Saturday's Scribbles

Good Saturday to you on this hot and humid weekend in Iowa.   We are heading towards ninety degrees for both days and breaking records I expect. Summer has definitely returned and is not giving up easily.  

Joel got in a couple bike rides this past week, but certainly nothing like last summer.  He's been putting together a cart to hold some of his wood pieces and doing other worthwhile projects in the garage.  He did clean all the floors in the house.This week, which is a project in and of itself.  Mostly he's joined me as we played the waiting game for results of tests.  I have been recovering from the biopsies and the draining of the fluid. Managed a bit of house cleaning too.  And walking. 

Speaking of walking, on Friday, I had a glaucoma appointment at Mayo clinic and the ramp we usually use is closed.So we did a good deal of walking to get to my appointment in the Gonda building..  At least, I got my twenty minutes of walking in on Friday.  We did receive the results of the biopsies on wednesday and were quite shocked to hear that the cancer I have is a rare undifferentiated pleomorphic Sarcoma and probably from the radiation i  had.  It is rare and they do not treat it here.So I will be going to Mayo clinic to see a Sarcoma specialist.  We start all that business on monday.  

The past few weeks have us certainly taking one day at a time.  Intentionally enjoying the moments we have.  Like yesterday when we stopped last minute at a family members for pizza and hugs on our way home.  A memory made.  

So today, I am thankful for another safe trip to mayo clinic in rochester and for a good report from the glacoma doctor.  Grateful for a quick visit with Helen and memories made over pizza.  Grateful for porch sitting, for biking and walking, for laughter and for tears. Grateful for all that Joel gets done in a week to keep this house running.  Grateful for the phone calls that keep us connected to those we love and care about.  Grateful for emails and texts and photos that we get in an instant.  GratefulFor the many, many, many people who are praying forJoel and me. Grateful for all this, and so much more..

Enjoy your weekend!

 

Saturday's Scribbles

Good Saturday to you on another chilly September morning. This is my favorite season of the year but I expect we still have a few summer days ahead.  We've heard a few geese and run into a few that have gathered in the grassy area of our association, our park and even our street.  

 Our flowers are still blooming beautifully thanks to the organic fertilizer that Joel has added to them.   Soon we'll have to pick up some mums to add to the garden.  

Last  Sunday we listened to church and then drove over to Clear Lake to central park where we watched the people and the boats.  In one area there were seven sailboats racing.  It is the end of the tourist season.  Outdoor church was just getting over and people were heading to the bathroom.  Unfortunately in women's bathroom the word was getting around that there was only one of the six stalls that had any toilet paper at all.  I happened to be standing in front of that one, but there were others who were waiting in a  line out the door.  Someone was not doing their job.  I usually carry my purse and my purse carries kleenex for those just in case moments where tissue is gone or when the nose gets runny.  Anyway, after our people watching we came back, picked up Culver's salads and came home and ate lunch on our porch.  Monday, my sister, Kay and her husband Danny, came in the afternoon for a visit and strawberry rhubarb pie.  It was a nice, quiet labor day weekend.

Thursday, I had to be at the hospital at seven thirty a m for 2 procedures.  First, they went in through my back and drained fluid out of the chest cavity.  Then about a 1/2 hour later, a different doctor went in through my chest and took biopsies of the mass that they saw in the deep tissue of my chest wall. Both procedures,  using ultrasound,  went very well and I have been home resting ever since.  The results will come this week.  Then they tell me  a PET scan will follow.  The journey is moving And every prayer is appreciated and felt.  We have continued to see God's blessings. Hidden in plain sight in the kind staff and the excellent treatments and the encouragement and prayers of family and friends online and in person.  God is faithful.  Much to be grateful for 

Joel has been busy this week, just keeping busy.... He's been out in his wood shop, creating and reorganizing.  This is his go to activity when trouble shows up.  He Has managed a bike ride or two and kept meat company throughout.  

Today, I am very grateful for all the support over the last few years. I am still here because of the prayers of believers and the skills of doctors.  Grateful for the sun shining and the crisp fall air.  Grateful for all the phone calls and texts and so much more

Enjoy your weekend!

Saturday's Scribbles

 

It is labor day weekend, the last  weekend of august here in iowa.  My Saturday Scribbles is going to be a bit different today. And even has a title..... "Hidden in Plain Sight".

As some of you know, there was a spot or hazy area found on my lung, whe I had an x-ray for my ribs.  This past Wednesday's, I had a CT scan with contrast and the results were quite surprising.  My PA Oncologist called and told me that there is a large mass, deep in the soft tissue of my chest wall, and there is also fluid between my chest wall and my lung on the right side.  It appears the cancer has returned.  I was told there's no surgery or chemo or radiation for this, it will just be a matter of infusions or medication to hold the cancer back as long as we can.  A biopsy and the drainage of the fluid will happen the end of next week to tell us more.  . And then there will be a PET scan and the usual steps and getting to a final diagnosis.  This cancer was hidden in plain sight.... My blood work was good, my exams were good. There were hints because of my lack of energy. And weakness, but mostly every report i've received this year, has been good.  This cancer likes to hide, it's like a spider web, like cancer. It cannot be felt.  So we wait to confirm what the doctor believes.  We still hope for a miracle.   

Something else entirely was hidden in plain sight during the last three days... Blessings!  The young lady who did my CT ask me what the key was to a long marriage and I was able to share with her that God is the center of our marriage. That we were even prayed together as a couple fifty seven years ago.  A hidden blessing.  When my on oncologist called with the bad news at the end of our conversation she asked,  can I say a prayer for you? And she did.  That was a hidden blessing because even though we have mentioned God over there 6 years, I've been with her she has not.  On thursday, Joels colleague group laid hands on him and prayed for us and this morning, they all prayed at gabby, grandpas. Today we took a short trip to our beautiful East Park.  Even the movie we watched last night to distract us was a hidden blessing.

   I expect there will be a lot of hidden blessings along  this journey. And we have the hidden blessings of all the thoughts and prayers from friends and family.   I'm not going to pretend this is easy. It is extremely hard for both Joel and myself. We cling to hope with the biopsy for the pet scan, for the second opinion, with mayo clinic that we hope to get and we cling to hope most importantly because God is the God of Hope.  

Today, I am grateful for the hopeful,  God guided  hidden blessings in plain sight..  

Saturday's Scribbles

 

Good saturday to you from Iowa, where fall weather is teasing us.   The high today will be around 68 and I am so excited about that.  I know that summer will return....I wish Fall lasted twice as long as Winter!  Still, there is today to enjoy.  

The early part of the week, the weather just did not comply with heat and humidity and heat index was over a hundred one day again.  Joel did not get to ride his bike much but did get some office work done and little projects around the house, because this guy cannot sit still!  He does take a nap every afternoon, though.  Staying active!  Use it or lose it, right?  

Speaking of using it or losing it, we went to a medical equipment store this week. And picked up a very nice sturdy walker that medicare had approved for me.  The physical therapist I see at mayo clinic, wanted me to use a walker when i'm exercising, so that I can move faster and get my heart pumping more.  She thinks that will help with the low energy.  The day we picked it up, we took it right down to the river road path, and it worked well to help me keep my balance. So I continue to walk inside or out, and I did get cookies made for joel this week. Cleaned some.  There is still a little adjustment to the new eye drop, but it's going well.  Next week, I have a c t scan on the lung, and we'll see from there what the plan is, if any.  I've been off the anti cancer drug, 8 days, and what I notice is my mind is more clear.  It will take a while with the energy.If that's the cause.    

Moving on.... Yesterday, we had company in the morning for a couple hours and different  company in the afternoon for a couple hours..  A trip to the grocery store was followed by movie.  

Last night we watched an old movie. Called "6 days and 7 nights" with Harrison Ford and and Anne Heche.  It was funny in spite of sexual references..... We have been enjoying the show Happy's Place starring Reba M8cintyre.. I understand that it's been picked up for a second season.  We have enjoyed some porch sitting, but the mosquitoes have been horrendous this week.  

