FEBRUARY WALKER NEWSLETTER

Hello~

I remember Valentine's Day when I was a little girl, how each of us in the class brought from home a cardboard shoe box with a lid to cover with construction paper and decorated hearts, after making a slot in the top for cards. These Valentine boxes would sit on the top of our desk as anticipation built through the week. At night, time was spent making homemade Valentine cards for each boy and girl in one's grade. Then on Valentine's Day, everyone got a chance to go around and put the cards into their classmates’ boxes. When it was time for the party, cookies or maybe a cupcake (in the older classes) would be handed out along with Valentine’s candy. The punch, made up of Kool-Aid, was served in small paper cups. The boys usually gobbled down the cookies, candy, and punch while we girls savored every bite, often saving a piece of candy for the bus ride home. Each Valentine card was read, looked over, and counted. At least one popular girl would get a message that said, "I love you. Do you love me? Mark 'yes' or 'no'."

Back then, Valentine's Day was one of the highlights of the school year, unlike today, where candy, cookies, gum, and pop are given year-round to children, making it a lot harder to satisfy or excite them. Seeing your parents work hard to keep the family going, and doing without, made one grateful and appreciative of small things. Too often these values have become lost in our fast-paced, high-tech world of today.

Winter is still here in the Tennessee Mountains with frigid temps, cold blasts from the arctic, and a bit of snow. The last huge storm that hit the Eastern coast, knocking out a lot of electricity with unusually large snowfall, mainly passed by us. We got a bit of snow and ice, but wonder of wonders, out electricity actually stayed on.

I'm not sure if it is due to the many upgrades made throughout the past years- considering that we lose electricity year-round when bad storms hit or someone runs into a pole. I'll never forget, after my daughter got married, and a storm hit the Nashville area, she called me in wonderment, saying, "Guess what, Mom? We had a bad storm, and the electricity stayed on." I was quite thankful that our electricity didn't go out, but felt a bit guilty as around here most people have a second source of heat, either with wood or gas, have a generator, and oil or kerosene lamps, compared to all those who usually don't lose their electricity. With a woodstove I can cook on, a pantry full of canned food, and oil lamps in every room, I'm always prepared to rough it. More than once, a neighbor has come to check if we still had electricity when it went out after seeing light in the house.

After battling a cold for one week, I was back up on my feet, walking by myself and starting to go up and down the study steps, when didn't I somehow go and sprain my left ankle getting out of the recliner too fast? Once I'm on my feet, Dwight has to keep warning me to slow down, because it’s hard to undo sixty-plus years of running to keep up with raising my kids and Dana. So, I ended up back on the walker for a couple of days. having to begin all over again. The next two weeks, we focused on me being able to get my snacks and meals versus the length of walking, to prepare for Dwight getting his wisdom teeth out and being down a couple of days. I was doing well, loved being independent, feeling like myself, and able to fuss over Dwight a bit. Right before my third week began, I lost my balance while bending over, not realizing how weak I still was, and fell backwards. Thankfully, I fell into the freezer instead of hitting the floor, but the impact jolted my hip. Once more, I had to go back on the walker. If only our crazy bodies would behave themselves, huh? The good news is that my new prescription keeps my sciatic nerves from becoming really inflamed, where I am in agony for days. I’m also able to bounce back faster. The bad news is that I always have to start all over. Sigh. I am back on my feet, walking without the walker, trying to behave myself and pick up some speed. Going slow, in order to make it up into the third week, takes lots of patience. As Dwight puts it, “I too often sabotage myself.”

On the bright side, Dwight finally (after about three, almost four years) was able to get his wisdom teeth out. Between finding a surgeon who was willing to work on someone with severe hemophilia, insurance changing every couple of years, and getting everything coordinated with the hemophilia clinic, Dwight would painfully wait for six months to a year, only to get a phone call cancelling the appointment the week before. This happened twice. Then the entire process would have to begin again. So, it was a big answer to prayer and relief when everything got lined up, with enough factor to raise and keep his clotting level up, that it finally got done.

Meanwhile, I’m staying close by the woodstove that keeps the house warm and cozy, thanking the Lord each day I can get up and walk, count my blessings to keep a positive outlook, writing, crocheting a large afghan (double bed) for my grandson, Case, that is graduating high school this year in May, working on finishing up my six-generation heirloom crazy quilt, and trying to stay out of trouble.

Until next time~

Dorcas 

JANUARY 2026 Walker

Hello~

and a Happy New Year!

So far, the winter here in the TN mountains has been mild with some skiffs of snow on the ground, a few snow flurries, and plunging temps down below freezing between warmer spells. In fact, on Christmas day it was close to 70 degrees. It reminded me of past years when our family traveled down to Florida to be with my mom for Christmas. This week feels like Indian summer- right before winter really comes in full blast. I chase the winter's brown & barren look outside my windows (not counting the birds at the bird feeders) and overcast, dreary days, away with my Christmas tree that I keep up through January. The colorful decorations and lights are uplifting.

For those who aren't on facebook, my great-grandson, Kevin Donald Yarrison, finally arrived by C-section on Randy (his grandpa's) birthday, the 11th of December! He was quite a large baby, weighing in at 9 lbs and 10 oz, for my short granddaughter, Annette, to have. No wonder she kept saying the baby felt so heavy when she was carrying him. Thankfully, both are doing fine. Since Kevin was born in December and not Thanksgiving, and Annette had to have a C-section, Dawn and Katie put off their flight back to the Philippines until January.

So, instead of Dawn and Katie flying down to TN as previously planned, everybody (Dawn & Katie, with Annette and her family) all traveled by way of OH to visit Randy's side of the family and his mother, and then down here to TN, arriving the Saturday after Christmas. Dawn and Katie were a big help to Annette, taking care of a hyper 2-year-old (Miss Ellie) and a baby on the road. Annette and her family were originally going to come down after Christmas anyway. They stayed over the weekend and left to go back to PA early Tues morning. It was so good to see everyone again and meet my newborn great-grandson. I had managed very slowly to get the Christmas tree this year decorated to my satisfaction, although, with my setbacks, Dwight did offer to "throw" some decorations on the tree if I couldn't. I was also able to walk, without the walker, every couple of hrs to the back of the house and out on the porch a couple of days. Dwight watched me like a hawk every time I got up to make sure I didn't overdo it and behave myself, to Dawn's great amusement. One thing that was very special was on Sunday night, instead of everyone going back to church, they all stayed with me. We sang several Christmas carols, read the Christmas story from the Bible together, and Curtis gave a devotional. Not being able to get to church for a year and a half now and worship with others, it was precious to me. All too soon, we had to say goodbye, but we cherish the memories we made together for this year's Christmas. I'm happy to report that despite three small (compared to before) setbacks, I am now in my second week of being back on my feet, walking to the back of the house, and getting my snacks etc. as before. I’m just unable to walk up and down the steps yet.

Dwight finally, after more than two years, (between the state insurance changing- like they do every couple of years- finding a oral surgeon who is willing to work on someone with severe hemophilia, being cancelled TWICE the week before his appointment after waiting six months to a year for said appointment, and then coordinating it all with the hemophilia clinic to have enough factor to get his clotting level raised and oral med for his mouth, has gotten another (hopefully the last one) appointment to get his wisdom teeth out.

