Covid Blessings?

Joel and I often watch Max Lucado's video devotionals on his Facebook page.  On Memorial Day morning I found his video with The UK Blessing attached to it.  It blessed us so much, that I sent it on to others via texts and shared it on Facebook.  I wanted to share it here. Enjoy the gift it brings.

This video is an example of what I have come to define as a "Covid Blessing"!  Covid-19 has brought with it fear, depression, financial crises, and death.  The enemy is Covid, but the enemy behind this virus, is Satan who has come to "steal, kill, and destroy".   (Not for one minute do I believe God created this virus)  The destruction that has come with this pandemic is hard to grasp.  Yet in the midst of it, God keeps showing up.  He shows up in how people are caring for each other.  He is heard in the beautiful music coming out virtually.  He shows up in the many online opportunities to worship and praise Him.  He is revealed in the first responders doing all they can to save lives, while putting their own a risk.  He is present in so many beautiful blessings that have come, and "The UK Blessing" video is on the list of "things" that I have called "Covid Blessings". I believe God's promise to work all things out for good, as stated in Romans 8:28.  If we search for them we can see God moving every day in our lives.  It is so helpful to do so!

On Memorial Day we drove over to a state park about 20 minutes from our home.  We sat by the lake and enjoyed watching all the people out fishing from their boats.  We walked along the road that goes through the woods and a duck pond, listening to all the birds singing, the ducks and geese "talking" and the gentle winds moving the new leaves on the trees.  With 18 months of cancer treatments and surgeries behind us, and now with the pandemic in 2020, we are especially enjoying being getting out and into nature~ ~yet another blessing we are grateful for.

Our family lives in the Midwest, but no one lives near us.  Even though we mostly see each other only a couple times a year, we have never done a virtual gathering until Covid shook up our world.  We both know that our Zoom gatherings are another blessing that has come from Covid.

I am sure you can list your own blessings that have come in the midst of this pandemic.  It is so easy to focus on what has changed, or on what we have "lost".  There is no denying what has happened to the economy, what is happening in ICU's across our country, the grief and loss that people are experiencing. But in the middle of it all, God is.  God is here.  God is with us.  God has a plan.  God will work all things out for good.

Light As Feathers

This morning Joel and I sat quietly after asking God to share with us something He wanted to tell each of us today.  Immediately I saw myself surrounded by white feathers.  They were swirling around me and I was standing waist deep in feathers.  I saw myself smiling as I reached out and put one in my hand.

As I pondered if these were angel feathers or God's sheltering feathers I heard these words:  "Your worries are as light as a feather...."  I was stunned by what God was saying.  I questioned, "All these white feathers are my worries?  Waist deep, surrounding and swirling around me.....worries?  God interrupted my thoughts with His words....."Your worries are as light as a feather when placed in MY hands." I saw God's enormous hand come down from the sky and then I saw myself putting a feather in the palm of His hand.   Of course!  What I had heard became clear to me when seeing His hand......

When we place our worries into God's hands, they become light as a feather in our lives.  They do not burden us or weigh us down.  God has often used feathers when He talks with me. Our oldest daughter reminds me of that with gifts focused on His sheltering feathers and a friend sends me text images of feathers periodically.  Feathers led us to Bethel Church nearly 3 years ago and scriptures on feathers helped me walk through cancer in 2015.  And today God used them to bring peace and assurance to an old worrier!   Psalm 91:4 has become such an important scripture for me over the past five years, that I want to share it with you today.

I would expect we all have a few worries weighing us down right now.  I know I do.  Being honest here, I struggle with worrying the cancer will come back.  I worry about Joel getting Covid-19...I worry I will get it, or our family members and what that could mean for them.  Do to childhood situations I experienced , being "safe" has always been at the top of my needs list.  Through Holy Spirit's guidance most of that has healed, but the last two years of cancer and surgeries and now the Covid-19 virus are whispering to me that the world is not safe, my world is not safe.  Yeah, I worry.......And many many times I am not even aware of how much those worries creep into my mind, body, and spirit.