 We are finally getting to the end of our blueberries after six weeks and surprisingly they have done very well.  Today we'll be our last blueberry coffee cake.   They last a lot longer then the ones you buy.   Most of the time, fresh fruit in America has a different meaning than fresh fruit. Or fresh bread in europe?Where you buy one day's supply and a time.  I do still remember when we went to Washington, stayed in the early 80s, there was nothing that tasted as good as a fresh peach or apple flavored reshly picked. And fresh pineapple in the Philippines? Yum

It's time to put aside this "yawn' today....Grateful for0 getting the new walker to help me with my exercising.  Grateful for t v shows that distract us.  Grateful for walking outside and inside,  for fresh chocolate chip cookies, for joel for his biking, when he can.  Grateful for a friend that stopped by and shared her wisdom. Grateful for company from Minnesota, that stopped in. Grateful for blueberries and memories of fresh peaches, apples and pineapples.    Grateful for a movie that makes us laugh.  Grateful for phone calls from family.  Grateful for texts emails, and so much more.

Enjoy your weekend!

(Please ignore any errors. )

Saturday's Scribbles

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Good Saturday to you from northern Iowa,where the heat and humidity and storms have returned carrying more gifts of rain, and wind.  The river down below our cul de sac is quite full with a strong current as it travels by.  We walked along the river a couple times last week before the humidity returned.  It is a lovely place to enjoy nature since the city made the "river script road" into  nice biking and walking path.  Joel takes this route when he does his 10 nile bike rides east.  \

Speaking of humidity, we certainly do not miss this similar climate experienced in the Philippines.  We would wake up to eighty five degrees with high humidity every day.  Our first house we rented, did not have air conditioning.  You might wonder what we were thinking. Yes, it was was really dumb on our part, but air conditioning was kind of a novelty back in the early seventies.  We kept a lot of fans going and had a window air conditioner for the master bedroom.Because joel often worked nights as a Air Force weather forecaster and slept during the day.  We never did live in a parsonage that had central air either.. When we bought a home here in iowa twenty nine years ago, it was a priority for us.  Central air.  What a great gift!

We went to church on Sunday morning and on the way home we stopped and walked along the river.  On Monday and Tuesday, Joel worked with Habitat for Humanity wielding  a paintbrush or roller.  He did get some work done outside. On thursday, he headed to the pastors conference in a town half an hour.North of us.   Today he is off to gabby grandpa's.

Like I said, we went to church on sunday.. on Tuesday.I saw the retina doctor.  My wonderful retina doctor retired and I certainly will miss him, but the new guy is good too, and we were pleased with our visit with him.  Great hearing that everything is stable with  the macular.  Wednesday I had a bone density test and that turned out to be good news too.  Friday I saw the oncologist and my blood work was pretty good and the exam was good, and now we wait for the rest of the results. There's always the waiting and the watching, and the never ending searching for cancer to return.  I have learned too appreciate the oncologist. I have who is like a tiny pit bull in searching out where cancer could be hiding. Today we wait for results while being intentionally grateful to still be here.  And tolerating the new eye drop too!  

We are still enjoying the ten pounds of blueberries that we ordered from the mennonites.  I made blueberry coffee cake this week and Joel made us blueberry smoothies, besides adding blueberries to our yogurt and our cereal.  We have a thing for blueberries!

It is getting time for some of our grandchildren to go back to college or high school. A few are out in the working world.  It is hard to believe they are so old.  With the way the world is right now, a person could spend all their time on their knees, praying for the protection and guidance needed for those we love and care about.  And God hears every prayer.

So today, I am grateful that all those prayers that we bring before God are being heard by him.  Grateful for the power of prayer. Grateful God does guide and protect those we love and care about.  Grateful for a cool dry house thanks to air conditioning.  Grateful for a pit bull who seeks and searches to keep me healthy. Grateful for a new retina doctor.  Grateful  Joel was able to go and help with habitat for humanity.  Grateful for memories of the Philippines. Grateful for our short river walks.  Grateful that my daily walking is paying off regarding my bone density.  Grateful for blueberries..  Grateful for the phone calls this week, the texts and the emails.  Grateful for all this and so much more.

Enjoy your weekend!

Saturday's Scribbles

 

Good Saturday to you from this rainy morning in northern iowa.   It is tropical and we appreciate more than ever, our air conditioning.  We had a few days where the temperatures and  humidity were lower and the doors and windows could even be open. But right now it feels like a tropical paradise and  I use the word paradise loosely.... I am not a fan of the heat and humidity anytime or anywhere

Joel has been getting up and riding bike early, which has been nice. He's been able to get a little bit of yard work done, but mostly office work, a few indoor projects, and shopping.  And with gratitud he's helped me through a challenging time again with reactions to the glaucoma drop.

  Speaking of that, I attempted to take it a second time but had extreme anxiety and irritability again. So I am back on my old one until I hear from Mayo clinic.  I'm still walking 20 minutes a day. Indoors mostly. My friend Lana and I are doing a Bible study on Daniel and Esther together over the phone.  It feels good to be studying the word and she is involved in so much study of the word that it's beneficial to me too.  

This week we had new Wi Fi installed, which took several hours because in this house, nothing is simple.  We also cancelled the cable we've been getting for 29 years, and we are doing Hulu + live.  It is an adjustment for sure, but we're saving two hundred dollars a month, which is wonderful.  These oldsters can and will adjust to it.  We got this!?!

Do you recall that our oldest daughter and her family gave us a monthly scavenger hunt as one of our christmas gifts this year. Once a month, there is something new for us to do. And this month, we would go to the bulba tea shop here in town and give it a whirl.  The way our schedule was joel decided to just spring at home, and we would test it out here.  He purchased the mango boba tea with tapioca, black pearls in it.  Interesting.  Not really a fan.  Joel  remembers that when we lived in the Philippines fifty years ago, we tried it there, but I don't recall it all.  He was telling the clerk that waited on him that he had first had it 50 years ago in the Philippines, and the guy said,  during the Vietnam war?  Joel said yes....And he replied   i'm Vietnamese and born there.  I don't think we'll be heading back to that shop for tea, but it was fun to try something new and bring up old memories.  

Our oldest son, had an emergency surgery this week on his throat when something got lodged in his esophagus.  He is doing very well thankfully.  You just never know..... It is the suddenlys that send us running to God.    

A couple weeks ago, we ordered ten pounds of blueberries from the mennonites, so we've been eating a lot of blueberry muffins, coffee cake, smoothies, on our cereal or in our yogurt.    There are only a few days in the year that I do not have a handful of blueberries.  It is one of my indulgences. 

As I listen to the rain, I am grateful for it..  it ,  grateful for the rolling thunder. I'm grateful for the crops that grow when they are fed from above.  Grateful for boba tea and the fun times we've had with the scavenger hunts that our daughter and family gave us.  Grateful for the memories of the Philippines that have come up surrounding this drink of creamy milk and tea with tapioca, pearls, to add to it.  Grateful that I have the old eye drop to take while we try and figure out the plan for moving forward .  Grateful for being able to walk and ride and exercise.  Grateful for everything blueberry this week and last week.  Grateful for phone calls, emails and texts from the ones we care about.  Grateful for all this and so much more.

Enjoy your weekend !

Saturday's Scribbles

 

Good Saturday to you on this first weekend of August in northern Iowa. We have had more than our share of rain this past week, ending up with flash flood warnings and before that, spending a few hours in the basement, waiting for 80 mile an hour winds that never came here but surrounded us?  The weather has been crazy. Right now, we are enjoying some cooler temperatures, sunshine, lower dew points~~porch sitting weather, if you can tolerate the bugs.  

Joel is off to Gabby Grandpas  this morning.  He has been catching up on yard work, but the air quality is bad from the Canada fires so he doesn't spend much time out there. It's a good time to catch up on office work.  Biking is out due to air quality alert.

I have been dealing most of the week with unusally high anxiety, which we still have not pinpointed the cause . hmm, I started the new eye medication, but went off of it after several days and then back on the old eye drops.  Since the anxiety has not subsided I will try the new drug again to see what happens.  Ugh.  Like I said before......I would rather deal with pain, nausea, fatigue, etc. than anxiety.  I did make cookies for myself and blueberry muffins for us along with homemade whole wheat bread this week. Walking most days.  

