Saturday's Scribbles

Good Saturday morning!  We are into March Madness in basketball and in our weather, too!   We are back to winter temperatures and expect snow Sunday into Monday and then rain and warmer temperatures to add to the mix.   Spring is often like that,  isn't it! A roller coaster ride.   And let's just add life to this description too.  

As I sit in my old glider typing away on my laptop I can smell homemade chicken and rice soup simmering on the stove.  Joel is off to Gabby Grandpas.  We are back to our usual routine,  but I can't help but think about last Saturday when we were at my sister Jan's home in South Dakota saying goodbye before heading east.  On Thursday we drove nearly 7 hours, checked into a hotel and then went to the visitation for her husband Lanny and family at a local funeral home. On Friday morning we attended the funeral.  Joel had the privilege of reading the scriptures for the service. The church was filled with family and friends and those he worked with over the years at Cargill and in the cattle business. We drove an hour south for the graveside service after visiting with extended family at Jan's home beforehand.  The 6 years that Lanny battled lung cancer were a roller coaster ride and held very difficult at times.  But he was a warrior and so was my sister Jan who was by his side and his caretaker much of the time.  He will be deeply missed by Jan and the family.  The good news in all this is that he is with Jesus now.   

The trip was long (1,150 miles) but uneventful, which is a good thing. Leaving Thursday morning we were home by supper Saturday night.  And in the last week.....my 76th birthday on the 20th.  STILL here!  STILL celebraing!  STILL blessed with my Joel, our family, and friends.  When death surrounds you, you cannot help but ponder "why am I still here"?  And "God, how can you use me for your purposes?"  

Actually some of the subject of death and purpose was discussed on the quirky, sometimes risque show Northern Exposure when a man strolled into town and died sitting in the doctor's office.  No identification........no one knew who he was.  What to do with the body of this "John Doe"?  The small town honored him with a funeral.  It made me scribble even further into the many unidentified bodies there are in  our country buried without their families knowing where they are.  14,000 according to Wikepedia.  Seriously sad isn't it.  What came to my mind during this scribble was GOD knows where they are.  Who they are.  It does not give closure to those who wonder and wait but it does give some comfort to my scribbling mind.  And it brings me back to our brother in law who was so well known in the cattle business.  Senior VP for Cargill when he retired.  Half owner of a feed lot.  Just very well established and well known in his world.  And let us not forget,  a man who knew God and believed in prayer.  Heaven rejoices.  

Speaking of rejoicing, it was great to see my sister Jan's family.....kids, grands, and great-grands.  Great to hug on those we knew well and learn more about those we met.  My thoughts were how blessed Jan is to have family caring for her.  Flocking around her.  Blessing her with their love and concern.  And so many friends?!  What a gift.  It is not the same for everyone.  But whether we die surrounded by many or few, I believe there are many waiting to welcome us to our forever home.  

"Heaven is a wonderful place....Filled with glory and grace.  I'm gonna see my Savior's face, Heaven is a wonderful place. Heaven is a wonderful place....I'm going there!"   is a delightful old children's praise song we learned at the church we attended in the Philippines on base.  It IS a wonderful place!

My Scribbles may sound a bit dark to some today but it is more a pondering about life, death, and what treasures are inbetween.  And those treasures have flesh and blood.  Family.  Friends. 

So today as I ponder the life and death we all face, I am giving thanks for my 76th birthday.  Giving thanks for the texts, Facebook greetings, and phone calls and a visit I had that day.  Grateful for the years I have been blessed with and the many more to come.  Grateful for Lanny and the lives he blessed.  Grateful for my sister Jan and her loving family and friends.  Grateful for her faith that sustains her.  Grateful for the safe travel we had, the time spent with loved ones.  Grateful for Joel and his unconditional love for me.  Grateful for all this and so much more.........

Enjoy your weekend.

Saturday's Scribbles

 

Good Saturday to you once again from an unseasonably warm March in Iowa.  At this point it looks like an early Spring minus any Spring thaw.  Still have up and down temps.  Warm one day, cold the next.

