Being a Blessing

 As I was reading the daily devotion from Joyce Meyer's book Trusting God Day by Day, it was evening.  Not the time I wanted to be reading daily devotions because my plan has always been to start the day with Joyce and then read the daily from Jesus Calling.  But my schedule has been off lately, and I think there was a reason for it yesterday.  

Her challenge yesterday was to be a blessing to someone.  To listen for God's leading to do just that.  Now how was I going to do that at 8:00 in the evening when the day was already over?

Then I thought about it a little more---reflecting on the activities of the day.

Gary and I left the house at 10:00 Monday morning.  We stopped at Stone House for breakfast - the Breakfast Scrambler for him.  Biscuits and gravy for me.  I know...not the usual Four Cheese Omelette with cinnamon toast.  While we were sitting there, we talked about his desire to see Mount Rushmore and decided to plan a trip there in May.  Just Mt Rushmore and the Badlands.  

We drove to Medaryville next and cashed in the savings bonds he had found in the hutch last week.  They had been gifts from Ann and Bud and my grandmother when I graduated from Purdue with my master's degree in 1977.  They had collected interest and matured so it was time to cash them in.  Also I had a purpose for the money---paying for the plane tickets for our Girls Trip to Waco in June.  While in the bank, we visited a little with Nema and Becca, then Gary chatted with Karen for a few minutes (her door was closed).

Our next stop was Hebron to pick up our taxes.  Lynn has been doing our taxes for many years and took care of the farm accounts before that.  It makes sense to pay his office to complete our tax returns each year.  I know *I* don't want to do them!  Driving to Hebron took us through LaCrosse and Kouts, so there was discussion of past trips in that area, riding team buses to games, and my falling in the parking lot on ice after the girls had played a game in the old Hebron gym. We also laugh now about going to Hebron a couple of years ago and actually standing in DeMotte, wondering where Lynn's office was.  Gary even called the office which is when we realized we were in the wrong town!  I am sure the office girls had a big laugh about that!

Continuing to travel north, our next destination was Bass Pro Shop at Portage.  There are only two such shops in the state and this one has been the closer for us.  We usually stop at the location near Gatlinburg in December, but our trips to the Portage location are few, and ever fewer now that we have moved further south!  I like the clothes there...odd, I know ,but I do.  Imagine this conversation "Hey, Beth!  Cute shirt!  Where did you get that?"  "Oh one of my many purchases at Bass Pro Shop.  That is where I buy most of my clothes!"  But seriously, I do like their clothes and the way they fit me.  Gary does too.  

After our purchases at Bass Pro, we stopped for lunch at Longhorn, which has been part of our tradition.  Even though Gary's steak was a little tough, we enjoyed a casual, unrushed lunch in a safe environment.  It was good.  And I had missed the salad I usually get there---grilled chicken and fruit (grapes, strawberries, mandarin oranges), bleu cheese crumbles, and pecans on the greens.  

The final stop was at Target in Valpo.  I don't think we have shopped in Valpo since we moved.  We used to make trips there at least once a month, especially since we liked the Kohls and Target, plus there was a nice JC Penney store at the plaza off of 49.  After noticing that the shower curtain in the downstairs bathroom was...old..., I ordered a couple of new ones from Amazon and decided to switch up that towels and decor in there.  Even though I didn't find the exact color I wanted, what I did find will work and I am excited to clean the bathroom well and re-decorate it on Wednesday (expected delivery date from Amazon!).   Of course we found many other items we needed --- a new pillow for Gary.  Easter eggs so Elijah had his own on Sunday.  Easter candy.  A few items for the kids from the dollar spot.  Bananas for Gary and Trop 50 for me. Toilet paper in case there is another shortage.  Bandaids and vaseline for Gary's legs.  Birthday and Easter cards to send.

