What a Week. Sigh.

Whew.

Naomi left on our rainy Tuesday morning and I came into the house, teary-eyed from waving good-bye and thought, "I'd better find something to do." So I finished loading the dishwasher, turned it on, then as the minutes went by, noticed the water in the kitchen sink refused to drain away.

Sigh.

So as I'm praying Naomi won't run into flooding on her way home (oh, all the water back here) I'm now adding, "And please don't let our pipes be clogged. Please, please, please."

Hours later, there I was with my red bucket at the sink. 

And I didn't tell you that weeks ago our water pressure lessened. Oh, and I couldn't go back to sleep Wednesday, early, because I had a feeling Naomi would drive straight through to Nashville instead of staying at a motel, which she did, arriving home around 5:00 am. (No wonder I kept praying for her.)

Well, on Wednesday 'the city' (workers) came out and adjusted our water pressure (Tom called them), and it's better, but still not where it was. But at least the shower pipe stopped shrieking. I spent a couple hours beneath the kitchen sink taking apart the (smelly) pipes and using a plumbing snake and the aforementioned bucket then gave up and called the plumber who came out Thursday and after 90 minutes, $165 and a horrid-smelling basement, fixed the problem. (Don't ask.)

Oh, and I forgot to tell you that Naomi is moving to Atlanta to be in a band with dear old friends and she sent an email saying her clingy-passive-aggressive housemate went ballistic when she discovered this and Naomi found herself 'in the most intense situation I've ever faced' (as she put it).

Gah. No wonder I've been feeling very unsettled inside and praying. A lot.

But Naomi's taking her final load of belongings to Atlanta today and will be rid of this woman and has learned lessons of what to watch for in making future friends. (More prayers for Naomi would be appreciated today as she packs up and drives to Atlanta for good.) While you're praying, say a little one for me that I won't worry, ok?

The wonderful news, though, is that Naomi has received a much-hoped-for endorsement/sponsorship from a drumstick company and is thrilled, as are we.

We all have weeks like this one, of course, where we feel we're being tested on everything we've learned. Will we be patient? Trust God implicitly and meditate upon things gone right, not wrong? Remain calm and non-panicky? Or will we revert to our old ways and lose ground and have to learn the lessons all over again until they finally become real and solid and second nature?

And no matter what happens in the big world out there, will we truly believe (and behave like) God hasn't lost control of things?

And today I can say I'm so grateful for a God who is greater than 'all these things' and brings a serenity in the midst of the storms. Oh, how I've needed, appreciated, His calming ways.

      "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength."




******
Oh, and I forgot to mention Tom's podiatrist thinks he has gout, yet another doctor believes his foot may have a hairline fracture. But, yes! This verse is a great one to recall:
"No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us."  ... Romans 8:37



And regarding our world's grim situation?:

"Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you."... 1 Peter 4:12


******


So I put together another set of shelves yesterday, this one for our dvd's, but didn't like the modern look they (dvd's) gave my room. So this morning I placed some of my vintage books in front of them and feel better about the whole thing.  :)

********

This has absolutely nothing to do with anything, but can you believe that Monty Hall (of Let's Make a Deal fame) will be 94-years-old in August?

******

Free Kindle books:


Purple Like the West

I Called Him Dancer

An Unexpected Family

Muffin Tin Menus