This year, Dawn’s family was separated, around the world, for almost two months, over Thanksgiving, Christmas, Randy's, and Dawn’s birthdays. The nearby third-grade elementary teacher and her class brought birthday cards they had made and sang to Randy on his birthday. All the island people told Randy that God had given him a special gift this year when they heard the news about his grandson being born on his birthday.  Randy had to do first aid on a bad hand wound- something Dawn usually does- and get the fellow to the hospital, which was a bit nerve-racking for him. Their tricycle is the ambulance for their area. Randy was also asked to speak at the elementary school Christmas program for the first time this year.

Dawn and Katie ended up having a three-day journey back to the Philippines. They missed their second flight in Philadelphia- something that is easy to do, rolling two large suitcases while hanging onto a heavy on-flight bag through a huge, crowded airport to connect to the next flight. They spent all afternoon rescheduling the two remaining overseas flights, which is more complicated for two people, ending up with a 12-hour layover in LA, CA that evening. Thankfully, they didn’t have to worry about their luggage, but everything was closed. They finally were able to order from a 24-hr pizza place and paid to have it delivered. They spent the night in a large hallway with a cement floor (as all the waiting areas are closed overnight, which to me makes no sense since LA is one of the main overseas hubs for air traffic) with hundreds of other people from all over the world camped out with their luggage.  Dawn and Katie were able to find two chairs to sit on- the last time the same thing happened they spent the night sitting on the hard cement floor- and, as Dawn put it, had loud “entertainment” from midnight until 2 am watching fellows tear down a wall. Thankfully, the overseas flight went better this time, they made it to Manila, and then to their island with all their luggage, got a taxi to drive them to their house and should have gotten there by today noon- their midnight. Does my daughter take after me or what? So thankful for all the prayer support!

I need to hush up for now. Stay warm on your end.

Dorcas 

CHRISTMAS 2025 Walker Newsletter

Hello~

Once again, it's Christmas. Outside, the earth is frozen, glittering with snow or hard frosts as cold winter winds blow. The birds fluff their feathers to stay warm, making them look twice as big as normal, while the chickens and ducks eat more feed to conserve their warmth. Water needs to be toted daily, as any liquid is soon frozen solid. Tex stays warm in the doghouse with his heated blanket. Inside, the two fat cats stretch and snooze before the fire with lazy abandonment, without a care in the world. Ashes are raked, and wood is carried in each day to keep the woodstove fire crackling with heat. It is the time of year for hearty soups, homemade bread/rolls, and baked goods.

Stores are packed with decorations and merchandise to tempt the shopper playing holiday music while houses are decorated with colored lights, greenery, and red bows. Inside, trees in all sizes are covered with an array of dazzling lights and decorations as wrapped presents appear underneath. At the front of my tree, in its place of honor, stands the old manger with Nativity figures my children and grandchildren have played with throughout the years. In the kitchen, the tempo speeds up as homemade recipes of cookies, candies, cakes, pies, and special desserts are prepared. The air is filled with excitement as carols are sung, Christmas plays are rehearsed, and the familiar scriptures are read about the birth of Jesus, once more retold around the world. It's an ancient story that becomes new each year and more precious. For without His birth, thousands of years ago, of a prophesied Savior, there would be no Christmas, no joy to the world, and no peace on earth.

I'm overwhelmed with a grateful heart this Christmas season, so very thankful to still be up on my feet and able to get about instead of being confined to the recliner. Next week will mark three months. I want to dance, sing, and kick up my heels, but I will restrain myself. Each week, I am slowly gaining strength. It never ceases to amaze me how quickly one's body can go down, while it takes weeks and months to inch one's way back. At least I'm finally headed in the right direction. Dwight still keeps an eagle eye on me, walking behind me when I go outside, ready to stop my fingers from picking or fixing something that my fingers automatically reach out to, or keeping me in the designated path I'm supposed to be walking instead of wandering off to something that catches my eye. Each week, as I make my schedule, Dwight oversees and permits what I am allowed to do. There have been some lively discussions as I try to push my boundaries, convinced I am stronger. Dwight usually ends up being right- much as I hate to admit it- but true to my PA Dutch stubbornness, I will sneak around and try to do a few things, hoping not to get caught. Sometimes I get away with it, while other times Dwight's wrath pours out around my head. These past endless months, when the littlest thing set me back and put me in agony, have been traumatic not only for me but for Dwight as well. Needless to say, life isn't dull around my house. I am cherishing every task, no matter how simple, that I can do as I strive for more independence. I'm now able to get all my snacks and drinks, breakfast and supper, and fill & carry my plate at lunch. I couldn't resist asking Dwight last week, when I was filling out my daily schedules, "And what are you going to do with all your free time?" I feel like a "Jack in the Box" getting up every hour throughout the day to walk or do some tasks. My life revolves around moving. What joy! I can’t wait to be able to cook and bake again. I’ve caught myself poking my nose over Dwight’s shoulder, more than once recently, to give a suggestion or two when he is at the stove. Hopefully, next year I will be in the kitchen for Thanksgiving and Christmas- not to mention giving my house a much-needed cleaning and sorting out, and of course catching up outside, etc., etc.

Meanwhile, Dwight is able to spend more time in the back bedroom working on his knives that have gotten way behind, and doing things that he used to before being tied down with me.

Dawn and Katie are still here in PA with Annette, who was supposed to have a Thanksgiving baby, but the little fellow may have decided to be a Christmas baby instead or to come on his grandfather’s (Randy’s) birthday this Thursday. Poor Annette is wondering if she will ever have this boy. From the very beginning, children do have a mind of their own, as any parent can testify to. So, we will have to wait until next month to announce our great-grandson’s birth. Dawn and Katie are scheduled to fly back to the Philippines on the 16^th. I’d really appreciate a prayer for their traveling safety. This time back, the overseas flight was very rough, and they couldn’t get any sleep. Halfway across the ocean, the turbulence got so bad that the huge jet was dropping and bucking like a horse until Dawn began praying, wondering if they were going to make it. This flight was the worst one yet. I’m so glad that God is in control!!! Then, when they got to PA, a 24- hour stomach flu/virus was going around. Being in another country for almost four years, they don’t have any immunity. Katie ended up sick for almost three days, while Dawn was down for almost a week. Nothing like having jetlag and being sick as a dog at the same time! Thankfully, Dawn got her appetite back in time for Thanksgiving.  Katie is overjoyed and excited to see snow again after four years. Their bodies are having a time adjusting from hot, humid weather to freezing, winter days.

From our house to yours, we send lots of wishes for a blessed Christmas.

Jesus truly is the Reason for the Season!!!

Dorcas 

OCTOBER and NOVEMBER Walker Newsletter

 

Hello~

This autumn, the leaves here in the woods changed colors briefly.

Of course, my vision was limited looking out my windows and porch.

Between the cicadas swarming in May and the dry spell, a lot of the leaves were already brown. So, I savored every bit of color I could, while it lasted, as well as the shorter warm, sunny days between the cold nights. Now the temperature is expected to plummet down into freezing. Inside, Dwight keeps our woodstove going when it is cold, keeping our house warm and cozy. Even if my bones didn't protest and tell me when the temperature drops outside, my two fat, furry, lazy cats cuddle close beside and on top of me in the recliner on chilly days, taking long catnaps. With me huddling under a soft, warm blanket, I'm sure we make quite the lazy sight.

