Where She's Kinda Sorta Back

... whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."   ---  Philippians 4:8

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Still here! But just barely. Gah.

Eighteen days ago I came down with a covid-like virus with lots of tiredness, coughing and another temporary partial hearing loss. I reread my post regarding my first bout in 2023 and uh-oh! My attitude sounded much more positive.

But back then, I'd not been bombarded the entire prior year with long lists of sad, challenging things. When you're repeatedly beaten down, it becomes more difficult to keep fighting.

Many's the time I've yanked out my copy of Battlefield of the Mind. This feeling like biblical Job isn't a good look for me.

Anyway, finally the tiredness is disappearing, most of the coughing and if I tilt my head a certain way, my hearing improves. Slowly I'm keeping up with housework, for always I recall how Almanzo Wilder jumped back far too soon from diptheria and had a stroke which affected him his life's remainder.

Wouldn't want that or a relapse, either.

Keeping this short, I'll just add that for decades I've aimed at creating beautiful days, but these past two weeks? I've switched to, instead, reveling in beautiful moments. To treasuring any loveliness no matter how tiny or short-lasting. 

To celebrating and savoring any task accomplished, anything which lifts my battle-weary spirit--and you know? That's become an even sweeter way to live.

Notice my lilac bush in the header? It's never before looked so full. And that's even the one which, years ago, contracted a disease. Taking a hand saw to it, I cut it down to a stump.

Sometimes we just need to let God prune us way, way back for the beauty which will appear later on.

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Oh, the temptation when one is sick to believe the world cannot spin without her! But instead, may it be a reminder that--although we have a part--it's not a 24/7 one. God places people here to take up our slack at such times as these to both help and humble us.

"Without patience, Life is extremely frustrating."

-- Richard Carlson

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And as I wrote at Facebook:

This morning I stepped out to the sunny porch to read and our young nextdoor neighbor (20's?) was mowing his lawn. I thought, "Oh well. I'm just thankful the sun is shining after all our dark days and it's not too warm to read."

Soon, the mower stopped and our neighbor said, "I can finish mowing later since you're reading your book right now."

Oh my. Who does that? Our sweet, kind neighbor, obviously.

I told him, "Oh! That's ok. I'm good at concentrating on my books. You go ahead and finish. Thanks!"

And considering I'm still not feeling 100%, his kindness was a huge blessing for me this Wednesday. Really, it takes so little for us to bless one another in unforgettable ways. We've had many neighbors, but NEVER one that cared that the lawn mower might be an inconvenience to a neighbor.

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And wow! May God greatly bless this young couple for helping me through these past two weeks via Youtube. Not only have they taken me places I'll never see, but their expression of such unity and matching of temperaments blows me away. (Kinda makes me feel that, at that age, Tom and I did everything wrong.) シ

What a blessing to watch their joy and appreciation of everything!

(I've many favorites of their videos, but here's just one.)

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We watched the latest George Foreman movie and really enjoyed it.

Here's a tiny house story I enjoyed.

Elegant Rustic Grandma Chic

Living Simply In a Garden Shed

Never give up!

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Please remember: My posts are always about more than they appear to be. 

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 "For if you forgive others their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you, but if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses." ... Matthew 6:14,15