Yesterday we checked out of the hospital & moved into our rented apartment for more recovery time. A flight after a surgery is not the best plan, so we are here for another week- for ice therapy, elevating, and rest. I have already gone to fetch two 5kg bags of ice from a few blocks away- this is going to be a good work out.
So since we are here in Singapore another week, I thought we could share with you some of our favorite things about this island that has been our "Second Home" during this 1st 18 months in Southeast Asia. This is my 4th trip here so far...all for medical, but definitely some "treats" along the way.
There are so many things we enjoy. There are so many things that are different than our normal life in Indonesia. So we wanted to share some of that contrast with you.
Tonight, my fatigue has caught up with me (it could be those 5kg bag of ice pick up trips that have become the tipping point- Ha!)
Tonight, I have great comfort as I listen to this song...join me...
"Take a rest; a field that has rested gives a bountiful crop" (Ovid)
Well today I was discharged from the hospital. We headed back to the guest house with my crutches, cryotherapy machine, and a few mild pain killers just in case. It is good to be back "home", even if "home" in this case is temporary.
I have had a little time to read these past few days as I have been lying in bed... this was something I was actually looking forward to since I hurt my ankle back in February. I read a book during that time that really helped put my injury into perspective and it helped me get through it. That book was, "We All Die Alone". I know you are probably thinking "That's horrible!", but it actually was an incredible read and possibly one of my favorite "true story" books I have ever read.
The book I am currently reading is also helping me with perspective. I started reading it before surgery and I have since then almost finished it. It is:
I was first drawn to this book after hearing Jonathan David Helser's song "Abba". So I invite you to listen to the song, read the book, and allow yourself to be drawn ever deeper into the heart of Abba who is furiously longing for you.
This has been my reality! Especially the past few days!
We extended our stay at the hospital today since Greg had a rough night last night (pain & intense nausea.) We are grateful for more rest.
So we wanted to share with you a couple pictures that capture our "only in Singapore" hospital experience. Things that, if we were in the USA, would not be part of this whole experience. It isn't really an everyday thing to have to "check" your crutches- that is part of the reality of having to travel to another country for certain medical care. We have definitely experienced this reality within our first term in Indonesia.
And today's menu was something I found interesting as well- a good picture of how many cultures are represented in this country of Singapore.
For today's song- this is one that I have loved for a long time, and it too can become a prayer. And truly- you cannot help but move & smile to the music. Check it out:
The "before" & "after" pictures are not like other makeover pictures we all love to see. Especially since all the work is covered up by bandages- and it is all INSIDE the ankle. But still, there was some pretty great "makeover" work done today in Singapore.
We have been waiting for this day for a long time. 4 months to the day actually. Like I mentioned on Facebook earlier, it is great to move from recovering towards surgery, to recovering towards running/sports again. The doctor said that the surgery went well- no cartilage damage, (that would cause future trouble,) which is great news! For me this journey has been a bunch of steps in facing my own anxiety, and then choosing (or not choosing) to release it to Jesus. I mentioned this yesterday.Today was another day of that. And today's song has been an anthem/soundtrack for me this year. I played it in Greg's hospital room back in August when he had that terrible stomach infection, and I played it today right before he went into surgery. Listen to it- you will know why.
SO...
Events of today!
Wake up.... check!
Rush to the hospital for our MRI appointment because we thought we were late.... check!
Find out we were actually 7 hours early for my MRI appointment.... check!
Reschedule MRI for earlier in the day.... check!
Put on a short flashy dress for my MRI.... check!
Photo taken by my sneaky and laughing hysterically wife.
Fall asleep during MRI.... check!
Go eat lunch at Chilli's with the Thorntons, some good friends from Salatiga.... check!
Run all over Singapore the day before surgery.... check!
Sit down to write the post for today and rethink writing small, "flashy" dress.... check!
All in all it was a good day.
Praying tomorrow is just as good... even with the surgery.
