Eeyore And Tigger

I was listening to a sermon this morning while I walked inside, and the pastor asked this question...."Do you have an Eeyore or a Tigger anointing?  When this pastor spoke of these "anointings" he had my attention.  It gave me pause as he went on to speak on hope and keeping our focus on believing truths, the truths we find in the Bible.  It makes sense.  We don't ignore the facts of a situation, but we find our hope and faith in God's Word, letting that speak over our circumstances.

Of course we all know a few Eeyores and at times I can catch myself heading down that road.  Woe is me....Woe is the world.......Things are looking pretty dark....... Eeyore has a world view of life.

Tigger is another story.  He bounces around with joy and sees the good in all of life.  He is very aware that bouncing is what Tiggers really do best!  He has a spring in his step and an out of this world view of life.  In my way of thinking, he is not letting the world steal his joy.  Joy that comes from knowing where to keep his heart focused.

I expect most of us fall somewhere in between Eeyore an Tigger as we navigate life unless you are an eternal optimist or pessimist.  We can get caught up in what the world tells us, shows us, gives us.  Granted, we don't want to ignore what is going on in our world or our corner of it, but there is so much more joy available to us when we intentionally "pitch our tent in the land of hope".

This verse found in Acts is one my sister Jo holds close and one that she needs right now as she battles major health issues  While she rests in the care of doctors and they search for answers, she has pitched her tent in the land of hope.  And as God works through the doctors and nurses and hears the many prayers of those who love and care about her, we too, put our tents in the land of hope.  God's promises sustain us!

None of us can get through this life without God's promises, found in His Word.  And our hope that is built on truths, is found in His Word.  Whether we are having health issues, coping with this new "normal", or challenged by finances, we just keep relying on His promises.  Like Tigger, His promises can make us glad from the inside out.....ecstatic.....and filled with hope and joy in spite of our circumstances!

Saturday's Scribbles

Good Saturday Morning to you from our home here in northern Iowa where sunshine and warm temps will eventually give way to rain.  Next week we are supposed to reach 82 degrees!   Everything is blooming and beautiful here in the Midwest.  Loving it!

Apple blossoms

Speaking of blooming and beautiful, we went to our large city park this past week and enjoyed a walk outside.  Walking meant dodging all the goose poop on the paths since the geese families are out in abundance!  Joel took a number of pictures so thought I would share a few here.

Morning dew on tulips

A Fernleaf peony

East Park Trees

A family "stroll"

Joel is off riding on this beautiful morning. His usual road free bike path is being worked on so he is finding creative ways to ride his 10 miles without spending too much time on local streets.  A recumbent rides closer to the ground, but he has a flag and bright blinking lights, plus he wears red or bright yellow so he can be seen.  No blending in when you are on a bike and cars are sharing your space!  Joel has been weeding this week, and our latest plan is to grow green string beans in a large container on our back deck.  Anything we plant in the yard is subject to deer, so we are trying to be creative here!  My nephew Bill and his wife Deb built a trellis for their green beans and cucumbers to grow on in quite a narrow space.  It got me thinking about growing something more than beans.....cucs?  We really don't eat enough tomatoes to grow our own, but if you do, a great idea are the hanging baskets of cherry tomatoes!  What a novel idea...........

Last Sunday night, Mother's Day, we were able to Zoom with 4 of our 5 kids.  It was great fun to see their faces.  They love to bring up old stories from their childhood and one that comes up periodically has to do with dad's cooking.  One event stands out clearly in their minds.  I was back in MN for a funeral and Joel had the four kids (at that time).  One day he got the idea to pick wild asparagus in the Montana ditches and take everything else in the fridge and mix it together into some kind of hotdish.  (If  you live somewhere besides the Midwest you probably would call it a casserole.)  From what the kids tell me it was t.e.r.r.i.b.l.e. and evidently they were traumatized by it!  Ha....  That brought up the years I tried to get them to eat fried liver and onions.  Now according to them it was years but I am pretty sure it was only a couple of times!  Maybe......  They also separate the years in half....before mom got into healthy eating...........and after............when all sugared cereals and white bread and rice disappeared from our cupboards and they were deprived of store bought cookies!  "Before" brings up "wonderful days gone by" and also mom drinking more than her share of Tab and RC Cola...........my glory days?!#@! I'm a pure water girl now!