But God is aware of how the enemy spends his time seeking to "kill, steal, and destroy", even in our worries.  In His deep love for us He wants us to know where our peace and courage lie.  It is in Him.  Today He opened the door for me to be aware that He is waiting for me to once again place all my worries in His more than capable hands.  All of us can place our worries in God's capable hands,  and by placing them in His hands, they become light as feathers!

ceramic feather given to me

by our oldest daughter

Saturday's Scribbles

It is a sunny Saturday morning here in our corner of the world............and it is very very cold....like freeze warning chilly.....so our newly purchased plants are spending a few nights in the garage.  Today the sunshine is taking the chill out of the air, and the furnace is taking the chill out of the air inside too!

We headed out to a state park 25 minutes west of us this past week and enjoyed sitting by the lake.  We took a short walk in the rain, which is one of my favorite things to do.  I love rain, umbrellas and walking in the rain.  I have been known in my younger years to "dance in the rain".  Such a rebel I was!  Another Fred Astaire....."I'm dancing int he rain..........dancing int he rain......." Ha

Speaking of rain, it has certainly brought everything into blossom and bloom here.  We needed a good soaking and it did not disappoint.  Our local farmers along with local gardeners are out planting!  So refreshing to have outdoor activities going on again after a long and intense winter.

Our oldest granddaughter, Grace, is a pharmacy Intern in their city while she attends college to become a pharmacist.  When Vice President Pence came to Des Moines yesterday to meet with leaders, etc., she was given a shout out by him for her outstanding service to those who come to the pharmacy.   We were able to see it on video as the media covered his visit.  She not only volunteers to deliver the prescriptions to the vulnerable but she offers to bring them groceries so they don't have to go out!  This kind act may not be new to her, but getting a shout out by the VP and applause in gratitude was a nice surprise.  Way to go Grace!

Speaking of doing things for others, don't you love the videos online that share uplifting stories of how so many people are responding to help in times of great need.  I love seeing the good come out in people....Another story that made Joel and I smile this week was when the new Gerber Baby was revealed.  Sweet Magnolia came to her family through adoption.  She is the cutest baby!!!  It was great fun to watch their interview on morning news.  Just had to share her picture!  Can you resist smiling at this charming face?

Our neighbor has cats.  These are indoor cats that have the house to themselves except at night when the neighbor comes home from his office.  We have not seen his cats except for one.  The one who continues to escape whenever the opportunity arises.  When a chance to escape comes up, he is out the door and then takes off.  For parts unknown?  Nope.  He just likes to get out, survey his environment and grab some fresh air before coming back to what he knows.  I think for this particular cat he just does not want anyone telling him no.  Maybe his thinking is, "Well, if I am not supposed to go out there then there must be something I am missing so I am going to get out any chance I can."  Maybe it is just, "You are not the boss of me!"  Of course we don't know what the cat is thinking, but we certainly do get a good chuckle watching our neighbor attempt to coax the cat back into his home.  And.........I can't help but relate this to some people's reactions to the shelter at home ~ quarantine "orders" from Governors.  "You are not the boss of me!

Joel is still working on his large wood project.  He is still able to get in some biking, too.  He has been catching up on connecting with family and friends and office "work".  That work may involve writing more on his book, taking care of finances or just playing a game of spider solitaire! 

I have been working on a puzzle, reading, writing, walking, and baking Joel oatmeal cookies this week. Let's not forget texting, scrolling, and talking on the phone to friends and family.  Yay for phones!!!!  And you?  How are you filling your days this week?!?!?! 

Tomorrow is Mother's Day!  My mother died many years ago now at the age 92.  I was blessed to have two older sisters who mothered me too.  They each played a role in raising me, and for that I am so grateful.  For the first time ever I did not get any Mother's Day cards purchased to send out to loved ones.  We decided going to a store and handling all the cards others have handled was not a good idea in this season of Covid-19.  Today I am wishing all of you women, whether you are mothers or not, a Blessed Mother's Day!  It is in us to nurture others and that nurturing instinct makes us all mothers.  God be with you, bless you, and bring you His peace and only He can. 

