Saturday's Scribbles

 

Good Saturday to you from Iowa where the weather is warm. the winds are strong, and sunshine is filling the day.  I am sure nature is smiling down on us this weekend with temps near 80 expected.  A little warm for April but delightful.  

Speaking of nature Joel went to a secular talk at church this week on the "fear of nature".  It was interesting he said.  Most animals and bugs in the Midwest are not harmful.  What I "fear" in Iowa nature is nasty ticks....and the Lyme they carry.  Ugh.  Of course I mostly experience nature from the front porch or on our walks at the park and along the river road.  Once years ago we went for a walk in tall grasses close to the Mississippi river in western Iowa and by the time we were back to the car we had so many ticks crawling on us....but thankfully none attached and we did not encounter any rattlesnakes. I guess you can run into them near the cliffs of the Mississippi.  We've lived where rattlers, cobras, giant lizards. and scorpions live....but we kinda like Iowa's type of nature best.  

Joel has done some biking and sermonizing this week.  Along with a couple of medical appointments.  Our SUV was in for some repairs and they gave us a Ford F 150 pickup as a loaner.  I had a doctor's appointment so we had to get me into that truck to get there.  I am only 5' 2 1/2" and I'm pretty short on the leg end of that...... so we used a foot stool for me to climb up on the running board and then we hoisted me in from the running board.  It was not pretty and my sister Jan asked me if Joel took pictures.  His reply...."Not if I value my life!"  Considering I am 76 and vertically challenged,  I think I did pretty good on this little adventure.   I like pick ups but they are a bit like climbing Mt Everest for me! We are celebrating two good reports this week from the retina doc and from the urologist.  Something very interesting came up with my urology doctor.  He asked me the name of the drug/injections I was getting when I lost my vision in the left eye and then said after we talked about your eye issue he had had two diffferent patients come in saying they got infections in their eyes after eye injections...from the SAME medicine as me, and one lost his vision in his eye.  Their doctor told them it was a contaminated batch of shots that was the culprit.  This was at a different specialist in a different city.....but we are going to look into it.  It was a year ago yesterday that I had surgery to remove the center of my eye.  Glad that is all in the past.

Joel had fun skipping this week at his check up.  His primary told him he's in good health...nice to hear.  Another celebration! He encourages staff to skip with him.  Some do, some don't.  the nurse told him she saw he was coming in so assumed there would be some skipping going on.  His doctor asked him what he had been up to and he told her about his second book.  She had read the first one and really enjoyed it she said and wants to buy the second...He told her he had a few copies that are not the finished product in the car and she bought them both.  Yesterday he was at the mechanics and they were chatting, including about Joel's healing story,  and one of the men asked Joel if he had any copies of his books. He thought his wife and he would like to read them.  Joel did explain that the first book was a bit "wild" for some, but the guy wanted to read about healing.  Holy Spirit shows up in the most unexpected places for Joel to share his heart and God's love with others.  Joel shares his story when he feels nudged by Holy, and sometimes it goes well and other times it does not.  His books are the same way. He prays a lot, writes, and publishes.   The rest is up to God.

I am writing this with the doors and windows open, letting in fresh air.  The fresh air is blending with the aroma of oatmeal cookies that I made for Joel this morning.  So nice to be able to have the outside filtering in.  This week was mostly doctor and dentist appointments for one or two of us plus the usual routines, some biking and walking and a few TV shows in the evenings.  Joel is still riding his 10 miles and I am still walking in the house 25 minutes.  On that note it is time to close my Scribbles.

Grateful today for fresh air, the smell of cookies baking, biking, walking, a pick-up adventure, the SUV getting maintenance, putting Joel's books in the hands of others, ALL good reports from our doctors, reflections on a year ago and leaving that behind.  Grateful for Iowa's neutral nature.  Grateful for audiobooks, music, worship online and at church.  Grateful for Joel's ability to skip!  Grateful for texts, pictures, emails, phone calls and so much more.....

Enjoy your weekend!

 

Saturday's Scribbles

 

Good Saturday to you in our section of Iowa where the wind is still blowing, the temps are up and down, and our resident ducks are still trying to decide who's yard to call home!  Joel looked out the window last night and saw 5 deer in the neighbor's yard....nibbling on corn cobs I am sure.  No birds nesting yet that we can tell.  I am not sure if Joel has the wren houses out yet as Iowa is still getting dustings of snow at times.

