First of all, I want to thank everyone from social media and here on the blog for your assurance of prayer and support since last Sunday morning when my dad had a mini-stroke. I wanted to give an update about how the week went.

First, Dad, as his condition is the main concern. After an initial confusion and inability to move he seemed to become more clear in his thinking and even able to control his leg. It seemed to be miraculous to my mom and me. There was gradual improvement throughout Sunday. We were able to take him to the doctor on Monday for a routine check-up.

He tries so hard to help us and to be easy to care for.

This week we have definitely seen a change, and someone must be with him all night long. He is sleeping in a reclining chair to reduce chest pain. There is more confusion at night, so it helps to have at least two people there.

My nieces came to help out with this night-time duty, and that was a huge blessing! Ed and Cherie are also part of the team. Everyone, including my eldest son, and Margaret, have stopped by and contributed to my dad’s care.

I decided to stop subbing for the year, except for the jobs I’d already agreed to. That meant, for me, to work 7 to 3 at the high school yesterday, then 3 to 11 at the hotel. A long day, tiring, and I was already a bit tired from the interrupted sleep of the week, even though I only spent two nights next door so far. The team is just amazing. Ed and Cherie covered Grandpa during my time away at my jobs.

My mom is really amazing. She takes her role as a help-meet seriously. Even with her own health concerns she has been steady and strong this entire time.

I say—-answered prayer.

God is good, all the time.

THANK YOU FOR PRAYING!

The plan this week is for my dad to actually attend his nephew’s funeral. He really wants to go. I’m pretty sure we can manage it, since the trip to the doctor went so well on Monday.

Isn’t life full of twists and turns?

God is in charge.

*relief*

My dad is 95. We share a birthday, I’m 59 this year, and I am close to him. I’m biased about my dad.

The proof of the pudding is in the eating, and I’d say I have many reasons to state that my dad is the sweetest. A man of conviction, faith, prayer, intelligence, integrity, guileless, upright, slow to anger.

He really is a godly man.

The pudding right now is his declining health. A year ago he had a stroke, and combined with congestive heart failure and age he saw a year of progressing health concerns. He has a few other chronic health issues, too.

This morning he had another stroke, by all appearances. His speech is affected, his right side is less mobile. A mini-stroke, probably.

It is a blessing to see his sweet attitude in this. He expresses his gratefulness, his wishes, his hopes with limited ability, yet complete peace and a quiet spirit. He wants to be home. He said how grateful he was to have his family be willing to accept these health changes. He accepts the change quietly, peacefully.

We would like your prayers as we go through this next development. That is what we ask of our friends.

I am grateful for a dad with whom I get to spend eternity. His faith shines right now.

I asked him the other day if he’d rather go peacefully to be with Jesus or be raptured. He gladly exclaimed, “I’ve got no preference!”

Happy voice, happy countenance. Sweetness.

Come Lord Jesus.

Maranatha!

Better.

Is it the beauty of spring and the lush green grass after storms?

The tulips and daffodils are blooming in force around Corgi Hollows. Spring always comes late to Minnesota, making the burst of color almost painfully emotional to experience. I cried on the way to school yesterday—the beauty was overwhelming. The sun shone across the lake: deep blue water, golden green treeline on the other shore, sky of the most delicate color to the west.

I write about nature in Minnesota because it is so remarkable.

We’ve been following the return of the songbirds, and I put the grape jelly out for the orioles. They called their arrival and promptly partook of the sweet feast.

Ed has been monkeying around in the kitchen garden and planning his Japanese garden. With our new-found Asian knowledge (Chinese and Japanese, mostly) we are entering a new world. Both of us have learned a lot this past winter during our time of Hygge. (That is Scandinavian for being holed up for the winter.)

Now that Japan is possibly opening on June 1 I think we can consider buying plane tickets. I renewed my passport, so I have to wait for its return. It is exciting to think of traveling, and I wonder if it will become possible for us, again.

The world has changed.

We wait for the new kingdom, coming soon.

It is seven years since Ed was diagnosed with Leukemia. The Great Tribulation is a seven year period, Jacob’s Trouble. How quickly seven years can pass, how much can occur in that time frame.

Death, loss, change, new beginnings.

I am ready for Jesus to come. The next thing on my agenda is to see His Face.

In the meantime I will learn and complete the duties of my new job, the Chinese-American NGO.

Sometimes I think about implementing the original ideas for Corgi Hollows: a home-school resource, tutoring, music lessons, art opportunities, library. As an educator I see the need for experienced teachers/moms to impart help where needed. I am always willing to help. I want to encourage home schooling.

