Saturday's Scribbles

Good Saturday to you from our corner of Iowa where the weather has continued to be Spring like~warm and humid one day, cold and rainy the next.  We have definitely had rain this week which is a good thing at this point.....as long as the farmers are done planting, right?   As I said before, everything is so many shades of green right now. So beautiful!  We love looking out our living room window watching rabbits sunning in the yard, birds searching for food or building nests in birdhouses Joel put up, and the occasional deer wandering through on their way to the river.

Last Sunday we went to outdoor services in the courtyard of a local Lutheran church.  It was so nice to be with others ~the first time we have gone to church in 16 months.  And no masks, although we had them in our pockets just in case.  To top it off it was Pentecost Sunday! I wrote about it this past Tuesday ~ The sermon was about what occurred in Acts 2 , Pentecost!  The being the beginning of the Christian Church, and the gifts Holy Spirit still blesses us with.  As Lutherans the pastor suggested we be open to other churches like the Pentecostals and what they bring to the worship experiences.  The sermon brought up so many memories of our own journey into more of the Holy Spirit gifts available to us and the many ways to worship.  We went home from this service and watched livestream Lutheran Church of Hope which once again spoke about Pentecost and Holy Spirit gifts like speaking in tongues. There is so much available to us through the gifts God gives His children.  Great way to start the day!   Later in the afternoon we headed over to a nearby town to sit by the lake for awhile.  It is a tourist area for northern Iowa, and we enjoy going there to soak in the lake view and the "vacation" atmosphere.  

It took me back to our recent visit to Beth and Kevin at their cabin in WI.  We both absolutely loved being there.  I loved looking at the lake, watching nature from a deck or window, and taking in the smells of nature. I am just not so crazy about being right smack in the midst of it.  I guess I am more of an observer?  Toe dipper?  "Look at that view" person.....

Tuesday I had an appointment with the oncologist on the arimidex and cognitive issues.....They are there...some days worse, some days or periods of time much better..... so I have chosen to stay on for now.  My research shows that other options are just as problematic.  The PA told me that there is no predictability with how the side effects of this drug will respond, or when.  May do fine for a year or five....or do terrible and then better, or good and then suddenly bad.  Kinda reminds me of the pandemic and the past year plus!  So it is a one day, or more like one week at a time with the use of prayer to stand against it affecting me negatively.  Anyway my appointment time got changed and then the location got changed because of a sick kiddo and we did a phone appointment at 6:30 at night, which was new for us!  It did remind me of when our Lyme Specialist would call to check on us in the evenings.  She was a caring, smart, and amazing doctor who just recently retired.  

Joel had his own new adventure this week at a local place that sells hearing aids.  We had heard Costco was a good place to go, but the nearest one is in MN almost 2 hrs away.  So many guys around his age are on the same journey of finding help for a loss of hearing.  Joel's is mostly from being on a tractor without a cab at the age of 12.  He had hearing loss beginning by age 14.  This past year it has become obvious he needed help with his hearing.  We were blown away by the cost of hearing aids (even with some insurance) and grateful we could purchase what is needed.   What do people do who don't have savings or access to the amount of money needed, or maybe the VA to turn to?   Thanks to our oldest son, Joel looked into the VA to see if he qualified ( he served 8 yrs in Air Force during the "Viet Nam Era").  He is waiting for testing and approval now.  An answer to prayer!

Speaking of prayer, in our lives we deal with body, soul, and spirit and this past week several little challenges have come up~ many physical ones for us both, a couple soul type, and definitely  a couple spiritual challenges.  Can you relate?  It has been a reminder for us of where our help comes from!  Our help comes from the Lord, maker of Heaven and earth!  As Joel quotes in his book, "Prayer is our first line of defense".  We have a health issue?  Take it to God in prayer. We have a soul/emotion issue?  Take it to the Lord in prayer.  We have a spiritual attack taking place?  Take it to the Lord in prayer.  Prayer is our first line of defense.  

Today we head two hours south to a granddaughter's graduation party.  She actually graduated first from community college and will graduate Sunday from High School.  G. will head off to college in the fall......another grand leaving the nest.  Soon all of our grands will be teenagers or in their early twenties!  Grateful to watch them grow into who God has created them to be.

