SOLC24 #11 straight-away

Today felt like Spring outside (hooray!) and also with my husband’s recuperation from knee injury and surgery. Yippee!

Since the severe pain started he has been staying in and still for the last 3+ weeks. Thankfully his surgery last Friday went well, and he has rested throughout the weekend. Smart!

Today was his first trip for physical therapy, which he said really helped his knee feel better. He has exercises to do at home which will continue his progress. Wonderful!

Also today, he drove us to and from a nearby town to pick up an item we had ordered. He had not driven in almost a month. Huge!

And we wandered through the backyard and did some clean-up work on the pool. Again, his first trip out there in almost 4 weeks. Amazing!

Last week we were talking with one of our grandsons about Pops’ upcoming surgery. He said he hoped it would go well and that he would be all well “straight away.” Thoughtful!

(He said “straight away” because that is “Bluey talk,” but his good wishes for Pops come from his kind and true heart. Precious!)

SOLC24 #10 covered

what a snow it was

tiny flakes like sugar grains

resting deep and long

bright the morning comes

hope for warmer days ahead

promise true and sure

even in hard times

held close in His loving care

I know all is well

SOLC24 #9 slow

Spring Break from local schools is next week, and already this weekend our town is emptying out of people, cars, and traffic.

Most everyone, it seems, takes a trip on Spring Break. It is hard to resist the opportunity to visit a warmer climate, or to step away to nature at a park (national or state), or to rides and entertainment at a park (theme), or just see something new for a change.

Both of our children and their families are taking advantage of this week to make special memories with their Littles. We are happily staying at home while my husband recuperates from his knee surgery yesterday (already doing so well!).

One joy of this week will be the sunshine and warmer weather that is predicted for the days ahead. And with tomorrow’s “spring forward” time change we will bask in the later daylight as we observe the trees budding, flowers blooming, and the grass greening.

Another treat this week will be that lack of traffic that brings the ease of getting from one place to another on the usually crowded roads. It reminds us of how things used to be when our growing, bustling area was more like a true small town. Less busy and more personal in many ways.

We will enjoy the sun, the spring, and the slow.

SOLC24 #8 thankful

I am very grateful today.

My husband has been in a lot of pain from a “bad knee” for the last several weeks, to the point where he couldn’t walk unassisted. Thankfully we had kept a walker from past surgeries, and it sure did come in handy! Such a relief.

When his pain started, we spent a week, first getting an MRI, then being passed from one doctor to another, in order for them to decide the best form of treatment. One suggested a meniscectomy, another a knee replacement. We went to the third doctor who decided on the easier meniscus procedure. Another thing to be grateful for!

So today he had the procedure, and it all went well! Even though he is sore from the surgery, he can already tell that the sharp pain he was suffering with seems to be gone. Hallelujah!

After surgery today the doctor told me that he should feel much better. When I asked about a future knee replacement, the doctor said it wasn’t time yet, it might not be needed, and we should just “wait and see.” We are happy to do that. Yippee!

We so appreciate the excellent doctor, the caring nurses, the new up-to-date facility, the kind “others” involved with his care, and his easy recuperation so far. Praises!

I am very grateful today!

SOLC24 #7 fox

Our home backs up to a farm, so we are enjoying all kinds of wildlife spottings.

Well, almost all kinds. The armadillos that dig holes in our yard are not welcome sights. Yes, we have seen two of them, in the middle of the day, even though they generally come out in late dusk and early dawn. We hope to see no more.

One day in early January we were driving down the road behind the farm and something darted right across in front of us. It was gone before we really realized it was there. I glanced over into the field, spotted it, and told my husband, “I think that was a fox! A pretty large one, too.”

The next morning my husband looked into our backyard and saw this:

When he showed me the picture, we agreed that was probably the same one we had seen the day before.

“Did he jump over the pool fence?” I asked.

“No,” he replied. “He just ran right between the bars. Didn’t even ‘check up’ (slow down) as he ran through.”

It really was a fairly large fox, but I guess they can make themselves thin when they need to.

It was a beautiful sight. We have not seen him since.

SOLC24 #6 resilient

We moved into our remodeled home in the fall of 2022. Our plans included a covered deck/back porch, but that has been postponed due to some permit issues (long story). The good news is that we are ready to begin (and end!) the project this spring.

One of the things we did early on in the remodeling process was to remove the shrubs around the patio (over which the porch will be built). These were fairly large bushes with some lilies in between. We relocated the lilies and those are awaiting a permanent home.

The footings have been dug and poured, so in this picture you see how things look at present:

Pretty rough. We are excited to see the end result, hopefully before long. It has been this way for quite a while.

Apparently there were some tulips that we failed to relocate from this area. If you look closely you can see them making their way through the piled up soil that was dug out for the footings:

I am hopeful that they will bloom this year. I wonder what color they will be? Even if they don’t produce blossoms, I admire them for their perseverance.

