A Look Back

As expected the last few days have been a little hectic. I actually broke down and stopped using my *paper* Day Planner and went electronic, I couldn't keep up and I never seemed to have the Planner with me when I needed to make an appointment. I've been fighting going electronic for for a couple of years now because I didn't want to learn how to do it on my phone, but I found I had no choice, if I wanted to keep things straight

My *Dance Card* is pretty full. Sweet Lady is out of Rehab and adjusting to being back at her place. We spent several days last week making the rounds with all her physicians and out patient physical therapy will be starting next week. I was a little overwhelmed when I heard she was going to have to go out for therapy but then I had an unsolicited offer to get her to therapy any time I needed help. That was such a provision from the Lord and an offer I will probably accept. She is doing really well back in her home and it makes me smile to see her sitting in her favorite chair in the lobby when I walk in.

We decided with all this going on, it would be a nice to time to remodel our downstairs bathroom. Don't even ask me what we were thinking....really what were we thinking! We are at a point of no return though, the commode has been removed. This is a project that's going to have to get finished in a timely manner, walking up steps for the bathroom is a little inconvenient. On a positive note, we are getting that extra exercise we talked about getting after the holidays. Again, I ask, what were we thinking??!!

Our emotions have been all over the place following my husband's mom's death, it has surprised us. We went through the viewing and funeral with little emotion, we took care of the initial business and then went immediately home. Once home, and after things started to settle a bit, the reality and finality of it all hit us. We are still wading through those waters, and I think will be there a long time as we continue to resolve things that need to be settled.

We have been blown away by the care we have received from the body of Christ. Several times in the last week, it came in the form of that shoulder I needed to cry on or that nugget of truth I needed to be reminded of.  I've learned how valuable a silent hug can be and how words are not always necessary.

I love the Psalms and one that is a favorite of mine is Psalm 16, Verses 5-8 state
"Lord you alone are my portion and my cup; you make my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken" (italics, mine)

Like I said before we are still wading through some uncertain waters but remembering he is at our right hand while we wade through it, so we will not be shaken.

Many Mercies

I had a moment in my oh too busy week and thought it would be a good time to reflect on how faithful God has been to us the last couple of days. Maybe it will encourage you as you are walking through something difficult.

I knew last week was going to be busy. I had a couple of appointments, a medical procedure scheduled and Sweet Lady was finally given a discharge date, it was for Friday.  When our Ladies Group met the week before I asked them to pray that I would rest in the Lord and trust him for all the details ahead of me and that I wouldn't be tempted to be anxious. That's my default when I have a lot of things going on at once. I left the meeting feeling encouraged and ready to face the week and the tasks ahead of me.

A couple of days later we received the call no one wants to receive. My Mother in law had passed away

The morning we received the news we spent it tying things together, rearranging some things, canceling others. Our Care Group Leaders stopped by to see what they could do to help, and to pray with us. It meant so much to us. It also gave us a chance to talk about how God had met us in other times of need, which helped to build our faith for the week ahead.

My mother in law lived a long life, she was 94. Her desire was to stay in her home, till the end of her days, she was able to do that. We were sad at her loss but thankful that she was able to live as she wanted.

My emotions are all jumbled right now. I'm amazed at the mercies God has provided during this time on one hand but still trying to process the loss. Sweet Lady was discharged Friday, so our schedules are going to remain full as we take care of her needs and multiple appointments that have to be made, a blessing in disguise.

They are both gone now and a chapter in our lives has now closed. I know the Lord will continue to be faithful and will have fresh mercies every morning.

Back To "Normal"

Even though last Monday may have been the official start of the first week of the New Year, this week felt like it for us. As of this past Sunday we officially have an empty house again and schedules are back to normal, with our son heading back to school. There will be no more homemade donuts in the house for awhile, which is probably a good thing, no more sounds from the french horn being practiced in our back room and no more games of Catan with him. (which he seemed to win each time we played) We'll be practicing for the next time he comes to visit.

Bible Study has started back up as has Care Groups. I've enjoyed getting back into the swing of things again. This year we discovered Bible Study Fellowship, it's a global group, and have been studying Revelation. What has worked well for us is my husband's meetings are on the same evening as mine. (different meeting place) We are both out of the house at the same time studying the same thing, which makes for good discussions as we're working on homework. It has been such a blessing. Because it's not being held at our church it has given us the opportunity to meet other believers who just want to study God's word....more opportunities for iron to sharpen iron.

Sweet Lady still in Rehab, but that's going to change soon, we now have a discharge date for next week. I have some apprehensions,  but I am trusting that the Lord will help us handle whatever the future may hold. 

You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:3

One of my favorite verses and one to remember when anxiety threatens to creep in.

December Moments

Since I was negligent on posting my November Moments there are a few November photos included in my December Moments. The last couple of months have been a blur for us. Having Sweet Lady in Rehab has knocked me off my routine a bit and taking photos, let alone putting them together for a post was real low on the list of things to do.

December gave us lots of opportunities to celebrate the season with friends and family. We made a trip to visit my extended family and my youngest son came home for Christmas. There was also plenty of face time that was done with the "Prairie Family"

Sweet Lady continued in Rehab with physical therapy six times a week

I made several trips to FedEx to ship packages to loved ones far away. They may not know me by my first name yet but I am recognized when I come in and they know all about my far away family.

We walked the Million Bulb Walk at the Garden's again this year, it really is a pretty site and I love the lights that are set to music.

Our December was the warmest in decades, I still have flowers blooming in my yard. Folks were Christmas Shopping in shorts and sandals....for the record I pulled my flip flops out.

With my youngest home for a bit we were able to spend some time playing games and the guys enjoyed flying their new quad copters all over the place. (it's a bit unnerving when they fly them right above your head but my son and husband seemed to get a lot of pleasure from doing just that)

December was a busy month to be sure and even though I've enjoyed it, I'm ready for routine again...can you relate?

Here are some glimpses of our December Moments.

Welcoming The New Year

I suppose it's natural to do some reflection at the end/beginning of the year. I've done it time and time again, this year being no different. Our life continues to change but the loss I had been feeling so acutely with our grandchildren moving so far away has mellowed some. I still miss them but, there is face time and visits to look forward to.

There have been years when I had some pretty specific ideas on what I wanted to accomplish in the upcoming year. This year I've been hard pressed to come up with any specific goals. We've been in a holding pattern with a few things so, it's been hard for me to think beyond that.

Some basic things I'm hoping to continue is to clean out and reduce the clutter in our home, it seems to be an ongoing thing. There's some progress that's been made, but we've been in this home for almost twenty years, and that's a lot of time to acquire stuff. I have a full garage as proof of that last statement! Plus we have acquired things from other people and I still have a ton of toys that I would keep for when the grands would come to visit. I've purged about half but I need to do more. My youngest son helped with this process by going through some of HIS boxes that still had a home in an empty bedroom. We ended up eliminating three more rubbermaid containers...hooray! (there are still a few more he has to go through)

I thought about trying out a new Bible Reading Plan, this linked one looked interesting. I will probably only use it as a guide though because we are also doing BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) and that has reading requirements as well. I don't think there's one Bible reading method better than another but I do think it is so important for believers to be saturated in his Word. Now is the time to know what you believe and why.

So basically we are trying to simplify our home, lighten the load as it were, continue to draw near to the Lord as wait to see how some events that have us in this "holding pattern" are going to unfold.

That's what we are looking at doing in the year ahead, what about you, what kind of things are you looking to do in the New Year?