A hurting heart today on Mom's 2nd birthday in Heaven

This was our last picture together.  I didn't know it would be.  Ted and I traveled to Florida in May.  He had a conference to attend and spent time with Mom.  We were able to be there for Mother's Day with our Mothers!  I am glad we took the time to take the pictures and to grab another hug.  I am glad I learned to slow down when I would visit in Florida.  I am glad I was able to fly down to be with her and Dad multiple times.  I am glad that God showed me when to go down and provided all the details in June of 2024.  I am thankful for the hours at her side in the hospital.  My heart hurts that she is not here to share all the changes that life has brought these last two years.  I ache to talk to her.  I would love to be the one to tell her that I am going to be a Grandma.  I wish she could come visit us in TN with Dad to our house on the hill.  But God had other plans for all of us, and I don't want her to miss the joys of Heaven.  I will spend time being thankful for the time God gives us with our family and friends...pouring into others just like she did!

 

The day that broke our hearts

The dogs and I loaded up the van and headed over to our new home to explore and clean.  I stopped and checked the mail as we headed out and noticed one of our forest friends had a rough night.

God gave us a beautiful day!  We walked around the backyard.  We will use their black collars and learn the yard boundaries.  We headed inside for a drink.

Time to sweep and mop...

It is amazing the things I was sweeping up!  The sellers left a messy place and several pieces of furniture.  My goal was to get the nasty piles of dog hair and dirt swept up and floors mopped.  Ted came at lunchtime and we hauled the bed out in pieces.  On one of the trips, I did not get the door latched and the dogs wandered out and started exploring the yard.  They wandered sniffing all the new smells.  Less detail here...Chica fell as she heard Ted's call.  Ted watched her and scooped her up and told me to take her to the vet.  I cried as I drove and talked to our new vet who sent me to an ER.  

We pass this place every time we drive from Corryton to Morristown.  I pulled up and a gal came out to meet me.  I loved on Chica as we sat and waited for the paperwork, and then I sent her in to get help with Dr. Brown and her team.

The lobby is under construction, so we waited in the van...thankful for the beautiful day...and I just couldn't stop the tears.  The doctor came out to tell me that Chica's fall caused her to be paralyzed in her hind quarters.  Time was of the essence if we wanted to take her downtown Knoxville for surgery, but it wasn't guaranteed that it would help her walk.  We could try a medicine, but only time would tell.  She would have to be on cage rest for 3-4 weeks or more.  She asked permission to give pain medicine and do an X-ray so we could be sure.  I sobbed and called Ted.  We gave permission and Ted drove to be with me.

We waited for the results that confirmed the suspicions of the doctor.  We talked through the options and cried knowing that there would be no quality of life for our sweet, bundle of energy.  We made the hard decision together.  As I type this even now, the tears fall.  

Poor Ted witnessed the fall.  I feel terrible about the door not being latched.  This was a new adventure to share, and we found ourselves in shock and sadness.  I have gone through all the thoughts...asking why this had to happen right now...anger at the sellers for leaving junk to deal with...thankfulness that it wasn't a person who fell...deep sadness for Velle...frustration over something happy turned sad...

We went back to the house and worked till about 7:30pm.  I was able to get all the floors cleaned and we were ready for the movers to come in the morning.

God met the desire to own a home in Tennessee with some acreage.  We are an hour from each of our children...and from time to time...they once again fill the chairs around our table.  The house on the hill is a gift!  Four large oak trees provide shade and a visible reminder that our roots must be planted deep in God's Word, so when the unexpected, hard days come we can still stand strong.  The sunrises on the back deck are gorgeous.  The sunsets on the front porch are serene.  Both reminders that He holds our days in His hands and He does all things well.
 

Another offer...another inspection...but this time in Tennessee!

And we are the ones who made the offer and requested the inspection.  We have done our work and now we wait on God's will.  The inspection of the new living arrangements is on Wednesday!,

 

Supper on the porch

Tuesday was a busy day.  It was fun to re-connect with supper on the porch!  We had air-fryer potatoes with cheeseburger fixings on top.  I forgot to take the hamburger out to defrost.  Whoops!  I was focusing on not forgetting the treats I baked for Bible Study and make sure the dogs went out before I left.  Alisa left the fresh veggies, and so I made a dip with some of them.  Yum!

