When Life Suddenly Makes Sense

"We live life forward, but understand it backward."   --- Joyce Meyer

"... the Holy Spirit will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come."   ---John 16:13

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My longtime readers might recall when Tom lost his job in 2010. He and 3 other guys were downsized and yeah, not a good day.

But you know? Earlier, the Holy Spirit kept leading me to folks online who told me, "Store extra food!" "Replace worn-out items while you can!" "Save-up 6 months' worth of paychecks!"

Did I do that? Er, only kinda sorta, in spurts and starts and -- well, mostly, no. It's like, where was the writing in the sky or angels with scrolls appearing at the front door?  

Oh, the regret.

And even though God proved amazingly merciful over those next 22 months, I felt both gratitude and sorry for not listening to that still, small voice of warning. For not acting upon what, yeah, I did feel deep, deep inside (if we're being honest).

Well, we all experience life-altering, face-splashing stuff like that, right? And because we serve a forgiving God, He doesn't rub our nose in past mistakes, but teaches our humbler selves specific ways to do better next time.

So today I would say if you keep running across videos/books/conversations about certain, specific topics like--

prepping for emergencies

overcoming offenses

gardening

forgiveness

low-cost cooking

moving past guilt

decluttering

spiritual warfare

discovering daily joy

mind rest

health/sleep/exercise

releasing worry, fear, anger

giving to others

becoming strong in the Lord

craving wisdom

letting go 

---it could be because God makes Himself obvious in non-obvious ways, often while we're waiting for loud trumpet blasts that never come. 

God knows what's ahead, all the hard stuff.  We don't, so His warnings can be confusing and that's why we need to walk that (sometimes scary) tightrope of trust. 

He longs to ready and strengthen us for anything up the road.

If we proceed only after (thinking) we understand all the details, oh dear. We'll often be running late, struggling and limping without Grace. 

Always, Grace cooperates with God's time schedule--and we can, also.

"Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ."   --- 1 Peter 1:13

 "But the Holy Spirit ... will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you. Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."   --- John 14:26, 27

Always whatever God asks of us, He equips us to do. (So technically, no excuses are truthful. Yikes.)  It's better to long to obey God out of love than to figure everything out before we take a step.

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If one of your latest convictions is to learn to make low-cost meals, you may want to check out The Simplified Saver. Her meals are easy, as well (my favorite part.)  ツ

Oh, and for my fellow bird lovers, here's a gift for you.

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We're not waiting to go to Heaven to have victory--there's victory now!"   ---  Jim Hodges

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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

Just Checking In From What Feels Like Eternal Summer

"You will keep him in perfect peace, Whose mind is stayed on You, because he trusts in You."   --- Isaiah 26:3

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Still here! But just barely.  ツ  

Oh, the humidity(!) and today we're due for our hottest day of the summer. Darn. The heat advisory folks said (pretty much), "Do nothing from 11:00 a.m. to 7 p.m. or you might die today." (Well, sorta.) 

Always I'm willing to comply with an order to rest on hot afternoons. 

So in the darkness of this morning, I watered outdoor plants and would've used a flashlight to find ripe tomatoes and peppers, but didn't. Then I shook out Daniel's little blanket over the front railing.

I came inside and vacuumed (wondering if I'd awaken the neighbors) then carried laundry down to the basement washing machine. And called it good, this beat the heat game.

Every summer I'm grateful that God is the God of the opposite world. You know, how when we are weak we are strong and the first shall be last and if we want to be great, we'll be servants.

And this, below. 

That's my life lately and you can color me thankful that God shows us ways to stay strong in Him and for this: summer may be rough on this 62-year-old body, but my spirit? As the old Chicago song says, it's feelin' stronger everyday.

Because of Him, His wisdom, His love. Whew.

“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer's day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.”
― John Lubbock, The Use Of Life

Summer is a time for listening. Listening to the Holy Spirit. To good, solid biblical teaching. To God-inspired music. Summer's a perfect opportunity for pausing, for growing stronger on the inside while the (not always obedient to God) fleshly outside, hushes in its weakness.

And regarding summer? "This, too, shall pass."  ツ

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"Because we know the God of the opposite world, "we are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed ---"  (2 Corinthians 4:8,9)

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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

Where She Finally Started Feeling Better When ---

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you."   ---Matthew 7:7

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Disclaimer: This is my story, my experience. These ideas work for me, but may not for you--and as always--check with your doctor before you make any changes.

