"Restriction-itis" and The Glass That's Half-Full

During our consult with Camdyn's surgeon, we received a long list of "don'ts" for post-surgery recovery at home.  We knew that we would be unable to travel (the beach is our regular destination), as well as take her to any public places (familiar restrictions from the previous two times), but there were other items that we had either forgotten or were new for this time around, such as:

- No strenuous activity (obviously)
- No lifting ANYTHING
- No swimming (although, we may decide to bring the small pool into the kitchen!!!)
- No lifting her under her arms
- No crying, coughing, or sneezing (it prolongs recovery)
- No sun/sweating (because she could become too thirsty, which leads us to the next one...)
- No more than 750 ml of fluids total each day (that's the size of a bottle of wine)
- No being around any other children (besides Max, who is also under this restriction)
- No increased blood pressure (so, she basically gets her way the rest of the summer to keep her calm)

Also, she will be on a low/non-fat diet for 6 or more weeks, which means...
- Nonfat milk only (she's used to having whole)
- No fried foods
- No cheese
- No beef or pork (and this girl loves ribs)
- No ice cream (unless it's low/non-fat)
- No bacon
- No egg yolks
- No butter (what else will I put on her pasta?  The fake stuff???)
- No olive oil
- No peanut butter

And even with a list like this, I still feel like I'm forgetting something.  With all of these restrictions placed on her (and us), it would be easy to come down with a bad case of "restriction-itis," and to mourn the temporary loss of all the fun things we won't be able to do this summer.  Last summer was a blockbuster of a summer, and this year will be the complete opposite.

As we were discussing all of this with her and what she would and would not be allowed to do this summer, we found ourselves naturally telling her all the fun things that we had planned for us at home, such as movies (LOTS...and she loves to watch movies), craft projects, legos, baking (low-fat, of course), and indoor campouts, just to name a few.  We tried to put the most positive spin on it as possible, so she wouldn't feel like she was missing out on so many fun things.  And when we started thinking about it, as opposed to all the "don'ts" above, we started to become eager to spend all that family time together at home.  Aside from appointments at the hospital, once we're home, we're home.  Together.  All four of us.  With not a single other obligation in sight all summer long.  Family time at home...that's what's on our schedule.  We were starting to look at the glass as "half full."

So many things in this life can be viewed in multiple ways.  It's all about perspective.  And it got me thinking that it's very similar to how the Christian life can be viewed.  Is it just a long list of "don'ts" that keep you from doing whatever you want?  Or is it the list of "do's" that keep you on track with your Heavenly Father?  The world's view of it can be pessimistic, but once you're saved, you realize all that you lacked before Christ became center of your life, and you no longer care about the "don'ts."  They become irrelevant.

So, this summer, we're embracing optimism, quiet, lazy days, staying in our pyjamas until noon (or, to be real, maybe all day), non-fat frozen yogurt (in abundance), grilled chicken, and kid movies.  We'll enjoy all the family time we can get, and then some.  All the other fun stuff?  It can wait.  The beach will still be there in September.  The back yard will still be around in September.  And we've been known to BBQ ribs year-round, so I'm pretty sure September won't mind if we make up for it every other night.

This summer is still bound to be a "glass half-full" summer (as long as the glass only holds 750 ml at half-capacity).  Sometimes, we just need a change in perspective.