Good Saturday to you all from our corner of the world where temperatures continue to fluxuate up and down like a roller coaster at an amusement park. We are not finding it amusing. Bitter cold with -double digit temps then spiking to temps in the thirties have our bodies here complaining. The wind chills have us wishing for Arizona or Florida where family members are basking in the sun. Well, trying to anyway. The weather has not been cooperating there much either! But seriously, winter in Arizona cannot compare to winter in Iowa. Alas, we know it is only early February, and winter has a long way to go........
Speaking of winter, one day as I laid on the sofa to rest I noticed the light and dark contrasts out our oversized living room window. Stunning! I am always drawn to the stark images of trees in winter. I find them beautiful and honest in their portrayal of this season. And a very good reminder that in life, things may look stark and dark, but "this too shall pass". And there is beauty to be found in the journey even though sometimes we have to be intentional about finding it. And, yes, there are times the phrase ~ "This too shall pass.....it may pass like a kidney stone, but it will pass" holds some truth. But, there is good to be found in every season of the year, and of life.
Speaking of seasons, the winter Olympics are here, and last night we watched some of the opening ceremonies. We watched some of the curling competition on Thursday and Friday nights also. We both like curling. I like the limited amount of people involved in the competition, the strength and the mindset needed to play and win. I heard someone say it is "chess on ice" and that makes some sense! Joel enjoyed watching the biathlon, which is one of his favorites. As a young man he received an expert marksmanship status and even though it has been decades since he has done any target shooting, he likes watching it.
I finally finished the 1,000 piece puzzle I have been working on since the end of December. Yeah.....One of our younger grands got a 1,000 piece puzzle for his birthday and had it done in 2 days. Yikes. For me puzzles are a way to relax and settle down my thoughts.........unless I am having difficulty getting the borders together or when I first start filling in from the edges. Then, according to Joel, I talk out loud while working on it. Yep. Takes me back to when Joel was gone 12 hrs a day working and commuting an hour each way to a church. I was alone so much of the time that I just started talking to our dog Levi, my housemate. So when Joel was first ill with Lyme Disease and home on disability, I would be talking and he would ask me, "What did you say?" I would reply, "Oh I wasn't talking to you, I was talking to the dog". Hmmmmm Now I talk to puzzles? Don't tell anyone, okay?
I am making homemade bread today. Every two weeks I bake up a loaf and we use the first couple of slices to make French toast for a meal. After decades of pancakes 2x a month on Saturday nights ( as I said before) we now have gone to French toast. Our oldest son was surprised when I told him. Hey, you gotta shake things up, right? (giggle) Big shake-up? We might be kinda set in some of our ways.
Speaking of bread, this past week our new neighbors came by with a loaf of pumpkin bread as a thank you for Joel doing their driveway when the hubby was laid up with a bad back and she couldn't get their snow blower started. Joel was out doing the association path down to the river where he walks and noticed her dilemma, so he just zipped up and down their driveway on his way back to our house. They have young kids, and are a delightful couple. So nice of them to come by with a thank you...Joel enjoyed it a lot!
This past week my sister Jan turned 85. Let me tell you, this woman looks amazing! She is beautiful inside and out and was given the "looking forever young" genes in our family along with my sister Jo. Sure do miss hugging on her! Happy Birthday Janey! And many many more to come!!!!
How have you been filling up your week? Joel works in his garage shop of course, walked outside a couple of times, helped with house stuff, and worked on taxes, etc. I walked 30-35 minutes daily, worked on the house needs, baked and cooked, finished a puzzle, and visited on the phone a lot. We have watched a worship service, 3 teachings and one Q and A session this week too. It feels like we don't have enough to fill our days, and yet when evening comes we have quite a list of what we have been getting done, and have much to be grateful for.
Speaking of getting things done, I expect it is time to end this first Saturday in February scribbles. So I am giving thanks for good reports, for phone calls with friends and family, for homemade bread and cookies for Joel, and a neighbor's pumpkin bread thank you, for texts and emails and pictures that arrive, for getting things done. Giving thanks for a fireplace, furnace, good nights of sleep, laughter that is such good medicine, and all we are learning from online teachings. Giving thanks for puzzles, the Olympics, French toast on Saturday night, for 85th birthdays, 14th birthdays, a clean house, and so much more.
Enjoy your weekend!
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