Encouragement (for Life as well as the Garden)

Meeting Another Challenge

July 10, 2018

Change, heartbreak, hardship and other adversities can enable us to grow and become greater than we are. But they’re seldom welcomed with open arms.

If you’re like me it’ll take time and a lot of mental effort to turn those conditions into something that adds value rather than ruination to life.

I’ve fallen far short of my goals in the past four years. Bill being sick, his death, and dealing with ongoing grief have taken their toll.

Nonetheless my goals remain fixed. And one that is primary is to find ways to help you even more in your garden and your life.

It may be a longer journey than I anticipated, so I hope you will be patient and stay on the path with me until the very end.

Most Recent Challenge

I’m writing this post from my kitchen floor where I’ve been for the past two weeks after taking a bad fall by my garden. (Broke my femur/thigh bone.)

After I fell I dragged myself across the yard to the drive way. A neighbor found a thin piece of ply wood. As I held on she dragged me the rest of the way across the drive and the cement walk to my back steps. We spent the entire night outside until I could decide how I wanted to proceed.

I’d always wanted to spend the night under the stars, just not under those conditions. Nonetheless, the night was lovely and it is a night neither of us will ever forget.

At 6:30 AM I was moved into the house to my kitchen floor.

A Debt That Can Never Be Repaid

I called a friend to let her know I’d fallen. Although I didn’t ask or anticipate her coming over, she arrived shortly after with all kinds of healing herbs and tonics and food that she knew I might eat.

The next day a neighbor’s husband custom built a small frame around me to keep me in one place.

In addition to fixing the one meal that I eat each day, a friend harvested my onion crop, saving it from ruin.

I am grateful to the two women and their husbands for helping me at a time I needed it the most.

Computer is Difficult

I’ve only be able to use the computer for about three days. Still difficult lying almost flat on my back, being only slightly raised.

I’m gaining more movement everyday and healing nicely. Pain free about 98% of the time.

Walking Towards the Desired Outcome

As at any time in our lives the future is not sure. But as Bill and I have always done, I will continue to “walk” in the direction of the outcome I want.

Final Thoughts

Thank you for taking time to read this. I wanted you to know that you are always in my thoughts. If you need help, please feel free to email me as always.

Warmly,
Theresa

48 Comments

  • I’m so sorry to hear this. A trip to the hospital was not an option? Or just not what you wanted? (I would generally avoid it whenever possible myself, so I understand if so)
    A few years back my grandmother took a fall and my parents got her one of those wireless help buttons. After she took another one and had to use it she now lives with them and they take care of her, get her meals, etc so she can just rest and come out and read (and let the cats outside). But I don’t think she was physically as strong as you or with a strong sense of purpose in her life. I’m not sure of your age either but I think she is older (I’m not even sure of her age now that I am thinking but I think she is about 90)
    I hope you recover well and quickly. I am sure your home grown diet will help you. Best wishes.

  • Oh Theresa, I am so sorry about your fall but I am thankful for your good friends and neighbors. I am praying for a speedy recovery-that floor has to be uncomfortable. You are a strong woman!

  • I know that you don’t want to go for traditional medical treatment and that the cost is probably prohibitive. Even having been a nurse for all of my life until I retired several years I ago, I too avoid doctors and medical facilities like the plague. It just angers me that our country is where it is in this regard. Visits are rushed, treatments are as apt to cause problems as the problem you went for, and the cost is unaffordable for most of us. Wish I lived close enough to pitch in!

  • Theresa, what a story! I got up this morning feeling sorry for myself, grieving for and missing my son and other life events that I have no control over and wondering what else is in my future. You reminded me that we will deal with whatever comes in some way as long as we continue to “walk toward the desired outcome.” I really like that phrase. Thank you for sharing with all of us honestly and truthfully. God is in all things and I pray for your complete healing and recovery. I’m going to get out my fall seeds today and work on my garden.

  • Hi Theresa, I’m a newbie to your website but have been farming for about 7 years. Your story moves me so. I’m still exploring your website as time allows. I’m in central Virginia so I like how it is all applicable. Just wanted to let you know someone is being touched by your thoughts. Love, Mary Cush

  • Don’t think about the work that needs to be done, that’s what real friends are for. Just think of the pleasure gardening and get well.

    Thank God for friends

    Ray Kent

  • WOW! I am so sorry to hear this Theresa, but happy to know you are healing nicely and recovering well. I can only imagine how difficult it has been with Bill’s illness and passing, but you are a strong woman and I’m sure he would be happy to see you doing what you love. :))
    My prayers for your continued recovery and return to complete health!
    Never give up my friend. 🙂

  • Gosh Theresa, so sorry for what you have been through. I am wondering tho why you haven’t gone to the hospital or had a doctor. What are your injuries. I will definitely pray for your healing

  • Dearest Theresa, I am thinking of you and sending love your way. You don’t know me but I feel like you are a friend of mine. I am just a follower of your wisdom and practice. Hang in there and be certain you are in the thoughts of many.
    And the good news is that you can use the frame for your body as a cold frame this winter! Clever you

  • Understand totally your not going to hospital. Wish I knew all you medicinal healing herbs, etc. However, I know THE healer and His name is Jesus and am praying for your total and rapid recovery.

