Category: Uncategorized

Once upon a time…. we used to go to the races regularly.  Indeed, my beloved mom is on the track at Charles Town Races where she wanted her sweet loved horses to run over her every day!  They still do.  And Saratoga trips for the Travers Stakes were some of the most cherished trips we took, and had breakfast at the track, watching workouts with other visitors.  I did this painting and don’t have it anymore.  My daughter carried it off to Arizona along with my grandkids, leaving us old folks behind!  Ugh.  Miss them all, so much!

I miss having the grandkids everyday so much.  Sometimes I just spend time looking at old pictures of them.  Of course, they’ve all grown by now, and even the youngest is 16, and far, far away.  Looking forward to a possible visit this spring, though, when school lets out either for spring break, or after the semester.  Here’s a few of my favorites.

 

Amazing, but first thing in the morning, when I fetch the paper and walk the dog, this black gum tree just is there, always, reminding me that each tree, each leaf, each human, each living entity is unique, individual, and not really a copy of anything or anyone else.

That tree, with just a bit of light behind it’s beautiful branches, each distinct, is a constant reminder of the wonder of God’s love, that all this and so much more is here for us to remind us of that love all the time.

Yet so many folks have no clue of the beauty all around them.  Maybe God created artists just to show people what they are missing!  Yet, God is the greater artist, having designed all this.  Thanks, God.  Thanks for your son, and thanks for all your creation that you so freely gave to us all, sinners or not!  It’s up to us to choose to see.

My husband and I had lunch yesterday at one of our favorite lunch spots, Famous Dave’s.  They have fabulous barbecue, and we go every Friday for lunch, often picking up some lunch for my sis to drop off at her house.

He seemed to have trouble getting up, and I offered to help.  I swear he almost snarled at me.

“I don’t need help!”

Well, I rolled my eyes, and we went on our way slowly.

It’s not uncommon for elderly couples to help one another get out of a seat, or with groceries, or other tasks that come up.  But, I don’t know, we seem to be two of a kind.  Because today, after grocery shopping, he offered to help.  And, of course, I said, I’ll be fine, and continued to bring in the grocery bags.  They weren’t bad this week anyway.

Then I recalled that Friday lunch.  I know neither of us will ask for help, and don’t want help.

What we want is to be fully functional as we’ve always been.  Even though it’s becoming clear we aren’t so young anymore, or so independent.

Frankly, he’s always been a gift from God to me, because we fit, and he’s provided everything I’ve ever needed.  Including independence to do what I choose with my time, and lots of quiet, so I can blog, or read, or do research as I choose.  Always supported my art projects, and always supported our children.  And grandchildren, as well.  Allowed me to homeschool those grandkids, and we enjoyed that so much, took many trips, saw many things, explored and learned so much.

God is good.  And He sent me an angel.  One who insists he can do everything by himself, even though he’s bent over, can’t stand straight from failed back surgery, in chronic pain, and now has COPD.  He’s stubborn.

Like me.  We fit.  60 years we’ve fit.  I love the guy.

And I’ve ordered all my gifts, mostly delivered to other around the country, and am still waiting on a few to wrap here, but really, it’s almost done.  Yesterday, we got our popcorn, and like some of the other gifts I’ve gotten, there was no clue who the sender was.  But, I do know.  It’s what my sweet next door neighbors always send us every year!  And the books, of course, I know came from my darling daughter and her family.  I was so lost in one of them, struggling because it is a big book, a history, Great Society, by Amity Shlaes, and it was compelling, well written, detailed, and heavy, with tiny, tiny print on large pages….but I struggled through 300 pages before a friend found a digital copy online, and surprised me with it.  So, I finished up in my old trusty faithful kindle.  I can usually read a regular book if it’s not too big, but arthritis in the hands, and neck make those big books difficult these days.

Such a good book, though.  History we should all know and understand.  Those were not evil guys, the ones who wanted to solve the problems of poverty, and most were avowed anti-communists.  But their programs were clearly not successful, however well meaning they were.  And the book explains gently why and how they failed.  Even included the fact that most were themselves disappointed and dismayed at the results.  This was the beginning though, of huge growth in government, and government power and programs, NGO’s sucking up taxpayer money and advocating while sounding official, and it’s frustrating today that this system has developed that leaves out the voter entirely.  Just sucks up his money and is spent on partisan crap.

Well, political opinions aside, we are about to again celebrate the birth of our savior, Jesus.  His teaching, His sacrifice, His giving all for us, is the reason for the season.  All the love and family gatherings, giving, and celebrating is to acknowledge a loving Father in Heaven, from whom all good things flow.  Trees, grass, pets, flowers, ice crystals in the grass in the dark, stars in the night sky, the moon, the sun, the universe, water!  All the wonders of nature that we see and largely ignore are gifts from that heavenly Father.  Oh, and our lives.  We are all his children.  And our children, and their children.

Thank you, Heavenly Father, for all your blessings, and your Son, whose sacrifice means so much.