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!
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