Getting ready for my friend

Well, while my family and friends wake to nearly a foot of snow, I am enjoying the sunshine. It is playing a game of peek-a-boo but at least we know it's there. It does not seem 'fair' to have this while they are shoveling and taking a snow day but there is no control over weather.

As you may recall, much of my weekend was spent at church for a special meeting  Saturday and a guest preacher on Sunday. The potluck we enjoyed for lunch was simply delicious, with some folks being mildly surprised by my beans. Even I was surprised, and pleased, at how good they turned out. Mike S. got up from the table, came around, and gave me a congratulatory hug for my successful offering. Nice! I finished the leftovers yesterday for lunch---a meal in a dish! That's all I care to say here about the gatherings.

Justin's friend was at last able to close on the purchase of his home in Mandarin so Justin is all sent to move over there. Well, perhaps 'all set' is an exaggeration but in his head, he is all set. Justin picked up a bottle of champagne to enjoy as a celebration but I am not sure if they popped it open or not. He sent me a text message when touring the house reporting the toilets leak at their control valves. Just what he needs---more leaks! Oh, the joys of home ownership....

He has the measurements for his room and is trying to figure out the furniture placement. Yesterday he picked up a paint chart when at Home Depot and asked my opinion for the color. Of course, I chose the more bold color on the strip, especially since he has to paint over pink stripes already on the walls. He opted for the shade just above the one I chose, in the gold family, which will go well with his comforter and such. 

He is so funny! He made dinner for us last night. At first it smelled really good in the house, but then, he got distracted watching "Seinfeld" in my room, and burned his onions. I mean burned, like having ashes in our mouths. He was sauteing peppers and onions to have with some leftover teriyaki chicken, which we ate on big tortilla rounds. Definitely needed a scoop of sherbet after that meal! Once in a while it's good to have a mishap to remind one to remain vigilant at the stove...

He did a very good job of making room in the guest bedroom for Linda. In fact, I was surprised and very pleased at his progress. The washer has busy with laundering some of the clothing items which had been packed away since he moved in. I helped him out by folding the clothes for him, but am not sure they stay folded once they leave my custody. I used to have laundry baskets but they are all being used elsewhere, shall we say. Might have to treat myself to a new one when he leaves. 

Marlena came by in the afternoon, after work, to do the vacuuming, since he was not getting to it. She does a very thorough job when she does anything, plus she polished up the bathroom Linda will use. Justin got home from work and stopping at the store, passing Marlena on her way out. 

She brought me 'old' flowers, red roses, used in The Club dining room and put together a lovely arrangement with them. They are from St. Valentine's Day and still look marvelous. She said they have the longest life of any flowers they get. It's her job to care for them and when the new ones come in, she is free to take the 'old' ones. Glad she shared with me! Also, she brought a bag of bread they usually serve with dinners, day old now, which I repackaged into ziplocked bags and froze. Will be good on a soup day!

This morning I went to the car wash and finally got the sand, most of it anyway, removed from my car, and it's all polished up for Linda's arrival. (As of this writing, she is on her way to MKE on slippery I-43 and tonight, if the Lord is willing, I will pick her up at the airport.) It is so nice to have a clean car, inside and out, aside from my Bible study materials in the backseat. Even the steering wheel felt nice and polished. 

The young lady who did the cleaning complimented me on my hair, as did two different ladies at Winn-Dixie. Last night Justin complimented me, asking me if I had done. What? Murphy's Law says it often happens just before you're due for a hair cut, which is exactly where I am in my routine. Guess I will wait now until Linda is gone to go to the groomers. Unless I cannot stand it any longer, and go in!!!

More lists!

The other day a 'friend' of mine from Facebook, a personality on the Internet radio show I follow, posted an article from The Guardian, a British publication. The article was a compilation of the top 5 things people who are facing immanent death have stated. The author is a palliative nurse, one who is there in the last days of the person's life, who serves as a companion for the ill person and their family.  