We have a couple days here before settle into surgery & recovery. Greg made a bucket list a while ago for the 2 days, which was mainly made up of where he wanted to eat. And as always a "Rosti" from Marche is at the top of the list. A Rosti is a hash brown pancake, fried egg, sour cream, with sausage. Marche is a restaurant from Switzerland. This is something special for him- these flavors (especially the sausage) are not at all ordinary for us these days. So it is a true treat for him. Isn't it funny which meals become special when you move to another country?
Wanted to also share a picture with you of the sunset we caught last night. Or more so, the sunset that caught us- it was just that majestic. I found myself spontaneously just speaking out loud to the Lord of what beauty it was. It was His handiwork...wow, just wow.
I started reading through some of the Psalms last month, with one of my mentees. Today I read Psalm 131- and I just had to share this with you.
This surgery, this whole journey of Greg's injury since February, has made me really face myself, & the power that anxiety has in my life. I have to continually return to God with it- and I see Him slowly changing me, as I invite Him to. My Creator, the same Creator that painted that majestic sunset last night, wants to do that kind of beautiful work in my heart- and I need it.
Today, He met me in the words of Psalm 131. Today the words of this psalm have become a prayer & declaration for me.
And guess what- there is a song entitled Ps 131, (that I love,) and that is the tune for today!
So today we traveled to Singapore. We have a couple days to rest & enjoy Greg being able to walk before his surgery on Tuesday. It has already been a wonderful time together.
Have to share a funny moment with you. This morning during our taxi ride to the airport in Indonesia, our driver turned on a CD, and to our surprise it was "Leaving on a Jet Plane."
Ha! I wonder if that was the driver's "going to the airport with Westerners" playlist. Either way, it was funny, especially since yesterday's blog was called "Leaving on a Jet Plane."
So how can we resist making that our first "tune for June"- it was like it was set up. right?
This is a song from my past. I sang it many a time with my friends for Karaoke. Most of the lyrics don't apply to us, & yet the leaving on a jet plane part sure does. So listen here if you would like- and enjoy your Monday morning/night!
June 1st morning we leave for Singapore (once again.)This is the much anticipated trip for Greg's ankle surgery. We are glad it is finally here. And we are so grateful that we have the medical care available to us in Singapore. Though 2 hours in the car + a 2 hour flight it may seem far, we are glad it is that close. And see God's true provision in even being able to go. This picture is from a little photo session on our first flight to Singapore this term.
Bonus picture: this pic captures "us" well. Greg being goofy, me with crinkled brow, expressing the "seriously?", at his silliness. There are definitely wrinkles starting to form there for me because of how often this happens. But I even think this is a picture of grace in our partnership- we laugh at each other a lot. Greg stays funny, and I think my crinkled brow encourages him even more.
These are the final pictures from our "Pic a Day May" series...it has been so fun to share life with you guys this way, and we actually hope to keep it up!
So for June- how about some "pics & tunes" for June?? We may throw in some songs we are enjoying as of late, since sometimes you discover your favorite songs because it was a friend who first share them with you, right? So let's see what we discover together. What do you think?
Back before Christmas break I had the opportunity to visit an couple of Indonesian schools. The purpose of the trip was to play basketball and for them to practice English. We actually spent the night in a classroom of one of the schools so I had plenty of time to wonder around. Below are two rooms that caught my attention.
This is the room I would be in if I taught at this particular Indonesian school, the chemistry classroom.
It seems like this is the room the teachers all use when they are not teaching. Walking down the rows you can see textbooks and student work on each desk. I can see this promoting great collaboration... amongst other things.
Today is a short post because we have to begin packing for Singapore, and most of our moments this week are spent with people who are leaving- either graduating or moving on to the next adventure in their journeys. This one is an oldie but a goodie (well maybe...) These are "larong" (flying termites.) Especially in rainy season they are EVERYWHERE! Drawn to light ,they fill your house, but then die quickly, leaving your floor full of them. Within our first 10 days in Indonesia, we decided to try a taste of these little guys . Motto here "If you can't beat 'em, eat 'em!" Check out the full story with video here.
