PART OF MY ROUTINE

Good morning from Adelaide, where yet again it is deliciously cool.   The summer sun is shining in a clear blue sky, but the ferocity of the blistering heat it not with us at this time - it is truly beautiful.   It is lovely to stand hanging washing out and feel a gentle breeze embrace me.

Laundry days are much easier now the children have grown and there are no sports uniforms to wash and school uniforms to press.    I miss the piles of laundry though - I miss the socks, I miss the skirts and shorts and the changing of the sizes which would remind me that my little brood was growing up.   I would peg out the socks and think of each child and hope and pray their feet would carry them on safe pathways.   When winter came and it was laundering winter woolies, I would think and pray that they would always be warm and safe.    Each child's specific needs would cross my mind and I would hold them close.

Those days when the whole hockey team uniforms came home to be washed, because my little star had said  "My Mum will wash them"  are clear in my mind and I loved the "flags" flying in the breeze.

Then of course there were the  "odd" socks - just where that other one went never failed to amaze me but we had an "odd sock basket" and each school holidays we would gather round and try to sort them in pairs.   It was fun and we did achieve sometimes, but always there was that little lonely odd sock.

Wow - I have taken a detour here and gone way off track from what I intended to write today, but I think I can steer my thoughts back to my plan.

The quote at the top of the page about scars and healing was my focus for today - we all have scars (some much bigger than others) and they are badges on honour for what we achieved and should be worn with pride   They tell the story of the difficulties we have overcome.   

Today it is my day for sorting my medication into daily doses and this takes awhile and like with the socks, I use the time as thinking time.    I think of my Donor, the man who gave me the gift of life by donating his organs and I was the blessed recipient of his liver.   I think of him and his life and his family and how that every day of celebration for me is a celebration of a totally different kind for them.   I am thankful for every day of life that is mine and I correspond with his wife sometimes and she assures me "he will be looking down from heaven smiling that you are doing so well."   I have named my liver 

"OLIVER" and Oliver and I are getting along famously and I am thankful.

I am thankful too for the wonders of modern medicine and the drugs available to keep me from rejecting my gift and although there are a lot of them - I take them willingly and happily.

Some photographs of medication sorting time for you  - for those familiar with transplant these will be ordinary and a very familiar similar scene.

It is part of my routine of the "new normal" - a routine where I can take one days supply with me or a whole week or more - all sorted ready to just "pop the pills" and again I am thankful.

Thank you for visiting the Musings from my Heart and for coping with the detour my mind took us on today.    Wear your scars with pride (whether they are physical or emotional scars) let them fade with time and be proud of the journey you have taken.    Be strong and be brave.

My heart is peaceful and thankful on this lovely Tuesday.

Love and hugs,

These are very useful and bring lots of smiles. 

THANKFUL THURSDAY ONCE AGAIN

Welcome to Thankful Thursday in my little corner of the world, where the sun did not shine at all today and the rain fell constantly - such a contrast to the last few days, but gardens will be happy to have such a lovely steady drink.

Today has been a busy day for me - our for Coffee with two work friends and lots of good conversation and laughter - nothing has changed since we worked together and it was good to discuss and reminisce.

Then I was taken out to Lunch and today seems to have been one long meal and of course this evening I am anything but hungry so dinner will be skipped I think.

I am tired tonight and it will be an early night - I have a schedule to keep tomorrow of working at our Royal Show for Donate Life - and that pleases me to be able to pay it forward by encouraging others to become Organ Donors.

It will be a busy day and the quote above is one I really like that people will remember how we made them feel - try to reach out to people and meet them at their point of need with a word of kindness or a simple act of kindness.  It really is a special feeling to know that someone has lived a little easier because of a kind word or deed we have done.

I have a sick neighbour at the moment so I am on watch to make sure she is okay and I am in constant touch with her daughter - just a little thing, but I now it means as lot to both of them.

As I type the rain is falling heavily again and I shall be heading to my bed very soon with a thankful heart for the life I have been given and for the wonderful things I am able to see and do.   I am indeed Thankful on this Thankful Thursday.

I hope you can find something to be thankful for and that life is sweet for you.  I have so very much to be thankful for every day.

Celebrate and Embrace your life with a thankful heart.

Thank you for visiting the Musings of My Heart.

Love and hugs.

A HOLIDAY WEEKEND SATURDAY

Good Afternoon and welcome to the Saturday of a holiday weekend here in Australia - the reason for our holiday is to Celebrate Australia Day.

