**~5 Stories of Christmas.. #1 ~**

Today

I will share with you my first Story...

In 1989, 

Mark and I moved to Dallas, Texas where he

began his Master's in Theology

and I began my Masters in learning

how to lean into God's arms.

On Sunday morning, Dec. 15, 1991

while walking into church,

I experience a crashing blow!

It felt as if someone had taken an ax

and sliced into the back of my head.

I fell and lost one of my shoes.

I pulled myself up the back stairs

to Mark's office.

As he sought help I tried to hold myself up

by clutching his desk.

I prayed simply "Lord help me."

Mark returned with ushers who along

with Mark carried me to our car.

We were about 5 minutes from

Baylor Hospital, so Mark

decided to drive. He held me close 

and prayed for me all the way there.

I felt sleepy, but struggled hard against it.

We had no idea how serious it was.

Once there I was loaded onto a gurney

and away I was rushed to have a CT scan

later a diagnosis was made

 that an aneurysm had burst

 and had filled my brain up with blood.  

But the artery had clotted up

on its own. For a time, it had 
stopped bleeding on it own.

the situation was dangerous and critical,

immediate surgery was required.

I asked to call my mom and dad,

and was told no, there was no time.

As I was wheeled in surgery with Mark

by my side.  I had a 50/50 chance of

surviving.  We sang short praise songs

amid tears and kisses.  
The door closed.

For the first time that it mattered I realized

it was just me, all alone,
 putting myself

in the hands of strangers.

But wait...

I was not alone.

I could feel a strong anchoring presence.

One that was allowing me to rest in loving

confident arms of peaceful assurance.

At that moment I knew,

I just knew that whether

I lived or if I died,

I would not be alone.

And peace like a flowing river

washed over me.

I went to sleep.

When I awoke...

I was in a dark room.

Louise (my boss, my mentor, my praying angel)

was leaning over the foot of my bed.

Mark and other friends were stationed

around my bedside.

The surgery was successful.

After 3 days in Intensive Care,

and 6 days in the hospital,

on Christmas Eve

I walked out 

to our car

and went

home.

I thought I would share a photo of my first
day back at work 6 weeks after my surgery.
Louise and other friends at work had
decorated my office with sweet 
animal posters.
I was and AM
so blessed.


May you fall back into the arms of God
when you really need it,
and
may your week and season
be blessed.


Katie


Later this week I will share another Christmas Story.