As we were driving around, remembering past times when we had played basketball in Valpo or bought a new mattress or made a yearly Christmas shopping trip through the area to Merrillville or stopped at Albanese for candy....Gary mentioned how much he was enjoying the day.  We were driving the red Escape which we don't use very often.  Why put the miles on our new-to-us car just to run errands in Lafayette, run into Delphi, or drive to see the girls?  We had two things to do---cash in the bonds and pick up the taxes.  After that the day was ours.  We had no time to be home.  Blaine was off so he was picking up Owen.  Landon was back from his trip and school was in session again after Spring Break so they would be doing the chores. It was a beautiful spring day, full of sunshine and warmer temperatures.  We knew where we were going so there was no unexplored territory or need for intricate directions. I was wrong when I said that Gary just mentioned that he was enjoying the day.  He said it several times...he was really enjoying the day.

When I thought about it, he hasn't been feeling well with the issues with blisters and bleeding and skin peeling.  But he is healing now and feeling better than he was.  He spent several days watching Landon and Owen so that Hilary and I could go to Gatlinburg.  She needed a break and he encouraged us to take us on a Girls Trip so that she could rest and rejuvenate.  He felt like I needed that time also (which I did).  He watched Lynnlee and Cooper while we were gone also.  He has been helping Blaine build a new lot for the goats.  He has been helping with cleaning the pens and re-arranging the barn.  The flag pole is up again after being blown over a second time and losing part of the original post.  He has been filling bird feeders, sweeping off the deck, He needed some time to relax too.

We needed some time to just be together without interruptions, without children (even though we love them and enjoy having them at our house), without other obligations.

And that is when I realized that all day, I had been a blessing---to my husband and to myself.

Isn't that what God intended for us to do yesterday?

I think it was.

Out of My Control

 You know, sometimes life gets busy, and the routine is disrupted.

Last week Hilary and I went to Gatlinburg for a few days of fun during her Spring Break.  When we returned, Cooper and Lynnlee were stayed with us for a couple of days.  Blaine was here after work building a new lot.  Gary had a doctor's appointment, and we went out for late lunch and errands.  It was just a busy week.

So..the routine of daily devotions and Bible study didn't happen.  

I meant to keep up; I really did.  My books and Bible were packed with me on the trip.  But it just didn't happen.

Other things happened during the course of the week.  Not exactly 'things that happened' but rather things that were said or implied.

Little digs.  Comments made.  Rolled eyes.  Heavy sighs.  Pictures sent through texts.  Being talked 'over.'

Last night I was upset about those things. Being 'upset' might be too mild.  I was angry.  

In my mind none of the remarks, the eye rolls, the sighs, the comments were necessary, were needed, or were even warranted.  But they happened.  And they upset me.

Today, however, I feel better and I think that is because of a different perspective.  Possibly the reason is reading the devotions that I missed out on the past week too.  

I also shared with a friend last night and she reminded me that what we do and the decisions we make are ours.  If we are comfortable with those, then what others say or think is not important.  That only shows that they don't agree, that they want to manipulate us, or that something is bothering them.

And that, I have come to realize, is very true.

Does it matter why we didn't go to Key West?  No.  My doctor did tell me that I shouldn't fly because I had had issues with my feet and lower legs swelling for two months.  He felt that a change in medication and not aggravating the situations would be helpful.  That included NOT flying and if I traveled by car, frequent stops to walk around and stretch my legs.  He also felt that travel to southern Florida was dangerous for me since I hadn't had both doses of the vaccine yet.  Key West was a 'hot spot' and he wasn't sure about the protocols being enforced.  He said that Gary would probably be fine, but he was concerned about me.  Since I had already tested positive for COVID in November, I wasn't too interested in being infected again.  I took his advice seriously and Gary and I decided not to go on the trip.  Another consideration after my visit to the doctor was the issue with Gary's legs.  He had numerous blisters forming on his legs, his arms, his torso.  They were popping and bleeding.  Sheets of skin were peeling off.  I wasn't sure how he was going to manage all of the activities we would be doing in Florida plus wearing shorts.   His legs were unslightly; wearing jeans would just rub against the blisters and make them worse.  It was better not to go to Florida until he was healed.  The main thing is...it was our decision.  We made it.  We don't regret it.  