This past Monday Joel had eye surgery down in Des Moines.  A colleague went along and drove him home.  He had a cornea scraping for the second time, but this time they went deeper removing more tissue,  and he spent the week recovering with lots of sleeping, lots of recliner time, lots of drawn shades and discomfort.   A little familiar.  His vision has been so blurry BUT when he got up last night he realized it was improving and today it is around 90% back.  Yay!  Thank you God!

Our oldest daughter turned 54 this week.  She is such a gift to the world and we are so proud of the woman she is.

A dear friend celebrated a birthday this week and she also had surgery this week.  Another journey with cancer.  Her journey continues and we continue to pray for her. 

Sadly a week ago tonight our brother in law Lanny died after a courageous 6 yr battle with lung cancer.   He will be greatly missed by not only my sister Jan but all of their families...all of us.  Our hearts go out to everyone. As Joel, who seldom swears would say...."That damn cancer!" It is a relentless beast.   

Also..Joel's oldest brother James is receiving hospice at the nursing home where he resides.  He does not have cancer, but other health issues.  And this week someone we know well learned their divorce became official.  Another kind of sadness.  For all those mentioned we ask for your prayers.  

Battles.  It does seem that we all in different seasons of our lives are in the midst of a battle of one kind or another.  Sometimes we need to stand firm, put on the "full armor of God" and pick up a sword!  Other times while wearing the full armor of God we stay calm and quiet and remember "The LORD will fight for you......just stay calm."  I guess most importantly we remember that Jesus is always with us.  In surgeries, in death, in recoveries, in the mundane, in the misery, in the watching and the waiting. In the joy

Speaking of watching and waiting, I have observed something this week.  In some ways it is easier for me to be sick that watch the man I love be sick.  Now when I mentioned this to Joel he replied in firmness...."I am NOT sick.  Im just recovering from a surgery."  Yep,  My bad.  But just the watching....hoping today would bring improvement...the waiting for healing.  It gave me insight into how Joel must have felt over the many health challenges faced.   And I also pondered Holy's question......Am I praying for healing from a place of fear or faith?  Honestly sometimes both......And God loves me enough to remind me to trust Him on the journeys.

I am rambling now......it has been a week of rambling, reflecting and pondering, and sadness and much praying, waiting and watching.  Grateful Joel's surgery went so well.  Grateful Joel is seeing again and recovering so well. Grateful for our daughter Beth who fills our hearts with joy.  Grateful for the family and friends of my dear friend who are supporting and loving her on her journey with cancer and recovery.  Grateful for the years my sister Jan had with her Lanny and the love and support she has with family and friends....and for her many good memories.   Grateful for all this and so much more...

Enjoy your weekend.

Saturday's Scribbles

 

Good Saturday to you all from yet another unseasonably warm weekend in Northern iowa.   In the 60's today and 70 again tomorrow.   Amazing.   We just keep breaking records...and the downside?  We are in a major drought here...not good.  

Speaking of warm weather,  our porch chairs are still out and so are the animals.   One day at dusk 6 deer were across the street eating the neighbors corn cobs.  Unfortunately the ticks are out early too.  Be aware.

It has been a week of good news in regards to doctor visits.  Detmatologist and dentist....good news.  Gotta love that!  Praying for good news Monday when Joel sees the eye specialist again.  Expect they will surgically scrap the cornea again because it is causing blurry vision for Joel.  Prayers appreciated.  Most of Joel's week was spent in the office finishing his second book.  Yay Joel!  Not much biking this week as the winds were too strong. 

