My Bestie

This is going to be the hardest blog post 

EVER!!

Oh the exploits of we two!

I don't even know where to begin.

I was looking through pictures to decide on one for here

and all the fun just comes rushing back.

The

concerts

cookie days

blog posts

Margarita Fridays

bike rides

walks

tears

Disney

Cayman Islands

Arizona

Iowa

wine

laughs

Bible studies

weddings

memorials

grands

I guess ultimately I am thankful for 

Discipleship Bible Study.

That's what started this all....

Healing

A year ago this month I started a journey.

My right arm got jacked up.

That's a technical term 

and the short answer I gave when anyone asked 

me what happened. 

 Covid helped delay treatment but once I could 

see a hand specialist I started down this fun road.

They asked me what color straps I wanted.

I asked what they had and then responded, 

one of each, of course!

And then I set out to see what I could do left handed.

I managed some things and some things, 

not so much. 

It was a hard 8 weeks.

I couldn't chop, so I couldn't cook.

I couldn't paint.

I couldn't sew.

All in all, I couldn't create.

 It was a difficult time. 

Oh, and did I mention Covid?

At the end of the 8 weeks and multiple more weeks

 of occupational therapy it became

apparent the only remedy would be surgery.

Thing is, when your OT therapist as well as the surgeon

tells you it's a long painful recovery, you have second thoughts.

I had good days and bad days and then I had a 

BAD stretch.

I was in tears many days from the pain and was

thinking I would have to have the surgery

after the holidays, if I could wait that long.

Then I took my pain to my bible study group

and asked for prayer. 

The pain was awful.

They prayed that Tuesday and 

I have been 

pain free since that following Wednesday.

God answers prayers. 

I could still be in pain but the truth remains.

God answers prayers.

I am thankful that I am not in pain.

I can cook, I can sew, I can paint.

I am taking it easy, cause I ain't an idiot.

And

I am thankful to have a cool God story to share.

Bible Studies

I've done a few.

 Allllllll those books are studies I've done.

You'd think I'd have this God thing figured out.

The thing is, some of those studies center 

around the same book in the bible

but each of those studies have brought new insights.

And each year I live I think any given study

touches a different aspect of my journey.

One thing I have learned,

(over and over again)

is that God is not done with me.

God knows I'm so imperfect.

God loves me in my imperfection but

loves me enough not to leave me there.

I am so thankful to God for His patience with me

and all the opportunities He has given me to

come to know Him better.

Grandbaby Love

Especially when they are loving on their siblings.

Maddie and Quinn are wonderful big sisters.

I had four siblings.

there were not many loving pictures like this of us

growing up.

This one is pretty normal.

We've had ebbs and flows in our adult years.

But we come together when we need to.

I'm sure this photo would warm mom's heart.

Once when Shanna was in college Michael drove down

to Indy to help her move into an apartment.

Michael came home after a weekend of

moving his sister's stuff and a four hour car ride

and said he wasn't wild about the neighborhood

she moved in to. 

He offered to go down the following weekend and 

move her all over again to somewhere else.

My mama's heart warmed with knowledge

I didn't know I should be looking for.

My kids will have each other's backs.

They are currently in the ebb and flow of raising littles.

But, I know they will come together when they need to.

I am thankful for the love of my siblings,

the love of Michael and Shanna for each other

and the love I'm seeing grow between my

grandloves.

 

Trees

More specifically, 

 the changing colors of trees.

My niece, Maggie, lives in Florida now

and misses the beauty of the changing trees.

I always try to take a few pictures every year

just for her.

I love looking at the leaves on the ground

and spotting the ones that have 

some of every color the tree had in it

as it was changing into its blazing glory.

Someone pointed out to me once

that God made the trees do this for

our enjoyment. 

He didn't have to do that. 

I'm thankful he thought of it.

The Covid Cafe

Throughout this crazy time our squad,

which I am proud to be a part of,  

has maintained our connection. 

There are four couples.

Eight of us.

Not sure how big our 

"Covid Bubble"

was supposed to be, but that's ours.

And I am thankful for it.

Some assortment of us walks just about

every morning and we end up at the 

Covid Cafe.

Viki's turquoise table, outside

in the fresh air. 

Viki makes the coffee and we all

discuss and solve the worries of the world.

It's really fun because we all have slightly different takes

on the world and the politics thereof.

I am thankful for this time together

and the different views that make me 

look more closely at mine.

Some opinions change, some do not,

but the respect remains.

Challenging conversation, 

that's what I'm thankful for today.

Well, and 

coffee,

and friends,

and walks.

Thankful November

I love Christmas.
I especially love Christmas music.

It is November 1st and I am sorely tempted to start

Christmas Music!!!

But those who bemoan the glossing over of

Thanksgiving

are right.

I don't want to miss being thankful,

but it's been a year.

I think given the year,

Christmas and the good news

of the 

Christ Child

just can't come soon enough or

be celebrated for too long.

So, in an effort to be thankful, I intend to spend 

November doing just that.

As I play my 

Christmas Music.

Cheers!