  • What an astounding witness you are and I have definitely learned a great lesson from your sharing this part of your life with us as well as all the wonderful knowledge of organic gardening. We started in a garden and one day I will be seeing you as one of the head gardeners in an eternally perfect garden.

    But in the meantime keep healing and know that friends and neighbors WANT to help you because your attitude and spirit are a blessing and they want to bless you back.

    Many prayers going out for your healing. You are loved from many different locations. Love from Florida

  • Thank you Theresa for sharing your story. It is so helpful to me. I found the words “until I decided how I wanted to proceed” especially important to remember that even in the midst of the most difficult circumstances we can take time to decided how we want to proceed.

    In our culture today we are pressured to make decisions quickly and going a different direction than the cultural norm can be uncomfortable.

    I will be praying strength and grace and healing for you. I am so thankful for neighbors to surround you who respect and support your decisions. That too is so important. It makes me think about who will I call on who will respect my decisions and support my situation in ways that I choose.

  • Theresa

    You are in my prayers.

    I am so glad you have so many loving people around you to help out

    Don

  • So sorry to hear of your troubles. I am brand new to your blog and really enjoy it. Praying for a fast recovery so you can get back on your feet and do all that you enjoy soon.
    Thanks for sharing so candidly.
    Jo

  • Medical care actually works. You should seek it. I used to hate going to the doctor too…….until I got breast cancer. I am glad you have friends and neighbors to help. I hope you get better soon, and I hope you have insurance.

  • Theresa-
    I had that feeling inside that ran up the back of my neck several days ago that something was amiss with you but I didn’t know how to reach out to you with out sounding silly.
    I am so grateful you have wonderful, amazing neighbors that love and care for you.
    I wish you a complete and speedy recovery!

    With all my love,
    Toni

  • Oh my goodness! What an ordeal! Your words do not fully convey the horror of your fall and subsequent events. My imagination has filled in the blanks, and I cannot believe that you took the trouble to write this post. But I am so glad you let us know what was going on! I would be worried sick after your prolonged silence if you hadn’t shared this with us. I am thinking about your immobility and the state of your garden. Thank God for Lisa! And what a blessing the new neighbors have turned out to be. I had wondered if the place ever was purchased, and now I know the rest of the story!

    Sending love to you – and prayers going up!
    -pat

  • Praying for you! What an amazing story and testimony to great neighbors and friends. Praying for God’s healing touch!

  • So sorry, Theresa. I’m guessing your neighbor already knew you well enough to drag you to the house and understood that’s what you wanted! Here’s hoping for a quick and complete mend. Take care.

  • Oh, Theresa I’m so sorry to hear of your fall and the pain you have experienced. Thank God for wonderful neighbors to help you and take care of you. What a blessing! You bless us always with your blogs. Like someone else said, I’m glad you told us as I wondered that we hadn’t heard from you. And what an effort it must have been to write this blog. Praying daily for you and for a complete healing in Jesus’ name.

  • Dear Theresa,

    So so sorry to hear about your fall in your garden.

    I hope for your speedy recovery.

    I do admire how you stay positive.

    Sending you good vibes and a virtual hug!

  • Theresa, So sorry to hear of your pain, physical and emotional. I feel like I know you thru your posts here. Sending you healing thoughts and prayers.

  • THERESA, i AM SO SORRY YOU FELL BUT SO THANKFUL FOR YOUR NEIGHBORS AND FRIEND WHO ARE THERE FOR YOU. i AM PRAYING YOU WILL HEAL QUICKLY AND SOON BE UP AND GOING STRONG. YOUR NEWSLETTER MEANS SO MUCH TO ME. i DO NOT GARDEN AS MUCH AS i USED TO BUT i STILL LOVE HAVING A SMALL ONE AND GET A THRILL OUT OF A BEAUTIFUL TOMATO AND MY ZINNIA BED WITH HUMMINGBIRDS AND BUTTERFLIES ETC. TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF AND KEEP LOOKING UP, YOU KNOW OUR HELP COMES FROM ABOVE AND THE GOOD LORD NEVER SLEEPS NOR SLUMBERS! LOVE AND PRAYERS, BETTY

  • Sending healing wishes from Tacoma, WA. I’m so glad to read of the caring and thoughtful support you’re receiving from Lisa and your neighbor, and their husbands. It speaks as much about you as it does about them!

  • Oh Theresa,
    How shocking to hear of your ordeal…everyone’s responses are all so loving, caring, and concerning. We have all become friends with you through TMG and we feel saddened by this news. What is most impressive (to me) is your last sentence….”I wanted you to know that you are always in my thoughts. If you need help, please feel free to email me as always”. Even through your physical & emotional pain, you think of others…..you ask if WE need help, when you’re the one hurting and in need!

