Good Saturday to you from our corner of Iowa where Spring is unveiling it's beauty. Yesterday's winds were sustained at 35mph with gusts to 50 mph! Today is a bit better but temperatures have returned to the twenties and thirties. It looks so nice outside today.......but it is not! March is still showing it's blustery side even as the buds come out and we welcome home the birds!
Speaking of March, I have entered into my 74th year now and am stepping into it with extra hope for a good one! No, a great one! I enjoyed a day with connections through texts and phone calls and Joel presented me with a meal of grilled pork chops and sweet potato fries. Our first grilling of the season. (Thank you to all who sent birthday greetings in the mail or through Facebook)
Today we decided to head to our local mall to walk. We have not been there since before my last cancer diagnosis or the years of covid. Besides a few stores, they now have a hockey arena, ice skating club, dance studio, miniature indoor golf place and an axe throwing place. Who knew?!?! Guess we need to get back out in the world a bit more.... We walked about 45 minutes with a stop or two since today happened to be a home and craft show too. Joel picked up some local honey to try. He goes through a lot of honey! He also uses a natural sweetener called Allelose. It is spendy but much better for you than sugar ~ it goes in his coffee. I think it is made from figs, kiwi, and raisins, but he says it tastes like sugar.
I had an eye shot this week.......we waited a month this time and hoped for the best, but by the time I got in my eye was really giving me grief and a bit of vision loss. So we are back to every three weeks. And grateful. I am always amazed at the people that go there and complain and complain about waiting. The retina specialist drives up here on Monday and Tuesday.....doing surgery Monday afternoons. I go on Tuesday and the doctor will see between 80-90 patients in one day. Things get bottled up. You have to wait.....to see the tech who checks your vision, to have scans of the eye if you are like me, and then to see the doctor, be checked. He first numbs the eye with drops and a shot of lidocaine, then after several minutes an injection, for me, of a very costly drug. I am talking thousands........(thank God for insurance). It is the only one of several that is working for me. Anyway, we know that all of this is going to take a lot of time. We plan on being there always 1 1/2 to 2 hours. Joel sometimes goes to Menards or Target near by. Waiting is not always fun, but I usually visit with the receptionist, or get on my phone, and just remember that we don't have to drive 2 hrs one way to the specialist in Des Moines. They come to us. Complaining does NOT change a thing! It only makes you crabby and affects those around you. I guess we could say that about everything in life....complaining does not change anything for the better. I know there area times when we need to speak up, take a stand, etc. but for the most part complaining just creates a negative atmosphere.....okay, I'm done preaching! ( I think I needed to hear it!)
I have been rereading many of the articles I wrote on our years in The Philippines. It really takes me back to a time of new adventures, welcoming home two babies, getting involved in an interdenominational group and church, just so much to look back on. Including living in a third world country. Sometimes I think it should be required by all Americans at least once in their/our lifetimes. It wakes us to how blessed we are. How privileged. How "rich". How free. Yeah.......it is sobering.
I made homemade bread this week and chocolate chip cookies. It has been at least 10 years since I have made chocolate chip cookies! It used to be a staple in our house............I made all the cookies needed for a family of 10. Or our girls did as they got older. I haven't eaten them in years and years, but I still remember how good one tastes when it comes out of the oven....dripping warm chocolate. I have decided that when I go to Heaven I am requesting to work in the bakery..........what a delightful place to work, being able to enjoy the goodies without any consequences. I can smell those caramel rolls, cookies, breads, etc. Mmmmmmmmmmm
I told Joel one day this week that I walked 45 minutes.........accidently.. I think it is why I got so tired. He cracked up. How do you accidently walk 45 minutes?? I replied, "Well, I got lost in my counting and thought I had gone 35 minutes but it was actually 45. Maybe a little brain fog? We had a good laugh.........and I am back to 35 to 40 every day.
So, this week I am thankful for a warm house on blustery days, a mall to walk in, local honey to buy, one day of a 45 minute walk, chocolate chip cookies for Joel to enjoy, flowers on my table, cards to read. Grateful for phone calls from Minnesota and Florida, texts from kids and a few grands, energy to walk, a retina specialist who comes to our little corner of the world, a craft show, articles that take me back to the Philippines, prayers, laughter, tears, a hubby who loves to hold hands, and so much more.......
Enjoy your weekend!
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