And my main point (and why I've not added tons of links)? I hope you'll get into the habit of doing your own research. It just may change everything for you, also.

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September of 2000 my life felt 'on pause' so finally I went online. Wow! Who knew a whole other world could be clicked upon? 

I was 41 and--the weird thing--that's also when, piece by piece, my body began to crumble. Well, sort-of. 

Now, never had I been the type to go skipping to the doctor's office to tell him/her, "Well, this body part is all wonky, so give me a new bottle of pills, Doc, ok?"

That's not me, not then nor now.

No instead, whenever something felt a bit 'off', I'd go online and do research. "How can I fix this?," I'd think while clicking around to websites with natural cures.

And wow! 

I discovered my arthritis was coming from consistently drinking decaf coffee or consuming too many milk products or tomatoes. Arthritis runs in my family so I need to cut way back on those triggers. 

I found that ChapStick actually chapped my lips, Visine made my eyes red and acetaminophen gave me rebound headaches. When I stopped each, the symptoms disappeared.

All signs of eczema vanished when I switched to Palmolive dishwashing liquid and began using 'clear and free' type of laundry detergents.

Suddenly besieged by dry-air sinusitis, I learned to keep water simmering on the stove during any season that we're using our heater or air-conditioner. I take 1000 mg's of Vitamin C twice daily (divided doses) to stave off sinus infections--and if I've gotten sloppy--I use hot compresses on my face and avoid milk products till I improve.

(Oh, and since faithfully taking Vitamin C?  I no longer dread dentist visits because now they never lecture me about my gums.)

Gut health is vital! So I (try to) take an acidophilus capsule daily and also consume a little yogurt. And since antibiotics destroy not just bad bacteria, but good, it's especially important to take acidophilus to replace the lost good bacteria.

Slippery elm capsules are wonderful for stomach problems. Oh, and to avoid acid reflux, Tom and I eat our main meal at noon, then around 4:00 pm we eat a snack, but never dinner. Sticking to this plan, we both sleep so much better now.

Mornings I drink 1/4 cup cranberry juice so to avoid UTI's and 1/4 cup pineapple juice to ward off any chest congestion.

Also each morning I take 5,000 units of Vitamin D3 and you know? I've only been sick twice in 10 years (I began with 2000 units, then moved up). Used to be if you got sick, so did I, but now my immune system is strong, greatly due to Vitamin D3, I believe. 

Since the 2020 Covid Year, I also added daily zinc. And if a morning is finding me slow to wake up, I take a Vitamin B12.

Sleep! How vital to get enough sleep, I remind myself.

Oh and I'll add this: I watched Oprah's Bra Fitting episode, found the right size/fit for me and in the 12 years since, have only had sharp back pain maybe twice, which hey, is miraculous considering the old days.

Before bed I take 400 units of Magnesium (helps with absorption of Vitamin D, relaxation, etc.) and a krill oil pill of 1000 units which helps me relax and has all sorts of other benefits. I also take the lowest amount of Melatonin, 300 mcg. to help me sleep.

My research also led to us totally giving up any 'diet drinks', except those with Stevia, the only sugar substitute we trust.

Long ago I began making my own cleaners and room deodorizers from natural ingredients (and after reading about toxins, I'm thankful I did).

And water! Oh my, everywhere I research it's stated that drinking more water will help. Water and also, moving around more. Oh dear, when I sit too long! But if I walk around every few minutes, wow. What a difference.

Oh, and I aim to skip stressing-out and worry. Good gracious, what a consistent peace of mind will do for all of us and growing closer to God can make that happen.

And now these days, about all that bothers me physically is this dreadful heat and humidity which, this summer, has tried my very soul. Gah. I keep aiming to just survive these months, but I know God wants more for us than a 'just surviving' lifestyle.

So now guess where I'll be focusing my research? Yep, it's back to the Internet for me, making searches like, 'how to handle summer's heat and humidity'.

Long ago I gave up that wimpy-sounding, 'what will be, will be' and traded it for an active, 'if I seek, I will find'. And that has made all the difference.

I feel that these days, more than ever, we must be our own health advocate.