Speaking of Iowa, the NCAA women's basketball has been on and last night we watched Iowa play UCONN and what a game!  Now, we were watching a new Hallmark Mystery, so it was mostly on commericals we would head to ESPN.  I was past ready for bed at 10, but Joel stayed up and watched the end of an exciting game.  Iowa will now play South Carolina for the championship tomorrow.  We are NOT people who watch sports, but thisi past year we have watched a few Vikings games and now 4 womens Hawkeye games.  I do like women's basketball and beach volleyball during the Olympics.  Oh and curling too!  Anyway, the Iowa Hawkeyes will have their work cut out for them playing this exceptional South Carolina team.

Speaking of sports one of our granddaughters celebrated a big birthday this week. Thanks to technology we were able to watch her college softball games live stream  on her birthday.  So great to be able to watch from the comfort of our living room.  Happy Birthday G.!  We love you bunches!!  

Speaking of birthdays, my sister Janelle is having a birthday today.  So thankful for her in my life.  Recently she came down to stay with me while Joel was gone to northern Minnesota.  It was nice to catch up and great to have someone here.  Enjoy your day Janelle !!!

Joel is off to Gabby Grandpas this morning.  It will be way too windy for him to ride bike today but he did get in 10 miles yesterday.  He has been working hard to finish re-doing his book cover and getting ready for a confirmation service on the 12th where he will officiate.  His energy continues to be exceptional for his age..Shhhhhh  We don't talk about his age....its only a number!  Where as my energy and increase in pain this week has been challenging.  I still do things....I still walk...I still cook or bake....I still clean .....but I do so with effort and determination.  No matter how awful I feel I still walk daily.  Maybe only 20 minutes and maybe broken up in sections...but I walk. As I have mentioned before, Holy Spirit made it clear to me to :walk out my healing" in 2012 as I began healing from Lyme and I have not stopped for any length of time.  Even when we were staying at Hope Lodge at Mayo Clinic I used to walk in the hallways.  As we age, our legs are vital to staying upright and active. And it is important to me to be obedient to Holy. 

Writing about walking takes me to last fall when all of a sudden my knee was hurting and collapsing under my weight.  I tried the chiropractor and my physucal therapist gave me exercises...but nothing helped.  And then we prayed.  And I just started to slowly speak to my knee, my body.  Telling it how wonderful it was to walk.  How great that the knee was just fine, etc.  All I can say is, for the past 2-3 months my knee has been good.  No issues.  Thank you Jesus. My sister Janelle told me my tennis shoes were worn out and probably causing me hip pain.  Ummm that was nearly two years ago and I FINALLY did something about it and after trying on shoes for a year I bought myself some Sketcher Slip-ons that fit really well. Hip pain?  Gone 99% of time.

We did look for a new laptop for me this week.  We are learning what "works"for someone with one funky eye.  For sure we will have one with a good voice activated system for typing and backlighting for keyboard.  Need a good contrast between keyboard keys and letters.  I mention all this because isn't it wonderful what is available to us in the tech world??  So many choices and helpful programs.  SO blessed!\

I am still listening to audiobooks (great when walking indoors) and I'm on number 21 in the Hannah Swensen series.  Really light mysteries where if you fall asleep listening or miss some words while walking, it is not a big deal!  Ha  This week we watched the usual favorites on TV along with some womens NCAA basketball.  A new Hannah Swenson Movie last night on Hallmark.  Looking forward to when we can porch sit again in the evenings.  

Best close these Scribbles with the things I am grateful for....like G.'s birthday and being able to watch her play softball.  Grateful for walking without knee or hip issues.  Grateful for Joel's book ready to print.  Grateful for Janelle's birthday.  Grateful to be able to purchase a new laptop.  Grateful for sunshine.  Grateful for phone calls from friends and family!  Grateful for texts, photos, and emails.  And just sooooooooooooo much more.

Enjoy your weekend!

