No, I Didn't Disappear! :)

"Heal me and I shall be healed."   --- Jeremiah 17:14

******

I'm back! Really back this time. And I do thank those of you who kept checking here for me. Never has the number been that high.

Anyway, this summer, for me, was a nightmare. Well, mostly. First covid, then a heat wave and it all blurred together for 3 months and draped me over our red couch June, July, August.

I let things go: the yard (tho' Naomi did some watering) much of the house, the dishes (Tom washed many), books, the sparrows, and the laundry, though I did keep up with Tom's clothes. But especially myself--I let myself go. Majorly. gah.

(Like, I've not worn make-up in months (even around other people) and if you know me in Real Life, you realize that's huge.)

I coughed so often and felt so exhausted that I simply stopped caring. At least, about most things. But I do want to point out what Jesus told me clearly at the beginning of the 12 weeks:

He said I could gaze back on this time and recall the misery of days made worse by a lousy attitude--or--how I peacefully rested while believing I'd recover.

And Folks, I tried, I did. Some days I gazed around the living room, dining area and kitchen and thought, "This is such a good house for us. Thank-you, Jesus, for these pretty rooms."

But other days? I grumbled, "I hate feeling weak! This person isn't even me. I don't know her and can't stand her, her nor her teary eyes."

Really, I often felt upset at the situation and myself, but thankfully God led me to a Joyce Meyer video in which she shared the dangers of resenting and criticizing oneself.

Gulp. That scared me into knocking it off. And yes, things improved afterward.

In the midst of all that, my old laptop began growling at me. You know, like a race car or chainsaw. I'd begin blog posts, but the constant roar made me nuts and I'd shut it off and sadly return to the red couch.

Then Tom's laptop died. Good gracious. But today we are both blessed with new computers and feeling so grateful.

But what truly helped me improve? Our weather cooled. The air quality improved. Mornings dropped to 50 degrees and finally I could sit outside on the sun-flooded porch and heal. Oh, how glorious to feel well again!

Well, there's more, but this is enough for now. Thanks for hanging in there with me and a special thank-you to those of you who prayed for me and asked how I was feeling. That made me feel unforgotten and appreciated.

And from now on may I be quick to respond when Jesus asks me to send someone a message or card or whatever. What are we here for if not to make Life lovelier, Jesus-blessed, for one another?

*****

Videos you may enjoy:

You know how some things just cannot be explained? That's what I say about my love for this guy's videos. He's a Canadian who drives around and critiques fast food (mostly) and often does stealth camping one night in parking lots. He kept me entertained all of August.

His manners with other people are a million times better than mine and my patience may never match his. Here's a video where everything seemed to go wrong, but he kept it together unlike how I would have behaved.

50 Fall Cozy Mysteries

Storybook Fall Cabin Road Trip  --truly, this video helped my mind with much healing. So gorgeous!

This guy was hilarious!

Oh, and we watched the movie, Paper Planes, and loved it. Here's a trailer link.

***** 

Please remember: My posts are always about more than they appear to be. 

 *** "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15

This And That --- Or -- Strange Things About Me

"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.”   --- Luke 6:38

*****

1.) In our kitchen for 14 years, we've had a smoke alarm in a ridiculously high place over the stairs. It would go off if a stove burner or pan smoked. Tom and I believed it was hard-wired-in so we hoped that meant we didn't have to change the battery.

Really, it hung very high. 

In the wee hours of Sunday morning, the alarm began chirping (you know that dreaded sound). The cats and I hid upstairs waiting for Tom to wake up. Finally he did, then we asked Naomi if she'd go out to the garage and get a ladder. This is a much longer story, but Naomi climbed the ladder, grabbed the alarm and handed it to us.

Wow. Not hard wired! And you know? That thing lasted on two simple double A batteries for 14 years. Fourteen years! Can you believe it?

I have to call that some type of a miracle. (Oh, and we did not replace it up there, of course.)

2.) So I lost double the weight that I told you (mathmatical error plus more loss since then), so now I've got all these oversized tops. After spending much effort on this wardrobe, I didn't want to start over so I bought these:

You know, to cinch the front side.

(That's not the set I bought, but it's the only photo I could find where she wears it similarly.)

They're my wardrobe saver and have many other uses.

3.) Always I'm at Youtube, yet never do I read titles about being kind and giving to people. Never.

Well, imagine my shock when I spied this title:

Always be in the Giving Spirit with Your Small Business and in Your Personal Lives

Oh my goodness! Made my entire week, especially to go on and listen to her words:

"We feel you have a responsibility as a human being. No matter what amount of money I've ever had -- you give. I don't care what you give: you give when you ain't got nothing, you give when you've got something. You don't wait until you've got something. You need to always have a giving heart with a giving spirit. It's the way we're supposed to be as humans. If you don't feel like that, you need to think about your life."

Amen, like, 400 times. Oh, to be so bold in speaking truth! Wow. I want to be like her when I grow up.

4.) You won't believe this, but it's been at least 8 years since I shopped inside a supermarket. Maybe longer.It just became too much for me (yeah, what a wimp. I know.)

