the gift of Gab

I went back to the gyno today to get the full report on all the poking and prodding.

Everything came back normal!!

No cancer, no strange unpronounceable diseases. However, the doc did tell me I am a dysfunctional bleeder. (My appologies to all the men reading this.) Certainly perimenopausal. All curable by a little bit of hormone therapy and plenty of prayer.

I've certainly been aware of all of the prayer on my behalf. Throughout this whole experience, God has given me a great sense of peace about all of it.

Thanks, everyone, for praying and caring. I appreciate it all!

Posted by Gabi at 4:35 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

God is so good about sending love songs at precisely the right moment!

I'm sitting at my desk at work with K-Love playing in the background. As I'm thinking about heading out to the gyno's office in about 1/2 an hour, I realize that the song that's playing is "God is in Control" by Twila Paris. Then "I Love You More" by Matthew West.

I love you more than the sun
And the stars that I taught how to shine
You are mine, and you shine for me too
I love you yesterday and today and tomorrow
I'll say it again and again
I love your more

God is good! And He is in control of it all!

Posted by Gabi at 1:00 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

When it's all been said and done,
There is just one thing that matters;
Did I do my best to live for truth,
Did I live my life for You?

When it's all been said and done,
All my treasure will mean nothing;
Only what I've done for love's reward,
Will stand the test of time.

Lord, Your mercy is so great
That you look beyond our weakness;
And find purest gold in miry clay,
Making sinners into saints.

I will always sing Your praise,
Here on earth and everafter;
For You've shown me
Heaven's my true home.

When it's all been said and done,
You're my life when life is gone.

When it's all been said and done,
There is just one thing that matters;
Did I do my best to live for truth,
Did I live my life for You?

1999, Jim Cowan

Posted by Gabi at 8:15 PM | Permalink | Comments (0)

On Tuesday, after the call from the nurse at my doctor's office, I headed to the radiology clinic to pick up the barium sulfate suspension that I was to drink prior to the CT scan. The gal at the front desk gave me two containers of white liquid. She told me to put them in the fridge so they would taste better. Also, I was to drink one the night before and the second two hours prior to my appointment.

My appointment was at 8:30 AM. So two hours prior the appointment was 6:30 AM!!!! We all know that I am not a morning person, and I certainly have no idea what 6:30 AM looks like.

So at 6:30 on Thursday morning, I was working on the second tub of my orange creamsicle flavored liquid. And it tasted just like an orage creamsicle - except it had no stick. And it was pretty liquid-y. And it came in a plastic tub. And it kind of made my tongue feel funny. And really only vaguely reminded me of orange creamsicle. Sigh

I arrived at the radiology center shortly before my appointment and was whisked away to a room full of changing rooms. The tech asked me to put on one of those adorable robes that closes in the back and have a seat in the waiting area. Always a blissful experience. The flowers on the gown really put me at ease.

Personal dignity is overrated!

This thought was brought home as I was escorted from the waiting area to the CT Scan room - granny panties hanging out the back of the gown.

Laying on the table, with my knees propped up on a piece of foam, the techs kept moving body parts around: "No, we need your arms up here." " Wait, let's put this arm down again." "Oh here comes the dye. You'll feel a warm tingly feeling all over your body; you might even feel like you're peeing." "Take a big breath and hold it; make sure you don't move at all."

Yep, personal diginity is out the window and definitely overrated!

Posted by Gabi at 12:48 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

Flying Mission is trying to fill a 40-foot shipping container with items that will be useful in our Zambia office as well as for other organizations in Zambia. My church has allowed me to put a half-sheet announcement in our Sunday bulletin which has generated some interest.

Today I got a message from our church secretary that someone had dropped some stuff off at the church office. So during my lunch break I went over to pick it up.

Turns out, this gentleman left us a new Gateway laptop, a gently used printer, a UPS (universal power supply) and some publishing software!!! Way cool!!!!

God certainly is good in His provisions!!!!!!

Posted by Gabi at 3:55 PM | Permalink | Comments (2)

This morning I got a call from the nurse at my gyno's office. Turns out the ultrasound showed a complex cyst on my right ovary. Not exactly what I wanted to hear. But I reminded myself that "God Will Take Care of Me."

Today I had some more blood drawn. This time to rule out cancer. And I've got a CT scan on Thursday morning. What an exciting week!

Wheeee!!!!

Praise God for his promise in Jeremiah 29:11! God has a purpose for my life. I can bank on the promise that he wants me in Africa and I've got a job to do there. So this little problem will get taken care of. :-)

I'll keep you posted. Thanks for your prayers and well wishes!!

