The Toe Saga

Things here have been unexpectedly uncomfortable and disgusting.  For those who don't know, I developed an infection in my big toe which then abscessed.  I ended up having the nail completely removed.  And the infection has yet to heal completely.  It's been over a month since all this started.  I've been on four different antibiotics.  Some days have been better than others.  I would say the biggest challenge is fighting an infection in a part of my body that is pretty low profile.  I spend most of my time feeling fine and then suddenly, I'm exhausted at 2pm and want to spend the rest of the day sitting in my chair.  So lame!

It has also given me practice at asking for help.  My beautiful, sweet church, Roots Community, has done an amazing job of making sure we have food and entertainment.  Just today, a dear sweet woman with two children in diapers texted and offered to bring dinner tomorrow.  I can't tell you how much this means to me.  I'm not sure why this crazy toe still hurts and won't heal, but I feel so loved and cared for by the Body of Christ.  Perhaps there is more purpose in all of this than I have acknowledged up to this point.  We are new to Roots.  Everyone is new to Roots because Roots has only existed for about six months.  As much as I hate to admit this, I am fiercely independent, a quality admired by many, but not a strength in a servant and follower of Jesus Christ.  The Toe has required me to humble myself and admit that I cannot manage everything on my own.  Without this infection, it might have been many moons before anyone at Roots was able to serve me, other than by volunteering in a kids' classroom.  And the truth is that when we serve others we are hugely blessed.  I know this.  I experience it all the time.  I just forget that the Lord might want me to be on the receiving end of the service once in awhile, allowing others to be blessed.  Not to mention the fact that I didn't think it was possible to love these people as much as I do now.

I will also say that The Toe has allowed the boys to develop some pretty ingenious ways of entertaining themselves. See the video below.  We have also enjoyed more reading time together because I'm just not up for bike riding or sword fighting.  I found another homeschooling company that is literature based and have put the bulk of their kindergarten and first grade curriculum on hold at our library.  Such great titles, all new to me.  Billy and Blaze and The Biggest Bear are just a few we have enjoyed recently.  I'm also working hard to make sure the boys have individual reading material.  Paul has started reading Henry and Mudge books while Luke continues to rapidly consume all titles in The Happy Hollisters series.

Okay...the video.  Enjoy!