The roads are busy as people travel to enjoy a break from work - the last one before the Easter break and the last one before School resumes on Tuesday.  In many homes over the last week or so there would have been busy times with the gathering of school uniforms, lunch boxes and books ready for the academic year.   So many little ones start school for the first time and for once the weather is going to be kind and remain cool for at least the first week. 

Those days are long gone for me and they were chaos but I miss them, I miss the organizing and planning and the things we would do in the last week.   Often the Christmas tree was left up until this last week and it gave them something to do having exhausted all the other "must do things" and in this last week my kids were allowed to have whatever they liked for breakfast.   As it was often very hot they were likely to choose to have ice cream - and on Thursday I kept up the family tradition and had chocolate chip ice cream for breakfast in very high temperatures ~ and the Christmas tree is still in the process of coming down - there were eight hands put it up and there has been only one taking it down - now up to two with the freedom of my hand from the splint.

It is a very quiet weekend for me - The Golden Girls did have a movie planned for Monday, but sickness means that this will probably not eventuate - which is fine with me - I can catch the film on DVD later. (Quartet with Jimmy Connelly).   I do however, want to see "Lincoln" on the big screen and this starts on February 5th. here in Adelaide.

The "Girls" have tickets for a concert of 'CELTIC THUNDER'

on Tuesday 15th. - tickets we have had booked for about five months and the it seemed the day would never get here - and it is almost upon us.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OjmWQ3YxDH0

Go across to YouTube and listen to a snippet of what I am looking forward to.

It is lovely having something to look forward to and the anticipation is wonderful - often adding to the pleasure of the whole experience.

The weather in my fair city is delightfully cool and I am relishing it - the forecast for the coming week is for cool days and nights just designed for sleeping.  I am not silly enough to think that our hot summer is over but I am wise enough to enjoy the respite from the heat.

I have had a lovely afternoon "nap" and think if Napping were an Olympic Event that it is quite likely I would be a gold medalist.  I can recall days when the children were small when I ached to just lie down for a while and now I can and often do.

I have had lovely telephone conversations during this lazy day and it reminds me so much of the importance and value of the communication systems we have available to us.

In many parts of the United States snow is falling and I received a photograph taken from my friend's window showing me what he could see - snow covered vehicles.  This photograph revived in me many memories of my childhood days and snow storms and building snowmen - nice memories and receiving the picture delighted me.

It's the little things that often bring great joy to us.  A simple text message saying something funny and sharing part of a normal ordinary day can and does mean the world.

Everyday I am aware of the blessings that are mine and the gift of friendship is right up there near the top of the list.

There is always something to be thankful for and I am thankful for so many things.   I am thankful for my life, for the life of those I love and the gift of life we have been given.

Thank you for visiting The Musings of My Heart and sharing part of my journey - it is a thankful and very aware heart today.

Love and hugs,

WORDS FOR THIS YEAR 2013

Welcome to my world - a much cooler place since we were graced by a cool change at three this morning.   I sat outside for a while after the wind changed and enjoyed the leaves tossing in the trees and watching clouds race across the moon.

I have been exercising my hand at regular intervals and am happy to report that even typing is a little easier as the fingers are a little less still and as little stronger.  I have been touch typing for nearly 50 years and have found it so limiting to not be able to do it - but I am on the road to recovery and hopefully will be able to blog regularly again.

I am also in the process of discussions with a beautiful lady who is going to design a template for my blog - I did think all pinks and soft colours, but at the moment my thoughts are heading towards something much bolder and brighter - perhaps making a statement of how glad I am to be alive and living a good life.

The blog will remain "Musings from my Heart" irrespective of what design I choose.   If you have any ideas I would be interested to hear from you.

Today's beautiful cool weather has made me restless and I was thinking a while ago that I would go to the River for a while - then I realized that I am still not to drive - so that will have to wait.

It's been a tough couple of weeks in the Transplant Community and in the Group I manager - we have lost three members in a very short period of time. Such different stories:

 Sandi who had her transplant over twenty five years ago and lived every moment to the full.

Greg who chose not to be listed for transplant and to just let nature take it's course.

And this morning I woke to read the news that Scott - a beautiful young husband of 38 young years had died, leaving his wife Jennifer and their three young children Caitlin, Benjamin and Mason.  He had been number one on the list for the last month but there was no call for him and the sinister nature of Liver Disease took his life.

Working and being involved in the Transplant Community we ride the roller coaster of highs and lows, successes and failures but constantly live with the hope of a gifted life.

