Yard Sale With A Twist

A twisted ankle that is...

I will apologize first because I want to account for every detail of the last 24 hours so that I don't forget.  Which means I will bore you readers with the details, for which I am sorry.  But as you read I think you will understand.

Yesterday afternoon we were busy getting ready for our big yard sale.  I was full of energy and really excited to see how we would do.  As time was flying by I knew I needed to pick up the pace because we had a Youth/Parent meeting at 7:00pm.  I needed to finish up what I was doing and get dinner ready.  I was upstairs sorting through clothes and ran downstairs to fetch something.  Just as I was 3/4 of the way down my foot twisted, I missed the step and went tumbling to the bottom.  As I landed, my daughter came running to see what happened and if I was OK (in her words she heard a "yelp" and a "thud").  I immediately started praying.  All I could think about was that my ankle could not be broken because I needed to have this yard sale.  Our son ran and got Scott, who was cutting the grass, and when he came to help me up I had started getting really lightheaded, I was sweating and felt really nauseous.  Scott got me up and into a chair and we put ice on it and propped it on the ottoman.  I sat for about 30 minutes and the pain seemed to be settling down.  I got up to walk around and the pain was back, but worse.  Scott thought it best that we go to the ER and get it x-rayed.  I was to concerned about our yard sale and said I would not go to the hospital until he finished cutting the grass.  I knew if we went it would be dark before we got back and I wasn't going to have high grass for a yard sale.  (yeah, I'm stubborn like that).  So he made me promise I would not get back up and walk around, to which I begrudgingly agreed, and he went and finished the grass.  I made a few phone calls to begin lining up childcare, a ride for our daughter to get to Youth Group, and remained seated just as promised. 

I want to insert here that I have some of the greatest friends and church family on earth.  I had childcare lined up for my boys, a ride for our daughter and dinner for all three (not made by me) in less than 30 minutes. 

Scott finished the grass, he loaded the kids up, I hobbled to the van and off we went to deliver our kids and then to the ER.  We got to the ER and it was crowded.  Thankfully they put me through the fast track.  A nurse called my name to head for x-rays.  She said she would be right back with a wheelchair, to which I replied "That's OK I can walk."  About half way down the hall, as I struggled to keep up with her she graciously offered again,  me:  "No thanks I'm hobbling just fine."  Somehow in my warped thinking I found it to be more embarassing to be wheeled around then to hobble on what could potentionally be a broken foot.  (I know, I don't really get it either...now)  As we entered X-ray, she pointed out to the technician that she offered me a wheelchair, but I "insisted" on walking.  (yes, again I can be stubborn like that).  One and half ours later I was being ace bandaged, offered crutches, and praising the Lord because it was just a sprain.

We got home around 10:00 pm.  I attempted to do a few more things for the yard sale, but was in too much pain so I went to bed.  As the night went on, the pain increased and I kept getting repeated leg cramps.  Try walking off a leg cramp with a sprained ankle, ouch!  Needless to say I got very little sleep.  The alarm went off at 5:00am, time to set up.  At 6:30am one friend showed up to help knowing what had occurred the day before.  Then again at 7:00 am another friend drops into help.  Did I mention I have the best friends ever!!! 

As things were getting set-up the dreaded early-birds began arriving.  I made $37.00 before our yard sale even officially began.  We had a steady crowd of friends and strangers stop by all day. The weather was absolutely beautiful and in the quiet of my heart I could not stop praising God all day.  As my girlfriend put it, get behind me Satan, you cannot have this day or this yard sale or this adoption.  So with a sprained ankle the yard sale continued as planned.  The Lord blessed our day abundantly.  I was praying continually that we would raise $500.00 and we raised $614.71!!!  In our weakness He is strong.  He gets all the glory.  That stubborn pride that was so evident in the past 24 hours, well I'm humbled (for now).

I know I need to reflect on this a ton more, but right now my brain is fried, I'm exhausted and my foot is throbbing.  But I knew I needed to write, because when I look back I don't want to forget one last detail.  So thanks for letting me bore you.

One last thing, I have to drive to Harrisburg on Monday to get some adoption paperwork sealed at the Capitol.  Tonight a friend graciously offered to drive me there and back because of spraining my right foot.  Have I mentioned that I have the best friends ever!!!