Over her 12 year career, she kept track of folks' dying epiphanies and has released them in a book called "The Top Five Regrets of the Dying". I hope you do not feel like this is morbid, because I do not find it that way at all. Instead, it might stimulate some action on someone's part, to do something or not do something, as the case might be, before the end comes. It is a fascinating exercise and read, anyway.

The #1 thing was they wished they'd had the courage to live a life true to themselves, not the life others expected of them. The person feels they missed something, have unfulfilled dreams or goals, or are left wondering if they'd done enough. Good health brings with it the freedom to realize dreams and goals, but folks don't appreciate the opportunity until it's too late. 

Item #2 addresses working too hard or too much. The author said every single male patient she cared for expressed the same refrain. They missed milestones in their kids' lives as well as time spent with their spouse. Not as many females expressed this sentiment, but her patients were primarily a different generation where the husband was the primary breadwinner. 

Being more open with their feelings made the list at #3. In order to keep the peace, many folks kept their feelings to themselves which resulted in a mediocre existence, and tended to fill them with bitterness and resentment. Unexpressed emotions....

Here is my favorite: #4 "I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends". Oh my! It is often too late, when facing death, to catch up with your old friends. They have left the friendship slip for their own life, the comfort of familiarity taking precedence over friendships, and let the friends slip away. Many on their deathbed have things left to say to their friends and harbor deep regret for allowing this to happen. "Everyone misses their friends when they are dying."

The last item on the list, #5, is that folks, on their dying beds, wish they allowed themselves more happiness. This one seems to be very similar to #3, with the 'fear of change' being the prevalent sentiment expressed. They don't realize in time that "happiness" is a choice, but the fear of stepping outside the comfort zone restrained them. The dying wish they had lived, laughed, and loved more, and had more 'silliness' in their lives. You can't go wrong with more silliness, if you ask me!

As you can see, this is written entirely from a human standpoint, as the list nowhere mentions the value of living our life as a reflection of Christ. One who is a believer in the Lord and Savior knows the source of our joy is not necessarily from others, but often involves others, which is an additional blessing. 

It is my hope that all who read this will find something they can do yet, take care of, before they die, so the palliative nurse will have no regrets to record about their lives. "I'm but a stranger here, heaven is my home..."

There is rain!

This morning when I got to Bible study, I snapped this photo of what is affectionately, and sadly, known as Good Shepherd Lake, formerly our parking lot. I nearly had to pull into a handicap spot but did find a space dry enough for me to get out and keep my shoes dry. 

I woke to thunder and lightning, and a light rain. It had rained much of the night, starting again while we were in Bible class. Mike was our leader again today, covering the topic of "Angels and Demons". The chapter we discussed was about spiritists, the New Age movement, so-called 'near death experiences' and so on. Good discussion again today! The weather kept some folks away and they were missed. We can be thankful there is no snow to deal with....

Linda is hoping she won't encounter any travel complications on Wednesday, either leaving from MKE or getting out of Atlanta. She would rather go to jail than go to Atlanta! (Inside joke...). We are expecting to have below freezing weather for the lows here on the weekend and she will have to take some ribbing for that. Saturday we are going to the Alhambra Dinner Theater for the matinee and will need our snuggies, with the high expected to be in the 50's that day. She will be comfy, I will be frozen solid!

Ready for the rest?

21. You do not have to win every argument. Just accept you are not in agreement, and you can agree to disagree.

22.  Make peace with your past so you will not ruin your present.

23.  Do not compare yourself with others for there will always be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

24.  Only YOU are in charge of your own happiness.

25.  Remember you don't always have control over what happens, but you do have control over what you do with the experience.