I'm very grateful this Thanksgiving that I finally have some good news! I'm in my seventh week of being able to stay up this time. It's been around eight months since I last could stay up this long. Dwight had to carry me into the doctor's office the last of Sept in order for me to get my prescriptions filled. I had researched more, in desperation, and found another med that is often used for nerve pain. With the turmeric supplement I'm taking daily for inflammation, and this other med, my hip isn't flaring up like before. Such a blessing!!! Under Dwight's strict supervision, I am slowly building up walking without the walker and going up and down steps. This past week, I was able to walk out the driveway to the mailbox and check my mail. I also walked around the side of my house to my beehives. It was so thrilling to see my honeybees buzzing around. I'm able to go out on the back porches where I can see my chickens and ducks more clearly, too. The trees around my house and in the woods look so tall and majestic after not being able to see them close up for so long. Hope has sprung inside that one day I will be able to again be like my normal self. Meanwhile, I'm trying to behave myself, keeping my hands busy writing, crocheting, and hand quilting.

I am very thankful for Dwight, who has been such a great support in keeping me and the house going for so long. He's been with me when my hip's flared up and I've crashed, causing my days and nights to became a blur with horrible pain. He's also walked along beside me as I've struggled inch by inch to get back up on my feet and walk with the walker. I've felt guilty for all the stress he has gone through, fussing and hovering over me as we've wracked our brains on how and why my hip flared back up and how to prevent it. It has certainly kept our brain cells busy. Dwight has witnessed my emotional upheavals when I've been angry, depressed, wondering if it was worth the struggle to get back up, along with having meltdowns, bawling my eyes out while Dwight put his arm around me or patted me on the shoulder, giving comfort, but most of all for being as stubborn as his mother and refusing to give up. I’m thrilled that Dwight is now able to work on his knives more. He is so talented, but then I may be prejudiced.

It continues to be a frustration on both ends trying to make and stay in contact with my daughter in the Philippines. Dawn and her family went through a severe earthquake experience, where thankfully no one was hurt. Then, when their mission’s director came over for a visit recently, right before he left, a typhoon came over their island, causing the power to be off for almost three days, and their roof leaking- one spot was directly on where Steve Kirkman was sleeping. Transportation was disrupted as well. It took them five and a half hours, when the bus ran, to get Bro. Kirkman to the airport- going through flooded areas where the bus was pushing water. I’m sure Bro. Kirkman won’t forget his trip to see Dawn and Randy anytime soon. They also had a scary incident in their own yard when one of the many children who come every day to play fell out of a tree. Dawn looked out the window when she heard a loud branch cracking in time to see a girl land on the ground with a horrible thud on her back. Thankfully, although her head took stitches, after they raced her to the nearest hospital (that Dawn had to end up taking out this past week) and she walked slowly for a couple of days, the girl wasn’t killed, paralyzed, or had her neck broken. We appreciate all the prayer support given for Dawn and her family as they are constantly faced with challenging circumstances beyond their control, and often need God’s wisdom and help.

My granddaughter, Annette, is due on Thanksgiving Day, right before my birthday. Miss Ellie just turned two, so Annette has her hands full already. I can’t wait to see and hold my first great- grandson sometime in Jan when they come down to TN to visit. I’ll be updating you all about this little feller next month.

We are also thankful for each one of you to whom we send our newsletters to. Some send us encouraging cards, which brightens our day. Others, we know, are faithfully praying for us. We certainly couldn’t make it each day without our loving Heavenly Father’s care. We are truly blessed with a church family and oodles of wonderful friends.

We wish all of you a blessed Thanksgiving season~

Dorcas

AUGUST and SEPTEMBER Walker Newsletter

Hello~

The nights are cooling down as summer ends, bringing relief to hot and humid days.

Even the breeze feels cooler outside. This time of the year is blissful when the temperature hovers in the 70's. The green of the trees, bushes, and grass has become faded from the summer heat. Only the last of the roses and Rose of Sharon bloom, along with goldenrod, marigolds, daisies, asters, and mums. The dogwood tree's leaves- next to my front porch- are starting to turn reddish and I can see bright red berries on it. This time of the year is good for planting spring bulbs. Normally, I would be outside gathering seeds, planting bulbs, painting outdoor furniture, and making a list of what else is needed to prepare things for winter. Inside, I would be finishing the canning, making apple butter, and jams. Opening windows and airing out the house before cold weather sets in is also something I always loved to do this time of the year as well.

Instead, I still have to spend most of the day in my recliner. Yesterday, a hen got out of the pen. I heard it through the open window as Tex barked. I wanted to jump up and run outside so bad, but instead had to tell Dwight, and let him round up the chicken. Due to so much rain this year, water washed away some of the dirt at the bottom of the pen- something I always kept an eye on. I'm thankful I am able to walk with the walker again out to the front porch after having more backsets. It is blissful to breathe in the fresh air, stand in the sunshine at the end of the porch for a minute, and not be cooped up in the house completely.

I'm finally getting over a nasty cold that wanted to linger, despite all the cold meds Dwight kept having me take. In fact, hard coughing flared up my hip that was getting better, setting me back to my dismay. Sometimes it seems like I can't win for losing. It is quite discouraging to keep having backsets every time I just get up on my feet and get going again. It sure keeps Dwight and my mind buzzing, evaluating what set me back each time in order to avoid doing it again. I think we could write a book on all the things to avoid doing with sciatica nerve pain. Meanwhile, I keep occupied writing, critiquing on a writer's group, doing grant applications for our local animal shelter, folding clothes or other small chores I can do sitting, and hand-quilting the basket quilt I'm doing. If I can't use my body like I'd like, I at least can keep my brain cells working.

At times, Dwight gets frustrated with all my ideas of things needing to get done that I come up with.  His favorite phrase is, "Mom, I'm not like you." While I used to work all through the day and even at night, Dwight has to periodically sit/lay down during the day due to joint/arthritis problems, and after supper he has to wind down for the day. On days that he has internal bleeds only basic things can get done and I worry when he has to wait on me. Dwight is more laid back while I am fussier. It takes mental fortitude for me when I walk to keep my hands on the walker instead of reaching out straightening something or putting something up. I shudder when I see dirty dishes piled up, things taken out and not put back, laundry needing to get folded and general clutter that my fingers itch to put in place. I fold laundry a certain way and always kept all the drawers and closets organized. At least once a year, I would tackle Dwight's room and closet, much to his dismay. So, it has been quite a learning curve for both of us. Thankfully, we both have a sense of humor and are able to discuss and talk things through when we disagree. I'm happier when I can be up on my feet and do small things, not only just for myself, but because there are always plenty of things to be grateful for if one look for them. that gives Dwight more freedom and enables him to work on his knives more regularly.

I try each day to focus on something to be thankful for when I am not in pain. I am truly blessed. Even my fat, furry cats give me comfort on bad days, as they purr and snooze beside me in the recliner. Otherwise, they stay busy poking their noses into everything.