It is Memorial Day weekend and we cannot help but remember those we love and care about who have died. We look forward to hugging them again one day.  We remember those who sacrifice through their service to our country and our communities.  Military, police, medical providers, and so many more.  Thanks to those who have served and those who gave their lives in the military so we can live in freedom.  We remember.....we give thanks.

Speaking of giving thanks, we are grateful this week for unusual Dr. appointments, hearing aids, outdoor worship, online worship, the green of Spring,  Pentecost and the journey God has put us on, summer evenings by the lake, texts, phone calls, and emails from friends and families, the armed forces, the police, medical responders, and so much more..........

Enjoy your weekend!

Celebrating In A Courtyard, Online, and In Our Memories

On Sunday we headed to church outside in the courtyard of a local Lutheran Church.  It was great to be back in the midst of worshipers, and to top it all off it was Pentecost Sunday!  The pastor gave a great sermon, speaking about the day the Christian church began, the gifts of speaking in other languages and how we could learn a little from the Pentecostals who are a bit more "animated" in their worship.  Joel and I had to chuckle, as memories came back from many years ago when we first learned about such gifts of Holy Spirit as speaking in tongues.   

I have shared before that in 1972-74 we were stationed in Duluth where we often went to a Lutheran church on Sunday mornings and an  Assembly of God church in the evenings with friends we met in the Air Force, It was at the Duluth Tabernacle that I first heard someone speak in a prayer language during prayer time.  I remember clearly feeling such a sense of peace and God's presence in that prayer room where the women gathered to pray.  I wanted "some of that" peace, but my search went unanswered during that time.

In 1974 we headed to The Philippine Islands where I became friends with a woman who also prayed in tongues and then I became involved with a group of women who would often meet at the base commander's home to pray and worship.  This gathering was always something I looked forward to, this place where worship, praise, prayer and healing took place.  I experienced my own physical healing at one of these meetings.  My desire for this "something more" only grew, but still, when I talked to Joel about this gift of a prayer language his answer was " I don't know, we are Lutheran". 

So, 40 years later.............from the time I first was drawn to this way of praying..........YES, forty years later God blessed me with my own prayer language about a month after once again I had asked Joel what he thought of a teaching we watched on healing and the gifts of the Holy Spirit....and Joel had once again said, "I am Lutheran, I don't know what I would do with that."  Joel went to bed that night and woke at 4am healed completely from Lyme and other conditions and sure enough, God gave him the gift of a prayer language even though He did not ask for it.  I am thinking maybe God got tired of hearing Joel's response to my questions and thought He would help him know what to do with that!

So, as we listened to the pastor speak we had to smile as we recalled our own journeys with powerful Pentecost and Holy Spirit gifts.  After church we headed home to watch online worship from Lutheran Church of Hope where we "attend" virtually every week.  Pastor Mike Householder preached and taught on Pentecost and the gifts of the Spirit!  Two great sermons that spoke volumes to us, and took us back to the before and after seasons of our lives.  Both seasons of our lives important for our faith journey.  Both a blessing.  

Yes, as I have shared before, we have experienced miracles of healing and watched God heal others over the past few years.  We have experienced Holy Spirit and God's Presence in tangible ways.  We have also watched and waited for healings and change and continue to do so.  None of the later keeps us away from knowing God's faithfulness and power in our lives and it shouldn't. 

Yesterday someone spoke to Joel at church and told us he had read Joel's book.  Joel said, "So, it is a little to the right of crazy?", and this man Joel has known for 25 years replied, "Yes, it is."  There were things he did not agree with.  Joel desires all feedback from those who have read "A Little To The Right of Crazy".   We deeply appreciated him buying the book and reading it.  Joel wrote this book and self published it because he believes Holy Spirit led him to do so. What is in Joel's book has a strong Biblical foundation and more importantly it was written because of the need to be obedient to God.   Over three years ago we were told by someone who walks prophetically that he saw a picture of us "rocking a boat"  He asked us if we "rocked boats" and we both had to laugh and answer yes, in our world we do.  He then said, "God does not want you to stop rocking the boat.  Don't stop rocking the boat.  When you stop it will be time for you to "go home".  