Speaking of cooking, I am back to the kitchen 75% of the time for meals.  This is a bit of an adjustment for my hubby since we are different kind of cooks.  He cleans up as he goes along while his wife is a messy cook and cleans up after the meal has been consumed! The stove gets dirty, the counters, and sometimes the floor.   I also tend to burn things,  Yup.  Especially toast.  Now, I don't mind it burnt a bit, but Joel struggles with dark toast...........so we both have learned the art of compromise like all couples and I am intentional to not burn his toast and he is intentional to not clean up after me until after supper!  Isn't love grand?!?!

Did any of you see the special last night on virtual videos during the shelter at home journey?  It was great to see how creative people can be and laughter is such good medicine!

As I close this week's scribbles, I can't help but express gratitude for Spring, the beauty of flowers and fresh air, and the laughter enjoyed as our kids bantered with us on Mother's Day.  So grateful for a social distance visit with our two neighbor's Susan and June, and a few phone conversations with family and friends.  Grateful for biking and walking outdoors.  Grateful for the man that sits at my table, holds my hand, share my bed, laughs and cries with me, prays with me.  A true soulmate that I am forever humbled too call my cowboy preacher.  Okay, enough of the mushy stuff.  Grateful this day to be alive!  You too?

Enjoy your weekend!

Light As Feathers

This morning Joel and I sat quietly after asking God to share with us something He wanted to tell each of us today.  Immediately I saw myself surrounded by white feathers.  They were swirling around me and I was standing waist deep in feathers.  I saw myself smiling as I reached out and put one in my hand.

As I pondered if these were angel feathers or God's sheltering feathers I heard these words:  "Your worries are as light as a feather...."  I was stunned by what God was saying.  I questioned, "All these white feathers are my worries?  Waist deep, surrounding and swirling around me.....worries?  God interrupted my thoughts with His words....."Your worries are as light as a feather when placed in MY hands." I saw God's enormous hand come down from the sky and then I saw myself putting a feather in the palm of His hand.   Of course!  What I had heard became clear to me when seeing His hand......

When we place our worries into God's hands, they become light as a feather in our lives.  They do not burden us or weigh us down.  God has often used feathers when He talks with me. Our oldest daughter reminds me of that with gifts focused on His sheltering feathers and a friend sends me text images of feathers periodically.  Feathers led us to Bethel Church nearly 3 years ago and scriptures on feathers helped me walk through cancer in 2015.  And today God used them to bring peace and assurance to an old worrier!   Psalm 91:4 has become such an important scripture for me over the past five years, that I want to share it with you today.

I would expect we all have a few worries weighing us down right now.  I know I do.  Being honest here, I struggle with worrying the cancer will come back.  I worry about Joel getting Covid-19...I worry I will get it, or our family members and what that could mean for them.  Do to childhood situations I experienced , being "safe" has always been at the top of my needs list.  Through Holy Spirit's guidance most of that has healed, but the last two years of cancer and surgeries and now the Covid-19 virus are whispering to me that the world is not safe, my world is not safe.  Yeah, I worry.......And many many times I am not even aware of how much those worries creep into my mind, body, and spirit.

But God is aware of how the enemy spends his time seeking to "kill, steal, and destroy", even in our worries.  In His deep love for us He wants us to know where our peace and courage lie.  It is in Him.  Today He opened the door for me to be aware that He is waiting for me to once again place all my worries in His more than capable hands.  All of us can place our worries in God's capable hands,  and by placing them in His hands, they become light as feathers!

ceramic feather given to me

by our oldest daughter

Saturday's Scribbles

It is a sunny Saturday morning here in our corner of the world............and it is very very cold....like freeze warning chilly.....so our newly purchased plants are spending a few nights in the garage.  Today the sunshine is taking the chill out of the air, and the furnace is taking the chill out of the air inside too!

We headed out to a state park 25 minutes west of us this past week and enjoyed sitting by the lake.  We took a short walk in the rain, which is one of my favorite things to do.  I love rain, umbrellas and walking in the rain.  I have been known in my younger years to "dance in the rain".  Such a rebel I was!  Another Fred Astaire....."I'm dancing int he rain..........dancing int he rain......." Ha

Speaking of rain, it has certainly brought everything into blossom and bloom here.  We needed a good soaking and it did not disappoint.  Our local farmers along with local gardeners are out planting!  So refreshing to have outdoor activities going on again after a long and intense winter.

Our oldest granddaughter, Grace, is a pharmacy Intern in their city while she attends college to become a pharmacist.  When Vice President Pence came to Des Moines yesterday to meet with leaders, etc., she was given a shout out by him for her outstanding service to those who come to the pharmacy.   We were able to see it on video as the media covered his visit.  She not only volunteers to deliver the prescriptions to the vulnerable but she offers to bring them groceries so they don't have to go out!  This kind act may not be new to her, but getting a shout out by the VP and applause in gratitude was a nice surprise.  Way to go Grace!