Going to Gatlinburg was a spur of the moment decision.  It started in a discussion during breakfast at Stone House, checking with Megan about her availability,  then grew into finding a room in Pigeon Forge, making arrangements for kids, and packing for the trip.  It was a fun trip.  Hilary and I both had a great time.  There were smiles and laughs and a few tears but generally just a good time.  She was happy. I was happy.  The only people it should matter to was us.  No one else.

Another 'spur of the moment' trip grew out of a mention of Waco, Texas and the Magnolia Silos.  That would be a fun trip to take, a girls trip.  That little gem grew into a celebration for my 70th birthday with my daughters.  We are going to Waco, Texas in June for my birthday.  That is what I wanted to do.  As we were talking about it, Gary said we would pay for it (panic!) but that has worked out also.  When he was looking in the hutch for something else, he found three bonds that I had been given for graduating from Purdue with my masters degree.  I checked the current value and found that the amount was just about enough to cover the plane tickets for me, Megan, and Hilary.  And...Ann and Bud gave me the largest bond.  If she knew that we were using the money for this trip, she would be SO happy.  No..she would want to go along!  It was just meant to be, right?  Then Gary was able to convert some of our vacation club points to honors points to reserve a room for us at Homewood Premier Suites in Waco for three nights...so we don't have to pay for that either!  We checked calendars for baseball, pig and goat shows, Disney trip, and decided on June 3-6 for the trip. Gary will watch Cooper and Lynnlee while Matt is teaching summer school and the other three kids overnight while Blaine is working.  This is what matters.   The arrangements that are needed have been made.  We chose the dates that work best for us.  We decided on the place to go for MY birthday.  Eye rolls.  Negative comments.  Neither of those are necessary.  Why?  None of it concerns anyone else except us.  And to repeat, it is MY birthday and MY decision on what I want to do with MY daughters.  

Something that Hilary and I were talking about while away.....why does it matter what people put on their FB pages?  I am not talking about propaganda or political opinions (although these two things would still be applicable).  I am talking about the 'checking in' posts or pictures of food in restaurants or a particular dish that was made in one's kitchen. What is wrong with two people smiling at the camera while posing in front of a landmark such as the sign at the entrance to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park?  While I agree that posting everything that happens in one's life or airing dirty laundry or bashing other people is not a good idea, it is truly up to the person to decide what he or she wants to share.  And if Freda wants to post pictures of every plate of food that she eats in a day, then that is her prerogative.  If Johnny shares pictures of him and his wife in front of the Washington Monument and the Lincoln Memorial and the Vietnam Wall and the WWII Memorial, then why can't he?  My feeling is that if someone doesn't like what I post or thinks I post too many pictures of food or documents too much of what I am doing or where I have been, then don't follow me anymore.  Unfriend me if you don't like seeing it.  I like seeing the 'memories' pop up each day of things that have happened in the past or pictures that have stirred up so many moments that I might have forgotten.  Too many of my friends and relatives that I don't see often have told me that they appreciate seeing the pictures I post of the girls, the kiddos, our house, the places we have been so they can keep up with what is going on in our lives since we don't personally see each other that much now (former classmates, cousins who live in other states, former colleagues, friends from where we lived). I am not going to stop just because a few people criticize my posts or feel like I post too much.  Also I heard one comment about my posting 'all of those Bible things' and had to smile because there are so many others who have sent messages or told me in person how much they enjoy reading those devotional pages.  Several have asked for the name of the book so they can buy their own copies.  Since I don't share my faith much and it is difficult for me, I feel this is a way for me to reach others.  And I won't stop doing it for just that reason. 

As I was trying to catch up on devotions this morning, I read one that indicated that we should not live for ourselves, but instead live for God.  We should show love.  We should be positive. We should trust in God that He will guide our decisions.  Since I had been mulling over so many things that had made me angry, I tried to put them into a different perspective.  Gary and I made the best decision for us and God opened the doors for that decision to be made.  Hilary and I needed the time away to refresh, renew, and rejuvenate.  That happened.  The girls and I will celebrate this birthday (which I have been dreading) with a fun trip that will be paid for without having to juggle our finances.  Being able to share my faith on FB has been a good thing...one that has given me and others hope.  I don't see negatives in any of these things.