On this day I am grateful for Mothers everywhere.  For my mom Ann, for those who mothered me, Jo and Jan, for our daughters and daughter-in-law, all mothers themselves, for Kay and Janelle as sisters and moms.  For too many to name in my life who make me proud to be a mom.  I am grateful for our children.  How blessed I am to be their mom.  Grateful, yes.

Enjoy your weekend!

Signs of Shelter Fatigue

We might be getting a little weary of the staying home policy we have put into place here.  This morning Joel went outside for a while and when he came in he told me he had just had a "three minute conversation" with.............a crow!  He would talk to the crow, the crow would "talk" back.    Thankfully he did not understand what the crow was saying......whew!  (giggle)  It might be a warning sign I'm thinking!

Earlier this morning we decided to go for a ride.  It was raining and dreary and we needed to get out a bit.  We both "dressed up" a bit to go!  Hmmmm   Can you tell we seldom get in the car to go anywhere?  Another sheltering overload sign.  We ended up driving about 25 minutes to a state park.  The campground was closed of course, but the boat launch area was open and we went and parked by the lake.  We then took a short walk in the rain.  It was great to be out in the fresh air, walking under an umbrella.

'When we drove home, we went right through the middle of our little city instead of on the backroads so we could see more people!  Yeah......people besides the two of us!  Shelter fatigue.

Another sign:  I decided I had too much time on my hands when I checked the TV guide today and saw that Life Below Zero is not on!  What?  Oh, how could they do that...............now what?  It might be time to expand my horizons a bit............seriously. 

And then there is the weight gain.........Granted, the pill I am on can keep me plump, but I am thinking it is more the "need" for Benitos Black Bean Chips to crunch on that has me putting on a few pounds.  Not the Freshman 15 but a few quarantine pounds are staring at me/us in the mirror.  Sigh.....

We both have noticed a bit of irritation with each other, with others, with the news, with whatever!  Example:  I have lived with my husband's jokes for 52 years, but they are so much more annoying right now?!?!  He has not changed.........He gets irritated with me saying something about his food choices.....They have not changed and I have not changed.  Shelter fatigue!!    (giggle)

So are you showing signs of shelter fatigue?  Tonight I saw signs of it in others on our national news as they showed people in the Midwest and especially Iowa where people are going back to living as if Coronavirus never existed at all.  We are still having hundreds diagnosed every day in our small state and today was our highest total of deaths.........but the state has opened up in most counties.  For the two of us, when we want to get back to normal, we remind ourselves that there are so many unknowns right now and we stick to our decision.  Even if we are showing signs of shelter fatigue!

How are you filling your days?  Working?  Taking care of your families?  Organizing closets?  Have you stepped back into the world as it was?  Can we ever go back?  We are filling our days as best we can.  We did three closets and super cleaned the office but now we have three black bags full for donation and no where to take them!  So our futon in the family room has bags filling up the space instead of people.  I'm not sure we are going to do much more deep purging since there is no where to take what we are getting rid of. 
,,
Maybe I will just grab a bag of Black Bean Chips, pick up the remote, and keep looking for Life Below Zero to escape in.......

Stockpiling The Three P's

A week ago our son, Matt, drove up with a large bottle of disinfectant, some rubbing alcohol, wipes, toilet paper and hard to find foods.  What he brought will last a long time as we continue to shelter in place and seldom go a.n.y.w.h.e.r.e.  We definitely cannot be accused of stockpiling..........well not disinfectant at least but maybe toilet paper or Benitos Black Bean chips?  We have always bought in bulk, first when we were raising 8 kids and later when we had Lyme Disease and going to the store was an ordeal.....We continue to buy in bulk now, but when we do, we try to buy less of the most needed/desired items so we are not "hoarding".  We had a good chuckle over the toilet paper Matt brought us as there was a story behind it.

You see, one day a few weeks ago Joel came in and said to me, "I heard via the neighborhood grapevine that our neighbor down the street cannot find toilet paper.   We should give them one of our two 12 packs!"  What came up to the surface in me was not the spirit of giving.  What rose up in me was the spirit of hanging on to what we have....."just in case"........  Joel tabled his suggestion, hearing soon after my bad attitude response, that the neighbor had found a 4 pack somewhere out there.....It was not a shining moment for me and I pondered my response to Joel's suggestion more than once.  I shared the story with our son Matt and of course he surprised us with extra toilet paper when he came up, just in case someone else could not find it.  He knows his dad pretty well, and now Joel can share with others til' his heart's content.  Yeah.....like I said, it was not one of my shining moments.