Speaking of doing things for others, don't you love the videos online that share uplifting stories of how so many people are responding to help in times of great need.  I love seeing the good come out in people....Another story that made Joel and I smile this week was when the new Gerber Baby was revealed.  Sweet Magnolia came to her family through adoption.  She is the cutest baby!!!  It was great fun to watch their interview on morning news.  Just had to share her picture!  Can you resist smiling at this charming face?

Our neighbor has cats.  These are indoor cats that have the house to themselves except at night when the neighbor comes home from his office.  We have not seen his cats except for one.  The one who continues to escape whenever the opportunity arises.  When a chance to escape comes up, he is out the door and then takes off.  For parts unknown?  Nope.  He just likes to get out, survey his environment and grab some fresh air before coming back to what he knows.  I think for this particular cat he just does not want anyone telling him no.  Maybe his thinking is, "Well, if I am not supposed to go out there then there must be something I am missing so I am going to get out any chance I can."  Maybe it is just, "You are not the boss of me!"  Of course we don't know what the cat is thinking, but we certainly do get a good chuckle watching our neighbor attempt to coax the cat back into his home.  And.........I can't help but relate this to some people's reactions to the shelter at home ~ quarantine "orders" from Governors.  "You are not the boss of me!

Joel is still working on his large wood project.  He is still able to get in some biking, too.  He has been catching up on connecting with family and friends and office "work".  That work may involve writing more on his book, taking care of finances or just playing a game of spider solitaire! 

I have been working on a puzzle, reading, writing, walking, and baking Joel oatmeal cookies this week. Let's not forget texting, scrolling, and talking on the phone to friends and family.  Yay for phones!!!!  And you?  How are you filling your days this week?!?!?! 

Tomorrow is Mother's Day!  My mother died many years ago now at the age 92.  I was blessed to have two older sisters who mothered me too.  They each played a role in raising me, and for that I am so grateful.  For the first time ever I did not get any Mother's Day cards purchased to send out to loved ones.  We decided going to a store and handling all the cards others have handled was not a good idea in this season of Covid-19.  Today I am wishing all of you women, whether you are mothers or not, a Blessed Mother's Day!  It is in us to nurture others and that nurturing instinct makes us all mothers.  God be with you, bless you, and bring you His peace and only He can. 

On this day I am grateful for Mothers everywhere.  For my mom Ann, for those who mothered me, Jo and Jan, for our daughters and daughter-in-law, all mothers themselves, for Kay and Janelle as sisters and moms.  For too many to name in my life who make me proud to be a mom.  I am grateful for our children.  How blessed I am to be their mom.  Grateful, yes.

Enjoy your weekend!

Signs of Shelter Fatigue

We might be getting a little weary of the staying home policy we have put into place here.  This morning Joel went outside for a while and when he came in he told me he had just had a "three minute conversation" with.............a crow!  He would talk to the crow, the crow would "talk" back.    Thankfully he did not understand what the crow was saying......whew!  (giggle)  It might be a warning sign I'm thinking!

Earlier this morning we decided to go for a ride.  It was raining and dreary and we needed to get out a bit.  We both "dressed up" a bit to go!  Hmmmm   Can you tell we seldom get in the car to go anywhere?  Another sheltering overload sign.  We ended up driving about 25 minutes to a state park.  The campground was closed of course, but the boat launch area was open and we went and parked by the lake.  We then took a short walk in the rain.  It was great to be out in the fresh air, walking under an umbrella.

'When we drove home, we went right through the middle of our little city instead of on the backroads so we could see more people!  Yeah......people besides the two of us!  Shelter fatigue.

Another sign:  I decided I had too much time on my hands when I checked the TV guide today and saw that Life Below Zero is not on!  What?  Oh, how could they do that...............now what?  It might be time to expand my horizons a bit............seriously. 

And then there is the weight gain.........Granted, the pill I am on can keep me plump, but I am thinking it is more the "need" for Benitos Black Bean Chips to crunch on that has me putting on a few pounds.  Not the Freshman 15 but a few quarantine pounds are staring at me/us in the mirror.  Sigh.....

