Health Update, Photos, and New Book Releases

It’s been a while since I updated my readers. Many of you on social media know I have been battling pneumonia and the flu, but others do not. I am also updating you on audiobook releases and new releases.

Before Christmas and Hanukkah, my husband and I got sick with influenza A. We went to immediate care and were treated. I could not keep anything down, and it worsened. On Christmas Eve, I spent 12 days in the hospital and a few of those days in ICU on high oxygen for pneumonia and the flu. I’m thankful to be home and recovering. Although it’s a slow process, I am getting stronger daily. My youngest son, Samuel, traveled from Kentucky to stay with us for two weeks. What a blessing he was! And how could I forget my husband who has taken such great care of me, and the prayers of all of you.

I have now weaned off oxygen except for at night and have been released to wean off night oxygen soon. I’m still using a walker but, at times, my cane, so a bit of strength has returned.
While in the hospital, they found a mass on my lungs that they are not sure about, so I will get some more imaging and meet with a pulmonologist in March. Thank you for all the prayers, gifts, cards, and love. It means so much to my husband and I.

 I wanted to give a shout-out to my audio extraordinaire, Lynn Marie Brunk, who has become the voice of Tekoa Manning on audio. Lynn has been working hard behind the scenes on redoing Polishing Jade. All the characters’ voices are spot on, and I can’t wait to update you on the new audio version when it’s available.
Lynn has also been working on the audio series Unveiling the Messiah in the Feasts (Spring & Fall). We look forward to having these feast books available before Passover. If you are an author seeking a voice for your books, I highly recommend Lynn Marie Brunk. You can find her and her books HERE.

My dear friend Dr. Zausch is editing my poetry book, and we will discuss more changes when we meet for a phone consultation again next week. We are pondering a new title (Flying Words Like A Kite), which will be retired, so a new cover and theme are percolating. Once completed, I plan to launch a poetry contest via Manning the Gate Publishing, offering prizes and publishing the winning poem in my new release. To be continued. And yes, things take much longer than we imagine.

Once home from the hospital, there were a few things I wanted to do. One was to make things right with an old friend and bring closure. I’m glad I did because one week later, she died twice and had to be brought back to undergo surgery for a pacemaker. Abba knows all. TRUST YOUR GUT!
The second thing my husband and I did was organize my manuscripts. We counted 12. I plan to focus on some of these after finishing up our clients. I guess I have a lot to say. Ha! King Revealed, Part Four of Unmasking the Unseen Series is mainly completed, but this has taken much longer than we ever dreamed due to my health and my father’s death. Books come forth right on time. We don’t believe in rushing things, and due to not rushing things, I have a guest author who will be adding a few chapters to book four, Merri Trifiro. You can read her poetry HERE.

As for the hospital stay and this last experience, I compare it to Jonah in the bottom of the deep. It was a death of deaths. I’m still trying to process it. As with all deaths, there is always a resurrection and learning experience when done correctly.

I posted this the day after I got home from a hospital that had no hot water in the bathroom. No way to shower:

Last night, on very wobbly legs, like a one-year-old gripping a table to stand for the first time, I made it to a shower chair and wept over water.
People in third-world countries weep over water, but when was the last time you wept over water with great joy? My husband’s healing hands washed my back while calling me His Beloved. Oh, more tears. There is such beauty in tears. Water.

Sometimes, we must thirst for water. Sometimes, in our deaths, we are resurrected and given a message as Paul was:

After being stoned and left for dead, Paul said he knew a man who saw the 3rd heavens. He was referring to himself. Paul said he was not free to discuss the wonderous 3rd heavens. How different that is compared to today when so many want to share how they saw heaven or hell or had an experience after death.

I know a man in Christ who, fourteen years ago, was caught up to the third heaven. Whether it was in the body or out of it I do not know, but God knows. And I know that this man—whether in the body or out of it, I do not know, but God knows— was caught up to Paradise. The things he heard were inexpressible, things that man is not permitted to tell.

(II Corinthians 12:2-4, BSB)

Before being admitted to the hospital, I promised to upload my blog on Familiar Spirits. I’m still trying to play catch-up with clients and appointments with doctors and friends, but I will post it as soon as I can. Enjoy photos.

Blessings,

Tekoa Manning