So this weekend I listened to Harry Smith share some wise words.....his voice alone often brings down my stress level.  Something he said resonated with me, especially after the toilet paper story.  Basically he said we need to stop stockpiling toilet paper and sanitizer and stockpile instead patience and perseverance.  I love that!  No matter what we hear, no matter what we hope for, we are going to need patience and perseverance as we walk through this time in history.  And might I add, prayer!  The Covid-19 virus is not going away overnight.  Some states are jumping the gun in my way of thinking ~ Iowa included.  We never had a full shelter in place order and now with cases rising into the hundreds daily in our small state, the governor is loosening restrictions in most counties.  We continue to choose to shelter in place and are able to do so without worry to our finances, etc. We are trying to stay healthy.  But for most it is a stressful time for people.  The frustration is rising along with the fear.  Time will tell on whether letting people gather in groups now is a good thing. Time........patience and perseverance.  We also need to stockpile prayer along with that patience and perseverance.  Ann Voskamp spoke about living a life of prayer on Facebook.

"So let's believe.

Commit to more than a prayer life.

Make your life a prayer.

Make your work your worship, 

Make your days your doxology.

Make your life your liturgy

AND make Christ your only King."

Yes, along with patience and perseverance it is a good time to stock up on prayer.   The three P's.  Ann Voskamp's words are a good reminder as we live life in this season...........in any season!  Today Harry Smith and AnnVoskamp have filled my soul with what is good to stockpile....and that other stockpile of toilet paper?  If you run out, just give my hubby a call!

Saturday's Scribbles

Good Saturday to you from our corner of Iowa where Spring continues to play "hide-and-seek" with us!  Snow came this past week, and today warm temperatures once again.  Maybe the weather is expressing the chaos of our world.  Getting on board the roller coaster as we ride things out.

Speaking of that roller coaster ride, are any of the rest of you mourning what has been lost in this pandemic?  Grief rises.  It makes us sad to see so many suffering and dying.  It makes us sad to see what is happening to small businesses, it also makes us sad to see the greed that rises in those taking advantage of this to scam others, to add to their own pocketbooks in any way they can.  It saddens me to see this made political.  Sometimes that sadness turns to anger.  We grieve what our country has lost ~ the ability to unite in a crisis.  The ability to care more about your neighbor that your politics.  We grieve how politics are dividing families, it separates and silences relationships.  We grieve that.

On the other side of that we see what doctors and nurses, first responders and the rest are sacrificing to serve the sick and dying.  We give thanks for them and for the medical experts who are doing their best to figure this out.  We give thanks for the way so many many people are coming together to help in their own ways.........making masks.........giving online concerts to raise money..........encouraging others in their own ways, big and small.  My older sister went through a year of very difficult challenges involving her heart and then a brain bleed.  After surgery at Mayo to patch the bleed, she has slowly gotten stronger and stronger.  Still fragile but moving forward.  This week she called her Mayo Dr. office and thanked them for what they had done for her, sharing how she is getting stronger.....she told them she would be praying for them.  She was doing her part to spread the love, encourage others, and sharing our first line of defense ~ prayer~.  I am sure we each have something we can do to help in this time of deep turmoil.

Now to add a little humor to this Covid-19 craziness.....The police in a small town in Maryland posted this on their Facebook page:

"Please remember to put pants on
before leaving the house

 to check your mailbox. 
You know who you are. 

 This is your final warning."   

This was done out of humor, and went viral.  Sooooooooooo funny and probably true somewhere in America!