I was able to connect with my friend Katherine this week.  Met her through a Lyme group.  She is the woman in Joel's book that suggested we watch a specific teaching on healing.....and Joel was healed!  Her life is full with six kids, a prayer ministry starting up and taking Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry college courses.  I love talking to her!  What a witness of God's healing power and purpose for each of us!  I made almond flour pancakes and cookies, and whole wheat bread this past week. I'm still walking 25 minutes most days.  I have not given an update on my health for awhile.  I continue to have challenges with the trigeminal nerve connected to the whole eye drama.  Some days balance is really off, other days its pretty good.  Some days there are headaches and head neuropathy from the eye damage.  Certain things...like a teeth cleaning seem to trigger it.  Energy is better since Holy Spirit blessed me during prayer one morning a couple months ago.  Symptoms continue to irritate and attempt to control my daily activities, but as I often say, "I am STILL here".  

Moving on..........

We discovered the old show "Northern Exposure" on Prime Video.  It was on TV from 1990 - 1995.  It makes us laugh!  It takes place in a fictional town in Alaska.  So quirky....but once again I realize some of the words used on the show could not be used in today's world climate. There are new episodes of Death in Paradise and Vera to choose from.  And I confess we are once again watching American Idol. We are also reading short devotional stories about dogs before bed and part of our devotions daily is to read aloud Max Lucado's book on Holy Spirit, "Help Is Here". Max's book is good! All his books are.

Last Saturday we watched two of our granddaughters run in track online of course.  They are sisters but attend different colleges.  Sunday we went to church.  And Saturday nights we watch Lutheran Church of Hope livestream.  Listened to Bethel sermons this week too. Sometimes I watch services in our first congregation Medicine Lake MT!  Isn't it wonderful how much is available for us online!

As I end this Scribbles I am grateful for sunrises and sunsets that remind us we are still here!  Grateful for old shows that make us laugh and for new shows that distract and entertain us.  Grateful for the smell of homemade bread, almond flour cookies, and pancakes.  Grateful for walking and audiobooks to walk by, Joel biking.  Grateful for deer that make Joel smile.  Grateful for good reports.  Grateful for all the books and teachings available to us. Grateful for phone calls that keep us connected.  Grateful for Katherine.  For texts and photos that bless us.  Grateful for all this and so much more........

Enjoy your weekend!

Saturday's Scribbles

 

Good Saturday to you from our corner of Iowa where it is hard to define what season we are in.   The temperatures continues to stay in the 50's and Monday's forecast is 66 degrees?!? It's great for now but will not help the drought come Spring. 

Speaking of weather, Joel continues to ride his recumbent and has 90 miles in so far in 2024.  So unusual.   Joel took a trip to Minnesota on Feb 16 and came home the 18th.  His oldest brother is not doing well so he headed north.  Drove 15 hrs out of the 52 he was gone....plus visited with a few family members in several areas.    He was tired by the time he arrived home.  Still, a good trip!

Speaking of Feb 16th that was our son Mark's birthday.  I enjoy looking back and remembering when birthdays come around and his is no different.  We welcomed him home as our son when he was 5 months old.  He was a beautiful baby....in fact his birth mom gave him a Filipino middle name that means beautiful.  He was and is a gift from God and we are so grateful God chose us as his parents.  

Going back to Joel's trip, while he was gone my sister Janelle came and stayed with me.  We had a great time visiting....talking a lot!  Catching up on our lives and families, and watching Dateline together!  Ha....One weird thing happened while she was here.  I got up to go to the bathroom at 3:00 A.M. the first night and glanced over the upstairs landing to see the living room fireplace going.  Say, what??  I was trying to process it of course and thought ...How did that turn on!  If there was a burglar in the house they would not turn on the fireplace!  Eventually my foggy brain connected and I went downstairs and found the remote  (no one had turned it on for days) and turned it off.  I checked the doors and headed back to bed.  It took a long time for me to fall back to sleep...and I was extra grateful Janelle was here with me.  It has never turned on by itself before or since.  Of course when Joel was gone..,,right?!  Ha

Lent began on February 14th with Ash Wednesday.  We went to early services and gave thanks too for 57 Valentine's Days together.  

As I listen to George Winston on Alexa this morning I missed hearing my older girls play the piano.  They both took many years of lessons and the oldest has been teaching piano since she was 15.  Often on Sunday mornings I go to YouTube and watch live our oldest on Keyboard at her church.  We can be "stalker parents" at 3 of our kids churches for services they attend.  It was especially comforting when we were in the midst of the pandemic.  It makes us feel closer to them to "see" them livestream.  

