This past week was a real week of trials and tests for me. It started out okay, with a lot of texts and photos from the children. Those grandchildren photos always make me smile! And since last week was Father’s Day, that was good. However, last Sunday, I didn’t get to go to church because I was nauseous and vomiting. I had a low grade fever the night before, starting about five p.m., but I didn’t think much of it. Then I started getting achy all over. Yuck! The really bad news is that the fever continued to develop daily. But I was thankful that I was no longer nauseous. On Thursday, I started getting a red, blotchy rash all over my chest. I was thankful that it didn’t itch. I knew that I needed to see my physician, but my husband had plans for Friday and we only have one car, so I just took Tylenol for the recurring fever and checked myself for other blotches. I didn’t find other red blotches, but I did discover a black looking sore behind my knee. I knew that I had a bug bite of some kind there a couple of weeks ago and had treated it with hydrocortisone for the itching. Then, when it didn’t disappear, I had put neosporin on it, thinking it was getting infected maybe. I asked my husband to look at it and he said it looked like a bad bite on top of a blood vessel. That was last week. Well, by Friday, the black sore was concerning to say the least, and I continued to get a fever daily, so I went to the ER yesterday. I have been diagnosed with a strep or staph infection on my leg and a rash of unknown origin. They treated me with antibiotics and antihistamines as well as a breathing treatment with lots of steroids in it. They prescribed steroids, antibiotics and antihistamines. I’m thankful that I’m not allergic to any of my medicines! They also suggested that I call my regular doctor on Monday if my sore has not improved. I’m thankful that my regular doctor can be depended on to diagnose well and to send my for further treatment somewhere if she thinks it’s warranted! I haven’t seen any improvement in the sore so far, but I’m thankful that it hastn’t gotten worse either! Meanwhile, I have to confess that my anxiety has been off the charts at times because my best friend Heidi died last March from a staph infection in her leg. You can imagine how I have been feeling! Or maybe you can’t? Anyway, it hasn’t been a pretty face of faith. I have argued with God, remonstrating with Him that I just went though surgery, followed by a tailbone injury and now this! Nevertheless, His answer is the same as always…”Trust Me!” I’m honestly trying, folks, but I need some prayer here. And encouragement would be nice, too. My husband is the kind who ignores the problem until it is life-threatening. In fact, he was complaining about going to the ER yesterday because of the wait time. I’m thankful that there was no wait time…none! They took me right back to a room and saw me within about ten minutes. Treatment took several hours, but I have never been seen that fast before! Anyway, that being said, my husband is not the great encourager. He is more like the great “ignore it and it will go away” kind of person. So, I come to you asking for the prayer and encouragement that I need. And I am thankful that you are there for me!