Negative people will always try to pull someone down who is happy.  Often those people who feel the need to criticize, make mocking comments, or cast negativity onto a situation are unhappy themselves and want others to feel the same way.  Not going to happen here!

Their thoughts, feelings, and comments are out of my control.  And I refuse to let the bother me anymore!

 

Quick Trip South

 Last week Hilary and I went on a spur-of-the moment trip to the Smoky Mountains.  

How did it happen?

It just did.  We were talking about spring break, the trip to Waco for my birthday in June, Landon going to Wisconsin with Fifes, Tessa going to Grandma Jan's for a few days, and suddenly a trip was born.

I called Megan to firm up the dates for Waco and then asked her about her availability for spring break.  They already had plans so Hilary and I decided just to take off ourselves.  Papaw would keep Landon and Owen while Blaine was working.  

We left on Saturday afternoon and returned home Wednesday evening.  It was just enough time to be away but not too long to think that it was time to return to our normal lives. 

 

Highlights --  Apple Valley.  Bass Pro Shop.  Tanger Premium Outlets.  Smoky Mountain Brewery.  The Alamo.  The Village in Gatlinburg.  The Island.  The Christmas Place.  Corky's (bad, bad, bad).  All Sauced Up.  Five Oaks.  Cancun.  The new Cinnamon place.  Alewine Pottery.  

The favorite thing?  Going where we wanted to go, doing what we wanted to do, eating where we wanted to eat.  It was just nice to do that without having to think about what anyone else would want to do or if someone didn't want to go where we did. 

 

The best thing?  Spending time with my daughter.  I missed Megan being there too, but I was glad for time with Hilary.   She works hard.  She is a great mother, but I know it is stressful trying to keep up with Tessa and it is good to have a break from everyone. I think that happened.

Anyway...we returned relaxed and refreshed.  Now Gary wants to go!  So I may be looking at another trip south in the near future!

Keeping Busy in the Sewing Room

 It's no secret that I love my sewing room.

Rebecca learned early in our search for the new house that having that extra room I could make into a sewing room was on my list!  I could have just used one of the spare bedrooms, but when I saw the extra room in the lower level of this house, with may outlets on the wall, no closets, and a table that the owners were leaving.....I knew it would be perfect. 

And it is!

In the last few weeks I have either finished or started several projects.  One of them was the quilt for Katie Blandford that her grandmother Susan Hundley Thompson had started but didn't finish before she died.  Michelle, Susan's daughter, asked me to finish the quilt that her mother had started.  I had had the boxes of fabric for several months, but there were other projects that needed attention first.  After Christmas seemed like a good time to focus on it.

 

The next project was a t-shirt quilt.  Soon after the pandemic was declared and schools went to virtual learning, Matt cleaned out his closet and drawers.  He collected a number of baseball and other CP t-shirts that would be perfect for a quilt.  Could I do that?  Of course.  But during the pandemic there was no interfacing for stabilizer to be found and when it finally was available, the cost was extremely high.   That project had been put on the back burner also but after digging in the chest of drawers in the sewing room for something else, I found a packet of t-shirt stabilizer that I could use for his shirts.  It worked.  

 

 

I really like quick and easy.  Plus I like a pattern that will tell me how much fabric to buy, how to cut the strips needed from each piece, and how to put it all together.  I bought two 3 yard quilt books several months ago.  I used one pattern for Lindsey Geyer's first baby quilt and another pattern for her second baby quilt (they were twins!). But I wanted to try a couple more.

One day when Hilary, Tessa, and I were out shopping, we stopped at JoAnn Fabrics.  We found several beautiful purple prints---then remembered that Amanda's favorite color was purple--then decided that a perfect housewarming gift would be a lap quilt.  Three one-yard cuts of two purple fabrics (one with flowers and one with dragonflies) plus a cut of a yellow with reddish purple polka dots, and three yards of purple with white polka dots for the backing made their way into our cart.  Using the LIghtning pattern from one of the books, that quilt was created.

 

On the same shopping trip we found a farm scene fabric that we matched with a black and white cow print and added in a red with white scattered circles for accent.  In an online search for more 3-yard quilt patterns I found one that was perfect called "Sew Easy"  That quilt went together very quickly and the title was right..it was SO easy to sew.