So, how has your week been going?  Same ol' same ol' ?    yeah....Joel ventured out grocery shopping last Monday ~ our bi-monthly run....found most things, and even toilet paper, but no disinfectant in either store he went into.  He masked up and wore gloves, wiping down everything he purchased with rubbing alcohol.  Soon that will be gone so the search for disinfectants and wipes continues.  Joel did not get much biking in with the weather, but I was able to walk indoors each day.  We cleaned out his clothes closet and he spent all day Friday in the garage re-organizing everything from his wood to his tools.   I asked him if he was trying to maintain some control over his domain since he has none over what is going on "out there"?  (grin)  His answer?  Yes!!!  It took me back to when I was diagnosed with breast cancer the first time.  We were moving to Arizona, even had our house on the market.  We took our house off the market and changed our plans......he put wheels on almost everything in his shop that season.  It kept his mind and heart busy!   Soon he will have the most organized shop area in our neighborhood.  Our oldest son made a comment...."First he is organizing the wood by size, and then by color, right"?   (grin)

Has anyone else been distracted?  The other day I was talking to our youngest on the phone and while talking to her I was searching the sofa and coffee table for............my phone.  Cuz I did not remember it was in my hand while I talked!  Oh boy!  Concentration goes down as stress rises up!  Deep breath, quiet moments of reflection, and reaching out to others to talk about something besides Covid-19.  It all helps!

Today it has been windy but warm.....70 degrees!  We have opened windows and doors and are breathing in the fresh air.  Tomorrow it gets colder again, so we are enjoying it while we can.  Meanwhile I hope your weekend is good and the weather is treating you well!

Saturday's Scribbles

Good Saturday to you from our corner of Iowa where winter returned on Friday after temperatures hit 65 degrees on Thursday!  What a roller coaster ride.  We had ice and then snow on Friday, with a high of 36 degrees that kept dropping throughout the day.  This "April Fool's" weather should not stick around too long as temperatures rally next week!

Speaking of roller coaster rides, it seems to be where we all find ourselves as this drama called life continues to unfold with the coronavirus.  For days I would wait for the news conferences to be held, both at the White House and in our state, but I soon realized it is not just words I can rely on, but the actions taken.  It is difficult to fathom an end to this as the daily accounts of infections and deaths and the staggering job losses rise.  It all continues to shock our systems, doesn't it.  What I take hope in is seeing that states are turning somewhat to each other for help and support, just like people are.  Not everyone is hoarding toilet paper or disinfectants or pointing a finger at each other.  Many people are making homemade masks for friends and families besides medical personal to wear long before the CDC decided it would be helpful.  People are stepping up to the plate to do what they can to help others.  States are sharing ventilators, etc.  One way we, in the general population, can help each other is to stay home when we can and social distance when we go out.

Speaking of going out, last Saturday we took my laptop to a neighboring town so Joel's colleague and friend could check out why it was acting so very weird.  It was in a state of rebellion and we needed help with it.  Joel set it on the front deck and he and his friend S. talked a bit from a safe distance.  S. spent precious time fixing my laptop and came back with it Sunday afternoon, once again setting it on our front porch.  We chatted with him through our big glass storm/summer door.  Joel wiped down the laptop with alcohol swabs and we let it sit for a day before I used it.  In this day of not touching things or people it is amazing to realize how much we do use the sense of touch!

Monday we decided Joel needed to grocery shop.  He went early to one store and then went to Target because we had my two prescriptions to pick up.  He was amazed at how some people did not respect the social distancing need.  He wore gloves and when he came home he put everything on the long counter in our garage.  From there he wiped down and disinfected things for the freezer and fridge, leaving the rest of the items in the garage for 5 days before wiping them down and placing them in the cupboards or on shelves.  It is definitely a lot more work to grocery shop now!   ** If you noticed I am not touching anything outside the house that is not disinfected......it is my hubby's rule!

Another example of social distancing?  Joel got a second flat tire on his recumbent bike!  He called is bike store in a neighboring town and asked if they had one, which they did.  This was a blessing in itself as he wanted a specific tire that would be stronger at holding up against sharp rocks, etc.  The owner of the shop asked if he was okay meeting outside and Joel told him he preferred it.  So he came out with the tire, wearing gloves, and he changed the tire for Joel from a distance of 6 feet.  Joel wore gloves bringing it and taking it home where he wiped it down.  We were so grateful it could be fixed so easily!  Biking has become Joel's getting out "go to"....making sure he social distances of course.

