Saturday, March 7, 2020

Saturday's Scribbles

Good Saturday to you from our corner of the world where "April" seems to have arrived early with temperatures moving towards 60!  If this keeps up, it won't be long until all the snow is gone.  As Daylight Savings Time arrives tomorrow we will welcome another hour of light before the sunsets at 7 pm.  I'm looking forward to leaving the darkness of winter behind and am ready to welcome Spring weather.

Speaking of Spring, Joel just walked through the house carrying our Christmas Wreaths that were out on the front porch and that we forgot about until this week!!!  Seriously, Christmas wreaths were still adorning our porch in the first week of March.  Oh boy.......

Thinking of the weather, the tornadoes in Tennessee were so awful and brought so much tragedy with them.  Our prayers are with those who lost family and friends.  The memories of tornado warnings in my childhood have me adamant about having a basement in any house we live in.  There just needs to be a place to go to........in case. When I think about those people who innocently went to bed....and awoke to a violent storm that caused great destruction and/or death?  They had no clue.  It is a testimony to us living our best lives because stuff happens!  Sobering.

So, let's discuss that Coronovirus.  It is on the news 24/7 and we certainly are getting mixed messages from our government, from media, from people in the general population.  We want answers that we can depend on, but things are changing continually because this is something so new. I have chosen one person to basically trust, someone who works for the CDC, someone who has a history and years of experience in the field of infectious outbreaks, someone who is pretty honest about it all. It is good to know most people will be just fine. Those with a compromised immune system or underlying condition need to be more careful.  I fall in that last category so we are doing a lot of hand washing here....we have a supply of cold and flu supplies~ 95% natural, and our freezer is full and we have plenty of toilet paper!  Ha!!  We shop during the times of day when few are out and about.  With no cases reported in Iowa yet, we are still going to church, etc. but don't ask me to shake your hand.  We pray, we do what we can, and we are careful without being fearful.

Speaking of immune systems, here's a short update.  I continue to recover with ups and downs in energy, and with fewer radiation side effects than chemo side effects.  It will take time.   I also am on the hormone inhibitor a month now.  Stomach issues and joint pain and stiffness still make some days a challenge but mostly it is going well.  I will say, if there are any of you out there who are like me regarding "I should be by now".....stronger, thinner, healthier, etc.?  Be kind to yourselves.  Be patient in your recoveries.  Celebrate every day you open your eyes.........celebrate small victories.  Be grateful.  Yeah.  Grateful!

Selfies with long time friends

Speaking of grateful, this past week long time friends, Victor and Arlene came by for a short visit.  We met them in 1966 when we were all attending The Lutheran Bible Institute in a suburb of Minneapolis. MN.  It was so fun to see them again; to laugh, to cry, to catch up with each others lives.  They are two of the prayer warriors I spoke about in an earlier post.  So grateful.  Our two years at LBI/GVLC brought us some wonderful life long friends and we are so grateful for each one.

Our oldest daughter, Bethany, turned 50 this week.  Whoa!!  When did that happen?!  So thankful for her in our lives.....she is funny, smart, talented, a fiercely protective mama, amazing wife, a friend to all, and more.  Do you think I might be a bit prejudice about our kids?  Ha!  Happy Birthday Beth!  What great adventures you will have in the next half of your life! I am also giving a shout out to my sister Jan and her hubby Lanny as they celebrate the 9th Anniversary.  Blessings!!!

Yesterday Joel went for a bike ride.  In early March, in the upper Midwest, with snow still visible in small piles, the temperatures have been warm enough that the paths were mostly clear so off he went.  It was only 38 degrees but he managed 10 miles  and came home a happy guy!!

So grateful for Spring weather, my hubby getting out on his bike, old friends stopping by, a daughter turning 50, books at my fingertips, laughter, knowing God is our shield, a long and wonderful phone call with friend Katherine, the prayers and friendships of others, a trip to the library, and so much more.

Speaking of visiting our library,  I am now reading another light mystery by Donna Andrews.  First time I have opened one of her books so we will see if I like it enough to read more. What are you reading?   Hope your weekend is giving you a taste of Spring!  It is coming!!!!

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