"My joy was as exceeding as was my pain..."

I can see! I should have written sooner, but I have been in such awe of life that I have not made time to write on this blog. I have been looking at and reading anything I can; books, labels, road signs, tags, and quilts!

About two weeks ago I went in for my regularly scheduled appt. to the Dr. He decided to not remove sutures for awhile, but give me the gift of sight as I heal. I have glasses, and a very strange prescription. In fact, on the prescription, the Dr. wrote, "This is not a joke." to the lab technicians who would prepare the glasses. My right eye sees things tall and skinny. My left eye sees this wide and fat, completely opposite of each other. So, it took awhile for both of my eyes to adjust and work together, but the perseverance paid off. I can see 20/30 in both eyes. I have not seen this well in years!

I do not know how long this prescription will be current. There are still seven sutures in my left eye, and nine in my right eye. Eventually, they will all need to come out, and as they are removed, my vision will change each time, thus needing new prescriptions. But for now, life is so good!

I am amazed at the things I have missed! Dirt and dust in my house, veins on a leaf, light and dark shadows in the trees, sparkles in the sidewalk. The other morning I was laying on the carpet in the sun reading my scriptures (I can read again!!!!) watching a tiny bug crawl up and down on the various strands of carpet fibers. I was fascinated and humbled to say the least.

How much I take things for granted. What an amazing blessing to have something restored to you that was lost! I know that all of your prayers have made a big difference in my life. I know that God is aware of all we have been through, and will continue to carry our family through this.

I am truly humbled by the ability to regain my vision. All though not perfect, and the process not yet finished, even to see for a day or two, just knowing vision is around the corner makes me cry. I have shed so many tears of joy over the last two weeks. I am so thankful to my surgeon, Dr. Mark Mifflin at Moran Eye Center in Salt Lake City. What a gift he has given me.

I would encourage all of us to take a moment and look at the things God has given us in our lives. They may not be perfect, be it our bodies, our health, our home, our economic situation, but so many people can and do have it much worse.

And for my sake, look. Look around you and focus on little things, like words, or nature, or ....even dirt on the floor, and say a prayer of thanksgiving that you are able to see it.

Life truly is good, and so worth living....

I am hoping to get back to work sometime soon...