we will see if I can wait the week or if my curiosity gets the best of me. Although the last thing I want is an infection in my knee because that already happened to my other knee and put me into the Hospital for 6 months. 6 Months means the winter will be over without snowboarding. I can't let that happen.
So all together my surgery went well, except for the bad news on the condition of my knee, although I already assumed it was so. There was also the difficult time the nurse had trying to get my vein for the intravenous. She kept poking around and I kept laughing, I told her that my other side works better (I just know this from so many times getting IV). So sure enough she tries the other side and... Voila!
Also the general anesthetic worked great, I can't believe how instantly they can knock you out. It’s Crazy! And just as instantly as you go out, you wake up. Unfortunately waking up means that reality sets in and ... I'll just leave it at that.
So I am not perfect, and I am broken... but I am blessed to have friends and family that accept me just the way I am.
And I think he removed part of my meniscus. (I was not in a fully conscious state when Dr. Robert came by after to talk to me.)
*sigh... Do you ever wish you could go back in time to prevent an accident from happening? I do, but unfortunately I am not friends with Dr Emmett Brown, or Michael J. Fox for that matter. So I guess I have to just accept that accidents happen and not dwell on wishing they didn't, then I can learn and make changes because of them. Okay, so except the wrecked knee and keep on living. Go snowboarding but be cautious to prevent it from happening again. Yeah... Go Snowboarding! I can't wait!
Unfortunately I have to make my way around on crutches again, hopefully only for a few days if that, but then it is back to the life of limping. I will do my best to recover quickly and I will know better what is happening next when I see my Surgeon in a week. I have a dressing on my knee and I am tempted to take it off, I want to see the incision in my knee. The nurse told me not to but I am curious, we will see if I can wait the week or if my curiosity gets the best of me. Although the last thing I want is an infection in my knee because that already happened to my other knee and put me into the Hospital for 6 months. 6 Months means the winter will be over without snowboarding. I can't let that happen.
So all together my surgery went well, except for the bad news on the condition of my knee, although I already assumed it was so. There was also the difficult time the nurse had trying to get my vein for the intravenous. She kept poking around and I kept laughing, I told her that my other side works better (I just know this from so many times getting IV). So sure enough she tries the other side and... Voila!
Also the general anesthetic worked great, I can't believe how instantly they can knock you out. It’s Crazy! And just as instantly as you go out, you wake up. Unfortunately waking up means that reality sets in and ... I'll just leave it at that.
So I am not perfect, and I am broken... but I am blessed to have friends and family that accept me just the way I am.
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Broken
Well here I go again another one of my many visits to the Hospital. Sometimes it seems like I should just live there. You name it; I’ve broken it. Nose, Thumb, Rib, Foot, Knee, Heart, Skull… the list goes on!
Good to know though that not all injuries in my life are a result of extreme sports, because I was beginning to think I should give them up. Heck, when you truly feel pain in life, fracturing your skull and wearing a neck brace seems like a walk in the park. But you got to get up and try again. I know that I can make it through anything that comes my way in life and learn something from it; I now wear a helmet when I snowboard. I can break my head but I will never stop snowboarding. I can bust my knee but I will never stop jumping. I can break my heart but I will never stop loving.
So once again under the knife, this Thursday I go for surgery, Arthroscopic Medial Menisectomy to be exact. This is the first of two operations that I will have to undergo. The second will be a re-construction of my ACL. What does that mean? Well for those of you who didn't know, I tore my ACL in my left knee (it is the ligament that basically holds your knee together) while snowboarding last March. I hit a jump, landed badly, and it felt like my knee exploded! After making my way to the side of the hill, un-strapping, and trying to walk it off, It still didn't seem right so I rode down to the ski clinic and iced my swollen knee for a few hours. However, the day was still young and the conditions were great, so of course I went back out riding. It hurt to walk. It didn't hurt to ride. So I rode. Now those of you who snowboard, you may understand this, those who don't may not, but there was this Huge Table-Top at the bottom of the Terrain Park. All I can say to describe it was that it was LARGE and PERFECT, a jump that you can only dream of. Did I mention that the snow conditions were great? So naturally, me with my full-blown ACL, how could I resist? I can just go for the big air; nothing fancy, just don't fall. Wow, it was amazing! I think I spent almost the rest of that day hitting that jump only. That was my last day boarding last year and what a way to finish off the season.
Then the car ride home, my knee swelled up and by the time I got home it was so stiff and sore. I could hardly walk. I went to the Hospital, and by that I mean my best friend literally carried me into the emergency. I had some x-rays taken that I can now add to my already abundant portfolio, just to prove that my bones were not broken. I think a broken bone would have been better than a torn tendon because at least bones can heal themselves.
Isn't it amazing how resilient the human body actually is?
So this Thursday is my surgery, I can’t help but to think that the general anesthetic will be a welcome temporary break from all sense of emotion, but after I get to look forward (*sarcasm*) to lying in bed with my prescription of Tylenol 3’s (which I probably won’t take anyways because I never do. I prefer to tough it out rather than rely on meds).
Well all I can say now is that I pray for a speedy recovery and SNOW!
