Month: February 2025

I am plagued by worry these days.

I know that Christ commands us to Not Worry. I read a hint that praying for others can be a remedy for worry. I do pray for others. I pray through my “snatch list” in the morning, and as people cross my path during the day I pray for them—sometimes over and over.

My cousin is sick. I pray for her to get better every time she comes to mind, which is often.

I pray for my children and my grandchildren.

Something else that combats worry is counting blessings. It may be way below zero in temperatures this week, but today the sun is shining and after this bitterly cold week we may be seeing warmer days. I see pictures of spring on social media. Blossoms in Japan, sunny beaches in the Mediterranean, green grass in the south! It’s not even close to being spring this week here.

But it is sunny.

Gandalf is fading away. Our hearts are broken. Cherie and I cry. We just don’t want to bring him in to be put to sleep. We want to hope that he can win this game against liver malfunction. Our vet diagnosed liver disease, but he told us that it would be extremely difficult to figure out why Gandalf has it, and costly, and there would be little chance of recovery even with a diagnosis.

But miracles. We still can pray for miracles.

I’m complaining more than counting here, today.

Someone told me that my septic mound system may need complete replacement. They only last about 30 years, and that is how old my system is.

Remember that I’ve just waterproofed the basement, rerouted the drainage, replaced the pipe under the house—–I’ve trouble-shot so many things already.

And yet I just love to live here in this beautiful “hollow,” nestled under the highest point in Hennepin County.

It is worth it to repair and make this place habitable. When I am gone it will be sold, and whenever sold it must be in good condition.

For now my cozy fireplace is on, the sun is streaming in, and I am thankful for being warm. I’m thankful for my sweet Corgi, my Rat Terrier, my cats. All lend warmth and comfort.

I’m thankful for music! I’m thankful for my church. I’m thankful for books and art supplies and yarn and needles to knit!

I’m thankful for the lakes and fields and forests that I love to see and walk through, swim in.

I’m thankful for health. I love to be mobile, to swim, to breathe deeply and move around freely.

I’m thankful for God’s provision! Jehovah Jirah, the LORD provides! He has never let me down.

I’m thankful for friends, family, my mom, my kids, my grandkids. How lovely they all are, how blessed I am.

I’m thankful for safety and peace, knowing full well that God’s plan is unfolding steadily, day by day, with His people in positions of leadership and service for Good and for Evil.

I am thankful for Jesus. I couldn’t live without Him.

Come quickly, Lord! MARANATHA!

In this world you will have trouble. That’s a truth universally known. Jesus tells us to take heart, though, and we must obey.

It’s a week of hearts. Valentine’s Day is Friday, and the kids at school are primed for the parties. I’m subbing in music and there are some cute songs modified to celebrate the holiday. Third grade is performing them, and they really enjoy singing them.

I’ve had trouble, though. Could use your prayers.

My septic system froze this past weekend, ahead of the really sub zero temps we are having right now, for an extended time.

I was told I will probably have to wait until late spring/summer for the system to thaw out. Ya.

Until then I can periodically pump out the tanks. Very costly. The gray water gets hauled away instead of flowing into the mound.

We are scrimping around here. It’s like camping, sort of: paper plates, short showers, careful usage of water that is draining into the system. It’s just a “pain-in-the-neck.”

I’m so thankful for a furnace that can combat these arctic temperatures. This house is needing a complete overhaul, apparently.

The new little room under the front step of the house (the one that was completely not accessible before the basement waterproofing people came) is just part of my ongoing “adventure” in home repair and upkeep. “Little surprises” are becoming normal.

Life is hard.

But in acceptance lies peace.

I learned that many years ago when I lost my fourth child to miscarriage, when another tragedy struck simultaneously. I recall being paralyzed with pain and horror, sadness.

In acceptance lies peace.

I learned that from a book by Hannah Hurnard. She wrote a pair of books, “Hinds Feet on High Places,” and “Mountains of Spices.” I love those books. I grew up reading them several times. I should probably revisit them soon.

God is good all the time. It may seem like things are falling apart. God holds the master strings, the tape, the glue, the screws and bolts, nails and fasteners. Perhaps I cannot see which things He is using at a given time, but I trust I will see a bigger picture when I am with Him someday.

It’s Valentine’s Day —-week.

I made a chocolate cake. I had some and froze the rest of it. Do you ever get hungry for chocolate cake? Brian used to love it with a glass of cold fresh milk.

I’m spending my Valentine Week with some sweet memories.

Happy Valentine’s Day!

MARANATHA!