Busy Busy Busy… But Grateful
I am Thankful today for a productive week. Busy! Busy! Busy! that has been my week. Canning, cutting and freezing vegtables, Isaac’s first two days of school, finishing a website for a friend and keeping Andy all day Friday. Whew! It is nice to slow down. Andy and I had a great time on Friday. We played dinosaurs!! I am excited to discover what he likes. We watered all Grandma’s flowers…he got to hold the hose by himself. Boy did he like that. Water is fascinating to a 2 yr old. Grandma got the water guns out…..What Fun!! After nap time we had ice cream in a waffle cone (outside on the deck) Andy was pretty good with it all by himself! What a lovely day. We visited with our neighbors last night. They are such sweet people! We always have so much fun when they stop over. I am off to my Mom’s today. When my weeks get so busy I don’t get over to see her as much as I would like. I try to cram it all into one day. So today is my day to get everything done I didn’t get done through the week…..Pretending is so much fun!……….Life Is Good
I am thankful today for God’s promise to always be with me. It has been a challenging and disheartening week in some respects, but He has also provided many moments of success and hope. I had a wonderful evening last night sitting around a campfire at a friend’s bed & breakfast. She has five guest rooms and all were full. It was so much fun meeting and talking with people from all over the world. One couple was from Italy and had come to Holmes County to learn about the Amish. They could not stop asking questions and were so excited when one of the Amish neighbors stopped in to drop off some tomatoes. This particular Amish fellow is 86 and very entertaining, he can still stand on his head and loves to demonstrate his talent. Quite remarkable considering the average person hasn’t been able to be that balanced since their teens. There was also a couple from Vienna, West Virgina which is located just across the Ohio river from Marietta, which is where my family is originally from. And yes, sure enough, after talking a few minutes they did indeed know some of my realtives! It is definitely a small world. There is nothing like sitting around a campfire and talking with friends, old and new, to put life in perspective. I know the difficulties of the past week will work itself out, it is God’s promise.
I am so thankful today for my brother. He visits almost every Sunday to spend the morning with our dad working on little projects. He brought my sister Joyce with him this morning. He agreed to take her in a few weeks back when she was looking at moving to the County Home due to medical, financial and mental conditions. I feel strongly my purpose the Lord has chosen for me is to look after my family. I am not the oldest sibling in my family and I never wanted the position of matriarch. I felt my older sister should have that position, however, I can see why the Lord has given the position to me.
When everything was coming to a head with my younger sister, I felt such guilt for not being able emotionally to have her live with dad and I. I knew my dad wanted me to have her move in and I was very aware of God’s purpose for me. I spent many long agonizing hours trying to figure out what I was going to do. I did take my sister to talk with the director of the County Home, which was probably the hardest thing I have ever done in my life. I remember feeling so low driving up the circular drive to the office. After all, how grateful of a person could I be for all that God has provided for me and not to be willing to share my home with my own sister when she was in such a desparate situation? On the way home from our visit and I felt horrible, knowing the only two options she had was either the County Home or with me, and I knew I could not handle having her with me day in and day out. I walked around outside watching a deer in the field behind our home for several minutes. I prayed and prayed for an answer of what to do with Joyce, an answer that was in her best interest, in my dad’s (who was not pleased with me for considering the County Home) best interest, and in my own. When I walked back into the house I realized I had not spoken with my brother about Joyce’s situation. I did not have any illusions, let alone hope, he would save the day and offer to take her in, but I knew I had to let him know or he would also be mad at me for not at least telling him. But, praise the Lord, my brother did indeed step up and agree to have Joyce come and live with him and his wife. Whenever he visits, my brother brings Joyce along so she will have an opportunity to see dad, and I am sure, give his wife a much needed break.
As I was talking with Joyce this morning, I realized how truely grateful I am to and for my brother. Joyce has made many mistakes in her life and burned many bridges. She has never been an easy person to get along with, or even like for that matter. She now suffers from a short term memory loss, the results of a stroke last January. She is very much like an alzheimer’s patient. I realize the stress having her in their home must place on my brother and sister-in-law. I told my brother before he left today if he wants, and if Joyce wants, she can come and spend Friday nights with us. That way he and his wife will have an evening alone and Saturday to get their shopping done or whatever they want to do. I am going to talk with our older sister and see if Joyce can spend Saturday evenings with her to give my brother the weekends free.
Yes, I sometimes get frustrated with God’s plan for my life. How silly of me to question His wisdom and His plan. Of all the promises in the Bible, the one that has always held the most meaning is Romans 8:28. I just have to remind myself from time time.
I am grateful for the little getaway Steve and I shared on Saturday. My sister had given us a room at the French Lick resort, which I think is just lovely and was very sweet of her. We completely enjoyed the huge front porch with all the rocking chairs and the weather was beautiful on Saturday evening. I thought I could just fall asleep out there it was so relaxing. I can’t remember the last time he and I got away by ourselves so I am truly grateful for it and it was really nice.