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The book which greatly helped me in the first days of my research? Eat Right For Your Blood Type  by Dr. Peter J. D'Adamo. Suddenly in one place I found the bulk of the research I'd been doing.

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Found this, below, on Facebook and really appreciated it. A free book (except for shipping and handling) was offered with it and I'll include the link to it at the end.

 

Jessica Livingood

July 11  · 

I WAS A NURSE. At one of the best children’s hospitals in the country. I started having doubts and asking questions about the medical model. I wanted to help people, TRULY help people, not hide behind hidden agendas and cover up symptoms. Asking the right questions and helping people before they have to end up there is why I chose to leave…

Sᴏᴍᴇᴏɴᴇ ᴛᴇʟʟ ᴍᴇ ᴡʜʏ…

Wʜʏ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴅᴏᴄᴛᴏʀs ᴛᴇʟʟ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴍᴀɢɴᴇsɪᴜᴍ ɪɴsᴛᴇᴀᴅ ᴏꜰ sᴛᴏᴏʟ sᴏꜰᴛᴇɴᴇʀs (ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴅᴇʜʏᴅʀᴀᴛᴇs ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴏᴡᴇʟ)

Wʜʏ Dᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴅᴏᴄᴛᴏʀs ᴛᴇʟʟ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴅɪᴇᴛ ᴡʜᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛʙᴜʀɴ ᴀɴᴅ ɪɴᴅɪɢᴇsᴛɪᴏɴ ɪɴsᴛᴇᴀᴅ ᴏꜰ ɢɪᴠɪɴɢ ʏᴏᴜ Pʀɪʟᴏsᴇᴄ? (Tʜɪs ᴄᴀɴ ɪɴꜰʟᴜᴇɴᴄᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ʜᴇᴀʀᴛʙᴜʀɴ, ᴄᴏʟᴏɴ ᴄᴀɴᴄᴇʀ & ᴏsᴛᴇᴏᴘᴏʀᴏsɪs ᴀɴᴅ ɪᴛ ᴄᴀɴ ʟᴇᴀᴠᴇ ꜰᴏᴏᴅ ꜰᴇʀᴍᴇɴᴛɪɴɢ ɪɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʙᴏᴅʏ.)

Wʜʏ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴅᴏᴄᴛᴏʀs ᴛᴇʟʟ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʜᴇʀʙs ᴀɴᴅ ᴄᴇʀᴛᴀɪɴ ꜰᴏᴏᴅs ᴄᴀɴ ᴀʟsᴏ ʜᴇᴀʟ?

Wʜʏ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴅᴏᴄᴛᴏʀs ᴛᴇʟʟ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ʟᴏᴡᴇʀ ᴛᴏxɪᴄ ᴄʜᴇᴍɪᴄᴀʟs ɪɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʜᴏᴍᴇ ᴡʜᴇɴ ʏᴏᴜ ʜᴀᴠᴇ ᴄᴏɴsᴛᴀɴᴛ ʜᴇᴀᴅᴀᴄʜᴇs ᴀɴᴅ ᴀʟʟᴇʀɢɪᴇs? (Tʜᴇsᴇ ꜰʀᴀɢʀᴀɴᴄᴇs & ᴄʜᴇᴍɪᴄᴀʟs ᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ᴛᴏxɪᴄ ʙᴜɪʟᴅᴜᴘ ɪɴ ᴏᴜʀ ᴄᴇʟʟs ᴡʜɪᴄʜ ᴄᴀɴ ᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ᴍᴏʀᴇ ᴀʟʟᴇʀɢɪᴇs ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇᴀᴅᴀᴄʜᴇs.)

Wʜʏ ᴀʀᴇɴ’ᴛ ʏᴏᴜ ɪɴꜰᴏʀᴍᴇᴅ ʙʏ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴅᴏᴄᴛᴏʀ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ɪꜰ ʏᴏᴜ ᴇᴀᴛ sᴏᴍᴇᴛʜɪɴɢ ʟɪᴋᴇ ᴀ ɢʀᴀᴘᴇꜰʀᴜɪᴛ ᴇᴠᴇʀʏ ᴅᴀʏ, ɪᴛ ᴡɪʟʟ sᴜᴘᴘᴏʀᴛ ʟᴏᴡᴇʀ ʙʟᴏᴏᴅ ᴘʀᴇssᴜʀᴇ ɴᴀᴛᴜʀᴀʟʟʏ ᴀɴᴅ ʏᴏᴜ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴍᴇᴅɪᴄᴀᴛɪᴏɴs? (Tʜɪs ɪs ᴡʜʏ ᴀ ᴘᴇʀsᴏɴ ᴄᴀɴ’ᴛ ᴇᴀᴛ ɪᴛ ᴡʜɪʟᴇ ᴏɴ ʙʟᴏᴏᴅ ᴘʀᴇssᴜʀᴇ ᴍᴇᴅs)