On Thursday we drove to my hometown an hour away and met with my good friend Lana that I talk to nearly every day. She was there for a reunion, and we met at Culvers for lunch.  So good to hug each other in person. On Friday, old friends stopped by on their way south. He's a retired pastor and a missionary kid who grew up in Brazil.  We have a long history. I used to pray for him as a kid because our church sponsored their family.  I was always interested in missionaries....Dave, one of five boys, was a pastor in Minnesota in the same synod as Joel....we met and realized who he was and he and his wife became our friends.  SO good to catch up.  He even gave the sermon at our son Kevin's funeral.  We'll never forget it.  

So this day I am grateful to have seen Lana and also friends Dave and Deb.  Grateful there are times when anxiety subsides some.  Grateful for the smell of homemade bread,.....and taste.  Grateful for cooler temps and lower dew points.  Grateful for God walking with us through the anxiety drama,  Grateful for walking, fresh mennonite blueberries, blueberry muffins, being able to travel to my hometown.  Grateful for phone calls, texts, and emails.  Grateful for all this and so much more.

Enjoy your weekend~

Saturday's Scribbles

 

Good Saturday to you on this hot and humid July weekend in our corner of the world.  We have had plenty of rain, heat and humidity the last couple weeks, and are in a flash flood warning until Sunday.  The corn loves it, the people not so much. 

It has been a while since I posted here and a lot has gone on in our world. Joel has been busy finishing up the project that kept hiim on scaffolding.  It's finally done!  Thank Heavens!  He preached on the 14th, drove us to Mayo Clinic on the 15th for my appointments.   Tuesday there were men here installing two new extra large windows.   Friday we drove back to Mayo for two more appointments.  Saturday Joel drove to a funeral in  North central Minnesota and later spent time with his brother and cousin and worshiped in his home church.   He even got in a 20 mile bike ride on his favorite trail.  He drove back home on Monday having had lunch with our son Mark on the way.  Two of my siblings came down to stay with me and help out while Joel was gone. It turned out to be a mini reunion, 2 more and spouses came over on Sunday for Pizza and a visit.The rest of the week has been catch up and rest up.  

My appointments were a mixed bag.  The appointment with the prosthetic eye people turned out okay. Things looked fine, except the tissue is shrinking  so in August, we'll go back, and they'll build up the artificial eye.  I saw the glaucoma specialist on Friday morning early and the surgery only helped a little bit with the pressure. So now I am attempting to adjust to a new medication that combines two eye drops into one drip.  My vision has gotten a little bit worse probably due to the surgery.   Disappointing.   I also went to the lymphedema clinic, and I saw my physical therapist who had good news regarding  my arm and hand.  It is doing great and we are weaning me off of the list of things to do each day.  She also had information for me regarding my lack of energy and weakness, explaining to me how much my body has gone through and how depleted it has become from surgeries. (18 of them) and cancer treatments and the medicines. I'm on and then getting Covid  and 4 months later getting that nasty influenza B.  And then the last ...laser surgery. She would like me to start walking more, to build up my heart and lungs,  muscles and bones. And use a solid walker to do so because of the balance issues.  Yikes! So that is next on the agenda.  Plus seeing my oncologist soon.   All this has, to be honest, given Joel and I pause.  

 But we pray and move forward..Joel is off helping with Habitat for Humanity this morning and I'm writing a Saturday's Scribbles.....

Grateful today for spending time with Dan and Kay, Dickey, Janelle,, Todd and Jeannie and for having Janelle and Dickey come stay while Joel was gone.  Grateful for good news regarding the lymphedema and a plan to strengthen my body. Grateful Joel could go to the funeral and see some family, ride his favorite trail.  Grateful for a new eye drop to try.  Grateful for phone calls,  texts,  emails and so much more.  

Enjoy your weekend!

Saturday's Scribbles

Good Saturday to you on this middle of July weekend. Joel is gone to Gabby Grandpa's for his Saturday rendezvous. It's anywhere from 3 to a dozen men who gather weekly to visit and have coffee.  He'll take his own mug, although he just finished his first coffee on the porch where he takes in nature every morning.  Yesterday he was able to observe a couple turkeys and a few crows besides the resident squirrels and our backyard wren..  She likes to sit on our back deck railing and serenade us.  She uses the wren house Joel has tucked in the Lilac bush.  Our black eyed Susan ivy is doing o well this year.  Our red geranium has tons of leaves but not so many blooms rirght now. Everything is lush and green due to all the rain we have had.

Joel spent much of the week climbing scaffolding or sitting on the garage roof fixing on the house.  He has not been on his bike in quite awhile because he is always up in the air.  I am amazed at what his 79 year old body can do.  He spent most of his childhood doing farm labor.....bailing hay, driving tractor, rock picking.  He has been buying his own clothes since he was 12 and I have never heard him complain about it.  "Work is a privilege" as his dad always said.  I do hear him complain about one thing he does .........our floors!  Doesn't like to vaccum or wash the floors.  He doesn't really complain....he just avoids them as long as he can.  Ha. Tomorrow he preaches at a local church, filling in for  a pastor.  It is the church we recently joined, where Joel worked for 10 years (96'-2006).  We are happy to be back there......smaller churches just work better for us and this one is very familiar.

I spent too much of the past week fighting for energy..  I get things done...cleaning baathrooms, baking bookies, cooking some,  etc., and walking but it is all done with effort that requires rest.  I don't like it but it is what it is. I talk most days to an old friend, and we do a weekly BIble study together by Max Lucado on Daniel and Esther. This past Monday our friends from Tucson came by for another visit as they were on Plan B .....or C...or D!  regarding the reno of their RV they live in.  It was delightful to be with them again.   

Speaking of Plan B, next week is very busy with 4 Mayo appointments on two different days. We are praying that the eye laser surgery worked to bring my pressure down.  If not, we will move on to Plan B.  Tuesday we have two new windows installed.  Our windows are oversized and the cost of two?  Shocking!

Speaking of shocking I cannot help but think about all the lives lost in Texas along the Guadalupe River.  So many children.  So many celebrating th 4th of July found their lives over.....so many deaths.  For me it is one of the why questions that do not get answered....who lives and who dies......why the children.....Our hearts are breaking for the loss of life. Life is so precious and this kind of tragedy brings that to our attention.  

How have you been spending your summer?  What books are you reading? What TV shows are you watching?  Places you are seeing?  Thanks to the journey of a friend named Kendra, I am grabbing each day in the grip of my hands to enjoy.  Accomplish what I can.....laugh, love.  Grateful for every morning.  We are still watching the original Magnum P.I., America's Got Talent, Antique Road Show, and a couple of Britbox mysteries.  I have limited time reading, but am doing that Bible Study and at times pick up the Guidepost or Reader's Digest.  I am still listening to Father Tim books by Jan Karon on audio.  Joel likes such shows as, Building off the Grid.  We traveled to Wisc. of course which was wonderful.  Hoping for more travels to come. 

Today I am grateful I have been able to bake, clean, porch sit, walk, and more.  Grateful for Joel's energy and enjoyment working. Grateful for friends coming by again.  Grateful for our mutual love for Jesus.  Grateful for the Bible Study I am doing with Lana over the phone.  Grateful for TV and books at our fingertips.  Grateful for new windows waiting to get installed.  Grateful for our beautiful black eyed Susan ivy.  Grateful for Chiropractors, and others who help our bodies.  Grateful for phone calls, texts, emailss, and photos.  Grateful for all this and so much more..

Enjoy your weekend~

Saturday's Scribbles

 

Good Saturday to you on this rainy first weekenf of July.  The temperature will be 10 degrees lower today than the last couple of days and our heat index will no longer be over 100.  The only critters we made contact with on the porch were the mosquitoes that are out in full force from the heavy rains.  

Speaking of weather, we spent a pretty quiet fourth behind closed doors and enjoying the A/C!  Joel grilled pork chops and I made homemade strawberry shortcake to enjoy.  We watched the Capital 4th Fireworks last night after watching our local fireworks from our living room window on the 3rd.  The highlight of our day was connecting to a few family and talking to our oldest son.  