So nine years later we still talk about Joel's healing, and my own healing from Lyme.  We talk about the gifts of speaking in tongues....a prayer language only Holy understands.  We talk about the visions God gives me.  We do so as boldly as we can without being pushy or overbearing, but we do not let what others think or say get in the way.  We have been told to rock boats.  Sometimes that means our own boats are rocking.  I believe God wants to rock our boats....He has not called us to keep Him in a tidy box labeled with our ideas of who He is.  Sometimes He does not want us comfortable.....Sometimes He brings Pentecost to us.

Speaking of Pentecost and the birthing of the Christian Church, I am thinking that a lot of boats were rocked  on that first Pentecost.  I would have loved to have been there and experience what the disciples did on that day!  It must have been amazing. I hope and pray that no matter what comes my way, I never forget that God is always with us.  His Presence can be palpable.  His power and authority miraculous.  And His gifts for His children absolutely delightful.  Grateful that after forty years  of wandering and seeking we have experienced our own bit of Pentecost.  

Saturday's Scribbles

 

Good Saturday to you from our place in Iowa where rain has been in abundance, and none too soon!  We were about 5 inches behind for this year so getting a couple days of rain has been a good thing,   The moisture has brought with it high dew points and humidity, but alas it is after all, Spring in Iowa!  

Speaking of Spring, after worshiping livestream last Sunday we then headed out to Lime Creek Nature Center again for a mile walk outside.  It is becoming a bit of a ritual to worship online and then worship in nature.  So many birds singing their praises, and everything is so green.

Speaking of green, we decided earlier this week to head over to at least one of a few Mennonite Nurseries about an hour east of here.  We went north to Hwy 9 and as we traveled on a familiar road we both glanced over at a country place and could not help but notice that there was a life-size elephant in the front yard.  Seriously.  I don't have pictures to prove it, but there it was....we think it must have been a rubber balloon?  We had a good laugh over it and were kicking ourselves for not taking pictures.  I still wonder what the story was behind that elephant!

So back to the nursery ~ we got within a half mile using GPS when we ran into a road closing!  We went east and ended up in a dead end, so we went back west again and then south and then ended up at a T in the road.  After a few twists and turns we ended up on the right road, but thought we must have missed it until we saw a very small sign on top of the mailbox letting us know we were in the right place!  It was worth it all as the plants were huge, beautiful, and inexpensive compared to what we paid in town. WOW!  Here are two of the hanging baskets we brought home..........

On Monday Joel's Bible College roommate came by with his wife.  We had a short but very good visit on our porch.  So fun to see them.  Joel and John and I have known each other since 1966 when the two guys roomed together at the Lutheran Bible Institute in Golden Valley MN.  So many good memories. 

Over two years ago our youngest daughter and her fiancé bought us a Smart TV.  They helped set it up for us, but we forgot to hook up the DVD player. (YES we still have and use one).  Joel attempted to do it himself but struggled with it so we figured we would try again "later".  This week, after two years, I suggested we attempt to connect it again.  So.........Joel pulled the TV out from the wall and went to work.  No DVD connection.  He decided to try one more time and found a connection site he had not seen with his trusty 75 yr old eyes and just like that we have a working DVD player in the living room.  Yay!  We put a DVD in to see if it worked and it happened to be the movie "The Shack" based on Paul Young's book "The Shack".  Loved the book..........loved the movie.  Guess how I spent my afternoon?  Watching The Shack for a third time.  It is just so fascinating!  And aren't we proud of ourselves.....Joel figured out the DVD player connection without help from the kids!  (hahaha)

This week was filled with biking, walking, baking, cooking, cleaning, picking out new glasses, a haircut, shopping, resting for me, and napping of course.  Joel picked up several coleus on our trip to the nursery, to plant a coleus garden this year after admiring our neighbor's.  He is re-edging around the small area and then will plant colorful coleus that share their beauty through fall.  We laid sod in one area in front of the porch last year but it did not work so well, so plan B will be happening there.....we just haven't decided what plan B will be yet!