Joel and I finished watching the documentary, "You Are What You Eat" on Netflix.  Of course it was biased for a plant based diet but the medical information gathered with sets of twins...some who ate a plant based diet in the study and some who ate a carnavore diet were pretty intersting.  I think for us it was beneficial to see.  When Janelle was here she mentioned how important getting enough protein is and where do we get it?  Joel and I did about 3 hours of research so far on own about how much protein the elderly need to sustain muscle mass, etc.  It has helped us to see where our protein is coming from daily.  Still figuring it all out but hoping the small changes we are making help our energy levels. etc.  

I am continued to walk most days, and writing a few posts on Facebook.  I will be getting a new laptop soon so I can get back to this book I am writing. 

Speaking of writing,  I was thinking about what I do when I feel my day has no real agenda.  I write.  BUT I also clean.  And I like cleaning bathrooms.  Crazy, right?  I just like making them sparkle and shine.  Silly me..........

TV this week consisted of a few Murdochs from Acorn, American Idol, NCIS for Joel, Antique Roadshow, and to much HGTV.  Our TV is usually off until Jeopardy comes on at 3....I keep thinking I will learn something from that show but I probably forget as much as I hear!  Add a few sermons or teaching from our favorite speakers, and an audiobook and time passes!

As i said before, it is forecast to be 66 here on Monday.  Amazing!  Strange.  and confusing to nature I am sure. Every once in awhile a day in the 30's shows up but otherwise we are breaking records up here in God's country!  

Time to close this week's Scribbles.  Hope you are all doing okay in youor corner of the world.  Grateful for our corner.  Grateful for George Winston, son Mark, TV, Ash Wednesday and Lent, Joel's safe travels and time with family.  Grateful for so many Valentines with Joel.  Grateful for biking,  walking,  and resting.   Grateful for Janelles visit.  Grateful for livestream, texting and phone calls.   Grateful for all this and more. 

Enjoy your weekend!

Saturday's Scribbles

Good Saturday to you from Iowa where Mother Nature is messing with us!  This past week our temperatures were in the 50's...one day 57.  That same day south central Wisconsin had a hail storm AND a tornado touched⁶ down in one county.  In the Upper Midwest!   In February.  Seriously messed up.  We are back to the high 30's now so a little closer to "normal".  The animals continue to be confused.  This week we saw our resident duck couple waddling around.  Joel told them to go back....they are two months early!  The lakes are no longer frozen, the grass is getting green and I heard that some bulb flowers are budding along with a few confused trees....Yikes!

Speaking of weather, Joel continues to ride his recumbent bike....in February.  A first.  He has been working in the office alot, attended a pastors conference, the churches Wednesday night gathering and today, Gabby Grandpas.  He got all the floors done in the house again, which is no small feat with the size of our house.  I have said it many many times...our house is too big for two people and the 1-2 times a year our family gathers here BUT it's comfortable, the neighborhood is good, and moving doesn't seem to be on God's agenda right now.  

This week the Iowa Services for the Blind called at my request and we discussed their services.  They teach people how to live without their sight.  They were not sure I would qualify now. ]  An assessment would be taken along with an eye exam.  Their program takes several months of them coming and going.  I decided that it is not for me yet, and hopefully never.  It was good to get the information, though. I had been hoping that they could help me with my laptop, lighting, etc.  BUT they only deal with services to prepare you for blindness. You practice being blind.   My response for now: No thank you.

Today would have been my mom's AA birthday.  She stopped drinking at age 58 and was sober until she died at age 92.  She was courageous in her battle and we are grateful and so proud of her.  I'm sure she's celebrating in Heaven. ❤️ 

Our favorite TV show is found on PBS...."All Creatures Great and Small" base on a true life story of Vet James Harriet.  We read the books decades ago and watched the original series.  They have redone the series now and it is fantastic in our eyes.  Nothing tops it for us and we are always sad the seasons are so short.

