March 2 – “Predicament”

Yep.  Predicament.  That most certainly became the word of the day yesterday.  but not before Chris and I managed to squeeze in one of those spur of the moments ventures into Texas.  We did have a purpose this time.  I received a gift card from my little brother to a place called Bass Pro Shop.  Never been there before, so I had no idea what to expect, other than maybe some fresh-water fishing equipment (bass), or maybe some kind of record shop specializing in opera (bass).  The closest one to our house was over in Pearland, so we filled up (our bodies – we went to Shrimp n Stuff) and planned to make an afternoon of it.  Bass Pro Shop first and the antique stores of Highway Six on the way home. 

Bass Pro Shop was pretty amazing.  Dead animals everywhere (the stuffed kind).  Big old tree in the center of the store.  Two huge fish tanks swarming with critters.  Even had a waterfall.  We passed by a seafood shop inside and we could smell barbeque coming from somewhere, but we couldn’t find the shop.  I think they were just pumping the smell through the AC system to get people to stick around.  Oh, I traded in my gift card for a pair of Tevas and an Abu Garcia fishing reel.  That was an exciting afternoon all by itself.  But it wasn’t over yet.

On our way back to Galveston we stopped at Highway Six antique store number one in Manvel.  Fun little place – the kind we especially enjoy since they realize most of their stuff is just junk.  Great place for surprising finds.  As we were studying the last row of treasures, I received a text from our good friend Bryan.  Not good news.  See, his wife Jennifer has been struggling for years to get her left ankle to fully heal after a break.  She has had that MRSA infection, and the docs think she is probably a carrier of it.  Right now she has one of those external halo things installed to keep the joint in place so it can heal.  Not a fun lifestyle.  She was just getting to where she could get around by herself some in her wheelchair.  She even drove herself to church Sunday.  So back to the text.  Bryan just wanted to let us know that he was headed to the hospital – following the ambulance.  Jennifer had fallen and appeared to have broken … are you ready for this one? … the other leg.  The always awesome Santa Fe Volunteer Fire Department and EMS rushed out and immobilized her leg.  They raced with her to the ER and even stuck around to let Bryan know which room she was in (He was following in their car).  As it turned out, we got there just before Bryan did, so we all made our way through the ER maze and found her room. 

There was little doubt the leg was broken.  It was officially a displaced fracture as well as a dislocated ankle.  The ER doc at Clear Lake Regional Medical Center and his crew did a great job of resetting the ankle and getting it splinted up.  There is still a possibility she may need some kind of surgery, but when we left they were waiting for orders from her own doctor to transfer her over to Methodist in Houston.  The pain was apparently under control, because her word for the day was “Predicament.”  Two broken legs, one encased in a halo.  I think I agree with her assessment.  Predicament, indeed. 

Revelation 1:5-6 says, “To him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by his blood, and has made us to be a kingdom and priests to serve his God and Father — to him be glory and power for ever and ever! Amen.”

Father, once again please hasten healing in Jennifer.  Give her and Bryan your peace and strength to walk through yet another setback here.  Amen.