Speaking of our oldest......We spent last weekend with our oldest daugher and son-in-law at their newly renovated and constructed home on the lake in Wisconsin.  So great to be with them and our grandog Koda.  Joel enjoyed kayaking with Beth and Kevin took them for a boat ride.  We also went out for brunch and visited a Wisc. cheese factory and store that carries a huge variety of cheeses including one that looks and tastes like fudge~The check out lines were long and we came home with a few chunks of cheese to enjoy.

We drove back home Monday which was also our 57th wedding anniversary.  We stopped briefly by the Mississippi and then stopped at my hometown where we were married.  We also had a brief visit with Helen, a member of the family.  We were ready to get home and unpack although a nap came first.  

Speaking of coming home, while we were gone our friends found themselves homeless for a few days so they did some housesitting for us when we were gone.  Since they live in a 35 ft RV full time they had a bit more space to spread out here but  I am thinking it made them appreciate even more their "tiny home" on wheels.  

Speaking of our oldest, I shared before that she gave us a monthly scavenger hunt for Christmas last year. For June we were to go to Central Park and Gardens in Clear Lake.  We arrived in-betweeen storms and enjoyed it so much we plan to go back.  There was a manmade waterfall and creek and a pond with koi fish. Lot of flowers and grasses.  We have really enjoyed her thoughtful,  creative gift! 

Celebratng the fourth of July this year has been more challenging for me, I confess.  What we stand for, welcoming others, freedom of speech, religion, and race does not look so free.  I keep asking, what would Jesus do?  And that leads me back to asking myself what I can do to embrace the freedoms I have taken for granted.  We lived for two years under Marshall Law in a 3rd world country where poverty and  fear reigned.  May I never forget the sacrifices made for my/our freedom.  May our freedoms for all of America be a firm foundation we continue to stand on.

Grateful today for the freedoms we have in America.  Grateful for being able to travel to our daughter and son-in-law's.  Grateful to be together for a few days.  Grateful Joel could go kayaking .  Grateful for air conditioning in such hot and humid weather.  grateful for being able to go to Clear Lake Central Park to enjoy nature, grateful for another scavanger hunt advnture.  Grateful for seeing the Mississippi again, and for 57 years of marriage.  Grateful for the rain and the sunshine.  Grateful our friends had a place to crash.  Grateful for texts, phone calls, emails and so much more

Enjoy your weekend!

Saturday's Scribbles

 

Good Saturday to you from northern Iowa, where our heat indexes today are supposed to go over 100.This is not OK! Yikes!  Besides people, I expect all of our resident critters will be hunkering down today trying to stay cool.  We had plenty of rain this week.  Even getting flash flood warnings here in town with a few cars stranded on flooded roadways.  Now it's sunshine wind and humidity and heat....

Joel did manage to get up on the scaffolding and take care of most of what he wanted on the sides of the house. He'll have to finish next week or when it eventually stops, as we're looking at hear and rain almost every day in the forecast. Joel went biking with church people on Wednesday ridiig from here to Clear lake, which is about 8 miles, And then having breakfast before returning on their bikes.  Mostly he's been up on scaffolding. He has one hip that's been complaining some, which took us back to when we lived in Zimmerman, Minnesota and the winter  he climbed up on the roof to fix something by the chimney and slid off the roof and landed on this cement below.  Long story short, the clinic did not call him to tell him that he had fractured his hip.  So he walked on it for a couple weeks beford he got help......it healed, but now, 50 years later, it's complaining We celebrated Father's Day with Rhubarb pie, and also Joel's 45th anniversary of his Ordination. Such a special time that occured at his home church in the country, South of Fergus Falls Minnesota. '

On Monday, I went to the second meeting of a  Visually impaired group at a local church. It's very much a bag of mixed emotions for me to be there. BUT overalll it is a good thing!

 Tuesday, I headed to the dentist and Wednesday to the eye clinic here in town. So far the surgery has not changed my pressure. But we're hoping when I go back to Mayo in a month we will hear better news. Second of all my Doctor was quietly affirming that  I do have severe glaucoma  and losing my vision is part of my future,  He told me to keep moving forward in life, eat healthy, exercise. Do what you can let the doctors do what they can with this age-related eye disease.  Okay.  In-between i did some house leaning and walking.  You know,most everything takes effort and work but as my doctor said ....keep moving forward.   

Minnesota has been all over the news this week. So tragic.  So senseless.  And while children mourn the death of their parents, people still say terrible hateful things about those who died or were injured.  Jesus must be so sad.  

 Last night I noticed the movie "Jaws" was on NBC. It took us back to 1975 when we were living in the Philippine Islands...All I could think of was the theme song to that show and Joel saying we're not going to that movie, it's too scary. Too real here.  I never swam in the ocean. When we were there, we did take a trip across it in a bunka boat.  The kids  played on the beach  by the ocean.  But we kept our feet out of the water except for Joel, when he went on a houseboat with his colleagues for work and they swam in the water.  We didn't watch the movie last night either!

Our youngest daughter Sarah turned 39 this week. Happy Birthday girl.  Hope it was a good one. 

Grateful for a cool house in beastly hot weather, grateful for the rain.   Grateful for the rain ending too.  Grateful for the vision group,  good doctors and the ultimate healer Jesus.   Grateful for energy for work....and times to rest.  Grateful for walking,  biking, painting and cleaning.  Grateful for a daughters birthday.   Grateful for Rhubarb pie, and the good father Joel is.  Grateful for texts and phone calls and so much more. 

Enjoy your weekend!

Saturday's Scribbles

Good Saturday to you in our corner of the world where the skies are hazy from wildfires in Canada.  No bike rides for Joel this week but he did spend a great deal of time outside.  He wasn't sitting on the porch either, he was climbing and standing on scaffolding. He was repairing some of the peaks on our house. And I know I mentioned before we have a tall house.  I found it less than peaceful to watch him. And then seeing just the bottom of his feet from over 20 feet off the ground...... seriously not OK, but he said he was fine.  He has finished the tallest area and he's only about 8 feet off the ground now.  I told him, "Well, that's good. You won't break as many bones if you fall off! 

I've spent most of the week telling my body, it's OK to keep moving.   

To be honest, I'm finding it difficult to write a Saturday scribbles today.  Partly because my voice input microphone is not working, but mostly because my heart is heavy with what has gone on this whole week in our home state of Minnesota, our country,  and the world.

 Joel and I have always tried to  stay very neutral when it comes to politics.  As a pastor it was never his desire or purpose to preach a political viewpoint from the pulpit.  What I feel now is not political.  But because of the climate in our country it's hard to speak about it without appearing to be so.  

But I  woke up today hearing about 2 democratic lawmakers and their spouses being shot and two killed in our home state of Minnesota.  This is how we solve issues ? Im going to stop there.  My heart is too heavy for America.  My words too jumbled.  My emotions too raw.  

Still grateful for the many blessings we have.   Grateful for God being with us always.  Grateful Joel is almost finished with scaffolding.  Grateful for all those who don't believe violence is the answer or response to everything.   Grateful for phone calls,  texts  and so much more.

Monday's Saturday's Scribbles

Good Saturday to you on this Monday in June. It's hazy here from the wildfires and kind of chilly today. Joel is out scraping sanding, priming and painting a few areas of the house. Blessed to be using the neighbor's scaffolding. Joel is still enjoying his morning Porch Sitting but We haven't seen too much of nature this week as we've been kind of busy for a change. 

Last Monday I had SLT laser eye surgery at Mayo Clinic. It went well. There were a couple of scary hours with blurry to no vision but it slowly came back by Tuesday night. It's changed a little but it still is good and I'm grateful. The purpose is to lower the pressure in my eye and from what I saw on the report they lasered the tissue of my eye 100 times. It's amazing what they can do. Tuesday was a recovery day and part of Wednesday and then we entertained old friends who spent 30 years of their life here in Mason City. They are full-time RVers with a serving Ministry. They work in shelters and salvation armies sometimes as they travel, with a few winter months spent  volunteering in aTucson Mission. It was great to see them again and they were able to come back on Friday and have lunch with us and an afternoon visit. 

Saturday we drove down to Ames Iowa about an hour and a half away to a family graduation party. It was great to see family and hug on them. Yesterday morning we got up and headed to church. Confirmation Sunday. Also were able to see our friends Keith and Mary Lou again for a short church visit so, needless to say, today I'm now in a rest and recovery mode. I'm very thankful that we had so much fellowship this week with people we love and care about. 