As we wait for things to progress with our porch, no doubt some decisions will need to be made and some expectations may change. We hope to be as resilient as these determined bulbs.

SOLC24 #5 timeout

Sometimes time seems to stand still when we want it to hurry on. If we are in pain, or if we are anticipating a happy event (vacation!), or if we are simply bored.

Sometimes we want time to slow or stop. If we are viewing a gorgeous, short-lived sunset, or if we are looking at our children (or grandchildren) and realizing how quickly they are growing, or if we are enjoying the presence and camaraderie of friends or family that we don’t often see.

Today I am wanting time to stop for the selfish reason that I spent a good deal of time and effort cleaning the house yesterday, and I’m relishing the dust-free floors and furniture and the fresh smell.

Yet, no matter what – time marches on.

SOLC24 #4 bugs

Today in Tennessee, it is mostly sunny, with fluffy white clouds meandering across the sky. The birds are singing, the buttercups are blooming, the lilies are spreading their green pointy leaves, and some trees are starting to bud.

Neighbors are walking their dogs and themselves, and some ambitious ones are even mowing their lawn. (What a lovely smell!)

It is a glorious day, even though Spring hasn’t officially arrived just yet. But I am ready for it to come – right away, please.

When I looked out my kitchen window toward the big pine tree that fills that field of vision, with the sun streaming down in the space between the house and the tree, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. Like zooming dust motes, the air was filled with tiny white bugs.

When I looked out another window, with the light sky as the background, I couldn’t see them at all. Back at the pine tree, when the sun went behind a cloud, I could see only a very few. But when when the setting was “just right” I could see that they were everywhere!

I’m not sure what they are, but I know they are not mosquitoes, thank goodness. Amazing how they appeared “en masse” on this lovely warm (75 degree) day.

Seems like all living things are ready for Spring!

SOLC24 #3 words

Oh, to be an encourager, a prayerful friend, a thankful soul. I want to choose my words wisely and kindly. The cobwebs of self and unbelief need to be cleared so my heart can be filled with joy and praise. “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” Matthew 12:34

There is thanksgiving for the words of life that speak to me every time I open my Bible.

I am even more grateful for the Word – made flesh – that brings LIFE to all our words. He brings life to me.

Words have the power to deny or to inform, to tear down or to build up, to hurt or to heal.

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14

SOLC24 #2 ultra healing

One of our grandsons has eczema. WebMD defines it as “a common skin condition that causes itchiness, rashes, dry patches, and infection. It’s a type of dermatitis, which is a group of conditions that can inflame or irritate your skin.”

Fortunately Wade’s problem hasn’t gotten to the infection point, but it is troublesome. His mother takes excellent care of him with lotions and creams, especially after baths. I believe it has improved over time, probably due to this attention, but we all know that it could return or worsen at any time – so the awareness and concern continue.

Also fortunately, this doesn’t seem to get Wade down. He is bothered by the flare-ups, but his joy of life and his humor never stop. His smile continues to light up the room.

One time when he was in our care for the weekend, he had some rough spots appear. Being typical grandparents we did not want him to suffer. (Not to mention the ingrained childhood Scout training to “return everything better than you received it”) So we decided to apply lotion a few times during the day and even more liberally at bedtime.

(This is NOT an affiliate link but I’ll just say that Jergen’s Ultra Healing Lotion is the best for all sorts of itches, scratches, and even old wrinkled skin. Wade’s mother introduced us to it when he was a baby. So that is what we used.)

The next day, and the next, his skin was MUCH better! At some point I said to Wade, “Buddy, your skin looks so much better today! Does it feel better, too? I think that lotion really helped.”

To which Wade, with that irrepressible grin, wisely replied, “Of course it does. It’s ultra healing!”

Don’t we all need to know, and use, the things that are ultra healing to whatever problems we have in our lives.

SOLC24 #1 balance

So many things in our lives depend on finding the right balance – life/work balance, balanced diet, hanging in the balance, checks and balances, getting thrown off balance.

Having a sense of balance gets us from one place to another – without falling over, without obsessing, without being weighed down.

I think we often lose our balance when there are too many demands – either internal or external. And I am working on that. But truthfully, I have never had much balance.

• I don’t always feel steady on my feet (but I also rarely fall down, thank goodness).
• I often pour myself wholeheartedly into a chosen activity (but it doesn’t last long).
• I don’t have the best eating habits (but my body hasn’t gotten “sick” from that).
• I am either “all in” or “not at all interested” in things (but my discernment usually does help me choose wisely)

My writing habits are usually off balance. I do pretty well in March (this is my 13th year for the Slice of Life March Challenge, being consistent with posting each day), but the Tuesday SOLC every week escapes me. Consistency in writing over time escapes me. (I’m all in for March, and so thankful for it. But the habit slips away when I don’t practice it daily.)