Thought I would share a little update for those who have asked me how I am doing.  I am doing well. As far as chemo effects, I still struggle with some neuropathy, but less than before.  My nails are still brittle and toe nails painful at times, but again less than before.  My hair is coming in good everywhere but the top of my head!  And it is curly~ unruly is how I describe it.  With radiation effects what is most obvious is the pain I feel in bones/ribs when I try to lay on my right side and some tightness in my skin.  The aromatase inhibitor I am on has its own fun side effects.  Mainly for me stomach pain at times and a boat load of muscle and joint pain and stiffness, some headaches and dizziness at times.  We are truly grateful I am tolerating it  as it is vital for keeping the cancer from returning.  I am walking 15-20 minutes a day, cooking, cleaning, and have little horizontal time anymore during the day!  So, thank you for your asking, for your continued prayers and for your encouragement.  In this current climate we are grateful for each day in too many ways to express.

My older sister who raised me for several years of my childhood will be 87 the end of this month.  Her daughter Janelle brought her a beautiful plant to enjoy, delivered from her favorite nursery.  Love this picture of her!  She has had many health issues the past couple of years and due to the coronavirus has not left her apt for weeks.  Now someone in her building for Seniors has the virus so she definitely is staying inside and not venturing out into hallways, etc.  There are so many elderly in her position.  We are praying for her and so many others to avoid this terrible sickness!

My mom would have been 110 this week and we have a granddaughter turning 17 today!  I am so glad my mom was not hear for all this craziness.  And pray our granddaughter G. will be stronger at the end of it!

Today Joel and I will be trimming each other's hair.  I have cut his hair for years and years, and he used to cut mine when I had Lyme Disease.  I need a bit of a trim only because it is so much longer on the sides and back than on top where it is slow growing.  Just one more way to adjust to social distancing and our decision to shelter at home.

Speaking of sheltering at home, does anyone else forget what day it is?  With no appointments, no places to be, I sometimes have to think..........hmmmm what day is it??

How are you spending your time?  We still watch quite a bit of TV, are reading a non-fiction book out loud together that makes us laugh, playing cribbage and scrabble, cooking together,  and the chairs are now on the front porch for "porch time".  Joel and I have been sorting and purging the office (which is mainly his 40 plus years of ministry and financial paperwork).  We both like to write and read and I have been doing chair yoga and he does weight training.  There is a puzzle on the dining room table waiting for us, too.  Of course we have been talking on the phone more to keep in touch with friends and family.  We would love to hear how you are keeping busy if you are sheltering at home!

Enjoy your weekend!

What is Our Job Right Now?

When our children were young Joel would tell them that being in school and doing the best that they could at the time was their "job".  They went to school to "work" on getting an education.  We all had our jobs to do and their job was going to school.

In the way my mind works, what Joel told our young kids came to mind when I thought about what is happening all around us.  Obviously, our world has changed, and each governor has issued instructions for their states to follow to attempt to stop this virus from infecting and killing large numbers of people, thus overwhelming our medical communities.  Most people are compliant with what they are being told but others, for reasons beyond my understanding, choose not to comply.

So I have been asking, "What is our job right now?"  How do we do our part from the confines of our home where we have chosen to stay?  My response to my own questions is, "Our main job right now is to take this seriously.  Stay home when we can.  Self-isolate.  Act like the virus is in us or all around us and stay a safe distance from others.  We live less than an hour from Minnesota, here in northern Iowa.  Minnesota has issued a stay at home, shelter in place order, only going out for essentials.  Our governor is not putting any stay at home policy in place as she feels Iowans are smart enough to do on their own.  One of only a few states who have NOT requested residents stay safe and shelter in their homes.

Our job right now is to make good choices for ourselves, protecting ourselves and others in the process.  God gave us faith to stand on, and He also gave us wisdom.  We need both right now as a nation, so we are following the Minnesota guidelines and have been sheltering in place for 15 days.  Recently, the scientists have given us some pretty gruesome data to digest, and it affirms our decision to shelter in place.  Most people we know are doing so if they can.