26. Learn something new every day.

27. What other people think of you is of no concern to you!

28. Love your body, and respect it

29. No matter how good or bad the situation is, it will change

30. Your work will not take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will!! Stay on good terms with them

31. Get rid of everything that is not useful, beautiful, or fun

32. Envy is a waste of time. You already have everything you will ever need.

33. The best is yet to come

34.  No matter how you feel, get up, get dressed and be there

35. Have wonderful friends

36. Call your family often and send them messages that you are thinking of them

37. Every night before going to sleep, say the following: I give thanks for ________ Today I succeeded in ___________

38. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed

39. Enjoy life---you only have one opportunity, make the best of it

40. Life is beautiful---enjoy it while you can!

On this list, I think #35 is my favorite one, but many others are excellent choices as well. #37 is similar to what Linda J. and I are doing with our blessings jar and basket. 

The original e-mail included pictures of animals and insects in nature and since I am not particularly a fan of such things, I did us the favor of not including them. 

From my friend, Linda M.

                  20 Pieces of Advice

1. Walk 10 to 30 minutes each day, smiling while you do so!

2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day, locked away if need be

3. Listen to good music every day; it is true food for the spirit

4. Set a goal for yourself each morning when you awaken

5. Live your life with the 3 E's: Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy

6. Play more games than you did last year

7. Read more books than you did last year

8. Look at the sky at least once each day and realize what a magnificent world you live in

9.  Dream more in your waking hours

10.  Eat more natural foods than manufactured ones

11.  Eat berries, nuts, and drink green tea, plus lots of water and a glass of wine each day 

12.  Try each day to make at least three people smile

13.  Eliminate disorder in your home, your car, and your desk, and let new energy flow into your life

14.  Don't waste your precious time gossiping or regretting the past or in negative thoughts, or in worrying about things beyond your control. Better to convert your energy in that which is positive in the present.

15.  Realize that life is a school and that you are here to learn. Problems are life's lessons from which you learn.

16.  Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince, and dinner like a beggar.

17.  Smile and laugh more

18. Do not miss an opportunity to hug somebody you appeciate

19.  Life is too short to waste it by hating someone

20.  Don't take yourself too seriously---no one else does!

There are 20 more to come, but this has to be digested in smaller bites. Some of these are really great ideas---worthy of consideration and implementation! Can you guess which ones are my favorites and which ones apply to me? (one mentions my desk!!!)

Another marvelous breakfast

It was so marvelous, in fact, that I don't even know if I ate anything. I did, actually, because the nice lady clearing things away after the buffet was closed brought me a to-go box of bacon to take home with me! It seems they had a bounty leftover even though I had done my best to make a dent in the stack. No broken up pieces today---nice, full strips, oven baked to perfection!

                                      

When I walked over this morning, the fog was thick on the river. When I walked home, the sun had burned it off and all was clear again. The dining room was busy with hotel guests coming and going for breakfast, and poor Kathy was running ragged. The Rotarians had finished eating already when I arrived. As soon as they left the garden room, the staff was busy taking down tables and dressing others in lovely silver/grey tablecloths. Must be a weddding!

Much to my delight, Pat showed up for breakfast, the two us eating and talking for nearly two hours. It is amazing how quickly the time flies by when we're together. As the two of us were about to wrap things up, Pat told me she enjoys our time, that I was her 'counselor', which was flattering to hear. I feel that way when talking with her, not necessarily counseled, but rather, inspired! 

It seems my friends, the ants, have left me. When I opened the second Terro trap, I cut it too far down, and the liquid ran out of the container. Fortunately I had a plastic sandwich bag within reach to catch the drippings and sort of feed it back into the trap. The original trap which was nearly dry was crowded with ants, doing a seeming happy dance in and on the container, as if to spite me. I showed them by pouring the poison all over the place! Have to be careful not to lick my fingers or mess with that stickiness next to me.

                                             

Oops, I spoke too soon....there they are, back again. I might have awakened them with my canned air, dusting off my window shelf and the lamp. I have to get the dust wand to clean around the windows before Linda arrives. It still puzzles me how spiders can get up here this high and busy themselves making webs to hold my dust. They can stop any time they want as far as I am concerned!