Right now I need to finish the public school year, figure out the academic plan for my master’s degree completion and continue learning Chinese.

Tomorrow we have a young lady moving in for the summer. We are all happy to have her. She is from Africa, and she is a college student here in Minnesota.

Ed and Cherie have summer ideas, and some plans, and we are all looking forward to positive change.

Rapture?

Eyes on the sky. Maranatha!

Brian was such a baseball fan. When he had trouble sleeping at night I’d wake up to see him watching baseball reruns of spectacular plays on his phone. He really loved baseball.

We went to a game as often as we could. Every year we’d think about purchasing season’s tickets, but always opted out. It seemed too expensive both financially and time-wise.

Still, watching the Minnesota Twins was just the best thing for us.

When Ed had cancer we would get tickets from Children’s Hospital about once or twice a year. Perks. Cancer perks. Those seats were always the best, right by first base.

Sometimes Great River Energy got us the ticket through a company gathering. Brian loved working for Great River Energy.

We savored those events.

I wanted to get to a Twin’s game so badly last year, but I was still hibernating. It just didn’t seem to work out.

When this season opened I said to Cherie that we should go to the opener. It was supposed to be a Thursday evening, but then it got postponed to Friday and both Cherie and I work on Friday. Boo-hoo.

Yesterday was Mother’s Day (and I heard from all my children 🙂 :)). I said to Cherie, “Let’s go to the game!”

What a fun afternoon!!! The sun peeked out. We got tickets in section 325, and the view of the field and Minneapolis is just awesome from there! We were practically the only ones in the section, so we could have a blast just by ourselves.

The Twins are doing so great these days. They won (yay!) and the game was appropriately exciting. Tickets were under 20$ and that is truly a bargain for such a great thing to do. I was sad to see the stadium so poorly filled.

Come on, Minnesota! Let’s support our Twins!

My favorite player is Max Kepler. His ties to Germany are so interesting and he’s good, too. I’m going to have to look for a Twin’s shirt with Kepler #26 on the back.

I expect to get back to Target Field this season….maybe often?

It is supposed to rain all day today, and storms came through during the night. Corwyn is especially afraid of storms, so she woke me with her shivers. I don’t know what causes fear of anything like that in her, because I don’t remember any traumatic storm events in her puppy days. If I could use dog psychology I would, but instead I hold her tightly and pray.

Yukichan seems to have a blissful ignorance of such dangers, even with her sister’s trembling.

I have been working. A lot. I don’t usually substitute teach as much as I did these past two weeks, but teachers are desperate right now. There is still some Covid absenteeism. Teacher meetings and seminars, personal comp time and who-knows-what have made subbing a hot commodity. I am in demand, and because I am such a softy I can’t say no easily.

I even took a half day of kindergarten yesterday, and believe me, I went home exhausted.

They are sure cute.

They are also very busy and emotional.

God Bless the Kindergarten Teachers of the World.

This spring has been so slow in coming. Easter came and went. I met the parents of my son-in-law on Easter. His mom made a delicious chicken and apricot dish for us to enjoy at their home. They live a few miles from Corgi Hollows.

Margaret had a virtual elopement back in January of 2021. She lives on a hobby farm about a mile away from me now. She has llamas, goats, sheep, dogs, a cat, and chickens. I believe she is going to take over Brian’s bee stuff completely, too. They made dozens of gallons of maple syrup this spring. She is truly living the rural hobby-farm life these days.

Ed and Cherie keep me company here at Corgi Hollows. Cherie has taken on most of the responsibility for our “next door neighbors,” her grandparents, and the errands and what-not that they need. My dad has had a few falls these past few months. Remarkably he broke no bones, but we can tell that balance is becoming more of an issue.

Everything slows down. We enter a new season.

With what spare time I have I’ve been diligently learning Chinese, and learning about east Asia. It’s a whole new world, as I’ve said before. I am embarrassed to admit that I really don’t know much about east Asia. With most of the humans in the world from east Asia I have been remiss in my personal education.

Since we have hosted students from China for many years I may even know more than the average westerner, but I am becoming more and more aware of my lack of knowledge the more time I spend learning!

My new job is one where I promote relationship and leadership between China and America among up and coming leaders. I need to educate myself first before seeking to bridge cultures. When China opens its doors to internationals like me I’m hoping that there will be an “all systems go” moment.

And then, we may be actually awaiting the Rapture of the church. Doesn’t it seem that the world is poised at the cusp of something huge?

Block chain, Global Reset, New World Order, digital currency, BEAST SYSTEM. These things are here now, things that earmark the time of Jacob’s Trouble (the Great Tribulation).

