Low Tech and Nerdy

 It is a rejoicing type of weekend. Friday, the cardiologist appointment. Finally, had my first official blood pressure reading back into normal range. This has been one crazy ride because my blood pressure has mostly been low for at least the last fifteen or so years. Like they were worried about that in the rehab hospital after bilateral knee replacements. Then the atrial flutter returned, got that taken care of, had a cyst removed and now I can rejoice being in sync and the low BP. Next year there is a possibility of another ablation. The technology has advanced in heart ablation world that you don't even need to spend the night at the hospital after having it done. The other good news, so much advancement you'll not need another one cause this version is the be all end all of ablations.  

Once again, I am thankful that I made the decision to use that window of opportunity to correct and right the path. I read something today written by a former Houston pastor that has helped me get my thoughts together over major changes this summer. I'll save that for a latter post.

Thanksgiving weekend holds the second blast of winter temps this month. In Houston it was so disappointing to have 80 degree plus temps at Thanksgiving time. Think we have purchased all we need for the Thursday meal. The change of weather begins today with rain. The rain helps me get projects done that I tend to procrastinate. I know I'll be working on my three foot Christmas tree for the fellowship center. Part of the tree I am decorating will have a DIY aspect to it. Let us pray...this is not my strong suite but I am excited about doing it and taking it next week to church. I haven't been this excited for Christmas since maybe 2001 or so. Some years I put up a tree but most years I don't. Hits and misses with outdoors decorations over the years, but I'm thinking we might put out a few lights and our manger scene. I can hear the objections from Roy cause we will have to move quite a few things to get Joseph, Mary and Baby Jesus out. I'll make him feel guilty by saying, we don't want to hide Baby Jesus do we? Roy was raised Catholic and I was raised Baptist...both have guilt responses from our religious backgrounds, but different paths and ways used. He'd probably say to me, think of all the children around the world that would love to have a nativity in their garage. Yea, I don't get it either. We are both such nerds. 

This afternoon I have been working on my paperchains for the little Christmas tree I am decorating for the church fellowship hall. I found a little hymnal that I could spare and I have been cutting and putting together the cut paper into a chain of hymns. Going the staple method but still festive with green staples. I'll take a picture of the final result. 

I have spent a lot of time looking at Google Maps of Harvey Illinois. We lived there a brief time when I was a toddler and I believe it was the first house my parents bought. They had always rented. It was a cross the street from an elementary school and down the street from a hospital. The hospital is easy to locate but after all the years of progress and then downfall of Harvey probably the little house has been torn down. Somewhere I think I have a baby book with the address in it but who knows where I have stored that book. The interest in the this came about because I met a woman who is about the same age as me that grew up in the Chicago area. We have laughed about Garfield Goose and Kukla, Fran and Ollie. One memory has me puzzled because, I never asked about it and only remember bits and pieces. My mom and I took the train from Chicago to Decatur where her mama lived and my father's parents. My mother wasn't the "let's take a train" type. I believe my grandparents drove us back. We returned to a surprise party for my mom and my father had made me a wooden scooter using roller skates. The wood was not sanded so I got splinters every time I rode it. Thinking just now all the people invited to the party were all probably relatives on my father's side, who my mom loved. So, I have often wondered if my mom left him for that brief time. That might be the only surprise party he ever threw for her. I haven't a clue cause I don't remember the train ride or how we got there or while we were in Decatur, nothing. Just what I just wrote. It is an intriguing thought that will go no where. 

We celebrated Thanksgiving Eve Morning by going to Lowe's and buying a new washer and dryer. Roy did his research and had his spread sheet with him. We went low tech. Most washing machines and dryers have WIFI and get this, if the WIFI is out, they don't work and you cannot override WIFI. That would have been horrible in the aftermath of Helene where we were without internet for two weeks. Our WIFI can be spotty so yep, low tech that was on sale. They are installing on Friday. Good cause Roy is running out of socks. 

Mugs, Books, Lost MCD and Childhood Friend

 Oh there are stories to tell and just a whole lot of things to write about but if I did, I wouldn't be walking in peace and God's wisdom. Nothing earth shattering but just those observations that somehow get me in trouble from time to time. 