Speaking of that our youngest grandson Jonas turned 17 on Saturday! There's just no more little ones around for sure. He's a fine young man and we're grateful.

It's time to end my Saturday scribbles on Monday with what I'm grateful for. And this week it is much amount people. People we love, family, friends. People we care about. So grateful for the time spent with good friends, grateful for the time spent with family. Grateful to be able to Worship in church. Grateful for having friends that love the Lord and are such a good example of serving him and surrendering to his will! Grateful for laughter and for Tears and for just good old thought-provoking conversation. Grateful for the surgery for my eye going well and the optic nerve holding steady. Grateful for another day to enjoy the flowers and the Beautiful scenery outside. Grateful for a husband who works so hard and loves the Lord so well. Grateful for the power of Prayer to reach out to others and the great power of a hug! It's so important, this thing called human touch. Grateful for hugs! Grateful for all the different kinds of people that God brings into our lives. Grateful for safe travel this week to Rochester Minnesota and to Ames Iowa. Grateful for all the phone calls the text the emails and the prayers. Grateful for all this and so much more.

 Enjoy your week!

Saturday's Scribbles

Good Saturday to you on this last day of May. It has been wonderful weather, and Joel has enjoyed his Porch Sitting. He said this is his favorite time of year because the birds are all out singing and mating and nesting and the squirrels are having a hay day. The ducks come around, too.    When I was coming downstairs this morning I saw him at the tall landing window peeking out and watching two squirrels play on the tree. Of course he was chuckling as he observed their antics. Earlier he had been watching two rabbits in our little front garden. They were quite indifferent to his presence. Nature has always been a gift for Joel when seeking peace,  distraction, or joy.

Speaking of Joel, it's on his agenda today to begin sanding and painting the peak of our house. We have a very tall house and I do not like it. It is safer because he is using scaffolding which the neighbor helped him put up yesterday  but It's still a long ways up there and I wish I he had help for this project. He rode his bike only a few times this week, and spent most of his time taking care of the lawn. He enjoys any work outside, and it would be hard for him to live somewhere where there was no yard for him to care for.

I've been getting my walks in every day, doing some baking. doing some cleaning and some of my own Porch Sitting. I spent a bit of time filling out questionnaires for Mayo Clinic again . This started when I went through the second breast cancer and radiation at their Clinic . Every 6 months I receive online forms to fill out asking me questions regarding the aftermath of the radiation . Hopefully it will help others in the future . 

Last Sunday we went to MIller Iowa where Joel preached at Faith Lutheran. He was Interim there 10+ years ago and we enjoy this congregation very much.  On our way home we went to the Buddy Holly Memorial north of Clear Lake IA by a cornfield, as it was our adventure for the month of May with the Scavanger hunt our oldest and her family created for us.  Each month we are sent somewere different to explore in the surrounding area.  Monday we took our devotional books and headed to Clear Lake to sit by the lake, have devotions and people watch.  On our way home we picked up Culver's salads for lunch.  This past week we also watched a good Netflix movie called The Nonna's about Italian grandmothers becoming chefs for a little restaurant on Staten Island. This was based on a true story and it was really quite good. It's really hard to find a movie that doesn't have a lot of swearing, a lot of violence, a few murders...... you get the idea. We have also been watching a few old Magnum PI from the original series of the 1980s. I told Joel they seem so silly sometimes and predictable but still overall enjoyable! Life was simpler and not so dark . That series was on 40 plus years ago already!

Speaking of dark, last night we started watching the Dateline, thinking this one doesn't look so bad. This one doesn't look like it's the wife or the husband who turns into a monster. But again I was wrong! Thejr perfect marriage was anything but perfect . By the time it ended we were both shaking our heads and saying, good grief, and are there really people this evil?! And of course the question we ask ourselves often, why did we watch this? Human curiosity I guess. 

On that note it's time to say what I'm grateful for. The first thing? Grateful for our marriage of nearly 57 years. Grateful for the sunshine this week and warmer weather, for all of nature that comes forth in the spring. Grateful for a movie that made us laugh. Grateful for old TV shows. Grateful for being able to be active and grateful for our nice yard for Joel to work in. Grateful for scaffolding! Grateful for Mayo Clinic. Grateful for Porch Sitting where we can enjoy beautiful flowers and all of nature. Grateful for a Sunday morning at Faith, grateful for an adventure into a cornfield in Iowa, for Memorial Day lake sitting and people watching.  Grateful for the phone calls we get,  for the text and pictures that keep us connected. Grateful for all this and so much more. 

Enjoy your weekend!

Saturday's Scribbles

Good Saturday to you on this cloudy May Memorial Day weekend. We have been enjoying cooler weather but it's still warm enough for people to take in all the band Festival activities going on here this weekend.

 Speaking of activities , Joel has been enjoying his Porch Sitting and watching the wildlife. We have rabbits, ducks, Cardinals, wrens, robins and more to enjoy. While enjoying his coffee on the porch this morning he counted eight different varieties of birds ! Joel managed to get in a couple of bike rides this week. Last Sunday he preached at a congregation in a small town east of us and this Sunday he preaches in a church in a very small town about 35 mi from us. Whole lot of preaching going on! He met with his colleague group on Thursday and today he's with his Gabby Grandpa's coffee group. Whole lot of socializing going on too! 

i continue to walk each day. I've done some cookie baking for Joel and for myself . I've always made cookies from scratch when the kids were growing up so  they thought I was a really special treat when they got boughten cookies like Oreos ! Last Monday the Iowa services for the blind had a rehab teacher come to the house to assess me and talk about what they provide if you qualify. Tuesday we went clothes shopping which is a rare occurrence for me. I don't really like shopping and especially for clothing. Wednesday we both made a trip to the chiropractor which was helpful. Today we went to a garden center and bought a black-eyed lazy Susan ivy and a beautiful hanging red geranium. My two favorites! Today we went flower shopping and came home with a beautiful hanging red geranium and a black-eyed susan ivy to brighten up our front garden.

Getting back to the Iowa services for the blind. I wrote about it on Facebook because it was totally a God thing. And so is this. It turns out that they go by the visual acuity report your doctor sends on whether you qualify or not. After assessing me the rehab teacher believes I qualify for services but my report says I still see 20/20 in that right eye. I do see 20/20 on a chart but I cannot see faces clearly anymore. I cannot see the correct depth perception when I look down. I cannot distinguish cracks and bumps ahead of me when I'm walking. So there are things that would qualify me but the 20/20 vision is the issue for now. Or maybe it's not an issue? I have had three eye doctors tell me they cannot believe that I see 20/20 in that eye with all that's wrong with my eyes! So it sounds to me like I need to be grateful that I can still see the chart 20/20 visually! It was a reminder from God . One doctor said its amazing. At the same time The rehabilitation teacher wants to have me be an exception to the rule and still get services, but we're leaving that in God's hands. Enough of the eye drama. Mostly why I shared it's because it shows how often God shows up in our lives, in the details in the big and in the small. 

This weekend we remember those that we love and care about that are no longer here with us.  And we're so grateful for the time we had with all our loved ones. Blessings on your Memorial Day weekend.

With that I share my gratitude for the cooler temperature,for all of nature showing up. Thankful for Joel's bike rides and my walks, homemade cookies, and a chiropractor who does such a good job.  Grateful for a rehabilitation teacher going to bat for me. Grateful for a black-eyed Susan Ivy and red geranium to brighten the front Garden. Grateful for homemade cookies and new clothes.  And grateful for the phone calls that brighten our days, the text that keep us so connected. 

Enjoy your weekend!

Saturday's Scribbles

Good Saturday to you from our corner of Iowa where it is cloudy and windy. The temperatures have ranged from anywhere between 53 and 87 this week.  Our resident ducks are busy moving around getting ready to nest. The deer are out and busy eating delicacies like my pansies! We forgot to put them on the porch one night and they were all gone but one flower the next morning. They've already been nibbling on the hostas and on the neighbor's geraniums. When you love nature it is part of the package deal ~

Speaking of nature, Joel has been busy working outside trying to save our grass that looks so tough this year. He's been pulling weeds and dandelions, too. It's time to get some flower shopping done too. He's been biking some but it's been so windy. Next week he plans to use the neighbors scaffolding to paint areas of the house. Hopefully the weather will comply.

