A New Hip

We began our week with a scheduled hip surgery for me (Debbie).   Her hip has been bothering me for a few months.  When an x-ray showed it was bone on bone, and the doctor had time to get me in sooner rather than later, and with the Mission President's approval, we decided to go ahead and schedule the surgery so I could be on the mend and back to needed physical activities.  The technique for performing hip surgery has come along way since my last hip surgery 23 years ago.  We were in an out of the hospital the same day, with walking, full weight bearing with a walker, before leaving the hospital.  It's quite a miracle.  We actually felt there were miracles along the way to make this happen as quickly as it did. 

A goofy photo getting ready for my first outside walk down the sidewalk and parking lot.  I sure look like an old grandma!

It is now nearly a week later, and I'm walking independently with minimal pain and no pain meds!  We feel so blessed.  

We hesitated to even write the Blog this week, because it's mostly been a week of recovery.  We put our missionary duties on hold while Stan took care of me while recovering.  

Saturday morning, I told Stan that I thought we should just attend Sacrament meeting on Sunday, go home and rest, and then go back to do our Mission Prep class, since this was my first day of going out beyond our apartment complex. So that's what we decided to do.

After dinner Saturday, Stan thought it would be fun to drive to the beach and see the sun set and then go out for gelato on Coronado Island.  This sounded great after being stuck in the apartment all week.  So we hopped in the car (well, I shuffled to the car), and barely made it to the beach in time to get some pictures.  

While driving to the gelato store, Stan got a call on his phone from our cute, young, new Relief Society President.  She asked if we were in town and available to help out in Relief Society on Sunday.  Stan told her about my surgery, which she didn't know about because we didn't tell very many people.  He told her that we weren't planning on staying the 2nd hour.  She understood and said good-by.  

After we got home, I kept thinking about the phone conversation.  About 10 pm, I looked at my phone and she had left me a Voicemail earlier in the evening wondering if I could help out.  Now I was feeling guilty and selfish for thinking that I needed to go home and rest the second hour.  I sent her a text and told her I was willing to help with what she needed.  Sunday morning I got up about 6 am and sent her a text.  I assumed she needed a teacher to give the lesson.  I told her I could do it; that I would be okay.  I heard back from her shortly after.  The assigned teacher had contacted her the week before and told her that she wasn't going to be able to teach.  So our RS Pres., Emma, figured that she would just teach the lesson herself.  Well, on Saturday, she received a call from her work, and they needed her to be at work Sunday.  She was stuck, and couldn't find anyone else to teach the lesson.  So I told her I would be happy to do it for her.  The lesson was President Holland's talk "Motion of a Hidden Fire"; I love that talk and was excited to lead a discussion on it.  

Actually, Emma blessed me.  I was feeling like I had made the wrong decision when I decided that I wouldn't stay the 2nd hour, and felt guilty and selfish for thinking that was more important.  When we finally connected and the plan was for me to teach the lesson, I felt great relief and happiness that I could make up for my selfish nature.  

Even in my old age, I keep learning lessons, and need to try to be better everyday.  I'm grateful for the patience of a loving Heavenly Father.  We feel like we've received many blessings relating to this surgery, and want to show our gratitude by serving the Lord.