Last year we were going to have our bathroom redone...way past due.....and COVID hit.  Now we decided to go ahead and take the plunge and it is proving to be difficult to find anyone with free time to work on it since everyone waited last year.  Who wanted people in and out of their homes?  I read that the cost of lumber went up nearly 50% so I am thinking anyone we hire to work?  Costs of supplies will be higher than normal.....we may be postponing a much needed reno once again!  Can anyone relate? Speaking of postponing, My doctor wanted me to have a couple of procedures due to low iron (ruling out) and the soonest I could get in was the first week of September!!  People waited.............now there is a wait list!

Speaking of COVID, we are slowly adding more activity to our schedule and not being as cautious with our mask wearing, although when we are in closed areas out in public?  We are choosing to still put them on.  Last Saturday we were able to finally gather with my siblings to plan Gr. Jo's service and celebration of life.  It was great to get together and actually visit one on one, and hug, hug, hug, after so long.  

So this week I am thankful for seeing a life size elephant in a farmyard ( truth!), a trip to a Mennonite nursey with beautiful plants, laughter, tears, a haircut, phone calls, texts, walking at the nature center, worshiping online, Coleus, DVD success, picking out new glasses, "The Shack", visiting with John and Joan on our porch, rain and more rain, hugs from family, and so much more.

Enjoy your weekend!

Saturday's Scribbles

 

Good Saturday to you from our corner of Iowa where the earth is vibrating with new life, new buds, new blooms and so many shades of green.  We are still thinking back on last weekend, where we nestled in among the pines with a view of the lake that graces the shoreline of our daughter and son-in-law's cabin.  While there we enjoyed watching blue jays in the trees, muskrats and ducks in the water, and from what I heard a few deer were seen when Joel and Kevin went for a bike ride.  Joel would grab a cup of coffee around 7:30am each morning and head out to the deck to sit and view nature at it's best.  So grateful.

Yes, so grateful for the time spent with Beth and Kevin ~ the most "alone time" together in 25 years.  We took a trip in Beth's bright orange truck to a Dairy with the best variety of cheeses we have seen, drove to see a few cranberry bogs, and looked over the area by their "happy place".  It took a village to get me in and out of the boat but it happened, and we took a slow ride  around their beautiful lake. It was only 53 degrees, so chilly,  but it turned out to be a lot of fun! Speaking of it takes a village, Kevin had to come up with a makeshift footstool (an old step) to get me up into the truck for our drive.  Cuz I am short legged......and old......... Sunday we skyped with A. and E. for Mother's Day.  Good food was in abundance and Beth and Kevin put up with a lot of talking from the parents!  Isolation does that to you..........not that we ever talk too much anyway!  And let's not forget our 150 lb. granddog, Koda whom we enjoyed so much.

Selfie!

Our granddog Koda

Beth's beautiful truck!

Boat ride!

We were both sad and one of us shed tears when we waved good-bye and left for home, but we are so grateful we finally made it to their happy place. They are very gracious, giving people and we sure miss them.   It was awfully quiet when we got home, that is for sure!

Joel tackled a big project starting Tuesday........replacing the window trim our our 8 ft. window that is on our half up landing.  That makes it a good 15-20 feet off the ground.......An extension ladder, a makeshift bag to hold his tools, and a whole lot of praying being done by his wife got the job done without any mishaps!  With a little truth telling he shared he was pretty achy and tired after going up and down the extension ladder for ump-teen times in two days....

We have been searching out flowers for the front and backyards this week, finding quite a few that had been caught in freezing temperatures.  We did find a few pots  to add to my pansies from Bethany and Kevin.  Pansies are my favorite Spring flower bringing back warm memories of my mom.   We looked for a black-eyed Susan ivy but most were snatched up early and the two we found were frostbit!  Maybe next year!

Hey, remember the experiment I was conducting with Cherry Juice?  I discovered a bit more info on what kind to use....Montmorency Cherry Juice....a special kind of cherry.  So I purchased the concentrate and add water to it.  I have been sleeping over 8 hrs for the past 6 night!  Yahoo!  It is worth the hassle and sour taste if it works, and it has been working!  I drink six ounces one hour before bed. Try it.....

