MONDAY TOP TEN: my hands

MONDAY TOP TEN: my hands

So, I have these lumps in my knuckles. They've been there at least as long as Freshman year

in high school when Josh Dressler (sp?) would make fun of me saying, "freshmen can't have

arthritis!". I've just always assumed that's what it was.

Fast forward to last monday, when I finally made an appointment with a general practitioner

for a couple things: arthritis, my left knee, etc...

They did a couple blood tests and xrays.

Tuesday I got the results of the xrays: knee looks good, no arthritis in my right knuckles.

And I'll be damned if I wasn't lamenting to my dear friend Adrienne about my lack of sympathy

for people the very next day. I am pretty sure I uttered these words: "remind me not to pray for

empathy, because you know God will throw down something big."

Maybe it's a little melodramatic of me (me? dramatic?), but the Dr. called that very night to tell

me that I was very positive for Lupus. What the...?!! Lupus? (well, i really thought it was spelled

lupis before googling it).

Here's what the Lupus Foundation of America has to say:

"Lupus is a chronic inflammatory disease that can affect various parts of the body, especially the

skin, joints, blood, and kidneys." Their website, as well as WebMD (which I think kinda sucks)

adds that it is an autoimmune disease.

Weird.

So, in honor of my dear inflamed hands, here is the real purpose of this post: TOP TEN!!

1. I really take advantage of my hands. They do nearly everything for me: brush my teeth,

hold my baby, turn the steering wheel, and wipe my butt. They are my slaves.

2. My hands sometimes hold important information for me: like this little reminder to

write a long overdue thank you note to the dear Sarmentos for their kindnesses, and

flowers sent to the store:

3. Heck, I am even using my hands to type this top ten about my hands. I hope they

are appreciative.

4. I wear this new little reminder about faith on my wrist (which is held together by my hands, really - so it counts). Kelli had this fantastic idea to make them at MOPS. It reminds me to have faith in the God who created and loves me, faith in my capabilities as a mother, and faith in myself, period.

5. I am thankful for most days when I can use my hands to accomplish all this without

any pain or hindrances at all. If I used any man-made machine as often as I use my hands,

the warranty would have expired long ago.

6. On my right hand I wear my grandmother's wedding ring. On the inside it is engraved: "JT to M 8-31-35" Translated, it means Julius Tjerrild to Mary, and the date is their wedding date. That small and thin band was good enough to last over 65 years on her hand. Of course it is now worn on mine.

7. My left hand bears my engagement ring and wedding band. Over eight years I have been wearing the engagement ring, and in February I will have worn them both that long. It is a reminder of my commitment and longevity.

8. Also on my left hand, ring finger, I have a scar from a time my hand was smooshed. I had just arrived at the mainland dock to the Young Life camp, Malibu in July of 1999. We were the first ones there, and helped to load the ferry with the week's goods. On the way down the ramp, with dozens of those plastic milk crates loaded up on the big cart, the load shifted and my hand was caught between the crates and the bar. OUCH. I spent the rest of the day with my hand in ice & thinking that I would be without a portion of my finger the rest of my life. But, in Cheatham dramatic fashion, it wasn't really that bad. I do have a scar, though.

9. I like my fingernails. Only until they get any longer than in this photo: after that, they tend to bend in funny angles and look warped. Not bad today, though.

10. Lastly, my hands are a little window to the whole me. They have scars, disfigurement, strength, and stature. They can nurture or harm, depending on how I choose to use them. They are my hands, and I am grateful for having two of them with ten fingers in all.

Unlike the foe of Inigo Montoya - you know, that swordsman with the six fingers.