Last night Justin came home after helping his father, and he was bearing gifts. He stopped at CVS for soda which was on special, and found my favorite Easter eggs. Bless you! He gave me one and put the rest in the fridge for me. Also, he bought a bag of robin's eggs, malted milk balls, of which he took a handful, leaving the rest in my room, out of his reach. He is doing so well with his diet and weight loss, it's just falling off of him. I have to watch where I step so I don't slip and fall on his lost weight! 

I figured he could use my nice bacon in his next batch of cooked cabbage that he loves so much. A couple months ago, my neighbor, Maureen, told me how she makes her cooked cabbage. Justin made his first batch using her recipe, loved it, and has made it many times since, varying some of the ingredients to change it up a bit. He thinks Jesse and he can live on that when they get moved into the 'new' house together. They will have to get a large fry pan to use for it, with a lid, or an electric fry pan like Maureen uses for hers. 

We are looking for temps today in the low 80's while my family is being buried once again in a snow storm. The schools are closed, so many snow days this year! Mom was supposed to go for a hair cut today and I hope she is able to get there. Linda J. usually takes her but she was planning to go to Shawano for card making class. Not sure that will happen for her either with the snow covered roads. 

My poor sister, Kerry, is at home today not due to snow but due to having a medical procedure yesterday. She will recover this three-day weekend after having skin cancer removed from her cheek, and a sort of graft put in place to cover the hole left by the carving out of the cancer. My heart hurts for her and I hope the recovery is swift and the scarring minimal.

                                   

                        Sarah with her grandma, Sue

It looks bad now, as any surgical site would, and from that I have determined I will wear a hat in the pool this summer! My goddaughter, Sarah, was sporting a lovely blue 'picture hat' with a fur border the other day when shopping with her grandma, and I think that's what I would like for the pool! The color would coordinate with my swimsuit, and look stylish besides. It is all about the accessories and all about being careful now in the sun. 

Thursday on the river

As I sit here enjoying the view from the window, I am also enjoying (not really!) the sight of teeny ants storming my window shelf. Now, where did they come from??? One second, nothing, and the next, a swarm! I have already placed a Terro trap there to entice them to their demise and hope in no time at all they will be gone. I wonder if my dusting the other day stirred them up or something.

                      Yesterday morning's sunrise

Bible study this morning was excellent, as expected. We are nearly finished with our study of Definitions, begun last fall, before our Advent study which we finished well into Epiphany! There was less digression today but still enough to add interest to the class. Next week when Linda is here we will finish this book and then start the very last in the series. This publishing house is switching to electronic studies for this Good News periodical. 

Last night I had orders to let Justin know when I was leaving church so he could put the finishing touches on our dinner. He wanted to wait for me to eat because he said it had been a while since we had a "nice, sit-down dinner". Aw, so sweet! He made a brown fried rice with whole kernal corn in it, plus teriyaki chicken. It was delicious and I even had a small second helping of the rice. So good! 

While he changed a light bulb in the hall (I didn't have to 'hold up the prophet's arms', as he thought at first) I emptied the dishwasher. He refilled it and wiped the counters off while I put the remainder of the food in the fridge. Quite a team! Tonight he is going to help his father again and likely have dinner out so I get the leftovers from last night's feast!

The closing for the home he is moving into takes place tomorrow and he is quite excited. Justin thinks there should be a celebration but is not sure one will happen. His primary job  is to ready here the guest room for Linda, who arrives Wednesday night, but he also has work to do for Ron at his new home. Not sure how he's going to work all that out but Linda is Priority #1!!!

Worship last night was marvelous, with Pastor H. serving as our guest pastor. I was sad when the service was over, so sad that tears ran down my cheeks! For our final hymn we sang "Abide With Me", stanzas 1, 5, and 7, with the last one getting me. I like that one the best and use it often in my life: "Hold Thou Thy cross before my closing eyes; Shine through the gloom and point me to the skies. Heaven’s morning breaks, and earth’s vain shadows flee; In life, in death, O Lord, abide with me." Yes, Lord, please...