It still is difficult to get a call through to Dawn for some unknown reason. Unlike before, instead of being able to talk with her each week, I can only get through every other week. It has gone as long as three weeks, which then gets me, worried. They also have difficulty receiving and sending texts too, which can make them feel isolated. It is frustrating part of missionary life. Thankfully, they are all doing OK. The Lord continues to help with their church and children services. So many teens want to go with them on Sundays to help out with the mountain services that they have to limit and rotate teens each week. One factor for volunteering is that those who go get to stay and eat lunch at their house, which to them is a big thing, as there is more food than what they can get at home. It’s hard for us to fathom not having enough food to eat every day- a reality which the island people face. One of William’s friends flew over recently to visit them. Due to a delay, he wasn’t able to arrive until 1 am in the morning. Then when he finally got to their island, all his luggage was missing. So, he and William had to make the 3-4 hr long trip back to the airport. Talking with Dawn on his third day there, she said the poor guy was still wiped out and sleeping most of the time between jet lag, opposite time of day and night, and all the traveling once he got to the island. I’m sure this is one trip he won’t ever forget. He got to see firsthand what they experience. Dawn had to go daily to treat and dress a young man’s arms and legs that were injured from a bad motorcycle accident where he scraped the skin completely off. Dawn said he looked like a mummy after she got both arms and legs wrapped up. Thankfully, his arms and legs are slowly healing back up. When I talked to Dawn last night (her morning) she was quite worn out due to not getting much sleep the night before. Here a fifteen-year-old girl woke them up around one o’clock in the morning screaming. She got up and dressed to go see and help, as sometimes a woman, who comes to their church, will come to their house at night if her husband had been drinking and beating her. Instead, it was a teenager, down the road from their house, who was not only drunk but evidently on some kind of drugs. She would fall down and roll around on the road screaming and then get up and take off running blindly still yelling. Dawn said soon there was a group of neighbors, who had been woken up, gathered around trying to keep the girl from hurting herself while figuring out who she was. It turned out the teenager was from up on the mountain. Since they can’t just dial 911, it took some time, for a police fellow to show up. Then he went and woke up a councilman, which took more time, who had to come. After they accessed the situation, they called, not an ambulance like here, but what Dawn and her family calls a “paddy wagon”- a pickup truck with a covered bed but open at the end. Dawn said it took four people to restrain this screaming girl and get her inside the back of the truck to take her to the hospital. Three people went along to hold her down and to keep the girl from jumping out the back. They didn’t get back home until close to four am. Dawn planned on taking a long siesta that afternoon. Such is a missionary’s life.

Until next time~

Dorcas 

JULY WALKER NEWSLETTER

 

Hello!

I hope you all have had a wonderful 4th of July celebrating our country. While the government, in the past several years, has turned a long way from the reason why America was founded to begin with, I'm thankful that we still have religious freedom today. God is moving in an awakening amidst bursts of revival among the younger generation across the country in answer to prayer. I'm so thankful that despite circumstances, we can experience revival ourselves.  It's not the preacher or evangelist or singers that bring revival. All we have to do is begin praying and searching our own heart before God.  The same God that brought sweeping revivals in the past, is the same God today!  All we have to do is ask and obey. Whether anyone else around us is revived or not, we can have the revival spirit burning within.

Here in the TN mountains, we are experiencing hot and humid weather up in the 90's like usual. The only difference this year is that we still are having summer storms every week that often knocks out our electric for a bit. It's nothing unusual for the electric to go out in our neck of the woods.  I remember, years ago, after Dawn got married and moved down to Nashville how surprised she was that the electric didn't go off whenever there was a bad storm or someone ran into a pole like back home.

The weekly rain has really given the summer flowers a boost and right now the roses, multi-colored lilies, double pink, bluish-lavender, white and burgundy Rose of Sharon bushes are all blooming madly while the chickens and the duck peck around in the dirt. This year, I am also really enjoying seeing the lightning bugs flickering all over the lawn when I walk out to the front porch in the dusk, after the temperature begins to drop a bit. I love being able to walk out on the porch in the early morning or evening when it’s cooler.

I'm still not able to sit upright- for some reason that seems to flare up my hip- or go up and down stairs yet, but I'm so thankful I can get up and around more than before. What joy! It's been a long year since I got down with my hip that totally changed my life. I won't ever take sleeping in the bed, getting dressed, combed, showers, and a million other small things, that I used to do before without thinking, for granted. Through it all, God has been with me. He is my Rock!

I finished hand-sewing and quilting two of my mini quilts for the backs of my two recliners: Victorian Melody and Irish Chain. I'm working on a basket quilt now. I've been able to do homemade rolls again, with Dwight's help, and fold laundry in the recliner. My fingers itch to do a lot more but I am trying to behave, under Dwight's watchful eye, so my hip doesn't flare up like zillions of times before. Dwight finally allowed me to get my own snacks, breakfast, and supper now. It's enough to want to make me kick up my heels. Hopefully, soon, I will be able to go up and down the steps where I can then progress to walking out the driveway to get the mail and walk around the yard. Meanwhile I have to focus on strengthening my hip and becoming stronger.

Dwight is back to being able to work on his knives more, now that I have become more independent, which makes me happy. He recently finished and sent a large pocketknife over to a guy in England, who was so impressed with the knife Dwight crafted and designed that he showed the pocketknife and talked about it on his U-tube audience. I'm so proud of my talented son! One other fellow- somewhere here in the states- sells Dwight's knives (usually within a couple hours of getting a knife) and keeps asking for more.

Dawn, Randy, William, and Katie had a safe flight back to the Philippines without any mishaps this time. It has rained enough that their well has filled back up, so Dawn is able to do their laundry at the house instead of having to wash all their clothes by hand, like she has for the past six months. Such a blessing! When I talked with Dawn last, they are all doing well- just getting adjusted to the high temperatures and humidly that comes with living closer to the equator. It will be another year or more before we get to see them again. So, I appreciate your prayer support for them living in primitive conditions without the luxuries we take for granted, surrounded by all kinds of what Dawn calls “the Philippine diseases” that they experience, that she can’t find a name for, as they minister around the world to those who have never heard the gospel before.

Meanwhile, I’m thankful for the modern convenience of air conditioning that we here in America are blessed to have during the summer months- remembering years before when everyone lived without central air.

I’ll hush up now, so I can get this out in the mail.  Stay cool on your end.

Until next time~

Dorcas

MAY & JUNE WALKER NEWSLETTER

Hello!

Summer has arrived with its hot and humid weather after a spring that burst more with color this year than in the past. It seemed like the flowers were bigger, more vibrant, and lasted longer with all the rain and storms that we got- and still are getting here in the TN Mountains. My views of the weigela (pink and pink/white), white mock orange (that was my mother's favorite scent), and the multi-colored azalea bushes ranging from white, pale pink, dark pink, to lavender, standing on the front porch and looking out the windows were breathtaking.  Every week, Dwight brought in blooming flower bouquets for me to enjoy. Now Dwight is bringing in roses that are blooming and smell so heavenly.  I just noticed from my porch this morning that the lilies are beginning to bloom. I'm sure there are others flowers I'm unable to see.

This year we were plagued with thousands of noisy cicadas/locusts that come out every seventeen years and swarmed everywhere on the trees and bushes leaving holes in the ground. They have made quite the racket and have killed some of the leaves on the trees. Thankfully, they only are around for about a month.

I lost two aunts this spring as well. My mother's only sister, Auntie Mae- that has been like a second mother to us after losing our mom years ago, and recently my father's youngest sister, Aunt Dorothy both up in PA. It's sad to see so many of the older generation of friends and family leave, but I am so thankful for the blessed hope that one day we will be reunited with them again forever.

My life is still up and down with my hip. Next month will make a year that I have been down.  Just as I begin walking without the walker and try doing something light like: walking too much too soon without the walker, getting my pocketbook down from the closet shelf, trying to water my plants, and last week losing  my balance getting out of the shower and twisting my hip (thankfully  my walker was close so I didn't hit the floor) set me back- because I am weaker than I like to admit- and I have to start all over again being able to put weight on my left foot. I haven't given up! I'm still determined to get back up on my feet again. Dwight keeps telling me that I have to use the turtle mindset instead of a rabbit. So, once again, I am inching along doing shorter walks with the walker to build up my strength under Dwight's eagle eye. I told him that after all this he could hang up his shingle as a physical therapist. I'm very thankful to feel more like myself, not to be in pain so, I don't have to be popping pail pills, and able to sleep at night

I finished crocheting a soft gray/sliver shawl for Dawn that I made up with my own pattern and ended up being quite complicated- you know me.  I also finished hand-sewing three small quilts together that I am now quilting by hand. I have one more to go, have been writing on my books, researching, and reading to keep my brain cells active. I can't stand sitting around doing nothing.

