I have a prayer request. My daughter has an abscess wisdom tooth that needs to be pulled out. it keeps getting infection on it. The last time the dentist was going to pull the tooth out, my daughter got panic attack, and they had to stop. She has an appointment to have it pulled out again and is having pain from the infection. They cannot abstract the tooth with her high blood pressure that happens when they are going to do it because it can cause death. Her family doctor told her to talk to the dentist about sending her to a different dental clinic where they put patients to sleep while pulling the wisdom teeth out. Please pray that my daughter will be safe having this problem taken care of. Please pray that God will guide the dentist in what best to do. I guess at this point they want to try to pull that tooth out again without sending her to a different clinic. Thanks for the prayers in advance.

I am wondering how Marlene is doing?

Praying for your daughter and her dental needs. I've heard of people being sedated before for dental work. It can be useful when there's extreme anxiety. I also know of situations where oral sedation (a pill) was used, or where nitrous oxide was used. I just think whatever helps helps. I'll be praying for her, and the dentist.

I've been wondering about Marlene too. I'll just keep praying. Maybe she'll be back soon....

Peace and blessings.

Thanks for your prayers. My daughter had her other three wisdom teeth pulled while she was put to sleep. It was paid by Medicaid and the three teeth were pulled on the same day. I can't remember why they didn't pull out this one. Please pray that it will go smoothly and safely.

I hope Marlene is okay. It does not look like there is any way we can find out how she is doing right now.

I have one more prayer request today. Please pray that I will make a wise decision about whether to go to the laundromat to wash clothes. We are going to get help from the senior resources program to have a helper who will go with me to the laundromat. I am not sure I should go to any laundromat at this point and getting in contact with a helper. We have washer and dryer in the basement but don't have access to them right now, and I have been washing clothes by hands. I am thinking maybe I should wait instead of getting the help now. Thanks for your prayers.

Don't worry Lavender. I'll be praying. I believe God has His hand on you and your family (and Marlene too). God is working on all these situations. He will let you know what to do. I wonder what your concerns are about getting a helper and going to the laundry mat? I wash at a laundry mat most of the time and haven't had any problems with other people or with illness or germs, but each location / business is different. And, if someone in your household is immunocompromised that might make a difference. (And of course, it costs a little more). I have washed clothes by hand before too though and that is a lot of work for you! I'll be praying for God's leading for your specific situation.

God bless you and keep you........

Thank you for your prayers. About a helper going with me to the laundromat, I am concerned that we may get each other infected or catch the virus at the laundromat. Two months ago, Michigan was on top of the list of covid cases and hospitalization. A few weeks ago, in our town a hospital had to set up a tent with heater inside to use as ER waiting area. Workers in grocery stores were out sick; so were some workers in doctors' clinics. Someone in town I know caught covid and was hospitalized right around the time Marlene got the covid. Luckily the person has been home now. So the answer to your question is the virus is very bad here.

I got some free masks from a grocery store the other day and was very disappointed wth them since the ones I got I couldn't wear them (they are too tight and very difficult to put on). I thought I would feel safer using these masks if I go to a laundromat. I redid the masks at the strings which are made of rubber. The masks don't stay as tight as the original but they stay on fine. I plan to pick up some more of these free masks if they are still available. They are similar to the N95 masks. I assume you know who Mealloaf and Sarah Palin are. They both just recently died from covid. I read in one of the news article last night that 700,000 or 760,000 more death are expected by February 26. Because of my age, and all three of us having health problems, if I were to catch covid, it can be fatal.

Towards the end of last month, we had four doctor appointments lined up for my husband and daughter in the last ten days of the month. i was worried and prayed for God's protect and guidance about those appointments. What happened then was one of the doctor offices called to rescheduled. My husband had a bad cold, so he rescheduled his tooth filling. My daughter called in to have an appointment done online and rescheduled another one.

The free masks that I adjusted at the strings are looser than intended but I think they should still do the job. I likely will go ahead with the helper going to the laundromat with me when the caseworker finds a helper for me. I may tell the company I want someone who has been vaccinated. I don't know how many inhome care workers would risk their lives being unvaccinated going inside the clients homes. I plan to have the helper, if I get one or will take one, meet me outside the house and drive her own car to the laundromat. We have some big comforters that need washing. The pipeline in the basement where the water from the washer goes down has been clotted up for two years. I am in the process of getting that pipe cleared out. Plumbing companies now charge $300 to do it. I am not sure we will be able to get help from DHS for this or not. I just sent them the application yesterday in the mail.

I hope you are doing fine yourself. How are you and your son doing?

Correction: The number of covid death expected by February is 75,000 more, not 750,000.

Another correction: Sarah Palin is still alive but tests positive.

I think you are on the right track to ask the company if you can have a helper who is vaccinated, and of course they would wear a mask too. Depending on how mobile you are and on how things are set up at the laundry you might be able to limit your exposure to other people by only going into the store when you're putting your laundry on in the washer or switching it from the washer to the dryer or taking it out of the dryer, and spending most of the rest of the time sitting outside in your car. I see a lot of people here doing that, and in the beginning that was actually the rule (here anyway).

Glad you could modify the masks so that they might work for you

We are doing OK here, but my son is spending a lot of time at home instead of at school. They might have school one day and then be closed a few days, well, they call it distance learning, but for what he needs it's almost the same as being closed. But we are muddling through with no serious illnesses (for which we are grateful to God) and just a few bouts of substantial boredom. So while nothing is really wrong here we are stuck and not progressing.... But one day that will change and we are looking forward to it.

Thank you for your advice about what to do at the laundromat. I hardly went to a laundromat. The last time I went about three years ago is close to my house. They have one small table and two chairs customers can sit at. It was before covid so people just stood inside talking to each other while waiting for the clothes to be done. Sitting inside the car will be uncomfortable with the cold weather but that is how people can be safe. If it is not crowded, it may be fine to be inside, we will see.

I am glad you and your son are doing fine. I miss being able to sit in fast food restaurants. I hope it will change as you said. I have not picked up more of those free masks and wonder whether they will run out by the time I get to the places. I have been using two masks, a cloth mask on top of a disposable one. I am glad to see more people in my town wearing masks. Some still don't.

It is nice we still have DS groups to come to post and chat even though this group and the other one are almost inactive. Without Bible verses that can be posted, this group will be more quiet. I almost forgot we can post songs. It is hard to think about music when there is life and death situation going on. I will look for some more materials to post soon.

If you didn't hear, I was very sick with COVID in Jan. It seems to have become long COVID, I am so tired and sleeping 14 hours a night. I finally got in a new biologic in March, after a second opinion told my rheumatologist how bad my RA was. I'm feeling better, but still on prednisone. I tried walking but my feet were just too damaged to continue to walk. I'm looking to get regular with exercise! And lose weight! Famous last words!