Posted by Gabi at 10:38 PM | Permalink | Comments (4)

On Monday I trekked across town for an emergency visit to my gynecologist. Really not as emergency as it sounds. I think the nurse in her office may have over reacted when I told her my symptoms.

Be that as it may, since I was there, we did the obligatory poking and prodding to rule out all the bad stuff, including an endimitrioboipsy. Definitely as bad as it sounds. I rarely cry from physical pain, but I certainly did during that little slice of heaven.

The doctor sent me off for blood tests and an ultrasound. Oh goody!! More fun!

Obviously, she'll have a much better idea of what's wrong once the results from all of those little test are returned to her.

On the way home from her office, I talked with my mom and then some friends just to get them up to speed, since they had all been praying for me. During the conversations, I realized that I may have been just a little more stressed about this than I had thought.

I tell you all of this, not to garner sympathy. Emotionally, I'm fine now. I share this as background to what came next.

I was walking from the garage into the house that evening and I started singing the chorus to an old hymn: "God Will Take Care of You" I hardly remembered the words and it had been decades since I'd last sung it.

Of course, I was singing "God will take care of me". I guess it's a combination of perspective and bad memory.

Either way, I knew instantly that God would take care of me. Whatever this little problem is, He is in control. He has a plan for me in Africa and this little issue will not get in the way.

What an AWESOME GOD we serve who sends us love songs when we need them most!!!

Listen the melody here:

Be not dismayed whate’er betide,
God will take care of you;
Beneath His wings of love abide,
God will take care of you.

Refrain

God will take care of you,
Through every day, over all the way;
He will take care of you,
God will take care of you.

Through days of toil when heart doth fail,
God will take care of you;
When dangers fierce your path assail,
God will take care of you.

Refrain

All you may need He will provide,
God will take care of you;
Nothing you ask will be denied,
God will take care of you.

Refrain

No matter what may be the test,
God will take care of you;
Lean, weary one, upon His breast,
God will take care of you.
Refrain

Posted by Gabi at 2:04 PM | Permalink | Comments (3)

This morning I took Mr. Weed Whacker out into the front yard to play. We ended up getting into a fight.

I lost.

It wasn't really a fair fight though. I was betrayed.

I had just finished lovingly taping up open wounds on the extension cord. Parts of its wire were exposed and, I believed, a bit dangerous. And I didn't want those exposed wounds to get worse. (Hm, you'd think that would be appreciated.)

At first things were going well. I was merrily whacking weeds away: from the drive way, from my new walkway, from the mail box. But when I got to the main part of the yard, I guess, the Mr. W. didn't want to play anymore. He started kicking up rocks! First around my feet and ankles. Then I felt one on my gut. Definitely not a way to win friends and influence people!!

Oh, I was getting mad! The gloves were off now! I was NOT going to let that little guy keep my from cutting down the weeds in my front yard.

Then suddenly, there it was! The ultimate betrayal!!! A rock to the face. THWACK! Darn Mr. W. even drew blood. OK, hold everything...had to go get a band-aid for my face. Then it was right back out to the yard.

Oh yeah. Mr. Weed Whacker may have won that battle, but he will NOT win the war!!! Bring it on, baby!!

Posted by Gabi at 10:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Ok, I got this from a friend recently and it made me giggle.

Many of us "Old Folks" (those over 50, WAY over 50, or hovering near 50 - and even some of us hovering near 40) are quite confused about how we should present ourselves. We are unsure about the kind of image we are projecting and whether or not we are correct as we try to conform to current fashions. Despite what you may have seen on the streets, the following combinations DO NOT go together and should be avoided:

1. A nose ring and bifocals
2. Spiked hair and bald spots
3. A pierced tongue and dentures

4. Miniskirts and support hose
5. Ankle bracelets and corn pads
6. Speedo's and cellulite
7. A belly button ring and a gall bladder surgery scar
8. Unbuttoned disco shirts and a heart monitor
9. Midriff shirts and a midriff bulge
10. Bikinis and liver spots
11. Short shorts and varicose veins
12. Inline skates and a walker (my personal favorite)

And last, but not least

13. Thongs and Depends

Yeah, so sorry about the mental image this presents! :-D

Posted by Gabi at 10:39 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

So here's a little funny for your Friday viewing pleasure. :-)

Silly boys doing the Crazy Frog Dance by Axel F

Posted by Gabi at 10:45 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)