Meanwhile dear Dwight has stays busy keeping the house going, taking care of the animals, and me. He has been able to slowly get back to working on some of his knives.

The biggest news though is of my daughter and grandchildren. Dawn, Randy, William, and Katie had quite the time coming back home almost three weeks ago from the Philippines. After getting up at 1 am to travel four hours to the island’s airport, they found that all flights were canceled due to a volcano erupting in the flight path. They were able to reschedule a flight out the next afternoon- not an easy task for four. They got another overseas flight that evening and landed in CA around 10:30 pm.  They were hoping to catch a flight to Nashville but weren’t able to by the time they got through customs and to the gate way across the huge international airport. They ended up spending eleven hrs. in the airport, on the floor with their luggage, until they could get a flight to Nashville the next afternoon, only to discover in the delay of flights that their entire luggage was missing. Is my daughter related to me or what? Thankfully, it happened here in the US and not over in the Philippines.  The airline routed their luggage through Atlanta, GA, since there wasn’t another Nashville flight until the next day and brought their luggage to them by 11 pm that night. Instead of a quick two-day flight, it turned out to be four days total. The first thing they did was jump into the shower after having to wear the same clothes for four days straight. Talk about completely worn out!

They are only here for a month before they fly back. So, Dawn, Randy, William, and Katie plus Annette, Curtis, and little eighteen-month-old Ellie came up for a visit. It was great having all my children and grandchildren back home together after three years. My house was filled with lots of chatter and laughter. They could only come for a quick visit because…

The very next week, they all packed up Randy’s 82-year-old mother’s house and moved her up to OH to Randy’s brother’s place, so she wouldn’t be alone because…

This past week, they moved all of Dawn & Randy’s things in storage up to PA along with Annette and Curtis’ stuff to PA close to Curtis’ parent’s place, so he can help his dad take care of his mother. Curtis and Annette, after much prayer, resigned the home church to help his folks.  This is quite a big adjustment for all of them moving out of state, but it worked out to do this while Dawn and Randy were home to help as Randy’s name was on his mother’s house, which is getting sold, etc. And we also found out that Annette is expecting a little boy close to Thanksgiving this year! I told Annette that she takes after me too much.

We never know what twists and turns life will bring. Little did I dream forty-five years ago, when I moved with a week-old newborn from PA to NC to pastor a little church in the south that one day my daughter and granddaughter would end up moving back up to PA, only thirty minutes west of my sister. Talk about my family making a complete circle! Ironically, now I and Dwight are the only ones left of the family here in TN. I’m just so glad it was all of them moving and not me. I’m blessed to have my little house here in the mountains where I plan to stay.

Say a prayer for Dawn and her family as they fly back to the Philippines the 16^th of this month for a safe journey back to their island.

Until next time~

Dorcas 

MARCH/APRIL WALKER NEWSLETTER

Hello!

After my sad tale last time of being rushed to the ER and strokes right after the New Year, I wanted to let you know that I am still breathing on this end. A friend and my sweet Auntie Mae (my mother's younger sister and last sibling left) though have passed away since. They are dearly missed.

Outside my bedroom window, there is a riot of color that spring can only do. The crocus, daffodils, and forsythias at my house had barely begun to fade when the cherry, pear, crabapple, and redbud trees & bushes began blooming their pinks, whites, and purple. As if not to be undone, the violets, wisteria, azaleas, lilacs, and dogwoods are adding more shades of color and perfuming the air. It makes one want to sing, kick up their heels, and dance for joy. Each day, I look out my bedroom windows hating to be kept inside.

The beginning of February, I had a zoom call with the orthopedist specialist and finally after nine months found out what was going on inside my hip. As soon as he saw my x-rays, the specialist immediately knew what was wrong- so much for all the specialists and surgeons at Vanderbilt. He pulled up my x-rays and MRI's showing where I have severe deterioration in my hip bone, at my spine that pinches the nerves causing the excruciating pain. The doctor said that for me surgery was the last thing he wanted to do as with my RA and hemophilia it makes things a lot more difficult to fix. He was impressed that I was doing as good as I was and advised me to continue to strengthen my hip muscles in order to stay up on my feet.

After more than a month, I had slowly gotten to where I could walk on my own and was able to begin watering my plants and washing dishes again. What bliss! The horrible pain was under control; I was exercising and feeling like myself. Over a week ago, Mon morning, I had for the first time walked out my short driveway to check the mail. I was only taking a pain med at night and was free of icepacks.

The next day, Tues, I had my first physical therapy session and things quickly went from bad to worse. I wanted to focus on getting my upper body strength back. I told the physical therapist what set my hip pain off, but she kept insisting on me doing different exercises with my legs and feet to evaluate what I could and could not do. Before she left, I had to take Tylenol and get icepacks. I knew then I was in trouble.

The next four days and nights (where I was only able to get four hours of restless sleep) was a haze of pain trying to exist in my recliner, popping pain pills, living with icepacks, and shuffling around on my walker from the bed to the recliner and bathroom. I totally crashed, so now once more, like so many times before these past months, I am slowly fighting to get back up on my feet. Needless to say, we canceled physical therapy- the girl was planning on coming back that Thurs.

My laid-back son, Dwight, hit the roof. From having multiple internal bleeds over the years, he knows how sensitive it is when nerves are involved and how slow the process is when they get inflamed. Just lifting my hands/arms up hurts my hip when it is bad, so all exercises were immediately stopped. Thankfully, my pain is back under control now as I work to be able to put weight back on my left side again. As soon as my hip feels sore, I have to slow back down and rest. Dwight is keeping an eagle eye on me and hovering to make sure I don’t overdo it as I battle through the depression of having to be waited on hand and foot, and seeing my plans of being able, by now, to be walking around outside go up in smoke. Instead, I have to focus on my blessings and what I can do.

When I was up and around, Dwight was able to get back to working on his pocketknives. He also got the brainstorm (Are we related or what?) of turning the smallest back room in our house into a place where he could create his knives. It would save his ankles, which he is having more trouble with, walking back and forth down to his shop and he could work on his knives year- round as his shop has no heat, so he’s not able to work down there on cold winter days. So, my previous sew/ironing room has been emptied out and Dwight made it where he can work on the machines sitting down (at the shop, he had to stand up) and built a low worktable. Now Dwight can sit in an office chair and move back and forth from his machines to his table.

The past months since Dawn and Randy returned back to the Philippines, in November, has been very dry. They have had to carry all their water in and do their laundry by hand at a neighboring well as their well went dry. They have finally had a couple good rains but not enough yet to fill up their well. This adds to their workload each day in the hot humid climate. Dawn also had another bout with pneumonia as well but thankfully is doing much better and has gained her strength back. Their church and children services at their house and up on the mountain is continuing to grow. The Lord is helping them make new friends as they take people to the hospital and through Dawn’s medical help each week. They are finishing up their third year of missionary work in the Philippines. We are hoping they can come back this summer.

I am truly grateful for all the prayer support over the past ten months since I injured my hip, and my life suddenly changed overnight. I have much to be thankful for this Easter season.  If we can get dressed, comb our hair, and walk, we are blessed. Walking out on the front porch and breathing in the warm spring air is an extra bonus. No matter what situation we may find ourselves in, we can still rejoice in the hope and resurrection of our Lord. As all of nature puts on a breathtaking display for Easter here in the TN Mountains, we too once again celebrate a risen and alive Savior. What a blessed hope.  He is not here.  He is Risen!!!