We shared supper and talked about the property we had looked at.  We shall see what transpires in the next few days...

 

The wrap up

My purse/bag holds so many different things when I leave the house for the day!  The van is full of odds and ends for the "just in case" moments as I wrap up the last details of this property turn.  The guys finished their jobs and now I have the final clean up.

It is always fun to wake up to another swipe by winter!

In all the running back and forth, I took time out to deal with laundry, oil change, and brunch with Mari.

I got a call from Teddy!  I love catching up with our young adults and their life.  I got to talk to Sloan too.  I am ready to get back to TN and have a family gathering!

I had to laugh when the guys came to pick up the snowblower.  Peter in short sleeves and boots...Brad in coat, hat, gloves, and boots.

A simple little treat using things from the freezer.  I found sugar cookies.  I had strawberry freezer jam.  I bought a little container of cheesecake filling.  MMM!

Details...scraping paint off the mirror and cleaning the bathroom.  

Paint touch-ups.  Cleaning out the reno garbage from the shed.  I was a little annoyed by this as it was to be put at the curb by the handyman.  Nasty nicotine-covered, broken mini-blinds.  An over-looked detail that I had to take time to deal with because it wasn't right to just leave it in the shed.  I wrestled them into the bag to take to the dumpster.  That delay in leaving the house proved to be God-timed as I made my way to deliver a "thank you" treat to this same handyman who took care to get things done by our deadline.  I got close to the intersection that I was to turn, and there had just been an accident.  Debris spread everywhere from a pickup truck hitting a smaller car.  My heart caught in my throat...thankfulness for the delay and prayer for those involved.

God has been reminding me often of His care of me through all the miles of back and forth with the crazy drivers in Metro Detroit.  The minor inconveniences, slowdowns, and frustrations are all part of His working in all things for my good and His glory.

This is what Saturday tired looks like...work clothes on the floor...

and a pizza bought with reward points that I was not even aware I had.  A whole thin-crust supreme pizza just for me...that fed me for two meals.  Here is to crashing in the chair with the puppies.

 

A slow, rainy morning

 These dogs don't give me much room to sleep on this king-size bed!  I had to crawl out from under Velle, who insisted on lying on my legs early this morning.  They cuddled in tight all night long and were not interested in getting up when I did this morning.  Rain is falling today!

As I sit at the computer with my coffee, talking to Ted, Chica was shaking because it was thundering and lightning.  Poor baby!  We signed an addendum to the accepted offer based on a couple of requests from the inspection phase.  We continue to move forward with the sale of our MI home.  This is a bittersweet stage, and I was surprised when tears fell when the buyer's realtor sent a text telling me they received our response and are excited.  It is what we have wanted and prayed over for weeks.  I guess that is part of the process, and I keep getting caught off guard by the emotions that pop up.

So I sit this morning listening to music and the rain fall...and God brought this song to mind.  I listened to it as I drove yesterday, too.

When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Refrain:
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, ev'ry doubt will fly,
And you will be singing as the days go by. [Refrain]

When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings, money cannot buy
Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high. [Refrain]

So, amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all.
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey's end. [Refrain]

Baptist Hymnal, 1991

Reminders

I left our house at 8:15am to drive down to the project house again.  It had snowed over night again.  I stopped for a hot coffee and joined the morning commuters.  I arrived at 9:22.  Our agreed upon time was 9:30.  I got a text as I pulled up that he was 15 minutes out.  REALLY!?!

Deep breath.  Coffee.  Remembering my devotions before leaving the house.

Right about that time...I noticed this little woodpecker.  Busy about his morning...banging his head (beak) against a tree...and I laughed. Took a deep breath...talked to a friend and enjoyed my coffee.

