April Has Arrived: Did Spring Come, Too?

At first many of us were beginning to think that we had skipped spring.  I mean it is a bit awkward going from corduroy pants one day to shorts later in the same week.  But we are mere morals, and the weather remains a mystery to us. 

In the meantime, during all of that cold, then rain, and sun, our more mature herb garden "popped" into full growth.  Coward that I am, I was almost afraid to stick my hand down into the luxurious growth earlier this week to weed for fear of coming up with a snake.

One friend here in the Village posted a picture of a snake that was in their drive recently and another told of an encounter between her small pup and a pygmy rattlesnake.  I found myself even fearful touching lush pots of blooming flowers at the nursery yesterday.  The nursery is in a wooded area.  What "if" a snake had found its way into one of the pots I purchased?  I thought of it all the way home.  What would I do, how would I react, if a snake slithered by my foot as I was driving home along the curving narrow roads.   This is one of those places when I would not ask myself, "What would Jesus do?"  Oh, no, Jesus would come no where near being the "girl" who is me.  I would scream, lift my feet, and probably wreck my car.  Along one lonely stretch of back roads with no houses, I even wondered how long it would be until someone came along and found me.  With an imagination like mine, no wonder I fear so many things...  Even now I am imagining that a small snake "could have" slithered under the workings of the driver's seat.  Oh, imagination of mine!

Yesterday was a bountiful haul from my shopping (which I do not really enjoy): a vanity stool for the bathroom, herbs, veggies, and flowers for our gardens, groceries for the pantry, and a piece of oil cloth, yes oil cloth, for our table.  We have a table that extends to 102" without any "drop" or allowance for hem.  I finally decided that the best way to go was with the oil cloth.  It is white, flannel lined, and should look lively with our old, almost 44 year old, white trimmed with blue, china.  I am determined to use "real" plates and silver when our Sunday school class meets for a potluck on Sunday.

While I was trying to wear myself out last night, well pass midnight, I began a book our daughter had suggested, Crazy Love: Overwhelmed by a Relentless God.  The jury is still out.  She thought it was awesome.  I'm not feeling the love for this book yet, but perhaps it will come.  I read one chapter of that, then switched to my "other" bedtime story, which did tire me.  It's the description of a volunteer position that I've agreed to take on for the United Methodist Women at my church.  I poured over the materials and still can't figure out what it is that I am supposed to be doing for my part.  This is where I turn to God to lead me.  I know that it will be okay, because in looking over the last few years' minutes, there were no reports from the people who had this position...  Perhaps I have not over extended myself, as I had feared.  After that, I went to bed and fell asleep immediately.  A word to the wise: find the right reading material to make you sleepy.

It is possible that I'll get to see the little granddaughters when I go to my Relay for Life later this month.  Their mom is considering meeting me there.  That is a delight to ponder.  Love those grandchildren!

And then next month, the middle child, who is turning 40, is marking her Big Event with a Big Event.  She is going to participate in an one-half Ironman Marathon.  I'm not sure about all of that, but I do know that she has struggled with two injuries during training, so she has been on my mind.  That trip will allow me to see the two little grandsons.  What side bonuses I am finding in life!  That race is in Florida, so I will fly there and leave the Hubs as house guardian.  He doesn't mind, as he can play continuous golf.

Our oldest, the only boy, has passed through the stages of life that his sisters are now enduring.  His daughter is a freshman in high school and fairly independent.  I don't think that he is plagued with carpools, after school activities, etc, as they live so near the school that the granddaughter can easily walk or bike.

And sometime this summer we will get to tour Nova Scotia with the oldest granddaughter, which should just be pure joy for all of us involved.

I am in love with this stage of my life.  It is a good season for both my husband and me.  God is good!

Today's Date: Parents' Anniversary

Today would mark the anniversary of my parents' wedding day, if they were both still alive.  Daddy died after a very brief battle with leukemia in 1993, the same year that our youngest child graduated from high school, moved most of her belongings to a dorm on the Baylor campus, and was the foreshadowing of my husband's 5 way by-pass.  It was a difficult time for me, when I look back upon it.

If I have done the math correctly, today would mark anniversary number 62 for my parents.  There are so many couples here in the Village that make it that long and longer, that it doesn't seem as if it could be so hard, but the human body is susceptible to diseases and accidents, as well as the ability to get along with a spouse for that number of years.  I am thankful that my parents enjoyed the 48 years that they did have together.

I have learned from numerous hard lessons that today is to enjoy, to celebrate, to give thanks and praise, because no matter how much we plan, organize, etc., ultimately, our time is not our own.  Our lives can be snatched in the blink of an eye.  That's what Erma Bombeck was trying to tell the world.  Don't save things away for rainy days or holidays or special days.  Use your china, your linens, your best because there may not ever come a time to enjoy it.

This last week was one of those long, wonderful, God-like experiences for me.  It was, undoubtedly, one of the best visits that we have ever shared with our youngest child and her family.  The children were ours to hold, hug, read to, listen to, play with, etc.  It was just delightful!  And while I potty-trained the two and a half year old and comforted the teething infant, my husband hauled sand, rocks, and pea gravel to make a patio, painted the entire back porch, and did landscaping.  There was almost no television, little Internet (compared to my usual), and not much in the way of newspapers....  But it was life at its best!

Instead of starting off with my usual litany of wants and needs to today, I began my day with thanksgiving.  Our God is so generous with us.  He loves us so big and wide that it is mind-boggling.  Thank you, God!  Thank you for sun and rain, clouds and sky, night and day.  Thank you for precious little ones to bring us back to reality.  Thank you for infants who suffer with sore gums because we can give you praise that they have  full tummys, safe havens in which to live, and good parents to look out after them.

It has been awhile since I have felt so blessed.  If I were a kitten, I'd be purring.  If I were an infant, I'd be smiling in my sleep.  But I am a very blessed sister, wife, mother, Nana, and friend.  I am so incredibly enriched by people in my life.  Lent this year has brought me that realization.  It is the people that matter, and I am richly blessed with people.

Blessings on you all, because if this lands in your hands, then you have given me the priceless gift of your friendship and support.  And I am thinking of you.

Sandy

A New Realization

We have been so busy helping our youngest and her husband add on a new patio, painting their back porch,  landscaping, plus potty training, etc., that I missed the anniversary of my mom's death.  It was last week, one of the last days of March.  And I wouldn't have thought  of it, except today is my parents' anniversary.  And I want to remember them on what was their special day.  The number that I am coming up with is 64 years.  Of course, Daddy died long before Mother did, so it was 48 years of marriage when he died, if I remember correctly. It made me stop and think that the number is not what is important but what is accomplished in the time that you have.

Now that we are back at home, the usual "jet lag," although we drove, has hit me.  There is always so much to do with putting things away, doing laundry, and going through mail.  Patience.  Slow down and breath.  It will all get done.

It's crazy that we had 98 register on BC's car yesterday in west Texas, woke up to low 40's, and never got up much higher than 50's with high winds on our way home.

It was the best trip we've ever had to visit our youngest and her husband.  There was lots of hard work, but we feel as if we made a difference.  And we have already been invited to babysit our little girls for two nights next Spring Break!!!  What a wonderful blessing that is!  To me it is a compliment to be trusted with two such active little souls.

Tomorrow is cleaning day.  Julissa will be here bright and early.  We will both have lots to do!

Blessings,
Sandy