Have a blessed Easter season.

Until next time~

Dorcas 

2025 JANUARY & FEBRUARY WALKER NEWSLETTER

Hello!

Warning: This will be a lengthy newsletter as my New Year

 really arrived with an unexpected bang.

I've told you about all the pain I've had for eight months now with my left hip trying to keep my pain level down, walking with two canes, and living in the recliner.

Annette, Curtis, and little Ellie came over the New Year for our family Christmas. On the night of January 2nd, when I went to bed and rolled over on my right side a sharp pain hit me in my hip & spine.  I spent the night in the recliner with icepacks. By morning, my hip & spine were still hurting, and I had a headache, so figured my blood pressure was up. Dwight called a nurse, she came, checked my BP which was 110/90, and immediately called for an ambulance. Just being jolted over the rough gravel in our driveway getting to the ambulance, on the stretcher, raised my pain level even more. You know your BP is high when they take it twice in the same arm, switch to the other arm, and then take your BP manually. By then I was having a horrible headache.  I knew things were bad as the siren was going and we were racing around the curves fast. Then I heard the guy beside me holler to the one driving that I was stroking and to call for a helicopter. They couldn't get a helicopter so rushed me to the local ER.  The staff rolled me on my left side, even though I kept telling them my left hip & spine hurt to get x-rays, ruling out that I didn't have a broken hip, and the joint was still in place, leaving me in terrible agony.

I was transported to Vanderbilt that afternoon. When the ambulance arrived at the ER, we had to go through security. The guard ripped off the blanket covering me, leaving my chest exposed from where they put cardio strips, waving a wand over the entire stretcher. That was my first time having a strip search.  I don't know it they thought we were trying to smuggle guns into the hospital or what. When he yanked the basin out of my arms, even the EMT protested. As soon as I was wheeled inside, I was surrounded by staff digging in my stomach and poking me everywhere. A young girl, who said she was the neuro specialist, began examining me too. After shining a light in both eyes and asking questions, she took a mallet and began hitting my right side. I told her not to touch my left side. Didn't she go and hit my left ankle? I started crying asking her to stop but she kept hitting it saying, "It isn't your hip, so it doesn't hurt." Then didn't the crazy girl begin hitting my left knee with the mallet! My pain immediately spiked, and I started screaming in pain. I heard them say, "Let's leave her to rest a bit." and they all walked out of the side room, with the monitor screeching loudly without any call button to push for help.  My head was killing me, and I began throwing up again. Several people walked by, looked in, and kept going- even though I called for help. Finally, a colored maintenance guy appeared, looked at me, and ran for a nurse. A nurse came running, yelled for a doctor saying, “She’s stroking and giving the room number” as she began pushing, running my stretcher down the hallway. The left side of my face had dropped again, and my left side was weak. I finally got through that Annette was there. After the ambulance took me, Annette packed some stuff for me and stopped by the local ER to see me telling me that she’d meet me at the Vanderbilt ER, on their way back home to Madison. Annette stayed with me through the long rough night as I was NPO and kept throwing up- even with the meds they gave me for nausea- so was dehydrated as due to my high blood pressure they wouldn’t give me IV fluids. Early

Sat morning they wheeled me down the hall for a C-scan, but I was so nauseous that they couldn’t do the scan. A young girl popped in the ER room and said she needed to do an echocardiogram and wanted me to lie on my left side or back, which I couldn’t tolerate because of my pain. She left and someone else came and took me back to do the C-Scan again. This time I kept my eyes shut as they ran my stretcher down the hallway. I was flat on my back in the machine so was hurting when it finally got over. There was a group that looked like college kids doing the scan. I could hear them talking and laughing over the mike sounding like they were having a party as I waved and hollered trying to get their attention that the scan was finished. They finally all came rushing back to me and I was whizzed back to the ER room again. I was at last allowed to have something to drink. A nurse brought me some packs of plain crackers as I told them I could feel my sugar dropping.  The crackers were quite stale- who knows how old. My mouth was so dry; I choked trying to eat the cracker. So, I dipped the cracker into my ginger ale until it was soggy but when I’d bit it and tried to chew it, it was like chewing cardboard. Knowing I had to get something in me before I passed out, I dipped and chewed up several packs of those stale crackers.

A little latter, a friendly woman about my age came into the room and said she would do the echocardiogram. I told her that I couldn’t lie on my back or left side because of the pain in my hip & spine.  She said, “Don’t you worry, dear, I can do it however you are.”  She then proceeded to set everything up with the equipment, muttering to herself as she moved stuff around saying, “Now where did I put that?” When the regular gram was over and she had to do it again with dye, she apologized for the taste saying she didn’t know why they couldn’t have something better tasting like bubblegum or something. We were laughing and talking having a lovely time together. All too soon it was all done. She put all her equipment back and wheeled the cart around the side to the bottom of my stretcher when she remembered that she had left some trash on the counter. She turned back to get the trash leaving her cart. For some reason my floor in the ER room was slanted. Every time someone would unlock the wheels of my stretcher to take me somewhere and turn around to get something, the stretcher would roll across the room sideways, and I’d find myself lying partway underneath the computer the nurses used.  As soon as the staff person would turn back and see me, they would pull the stretcher out and apologize. So, lo and behold, didn’t the electrocardiogram cart begin rolling across the room heading right towards the doorway while she, with her back turned to it, was throwing the trash away. I started laughing. When the lady turned, she looked around and asked, “Where on earth did my cart go too?” Thankfully, the cart had stopped sideways at the door. I told her it was like the gingerbread man running away.

My breakfast tray had arrived earlier. I was so hungry but agreed to do the electrocardiogram first. So, at last I could eat.  I was starving! I sat up and eagerly picked up a fork to eat the scrambled eggs.  I had only taken three bites when I started throwing up again. I was so disappointed.

I had been told halfway in the night that an MRI was scheduled where I’d be put under. I thought, great, I could finally get an MRI done instead of waiting until April. When the new shift nurse came in to talk to me about the MRI, I found out that for the MRI would only be sedated but I’d still be wake. I panicked as I’m very claustrophobic- even the fifteen minute open scan that morning had me stressed out until it was over.  I knew I could never go through being put inside a machine awake. I started crying. By then Dwight had arrived. He had taken care of the animals, packed up, and started out for Nashville the night before and was partway when he remembered that he had forgotten to get his factor.  So, he turned back and called Annette, who told him to wait until the morning to come as she was staying with me so he could get a good night’s rest as Dwight was so stressed and worn out.  Annette had texted Dawn, and they all wanted me, since I was already at Vanderbilt to go ahead and do the MRI.  Dwight tried to calm me down too. The nurse came back and told me she had checked to see what sedation they were planning on using as her mother was the same way hating MRI’s having bad arthritis and being claustrophobic. She told me that the sedation scheduled was the best, I’d not even know what was happening, and as soon as I said to “stop” if I couldn’t take anymore, they would immediately stop.  If I refused, I’d end up being discharged. She told me that I really needed to have the MRI of my brain to check for bleeding before I left.  When I found out it would only take ten minutes, I agreed feeling dumb that I had put up such a fuss thinking it would be my hip and take a least an hour. The nurse called ahead to tell them to be sure and give the sedation to me as soon as I got back there. The sweet nurse also checked and worked it out where I could also get the hip MRI done as well that afternoon. The last thing I remember was being raced down the hallway and getting to the room only to wake up back in the ER room again with everything done.