It is National Police Week and I am very grateful for those officers who do their job well and work hard to protect and serve.  I saw a T-Shirt that made me smile...........It said, "My favorite police officer calls me Mom!"  For sure.

I found a song I have been playing over and over this week....Talking to Jesus by Elevation Worship reminds me so much of Joel's mom and step-dad.  When we would stay overnight, we could hear them in bed at night having their devotions and talking to Jesus.  Their faith was solid, quietly expressed, but lived every day. 

So, today I am also grateful for another safe trip, a good long visit with our daughter and son-in-law and grand dog, skyping with the grands, texting, a boat ride, truck ride, seeing B and K's happy place,  pansies, a stop and Trader Joe's on the way home, the officers who serve and protect,  a new song to sing, Good sleep, fewer times to wear masks, and so much more............

Enjoy your weekend!

Saturday's Scribbles

 

Good Saturday to you from a new corner of the world  ~~ the woods of Wisconsin where we are enjoying a few days with our oldest daughter and our son-in-law at their cabin on the lake.  I am not always an outdoorsy type of girl with Lyme being such a major part of my past, but I can't help but enjoy the view of the lake from the deck of their "happy place".   The view is amazing, isn't it.  

Speaking of views, my life view is giving me a few challenges as I have gone back on this drug, Arimidex.  Lets just get this medical drama update out of the way, shall we.   I went back on the medication and 10 days in my issues with retrieving the right word, saying the right word, and losing my train of thought have increased and the hours I am able to sleep have decreased.  Seriously, I can deal with the bone and joint pain, the fatigue and weakness, and even the lack of sleep, but the cognitive issues are difficult to accept.  It is worrisome that they will become permanent and from what I have read at places like Mayo Clinic Connect, others are concerned too.  Why don't I just quit the drug?  Because three of the four cancers I have had were estrogen fueled...the estrogen fed the cancer cells to multiply and this drug takes the estrogen out of the body and stops the cancer cells from multiplying.   Joel and I keep praying and believing "this too shall pass", and ask you to pray also.  God has a plan.\

Speaking of God, Friday morning I woke from a bad dream at 3:30 am.  Concerned I would not get back to sleep I thought to myself..........."I hope I can sleep".  I immediately heard a quiet voice in my head say, "You will".  And then........"Just do deep breathing".  So I did and fell back to sleep until my usual Arimidex wake up time at 5am.  So grateful God spoke, so grateful I slept.

Moving on...........This past week a friend stopped by while he was out biking.  Why would I share that?  Because we invited him in and he sat in our living room for an hour and a half visiting.  And why would I share that?  Because for the first time since December 2019 someone came into our house and sat in our living room and had a visit with us.  Seriously.  (He is vaccinated and we are vaccinated.).. It felt strange and yet it felt normal and normal is such a good thing, isn't it.  Hope rises!

Nap time

Which brings us back to this cabin in Wisconsin.......for the first time  16 months we are able to hug on our oldest and her hubby.  Oh, what a wonderful blessing to do so. We are able to enjoy our grand dog, Koda, who weighs 150 lbs. and likes having the grandparents around. We are able to visit, laugh, cry, and just take in the view ~~ of their lake, their cabin, and most importantly, of them.  In person.  Face to face.  With skin on.   There is nothing like it.

Our granddog, Koda

Beth and Kevin are hard working, passionate, caring people who love the Lord, their kids, family and "framily" as they call their friends.  They parent so well....they do life so well... During those moments in time when we are able to see them face to face, we store up memories like precious gems.  Today, among the pines of Wisconsin, while viewing this beautiful still morning on the lake, we are so grateful.  

It is Mother's Day weekend, a great time to be with our oldest and her hubby.  A great time to see their cabin for the first time.  I often look at our kids and feel so blessed by how well they do life and am especially grateful for our three daughters and daughter-in-law this weekend. They are gifts to their children and to all of us.

We are heading to a local dairy today to pick up a variety of cheeses.  Makes sense, doesn't it.  Wisconsin and "cheeseheads"  as they are known for in sports.  It will be a fun adventure, especially for two people who have not been on many adventures lately.  We still are cautious.  Don't eat out.  Stop at rest areas when we can instead of fast food places and definitely gas stations are a last resort.  We eat our yogurt travel lunches in the car, seeking out a view when possible.  But we are on the move!