 

On deck (really on top of the chest of drawers) are three Christmas table runners that need to be complete so that really should be the next project.

In the wings, though, are more projects.

     * gray, white, and yellow prints, one a gray with white arrows, for another 3-yard quilt

     *Hilary's t-shirts that have been in hags for several years

      *more Christmas fabric for more table runners (no excuse for not having time to make them before Christmas 2021

     *a charm pack of camera prints that need to have something done with them

     * some fairy tale prints that have been cut and partially sewn but have come to a standstill until I can figure out what I really want to do with them

     *a pack of blue snowmen strips for me!

Think I have enough projects to work on?  Those will definitely keep me out of trouble!  Or maybe not, because going to a fabric store (not just JoAnn's or Hobby Lobby but a REAL honest to goodness fabric store is always dangerous and doing that is in the plans for the next couple of weeks)

Yes, I love my sewing room!  Can't you tell?

 

    

An Author in the Making

 Tessa was here off and on today.  She had a book with her, a spiral bound notebook with blank pages.

She explained that her mommy had bought it for her and had written her name on the front of it.

The first thing she wanted to do was to read me the story that she had written in the book.  All of the characters were squirrels.

As the day went on, Tessa went shopping with her mommy while the boys and their daddy were here.  Owen was in the house, of course, for most of the day.  Otherwise he was outside riding on his fire truck or jumping on the trampoline.  

Landon was helping clean the goat pens, spread manure with his dad, and played outside with Owen. 

But back to the budding author;;;; she was working on that story all evening!

She drew pictures.  She added chapters.  She developed the story.

And the squirrel had a name too!

Plus there was an adoption.  Parents went for a walk and were killed.  There were friends and other squirrels who were mean to the main squirrel.

Sometimes I wondered if Tessa were drawing some of the ideas from her own life and experiences or what she thought might have happened to her.

Maybe she just has a good imagination.

Even though some of the words were spelled incorrectly her ideas were good ones and the sentences were fairly well-constructed.

Yes, I think we have a budding author in the family.

 

 

It Wasn't Meant to Be

 Two years ago there was talk of a Family Cruise for the spring of 2021. It sounded good in theory, but in reality, it just wouldn't work.

Our family works around three different calendars.  Rossville Schools, Clinton Prairie Schools, and Tate & Lyle.  Gary and I are flexible.  Two things figured into our daughters and their families not going on the Family Cruise:  Spring Break time wasn't going to work well with everyone else in the family and cost.  Plus the appropriateness of a cruise for the five kids, being able to keep track of them during the week, and being able to enjoy activities as a large family seemed next to impossible.  The final decision NOT to participate was timing since the main consideration was Nick's spring break and working around it.  Rarely does a college spring break jive with those of school corporations.  The final straw, however, was COVID and the cancellation of cruises in general.

The alternative plan was to rent a house in Florida and all of us go there for a week.  Same issues though.....timing and cost.  The girls were out on both counts, even though the activities might have been more conducive to children. Cost was still an issue, including the travel costs and time.  For everyone else, though,  the house was booked. Flights to Ft. Lauderdale were reserved.  Plans were made.

Then everything fell apart --- for us anyway.

Soon after Christmas my feet and lower legs began to swell.  Issues with my feet swelling are not uncommon; however, when the swelling goes into my lower legs, that is a problem.  Plus this time my skin was hot to the touch, pains were shooting up my legs, and i was scared.  When I saw Dr. Hart, he suggested some changes in medication.  He also advised not traveling, especially by plane.  When I told him of the plans to fly to Florida, he nixed that idea and said that driving would be a better option, as long as there were frequent stops.  Next I mentioned Key West, and he nixed that idea as well.  Why?  Because he said Key West was a Hot Spot for COVID, that protocols were not being followed as well there. Since I would not have had both of my COVID vaccinations, he recommended that I not go.  When I said I wasn't sure how I would explain that to the rest of our group, he said I could 'throw him under the bus' if I needed to.  He just would not recommend that I go to Key West unless I had had both of the shots.  Gary would probably be ok since he would have had both by that time, but I would have had just one and he didn't want me to take that chance.  