I also had news of Big McKenzie (Bone Marrow recipient) who is failing fast and is now being sent home on Hospice care.  I hold Melinda and McKenzie in my heart and feel immensely sad as I have traveled the road with them for over two years.   This child is now 11 and could not have had better or more loving support and care and I promise my love and care to both of them for the coming days of their journey.

All of this has touched me deeply and with tears I rejoice for the years that Sandi had, the strength and the courage of Melinda and McKenzie, the wonderful care given to Scott and to Greg by their respective spouses and bow my head in humility that I was blessed to receive the gift of life and that my journey has been guided by wonderful medical teams and that I am alive and well.  I came so close and I am thankful for each day of my gifted life.

These past weeks have strengthened my resolve to work towards better education and understanding in the community of the value of Organ Donation, to talk freely with anyone who will listen, to work towards educating perhaps the young in our High Schools - let's get them when they are young and they will go home and do the educating of their parents.

My transplant does not define me - it is not who I am - it is what happened to me and if I can use this gift to help others then I will happily do so.

Talk with your friends and most importantly have the conversation with your family so they know your wishes and be sure to register in the State where you live.

Yes I am back, and yes I am still championing the cause and I will go on doing so - it's what I do - it is the action of a caring and compassionate heart and one who lives every day with gratitude.

My worlds for 2013 are "CELEBRATE" and "EMBRACE" and I will go on celebrating the wonder that Organ Donation is and my wonderful life ~ and will embrace the cause and work steadily for it.

Thank you for visiting the Musings of My Heart today a heart that is filled with wonder and touched with sadness for those for whom the path has not been so easy.

Love and hugs,

I CELEBRATE LIFE

Today I celebrate life in all it's beauty and with all it's complexities.

I celebrate every breath I take and each morning when I wake reminds me of how lucky I am to be alive.  Each morning brings a new song of gratitude from my soul to the man who gave me the gift of life, to the surgical teams and nursing staffs who restored me to health, stood me back on my feet and helped me on my way.

I am thankful for my family who cared for me and loved me when I was unlovable because that's when I needed them most.

I celebrate daily the joys of friendship and the kindnesses shown to me, the love expressed and the care given.

I celebrate every sunrise, sunset, rain storm and the changing of the seasons which all serve to remind me that I am alive to see them happening.

I embrace cool shady spots on hot days, hot chocolate by the fire in winter, lovely books, perfume, flowers, outings with friends, deep and meaningful conversations with those who love me just the way I am and who rejoice that I am still here.

I am taking this life I have been gifted and grasping it with both hands and although I know I live on borrowed time, I am happy and living my life to the full.

My words for 2013 are "celebrate" and "embrace" and I know I made the right choice with those as I know also did my dearest friend did when he chose "Carpe Diem"  - I celebrate and embrace and seize every day.

Take hold of your life, grasp it with both hands and waste not a moment in self pity, wallowing and misery - find joys in the smallest things, laugh, love and be silly - splash in puddles, dance in the rain, walk by the river and splash in the sea.

CELEBRATE and EMBRACE your life.

Thank you for visiting the Musings of this pensive, thoughtful and happy heart and go peacefully and celebrate and enjoy.

Love and hugs,

Linda.

WINDY WEDNESDAY and 77 WEEKS.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mrZRURcb1cM

Fleetwood Mac - Dreams (Thunder only happens when it's raining)

Welcome to a wet winter Wednesday - and we have had our share of rain and thunder and very strong winds.  I love the winter months when snuggling up in a warm bed is delightful, but the damage caused by strong winter winds and flooding rains is heartbreaking.  We have had lots of trees down and many houses have lost their roofs.  (not sure when the spelling of more than one roof became roofs because I was still under the impression it was rooves)   but Praise be no one has been hurt.   I acknowledge the work done by the Emergency Service who venture out of their own homes into the dark of night to help people who have received damage.

I have achieved another milestone in my life today - 77 weeks ago I was in surgery and receiving the gift of life - another family in the midst of the grief at losing a loved one stepped forward and I was the lucky recipient of a liver.   I am alive and well and I wake each morning with a thankful heart knowing how close I came to not being here at all.

I am an passionate campaigner for Organ Donation and for those new to reading "The Musings from My Heart" let me please encourage you to have the family discussion about Organ Donation and to sign up to the appropriate register where you live..
"Don't take your organs to Heaven - Heaven knows we need them here."

This is the link for Australia:
http://www.medicareaustralia.gov.au/public/services/aodr/register.jsp

I was supported by an amazing team - medical, support staff, nursing staff, friends and family and I am here today because of the way I was carefully and prayerfully supported.