I was transferred to another room- still part of the ER- after the second MRI. It was so good to get out of the main noisy ER section. The neurologist specialist and team came by and then the spinal surgeon to let me know that everything was clear and ruled out. For supper, I ate a dry roll and sipped on ginger ale as Dwight tried to a spoonful of mashed potatoes into me. He slept on a chair that night beside my bed.

Sunday morning, we were wakened really early by someone coming to draw blood. Dwight tried to get me to eat and drink something every little bit throughout the day as I was so weak. I’d get dizzy if I tried to sit up or lay down too quickly.  That night sitting up, talking and laughing with my pain under control, the monitor suddenly went off. The nurse raced in, checked me, and raced out to call a doctor.  My blood pressure had spiked at 127/100 for no reason. She injected me with something and said if it didn’t come down within fifteen minutes, she’d call the dr again. Thankfully, it came down but the dr ordered another brain MRI and then a spinal MRI was added too. I didn’t get back to the room until midnight quite stressed out as they had changed the sedation, and I wasn’t completely under.

We had dozed off for only a couple of hrs when the neurologist and then the surgeon came by to tell us that everything was clear again on the MRI’s. Another hour and a girl came to get blood. About six am, after being interrupted all night, the door opened, the bright lights were turned on, and four people appeared in my room telling me that they were taking me for x-rays! Thankfully, my face was back to normal, and I was able to go to the bathroom using a walker. Since all the tests came back OK- none of the specialists could figure out what was causing my intense pain- I was discharged. I had to have two pillows and sedated to make the trip back home.

Tues, the home health came to set me up. I had lost seven pounds from being so dehydrated. Early Wed morning, I woke up, needed to use the bathroom, didn’t realize my sugar had dropped, and using my walker fell in-between the toilet and tub. I had to crawl on my stomach to the bedroom where Dwight could hear me calling. It gave him quite the scare. The nurse came later that day to check my BP. Thurs morning, Dwight called the nurse again as my nose had started bleeding the night before, I was having severe bouts of diarrhea, and was so nauseous I could hardly keep anything down. Here I was having a bad reaction to the antibiotic I had been put on for a UTI. Nothing like going from bad to worse! 

All of Jan, I was propped up in bed with pillows too weak to go up and down the couple of steps to the recliner. The first week, Dwight had to help me just get from the bed to the bathroom with the walker. I have slowly gained my strength and weight back and am now able to go to the bathroom by myself.  The home health nurse comes once a week. My hip flares up easier than before- I’m sure from all the trauma of tests done and doctors poking around on me.

Dwight hauled the recliner up to my bedroom, so I can sit in it which is easiest on my hip & spine, which has helped. The most frustrating thing about going through all those tests is that I’m still trying to find an answer to what is causing the horrible hip pain. My rheumatologist at Vanderbilt read all the MRI’s and said that my pain has to be coming from the deteriorated part of my hip that joins the spine as it is markedly worse than before. He referred me to an orthopedist with whom I’ve made an appointment.

Whew! I shall close this lengthy epistle.

Dorcas 

2024 CHRISTMAS WALKER NEWSLETTER

 

Hello!

This is the time of year when one looks back on the past year as we face another New Year ahead. I don't know how this year went for you, but for me, halfway through, I had a complete U-turn. I began last New Year full of energy with lots of projects that I planned to complete. I re-organized and painted my sewing room closet, got my China hutch sanded & painted, planted all the garden plots that were beginning to produce veggies, cut out & was sewing on four mini quilts, and attacked my pantry. I removed all my canned goods & jams from two walls, filling up the floors of the back bedroom & dining room. I had painted the pantry ceiling & walls and finished the second coat of paint on all the shelves (tops and bottoms) from ceiling to floor the first week of July. I was buzzing right along when my left hip began hurting.

Years ago, when my Lyme disease came out of remission and I was down taking antibiotics for 8 months, it caused a lot of side effects. I've lived with chronic pain since then. My right hip's arthritis had gotten worse where every winter I'd have to hobble around with a cane for a couple of weeks. That was my bad hip. Now my left hip was causing intense pain.

Dwight and I figured, I had caused an internal bleed from painting the lower pantry shelves. Halfway down holding onto a shelf, in a squatting position, I'd fall backwards on the hard floor making sure I landed on my "good" left hip to paint the lower shelves. After a month of staying in the recliner with icepacks to numb my hip, using two canes, so I could get to the bathroom and bed and popping pain pills, my left hip kept flaring back up every time I'd try to walk around and do something.  Going to my local doctor- I landed in the ER due to my blood pressure shooting up into stroke range because of agonizing pain- a scan didn't show any internal bleeding. Dwight drove me to Cookeville, an hour away, for x-rays (that didn't show any breaks or fractures in my left hip) causing intense pain, despite taking stronger meds, putting me back in the recliner for a week trying to get my pain level under control. Two more trips were made to Cookeville to try and get an MRI done to find out what was going on deep inside my hip (that didn't get done because of a mix-up in the orders) also put me back at square one again, struggling with horrible pain.

Then our state had a medical security breach so, I had to go back through my rheumatologist at Vanderbilt (three hours away) and also the Hemophilia clinic- if any surgery is required. Since traveling and lying down gives me a lot of pain, and the MRI will take at least 2 hrs, I have to be put under. Vanderbilt only does anesthesia MRI’s one day a week.  The next available appointment is not until April 23^rd. After a frustrating, pain-filled six months, I still don’t know what is going on deep down inside my hip.  If the Lord doesn’t heal me, I am looking at several more months before anything can get done. It has been a huge learning curve going from being very active to having to live in the recliner day and often nights- as sitting and lying down is painful. I am thankful for all the faithful prayer support of my family, the little piano student girls, and many friends.

Meanwhile, dear Dwight has also had his life turned around suddenly having to help me, cooking, cleaning, washing, paying bills, shopping, and keeping the household running all by himself. This cuts Dwight out of making pocketknives, which he is so talented doing. Thankfully, these past six month, Dwight hasn’t had any major internal bleeds. I am so blessed to have my caring son living with me.

Dawn and her family had to fly back to the states in Oct suddenly as Randy & William’s visas were not renewed due to the heightened tension of the Chinese presence in the Philippines Islands. During their time back here, they got rested up and were able to get much needed business matters taken care of along with their visas. Living in a foreign country is often hard on one’s health between the different weather, food, and living conditions. Dawn calls any strange illness that they can’t pinpoint throughout the year as the “Philippine illness”. Before they came back, Katie was in the hospital for a week with pneumonia. Since they have returned, William had a second bout with dengue fever from misquotes, and Dawn was just released from the hospital after a five-day stay battling pneumonia. So, they need continual prayers.

From our house to yours, we wish you a

MERRY CHIRISTMAS and a HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Dorcas

2024 THANKSGIVING WALKER NEWSLETTER

 

Hello!

I thought I had sent out a letter for Aug/Sept but can't find it anywhere on my computer.  Things have been a bit blurry for me since I injured my left hip the beginning of July as long days, weeks, and months have passed confined mainly to the recliner with icepacks to numb my hip so I can walk slowly with two canes to the bathroom and bed popping pain meds day and night. Even though I made two trips down to Cookeville for x-rays and an MRI that didn't happen- each trip putting me in agonizing pain for a week after- five months later I still am waiting to find out what exactly is going on in my hip. I've had to go back through Vanderbilt, and at this point my appointment for an MRI is not until the middle of April. It has been a big exercise in patience having to sit still instead of not to be able to be up and around like normal.

