Speaking of nice, yesterday we went on a little excursion very close to home. I saw on an Iowa site that there are only two covered bridges in the state that are still accessible. AND one of them is only 8 miles from our house! So we headed over to Rock Falls, IA to go into the park where it is located. What fun to see it. Of course, Joel had to go underneath to see how it was constructed and supported. The bridge was completed in 1929. It is located in a nice little park area where you can also camp or
ride trail bikes. Who knew it was so close?!
Last Sunday after church we headed to a nature reserve near town for a mile walk among the trees, brush and paved paths. A perfect day to be out enjoying fall, and within easy access to our house. It is still good porch sitting weather, good biking weather too.
Speaking of our house, it was 19 years ago today that we moved into this place we call home. This is epic. This is something we could not fathom....cuz.........well, before moving to Mason City we had never lived in one place longer than 6.5 years and in my life I have never lived in the same town longer than 7 years. ( an example? In one year as a young child I went to three schools in three states..) For Joel it is 21 years on the home farm. And here we are, living in the same house for 19 years! A lot of work had to be done to this house to make it livable for us. It had not been taken care of for years if not for ever. Joel put a lot of work into it, the people we hired for floors, counters, etc. put a lot of work into it. And some of our extended family put a lot of work into it! It was a house I was reluctant to move into but Joel felt very strongly that God wanted us here and I began to see his vision. He remembers standing on the back deck, which at the time was really unsafe,.....and "hearing" God speak to him giving him the sense that I would heal in this house. My history since that day shows much sickness and disease but God has walked with me and healed me of Lyme, thyroid disease, chemical sensitivities, chronic fatigue syndrome, and a cyst through prayer alone, and from 4 bouts with cancer through medical treatments. And there has been a lot of inner healing that has taken place...yeah.....healing has come.
The house has several levels and is really too big...we just don't need the space with our family seldom gathering here, BUT the stairs have kept us moving and the space is nice when winter, a pandemic, or sickness keeps a person confined. We know some day we will say good-bye to this house and our neighbors, but right now we are so grateful to be able to own our own home in such a beautiful area, surrounded by great people. Yeah....we are blessed.
Speaking of blessed, I am so grateful for the oral surgeon who will be removing a tooth for me. I had a consult with him this week, but before him the endodontist. Because of my medical history their conclusion was to remove the tooth and that will happen in early November. No other option was acceptable I guess. Going to them pushes the pause button and reminds me, "Oh yeah, after the Lyme and cancers your immune system has a "limp" so my body needs careful attention. And how grateful I am that they are so concerned. We discussed a lot, once he hears from my oncologist and we have the go ahead, I will lose a tooth. Aging. Sigh.....
Speaking of aging, I find that when I go places, other people will stop cars for us to cross or even open doors and hold them for me. This week a younger woman went striding past me with a look of determination, but then stopped as she opened the door and moved back to hold it for me. What a kind gesture. The same thing happened with a man going into the store this week at the same time as me. There is still a lot of kind people out in our world who are kind. It's a good thing.
I am thankful today for specialists who care, for an immune system that keeps putting forth the effort, for an outing to a covered bridge, a nature center, and East Park. Giving thanks for fall weather, 19 years in one house, the memories, and all the large windows that let views of nature into our home, homemade wheat bread, walks, and bike rides for Joel. Grateful for kind courteous people. Grateful for phone calls, texts, Wordle connections, phones at our fingertips, our grands, children, and in-laws, extended family, and so much more.
Enjoy your weekend!
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