God’s wrath falls on the earth during that seven year period according to Daniel. We believers are not appointed to God’s wrath. We are snatched away. We have the beautiful images of a bridal event with Christ to fuel our blessed hope. God has given us these symbolic feasts to give us hope, and a future. (Jeremiah 29:11)

Israel is not forgotten. The church does not replace Israel. Sadly, they will have to endure the terrible beast kingdom about to commence. Except for those who know Jesus Messiah.

When I think of all the believers in the world being snatched away, the Restrainer being taken as well, I cannot imagine the pain and suffering, anger and evil that will ensue.

The Bible does not specifically state that all the children (before the age of accountability) will also be taken, but there are indications from the dark side that it is expected. We shall see.

I have been interested to keep watch on the signs from all angles. One can easily be sucked into an ideology or even an interest with time invested in that thing—so one must be super cautious. Learning some of Asian popular culture is part of my ongoing education, and keeping up with it is time consuming. It can suck you in. I was never much of a fan of American pop culture, so this is new for me.

Since Brian’s death I have mostly been looking UP, but I can’t help but hear the drumbeats of the approaching NWO. We’re all watching our lives morph into the beast system and its framework. It’s gradual, but it is relentless, and there is absolutely nothing we can do to stop it. Christ’s Kingdom is coming as we await the prophesied events that precede it.

I’m planning on cleaning Corgi Hollows today. With the last two weeks of intense job activity the house has suffered. Dusting, vacuuming, clutter reduction: perhaps this will start a spring cleaning inspiration.

Marie Kondo, here I come!

(Does this spark joy?)

MARANATHA!

This is a time of year when spring is trying hard to come in. We have hours of sunshine, hours of rain, hours of gray.

The gray descends all around us, in the bare tree trunks and fields of dead hay. There is definitely a pallet, all beige and dull, of varied blandness.

The zephyrs and chinooks are tantalizing and more often.

Warm breezes.

The fowl of the air have returned. I see pairing swans on every body of water. The sandhill cranes announced their return, pterydactyl-like, and quietly hid in the swamps south of the house to nest. They spent at least three days making sure everything was up to snuff.

Canada Geese are honking overhead. At least one pair is nesting in the aforementioned swamp.

This morning I spied the Wood Duck pair in the familiar trees out front. We see them every year. My husband felled the massive basswood tree that the ducks used for many years. It was completely rotten at its core, and a perfect home for this species.

I wonder what this pair is thinking.

Loss?

They found another home last year, apparently, so I trust they will do so again this spring. It is kind of like how I drive by 901 East Ninth Street every time I visit the town we lived in. I like to see how the house changes over the years and remember the special features I enjoyed.

Aside from that the robins are back, fighting and swirling in turf battles.

God loves beauty. He makes so much of His creation beautiful, people at the forefront.

People are just so beautiful! Even in our fallen state there is this color to skin, sparkle to eyes, bearing, and presence that we can admire and praise God for.

I look at my children and I just marvel at God’s goodness.

God loves beauty.

As a believer I am always convicted about idolatry. I think that Christians are some of the worst offenders of this, but as I have observed fandoms for celebrities over the past few years I see a glorification of beauty, worship of the created, everywhere.

We always need to keep our worship in check. God alone deserves adoration.

It’s easy to glorify an author, speaker, preacher, teacher, musician, model, actor or actress. They are set up as examples for us to follow, learn from, or emulate. No one is immune from this. Those that think they are are probably worshiping themselves. And God created us to love beauty and be attracted to it.

God loves us, undeserving as we all are. He made ALL of us. He planned the influencers and the influenced. He planned our days and our circles of relationship. He made the beauty that we see all around us, that we can enjoy His marvelous creativity and ability.

Give the glory to God! As His creation springs back to life for summer, I see the beauty. The birds are just the first wave of life returning for the year’s season of growth. Look into the eyes of the person you see today and give God the glory for the beauty He made.

Imagine the beauty that awaits us in Christ’s presence!

MARANATHA!

This weekend didn’t go as planned. I caught an “under-the-weather” and I’m lying low.

There is always a lot to process in anyone’s life, and paring down to the bare minimum is a good way to limit the distractions from what is important.

At my age (almost 60 now) I have more focus on what is truly important and what is meaningless.

Some of you are still watching the drama play out in my colorful existence. It continues despite the paring down. Thank you for your concern, your continued prayer, your help. I’ve been in sore need.

I still feel raw.

I realize that grief is a process, that it takes its sweet time. There is no prescription for grief. We can chant the typical line-up of denial, anger, bargaining, depression, acceptance. I know I’ve fluctuated between all of these on a regular basis.

Today I feel a bit like bargaining.