I think the influenza B is finally gone. I'm back to walking 20 minutes and made it out to a couple of stores this week and a doctor's appointment. Everything looked good with the kidneys but it was disturbing to hear that my doctor is one of more than a few that are leaving Mason City. All kinds of inner turmoil I guess. I well really miss his good care. he's helped me through several surgical procedures with stones. The good news is everything looks good now and he said I probably won't need to come back until or if I have problems again. I find it interesting that we have our own Cancer Center here and yet the PAs and nurse practitioners that deal with us report back to doctors in places like New Jersey! There is no skin in the game when you're oncologist lives in New Jersey and never ever sees you. It's a whole different world now.

 Last Sunday was Mother's Day and Joel preached in another town. We decided just to have pancakes and bacon for lunch which turned out to be a lot more work than if we had fixed something else for Mother's Day! I enjoyed phone calls with our kids. Joel and I spend some time talking about our own mothers and the memories we have of them. 

We have continued to leak money as more and more things come up regarding the house. We are enjoying a new dishwasher that was already installed. In fact on Monday morning we had a Windows man here, a handyman putting in the dishwasher, and my hairdresser giving me a haircut all at the same time! We had to chuckle. When we were younger multitasking didn't seem like it was hard at all but it's a little more difficult now! But like I said, we have a new dishwasher and we are enjoying it. Our old one lasted 25 years and in a good job. This one is a lot quieter though.

 Speaking of quiet we have been enjoying some porch time on these gentle warm dry days and evenings without mosquitoes. It has been enjoyable to visit with neighbors and catch up after winter. On that note I'm ready to close by saying I am very grateful for this neighborhood. Grateful for a porch to enjoy and the birds that are singing everyday now. Grateful for a good report on my kidneys. Grateful for walking and biking and exercising when we can. Grateful for audio books. Grateful for podcasts and music on my Alexa. Grateful for a new dishwasher that's so quiet and work so well . Grateful for a haircut again and for a hairdresser that's willing to come to my home . Grateful for the two new windows that we can get. Grateful for phone calls especially for Mother's Day. Grateful for emails texts and cards that brighten my days.. and so much more. 

Enjoy your weekend!

Saturday's Scribbles

Good Saturday to you from the beautiful state of Iowa  where Spring is fully being embraced. The grass is green, the bushes are green, the trees are filled with blossoms and leaves, and even a few flowers are popping up in gardens and hanging baskets. It's so good to be able to enjoy it all.

Speaking of flowers, it is a tradition here for me to get pansies for Mother's Day. I recall it being a favorite flower for not only my mom but a sister to. Last year the yellow pansies lasted through the summer!  

Speaking of my mother, she went to be with Jesus 23 years ago at the age of 92. I was blessed in my childhood to have three influential nurturing "mothers". My mother who gave birth to me, my older sister Jo who helped raise me from age 10 on,  and my older sister Jan who did her share of nurturing me too. Things were a bit tumultuous at home after my dad died when I was six. I was happy to have Jo plop me down in the middle of her family, creating for me what I needed. So blessed. I spent a couple of Summers with my sister Jan too and she was always there for me when I was little. So blessed. And my mom? So proud of her. She began her recovery with the disease of alcoholism the year I was married. As I've shared before , one of my favorite memories of my mom is US dancing the two step around the dining room and kitchen in our home when she would come for extended visits . Another of my memories is watching her play Yahtzee with our kids ! So blessed. I am also very grateful that our daughters are such good moms. So blessed. Happy Mother's Day to all of you. I hope you have many memories of your own mothers and your time spent with them. The mother and daughter relationship is a great gift to Treasure.

This has been a week of leaking money. It seems we have some windows that need to be replaced or at least restored. And last night the dishwasher quit working. We can't complain about it as we've had it for 25 years! We actually brought it with us to this house because we liked it so much. It seems like every time we store up some money to get new countertops something else comes up that needs to be done first! Just grateful we've got the money  to take care of it . 

I've been walking daily, still resting and napping more, and trying to get a few things done around the house. I saw the retina doctor yesterday and everything is stable. We like that word. Joel and a dental appointment for another crown. His mom did not believe in fluoride. She also did not believe in Novocaine. Joel's done more biking this week, the weather has been beautiful. And he has also managed quite a bit a yard work. We're going to try to head out to look for one of my favorite plants today, the black-eyed Susan ivy hanging basket. I'm pretty sure Joel has already purchased yellow pansies to brighten up the porch! 

In regards to the influenza B, it has come to light that many people have had it this year and been very sick for a very long time. My retina doctor shared that his grandchildren were very sick with it and it was worse for them than covid. I agree. Another couple of Joel talked to said they both were sick 4 weeks and 6 weeks with the stuff. So tired and so much coughing. I seem to have been left with being tired more. I'll have energy and then it's just gone zap like that but it's better and I am only going forward

Speaking of going  forward, Joel is preaching at three different churches in the next 3 weeks any also had to say no to a couple others. So many churches are in need of pastors. 

Speaking of pastors, how  about the new pope. I happen to turn the TV on when the white smoke came out so was able to watch what was going on in Italy at the Vatican. Very interesting. The first American Born Pope with dual citizenship. Speaks five languages. Likes to dialogue with people. 

Speaking of a dialogue I think it's time to end this scribbles. Grateful today that I'm getting much better, the cough is gone, the macular is steady. Grateful for  warmer temperatures and sunshine. Grateful that spring has blossomed everywhere! Grateful that we have  money for the household expenses. Grateful for a dishwasher that lasted 25 years! Grateful for our new hot water heater, the new attic fan, ad the help will be getting for the windows. Grateful for pansies that bring many memories. Grateful for live stream on our phones and TVs to watch our granddaughter graduate from college last Sunday and two other granddaughters run for track. Grateful for walking, biking, yard work, housework and anything that keeps us moving. Grateful for emails, phone calls, texts and so much more. 

Enjoy your weekend!

Saturday's Scribbles

Good Saturday to you on this first weekend in May of 2025. The birds are singing, the resident ducks are nesting, and neighbors are out getting their yards for spring. We have so many locust trees which give us shade but a lot of irritation too! We can see the neighbors trees are in full bloom with beautiful white blossoms.  All the trees are filling in with leaves. There's certainly a lot to enjoy with this kind of weather. I'm looking forward to getting out to the greenhouses to find flowers and hanging baskets. 

Speaking of this first weekend in May this would have been when we were moving to the new house. That certainly would not have worked well with me just getting over three weeks of influenza B.  I don't think I shared the story that came to us through a devotional right after we let go of both selling and buying. It was a story of a man who was a putting his acreage up for sale. He had asked someone to describe it for for him in great detail to be put in the paper. The person showed it to him and asked if he wanted to put it in the paper...he said, no I changed my mind. The way you described it made me realize this is exactly what I want and I'm right where I'm supposed to be! It definitely spoke to me. For now and for whatever reasons this is where we're supposed to be.

Today two of our granddaughters are running track for different colleges and one granddaughter's playing softball. The softball playing granddaughter will graduate tomorrow from college and head to Southern Iowa for a medical research job. It's hard to believe that our grandchildren are getting so old. We are proud of all of them.

Joel did not get much time in the wood shop this week but he definitely has been working on the yard. We had a handyman come from 9:00 to 5:00 one day and got a lot of things done that we had on a list for house maintenance. So glad the attic fan has been replaced, the new grounded Outlets are in, and the new wood trim needed up by the roof is taken care of without Joel going up a ladder! Our roofs are very high up! And I say plural because we do have more than one roof. He got in a couple bike rides also. I started to feel pretty good on Monday and seem to be over the cough. Hallelujah! I've kept up my walking and did a lot of listening to books and podcasts.   Sure am happy I have a phone with so many apps available. 

For today I am very grateful for my phone and all the places I can go on it., and what I can learn from it, and who I can connect to with it. I think my mom would have loved having a cell phone. I used to call her every week or two because it was $20 a call and I think how lonely she must have been at times when she did not hear from those of us who lived long distance away. What a blessing it was when she moved into the same town as my sister Jan. She had so much family she could be with! And they took care of her so well! I am forever grateful for that. 