    It may not be your nature, but what can WE do to help you now?

  • Thank you all for these beautiful messages of concern. It means more to me than can be imagined.
    Please continue to keep me in your prayers.I will need His help to get through this.
    I will try to answer each of your messages individually via email as I am able.
    Much love,
    Theresa

  • Hello Theresa,
    Hearing about your fall and your time flat out on the floor just broke my heart for you. But, I truly believe your determination in knowing your purpose is the best medicine to move you through a complete healing. With your wonderful neighbors as a godsend, you’re in the best hands.

    I know you will keep focusing on your positive outlook so your immune system has every benefit toward wellness. (Avoiding hospitals is probably the best decision you made. Nosocomial infections are constantly on the rise with MRSA running rampant in hospital; it’s almost impossible to avoid it.)

    Your lifetime of healthy eating will pay off in big rewards, now.! This is the real reason we grow organically, right? Let this be a lesson for all of us.

    You are a living testimonial and will have quite a story to tell to encourage more organic growers just for this reason!

    Sending you my love and positive thoughts for the quickest healing of mind, body and soul. Although there is much to grieve, life balances with an equal amount of happiness. Visualize yourself back in your garden…for that is your happy place.
    Fondly,
    Suzanne

  • Theresa, it is getting late and I’m hoping you’re resting whether on kitchen floor or some place you may have felt like moving. Totally with you on wanting to be at home and so glad your wonderful friends and neighbors are like minded. A fall really hurts and you’ve had a particularly bad one. I pray and believe for a good recovery. Warm regards – Judith

  • Theresa,
    I’m so sorry to hear about your fall. I hope you are able to heal quickly! Thanks for all your garden and life wisdom. There are a lot of people rooting for you! – Candice

  • Theresa, I am truly sorry to read about your fall. I am thankful that friends were available when you needed them. I am praying for you now and trust that that next I will be reading of your continued improvement.
    Laura Funderburk

  • I am so sorry to hear of your fall. Thank the Lord for your wonderful neighbors and friend Lisa who have helped you so much. I will be praying for your quick and complete recovery! Sending you love and good thoughts.

  • Theresa, Sending prayers up for your healing. I was really touched by your words about moving forward through grief. You have a talent for words and expressing thoughts. So sorry for your injury and I hope that you will be back on your feet soon. What a blessing our friends and neighbors are as blessings from God.

  • Hope you’re back on your feet and in the garden soon. Thank you for continuing to share inspiration and wisdom while you recover.

  • My dear gardening friend,
    Thoughts of you were with me this morning when I noticed my lovely white onion plants were starting to droop over. I had never planted onions to any extent until I found your blog. This is the first year I am going to try and keep them for longer than a few weeks and have to prevent myself from eating them all fresh.

    Thanks you dear friend for all your help. You are in my prayers for a quick recovery….we will miss you and I know your garden misses you. Hugs and love.
    PS…I loaned my copy of your book to a newbie gardener and I am anxious to get it back. Need to look up onions…

  • Theresa, I was so sorry to read about the recent challenges you’ve been faced with. I’ve been an avid reader of your blog since I stumbled across it almost a year ago, and while this is my first comment, please know you have not only changed the way I garden, you’ve changed my outlook on the whole process in general.
    I’m sending all my love and positivity your way – I wish I was a little closer so I could share some of my garden spoils this year! Southern Ontario to Virginia is a bit of a hike though, so you’re stuck with my thoughts and prayers and I’ll keep my lettuce to myself.

    Take care friend, we’re all here for you! If not in person then in spirit <3

  • Theresa,
    Gardening is more dangerous to our health than we realize. In the few short years I have been gardening I have nearly fallen more times than I care to count. Had things been aligned just right I could have been impaled on a few occasions. Lucky for me God was in a protection mode those times saving me from some sort of disaster.

    I feel like you are my sister. I only wish you the best. I have some deep emotions about what happened. First I want to say you are loved and many people care about your well being.

    Praying is a given I know most of us are doing. I want to say get a go fund me page. I would surely contribute. Better yet set up a way for us to contribute on your blog. If you have any financial concerns I am sure we would all contribute. We love you and are feeling somewhat helpless. Let’s get you all the help you need if possible.

    Steve

  • Oh no!!! I just found this post in my junk email box; of all the times for an email malfunction. I’m so upset to think of you on the floor with a frame around you; can your neighbors at least get you to your sleeping chair? Does your county have Meals on Wheels? What Senior Services are available? How rural are you? Thank God for your neighbors and friend Lisa. We all love you, Julie

  • Dear Theresa, I have not seen an update on how you are progressing and I am concerned. Do hope you are improving each day> Just want you to know I am still praying for your healing and for a full recovery. You are special, please keep us posted as you are able. Love and Hugs, Betty

Leave a Comment