I know, we all know you make lemonade. But what happens when you are out of sugar? Or in my case you just can’t reach it?! If you caught my post on Instagram over the weekend, than you may have an idea of what I’m talking about it. But in case you missed that, or aren’t on Instagram, I broke my foot while we were on vacation last week. We had a sun filled week on the beautiful coast of Maine with my sister and her family. We love this spot, and have gone back every year since our son was born. The houses have been in the family for decades, on a private beach nestled between two main attraction beaches, and we love that we are blessed to have not only a great vacation spot, but a place to build family memories for our kids. Halfway through our fun filled vacation, after the daily ice cream truck run before dinner, I was playing with the kids while the dads cooked. Fair trade off right?! Or so I thought 🙂 We had this epic game of pirate fighting with nerf swords turned hide and seek. I was tucked away in my hiding spot behind the porch dining table, when I was spotted. I sprang out behind the chair to maintain the element of surprise, and won with great victory, except now I had to run! Like run for my fleeting life so I wouldn’t be struck by the sword of the most fiercest pirate there was … my 6 yr. old son 🙂 Like any good mother would do, I evaded his sword swinging skills, with great fear for my life, and belly laughs filled the porch. As I maneuvered around him and plotted my exit, my sneaky skills were at their finest! It also helps to be double the height of your 6 yr. old, there are some advantages. I made a leap for my exit, over the 3 tiered toy batman cave (aka. the boys version of a doll house), but apparently I am not as skilled as I thought I was. I landed to SNAP * CRACKLE * POP!!!* in my left foot, and down I went, the mommy villain that I was.
My son cheering in his victory, and me laying on the floor, realizing very quickly that I would not be moving, and this immense amount of pain that is now causing severe swelling in my foot! Still not ready to admit defeat, I reluctantly took the ice from my smirking husband, and sat on the couch for the rest of the night. When I woke the next morning still unable to put any pressure on my foot, a trip to urgent care was  first priority that morning. This trip solidified my worst fear. X-rays confirmed the foot was in fact broken. Broken?! Broken?! I have managed to make it through my entire life, 7 seasons of playing sports, a few accidents, and never broken a bone. How can this be?!
Life doesn’t always go as planned. Sometimes we get thrown curve balls, that come out of no where, that we didn’t even see, or have time to prepare for, and we’re forced into a situation beyond our control. I would love to make some lemonade right now, but I physically can’t reach the sugar. I am confined to sitting with my foot propped up for the next couple weeks, and it’s still not over at that point. An air cast and crutches will be my sole option for mobility for at least the next 6 weeks. Apparently this bone I broke, is a special bone. It’s so rare to break it, it has it’s own special name when you do break it, which translates to a longer more difficult recovery. YAY! Sign me up for that. But what we choose to do next, and how we handle life’s sudden surprises shows us who we are, or gives us an opportunity to strive towards the person we want to be. How we react says a lot about who we are. How we chose to handle and cope with issues defines our character. Sometimes the life curveballs we are thrown is God’s way of redirecting our steps, or showing us it’s time to take a step back. I’m a do-er, so having to sit still, and no be able to do stuff, never mind my daily routines, is beyond frustrating. Like so frustrating I wanted to throw my crutches threw the window, had 3 melt downs in about an hour, over how frustrating this is. And that was only day 2. Feeling defeated, I began to speak truth over my circumstance. Over my situation and self loathing I began to repeat out loud ” I can do all things through Christ who STRENGTHENS me” over and over and over again, until I began to feel His peace, and my frustration disappeared. I find it extremely timely, that just before we left for vacation I got this new devotional in the mail. Even though it’s a daily devotional and starts on Jan. 1st, I began to go through it anyway. And wouldn’t you know the morning after I broke my foot this was the topic : *an exert from the devotional “Savor” by: Shauna Niequist*
“Bittersweet”
“Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble? – Job 2:10”
Bittersweet is the idea that in all things there is both something broken and something beautiful, that there is a sliver of lightness on even the darkest of nights, a shadow of hope in every heartbreak, and that rejoicing is no less rich when it contains a splinter of sadness. Bittersweet is the practice of believing that we really do need both the bitter and the sweet, and that a life of nothing but sweetness rots both your teeth and your soul. Bitter is what makes us strong, what forces us to push through, what helps us earn the lines on our faces and the calluses on our hands. Â ~Shauna Niequist
Through this unexpected curveball, I’ve felt peace in that He is in control. He guides and directs my path, so I will embrace this season of “rest” while my foot heals, and except the slower pace of life. And by slower, I mean  s  l  o  w  e  r  pace of life. Because when we choose to embrace it, when we choose to stop and look around us and listen to life, we gain a richness and a strength, and wisdom that we would normally pass right by in our fast paced society.
So you may see me a little less around here, rest assured I’m not going anywhere, LITERALLY. I’m just embracing my slower pace, and all it has to offer.
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Followed a link from MMS and saw this post. My daughter is recovering from a second ankle surgery, 12 weeks, non-weight bearing. She was in college the first go around and had to navigate campus. She never could have done it without a knee scooter. So much easier than crutches and so much more mobility. She was able to wrangle it single handed in her Tahoe. This might be an option for you. We rented the first time around, $75/month. It was a worn out scooter but we didn’t know any better. She was happy to not use crutches. She is now post op week one and this time we bought a scooter. It was $140.00 including shipping. This scooter has a basket on the front. SO helpful. Google knee scooter if you are interested. Hope this helps you.