But never do I regret having groceries delivered by Aldi. Instacart gives us a major way to save on delivery charges, plus, I love giving money to delivery folks rather than pouring it into my gas tank. I'm supporting my neighborhood by doing this, giving a slightly different way which benefits us all.

I also buy things through Walmart, but the usual way, not through Instacart. And sometimes Tom and Naomi pick up a few groceries, but I consider those extras.  シ

Oh, and when things are delivered, I usually try to run out and thank the person. Gratitude means much to everyone.

5.) Two nights after coming down with this virus, I lay in bed kinda delirious with fever. Kept thinking of my favorite episode of Early Edition (Home Groan), telling myself I must remember the lines of the best scenes. Must. Remember.

But then something changed and I thought, "You know? How easy for a sickness like this to whisk me away to Heaven in an instant. Snap! Gone forever."

Well, that sobered me. Was I scared? Not at all. Heaven sounded wonderfully pleasant at that moment.

But what did concern me is that I've not finished decluttering my extra stuff so Naomi won't have to. Even after 6 years of averaging getting rid of 10 things weekly, much is left to release.

And seriously, that gave me extra strength to hang in there.  I want to be as near finished with decluttering as I can be when the real time to fly away comes.

6.)  Am I 100 percent over that virus after 8 weeks? I wish. I'm much closer and three of the other symptoms are healed, but still, afternoons can be tiring and early evening coughing happens at times. 

Part of the problem may be summer--it's always rough on me even hugging an air-conditioner.  シ

These days? I keep this upon my mind:

What would I do without Jesus, especially at nighttime through all this when I feel His presence so strong in my Secret Bedroom?

He is incredible.

Please remember: My posts are always about more than they appear to be. 

 *** 

 "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15

A 21st Blogiversary -- Or -- This Might Change Your Life. It Changed Mine.

My 21st blogiversary is in 2 days, but this post won't leave my mind, so here you go.

*****

This interview with Gerald McRaney, well, shook me up. Changed me. Reminded me of how we as Christians should consistently be. I'll shorten it here:

McRaney:  "My first time on The Rockford files I had a scene to do. I'm in my little dressing room and there's a knock on the door.  I open the door and there's Jim Garner. He says, "Hey Hoss. I just want to welcome you to the show. I hope you have fun."' 

"And that was it. But that was the way that man was. I'm a day player, I'm doing one scene and he went out of his way to welcome me."

"Months later, my parents came out for a visit and I'd arranged for them to have lunch at the commisary at Universal which was a big to-do for them. And I saw that Rockford Files was shooting right across the street."

"I went to see if Jim was there, and he was, and his assistant came to the door. I said, "I just wanted to see if Jim would have a moment to say hello to my parents." 

"Well, there was an executive in there with Jim who said something like, "We don't have time." To which Jim responded, "Well, we're gonna have to make some time, aren't we?" 

"He came out and spent, like, the next hour with my parents and just kept that executive in there cooling his heels, learning some manners. And I will never forget that as long as I live. Jim was the finest gentleman I've run across in this business. He was such an outstanding man."

Oh. My. Goodness.

Today's unfriendly world needs Christians to, daily, walk in that type of excellence! We must find ways to counter-balance all those Youtube videos which say you-don't-need-friends-after-50-just-stay-in-your-cozy-home-with-your-pets-so-no-one-will-hurt-your-feelings.

And instead? It's time to break out of all our cages. To love others, sacrifice for them as Jesus told us to.

"And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony ..  Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor... Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love."

Colossians 3:14, Romans 12:10, 1 John 4:8

I believe our Country needs a Love Revival, especially all over the Internet. Oh, when will we view this online world as the mission field God meant it to be? When will we stop hiding from people, peeking our heads out only when convenient for us?

Today, maybe?

*****

Tom and I are nearly finished with our second rewatch of The Rockford Files (free at Amazon). We always begin with season two. It's a top level comfort show for us, like looking through a window back in Time. We love his beat-up old trailer, the taco restaurant next door, the ocean in his front yard, his dad and Rockford's sense of humor. Everything, really.

I hope you'll watch that interview with Gerald McRaney. After 40 years, the emotion in his voice is still palpable. Wow. 

21 years blogging! What an adventure, indeed. How long will I continue? Only as long as I feel Grace speaking through me.

*****

And as I shared at Facebook:

So! If anyone is sitting around wishing they knew of a kindness they could bestow, here's an idea.

Hope Ann is newish to Youtube and I know she'd appreciate any 'likes' and comments today. She is the sweetest thing since local honey and her last video was her best (imo). It even had a scary ending. Oh my.

Please drop by and comment if you can, ok? I know she'd appreciate it so much.

Thanks!

(Thousands of ways to show compassion online exist like this.)

And what I desire to see all over Youtube? Videos with titles like, "How We Can Love Others Better." "Ways We Can Become More Excellent in Our Relationships." "How To Show People Jesus Cares For Them." "Examples of Kindness."

The Warfare of Love, Part 1. Joyce Meyer.

"It's impossible to be selfish and happy."    --- Joyce Meyer

*******

Please remember: My posts are always about more than they appear to be. *** "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15