On that note I am grateful for this past week, that the cough has left and the energy is returning, that spring is here to stay. Grateful my chiropractor does such a good job, grateful for a handyman who was able to accomplish so much for us in one day. Grateful that our granddaughter is graduating from college. Grateful for good memories with my mom. Grateful I'm still walking, and listening to books on tape. Grateful Joel got in some bike rides and outdoor work  his favorite place to be besides his Workshop. Grateful for phone calls, texts, emails and pictures and so much more! 

Enjoy your weekend!

Saturday's Scribbles

Good Saturday to you on this April morning in our corner of the world where the sun is shining and the temperature is going to hit the low 60s. Spring is here to stay. 

Speaking of spring, unfortunately, that means some wild weather. Our area has been getting warnings for a couple days now that Monday is going to be a very serious weather event including multiple tornadoes,  large hail, and more. Wild weather!  I'm surprised at how far ahead they can predict this. We do what we can to prepare, having a nice solid basement to go down into when needed. The whole state of Iowa looks to be included. 

Speaking of wild weather, I feel like I'm still trying to weather this tornadic influenza B. 18 days in and I am still needing heavy naps and the coughing persists.  You see, there are many many medications to help symptoms that I cannot take . I cannot take Flonase because of my severe glaucoma . I cannot take an inhaler for my lungs because it interacts and stops my glaucoma medication from working . It's a virus so antibiotics do not help . Other medications I'm allergic to . So we have come up with a saline nasal spray that is helping , plus a homeopathic remedy called Cold Calm , and a homemade tea by Dr Andrew Weil that is made from grated ginger root, cloves of garlic, fresh  lemon and then honey to sweeten . And yes it tastes terrible but it seems to help get the phlegm moving out ! I'm slowly improving and ready for it.  So my week was spent napping,  walking throughut the day to get my 20 minutes,  watching too many David Ramsey reels on finance and listening to Father Tim books. Joel worked in his wood shop a lot and also has done preparation and clean up after yet another long day of radon mitigation. This has become a bit of a nightmare....Trying to figure out where it's coming from, and how to revent it in this multi-level mixed up house. We are praying it works this time!  We had good news on Monday because the mold removal people came and checked our attic and said there's no mold at all! Yay. Joel managed a couple bike rides this week which was nice. He's been feeling a little off so pacing himself more too. He's off to Gabby Grandpa's this morning to get his fill of Fellowship!

Getting back to the weather, or rather nature, I read an article in the Reader's Digest about how nature heals us and a lot of therapists and doctors are actually requiring their patients to go Outdoors for a certain amount of time finding different activities whether it's sitting quietly on a bench, laying in the grass,  or hiking up a hill.... being outside actually brings down blood pressure, brings down anxiety and heals our bodies. They have the scientific research to back that and I found it very interesting that what God created us to enjoy isn't just enjoyable but actually brings healing to us in Body Soul and Spirit. It's kind of like he knew what he was doing didn't he!  I am able to be out on our porch where it's shaded and enjoy the fresh air nearly every day. You can hear the birds singing,  watch little squirrels skirting about and see our resident ducks nearby. Yesterday I heard a cardinal singing. So delightful! Joel has always found peace and healing in nature. I remember when he had Lyme disease and was so ill we would take a chair out in the yard for him to sit on so he could be outside and he would just sit and watch and listen the birds or take a nap and enjoy the fresh air in the healing properties from God's creation. The porch is still his favorite place to sit whether it's in the early morning hour with his first cup of coffee or it's the middle of the night when he's awakened by the rain. He heads to the porch where he finds peace and the presence of God. 

So today I'm thankful that we're able to financially take care of what needs to be done here. I'm grateful for a home that keeps us safe. Grateful for feeling a little better and finding a couple things I can take. Grateful for all that Joel does around here. Grateful for the man who's been helping us through the mitigation. Grateful there's no mold in the attic! Grateful for the birds that are back and singing, our resident Ducks nesting, and our porch that beckons us to come and rest and heal with nature. Grateful for all the phone calls, the texts, the emails, and the pictures that just come in an instant. Grateful for all this and so much more on this last Saturday in April. 

Enjoy the weekend.

Saturday's Scribbles

Good Saturday to you on this typical Spring day in Northern Iowa. We did have 76° on Thursday then around 4:00am Friday morning storms hit. But now we're back to the 50s where it still is comfortable for me to be covered up with my wool comforter. It seems we got about an inch and a half of rain that morning which was greatly welcomed! But the sirens going off at 4:30 a.m.?! Not so welcome.   It had been a rough night of coughing for me and I only had slept two and a half hours before I was awakened by the tornado sirens. By the time Joel and I got our act together the siren ended and we went back to bed. All around us there was golf ball size hail, tornado winds, and plenty of rain. Just a typical spring night in Iowa!

Speaking of coughing, this influenza B is really taking its toll on me. I would say that I am more sick with this than I was with covid after Christmas. A chest x-ray ruled out any pneumonia just inflammation for now. Is it because I've never had a flu vaccine? Who knows why....I just know I want it to go away. There's a lot of things I'd like to go away like disease and sickness and broken relationships and financial burdens and in all honesty what's happening to our country for the most part. 

Speaking of going away we took our house off the market and told our realtor we're not looking for anything else right now. Who has the energy? And who can deny the fact that the door did not open for us. Oh it looked wide open.... the house sold in 3 weeks. We already had another house we put an offer on,  everything was moving forward at a fast pace .....until it wasn't. For now we wait. 

Speaking of waiting, isn't that what the Saturday before Easter is all about? Good Friday is over..... it is finished...in the words of Jesus. But Sunday is still coming! The resurrection of Jesus Christ is coming! His return is coming! We are waiting, waiting with hope knowing what we know. Jesus Christ died for our sins, rose again, and sits on the right hand of God! Eternal life is ours as his children so we wait in Hope.

 That will be Joel's messagc tomorrow as he preaches to a very small congregation south of here.  A handful of people that want to keep their Church going.

 On that note today i'm giving thanks for this Saturday before Easter. For a time of reflection. Giving thanks that we got the rain we needed and  the tornado stayed away from here. Giving thanks for Joel and his dedication to his ministry and to me and to his family. Giving thanks that I'm a little betterI and the coughing is a little less. Giving thanks that I have Joel to celebrate Easter with. Giving  thanks that the X-ray shows no pneumonia. Giving thanks for a 76° day that tells us summer is on its way. Giving thanks for open and closed doors,  giving thanks for phone calls emails text and prayers. Giving thanks for Easter! 

Enjoy your weekend!

Saturday's Scribbles

 

Good Saturday to you from our corner of Iowa where my writing voice has been silent for a couple weeks. There has been so much going on, none of it drastic, just more than a little overwhelming. It has silenced me and made porch sitting a necesary part of each day. for Joel, 

Speaking of porch Sitting , that looks like it'll be possible for a while longer because our house that was sold is no longer sold and the house we were buying  is no longer bought. These two sentences alone are giving us enough to ponder and come before God with petition and Thanksgiving. Let's just say that the demands the buyers had for us were long and a bit outrageous which makes us suspicious that they wanted to get out of the contract. On the other house across the street we discovered there would be a very large area that would need to be covered with polyurethane sheeting to keep the radon from coming through the crawl space. For the majority of people this is not a problem but for me it could be. Bottom line is I still react to some chemicals.... it would be a risk that we calculated we could not make, sadly. The information above all came together on a Friday morning. Double whammy.   A lot to take in. We are disappointed but we know that God has a plan!

There was good news to share during the last couple of weeks. They had a thank you/farewell for Joel at St Peter's Lutheran in Rockwell, an appreciations brunch for the time he has spent there. It was a great time!  I was able to go with him and meet a few more people. 

This past Sunday we were at Faith Lutheran in Miller Iowa where Joel served as interim 10 years ago. That was delightful. 

Unfortunately this past Tuesday I became sick and by late afternoon so was Joel. I ended up at the doctor because of a bad cough and wheezing jn my  chest. Influenza B. So I've been resting a lot. Joel recovered quickly after 11 hours of slept.  