I need to find the right balance because writing truly invigorates my soul.

trust SOLC

Recently I’ve had cataract surgery. I was awake for both procedures and home in two hours. Still, that first afternoon is a time of waiting. With blurry vision there is little to do but wait – and trust. Trust that your sight comes back. Thankfully mine did, clearer than ever. I’m grateful it is over and encouraged by good follow-up reports.

Recently our daughter’s family moved. They left their home of nine years, the only home their children have ever known. It’s exciting to think about making memories there in the years ahead, but for now it is a matter of trust. Trust that this new house will soon become a home, with a place as firmly planted in their hearts as the one they left. Honestly, it is already becoming just that.

Recently, and actually for a long, long time, the world is just a mess. We inhabitants are taking it farther and farther from the garden paradise that God prepared for us. We do have hope for better days ahead, but for right now it is a matter of trust. Trust that God will deliver us, just as He has promised. Thankfully, His promises have always held true.

back again SOLC

So much rain last week. Gloomy, cool days. Had to be Dogwood Winter, as those sweet trees were showing off their beautiful white blossoms and offering some of the few bright spots in the dismal days.

But the forlorn days have purpose, too. They give a foundation of moisture and nourishment to things that grow.

Now this week the sun is in full force, shining brightly and quickly warming the cool nights into comfortable warm days. And the trees are leafing out quickly. You can almost see the difference from day to day, or even morning to afternoon.

Today as I drove from a meeting in town I chose the “country road” path home. The late afternoon sun spotlighted the greening fields and shade-giving trees. SO beautiful.

Encouraging almost beyond words. Life – in its varied array and countless forms – is back again.

All in the week after Easter.

He is risen indeed!

time traveler (SOLC)

The mother of a childhood friend died recently. I was able to attend the funeral and happy to celebrate the life of a dedicated Christian woman.

Traveling across town (and seemingly through time) to the church where I grew up brought back such fond memories. I walked in with the mother of another friend, and as we entered we talked about how we had taken for granted being a part of this community “back then.”

I honestly thought, for a long time, that everyone had been part of (or had the opportunity to choose to be part of ) a loving church family like I had been. As I have grown older, I realize that is, sadly, not the truth.

There were several friends there and I was reminded of the times we have spent together through the years. Growing up together is hard to forget.

Years ago, when my grandmother passed away, I spent time at her visitation greeting friends of my parents who came to offer condolences. This same friend who recently lost her mother came to my grandmother’s services that day – and she came for ME, not my parents – and I shall never forget how that comforted me.

And it was such a blessing to now offer comfort to my friend in her grief, and to realize that no matter the time and distance that has come between us, the treasured bond of friendship remains strong.

on the edge SOLC23 #31

Today is an ending of sorts.

End of the month. End of the March Writing Challenge (with thanks to God for getting me through it this year).

End of the week. What a week this has been. Local, national, and world events weigh heavily on my heart today.

I have looked back at the end of the month March postings through the other twelve years I have been writing here. I do long for the light hearted spirit I displayed early on. Sometimes now, current events take control of my thinking and I have trouble writing here about happier things. But I have certainly tried.

I remain thankful for this opportunity, this challenge. As always, writing awakens my senses of observation and contemplation.

On the edge of a new month and hopefully better circumstances, I’ll end this year with these thoughts:

Next week is Holy Week. We will remember what events took place here on earth as our Lord’s Son took the difficult steps necessary to save us from our sins and deliver the promise of eternal life. And as we remember His sacrifice, we will remind ourselves of all that we owe Him and how much we love Him.

No matter what, those truths will never change. Thanks be to God.

starting out SOLC23 #30

One Monday morning when we were remodeling our home I was driving from the lake into town and wondering what the day would hold.

From driveways, side roads, and intersections, there were cars whose drivers I encountered only from afar. Yet I knew that each driver was headed out into the day, also pondering what was to come.

I could imagine that some were reluctant, others were hopeful: some were anxious, others were confident: some were starting something new, others were just following routine. Yet all had a purpose, a destination, and an expectation.

At that time, our daughter-in-law had just started a new job. Her first day was tough, but thankfully things had improved during the week. On that Monday, I was going to meet our new library Director that morning, and I was hoping the new Director’s first day would be more encouraging. As it turned out, it was.

Each week we all start something new – for that matter, it is a new day EVERY day.

God’s mercies are new every morning. May we all remember to seek those mercies as we tackle – and enjoy – whatever the new day might bring.

a few steps ahead SOLC23 #29

Today we drove to our house at the lake to check on things. Thankfully, all was well there. We do need to find some time to go and stay a few days and do some “spring cleaning” inside and out.

