One Day At A Time

To worry about the future,
"How long can we stay in our 2 -story house?"

means less satisfaction and joy today.

To worry about the future,
"what will happen if I get sick?"
paralyzes me from living life today.

To worry about the future,
"what if we have to isolate for a year?"
 challenges my faith that God knows the way.

We have had many challenges—brain injury, heart infection, cancer, pain.

When the challenges tried to bury me, I knew what to do.

Standing eye to eye, I have confronted life’s obstacles;
I have made compromises.

“You can slow me down, you can block my way,  

I must live my life . . ..with God’s grace and guidance. . .. 

One day at a time.”

Landscaping changes

 Our project was 4-fold:  the back patio, the stone wall in the front, the stone wall in the back and the foundation plantings in the front.  The upkeep on the brick patio was just too intensive and it turns out, we needed to re-grade the entire area.  Also a large percentage of the bricks were broken or damaged, so re-laying them would have been pointless.

First, the bricks were removed (many going to a friend's house to outline a new garden), the area was raised, regraded and laid with new stone steps and pavers with a ramp from the sunroom.

 After several weeks, it was all done and I'm very happy with it all.

Hearing Louise

"I’m wearing pastels, now—my skin tones have changed."

"I’m feeling a little weak this morning."

"I hold on when going up and down the stairs."

"My mouth is just so dry."

"I watch what I eat, but I’m being tested for diabetes."

"If my knee didn’t hurt, I’d exercise more."

"I want to hear my granddaughters’ voices again."

"Your dad isn’t strong enough for her graduation."

"Your dad is sleeping a lot."

"Don’t worry about Mother’s Day—you’re a mother, too.."

Words meant to inform me that they were getting older, 

      but now remind me of my own aging.

Words spoken one on one,
     not at a family gathering

Words said in face to face conversation, 

     not in a text.

Words I thought were to re-assure me,

    but were they cries for help?