Wʜʏ ᴅᴏᴇsɴ’ᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴅᴏᴄᴛᴏʀ ᴛᴇʟʟ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴀᴄᴛɪᴠᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴄʜᴀʀᴄᴏᴀʟ ꜰᴏʀ ʜᴇᴀᴅᴀᴄʜᴇs, ʙʟᴏᴀᴛɪɴɢ/ɢᴀs, sᴋɪɴ ɪssᴜᴇs, ᴄᴏʟᴅs, ꜰᴏᴏᴅ ᴘᴏɪsᴏɴɪɴɢ? (Aᴄᴛɪᴠᴀᴛᴇᴅ ᴄʜᴀʀᴄᴏᴀʟ ʙᴏɴᴅs ᴡᴀsᴛᴇ/ᴛᴏxɪɴs ꜰᴏʀ ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴇᴍᴏᴠᴀʟ ꜰʀᴏᴍ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴏᴅʏ.)

Wʜʏ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴅᴏᴄᴛᴏʀs ᴛᴇʟʟ ʏᴏᴜ ᴀʙᴏᴜᴛ ʜᴇʀʙs ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇʀʙᴀʟ ᴛᴇᴀs ᴛᴏ sᴜᴘᴘᴏʀᴛ ɪᴍᴍᴜɴᴇ ᴀɴᴅ ᴅɪɢᴇsᴛɪᴠᴇ ꜰᴜɴᴄᴛɪᴏɴs? (Dɪꜰꜰᴇʀᴇɴᴛ ʜᴇʀʙs ʜᴇʟᴘ ᴅɪꜰꜰᴇʀᴇɴᴛ ᴏʀɢᴀɴs ᴅᴏ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ᴊᴏʙs ᴛᴏ ᴋᴇᴇᴘ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴏᴅʏ ʜᴇᴀʟᴛʜʏ.)

Wʜʏ ɪsɴ’ᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴅᴏᴄᴛᴏʀ sᴜɢɢᴇsᴛɪɴɢ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴀ ᴘʀᴏʙɪᴏᴛɪᴄ ᴅᴀɪʟʏ? (Tʜɪs ʜᴇʟᴘs sᴜᴘᴘᴏʀᴛ ʜᴇᴀʟᴛʜʏ ɪᴍᴍᴜɴᴇ ꜰᴜɴᴄᴛɪᴏɴs, ᴄʟᴇᴀɴ ᴀɴᴅ ʙᴀʟᴀɴᴄᴇ ᴛʜᴇ ʙᴏᴡᴇʟs, ʀᴇɢᴜʟᴀᴛᴇ ᴀʙsᴏʀᴘᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴇʟɪᴍɪɴᴀᴛɪᴏɴ, ᴀɴᴅ ʜᴇʟᴘs ᴋᴇᴇᴘ ᴄᴏʟᴅs ᴀɴᴅ ᴀʟʟᴇʀɢɪᴇs ᴀᴛ ʙᴀʏ.)

Wʜʏ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴅᴏᴄᴛᴏʀs ᴄʀᴇᴀᴛᴇ ᴅɪᴇᴛ/ʟɪꜰᴇsᴛʏʟᴇ ᴘʟᴀɴs ꜰᴏʀ ᴘᴀᴛɪᴇɴᴛs ɪɴsᴛᴇᴀᴅ ᴏꜰ ᴏꜰꜰᴇʀɪɴɢ ᴘɪʟʟs? (Dɪᴇᴛ & ʟɪꜰᴇsᴛʏʟᴇ ᴄʜᴏɪᴄᴇs ᴀʀᴇ ᴀ ᴍᴀᴊᴏʀ ᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ᴏꜰ ᴀʟʟ ɪʟʟɴᴇssᴇs)

