I am grateful to be filled with all kinds of emotion today.

I am grateful for the reminder today that humility is needed.

“True humility is not thinking less of yourself; it is thinking of yourself less.”
– C.S. Lewis

I am grateful for the privilege of listening to the Inauguration while I work.

I am grateful for uneasiness that keeps me grounded and in continuous prayer.

I am grateful to have watched the town police officer and my husband spend their evening helping the employees at the local Mexican restaurant. My heart was filled with witnessing:

• The comforting of a young lady who speaks no English as she learned the news of a dear friend who had passed away in Mexico.
• A cook with free time and no meals to prepare, making silly faces and playing with the infant son of a waitress.
• Solidarity
• Kindness that filled a dining room as tools were gathered and a job was done because of an eagerness to work together and help one another.
• Laughter and fun
• Sincere appreciation
• Impromptu Spanish lessons
• The building of relationships

“As long as you are proud you cannot know God. A proud man is always looking down on things and people: and, of course, as long as you are looking down you cannot see something that is above you.”
– C.S. Lewis

I am grateful for a phone call from my son-in-law.

I am grateful for beautiful examples all around me, in my family and friends, in our church, in this little town, of people who are living out Micah 6:8.

I am grateful that the Son still shines, the Light still wipes out the darkness, that I have been reminded today to love my neighbor as much as, if not more than, myself.

And I am grateful that we will be back in our “home church” this weekend.

I am nervous and slightly afraid.

I am nervous and slightly afraid for my sister’s clients and for my new friends whose futures are unknown beginning tomorrow.

I am nervous and slightly afraid about how quickly the world is changing.

I am nervous and slightly afraid about what our new President is going to say, tweet, and do.

I am nervous and slightly afraid that people are going to ignore Mark 12:31 and feel justified in doing so.

I am nervous and slightly afraid, just as I am when I board a plane or sit in the periodontist chair. I don’t know the pilot or the periodontist, but I have to trust them to do their job and do it well.

And so, I pray.

I pray for this new President. I pray that God will put people in his path who will share wisdom and help him with decision-making. I pray that his heart and his speech will soften and he will be kind and compassionate in his new role.

I pray that God will take away my uneasiness and replace it with gratitude and a peace that goes far beyond understanding.

Be grateful, Rhonda.

I am grateful for the privilege and the responsibility to pray.

I am grateful for this exciting era that we are experiencing in real time.

I am grateful for a peaceful exchange of power.

I am grateful for President and Mrs. Obama and their sacrificial service to our country. I am especially grateful for their example of family and acceptance and graciousness.

I am grateful for the Trump family and the hope they bring to many Americans.

I am grateful that I am not in Washington D.C. right now.

I am grateful that my family is diverse in their political leaning.

I am grateful I am not on Facebook to see everyone’s opinions this weekend.

I am grateful that I am neither a donkey or an elephant. I shall be a bunny. Ears ready to hear, quiet, soft on the outside, soft on the inside, nervous and slightly afraid.

And I am grateful for carrots.

…but we need a millennial.

I don’t care if that millennial comes with an untucked shirt or those ridiculous skinny jeans or leggings that show way too much in public. I don’t care if they are rude about opening doors for women or look right through you as if your 50ish and older self does not exist. I don’t care if they only eat kale and drink green smoothies and mocha latte frappe whoppe hooies. I don’t even care if they overuse the words “like” and “absolutely” and “hey” instead of “hi.” In fact, I don’t even care if they have permanently superglued their cell phones to their hands.

Ugh.

Do you have any idea how many times we have had to call tech support in the last three months to figure out why our ONE tv is not working. Do you have any idea how many times I have had to call tech support to figure out why my computer is on the fritz. Do you have any idea how DUMB I feel when I am trying to research switching to DirecTV and have no clue which package is better or what some of the terms even mean. Between Hulu and Sling and Netflix and Vue and Amazon Prime and streaming this or that or Pandora or Rhapsody or Spotify or Apple or I heart whatever, I AM SO OVER THIS NEW WORLD.

I was a music teacher. I was supposed to be able to run a sound board/mixer/whatever that thing is called that is used to make microphones work. Amps and speakers and XLRs and receivers and huh?

Exactly.

I never learned that, and I am NOT about to begin learning this.

On top of all that, I have a new smart phone that makes me feel stupid.

So, I will get back to knowing what I know. Leave the tech confusion to those who have never used a rotary dial, have no clue what a 33 or 45 is, and never knew the glory days of console tvs.

I am grateful for stars in the sky and very few “city lights” to dim the view out here.

I am grateful for warm gloves on a brisk evening walk.

I am grateful for an entire evening of fun as we sat in the Mexican restaurant downtown and visited with our neighbor and town police officer sitting at the table next to us, which prompted a couple in another booth to join in the conversation and share that they almost bought our home, and in the meantime, we had the best time interacting with the employees who have become friends.