Saturday's Scribbles

Good Saturday to you on this last weekend of March.  The day of waiting.....for Resurrection Sunday.  Last night when we drove home from Good Friday Services our resident duck couple were sitting in our yard.  We greeted Debbie and Donnie Duck as we went inside.  Okay, so I don't really know their names, but it's fun to guess.  They come back every year.  Reminds me of what we just learned about Cardinals.  They usually mate for life and stick together.  The male often brings the female her food and feeds her.  How sweet is that.  We are seeing a few deer come through again.  Weatherwise, the winds have been high but the rain we got this past week has helped lessen the drought levels.  Grateful.

Speaking of grateful, this past Wednesday was my 6 mo. check up with the Oncologist.  It was an "everything looks good" report which is something to be grateful for!  Joel and I were talking later and realized I have been going to our cancer center for the past 8 1/2 years...from every 2-3 weeks, to 2-3 months, then 4 months and now every 6 months.  My first cancer challenge was in 2010, but it has been a steady connection in my life since August 2015.  I expect our car could get their by itself!   All in all I'm grateful to still be here!

It is Easter weekend.  I can't help but reflect on years past.  Joel's first call was to a 3 point parish in Medicine Lake MT.  Every Sunday he had church services in three different towns.  Medicine Lake was where the parsonage was with the church right across the street.  He had an office in a seperate small building on the church property. I used to help him print off the newsletters and bulletins for awhile.  It was 1980 so it was, if I recall correctly,  a mimeograph machine we used.  Messy, smelly, time consuming and took some energy! iBut it worked~  Preaching three times a Sunday was tiring, but after having Lent too, Joel would crash after Easter Sunday and need a few days to restore himself.  We enjoyed our short three years in Medicine Lake.  The congregations were filled with great people.  Good people. Every congregation having it's own personality.   Once in a while I check out church at Medicine Lake which is live streamed weekly.  We also check in at Our Saviour's online or in person here in town where Joel served 10 yrs.  So many opportunities to connect, remember, worship.

Joel has been busy finishing his second book.  I just finished reading and re-editing with him and I am excited and proud of his work.  I really like it!  Looking forward to sharing it in the next couple of weeks.  Still needing to get a new laptop to start working on mine....which seems to be going in slow-mo......

Joel has not been able to ride much, but has been working in the office.  He also made himself a TV TrayTable out of scraps of wood and even  refurbished screws and bolts.  It looks fantastic!  When he doesn't have a project, he creates one to keep him active!  No sitting around for him!  Well, until after supper.  Then it is porch or TV time.  We have been watching a few episodes of Murdoch, Death in Paradise, American Idol, and Northern Exposure.   I need to retract my statement that the Northern Exposure show is highly recommended by me.  It has A LOT of weird stuff and way too much PG sexual content.  I keep saying to Joel....did our kids WATCH THIS??  Did we watch this???  How did it stay on the air in 1990?!  We like the quirky content...it does make us laugh.  Sometimes we shake our heads and ask, should we be watching this?  

Tomorrow we will worship at our Easter church service in person.  Expect tonight we will worship at the Church of Hope 5pm live stream service.  Grateful for both.  Gratful for our freedom to worship.  I expect we will tune in and "parent stalk" our kids who will be at their own services or participating in them.  That makes us feel closer to them. I often ponder how our parents felt when we were off living our lives...did they get lonely?  Did this miss family being close? Of course we were the ones that were off on many adventures and moves across the country and world.  Most family stayed within driving distance.  I'm rambling.....

Today as I close, I want to express my gratitude for your encouragement and prayers over the years you have walked with us through our lives ....my health journey with cancer and beyond.  So grateful.  Grateful for our years in Medicine Lake MT.  The friends we made.  The people we met and served.  Those all who supported us.  Grateful for the privilege to live and serve in that NE part of the state where the winds blew and wheat grew and people relied on each other in so many ways.  Grateful for Easter and Jesus resurrection.  Grateful for JESUS coming to save us from our sins...rising on the third day!  Fulfilling God's promises.  So grateful.  Grateful for my daily walks, energy to do more.  Grateful for a "all looks good" bill of health!  Grateful for Joel's book getting finished.  And his new table.  Grateful for texts, phone calls, emails, prophetic words spoken, worship services online and in person.  Grateful for all this and so much more.

Enjoy your Easter weekend!

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!