Wʜʏ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴅᴏᴄᴛᴏʀs ᴛᴇʟʟ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛᴏ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ sᴜᴘᴘʟᴇᴍᴇɴᴛs ᴛᴏ sᴜᴘᴘᴏʀᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ʜᴇᴀʟᴛʜ ᴘʀɪᴏʀ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍɪɴɢ sɪᴄᴋ? (Sᴜᴘᴘʟᴇᴍᴇɴᴛs & ʜᴇʀʙs ᴄᴀɴ ᴘʀᴇᴠᴇɴᴛ ɪʟʟɴᴇss ʙʏ sᴜᴘᴘᴏʀᴛɪɴɢ ɪᴍᴍᴜɴᴇ ꜰᴜɴᴄᴛɪᴏɴ ᴀɴᴅ ᴠᴀʀɪᴏᴜs ᴏʀɢᴀɴs ᴡɪᴛʜ ᴛʜᴇɪʀ ɴᴀᴛᴜʀᴀʟ ꜰᴜɴᴄᴛɪᴏɴs.)

Wʜʏ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴅᴏᴄᴛᴏʀs ᴛᴇᴀᴄʜ ʏᴏᴜ ᴛʜᴀᴛ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴs sᴛᴏʀᴇᴅ ɪɴ ʏᴏᴜʀ ᴘʜʏsɪᴄᴀʟ ʙᴏᴅʏ ᴄᴀɴ ᴄᴀᴜsᴇ ʏᴏᴜ ᴍᴇɴᴛᴀʟ ᴀɴɢᴜɪsʜ, ɪɴsᴛᴇᴀᴅ ᴛʜᴇʏ sᴀʏ ʏᴏᴜ ɴᴇᴇᴅ ᴍᴇᴅɪᴄᴀᴛɪᴏɴs? (Eᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴs ᴄᴀɴ ᴘʟᴀʏ ᴀ ᴠᴇʀʏ sɪɢɴɪꜰɪᴄᴀɴᴛ ʀᴏʟᴇ ɪɴ ᴏᴜʀ ᴛᴏᴛᴀʟ ʜᴇᴀʟᴛʜ. Wɪᴛʜᴏᴜᴛ ᴛᴏᴏʟs ᴛᴏ ʜᴇʟᴘ ɴᴀᴠɪɢᴀᴛᴇ ᴏᴜʀ ᴇᴍᴏᴛɪᴏɴs ᴡᴇ ᴄᴀɴ ᴇᴀsɪʟʏ ʙᴇᴄᴏᴍᴇ ᴘʜʏsɪᴄᴀʟʟʏ ɪʟʟ)

Wʜʏ ᴅᴏɴ’ᴛ ᴅᴏᴄᴛᴏʀs ᴛᴀᴋᴇ ᴀ ʀᴇᴀʟ ʀᴏʟᴇ ɪɴ ʜᴇʟᴘɪɴɢ ᴘᴇᴏᴘʟᴇ ᴛᴏ ʟɪᴠᴇ ʜᴇᴀʟᴛʜɪᴇʀ ʟɪᴠᴇs?

Wʜʏ ᴅᴏ ᴛʜᴇʏ sᴇᴛ ᴜᴘ ᴛʜᴇsᴇ ᴘʀᴏᴛᴏᴄᴏʟs ᴏꜰ ᴘɪʟʟs ᴛʜᴀᴛ ᴍᴏsᴛ ᴏꜰ ᴛʜᴇᴍ ᴡᴏᴜʟᴅɴ’ᴛ ᴇᴠᴇɴ ᴛᴀᴋᴇ?

Wʜʏ ᴀʀᴇɴ’ᴛ ᴡᴇ ʙᴇɪɴɢ ʜᴇʟᴘᴇᴅ ᴛᴏ ʙᴇ ʜᴇᴀʟᴛʜʏ ʙᴇꜰᴏʀᴇ ᴡᴇ ɢᴇᴛ sɪᴄᴋ?

Tʜɪs ɴᴇᴇᴅs ᴛᴏ ᴄʜᴀɴɢᴇ!

REAL HEALTH IS POSSIBLE!

IT IS POSSIBLE TO LIVE GOOD!