I've only seen glimpses of the outdoors summer and now autumn through a window. Not able to be outside with the animals, in the garden, puttering around my flower beds, gathering seeds to save, or watching the birds at the feeders has left a big hole in my life. It's like losing one's identity.

On the plus side, I've learned to do all kinds of things in the recliner that I never would have thought of before. As Dwight has quickly found out, when I'm not in pain, I need to keep my hands busy or else I end up trying to do too much (feeling guilty that everything has fallen in Dwight's lap) and flare up my hip. So, I've chopped up all kinds of veggies (just give me a cutting board and I'm good to go), re-potted the indoor plants Dwight brought inside ahead of the first frost (such fun actually getting my fingers in the dirt again even if it was inside), make my homemade rolls, and fold the laundry. I'm now in the process of painting a picture of Case on canvas when he was little- as I've done for all the other grandkids. once they turn sixteen-. for Christmas and have been busy crocheting a hooded shawl for Ellie like I made for Dawn at about the same age. It has been a big learning curve but at least it keeps my brain cells busy.

I am slowly trying to build my strength back up under Dwight's strict supervision, to see how much I can actually do with my hip as this obviously isn't going to be a quick fix anytime soon. Nothing like having to go blindly by trial and error. Needless to say, Dwight gets very frustrated when I overdo it, end up in horrible pain having to restart all over again. My Dutch stubbornness keeps me from totally giving up, but Dwight is definitely a match for me, so we've had several rounds of disagreements before we see eye to eye of how much I should do.

Through it all, my two fat cats have stayed close by; snoozing on my lap in the daytime or snuggling their fat bodies close at night when I can lay down- sometimes for only a couple of hours in bed. Their warmth has gotten me through more than one bad day and night.

I very thankful for Dwight who has valiantly taken over the household chores, paying bills, and going grocery shopping in order to keep everything going that takes away so much of his time working on pocketknives. He definitely will get an extra star in his crown for putting up with me; fussing over me when I am hurting, making phone calls to dr offices, and driving me to appointments while keeping my spirits up when I hit rock bottom due to the frustration of endless delays trying to get an MRI.

Due to the tightening of immigration- because of the tense situation in the Philippines from Chinese warships trying to take over- Dawn, Randy, William, and Katie had to make an unexpected trip back home in order to renew Randy and Williams visas. While here for a month, they were able to get a lot of business accomplished that needed to get done. We also got to see them again as well, which was such a blessing. They now are back in the Philippines for a couple of months, hoping to be able to get their visas extended for longer. Please pray for the situation in the Philippines. Every week they can see from their island American, Austria, and Japanese warship doing war maneuvers. More American troops have been stationed on their island, and it has become more difficult to get any calls or texts through.

Meanwhile I am grateful for all the prayers.  I’ve received encouraging cards in the mail, different ones have brought food in, and each week there are phone calls checking on us. I have a lot to be thankful for this Thanksgiving season.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day on your end!

Until next time~

Dorcas

 

JUNE/JULY WALKER NEWSLETTER

 

Hello!

Just to let you know that I am still breathing on my end and hope you are on yours.

We are definitely having the hot and humid heat waves of summer- what I call the Philippine weather. If a week goes by without some rain (thankfully, we are still getting some rain showers) I have to water the garden tomatoes & peppers, my roses, all the transplanted flowers, and the redbud trees Dwight helped to plant along the driveway in May. The roses have been so beautiful this summer. Now the Rose of Sharon's, tall phlox, the lilies ranging from soft yellow- mixed with burgundy to dark burgundy to orange all along the outside of my picket fence, daisies, lavender, and mints are all blooming and giving color everywhere.

The raspberries have been covered in berries and have kept me busy picking them as they ripen along with the cherries, green beans and peppers. I've also been harvesting ripened tomatoes. What bliss! There is nothing like the taste of a picked warm tomato and fresh garden stuff.

With it too hot to work outside, except first thing in the early morning hours, I focused on the inside. Dwight sanded my China hutch so I could paint it a medium blue (it was stained dark cherry) to help lighten up that corner of my dining room. You know how I dearly love color. Even though the paint was an expensive brand- I can't believe the price of things now-a-days, the paint was thin like water and hard to work with even with a sponge roller as it was so runny. I complained to Dwight, who took over, telling me that I was making a horrible mess and that the paint was the way it was supposed to be. Now I've been painting walls and stuff around the house for years.  All I've got to say, is that when one coat of paint won't completely cover something and has to take two coats, it's not very good pain from my point of view. So much for modern advancement. Now that the China hutch is painted, it looks lovely.

Towards the end of May, after finishing planting all my sunflower, marigold, and pumpkin seeds, I ended up with a right-hand bleed for the first time- most likely from overworking it. Of course, my left-hand thumb joint flared up too. So, there I was trading ice packs back and forth between both hands. Dwight had to end up braiding my hair again as well. That Sun, with ice packs, I was only able to play the piano with one finger on each hand. I felt like I had regressed to the level of my young piano students.  It was quite humbling as normally I play chords and do runs.

Once my hands got back to normal, I began another inside project, this time the pantry. I moved all my canned stuff- that now is covering the back bedroom floor and half of my dining room floor. I want to get the shelves painted before the canning season hits big time. I got the ceiling painted and the wall between the shelves. Last week, I first kiltzed, and then painting all the shelves along the wall.  They are one foot apart so there isn't much space between when you paint underneath. I had to crouch, paint up-side-down, kneel, and lay on my back and side. It was slow going.  I was so happy when I finally got the first complete coat on. Now I need to caulk and give it another coat.

Wouldn't you know it, if my left hip didn't decide to act up? I've had problems with arthritis in my right hip, but my left one has always been OK. I guess all the stress put on it painting those selves caused it to bleed internally. As if to sympathized, my left hand has swollen up too, so I'm unable to use a cane to help me walk. I'm back to living with ice packs day and night, extra pain meds, and spending most of the day in the recliner. Needless to say, my painting project has come to a halt.  It's quite frustrating but I have to behave myself until my hip gets better. I wasn't able to make to church Sun.

I had also begun a couple mini-quilt projects to put on the back of my living room chairs, couch, and recliner for the summer. It is an ideal way to try out new quilt patterns.

Annette and Curtis, with little Ellie, had a safe trip back home from the Philippines.  They were quite happy to get back to air conditioning. It was a special time with Annette getting to spend her first Mother’s Day with Dawn. They also brought Katie along back with them for her to go to a youth camp. Katie was here for about a month. Dawn flew over for a week to fly back with Katie. They all came up for a visit before Dawn and Katie had to leave. It was so nice to have them all here again.  Dawn and Katie had a safe flight back. Thank the Lord; they have been getting rain again in the Philippines, so their well is slowly filling back up where they don’t have to carry as much water each day.  They had a very dry six months.

Dwight got slowed down on his pocketknife making when he got an elbow bleed. It is finally about back to normal after a month. It takes time and patience for a bleed to stop and the joint to heal, and then not to overdo it and get it bleeding again.  Dwight has never advertised his pocketknives- it’s all by word of mouth and from his FB page. He has orders for over three years and with some waiting to get on his waiting list. At first it was stressing Dwight out trying to push himself into going faster as everything is handmade. He now does it as he can.  All his pocketknives are a work of art. I am quite proud of my artsy talented boy.

I need to hush up and get this out in the mail. Already the 4^th of July is over.  For all that is wrong with our country, I’m still very thankful to live in a free land.

Until next time~

Dorcas