Bre, I can’t believe you broke your foot! This is going to be one epic story for the littles when they get older. Sending you lots of love, hugs and prayers for a speedy recovery. Take your time healing and enjoy the time of rest, Coco
Bre, I’m so sorry about your accident, about the pain you were in and the pain probably yet to come. It’s not easy for a “do-er” to stop doing, but as you know, sometimes this is a sign from above that it’s time to go slow. However, I want to say exactly what Tina said above. Several years ago, for an achilles tendon injury, I was told to sit and do nothing other than elevate my foot. Within two weeks, I had a pulmonary embolism from lack of movement. Don’t want to scare you, but there are always lessons to be learned from the experiences of others. Please ask your doc about some stretching exercises or something to do to keep your blood moving, especially if you are taking any prescription birth control. Hope you are feeling better today!
I love seeing all of your beautiful (and inspiring) photos of your home but it is posts like this that are so deeply authentic that keep me coming back to your blog each week. As a doer myself, I understand how frustrated you must be and if I could, I’d make you the biggest, prettiest pitcher of lemonade out of all of those lemons!
Hey girl- I’ll be praying for you!! God loves you very much and you are in his hands!
oh take care. I to broke my left foot a few years back. In a car accident. It was a rare special bones. The top of my foot was crushed and toes. Then the bone where you flex the foot by top of ankle. I was in an air cast for four weeks due to brushing to my heart that had to heal prop to surgery. No weight Bering and then the 6 hour surgery and again no weight on it for 4 mos. then a walking cast and cane for 4 more months. Then physical therapy. It took me then another 6 mos. to be able to walk. Then two years later surgery to remove 12 pieces of hardware because the screws were piping out and floating inside causing pain. So in surgery they fused my foot. So I’m just saying this. Listen to every thing the doctor tells you. I’m still having issues with my foot. Having a brace made. Crazy all from a broken foot. Love and prayers to you and keep up the good fight with the swords!!
Sorry to hear about your injury, although you can honestly say that you earned it entertaining the kiddos well haha. You have a good attitude and I wish you only the best for your recovery.
So sorry to hear of your accident. I want to say that I ruptured my Achilles tendon some years back and was also told that I had to lay on the couch for 2 weeks after my surgery. At week three, I found that I had a blood clot. Just an FYI- if you are on birth control pills ( I know, kind of personal, sorry), ask your doctor if you should continue taking them at this time. I wish that I had thought to do that. I will pray that all goes well with your healing.
Hi Bre! Your vacation adventure really hit home. I understand the doer inclination all to well. Your blog has been a huge gift to me in a time when I needed beauty, inspiration and a place to put it all together.
Six years ago I was stopped right in my tracks from illness.Very humbling, I didn’t understand it but God has worked everything together , the picture became clear and now it’s the reason why I do the work I do. I work with people in situations just like yours, would love to talk and show you how your recovery can be made easier. Thank you for all you do to make things beautiful because it helped make a big impact in my life.
Blessings,
Heather
Wellness Coach &LMT
Ph 603-724-1444
Bre, I enjoy your blog very much. What a sweet entry….I am so sorry for your injury, but happy that you are meeting this time as a blessing. Shoot, I too had a foot injury this summer – mid foot sprain with fractured fibula. The date is stamped in my mind, July 9, because I had to “be still” for 21 days. I did manage to get to work in tennis shoes (oh that looks great at the office). But my foot required elevation & ice (removing tennies at work was a bit embarrassing). I did ask the Lord how in the world to handle this…and was met with “be still & know that I am the Lord”. So I was “still” A LOT. I am almost back to normal on the foot, but my soul has been restored in an amazing way. I never saw this coming! And I might say, I am amazed that He worked this all to His glory.
So very sorry you have broken your foot. Do what you are suppose to, keeping off of it and elevated as much as possible. I broke mine and did not have the proper care. Now 20 years later, walking which has always been a way for me to relax can be excruciating. Sending prayers for a complete recovery. Sometimes slowing down can have many rewards.
excellent . ..hope you recover without any complications
This
“Sometimes we get thrown curve balls, that come out of no where, that we didn’t even see, or have time to prepare for, and we’re forced into a situation beyond our control.”
and this:
“Through this unexpected curveball, I’ve felt peace in that He is in control. He guides and directs my path, so I will embrace this season of “rest” while my foot heals, and except the slower pace of life. And by slower, I mean s l o w e r pace of life. Because when we choose to embrace it, when we choose to stop and look around us and listen to life, we gain a richness and a strength, and wisdom that we would normally pass right by in our fast paced society.”
First Bre, I am sorry to hear about your accident. I, too, am a doer and can only imagine how “interesting” the change of pace must be. I am, however, completely inspired by your perspective. So rarely do we ever get to experience “quiet” and you have looked at this as a blessing. I needed this today. In a few weeks I will be leaving the north, the big city (where I’ve lived my entire life) and all the perks that go along with it to live a much slower paced lifestyle in the rural south. As frightening as this is, I realize that my body and spirit needs the quiet to heal. Your post has inspired me to not doubt my decision and forge on. Thank you for helping me to “embrace my slower pace”. Please continue to share uplifting, motivational posts during your respite. I wish you a happy, healthy and blessed convalescence.