This morning Roy and I both drank our coffee out of the new Christmas teddy bear mugs from Marshall's. They both hold a lot of coffee but the cuteness kind of inhibits easy sipping. I am willing to forgo the ease of sip for more ounces and less trips to the coffee maker. As for Roy he likes the extra ounces but isn't too excited about the cuteness of those mugs. He did it this morning cause he loves me but in the future he will probably only drink out of them if nothing else is available. If Roy is too cranky about the teddy bear mug, I think I will order this one.

In choir last night we worked on Christmas music. Ah, the memories of Pageants and Celebrations and whatever they were called in between. As we sang the familiar carols some traditional and some in new arrangements I remembered those long ago memories. I was talking with CourtneyS, after she won the second year in a row the MCD contest, I'm not bitter, in my ordinary life I have gotten to do some very fun things and many of those from Pageant days. Or maybe even choir days. I wish I had been in choir more for the music but I was in it to spend time with friends and laugh...oh yes and worship the Lord, but that didn't come too much in practice. Now, I am in choir and I am the only one that can't read music, so when Debbie says make note of the, then uses a music term, she'll say for my benefit, make an upside down smiley face. 

My confession is, I have never been an avid fan of Jen Hatmaker. Her books didn't really have too much to do with my life back in the day. Maybe I started one and never finished. I do not know what compelled me to buy her memoir, AWAKE. Read some reviews and thought this will be good cause her short chapters and subject matter will keep my distractions at bay. Well, I was wrong. I didn't like the book but it is one book I didn't like that I finished reading. Well, the last half of the book was skimming. While she is dealt a blow by a cheating spouse from then on it is all about her, her wonderful supportive friends and all that affected her and her family. Guess she deconstructed her faith but she hasn't started repairing and rebuilding. Me thinks there might be a sequel in the works. Her stories reminded me of friends who are walking down that same path of deconstruction of their faith. Not being the same but being the same is a blogger turned author, turned speaker...turned whatever, granted she is funny but my goodness the entitlement and availability of options that more likely than not, most cannot afford. AWAKE seemed to be on that same pattern of luxury whether it be time, places, or people. One reviewer said, no bridge or encouragement is offered, we just learn of their story whose conclusion is more personal than anything. Gee, that's a lot of words for a book I didn't particularly enjoy but read with no prejudice. 

I didn't win the MCD contest this year. CourtneyS heard Merry Christmas Darling before I did, although it came up on a playlist this past summer but I couldn't really count that. 

Our front yard and half of the back received a nice trim and shape. Mike came and cut down two dead trees, shaped up the shrubs and cut back the hybrid hydrangeas. He will be back after the holiday to conclude trimming the rest of the backyard. He also took the decorative pumpkins so that we can begin the minimal Christmas decorations. 

I learned this morning that my first childhood best friend Leah Rae Montgomery passed away several weeks ago. She lived around the corner and down the street. We met in kindergarten and got in trouble usually every week while playing. The time I remember the most is playing in the bayou better known as the ditch and her brother Brian falling in, getting his socks all muddy and we tried to clean them with the insides of a buttercup weed. Leah told me she had heard that this would take the mud out. I was in trouble before I got home cause Mrs. Montgomery called my mom to let her know we had been playing in the forbidden ditch. Then they moved to Ft Worth and came back around junior high time. Leah and I would walk the neighborhood and talk. Her plans were to go to the University of Texas and my plans were as soon as I got my drivers license, I was going to run a car into a big tree on a curve and end it all. I had no plans for the future, not much hope and few options. I knew this in the 9th grade. Thankfully, the Lord stopped all my morbid plans when I truly came to know Him. Still had no clue on my future but I had hope and faith it was all in His hands. Leah got to go out of the zoned school district because she was half Hispanic. She came back to Westbury later and our paths took different paths. She was a cool, smart, popular drug using...I think, person and I was just athletic and goofy. The last time I saw her was in college my freshman year. I stayed a night with her at UT. I don't remember why I was at Texas and I don't remember too much of the short visit. She kept her dorm room dark with only a small lamp shedding any light while we talked. 

Snow, Ice and Sunshine

 The lesson isn't just that starting over doesn't have an age limit.

The lesson is that purpose doesn't have an expiration date.

In a world that is so quick to tell us to "rest," to move aside, to become invisible... remember this:

We are not disposable just because our hair turns gray.