That being said I am closing my Saturday scribbles and heading back to the sofa sharing things I'm grateful for. Grateful that God has walked with us through the house selling and then not selling. Grateful he's walked with us through buying a house and not buying the house. Grateful that he has made things available for us in ways that we don't understand. Grateful for the people of St Peter's Lutheran Church. Grateful for the people of Faith Lutheran. Grateful little things work together for good according to his will. Grateful that I'm feeling a little better from the influenza. Grateful today for rotisserie chicken when you don't feel like cooking. Grateful for the wisdom and insights from our children. Grateful for Sunshine and some warmer temperatures. Grateful for porch Sitting. Grateful for prayers, phone calls, texts, and emails. Grateful for all this and so much more!

Enjoy your weekend!

Saturday's Scribbles

Good Saturday to you on this last weekend of March 2025. The weather continues to amaze us. We are getting rain and temps in the 40s today and they are talking about snow showers tomorrow.... and yesterday? It was 83° here and very windy. Speaking of wind  I do enjoy the sounds of it. Right now the trees are without leaves, but when our favorite maple tree is dressed for summer it has its own conversation to share with us on windy days. I will miss that maple tree when we move. 

Speaking of moving, that journey continues to be up and down and backwards and forwards.This  past week we accepted an offer on our house after negotiations.   This week we also discovered our radon mitigation system was not working correctly. The county came to check it out for the buyers and there was twice as much radon is as is safe. That stinks and I have put that question about exposure to the radon to the side. It is what it is. So now we need to have people come next week and put in a new system. And then move forward again. Our inspection on the other house went well and we are gathering a few notes on what needs to be done.  It is always costly to move.

Joel spent his spare time this week working on those TV trays. He is making them from scratch so it takes a while to get 12 done! Once again he repeated himself by hurting a finger. A month ago or so it was a saw that caught the end of his finger and nail. Yesterday it was a drill that went into the tip of his finger. So far he's hanging on to every digit, thank goodness

Besides church activities we have found ourselves mostly dealing with the in's and out's of buying and selling a home. My energy was low this week so I did just a little baking and cooking and cleaning saving it for my 25 minutes of walking. As usual Joel has enough energy for two of us!

So today I'm grateful for the amazing energy my husband has. Grateful for the offer on our home . Grateful for a solution to the radon mitigation, grateful that the inspection on our new home went well. Grateful for fellowship, for laughter, and even for tears. God created them all. Grateful for a warm day with wind and the familiar sounds it brings. Grateful for phone calls, for texts, for photos, for emails and in person hugs. Grateful for all this and so much more. 

Enjoy your weekend!

Saturday's Scribbles

Good Saturday to you from our corner of Iowa where once again we went through a blizzard this week before the warm temperatures returned and melted most of the 4 in of snow that we received. It seems to be a pattern for March! The other night Joel looked out and there were seven or eight deer that were resting in the neighbor's yard....an unusual occurrence. Just like when we looked out the kitchen window with 4 inches of snow on the ground and blizzard conditions and watched our resident duck couple waddling across the yard. This past week Joel rode his bike 10 miles on one day and then was using the snow blower two days later! Again,  as I said before it's an unpredictable weather climate this year! Not unlike life.       

Speaking of life, I celebrated my 77th birthday on Thursday and I'm so grateful to be here to celebrate it. There was a time in my life where I was so ill that Joel wasn't sure that I would make it to 60. And that was before cancer came visiting. Lyme disease was destroying my body. But I'm 77, still here, still able to enjoy life. I will say 77 seems awfully close to 80! On Tuesday we went birthday shopping.  I celebrated my birthday Thursday with a few phone calls, Culver's chicken cashew salad, and a beautiful flower arrangement. Yesterday my sister Kay and her husband Danny came for a visit. It was nice to catch up with them since they returned from snowbirding. I managed to walk 25 minutes most days this week . And I managed to clean a couple bathrooms, and dusted again. Keeping the house ready for potential buyers can be tiring but right now we aren't having many potential buyers! And you know right now that's okay! God has this!

Joel did some woodworking., and also road his bike 10 miles one day when it was so nice. He is off to Gabby Grandpa's this morning. He has also been working on office stuff. Looking back at birthdays I remember when I was trying to lose some weight when I turned 30 so that day he gave me a cake made up of cut up fruit shaped in the number 30. It was such a nice idea but some of my family stopped over and they brought a nice big chocolate cake! He is always trying to find me new treats that are gluten free and not much sugar if any! He's such a good guy I think I'll keep him! By the way, for my 30th birthday, just to be funny, he bought me a cane! I confess there's been one or two times when my back went out over the years where I have used that cane!

So today I am thankful for memories that bring up that 3-0 fruit "cake"and a cane! I'm grateful that I'm celebrating 77 now and that the cane has come in handy once in awhile! Grateful for Culver's salad, phone calls, so many birthday wishes on Facebook,  flowers, a gift card, and birthday shopping, and more. Grateful for the 4 in. of snow that already melted and it nourising the ground. Grateful for a family visit. Grateful for Joel and all he does to encourage and support me. Grateful for texts, phone calls, emails, cards and the love of family and friends. Grateful for all this and so much more. 

Enjoy your weekend!

Saturday's Scribbles

Good Saturday to you on this Sunday morning here in North Iowa. The sun is shining, all the snow is gone and the storms have passed. The high today is 44 and tomorrow close to 70 again! Every day is different. Joel and our son Matt observed that there were a lot of birds in the backyard yesterday. A male and female cardinal were joined by joncos and Joel said he saw that the robins were back too. Not too long ago there were six deer resting in the neighbor's yard. All laying down which is unusual. Spring is here or at least it is attempting to make its way in to stay. 

Speaking of our son Matt,  he and one of his daughters were here yesterday. We had a nice visit, ate pizza, played Scrabble, and watched Lutheran Church of Hope together before they each headed to their perspective homes. Our visiting granddog Charlie went back home with Matt. We certainly miss her but know that she was happy to see them! 

Speaking of Scrabble I had not played since 2023 after I lost my eye. I don't see like I used to so it was a bit more challenging and my brain seemed to need to clear the cobwebs out or at least that's my excuse for coming in last! Our granddaughter took the game in the last seconds from her dad! I think we need to pull that Scrabble game out again more often. I have been avoiding games and puzzles where I need help and seeing things but maybe that's okay.... to need help I mean. Don't we all need help at times? Don't we all need support and encouragement? 

The showings on the house are going slow which is really to be expected with the turmoil that our country is in and the unpredictability of the future. We really do feel at peace regarding whether the house sells or not. Joel has surrendered the outcome to God and I'm right behind him. If it sells it sells and if it doesn't that wasn't our door to walk through! Not at this time!

Besides his usual activities,  Joel spent a few days with woodworking tools in his hands sanding and smoothing and gluing the wooden TV trays he's making for all the grandchildren. I did more baking.... cookies and bread. Still walking although sometimes hobbling,  i get my 20 minutes to 25 minutes in.... we have cleaned a few closets and sorted some clothes. It's good to do that periodically whether you're thinking of moving or not! I just finished another Father Tim book and we finished the first season of Ted Danson show, A Man on the Inside. We also watch a show called, The Repair Shop that we get through Prime video and a show called Still Standing which takes place in Canada. Another show is called Handcrafted in America,  and that's a good one too! It's hard to find good TV shows to decompress with. 

I best get on with Sunday's business..... Listening to church, putting a pork roast in the oven, and getting my walking in .....so today I am more than grateful that we had our son and a granddaughter come visit for a day. Grateful  they wanted to stay and worship with us. Grateful for a game of Scrabble. Grateful for homemade bread and cookies that make your house smell good. Grateful for the Irish soda bread that Matt brought . Grateful for an appointment for my laser surgery even if it is months away. Grateful for the home we have. Grateful for the 3 weeks we had with our granddog Charlie. Grateful for all the snow and rain we had and that they're both gone now! Grateful for the birds coming back letting us know that spring is on its way to stay. Grateful for in person hugs and visits, for all the text messages, the pictures that come across our phone, and the emails and phone calls. Grateful for all this and so much more on this beautiful Sunday morning! Enjoy the day!