"And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose"

 Romans 8:28

__________________

I may be absent for a while.

In October, I saw my primary care physician and mentioned a growth on my upper eyelid, which I'd had for well over a year but which had suddenly gotten larger. He lanced it, thinking it was a cyst. It wasn't a cyst. So he sent me to a dermatologist. The dermatologist took one look at it, was visibly shaken, and told me to see an ophthalmologist right away because "it looks like cancer" and he didn't personally want to mess around with my eye. 

The ophthalmologist looked at my eyelid and said he would do a biopsy, but that it really looked like Molluscum contagiosum...a virus usually seen in young children but increasingly found in adults. A couple of weeks passed, and he performed a rather grueling biopsy, removing the top layers of growth and then poking around between my eye and eyelid with a Q-tip, trying to get my body to fight the virus he was sure I had.

Fast forward two more weeks. The biopsy results were in: It was not Molluscum, nor was it basal cell carcinoma. My ophthalmologist said I should see an ophthalmologist/plastic surgeon in a larger town several hours away to have the growth removed. A few weeks later, this plastic surgeon examined me and said, "I don't know what it is, but it is too suspicious to leave alone. It could be precancer or cancer." His plan: To cut off the skin on my upper eyelid (with a local anesthetic only) and then use grafted skin from below my eyebrow to replace it.

That will happen on the 15th of this month. I've been told I must do essentially nothing for a week after surgery; any strain might cause the grafted skin to die. So I've been working hard making freezer meals, prepping for Christmas, and assigning my most important homestead duties to my kids and husband.

I honestly don't know exactly when I'll be back here. Maybe I'll be itching to write and come back in just a few days. Or maybe it will be too hard to see, and I may need to wait weeks. (The eye that won't be affected is a weak-visioned eye, so that will come into play.)

Am I worried about the surgery? Sort of. I am not unfamiliar with surgeries. This will be my 9th (!) and my third in 2020 alone (!!). But I don't relish being awake during the procedure. And I confess I am more worried about how the surgery will affect my looks than I care to admit.

When I get right down to it, however, I trust fully in the Lord. (Isn't it weird how we can trust the Lord 100% with our brains, but our hearts still feel anxious?)

I appreciate your prayers, of course, and I will be back here just as soon as I am able! In the meantime, I hope you have a wonderfully and peace-filled Christmas!

 

* Frankly, this is disgusting. If ever there were ever companies to NOT give your business to, it's these. 

* So now we're expected to have a sewing pattern shortage. Due to - get this - a malware attack. 2020!!!

* This has become a new family favorite: Salsa chicken.

* Looking for last minute gift ideas? Check out these gifts in a jar ideas! 

* Remember: Christmas grocery store sales are a great time to stock your pantry. Check out my other tips for creating a deep pantry, here. 

* Tips for homesteading in the suburbs. 

* Did you know I have a YouTube channel that focuses on homesteading? Check it out!

Christmasy Bakes:

* These cinnamon rolls are SO delicious! I am making some this weekend to freeze for my family for Christmas. (I'll bake and frost and then freeze them, wrapped individually.)

* Seriously, you should not make any other cranberry bread but this one ;)

* These molasses cookies are so good, I've had people come up to me a DECADE after eating them and say, "Gosh those were the best. Can I have the recipe?"

* And for those, like me, who should not eat all that sugary, carby stuff, check out this list of amazing keto/low carb Christmas food - plus my tips for staying on track during the holiday season.

“...Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!" John 1:29