I did find myself watching "Jesus Revolution" on Netflix this week.  We saw the movie a year ago and I found it very interesting.  This was our generation....with the Hippies....and then through their seeking, the Jesus revolution.  It started in California and spread across the country and into other countires.  A good old fashioned revival but with barefoot kids seeking the more we all search for in life. The more that comes from only Jesus.  

Speaking of Jesus, Ash Wednesday is coming next week.  Lent is practiced by our denomination, among others. It begins with Ash Wednesday.  Some rituals are worthy of our time and focus.  Of course places like New Orleans have taken this time and made it into something more, something else.  We'll stick with these 40 days before Jesus death and resurrection.  A time of repentence, reflection, and spiritual growth.  

This week we had a long Facetime visit with friends....nearly three hours to catch up with their lives and ours.  It is nice to just use our phone to either use Face time, messenger Skype, or more to see who we are talking to.  Still fascinating to me that all this is right there on one small device that keeps us connected. What a blessing!

Speaking of blessings, we have much to be grateful for.  Grateful for warm weather in February, fresh air mid "winter".  Grateful for movies that make us think and focus us on Jesus.  Grateful for shows that make us relax and smile.  Grateful for biking, walking, cleaning, and shopping.  Simple tasks we take for granted.  Grateful for a phone that connects us to the world.  For all the ways to see the faces of those we care about who are far away.  So grateful.  Grateful for emails, texts, pictures, Facetime and so much more!

Enjoy your weekend!

Saturday's Scribbles

Good Saturday to you from our corner of Iowa where the temperatures continue most days in the 40's with a record breaking 54 degrees on Wednesday.  Our snow has vanished!  Joel actually got his bike out and rode a couple days. So strange for the end of January and early February.   What an unusual year.

I'm thinking the animals might be a bit confused too.  We've had a lot of deer in our yard and the squirrels are rambunctious!  I wonder if they realize how out of sync nature is..

Besides biking, Joel has been in his office working most days.  Editing his second book....getting ready to preach again....getting tax stuff together.   He took a friend to coffee this week and is at Gabby Grandpas this morning.   He loves his coffee and he loves to talk!  

I'm still walking indoors 25-30 minutes a day,  doing a little cleaning and cooking daily, and staying occupied with my phone!  Gotta love how easy it is to text and call...besides Facebook connections.   All in all?  A pretty normal and yes, boring week except for February 1st when one of our grandsons celebrated his 16th birthday and my sister Jan celebrates her birthday on the same day!  Jan is 11 yrs older than me BUT looks younger!  A beauty inside and out.   We have a history together that runs deep.  I took my first steps to her. She provided me with a home at times and nurtured my soul.  She makes me laugh.  She is a gift from God in my life and the lives of so many others.  

This past week God has been highlighting the parable of the Persistent Widow in Luke 18.  We have received the story, the scriptures 3x so far from different sources of our usual devotionals.  When God highlights, we pay attention.  Persistant prayer......Jesus tells his disciples....Keep praying, don't lose heart. And then he tells the parable of the persistent widow.  Yes...Justice will come to His righteous ones.  A family member is being greatly challenged and I had been asking God for a verse to stand on......Then this passage came.  It tells us justice for the righteous will come.  And our part in this?  Be obedient by being persistent in prayer.   We want to do more, right?  But we are called to persist in prayer.  We can do that.  

Speaking of that I want to thank you friends and family who have persisted in prayer for us over the years.  Prayer is a powerful weapon.  It has blessed us more that we can say.

I have little to share this week so will close with a few things I am grateful for today.  Grateful for a good report from the glaucoma check up.  Grateful for the prayers of others and the privilege to pray. Grateful for walks, talks, and texts.  Grateful for God highlighting passages for us to pay attention to.  Grateful for warm temps, good weather, and visiting deer.  Grateful for our grandson turning 16, and my sister Jan's birthday too!  Grateful for all this and so much more...

Enjoy your weekend!