Wᴇ ᴊᴜsᴛ ᴀʀᴇɴ’ᴛ ɢᴇᴛᴛɪɴɢ ᴛʜᴇ ʀɪɢʜᴛ ɪɴꜰᴏʀᴍᴀᴛɪᴏɴ...

The Livingood Daily Book: order it free (except for shipping and handling) here.

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Where, Finally, She Finds a Blessing In Disappointment

"And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love."   ---Romans 5:5

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It was gonna be simple. Tom drove the 2 blocks to our dentists' office to replace a small filling.

But during the procedure he gagged twice and our Old-Guy-Dentist gave-up. Phttt! Scribbled out a script for a consultation with a faraway dentist who does sedation procedures.

Gah. In 25 years, our previous dentist handled Tom's gagging reflex fine (but then, Tom inherited amazing teeth and rarely has glitches, unlike his sorry-toothed wife).

Well, he came home disappointed and miffed. When he mentioned the sedation part, my mind raced back to that 20/20 dentist-sedation episode which (pretty much) declared, "Only submit to dental sedation if you're considering dying and want an easy way out."

Er hem. (Yes, that episode was decades ago and things are safer. I'm just showing you where my mind zoomed.)

Tom even called our Young-Guy-Dentist, who he prefers, to see if he'd fill the tooth, but no: he also recommended the consultation. (It smelled a bit too much like, "I don't want to upset my boss," to us.)

And that's when I stopped loving our so-close-I-always-walk-and-people-are-happy-there dentists' office. Both those dentists majorly disappointed me.

Well, Tom took off time from work and drove into 'the city' (as I call it), for the consultation. Everyone was super-nice he said. He made an appointment.

So this past Friday:

I had to drive Tom both ways. City traffic and ol' Debra are not a fair match.

(The drive home I did recall--and take--the favored back route Young Me used to rely upon.)

At the office, I had to sign a paper stating, "If you catch covid while in our waiting room, don't even think about suing us."

They took my temperature! Eegads. My goal since 2020 was to avoid that. But now? No way out. Grr.

Tom was downright loopy. They brought him inside via a wheelchair (the rule).

Not a single magazine was in the waiting room (germy old things). Fortunately I brought books, plus, the tv played HGTV, my 2  favorite shows, even, before my personal boycott. The result? I've missed nothing these past 2 years.

When they wheeled him out, Tom was even loopier. (Passing yard sale signs on the way home, he kept wishing we could stop. Good grief.)

And let's not even mention what it was like getting him up our three little stairs inside. sigh.

Oh, and earlier we had to write a huge check. Huge. The claim will be submitted to our insurance, but still.

And yes, we tried to keep our sense of humor. But really, this was a time which tried my soul and let's just say I kept leaning heavily on God.

And you know what happened when I finally calmed down (and forgave some folks)? It's as though God told me this--

One reason for disappointments? They remind you this world is not your real home. In Heaven, no person, place or thing will ever disappoint you. So in the meantime, only place your full trust and belief in Me. Only I will never let you down upon this Earth.

I liked that spin on disappointment, that letting each instance be a reminder not to expect any perfection here, but rather, to know flawlessness awaits us only in a not-so-far-away Heaven. 

(Now, if I can just recall that while in the upheaval of disappointment some future day in our crazier-by-the-moment world ...)

"When these things begin to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.”   --- Luke 21:28

And the book I was reading in the waiting room? It's a favorite of mine, Ghost Town Adventure by Rutherford G. Montgomery. It's a fun, nostalgic adventure book and you can even read it here.

Oh, and from now on Tom will make sure he only deals with the young dentist who he really likes. 

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This weekend, Tom and I watched a very cool movie called The Confirmation. A perfect combination of funny and heartwarming. Check out the trailer here. 

Only a little bit of language, otherwise fine. (Although keep in mind my movie recommendations are mostly made for adults. It's been eons since I had to consider which films are all right for young children.)

We watched it free via Prime.

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Oh and did you know postage stamps are going up in price again this month?

It's wild to remember when I first began writing letters I could buy 9 stamps for one dollar. Now that number has dipped to just 1. 