The wind seems to have died down and the sky is a little brighter but still cloudy from the volcanic ash from the eruption in Chile - so many thousands of miles it has traveled and it is on the second trip around.  Our airline system is in chaos and causing lots of difficulties.

I understand that parts of USA are having summer storms and lots of rain - same rain, same storms but ours is cold and yours is warm.

I hope that your Wednesday is wonderful and that you can find something to be thankful for - spend time with your children, splash in puddles, walk in the rain, stay cool, stay warm - LIVE LIFE.

Thank you for visiting and reading "The Musings from My Heart - a thankful heart this morning.

Love and hugs,

SUNDAY IS BROUGHT TO YOU BY THE NUMBER.....................

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dk9Yt1PqQiw

The Numbers Song

Welcome to beautiful Sunday and those of you who have been following my Blog for some time will know that the posts on the morning after a sleepless night can be interesting.  As I lay there wishing for sleep to come and carry me away I somehow got to thinking about numbers.

I think it came from the fact that I wondered what the date was and at that stage is was the 30th. day of May - then the year Two thousand and eleven.  Then I wandered back much further than that  -  back to the date and time of our birth.  Today is Sunday (first day of the week) and the weather here is cold, crisp and sunny.  Everywhere is damp but beautiful.  Temperature 15 degrees (another number)

The numbers that relate to our lives are merely combinations of the numbers zero to nine and when I thought of all the numbers attached to my life and then the number of people in my family, my suburb, my city, my country and the world - that's when I fell asleep.

I am a word person and until now had not realized the significance of numbers in my life.

Let's explore the numbers relative to me and no doubt you too.  Some are significant milestones and there is quite a patch of time where no numbers seem to be important, but as I got older how important they became.

1.     Date of birth 

2.     Registration of birth (no doubt a number there)

3.     First Library Card

4.     Date we left England

5.     Date I met my oldest friend (same date we left England)

6.     When I left school

7.     Started work

8.     Became engaged

9.     Was married

10.    Birth of first child

11.     Birth of second child

12.     Became ill

13.     Dates of hospital stays.

14.     Liver Transplant ( I am number 194 at Flinders)

15.     Contracted Stevens-Johnson Syndrome

16.     Finally came home

17.     Celebrated first year anniversary.

These are all important milestones in my life and all have their own number combination.  I then thought of all the other numbers that related to me.

a.       Drivers licence

b.       Bank Accounts

c.       Medicare card

d.       Library cards

e.       Video Store card

f.       R.A.A. (Roadside Assistance)

g.       Car registration

h.       Social Security Number

i.        Credit cards

j.        Medic Alert

k.       Organ Donor card

l.        Queen Elizabeth Hospital patient number

m.       Flinders Medical Centre patient number

n.        Pharmacy card

o.        Telephone number

p.         Mobile phone number 

q.         Insurance (house and car)

r.          Cinebuzz cards (two - old and new)

s.          Seniors card

t.          Medibank Private

u.          Bakers Delight

v.          Amnesty Membership 

w.          W.E.A. Student Card

x.          Medical Emergency card

y.          Ambulance card

z.          Pharmacy card.

All of these numbers are a combination of the basic 0 - 9 and it fascinates me how they are not doubled up anywhere - some may have a letter combination too.

Famous Mathematicians such as Archimedes, Sir Isaac Newton,  Pythagoras, Blaise Pascal, Carl Friedrich Gauss and many many others have my greatest respect because with just the basic numbers they were able to calculate so many things.

Numbers at school are important - times tables, algebra, geometry - all fascinating in their own way.

We use references to counting in our daily conversations such as:

1. You can count on me
2. Count me in 
3. Countdown
4. Let me count the ways
5. Count your blessings
6. Count sheep
7. I loooooooove to count (Sesame Street's own Count)  thanks Michelle for pointing out the omission.

I am still a words girl but after giving all of this some contemplation I have a greater respect for numbers and will probably look at them very differently in future.

This beautiful Sunday I "count" myself blessed indeed to be able to be alive and well and using the computer which I understand is a combination of numbers/letters too, to be able to "count" my blessings and  "count" the number of people who visit this page and oh so much more.

I am blessed indeed to be number "194" and encourage you all to "step up and be counted" to enrol as an Organ Donor, Blood Donor - count your blessings and do it for someone else.

Try to count the stars at night, the ripples on the river, the hairs on the head of that beautiful child you rock to sleep, the moments that have taken your breath away and be thankful for life itself.

Well - your numbers up for today and I thank you for visiting and reading "The Musings of My Heart" - I have lost count of the things I have to be thankful for.

Love and hugs,