Jury Duty

Yes, it has caught up with me - my first time on Jury Duty! Today was the first mind numbing day! Actually I am glad I am doing this for the experience it affords. And the great people watching! I've never had much dealing with courts and that whole process, so this is all new to me! I'm glad I brought a book, as I spent much of the day buried in it! We did have some excitement, though! There was a fire drill! A thousand people exiting the building with fire trucks screaming through the streets! Garnered us a nice, long lunch hour! The pastor's wife is also on Jury Duty these two weeks and we were able to spend some time together and even have lunch! I'm surprised at how exhausted I am, though! I finally got assigned to a court only to be told to come back tomorrow morning at 9:30 a.m.!! One day down, and counting! Somehow I'll have to find some time to go to the church and crank out a bulletin! One day at a time, though, one day at a time!

Northwest Beauty!

Wow! When it is nice here, it is really nice! I got some yard work done yesterday which was much needed! There is plenty to do yet, but I made a little progress! It was nearly 80 today which was a treat! I had a sewing project to work on, but enjoyed the day none the less. We went for a drive after dinner along the waterfront and then out to Pt. Defiance's 5 Mile Drive. It was so relaxing and was a promise of more to come! This was another great week-end!

Mother's Day

This has been the best Mother's Day week-end in a long time! Friday night everyone, and I mean everyone went to the Rainiers baseball game! The little ones had a great time and Hannah even stayed awake for the fireworks! Saturday we all went up to Great-grandma's place where her other son and wife joined us for pizza! We used the little "tea room" that is available to the residents and had a great visit. We were outside most of the time. Little John was enthralled with the ants crawling around and spent plenty of time catching them and sharing them with everyone! Today I got to talk to all three of my sons, all the other grandchildren and my daugher-in-law. It is also the oldest granddaughter's 14th birthday so it was a great day all around! Sometimes you just need to have a streak of good things happen, you know?! I just have to thank the Lord for blessing me these past few days! Awesome!

Look! A sun break!

Yes, the sun is taking a break from shining on some fortunate souls and is putting in a very brief, but welcome appearance! It is a little weak, like a half-hearted smile, but I think I'll run up to the mailbox now - while I still can!

Old dog and old masters!

Our Maggie girl is getting on in years and she is a perfect match for us! We all kind of hobble around and forget if we've eaten or not and drool and take lots of naps! LOL!

Seriously, she is getting up there in years and we know it won't be long until we have to say good-bye to her. We knew the day we brought her home that she would break our heart one day. I hope the warmth (when and if it ever gets here!) will be helpful to her old joints. Feels good to me I know, and she loves to lay in the grass in the hot sun! Johnny loves Maggie!

Seasons of sadness and yet...

We all go through seasons of plenty and seasons of drought in our lives. Sometimes it is physical, sometimes emotional and sometimes spiritual. Our church family is experiencing a season of sadness and we know God has a plan and walks with us, but it can be so hard! A few situations:

A great 101 year old saint has gone to glory - that is actually a praise! She was a faithful servant!

Three men in their 70's have cancer - leukemia, lung and esophagus. All experiencing side effects from their treatments and all deep in the valley of ill health. One may be cured if surgery is successful, one may have about a year and a half, and other may go into remission. May. Might. It is all SO uncertain and SO hard on the families.

A young man not yet 40 who has a very rare form of cancer that will surely claim him in just weeks now. Leaves a wife and small son. Their faith is astounding.

A man has been in a motorcyle accident and thankfully only has some broken bones! It could have been so much worse!

Several have had bouts of melanoma. Others have family members with cancer or other serious diseases - a child as well.

The list seems to go on and on, and then on a little longer! I know I am weary from the emotional pain. I can't imagine how the pastor is holding up! He was ill Friday and Saturday.

If nothing else, these things point out how fragile our earthly tents are as they withstand the harsh storms of life. People are pouring themselves into others - crying, listening, hugging and doing what they can to help ease the suffering.

God is still there. He hasn't moved. He knows. He cares. He sustains and nourishes the soul. We still feel the effects of this fallen world and sometimes it seems so unfair, yet God is God and we are not! Yet we put one foot in front of the other. Yet we pray, we cry, we wonder what or who is next! Yet....God is faithful. All we can do is just cling. Not be afraid - just trust. Just trust. Just trust...and pray!

The Dynamic Duo We Ain't

Thursday morning saw me at my doctor's office for this cough that just won't go away. Back on an antibiotic since I so recently had pneumonia. Don't want to go there again!

Thursday evening saw us at the Emergency Department! Not for me - for Bill!! He had what he thought might be kidney stones and was in quite some pain and was running a fever. Not good! Well, the end result was not kidneys stones, but diverticulitis! So, liquid diet, pain killers, antibiotics and rest are the prescription. He needs to follow-up with his primary care early this week.

You know, this togetherness thing is wearing old. When he had his surgery in February, I ended up with pneumonia! Now, here we are again! Also, I was sick right around my birthday, and Bill was sick the day after his birthday, too! OK, enough already!

The good news is that we both feel better today and Bill can start on some bland solids tomorrow! This getting old stuff truly is not for sissies!!