Those of us staying home and not on the frontlines, feel helpless when it comes to "doing something" to help.  Of course our first line of defense is to pray.  It is vital to reach out to God at this time and pray for others.  Some still have to go to work, our two sons are on that list.  Our medical workers, first responders, etc. are doing all they can to serve and save lives.   Others are shopping and checking in on their elderly or health compromised neighbors.  There are many who are making homemade masks to deliver to hospitals and nursing homes at their requests.  Social media is lit up with people sharing their musical abilities online, and there are many church services and Bible studies available on your phone or laptop.  There are more cute and funny videos out there to make us smile and laugh at than ever before.  Laughter is good medicine.   People want to do something to help and connect as we live in cocoons, practicing social distancing and self isolation.

So, as I reflect on what Joel told our kids decades ago, I am applying it to myself, to all of us. It may not be what we want to do right now........but may I suggest that social distancing and self isolating is our job.  And doing our job cuts down on the risk and the work loads our medical people, police and first responders have to do.  Staying strong in our faith is our job right now. Remembering and touching base with those we love and care about is our  job right now.  You may have other things to add to your job list.

As each of us "do our jobs right now", doing the best we can in the process, we lift you in prayer.  Prayers for our family, friends, loved ones, our neighborhood, our community, our city, our state, our country, our world.  We will get through this.

Saturday's Scribbles

Good Saturday morning to you from Iowa where the skies are releasing a Spring rain that helps everything turn from drab brown to several shade of green.  The weather forecasters are actually saying that 4 letter word again....s.n.o.w.  I am choosing to believe it will not happen.  Nope.  Spring is here to stay.

This morning Joel and I went for a drive, since neither of us have been out and about our fair city.  I do get out for walks and Joel now has 130 miles on his bike.  It felt good to go for a drive, but the streets were mostly empty except for dog walkers.  So strange.  We stopped at a place in the park that has a locomotive on display that is surrounded by a high fence.  My thoughts............this is the only kind of traveling we will be doing for a long time!  On a train to nowhere............

Selfie of us with a bit of the train and fence in the background

Speaking of biking, yesterday Joel got a flat tire on his way home.  He walked the bike past our neighbors who were outside.  Since this whole family are competitive bikers, Joel asked S. if he would check out his bike and see what the tire needed.  S. asked Joel if he had jumper cables he could borrow because their cute VW 1979 convertible would not start.  We had them so Joel took them down and told them to keep them since he never uses them.  Meanwhile S. actually drove to the bike store, bought a new tube and put it on the bike!  No cost.  So nice!!!  His kind gesture is at the top of our gratitude list.  Along with the Facebook message I received from another neighbor K. who wanted us to know that if we needed anything they were willing to help us.  She sent her phone number we certainly tucked it away for future use.  Another kind gesture we are grateful for!  Last night a friend who is from a former congregation and has done a lot of work on our house for us called and wanted to know how we were doing and see if we needed anything.  Yet again, another gesture of kindness!  So grateful.

As I said, Joel is getting in quite a bit of biking and we walk 1/2 mile outside for my exercise when we can.  Otherwise I walk around our main level 15-20 times since one time around takes a minutes. We do what we can, right?!  Last time we were walking a woman came with her dog and I quietly said to Joel, "Ok, what we do now because we will be right next to each other".  Soon after that she moved off the path and self distanced from us til we passed.  It is the right thing for all of us to do.

So how are we filling our days besides biking, cooking, and walking?  We cleaned the whole house in two days and thought, okay, now what?  Ha.....I'm still trying to talk Joel into purging and cleaning closets!   (giggle)  Joel is editing his book again and adding another chapter.  I am writing here and reading a fiction book.....and attempting "chair Yoga" from a site an old friend sent me.  Also talking more on the phone.  Joel and his colleague group got together via Zoom this week.  It was not the same as being together face to face of course, but they had a good chat for a couple of hours.  I know some of my siblings are face-timing and using Zoom to connect with their kids and grandkids.  Isn't technology great?!!!

