The Denver/Billings Journey--Prayer Warriors at work.

All of the women who read this will totally understand when I say that having a 'seated' MRI is like having a body mammogram. The magnets squished me and pulled me and then I was told to 'sit still'. Uh huh!

I know I should be grateful--and truly I am grateful, that we found an MRI that I could sit in instead of lay down. No one said what size the seat was, though :( I was perched on that little seat for about one hour with the orders, 'do not move'.

I admit, I lost it one time. I cried like a baby and embarrassed myself. Then, I closed my eyes and focused on the Lord. I knew so many of you were praying for me and right then, I could feel the effect of those prayers. It was as if God engulfed me with angels that ministered comfort to me. I took as deep a breath as the squishing machine would allow me and opened my eyes. It was no picnic to endure the rest of the medical test, but I did endure and we finished the test.

We drove to Denver Sunday afternoon (June 1-08) arriving there around 8 p.m. Kevin suggested that we stay in the Ramada, but the 'always looking for a better deal' Joyce, saw 'The Knights Inn' next door and thought we could save some money staying there instead.

OK. Longsuffering Kevin pulled into the Knights Inn and got us a room. Having waited the last thirty miles to stop for a bathroom break, I headed to the potty first thing. While sitting on the throne I first noticed a strange pattern on the floor of the bathroom. Upon closer inspection, I saw it was hair! I know my eyebrows lifted and my gag reflex began working overtime. I finished my 'business' and then dampened some toilet paper, intent upon cleaning up that hair before Kevin entered the bathroom area.

The more I swiped at the hair, the more hair I saw on the floor. Uck!

I went over to the sink to wash my hands and saw whisker hairs surrounding the sink. Oh ugh! Again, I took a swatch of toilet paper and went to dampen it. When I lifted the sink handle, the whole device came out of the sink. Oh my!

I had visions of water squirting out of the hole, but it didn't. However, under the sink, a metal piece fell to the floor. I bent over to look under the sink to see what had fallen.....and to my utter dismay under the sink had dead bugs, gobs of hair of various sorts, and bits of this and that.

I sat down once again on the comode to think this through. I could pitch a fit and we would go to another hotel. I was so tired by now that I ALMOST didn't care how dirty the room was if I could find a mostly clean place to go to sleep.

We travel with my recliner, so MY sleeping place would be fine. Kevin inspected the bed and found that the sheets LOOKED clean. OK. We can deal with this. I didn't go into the bathroom barefooted any longer, but we decided that if our dear friends, Tom and Sheila could live and minister in Mexico, we could certainly stay one night in this not so good hotel.

The next morning we got up and prepared ourselves for the upcoming medical test. We ran through a Burger King drive through and Mr. Kevin ordered a coffee with one cream and one sugar. To our astonishment, the person on the inside, taking our order asked, "Would you like onions with that?".

We looked at each other, eyebrows lifted and we both shrugged and Kevin hesitantly answered, 'uh, No, thank you"...and then we both fell into laughter. The embarrassed young man replied, "Sorry about that". Our orders were fine and we celebrated being able to eat at a Burger King (we don't have that in Worland) and went on about our day.

We finished in Denver around noon, caught a quick bite of lunch and were on our way to Billings, Montana. We watched a fabulous storm as we neared Billings. We saw several funnel looking fingers coming out of clouds. We stayed at the Hospitality House associated with the Church of Christ in Billings. It was a restful cottage that blessed us so much.

I met with my Endocrinologist Tuesday morning who was encouraged by all my medical numbers, and after taking more blood from me, we took our leave and were on our way to lunch and Walmart. I have to tell you, we went to FIVE WalMarts during our journey. ha. I use some 'over the counter' medicine that seems harder and harder to find, so when we are at any WalMart we look to see if they have any and always buy whatever amount they have in stock. Then, using my electric powered cart, I scooted all over those WalMarts looking at all the racks marked "Clearance".

I got some wonderful deals. I found some shirts for our grandsons (a dollar each!!!) and some maternity clothes for Sarah (also $1 and $3 and $5 each) and two winter shirts for me (I thought for next year, but it is cold enough I am wearing one today!!!!).

We got back to Worland around 8 on Tuesday evening. My living room/dining room and kitchen still are covered in "unpacking the car" stuff. I haven't had a moment yet to get it all in order and you KNOW that is bugging me.

After we got home and had many hugs from our reunion with daughter, Sarah, we went over to the Blakes and let our Sarah have opportunity to deliver a baby bed to their Sarah for the arrival of her new baby. Our Sarah found this beautiful baby bed at a garage sale on Saturday and just had to get it for Sarah Blake. Our Sarah's giving and generous spirit touches my heart.

Yesterday I went to the government appointed doctor in Greybull for my approval for disability. It was a useless 'exam' and I came away frustrated and feeling misunderstood. I don't believe that he got the picture of my life at all.

I rarely give in to feelings of pity for myself, but I did yesterday. So much "stuff" came tumbling down upon my overwhelmed shoulders.

Poor Joyce, Poor Joyce!

OK, enough of that! I dried my eyes and took many deep, cleansing breaths, prayed, forgave myself, asked the Lord to forgive me, too and went about my day. I also had accupuncture yesterday. After that, I blessed myself with a nap before church....and so was able to go.

Thus, my house still looks 'unpacked' and fluffed and my spirit is a grating unease over that. There is only one way to fix it--I must face it and clean and put away. I meet with my counsellor this morning over at Cloud Peak Mental Health.....so that should be refreshing (I hope) and then, the rest of the day SHOULD be mine to try and house recover from my trip.

I couldn't have made it through all this without the help of my prayer warriors (who are still praying, according to the emails I have received). I am strengthened in my spirit through your prayers.