All of that makes me grateful for Esmerelda and Bennie and Maria and friendly neighbors and the town police officer who has lived here all of his life and shared some great stories and will become a friend, I just know.

I am grateful for millennials, I guess. Even though they drive me bat crazy, they make me even more grateful for my mom and my dad and millennials give me a MUCH GREATER APPRECIATION AND UNDERSTANDING for the headaches my parents had to have felt all the years I thought I knew everything.

And that leaves me grateful today for Mom and Dad and all the years they were married. Today is their 66th anniversary, and I will always remember this day and the memories of their 40th and their 50th and the stories of their wedding day in Wellsford.

Happy Anniversary, Dad. And Mom.

Thank you for not going bat crazy all those years I thought I knew more than you. And thank you for teaching me how to live a life filled with GRACE and PATIENCE. I don’t know who needs it more right now – tech support, the tv, the millennials, or me.

I am grateful today for:

• Our fireplace, alive with a crackling, popping fire
• The ability to swallow a pill
• Sunshine on my shoulders, the song, and actual sunshine…on my shoulders
• A new package of Oreos
• Cleaning supplies
• Funny commercials that just make us both laugh – our favorite right now is for Silk Almond Milk:

https://www.ispot.tv/ad/AmBh/silk-almond-milk-silk-man

• Mud puddles
• The privilege to pray
• A good news email
• New friends
• A picture of my youngest granddaughter and a picture of her oldest sister playing basketball, sent in a text message
• The fading of painful memories
• Sam, singing “His Eye is On the Sparrow”
• My devotion today, from “The Upward Call” by David Jeremiah, on loan from Dad, gifted from Patsy and Charlie:

My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth. – Psalm 121:2

Among the stories connected to the memory of Francis of Assisi is this one:

One day, Francis gathered his friends at a remote monastery in central Italy. When he asked them about their journeys, each brother had an exciting tale to report. One had been riding his mule across a narrow bridge that spanned a deep gorge. When the mule bolted, the man was nearly thrown into the ravine. He praised God he hadn’t been killed. 

Another brother had nearly drowned fording a river but, he said, “God in His grace provided a tree that had fallen across the water. I was able to grasp a branch and pull myself to safety.” Other brothers expressed similar stories of God’s protection. Then someone asked Francis about his trip. “I experienced the greatest miracle of all,” said the famous friar. “I had a smooth, pleasant, and uneventful journey.”

We should always remember to praise God for His miracles in whatever form they come. He blesses, heals, rescues, delivers, helps, and uplifts more times every day than we can count. We should always be saying, “Thank you, Lord!”

I am grateful for ice-covered trees in the winter. Even though the ice can be destructive, it definitely is a winter kind of beauty.

I am grateful for a pain in my neck. Even though it hurts, it means I have had lots to do today to keep busy at my desk.

I am grateful for a dull ache of missing out. Even though it is constant, it means I am not checking Facebook to see the latest, and I know the ache will eventually fade.

I am grateful for a dusty film all over everything. Even though it is driving me slightly crazy, I know it means progress is being made on the addition.

I am grateful for radiators in every room. Even though they take up space and some would consider them ugly, they allow us a very warm home and our heat is silent. I never realized until this home taught me…furnace heat is loud.

I am grateful for dirty clothes. Even though our Friday night looks to be spent at the small town laundromat, we have clothes, they are warm, and very soon they will be clean again, smelling good and all folded. AND, a bonus. I get to spend the evening with Sam at the laundromat.

And I am grateful for very little in the refrigerator. Even though we don’t have many options for dinner, it means I will be able to go to the store after work to find something to go with a potato.

I am grateful to see a bird soar, wings extended and still.

I am grateful to taste the juice of an orange segment.

I am grateful to hear the beauty of a silent morning.

I am grateful to smell morning coffee or a waft of bacon frying.

I am grateful to witness a new friendship being formed right before my eyes.

I am grateful to walk up and down stairs.

I am grateful to be able to read.

I am grateful that although I never took typing in school, I can type.

I am grateful that when I need a break, I can go downstairs and play the piano.

I am grateful for my glasses in order to see clearly again.

I am grateful for lotion in the wintertime.

I am grateful that the very first words I heard yesterday morning were “Happy birthday, sweetheart.”

I am grateful for a phone call from my sister and my daughter yesterday.

I am grateful for a new birthday pillow that was chosen just for us by Michelle.

I am grateful to have been serenaded by five grandchildren for my birthday via video.

I am grateful for birthday emails from Ron and Dwight.

I am grateful for emails and text messages from CBA friends and students.

I am grateful for one more day of sun before winter really arrives at our door.

I am grateful for bad dreams that are only dreams and not reality any longer.