Oh well! Just another reminder of the perfection awaiting in Heaven, right? ツ

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“If you're betrayed, release disappointment at once.
By that way, the bitterness has no time to take root.”
― Toba Beta

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

Where She's Rewriting The End Of Her Story

"Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, “This is the way; walk in it.” ...  there's a time to plant, and a time to pluck up what is planted--"  ---Isaiah 30:21, Ecclesiastes 3:2

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Man, oh man. Is it Autumn yet? Hey, a good old-fashioned snow storm would thrill me right now.

Seriously.

Changes. Now that I'm over 60 and even more sensitive to heat and humidity(!), I'm giving myself over to that 'work smarter, not harder' thing.

Like, you remember I hired the lawn-mowing guys, right? A major change, that one after 40 years. (Would it be too weird to write 'God bless you!' on the bill? Oh, the gratitude I feel for them.) ツ

And perhaps you recall this white patio table we'd used for, oh, 15 years--

I carried it to our curb today. It needed major help: cleaning, sanding and the veneer had pulled up. So no, just no, not during this I-can-barely-breathe-out-there summer.

Remember my post about cleaning up after the party? Yeah, it's like that. That table was a joy for many years, but these last two, its usefulness was replaced with nagging--"Fix me!" 

(That blog post changed me. Thank-you, God, for that insight, that grace, to release even things I still enjoy. The freedom feels fine.)

More? I'd procrastinated transplanting 3 cucumber plants growing in one pot, so, well, I ripped them up, threw them away, and tossed the dirt in the garden.

Not in all these decades had I ever done that. I felt like a murderer.

In early Spring I divided crowded strawberry plants into single pots, but I realized I can't keep up with that extra watering. So they went the way of the cukes. Even the cheap plastic pots I'd clung to for decades.

(I asked Neighbor Sally if she needed more strawberry plants. She didn't.)

I can buy cucumbers from Aldi and make Aunt April's pickles. This I can do. And my cramped garden beds with strawberries which could probably survive a nuclear bomb? They can stay. 

And I can (and do) buy frozen strawberries, also.

I've released 223 books and bags of knickknacks. Some of this felt painful, yet what pains me more? Dusting, washing and rearranging clutter without grace.

I discovered an easier way to water my Herb And Etc. Garden out front. I stopped adding to my compost heap.

Placed a hand towel for Daniel The Cat on the couch so I could easily shake it out rather than use rubbing alcohol on a paper towel every time.

Our carpet-cleaner guy is going to power wash our house (he's branched out). For years I'd meant to paint over (again) certain spots, but again, uh, no. Not now.

And the list goes on.

Are there bits of sadness? Yes, honestly. Yet perhaps the most vital lesson I've learned in 25 years is to recognize Grace. When she's there to help or when she's moved on, letting me know it's time I move on, also--

--to new grace, new miraculous provision, new adventures and new gratitude for a whole other way of living in my same ol' skin.

"   ... but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead..."   --- Philippians 3:13

For me, if I am stressed-out, it's my own fault. I either said yes when I should've said no--or--I'm not receiving Grace for what I must do, but rather, am doing things in my own so-called strength.

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Okay, is this near perfection or what?

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And this book! Oh my. --

I enjoy Helen Girvan's books, own a few, but this one was always priced at anywhere from $40 to $140. And well, no way. 

But hooray! A little voice told me, "Never give up. You've discovered books greatly reduced before." And well, two years later I found a copy for just $4! 

Now, I've pretty much stopped buying books, (what with the Great Book Purge of 2021 and all), but I knew this one was a gift from God. Last week I read it and it's a keeper.

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That town in my header? Chester, CA. (I have that postcard, framed, in our hutch for the memories.) It's still standing and I'm still praying (and watching far too much news regarding that fire, just like I've told you not to do in such cases. sigh).

I'm surprised how many folks we know who still live there! Even a couple, old friends of the family, were on the missing list for awhile, but they were found, safe.

I'm praying that the mightiest of warrior soldier angels are circling Chester, in double rows. I'd love it if you join me, for other towns like Janesville and Susanville, as well. Thanks so much!

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I choose freedom:

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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

The Tuesday From Heck--Or--When Her Blog Got Taken Away

" ... so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."   --- Isaiah 55:11

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Tuesday morning I came downstairs, blood drained from my face, and told Tom, "They've finally done it."

"Done what?" he asked.

"They've taken my blog from me. After 17 years."