We are not liabilities.

We are libraries. Every wrinkle, every memory, every book we've ever read, is a story.

You don't stop growing when you grow old. You just grow wiser.

Don't let anyone close your book before you're finished.

Go out and start the next chapter.

I copied this from one of those FB stories that of course now, cannot find. But the story being told by a 73 year old woman and after her husband died, and the protest of her son, she sold the house and cashed out insurance policies and the like. She didn't like being in a home filled with memories and conversations she wasn't going to have anymore. Long story short, she finds a situation needing help and it was the help she could give. Not easy but after a bit of time the story resolves into being the best thing she could have done. Even her son came around and knew she had done the right thing. She wasn't quite ready yet to give up her talents, abilities and enjoyment of life. She found purpose.

This past summer when reminded of that window of opportunity afforded to me, that I shouldn't waste the time and do what needed to be done became the theme of living. That summer theme has come into fall and should be a winter type theme as well. I'm walking a lot more, my gait is becoming steady and the excruciating sciatic nerve pain is in remission. My heart is staying in rhythm. My diet is more to deal with inflammation. I'm researching the avenues open to dealing with high blood pressure in a more nature or holistic way. Last week was the most social week in a long time, maybe before Covid. All that social interaction just about wore me out, but it was so good. Saturday afternoon, we dead headed more plants for a short time and boom, it was nap time. I've enjoyed spending time by myself in projects and such but a quick return to how life used to be was something I needed. Of course today I am thrilled to be wearing sweatpants and a sweatshirt, hanging out with Roy and our cats.

Our soon to be former church did pick the interim guy as pastor. He has a good heart as a pastor from what I've seen. We have been praying for the church and the influence it can have in Leicester but our time there is over. I miss friends but we know this is the right decision for us. Since I have quit teaching I cannot say I miss it. Not because of the amount of studying or anything, just the pressure I put on myself. I am on the go more even around the house. I am reminded that I need to do some strengthening exercise and some balance work. We have been half-heartedly looking at or really just thinking about moving to a one story home but several experts and doctors say the stairs help you maintain. They have a point. Although, I will skim Zillow and Realtor to see if anything opens up.

It is a snowy November day. Snow, then sun, snow, then sun and now heavy snow falling that almost looks like fog. This is unusual for this time of year. January and February holds these kinds of days. We officially opened The Garage on the Catmore Estate last night. It was to help those cautious cat members to get over their jitters of coming inside. We got the beds out, the food stocked and water bowl insulated to help their stay be warm or at least warmer and protected from the elements outside.

So last week I went to my first Circle meeting, the joy circle. They meet once a month, work on a Bible study, have a missions emphasis with support and have a lot of fun. It is a little different than Bible study on Thursdays. We are in the book of Mark and it has been such a rich study. Of course I went to choir and then Saturday morning we attended the new member class. Now we have some paperwork to fill out and submit.

I read an article about the song Amazing Grace, especially when bag pipes are utilized. We sang Amazing Grace a couple of weeks ago in the service and it just had a different sound...being sung with assurance of what we sing is true, not just pulling out that tired old hymn once again. There are times that is how I feel about that particular hymn. I have learned several hymns that we don't sing as a Baptist. Who knows?

Roy has been busy outside knowing the weather would be cooler. He painted chairs and got the deck looking pretty spiffy except for a few places that need a bit of attention. He picked the last of the tomatoes Sunday afternoon.

Friday, we went to Marshall to shop at Penland. Helene totally destroyed the bottom floor but with lots of hard work by professionals, church groups and family it is back. It was so good to see Georgette and visit a bit with her. The selection of merchandise is awesome! Roy got a coat and we also bought a handmade basket, wooden basket. The store still has that familiar feel with the old mixed in with the new. And they take credit and debit cards now. Love it! Then several other items. Other shops in Marshall are opening and even the tag office is back in business.

Looks like the sand and salt trucks were out last night. Still not a lot of traffic on our busy road. The sun is out and it is melting snow and ice in our front yard. Most of the back is in shade so it might take till tonight or in the morning for everything to melt. The Feral Fam is getting along in The Garage at the Catmore Estate but Roy wants to terminate reservations beginning tonight. We shall see.