So, this weekend I am grateful for hugging on our son-in-law and daughter, for a grand dog who keeps us smiling, for enjoying a new view, Joel able to bike at the cabin, visiting a dairy, good food and fellowship, texting with a couple grandkids, watching a video of our granddaughter running and winning a race in track, the prayers of family and friends, God's Voice in the night, and so much more.

Enjoy your weekend!

Saturday's Scribbles

Good Saturday to you from our corner of the world where we are heading for a high of 92 degrees!.  Such unusual weather....first cold, then really hot, then cold again, then hot. As I write this I hear lawn mowers outside as this weekly or bi-weekly task officially starts.  People are digging in their gardens and spraying chemicals on their weeds as they seek the perfect lawn.  To me, looks are deceiving, as those chemicals seep into our water and poison our bees and butterflies.  But, alas, for most it is easier than taking out the dandelions one by one.  I often think if we lived in the country the dandelions would be left alone, but we do not, so I do wonder how Joel will get rid of them this year since he is nursing a sore back and the instrument of choice to rid the lawn of them is hard on the back.  Of course right after I wrote this I looked out and he was plucking dandelions from the ground with his special tool.

So, my hubby decided last week that he would lay edgers around a large area of the south side of the house and lay rock in the areas.....I mentioned it before.  Seems that doing all that heavy work in only 2 1/2 days was a little bit too much for a guy who will soon be 75.  Besides laying many many edgers, he loaded, unloaded, and put out 83 bags of rock.  By Saturday night he felt a "bit sick", and by Sunday night he found himself playing musical beds, moving from the bed, to the recliner, to the wicker sofa as he attempted to find a comfortable spot.  Monday's aches and pains sent him to the chiropractor where he was helped, but the back muscles are still talking.  He is able to ride again though, so he is on the mend.  It was not his week with his hearing tests revealing a 40% loss in one ear, 15%  in the other and to top it off his eyes quit tracking together so an early last minute morning appointment on Wednesday ruled out anything major, they believe it is ocular migraines.  New glasses are ordered in the hope it will take care of the issue.  I told him, he has had no real issues for years and now three in one week?  Seriously.  Stop.  I prefer when you walk in full health, buddy!

Bundled up for a walk

Speaking of walking, last Sunday morning we watched early church and then headed out for a walk at Lime Creek Preserve on the edge of our town to walk in the rain...I love walking in the rain.  Luckily I wore a winter coat since by the time we got there it was snowing big flakes!  The temperature dropped to 31 but we still decided to walk the mile trail.......we had the place to ourselves. Here we are bundled up....and today 92!

You know that saying, "When I get old I will wear purple?"  Well, I have modified it to say, "When I get old I will wear leggings".  I know.  I'm 73.  I am no slim sister.  I just find them so comfortable at this stage of my life and with my body's complaints.  Leggings....with loooooong tunic tops of course.  Theystarted out as my COVID isolation clothing and now they are just my "when I grow old I want to be comfy" clothing.  Can anyone relate?  Do you have your own comfort clothing?  The past 2-3 years have mostly taken from me the need to seek the approval of others when I dress.  I still struggle with my body image, but I'm working on it.....

I was in the mood for baking earlier this week so I made Joel 7 dozen ginger cookies and a loaf of honey whole wheat bread from scratch.  My mixer has a bread hook so that is nice! I made myself some almond butter bars too.  We also got out the grill Friday night to officially begin the grilling season.

This past week was my sister Jo's 88th birthday which she celebrated in Heaven!  She loved to be with her family on her birthday and go to one of her favorite places for a meal.  This year she was with other family who have died and I am sure Jesus stopped by to say hi!  I expect every day in Heaven feels like a birthday celebration!  We miss you Joey!

So today I am grateful for walks in the snow, birthdays in Heaven, Joel's back being better and his eyes and ears being taken care of, leggings, growing older, texts from family and friends, phone calls, our electric grill, baking, warm weather, and so much more.........

Enjoy your weekend~