Saturday's Scribbles

 

Good Saturday to you from Iowa where the weather has ravaged the central and east central parts of our state.  Winds of category 2 hurricane force damaged or destroyed 10 million acres of crops.  People are still without power in several areas, houses and farms are damaged, thousands of trees ripped out of the ground, and a few people have died.  This phenomenon is called a Derecho we learned.  It has left over 20 counties in our state in a crisis.  Sheer devastation.  The pandemic came in the form of a virus that kills, steals and destroys....and now a force of nature has come to do the same.  Up "north" where we live, there is no sign of what has happened.  To most of America and the world this will just be a blip in the radar, except for the fact that Iowa grows a great deal of the corn and soy America needs and now it is gone.  The Derecho aftermath is long reaching, so we need to keep everyone on our hearts and in our prayers.  Lord, have mercy.

Speaking of the Lord, recently we have heard Max Lucado mention more than once that "the end might be near".  The book of Revelation speaks of the end with all its symbols, visions, tribulations, and predictions.   Joel and I happen to be studying Revelation right now so we find the book even more fascinating while at times frustrating and confusing!  We have talked about "the end times" recently, even though it has not been something we have ever dwelt on for sure.  When it comes, it comes.  Yet I have heard my hubby say more than once in 2020............"If this IS the end times, come Lord Jesus!  Come!"  

Speaking of my hubby, he seems to be handling full retirement quite well. Will that last?  Who knows! He is busy with a project for someone that has taken over two months now.  He has 900 miles on his bike and is getting quite a few small projects done around the house inside and out.  I am finally coming back from my "after Zometa" life.  Building up my walking again, doing household tasks ( I do enjoy them) and still working on a puzzle, and writing some.  I did take in a 3 hour virtual conference this week focused on Holy Spirit.  We have managed to finish eating our #10 of blueberries, of course we have~! Nothing exciting, just life one day at a time while missing family.

Speaking of, last Sunday we were able to Zoom with our middle daughter and her family.  So fun to see their faces while we visited.  Technology can be amazing.  Tomorrow we will Zoom with good friends who help keep the country's campgrounds in business.  As this year continues we still spend the majority of our time at home with only each other, not venturing out except to doctors and for groceries, so it is always great to have virtual gatherings.  

Speaking of this year, it has been an unforgettable one so far, hasn't it.  And it is not over.  It just keeps expanding, this chaotic crazy time. We have stopped asking, "What next" because we don't want to put that question "out there".  Sometimes I do find myself asking, "What do you want to share with us, Jesus?"  Silence often greets me, but I keep asking while relying on His promises. We attempt to stay focused on the goodness of waking up each morning.  We sit on our porch and watch baby rabbits in our yard.  We search our memories to remind ourselves of God's faithfulness.  We turn off all the news.  We seek peace in the midst of the craziness.  At times we cry, but mostly we intentionally laugh......with each other.......at each other (with love).........We chuckle at videos on TV and Facebook...like the toddler who gave his mom the evil eye and slapped her hand when she tried to take his ice cream. We keep .searching for joy to balance the heaviness of our world.  We give thanks. 

 

Speaking of giving thanks, we have so much to be grateful for, don't we.  For us today it is a recumbent bike, a puzzle, walking again, laughter, tears, Zoom, physical therapy, sunshine, virtual conferences, the safety of family in central Iowa, Funniest Home Videos, the chimes calling in a cooler day from the front porch, family, friends, and baby rabbits.  

Enjoy your weekend!