Our lake home is 75 miles to the southeast of our home in town, with a similar topography and climate – an easy trip.

Today, however, the difference between those two sites was striking, as the new season is a few steps ahead there – Spring is definitely more “sprung” at the lake. So many trees are loaded with seedpods and/or leaf buds, bare branches are disappearing under cover, making everything greener and more glowing.

Our dogwoods at home are starting to open small blooms but there at the lake, the sweet white dogwood flowers are much bigger.

Certainly something to look forward to at home!

Of course now we get to “enjoy” Dogwood Winter. But it won’t last too long.

Welcome Spring!

dear friend SOLC23 #28

Last spring I sent a card to a friend who was dying of cancer. One of her daughters told me at the funeral visitation that they received it and appreciated it very much.

In the note, I told her how much she had meant to me through the years. Without being direct about the future, I said I was praying for her comfort and peace during this time of illness. If it made it in time, I am sure she could read between the lines.

But the most important thoughts were not about her present troubles, but of the past joys she had brought into my life.

Most of my times spent with her were in a Book Club. She was always determined that we discuss the book we read for the month, even though many others wanted to just spend more time visiting.

For a short time she owned a sports car, my dream ride, and she took me once to Book Club. It helped me realize that this was not the car my knees needed, and maybe not hers either, because she didn’t keep it very long. But we had a sweet trip together that evening.

Another time we rode with someone else to meet at a friend’s house in a neighboring town. The driver was a bit distracted and my friend clutched my knee in the back seat all the way home. We said many times after that how glad we were that we made it home.

We always said we were going to get our husbands and eat together at a favorite Mexican restaurant, but we never did. They missed out. Fortunately she and I did share several other meals together, remembered for the conversation more than for the food.

She always knew what was going on in others’ lives, not in a gossipy way, but matter-of-factly as just how things were. And she always had direct questions about people and events she was trying to make sense of and figure out.

Before Book Club, we were soccer moms together. She had three daughters who all played very well, and our daughter was on teams with two of them. My friend was encouraging and supportive, even of the lesser-abled players, especially when she knew they were doing their best.

My first meeting of her was when our daughter started middle school and she was the administrative assistant there (meaning she ran the school). We were new to the school as well as the community, and I was teaching elsewhere. On many occasions she took our daughter and her needs under her wing, and looked out for her in our absence. God knew we needed her and sent her our way.

She had a quick wit and a sharp intellect. She loved the Outer Banks, and a good round of Cranium, and her family, and a good glass of wine, and her friends, and her exercise group, and God.

Almost a year has gone by since she passed away. The other day I drove by the church where she worked, and saw the red door that I entered when I would stop by to see her. How I wished I could go through that door and visit her again. But I do know I will see her again one day, in another time and space.

At her service, her husband mentioned she was “tough as nails,” and she was, but her daughters mentioned how quick she was to shed tears when her heart was heavy. I saw both of these sides in her. She was all this, and so much more, and she will be greatly missed.

Her memorial service pointed others to God, just as she did in life.

Dear Friend, what a blessing you were to me.

no words SOLC23 #27

There has been an unspeakable tragedy in our area today, a school shooting. Pray for the Covenant School community in Nashville, TN.

The Spirit prays for us when we don’t know how. I’m needing that now.

Words are so powerful. They are amazing in their influence. When well-chosen, they transform.

Someone, someday will find the words that are necessary for healing after this. Broken hearts will need to hear those words, and carry them close.

But for me, for now, there are no words…

Yet, still, with the Spirit’s help, I pray.

waiting SOLC23 #26

On these warmer (and lighter, later) evenings we have enjoyed recently, my husband and I often end our day sitting on the back patio. Our plans are to build a covered deck in that space, but we are waiting on our county water/sewer department to tell us when we can. Right now we are waiting with hope that soon we will have a second septic site approved. Not that there’s anything wrong with our current septic system, it is just that we have to follow their dictates to get the building permit we need. All the stakes and ribbons that mark our yard show the promise of progress being made.

And so we wait….

As we sit out in the evenings we notice the trees coming to life after the cold winter. A few trees are blooming, with their light and delicate petals drifting down in the breeze. Many leaf buds and seed pods are appearing too. Sadly some of the “evergreen” trees are trying to get over the flash freeze we had at Christmas time, and we wait with hope that those brown needles will give way to new green ones. And most trees are still bare branches, with just the promise of leaves to come.

And so we wait….

Our world is in disarray these days. Leadership, or lack thereof, is evident. Chaos rules in several places. Threats and fears of war, bank failures, earthquakes and storms, disease, and other catastrophes fill our airways and our minds. Yet we believers know Who is in control, and Who will one day rule a new heaven and earth with peace and joy. One day – we don’t know when, but we do have that promise in His Word, that assurance, and the greatest Hope of all.

And so we wait….