the surgery

Well, the surgery went well and I've been home for 2 hours. But Dr. Nord did not have good news for us. The outlook isn't too good. He said that we need to get preg in the next few months or it looks like our only other option is in vitro fertilization. The endometriosis is stage three (of 4) and Dr. Nord said my tubes are too tired from the endo and that they aren't able to get the egg into the tube to be fertilized and then into the uterus to implant. He likened it to trying to use your arm after your arm has been injured and it just doesn't work like its supposed too. He also said that eventually I'll probably end up having to have a hysterectomy after we are done having kids because the endometriosis grows so quickly. Evidently mild and endometriosis does not apply to me. He said that endometriosis really likes me. We'll see what happens in the next few months. Thanks for the prayers, keep them coming.

Cedarly Retreat

Many of you know that last week we went to a place in Wisconsin called Cedarly for a retreat. I can't count how many people have called it a vacation. It was not vacation, it was retreat. Many times we go on vacation and come home to get a break from the chaos of vacation. This was not vacation. We spent so much time in prayer and seeking God. Two things not often done on vacation. The retreat center is on lake front property and has quite a history. It's been a retreat center for ministers since the late 90s. There were five other couples there with us. All of us had such unique stories. We enjoyed every one of them. It was an amazing week of making new friends, eating fantastic food, spending time with James, and most importantly seeking out God's will. It was so peaceful. The only time we drove off the property was to make a quick run to walmart. We biked and walked. We went to a prayer service at an Episcopal Seminary that was just up the road. We canoed in the lake. I caught a couple of fish. The lake water was so clean you could see right to the bottom through most of the lake. Amazing! There was no tv, no computers, and no phones.

This is the prayer house or Wood Shed as they call it. It's a one room log cabin style house with a wood burning stove in the corner. Many pastors from the area rent it out for free most days, but there were a couple of days no one had it rented so we could use it. James and I spent most of Monday morning reading and praying in there.

Here are some pictures of the house. There was a wrap around screened in porch, sitting room, library, entryway, dinning room, and more sitting areas. The dining room had to be my favorite place. All fourteen of us sat at the table and ate most of our meals together. One meal a day (monday through friday) was prepared by a chef. He was quite a chef. Mike made us some amazing gourmet meals. Steak and Potatoes, Apricot salsa chicken, pistachio glazed salmon. I seriously gain 4 or 5 pounds last week. The other meals were served buffet style, but they were yummy and we usually ate them together as well. We didn't have to lift a finger to clean a thing. There was also a bottomless jar of "pastor power pills" (peanut m&ms) that we made sure we ate plenty off.

Most of the time we spent doing what you see here. We enjoyed the peace and quiet and came home rested and ready to go.

If I think of anything more, I'll write later. I've got to go to bed now. Been a long day. Tomorrow morning I have to have some minor surgery to clean out all that endometriosis that has probably come back. Yuck! So much for peace and quiet! I'll let you know how it goes.