Good to know though that not all injuries in my life are a result of extreme sports, because I was beginning to think I should give them up. Heck, when you truly feel pain in life, fracturing your skull and wearing a neck brace seems like a walk in the park. But you got to get up and try again. I know that I can make it through anything that comes my way in life and learn something from it; I now wear a helmet when I snowboard. I can break my head but I will never stop snowboarding. I can bust my knee but I will never stop jumping. I can break my heart but I will never stop loving.
So once again under the knife, this Thursday I go for surgery, Arthroscopic Medial Menisectomy to be exact. This is the first of two operations that I will have to undergo. The second will be a re-construction of my ACL. What does that mean? Well for those of you who didn't know, I tore my ACL in my left knee (it is the ligament that basically holds your knee together) while snowboarding last March. I hit a jump, landed badly, and it felt like my knee exploded! After making my way to the side of the hill, un-strapping, and trying to walk it off, It still didn't seem right so I rode down to the ski clinic and iced my swollen knee for a few hours. However, the day was still young and the conditions were great, so of course I went back out riding. It hurt to walk. It didn't hurt to ride. So I rode. Now those of you who snowboard, you may understand this, those who don't may not, but there was this Huge Table-Top at the bottom of the Terrain Park. All I can say to describe it was that it was LARGE and PERFECT, a jump that you can only dream of. Did I mention that the snow conditions were great? So naturally, me with my full-blown ACL, how could I resist? I can just go for the big air; nothing fancy, just don't fall. Wow, it was amazing! I think I spent almost the rest of that day hitting that jump only. That was my last day boarding last year and what a way to finish off the season.
Then the car ride home, my knee swelled up and by the time I got home it was so stiff and sore. I could hardly walk. I went to the Hospital, and by that I mean my best friend literally carried me into the emergency. I had some x-rays taken that I can now add to my already abundant portfolio, just to prove that my bones were not broken. I think a broken bone would have been better than a torn tendon because at least bones can heal themselves.
Isn't it amazing how resilient the human body actually is?
So this Thursday is my surgery, I can’t help but to think that the general anesthetic will be a welcome temporary break from all sense of emotion, but after I get to look forward (*sarcasm*) to lying in bed with my prescription of Tylenol 3’s (which I probably won’t take anyways because I never do. I prefer to tough it out rather than rely on meds).
Well all I can say now is that I pray for a speedy recovery and SNOW!
Monday, January 01, 2007
New Beginings
Another new year, another chance for us to make a fresh start. So what is it this year? Eat less junk food, exercise more, make more use of my free time, serve more...? The list goes on. If I am going to be able to make any change in my life, I need to change my heart. I think that our lifestyle is a true representation of our heart. If my heart desires a healthy lifestyle then I will exercise more and eat right. If my heart is living for God's purpose then my life will be lived as one that reflects Him.
This past Sunday morning at my church our "new years" service was comprised of singing, testimonies, and baptisms. What a great service to ascribe worth to God in community, especially at this time of year when we seem to take the time to evaluate our lives and make new commitments or changes. It is great to hear the testimonies of others and how God has brought them through their life struggles and experiences to the place in their lives now where they are ready to make a public commitment to living their life for God. We can give God the glory for the work that he has done in their hearts now that they have chosen to follow Him, God reveals Himself to all people and they have chosen to see God with their heart open to Him.
So, as I sat reflecting on the work that God had been doing in the hearts of other believers, I couldn't help but to think, especially considering my circumstances, that I too need to re-commit my life to God, (i.e. put my de-railed train back on track). I also need to write this down so that I never forget it, because I ALWAYS need to be at this place in my life where I am re-committing my life to Him. Or maybe to better say it, just simply reflecting always on the condition of my heart and to remember the commitment that I have made to follow Christ. Once we allow our heart's desires to fade or slip away, then so too will our lifestyle.
Whoever is reading this, even myself, never stop evaluating your heart condition. What is your heart living for? What is your purpose in life? That is your lifestyle. That is who you are.
Make a commitment to change. Make a difference in this world.
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
-Isaiah 26:3
This past Sunday morning at my church our "new years" service was comprised of singing, testimonies, and baptisms. What a great service to ascribe worth to God in community, especially at this time of year when we seem to take the time to evaluate our lives and make new commitments or changes. It is great to hear the testimonies of others and how God has brought them through their life struggles and experiences to the place in their lives now where they are ready to make a public commitment to living their life for God. We can give God the glory for the work that he has done in their hearts now that they have chosen to follow Him, God reveals Himself to all people and they have chosen to see God with their heart open to Him.
So, as I sat reflecting on the work that God had been doing in the hearts of other believers, I couldn't help but to think, especially considering my circumstances, that I too need to re-commit my life to God, (i.e. put my de-railed train back on track). I also need to write this down so that I never forget it, because I ALWAYS need to be at this place in my life where I am re-committing my life to Him. Or maybe to better say it, just simply reflecting always on the condition of my heart and to remember the commitment that I have made to follow Christ. Once we allow our heart's desires to fade or slip away, then so too will our lifestyle.
Whoever is reading this, even myself, never stop evaluating your heart condition. What is your heart living for? What is your purpose in life? That is your lifestyle. That is who you are.
Make a commitment to change. Make a difference in this world.
You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you.
-Isaiah 26:3
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