Back on track...

That should probably read Somewhat back on track!  

I'm still enjoying the memory of Jeanee and Scott coming for a visit!  All the way from Florida...a 48 hour drive with no hotels or restaurants!  Quarantined amply and even had the dreaded Covid nostril test to just make sure they were safe to come visit us!  It was not a relaxed vacation for them...it was a work mission!!  I know I shared before...they worked non-stop every day with checking things and repairing things and getting us set for the next while...at least a few months!  It was such a welcome relief! 

Terry is was a fixer-upper hubby.  We both miss the fact that he can no longer do those sorts of things. True...a diesel mechanic doesn't always do the finishing work of a master carpenter but it did get fixed and for sure, it wasn't going anywhere once he fixed it in place.  Over-sized nails and glue and duct tape or whatever he ingeniously thought of...it was pretty well going to be in place forever.  Scott is a fixer-upper SIL!  He serves with joy and derives happiness from helping.  He and Jeanee were a marvelous team and it was beautiful to see them work together with not one bit of friction!  Ever!

Last time I wrote of my happiness on Scott fixing the dryer (with great effort).  Sad to say...it was short-lived!  The dryer died again.  It is gone from here along with the washer!  Bliss...at least to me...is a working washer and dryer!  They are now replaced!!  I cannot even express how happy those appliances make me.  That is a magical sound to hear the agitation and the steadiness of the dryer.  They are a bit more powerful than my old faithfuls! I am so appreciative to have this convenience of doing laundry whenever I want including drying!!  SO much!!

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School has ended here.  For the graduating Seniors a special drive through the town was organized and citizens could wave and cheer as they drove by.  Our street was right on the route at the beginning.  I asked a friend if she wanted to come over and we would wave together. 

One evening I heard cars honking, looked out, and saw across the street the black street light was wrapped in orange crepe paper and a couple of cars with balloons were honking.  I rushed to throw on my black and orange sweaters and tore out the door the next time the cars honked and waved .  I wondered why the cars were unevenly spaced but still wished them well by waving and hollering...Good Job!!  Yay for you!!  I had the wrong day!!  My friend was going to miss it!!

The people across the street were waving at me and I waved back and gave them a thumbs up.  Just sharing the joy.  I noticed they seemed to be giving out candy like Halloween and there were a lot of Thank You's!!  I told Terry that seemed nice but they were sure getting close to people.

I have no idea how many times I charged out the door at the sound of honking...hollering and waving in return to the unknown neighbors but one time a truck that had stopped to say congrats pulled down and turned around so that she was facing me and she yelled...it's my grandsons 10th birthday!!

I said...oh, how nice!  I slunk into the house!  I looked over and saw gift bags sitting on the sidewalk!  The friendly wave was actually a go into your house wave.

I did find a little gift for the boy...went out one last time...did my best beckon wave...and placed in on the sidewalk. 

The car caravan ended and they all disappeared down the alley behind the corner house.  I still have absolutely no idea who they are!

Yesterday the taunt of cars honking started in and sure enough another birthday.  They did things up big time as they hired a beautifully decorated truck dispensing icy drinks  and it was tootling also. 

I was haunted again by that day of humiliation.  In my younger life I had many many I Love Lucy moments.  This incident is now in my older years and is currently at the top of my LucyList!!

And now you know my truth!!

My own "Straw"

The Proverbial straw that broke that camel's back, in my own life, could be traced back to when my dryer stopped working!  This really proved to be my undoing.  An unraveling of sorts.  Being in quarantine I didn't want someone coming into the house to check it out.  I ordered 2 drying racks that turned out to be quite small but adequate when combined with my short length clothes line.  Then a friend lent me her large rack.

Friends were willing to take my wet laundry but I opted to do it myself.

Somehow or other, with Terry not doing real swift and seeing all sorts of odd jobs... if left undone could cause problems down the line?...started to weigh heavy on me.  One day I felt sick.  Exhausted.  Overwhelmed.  Frustrated.

Our daughter, who constantly checks on us from her Florida home, had planned to come out and then Covid struck the country and all our plans, along with the entire world, it seems, were put on hold.  She and her hubby had quarantined and got the Covid test and she said...Mother, we are driving to Washington and will stay in our van and drive straight through and bypass motels and restaurants.

I said...No.  No.  You mustn't do that.  Stay home.  it's to much etc. etc.

She said...Let me talk to Daddy.

I hear her as she started telling him that she was worried about me.  I sounded sick etc. etc.

Suddenly the thought washed over me...I need help.  

I took the phone and told her...Do come.  I need you.   

Best decision I ever made!  To realize...I need help.

They came and stayed for 10 days.  Our SIL is a fixer-upper fellow and he does everything with a heart that is so happy to help.  I'd made a list as requested and it was extremely long.  I figured there were just a few things that I longed to have fixed/checked and the rest would be ticked off eventually.  They did the entire list and then added things they wanted to do to even make it longer!  Ending with power-washing the house!

#1 was my dryer!!  Ah, bliss as I hear it's steady sound!

#2 was putting together a corner desk with a hutch for Terry's computer.  It was his Christmas gift!  It took a lot of work as some holes weren't drilled.

#3 was fixing a gate post which ended up very involved with 3 posts having to be dug up

#4 was cutting down my sweet lilac tree... so overgrown it was partially blocking light at a window.

It was an amazing 10 days, filled with so many changes/repairs...all sorts of nips and tucks happened and they just lifted my spirit to wonderment...amazement...deep gratitude.  I have recognized/been the recipient of so many blessings during this Covid experience.  Friends have been so marvelous... and then to have family come and work so hard, with such love, is just the best!

That patch of rough water in my personal life, traced back to my dryer giving up, has calmed down and I'm so thankful.  One thing that has not been rough and has remained placid and very calm is my testimony and faith in Jesus Christ...the Restoration and that is joyous!

Soul Stirring Truth

This is worth the 6 minutes it takes to watch!!  HERE