Joel will venture out into the world on Monday to grocery shop for us, hoping to pick up what is now getting to be a long list, but realizing some things will not be on the shelves.  I will need medications filled so he will head out to Target after getting an early early start at HyVee.  We have done well executing a plan to shop every two weeks but we run out of bananas and that is something we like to eat every single day.  Sacrifices are being made.....ha......but we still have blueberries!  Really, just grateful we are able to put food in the fridge and freezer with no worries of how to pay for it.

As our world continues to unravel, it is more important than ever to reach out to others we love and care about.  Today as we went for our drive we went by my sister and brother-in-law's house.  I called her to tell her we were driving by and we honked and waved at each other....she from her living room window and us from the car window.  It brought tears to my eyes, yet I am grateful I could see her face and connect from a distance. 

As the numbers rise our praises can rise too.  Worshiping God and giving thanks for each and every blessing.  One of my blessings is to connect with friends and family here.  Enjoy your weekend!
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Do You Have A Need To Feed?

This morning as I was quietly meditating, Jesus came up to me in my mind and held my hand.  He said to me, "I've got a hold of you."  He then took His finger and made the sign of the cross between my eyebrows and on the bridge of my nose, saying, "Fear not."  I told Him I do not feel His presence with me lately and He responded with a question for me....."What are you welcoming into your home?"  I knew exactly where He was going....

I won't go into detail again, but since I was a young child circumstances kept me feeling unsafe so being safe became mighty important to me. To the extreme.   I also wrestled with the need to stay alert and informed because information is knowledge and I believed that knowledge kept me safe.  It is not completely faulty thinking but God has to stay in the middle of the equation.

So, here we are in a pandemic that is at this time turning our world, our corner of the world upside down.   Like many of you, I have had a hard time staying away from the news.......on TV especially, but also on Facebook where every scroll down the page is filled with headlines.  Granted there are many things that are positive and helpful too, but my eyes were drawn to what was written in the bold print.  And lets not forget those daily press conferences on TV that are filled with mixed messages.  As the numbers of cases and deaths rise it is hard to stay calm. I try to balance it out with remembering and focusing on our Lord and His Word and HIS promises, but often anxiety is sneaky, and becomes my unwelcome companion.

I confess I have not been doing a very good job of keeping the balance I spoke of.  Today Jesus let me know.  And when Jesus asks you, "What are you welcoming into your home?" I know I better pay attention.  He knows me so well.  He knows my inbuilt need to be safe, to be informed, to be alert......and He knows how poorly my body responds to stress after the past 18 months.   In His infinite love and patience He let me know fear is not my friend.  He reminded me to keep my home a place of peace and healing.   He truly knows us all well, and wants what is best for us.

Recently I heard one pastor talk about a difficult circumstance in His life and how he asked the Heavens, "Do the three of you (the Trinity) get together to discuss things up there?"  The present pandemic feels a little like that doesn't it?!  Do you see what is going on here Papa, Jesus, Holy?  Are the Three of you having a conversation about this?

With no room for theological discussion, I will insert here that in no way, shape, or form do we believe God caused this to punish His creation.  Nope.  Jesus came and redeemed our sins.  He suffered and died for us.  He IS the new covenant.

Today a long time friend called and shared some news that is turning their world upside down in the midst of this already topsy-turvey universe.  She shared a quote that she is holding on to.  "God feeds our faith and starves our fears.  When we turn to the One, our Papa God gives us a Peace that is not like any other.  His Word feeds our faith and His peace starves our fears.

Before God spoke to me, I was "limiting" myself to news 3x a day because things were changing so quickly.  And then there was Facebook.........and............and.............  Don't get me wrong, we need to have some understanding of what is going on in our world, but to be awash with the latest and the worst is going to take a toll on all of us.  For many of us, our need to feed ourselves Co-Vid 19 information will cause us harm if we let it.  Somehow friends we have to find a balance in this topsy-turvy world. Jesus reminded me of this.  We all need to make a decision to let God feed our faith and starve our fears.   That will look different for each of us.  People are stepping up and reaching out.  Just look at things people have placed on social media will make us laugh, smile, and encourage us to respond with hope.  Let us feed our souls.  Jesus is waiting to do that for us as our Friend, Protector, Encourager, Healer, Savior.   Shalom, friends.  Shalom.