And I am grateful for this song, playing on my internal jukebox today. I can hear Carolyn Porter on the piano, Josephine Thornburg, Shirley Pendergrass, Roy Quick, and Mom in my ear:

Every day with Jesus
Is sweeter than the day before
Every day with Jesus
I love Him more and more.
Jesus saves and keeps me
And He’s the one I’m waiting for
Every day with Jesus
Is sweeter than the day before

More often than not, it’s a detour, one that can leave you feeling temporarily stalled and slowed down. Which nobody likes. But detours are necessary if any improvements are going to be made on the paths we travel. Or if any wreck is going to be cleaned up or a hazard avoided. Detours are designed for our own good, regardless of how we view or feel about them.

Detours are a good thing that often feels bad. – Tony Evans

Today is my daughter’s birthday.  I am so grateful for Karissa and very, very proud of her. God gave me His richest blessings, and she is one of them.

“Many women have done wonderful things,
    but you’ve outclassed them all!”
Charm can mislead and beauty soon fades.
    The woman to be admired and praised
    is the woman who lives in the Fear-of-God.
Give her everything she deserves!
    Festoon her life with praises! – Proverbs 31:29-31 (The Message)

(Caution: This post contains language unfit for ladies.)

Sitting at lunch today, I was able to enjoy.

Well, in between tryin’ to swaller my mashed taters on accounta’ gettin’ so tickled.

Oh, how times have changed.

I am so grateful for the ability to enjoy this new season of life. In my past, I would have resented being stuck out here in the middle of nowhere. I would have grumbled and griped and held grudges.

But, oh, how time changes things.

I love the city. I love having anything and everything right down the street. I love the lights and the sounds and the busy and the opportunity and the choices for EVERYTHING.

But, oh, how time changes things.

You see, we now live in a town that is inundated with farm trucks, Buicks and Chevys driven by 80-90+ year olds, and camouflage.

We pulled up to the café just after noon. Lined up all along the side of the building were four white flatbed farm trucks, dirty from the recent snow.

The customers were mostly overalled or coveralled and plaid-flanneled, (to be expected in the January cold), filthy ballcapped with a little tuft of hair sticking up from the hole in the back of the cap, boots covered in mud or cow hockey.

It’s the cafe that could be the small town version of Cheers, where everybody knows your name.

I could smile, loving my neighbors who live life a bit different than the city farmers.

Oh, how time changes things.

I used to cringe when h-e-double-hockey-sticks was used flippantly in conversation, but not these days. These days, I recognize that it’s just expression. Country life expression. And it means nothing more than Gomer Pyle saying, “Well gawhhhhhh-lee!”

I’m pretty sure that Fred and Doris Ziffel, Eb Dawson, and Mr. Haney were sitting at one of the tables.  Arnold wasn’t, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the café allowed a pig to enter.

Overheard while eating those boxed mashed potatoes covered in brown gravy made from a package:

“I seen that one guy over there…”

I tell ya, it pretty much wollered out on me…”

“Well, hell if it ain’t the same pahrt I got over at the harhdware stohr!”

“I done near blowed that power cord…”

Hell, if I hadn’a’ yanked on that little sucker, I’da be all the wayta Burr Oak by now!”

I listened and began to smile from ear-to-ear. And then I began giggling.

And I couldn’t quit, I got so tickled at this life we now live.

We finished our lunch and as Sam paid our bill at the counter, I looked at the very outdated postcards advertising our small town part of the world, standing up in a rack that was hanging on the wall. Just under the postcard rack on a little stand, was an old coffee can with a sign taped to it: “Questions for the Mayor.” Uh. That is awesome. There were even a couple of pieces of folded up paper inside. I was tempted, but I am not the mayor.

We drove down Main Street to stop at the lumber yard for a few minutes, needing to pick up some supplies for our building project. I am almost certain that the hardware store/lumberyard looks EXACTLY the same way it did in 1970. In fact, I am almost certain many of the items on the shelves were on the shelves in 1970.

Oh, how time changes things…wait. Oh, how things stay the same in small town America.

I was still smiling from ear-to-ear.

I was waiting on Sam Drucker or Hank Kimball to walk in the door.

Amidst the nails and hammers and such:

• One stocking cap covered in dust, hanging on a nail with a tag in place, ready for purchase.
• A wall of formica samples, a beautiful imitation wood or glamorous gold or that effervescent orange, or even avocado green.
• A rack of plastic shelving for just the right project, next to one dusty set of striped chair pillows for patio furniture.

And the owner sat behind the counter, writing out Sam’s ticket for his supplies.

“What’s your address?”

Sam responded.

Sam’s roofer added, “Ya know, they bought the ol’ doctor’s house.”

“Well, why the hell didn’t ya say so in the first place?!”

We drove back to the house, and as we rode along, I saw a barbecue food trailer, a nice one, probably goes to events and fairs and such, parked on a corner.

“Wow, that’s a nice rig!” said I.

Other than still needing to work on my accent, I’m adapting quite nicely, I think.

Oh, how time changes things. And me. I am so grateful for this new season, for this small town world, for our new home, for the characters we meet each day here who make me smile and enjoy our world on a completely new level.

All we need now is a pig with a name and a phone on a pole.

That’s all.

Happy weekend, friends.