Palpitate. It’s a good description of our heart muscles in the last few weeks.
Plans made, plans dashed.
Breaking news like an alarm you can’t turn off.
This new temporary reality is like the snow days we always wanted and never got. Well, kind of. Except that my job has not changed one iota. I am still at my computer first thing every morning, still going strong with research and editing at the end of the day. Sam is still retired and trying to figure out what he wants to do when he grows up.
Actually, snow days for us is like snow days for our parents so many years ago because of this new 18-year-old who occupies space with us. What do we do with the child who cannot handle all this free time and wall closing in-ness? If it were just the two of us, we could be so content to lock the doors and enjoy our home and count all the blessings. However, one of our blessings in the form of foster 18-year-old is currently experiencing anxiety and a perceived affliction of loss of friendships and fun and a perfect ending to his high school career.
However. Minor inconvenience aside…with every beat of the heart muscle tonight, we have reason to be grateful.
- A really great kid who has added much to our world
- A small town away from big city crisis and all the added complexities of living in one
- Sam’s hard work immunity while not perfect, certainly stronger than it should be at this stage
- Plenty of just in case supplies – all I am really missing is Nestle Quik for the ice cream and the assurance that the Lysol disinfectant wipes won’t run out
- The luxury of watching church, communicating online to our support near and far, and the ability to work thanks to an Internet that is still functional
- A neighbor who offers to get groceries for us
- A pantry full of food – maybe not what we want, but certainly what we need to keep from starving
- An extra week away from chemo, thanks to Seattle plans unfortunately dashed
- Banana and Split and a multitude of grocery sacks, our backup entertainment if or when the TV and internet fail us
- Banana and Split, our reminders that life is too short to not have as much fun as possible with as little as possible, and our reminder to play hard so we can sleep hard and let not our hearts be troubled
- Reassurance that God is my refuge and strength, a very present Help in times of trouble
- And a gift of song on a Sunday afternoon that made me stop in my heartbeats:
Life is easy, when you’re up on the mountain
And you’ve got peace of mind, like you’ve never known
But things change, when you’re down in the valley
Don’t lose faith, for you’re never alone
For the God on the mountain, is still God in the valley
When things go wrong, He’ll make them right
And the God of the good times, is still God in the bad times
The God of the day, is still God in the night
You talk of faith when you’re up on the mountain
But talk comes so easy, when life’s at its best
Now it’s down in the valley of trials and temptations
That’s where your faith is really put to the test
For the God on the mountain, is still God in the valley
When things go wrong, He’ll make them right
And the God of the good times, is still God in the bad times
The God of the day, is still God in the night
The God of the day, is still God in the night
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RCTl4tUYIAg
rhondaisgrateful 