We both have noticed a bit of irritation with each other, with others, with the news, with whatever!  Example:  I have lived with my husband's jokes for 52 years, but they are so much more annoying right now?!?!  He has not changed.........He gets irritated with me saying something about his food choices.....They have not changed and I have not changed.  Shelter fatigue!!    (giggle)

So are you showing signs of shelter fatigue?  Tonight I saw signs of it in others on our national news as they showed people in the Midwest and especially Iowa where people are going back to living as if Coronavirus never existed at all.  We are still having hundreds diagnosed every day in our small state and today was our highest total of deaths.........but the state has opened up in most counties.  For the two of us, when we want to get back to normal, we remind ourselves that there are so many unknowns right now and we stick to our decision.  Even if we are showing signs of shelter fatigue!

How are you filling your days?  Working?  Taking care of your families?  Organizing closets?  Have you stepped back into the world as it was?  Can we ever go back?  We are filling our days as best we can.  We did three closets and super cleaned the office but now we have three black bags full for donation and no where to take them!  So our futon in the family room has bags filling up the space instead of people.  I'm not sure we are going to do much more deep purging since there is no where to take what we are getting rid of. 
,,
Maybe I will just grab a bag of Black Bean Chips, pick up the remote, and keep looking for Life Below Zero to escape in.......

Saturday's Scribbles

Good Saturday to you on this first Saturday in May!  With the trees budding, bright yellow daffodils popping up in yards, and the temperature hitting 80, Spring appears to finally be here to stay.  With that in mind, we headed out to local greenhouses in town on Friday.  We were able to get one of my favorite hanging plants, a Black-eyed Susan Ivy.  Last year we could not find one, so I am a happy camper to be have one grace our front little garden.  We also found a beautiful large pot filled with several shades of pink geraniums and greenery.  A pot of pansies and a red hanging geranium were also purchased at our local HyVee garden center.  So nice to have some color to brighten our days at home.  God has sure done an amazing job with Mother Nature.

Speaking of brightening our days,  at times a cloud still hangs over the continued Covid-19 drama that continues to shake up our lives.  Several states are loosening their social distancing grips, and I think only time will tell if this the right thing to do.  Here in Iowa the Governor said churches could gather again, but at least 21 denominational Bishops and leaders have united to say, not yet.  Not yet.
What do the experts say?  What do the political leaders of the country and states say?  Often they are in opposition.  For the umpteenth time Joel and I have declared.....We will do what we think is best for us, leaning on the side of caution.   We gather our info from experts as we hope and believe are knowledgeable.

Speaking of what is best for us, I had an eye shot this week and unlike last time, the nurse and doctor both did not have masks on.  When the nurse saw me, she asked if she should wear a mask and then answered her own question ~ and she went and got one.  The doctor came in without a mask and asked me if he should wear one....My answer?  Yes!  I told him my Mayo doctor had just told me I am still vulnerable.  My thought was, you wear a mask to protect others and with his appointments in 3 different cities across the state with the elderly he dang well should be wearing one!  A mask says, "I protect you........you protect me".

Speaking of Mayo, a short update is posted here.  I had a long phone appointment. with the nurse practitioner at radiology oncology and then afterwards she gave the info and her update to my doctor he called me and we talked another 20 minutes.  We were given a lot of info to digest.  So far I am doing well after radiation but 3 month exams and check ups are vital along with infusions for my bones every six months.  We are thinking that my care will  be at Mayo Breast Clinic, grateful  for how thorough Mayo is and how quickly we can get there for appointments....well, at least when things open up again!  My only complaint is a continual issue of pain and also fatigue that fluctuates. I am believing it will get less and less.  The nurse practitioner gave me some wise info to hold on to regarding my cancer journey. 

Joel headed out last Tuesday for groceries and prescriptions, going to 5 stores of which Menard's was one.  His favorite!   He is working on his wood project this week, plus riding bike and getting the yard ready for this season.   I write, read, rest, clean, cook, etc. and walk.  It has been so long since I could do household chores, that I kind of enjoy them again.  We both have enjoyed phone visits with family and friends.....staying in touch seems more important than ever.  Also watching TV and reading a book by my a mystery author I enjoy.  He has written a non-fiction book called, "Dogtripping" which is about their move from California to Maine with 25 dogs in 3 Rv's!  It makes us laugh!

It still surprises me that the weeks go by so quickly even as we shelter at home 99% of the time.  We continue to intentionally watch little news, visit more with loved ones across the miles, and laugh.  Gratitude continues to play a big role on this journey we call life.  So grateful for flowers to brighten our days, many shades of green to fill our views, warm temperatures, our resident wrens who are back and singing, a long visit with my NH friend, Katherine, texts, prayers, Netflix, Facebook fun videos that make us laugh, and so much more.  One of the things on our so much more list?  All of you!  Bless you all and enjoy your weekend!