In Case You're Searching for My Obit :)

"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."   ---1 Peter 5:10

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Yikes! Well, I certainly owe you all an apology for my lack of posts here.

When finishing my last post, I imagined things would return to hunky dory, but then my mom had a stroke and was taken to Sacramento. We thought the return home would help, but it hasn't really. It's been rough.

Please keep her in prayer.

Then this week I discovered one of my problems seems to be silent reflux. (Yeah, I'd never heard of it, either.) So I continue to make adjustments in diet and much else.

(Oh and remember when I thought I probably didn't have gluten intolerance after all? Well, most likely I do. So more research, more changes, etc.)

Five months of struggles! Somedays I'm tempted to quit believing for fully-returned strength, but then God always reminds me:

Keep searching for answers.

Keep believing.

Keep pushing through the temptation to settle for mediocre.

And keep your heart calm.

And in the meantime I watch the leaves through our picture window  change to deeper gold and trickle down. I step outside to the front porch to drink in deep gulps of autumn air.

I truly do need to take some walks and pull myself back together. Oh Honey, I have so let myself go. Probably half my problems would disappear if I'd exercise. (Imagine that.)

So please keep me in prayer, also. Thanks!

Another special thank-you to my friend from high school (and beyond), Linda, who visited my mom while she was in the Sacramento hospital.

And I do thank each of you who've checked up on me throughout the weeks. So encouraging!

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Did I already share with you the Vacation Education guy and his dad? I'm really enjoying their videos, though sometimes, he can go a bit heavy on the history of the places or the way they cook things, so I'll do bits of fast-forwarding. Oh, and Ellie B. the dog is cute in her stroller, too! 

Oh, and we've watched some good movies lately, but I can't recall their titles at the moment. We are enjoying the new tv series, Boston Blue, Sheriff Country and the 2nd seasons of Murder in a Small Town, Matlock, and Watson.

Not every season in our lives is a pleasant one, but we can have hope the next one will be.

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

"I Miss You, Debra."

"Be still and know that I am God." --- Psalm 46:10

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Just thought I'd report in from Life on the Red Couch.

It's all these changes that make me a bit bonkers. New foods to eat, (many to avoid), new recipes and times to cook them. Doing everything slower than I used to. Having only partial energy. And much more.

In fact, there on the couch I held a pity party while remembering the happy-snappy, fast-paced, driving-places, estate-sale-loving, people-filled life I once lived. It got me all teary-eyed and I whispered, "I miss you, Debra. I miss you." Hung my head.

But I know better than to camp there. So I left soon. Made myself count 20 blessings.

Anyway, I've not wanted to write downer posts, so hence my absence here. I'm skipping much, but my sense of privacy is kicking in.

Changes. Acceptance of different seasons. Clinging to hope and anticipation when tempted to go with the downward flow. Letting everything work compassion in your heart for others...

... It all requires much time and patience. And much time spent alone with God.

A special thanks to those of you who have paused in your day to ask how I'm doing.

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We watched the Dr. Ben Carson movie and enjoyed it much.

Also, we re-watched The Map of Tiny Little Things and I love what it did with my imagination.

I'm rereading my favorite middle grade comfort book: Mystery of the Red Carnations by Mary C. Jane. Perfect for autumn and few other books whisk me away like this one. Available on Kindle for cheap.

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Let's end this with a smile, ok? :

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

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 "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

The Good News, The So-So News

"Even to your old age I am he, and to gray hairs I will carry you. I have made, and I will bear; I will carry and will save."   --- Isaiah 46:4

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Darn! I'm kinda stuck at feeling 90% of my former self and the missing 10 % is the inspiration part. It feels gone. Mostly.

Keep praying, ok?

Anyway! Some good news. Remember our cute little garage?

(Such an old photo, probably from 2013. It looks much more tired now.)

Well, each time Tom went anywhere, I'd open the garage door for him lest he harm his foot/back/body (which has happened) and you know? Lately I'd push that door up and I mean it, it got heavier each time! Old age and rust, both me and the door.  ツ

Tom could see my struggles so he began researching places which would come replace it with an electric one and guess what? Our retired neighbor, Sue's fiance, used to do that for a living. Wow.

And today it's nearly finished. Bill just needs to program the remote and stuff like that.

Whew. Watching the new door open all by itself will feel like a true miracle. You can imagine my already-gratitude.

This season in Tom's and my life? Preparing now for our later years. Thinking of ways to make tasks simpler. It's nearly become a part-time job (it seems), takes much head space, and I wonder, "Why aren't other people talking about this? Are our friends not there yet? Have they already done all this? Do they just not wish to speak of this out of embarrassment or believing it's not important?"

But whatever, making my life easier is, like, my mission. Recognizing when Grace has gone from some areas, matters. In fact, an idea from this week?

To rip out my Herb and Etc. Garden. Well, all but the peonies and daylilies.

It's a cinch to water (just stand over the railing), but even that became too much during my boy-was-she-sick summer. Plus? I didn't even use the herbs, scallions, oregano, etc. and I stopped caring about the cherry tomato plant. I got visions of a simple, carefree flower bed, like you'd see at an old lady's house and got excited.

More seasons ending. Watching myself turn into a different version of me.  It's happening.

And it requires a happy acceptance, a gratitude for great seasons I experienced and a belief that good seasons still wait ahead. They'll just be different ones. 

And with Jesus alongside me, everything will, eventually, be ok.

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The so-few books I read this summer and during September (this illustrates how bleh I felt. I normally aim for 8 books each month!) :

Absolutely Truly by Heather Vogel Frederick

Mystery at Shadow Pond by Mary C. Jane

Yours, Truly by Heather Vogel Frederick

Death and Peaches by Nova Walsh

The Middle Moffat by Eleanor Estes

The Cider Shop Rules by Julie Anne Lindsey

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I found this fascinating, but very sad. Oh Honey, get yourself and your husband off that boat! You had lovely seasons on it, but it's become too much and it's time to move on while you still can.

How Retiring to a Tiny House Changed her Life for the Better.

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Happy Autumn!

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

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 "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