So we decided to cancel.   

Cancelling the flights was not too hard.  We have a voucher of sorts that must be used before August 15.  The reason for that is that our tickets were paid for with a voucher for our cancelled trip to Florida in June 2019.  Cancelling our part of the house was relatively easy also.  Gary insisted that we pay our share, but Tom and Gina paid it instead and took our spot.

Finally Gary is having issues with his legs and other spots on his body.  Blisters have been forming, then popping, and bleeding.  He has been struggling with these since January.  Finally he was able to see the doctor that helped him before when he had the issues with his foot.  She has prescribed medicines, ointments, creams, and further appointments with the wound clinic.  At this point going to Key West would not be advised because he would need to keep the bleeding covered and it would be hot and sweaty---not conducive to healing blotches on his arms and legs.

I guess it wasn't meant to be.  I was apprehensive about going from the beginning.  Something just didn't seem right and comfortable to me.  I guess God had a plan for us NOT to go on this trip all along.  He just took some time to make it clear to us that we weren't supposed to go.

Am I missing this opportunity to go on a trip at the beginning of March to Key West where it will be sunny and warm?  Not really.  I know that we will have a good time with the kids this week, that I can work on several sewing projects, and that we won't spend as much money, which is a good thing!  And I also know that Karen will be sure to fill us in on all of the fun things that happened without us when they return.

It just wasn't meant to be.

No Posts for a While!

 Yes, I haven't posted for nearly a month.  Why?  Not sure.  

I have thought about posting several times, then it seems like I really don't have much to say.

Also it seems like no one reads what I post anyway, but that isn't why I write.  I write for me, so it really shouldn't matter if anyone else reads it or not.

But...here goes with some highlights for the last few weeks ----

1.  Devotions - Rhonda and I both like the Joyce Meyer book we are using for our THIRD year of devotions together.  It seems amazing to me that we have continued this for THREE years and haven't faltered.  What is even more amazing is that we have formed a close friendship and we haven't even met each other in person!  How cool is that!?!  The devotions have been good for both of us, and I am looking forward to sharing God's word and Joyce's message for the rest of the year with my good friend from San Antonio.

 2. Jesus Calling posts - I like these devotions also.  They seems to focus on just what I need to hear, when I need to hear it.  I have been taking pictures of the pages, then posting them on FB.  I also write highlights in my journal and record the scripture readings for the day.  One thing I have noticed is that the author is rather repetitive in what she uses as appropriate scriptures for the message.  It also bothers me a little that she is writing and using the first person pronouns as if Jesus is talking to the reader.  I still like the daily messages, though.  I will continue to share them (even though FB had to evaluate my post a few times before it appeared) because to me it is amazing the number of people who either 'like' the message or comment on it.  I am always surprised by a new name popping up, so I know the word is reaching people that I don't know about.

3.  COVID shot - Gary has received both of his, with no side effects.  I have had my first one with the second scheduled for the Tuesday after Easter.  I was a little leery about getting the shot, but I really don't want to be sick again, and both Gary and I were really sick in November.  Plus I need to adopt Gary's attitude - he sees it as a flu shot and we get those each year.  This is just another protection.  I also think of how Dad took us to Sebring Elementary for our polio vaccines in the late 50s or early 60s.  He explained a few years before he died that he was terrified of taking us, wondering just what he was having them inject into his daughter, his wife, and himself.  But it all turned out ok. I cling to that...and the fact that God is still in control of everything!

4.  Quilting - I finished Susan's quilt and delivered it to Michelle and Katie last Saturday. We met them, along with David and Kyle, at Half Moon Brewery in Kokomo for dinner while they were visiting Katie at Ball State.  There were many tears, and I think they liked the end result.

5.  T-Shirt Quilt - I finally was able to do something with all of the t-shirts that Matt had given me last March.  There were enough from the fronts and few sayings on the backs to make 20 squares and arrange those into a pretty nice quilt.  It is currently at Betty's to be quilted.  I think the finished product will be really nice.

That's all for now!  It's good to be back.  But I still don't think anyone will read this.