Consider the birds...stop...and watch them!  I met with the contractor for a few minutes and did a walk through of the house.  He hobbled around with a boot on his leg and looked rough.  He is determined to finish the job for us. "I have my pain medication with me and my cleaner is coming to be here with me to finish this up today.  I got you!  You guys are the truth.  I don't want to disappoint you."

I thanked the Lord for helping me work through the anger and keeping my tongue under control with him.  I want people to be fair and truthful.  I want kindness and understanding shown to me too.

The project schedule has been totally revamped.  I see that the Lord wanted to slow things down, I guess.  I don't know why else, but I will trust His timeline.  I headed back north to home.  Every time I drive to the project, it takes me 45-50 minutes each way.  There has been ALOT of driving and listening to good music these last two weeks.  I took time out to practice some more kind acts.  I spent some time wandering and picking out a baby gift and a big sister gift.

I came home and had some time to rest.  The overwhelm that hit yesterday took the energy out of me today.  I spent some time resting and freshening up the house for the showing tonight.

We have two offers on the house that we are reviewing.  We are asking God for wisdom and direction.  Ted reminded me that "We have time.  We are not in a rush.  We will do this right."  We can make our plans...but God directs our steps.  We are being reminded of His control in our lives each and every day.
 

On the 16th of December...

.                                  an offer was sent to us...and now we have a decision to make!  Asking God for wisdom and guidance in this next big step as I am feeling very unqualified to see this to the closing table.  I am so thankful for Ted's wisdom and insight.

 

On the third day of December...

We made some new friends!  Ted's eye had been bothering him something terrible.  It seemed to be letting up and then Wham!  So Wednesday, I drove him to work and picked him up.  We went to an Urgent Care to seek relief.  The nurse practioner's finding was a cornea abrasion and she wanted us to see an eye doctor.  Where to go and when?  A guy from the plant shared a suggestion and so I called and we could go right over!

Fancy place...with a Bible in the waiting room...and they were willing to take us right before closing time!

Looking to see what was going on...a cornea ulcer!  Worse than an abrasion and great concern for infection.  They prescribed drops and a re-check on Friday morning.

We got gas and waited for the prescription at CVS.  It was a beautiful sunset!  We took time to have supper in town at Zaxby's and Ted was able to catch his breath after a crazy day.

The drops started helping immediately!  And we made it home by the light of the moon...a very full moon!  Can I say that it is very dark driving around this mountainous region?!  Slow and lights on bright!

 

Maintaining the daily needs of life during changes

I drove by this sign last Wednesday and tears filled my eyes with the reminder in the last couple miles from Teddy's house.  "In the waiting, God is working."  Most days since, when I leave Teddy's house, I drive by this church and the sign.  I thought that we would have seen our house sell by now...based on how things had been moving, how nice the property is, and God knows we need to sell it.  Today, I have been here a week.  There have been all sorts of things to take care of...and while my mind is filled with those daily cares...I know God is still over-seeing all the cares of this life.  I went to go run an errand to take care of something for Ted and the tire pressure light is on.  I cannot see or hear the issue, but there is a significant one according to the indicator.  Another reminder that God knows, He sees, He hears, He cares...and He doesn't need my help or fretting.

A chance to sit and just be for awhile...to do Ted's clothes and the weekend laundry.

3 commercial washers...2 commercial dryers...washed, dried, and folded in less than 1 1/2hours.

 

Slowing down during the hurry up

While taking care of all the things, I rolled my ankle on the edge of the driveway as I went to gather up the trash cans.  We have lived at this address for 8 years.  I have brought in the cans consistently and never once managed to step on the side of the driveway...but I did on late Friday afternoon!  It swelled up great and put me in the chair under the ice pack.  I could put weight on it, but I lost all of Saturday taking care of it.

I did manage to spend time upright and pack up the craft area!  But back on the ice and elevated for the night. 

Pictures from down south...dog sitting and sunshine!  

Cuddles and scratches.

Up north...keeping Mom pinned down to the chair in front of the fire and watching snowflakes fall!

My last Sunday up north...

and it was like living in a snowglobe!

Still coordinating tenant fixes...YUCK!  

Getting the oil changed for the trip south.

And savoring every quiet moment in front of the fireplace!