Oh dear. I'd thought before, living in Today's cancel culture, I was prepared for an email like this--I'd even warned you it might come! But no. The shock felt enormous.

Hello, As you may know, our Community Guidelines ... describe the boundaries for what we allow-- and don't allow-- on Blogger. Your blog ... was flagged to us for review. We have determined that it violates our guidelines and have made the URL unavailable to blog readers. Why was your blog removed? Your content has violated our PHISHING policy. Please visit our Community Guidelines page linked in this email to learn more. If we feel that a blog's content does not fit within the expectations of our Policy, we no longer allow it to be publicly available...

Wow. Not only was it no longer publicly available, not even I could read the posts. Me! 

Gone, without warning, even. Seventeen years of my life--phhht! But no, I reminded myself. God had spoken through me via that blog (I can't even write without Him) and His words never return void. Always they accomplish something good in others' lives.

Well, I clicked their "I disagree button" and was told to wait 2 days for a  final verdict. Also, I replied to the original email and er, uhm, some begging may or may not have happened. ツ

I whined over at Facebook (and appreciated dear friends' rallying to help).

Then, never the quitter regarding what God tells me to do, I opened up my original, ghost-town-like 2004 blog and rewrote the post I'd written that morning.

Meanwhile...

Tom was due back at work, first time in 1 1/2 years(!), just for 2 days only, but needed to make a business call, first. The call got cancelled, so he was anxious to drive to his job. 

Yet first, he needed to text Naomi to drop by earlier. She was leaving on a camping trip and wanted to hug us good-bye. 

Oh, and a huge truck (and other equipment) was blocking Tom's way out of the driveway. Our neighbors were having a new blacktop driveway poured. 

Also, the new lawn guys were due any time. And the air outside smelled chokingly bad. (Ever sniffed steaming, fluid blacktop?)

Eventually Naomi arrived. And just one minute before Tom left, the huge truck drove away. Moments later, Naomi left for her trip (making me a bit sad. Who likes good-bye's?)

Again alone, I crawled upstairs to my computer, and discovered my blog was restored! They'd looked it over. Hoped I understood. (Yeah, riiiight. I understand. Too well, especially after spying 'Report' buttons on all new blog templates, making tattling easy-peasy.)

Then I saw that our dear old hometown where I graduated high school and Tom and I met (and Naomi was born) was under mandatory orders to evacuate because of the huge approaching Dixie Fire.

Oh, and then a friend of many decades unfriended me at Facebook. She's horrified at what I post and the way I've become an awful person (listed my sins, even).

Wow. 

A morning of not only tests, but well, customized attacks from satan. (You may disagree. That's ok.) Have I ever had a morning like that before? Maybe, but years ago.

Let's just say I'm still in recovery.

The fire situation? It's ongoing. In fact, a nearby town to our old CA one, last night, lost nearly it's entire downtown of buildings over 100 years old and dozens of homes (before and after photos, here. Scroll down.). This is the only day in 12 years that I've felt thankful my dear teacher friend, Loana Gakle, is gone. Her heart would've broken: she adored Greenville and Greenville adored her.

But oh, the Holy Spirit! With awesome wisdom he reminds me, again, to rest, recover, not just my body, but my mind and heart. To remember the loveliest days of my past, His goodness to me, and to let Him restore my soul-- 

--while simultaneously recalling this present world is so very temporary. To never place all my affection here upon anything, but upon the God who never, ever leaves me.

And never will.

                   A favorite view from Chester, CA. We still have relatives and friends there. Please help me pray for all CA areas currently burning, ok?

"And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”  --- Matthew 28:20

And yes, I should back-up my blog via a flash drive or something. I'm looking into it.  ツ

Film of the devastation of the Greenville fire is here. We used to visit a junk shop inside of a woman's home located at the entrance of town. I still own an old piece of framed sheet music I bought there probably 35 years ago.

Oh, and once when I drove to the Greenville Library, a bear crossed the road in front of me! Quite a ways in front, but still. First and last time I watched a bear cross a road.

The Greenville, CA library.

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Here's some good news:

Open Library has a few Gladys Taber books available! I'm not sure I knew that before (or told you). So here you go. (If it's necessary to look up her name, use this one: 'Gladys Bagg Taber' for better results.)

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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