Do you take this ring?

When my hubby proposed marriage, I loved the ring he gave me. 

I wondered, would he wear the wedding ring that I would give him? 

You see, many years earlier, his father once had an accident having to do with machinery catching the ring that he wore, resulting in his dad losing that finger. 

It seemed, the event stuck in my husband's mind.  In his whole life he had never wore a ring. 

During our engagement, I had bought a mood ring out of a gumball machine

and slipped it on his finger. 

I told him by wearing it, he would have good practice for one day wearing his wedding ring. 

He wore it and it did help; since our wedding day, my husband always wore his wedding ring. 

As a private joke during our marriage, whenever my husband was on the road working,

I would ask him, "Where is your wedding ring?"

He would respond, "Oh, it's on my toe." 

or,

"Through my nose."

or,

"In my belly-button."

We would have a good laugh, but I always knew it was on his finger.

One of the ways I knew something was wrong with his health is that his ring kept slipping off of his finger.  He had lost a lot of weight and although he was never a big man,

his weight precariously dropped down to 110 pounds.  With the help of planned meals and snacks, he is now up to about 118 pounds.  This may not sound like a lot, but it is a comfort to know that it is possible for him to gain weight. 

For Christmas this year, I bought him a chain so he can wear his wedding ring as a necklace.  The chain looks so pretty laying across his skin and the glimmer of his wedding ring still glows. 

Sunday Sharing- Tracey Kessler

These beautiful paintings are by artist Tracey Kessler.  They are dedicated to her mother who passed away from Pulmonary Fibrosis on October 30th, 2010. 

Eight paintings are within the series entitled "Breathe".  

Each painting has been given names, such as; Chaos, Denial, Present, Reality, Shock, Passing, Pass, and Eternal. 

 

This is such a difficult disease for individuals and family members.  The outlets each of us find to deal with Pulmonary Fibrosis are as truly unique as each of our spirits.

  Thank you Tracey for turning such a harsh reality into beauty and for sharing this with all of us!

Visit her website at http://traceykessler.com/

Family laughing, children excited, puppies excited, hot chocolate, Christmas lights, singing,

kisses under the Mistletoe, playing games, and food...lots of food. 

Many happy memories made. 

I hope your was Christmas filled with everything you love, too!

"Love life, engage in it, give it all you've got. Love it with a passion, because life truly does give back, many times over, what you put into it."
Maya Angelou

Sunday Sharing -Cheryl Hetrick

The following has been submitted to Breathing by:  Cheryl Hetrick

"Three years ago today, my life began anew. I found out that my life was forever changed in ways I could never have predicted. There are struggles but none that over shadow the blessings. I had no idea that so many people would stand with me with their love, support and prayers. Never have my eyes been so opened to the blessings all around me. Nothing makes life so clear as to be told that there truly is a limit on the days you have left.

With the life expectancy of those with PF being 3 -5 years, this three year mark has felt like reaching a milestone both triumphant and tragic. A friend told me that instead of looking at this date as sands going through the hour glass, I should celebrate with big banners proclaiming my victories. So I choose to celebrate this day as another birthday. My first is in March - the first day of my life and Dec 14, 2007 is the second - the first day of the rest of my life.

photo via

Air

Air. 

We all need it. 

Honestly, I had never thought so consciously about it, 

'til the day my husband couldn't get enough of it. 

Suddenly, I watched my strong, cowboy of a man,

being told by doctors that he would require

additional oxygen day and night,  

due to his sudden diagnosis of Pulmonary Fibrosis. 

From that day in October, life as we knew it- had suddenly changed. 

The same day he was prescribed oxygen,

he could no longer work and had to leave his job. 

Now, you have to understand, this is the type of person who took great pride

in supporting his family the best he could.  

He had no warning that his health was at such a critical point.

How would being connected to a 30 foot hose

affect his spirit and morale? 

I also wondered, what was going to happen to our family

and how would we get by.

On the bright side, at least now he could breathe a bit better. 

It really amazes me how something, 
that we cannot see or taste, touch or smell;

is essential to our basic function.  

That little thing,

called oxygen.