Friday, July 15, 2011

Progressing...

I am still growing and changing since the stroke. In April I told some friends that I thought I had gone backwards over the winter, and one who prays and has a prophetic gift said that Jesus had it under control and that I was getting ready for a big leap forward. It is sometimes hard for me to wait and rest in the Lord when things seem to move at a snail's pace, but I'm learning.

So it should have been no surprise when in mid-May I found myself able to do something I haven't been able to do since before the stroke. I woke up one morning able to and wanting to organize and settle my home. That may seem ho-hum and ordinary, but it is huge for me now. When my guys moved me here, they put out the rudimentary things, but the rest remained stored in boxes in my spare room. I often thought of going through those boxes; however the task not only seemed overwhelming, but also incomprehensible. I don't know how to completely explain what happened in the stroke, but that area of comprehension is finally coming back. I'm not done organizing yet, but I've gotten rid of some things and put others in place. I've also been able to climb on a step stool again, and even hang a couple pictures by myself.

I have wanted to reread some decorating books I got years ago at the half price bookstore, as well. I'd thought of getting rid of them because they were incomprehensible to me, but all of a sudden I understood them again.

I now am also getting more comfortable with grocery shopping. I've been doing it for a year and a half or so, but it was very hard for a long time. Now I can make a list of more than seven items and even use the self checkout or go to a cashier and pay without taking what seems to me like forever. It's not like it used to be, but I have hope it can keep improving.

My typing is getting better--faster and with fewer mistakes than before, at least at times. I'm starting to play a few computer games to work on eye-hand coordination as well, and to play solitaire with a deck of cards from time to time to work on dexterity. Also, my driving is still slowly coming along. At least I'm no longer running up on islands at the gas station, and I can put in gas with less trouble. Oh, I also am washing dishes more. Laundry is still a challenge, as I have to drive to get there to do it, but it's possible.

So, though things are not happening at my desired pace, they are happening. Thank you all for your continued prayers on my behalf. Love in Jesus, Barb