Month: February 2024

All is well at Corgi Hollows. Today the basement floor is dry. It wasn’t two days ago.

Monday I have contractors coming to reroute the septic system, replace my basement floor and bath/shower, the sink, and put in a floor drain. Huge project.

I may seek basement water-proofers here soon. Water is still pouring in every time it rains, every time snow melts off the roof. Cherie is an expert watervac user.

But all is well.

My great God is giving me the hugs I so crave.

I know He is caring for me.

I know He is revealing the steps I should take in my vulnerability, my fragility.

Today is sunshine and warm.

Ed is almost completely moved out. He is living across town, and of course I miss him, but I am thrilled he has found such a great place to live. He is three minutes from his church, on the east side of the River like his job in St Paul, and has plenty of space for his “junk.”

Smile. He has an active brain and a good will. He always wants to help others learn skills—mostly tech related. He has a vast supply of tech stuff. To me it is junk.

He has that gene of being a genius techie like his father.

I took a day off of school today to prep the basement more for the project next week.

My three words of 2024, balance, boundaries, and health, have been great goals for me. The “b” words have prevailed these first two months. I haven’t had time for health yet, just busy getting out of depression and doldrums.

I am thankful to see a change in my mental state. I’ve gained 15 pounds, which I hate, but I can slowly work that off as I begin my swimming and gym regiment again. Dogs are begging for more time too. Out to the hay field we go. This unusual snowless winter has been great for running in the field.

Intermittent fasting is still my modus operandi, and it works well for me. I’ve almost completely abandoned cooking, but because I love Japanese food now I am still cooking rice and fish when I do cook. Instant pot rice is perfect!

I am looking into getting my visa to visit Hong Kong this year. I am ready to see my Chinese “son,” and try out my language skills. I’m learning Mandarin, but I think I will be able to manage a bit in a Cantonese environment.

Exciting. We all need something to look forward to as we wait for Christ’s return on this old earth.

If I happen to intersect with the news I can see that the world is on a fast track to the end. Thankfully my little quiet life goes on relatively unchanged. I love my students, my job meeting people at the hotel, my quiet Corgi Hollows.

Mom and I have settled into the state of widowhood. We keep an eye on each other.

All is well.

As soon as I get things reorganized and spring-cleaned I will start on my reading again. I have the greatest list of books on prayer—a new one written by a relative (given to me from my father-in-law) about prayer in the Middle Ages. It looks fascinating! (Thanks, Paul!)

My Chinese fellowship group is just wonderful. I love being with them, learning about their lives, celebrating life events with them. I love listening to them and making out words and phrases, understanding their language. It has been a huge blessing.

I am enjoying being a part of the worship team at my church, too. I am so thankful they let me participate. I’ve given up singing in choirs. I just have such a heavy heart when I think about doing that without Brian. That was our thing, our date night every week. I have run from choral music since his death.

I guess that is a battle I need to fight. At least I was able to listen to Christmas music this past year. Triggers are real. Grief can hit you anytime, anywhere, but triggers are always hard to deal with. For me, it is that sort of music, as much as I have loved it.

It’s getting better.

All is well.

Meanwhile I keep praying for new contacts and friends in Asia.

A new life.

A new interest.

All, as we anticipate the dawning of the new age. Rapture first! I’m ready.

There is a big prophecy conference in Orlando, Florida, this weekend. It’s online if you want to participate. I might try to hear some of it, if I can get my house ready for next week’s stuff. The line-up of speakers is absolutely stellar.

Just passing on the word about where to “get bread,” one beggar to another.

As I’ve been studying through the Bible with Village School of the Bible this year I have learned so much. As I leave my depression I have new thoughts about faith and our heavenly Father.

Blog posts may deal with faith more again in the near future. Not promising this, but I’m leaning toward it. Thoughts.

Maranatha!

Yesterday was my oldest brother’s birthday. He would have been 67. Some days I cannot believe he is no longer here.

He and his wife were killed by a drunk driver in California four years ago. The taxi driver and the drunk were also killed.

I just hate to see his birthday slip by unacknowledged. I know many people think of him, the tragedy, the waste.

And the grief that extends to his whole family—that is painful still.

Just remember.

And don’t drink. Alcohol is so damaging, so unnecessary. I’ve lived my whole life without it–so I know. Look at all the lives lost to the addiction of alcohol.

Some medications cost about $100/pill or dose. In know this. I was a caregiver for a bit the last few years. My thyroid meds (which I weaned myself off of) weren’t that expensive, but some eye meds I used for my dad were pricey, like that.

Wintertime, about February, in Minnesota, can be a trial of spirit.

(This year not so much! We have no snow to speak of!)

Usually we have gray skies and deep snow, sub zero temps and few hours of sunlight. Yes, days are getting longer, but we are far from the summer solstice still in June.

I have learned to stare at pictures of turquoise waters and white beaches—you know those calendar photos from the dollar store? It’s therapy.

Since my husband’s death I have taken steps to actually see the sunshine, get some warmth and vitamin D this time of year.

My friend, also my bridesmaid over 30 years ago, the one who literally brought Brian and me together—we have renewed our friendship and decided to meet up in Florida in January.

I snapped up a deal from Sun Country for $97/roundtrip, Minneapolis to Orlando. Expedia offered me a great deal on hotel, too, no more than “my” hotel charges here. This is medication cost, in my opinion.

My friend and I spent two full days soaking up the sun at the hotel. No sightseeing, just relaxed catching up.

Balm to my soul, medicine for my spirit.

Our friendship goes way back. My uncle and aunt, and her parents were all missionaries in Africa. They had a connection which extended to me. When she and I both found ourselves at Wheaton College as freshmen we immediately linked up. We were both in Germany at the same time, too.

She raised six kids, (including triplets!) and I raised five. This was understandably a distraction from our friendship, but we kept in touch.

It is delightful to reconnect.

I am so blessed by our friendship, our time together, and the past couple of respite days.

I feel I can survive February AND March.

God is good.