I accept that my life is a mess, but I still want to bargain with God for something to look forward to here on earth. Fruitless hope that it seems to be right now.

Covid 19 has stripped us all of family and friends, time and experiences. We’ve all had to give up much to accommodate everyone. It’s been tough. Relationships have suffered. Children have been scarred, deprived.

One of my fellow teachers claims that the face of education in the USA has been altered forever through the pandemic.

I believe it. I can see the effect of two years of masking and isolation on children. Kids have almost no attention span, they are subdued. They don’t care anymore.

They’re sweet, and I love them.

I also pray for these kids daily, as they are facing life with challenges that previous generations never dreamed of.

I was privileged to watch a short video clip of two Ukrainian army chaplains talking about their current experience recently. Despite Russian missiles falling around them as they serve the troops on the front, these men were cheerful, trusting, and thankful. They mentioned specifically the south Korean military and their strong influence of faith and encouragement to them in their current situation. Past training from Korea had a massive effect on these Ukrainian chaplains. I believe that the Holy Spirit truly comforts in times of great stress, and it appears that is the case in Ukraine right now.

One good thing is happening in Ukraine (besides many other unreported things) the Russian goons have all been called back to their homeland.

Ukraine has a chance to stand alone.

Propaganda is real, folks. Putin is a sick man, in more ways than you’d believe.

I look like his mother. I even used her picture has a profile photo on Facebook once and everyone thought it was I. My friend jokes about my appearing to him, chastising him for his bad behavior, aggression, and narcissism. If only that would work. Playing a ghost isn’t exactly anything I’d approve, in any case.

I pray for Ukraine. They have been beaten and bullied since history began, a fertile jewel between worlds of power. The Ukrainian people have suffered enough. They are turning to God in droves, and I know that God hears their prayers.

Joe Biden is the most incompetent president, leader, human to ever hold office. I pray for him and his salvation, before dementia captures his soul. To be such a pawn in the hands of the puppet masters is truly alarming. I thank God that His Holy Spirit still restrains the evil powers that will soon come forth.

I’m a prophecy watcher. I know the end of the story. These events could be those predicted from 2,000 years ago, or we could have another foreshadowing.

My eyes are looking up. I’m not discouraged about the world stage. Everything is going swimmingly according to plan.

I focus on my own life and desire to do what is right.

Today’s “Daily Light on the Daily Path” had a verse that really convicted me. I Peter 4:19: “Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to Him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.”

There is so much that speaks to me in that verse today.

I suffer. I realize that my life, and everyone’s life plays out according to God’s will, that God keeps our souls (perhaps not our bodies) and HE IS THE CREATOR. There is suffering according to God’s will.

His rules, His plans, His ways, His everything. His will.

We must trust. We must obey. We must wait patiently, with hope in our hearts.

There is a war going on, but God wins. According to the verse in I Peter I need to do well, do good even in the midst of suffering. Lord, help me.

Jesus will reign.

Be aware that there are dark powers afoot. You need the armor of God to withstand the darts of the devil. Are you under that dark power? Is your life mocking God’s grace? Are you encouraging sin in your fellow men and women? Have you repented of sin?

Watch out.

MARANATHA!

Since January and February are the months to practice the Scandinavian principle of “Hygge” we come out of the quiet with new thoughts and splendid ideas.

I tend to suffer from depression, seasonal and other, and I have struggled with that this Hygge time. I got little done, but my mind kept working.

I was astutely learning Chinese with my language partner in China, on Duolingo, and my textbooks. I felt that I redeemed the time somewhat that way.

I also knit a little sweater for a grandniece about to be born.

I subbed and worked at the hotel regularly, and I met with my new boss weekly. I wasn’t entirely fetal.

Cherie and Ed practiced their own Hygge. We try not to be critical of each other but we don’t see everything that is going on in our lives, even if we share our living space. We all think that we all should be doing “more.” Cleaning, studying, laundry, cooking, you name it.

It’ s easy to judge someone going through an unseen battle.

As the sun returns and warmth increases outside we leave the fireplaces and head toward industry.

Something interesting came up. Ed always tells me things I never knew before: Winnie the Pooh is really about the seven deadly sins.

I wrote a paper about the seven deadly sins back in high school. Those High School assignments never leave you, apparently. I’ve thought about the seven deadlies ever since.

John Bunyan wrote Pilgrim’s Progress. The book gave birth to amusement parks themed with Christian’s journey. Puritans thought up the idea to do this. Ed told me this, too.

Who would have thought that amusement parks are CHRISTIAN—!!!

Because of this lesson learned we are thinking of making our Japanese garden a Pilgrim’s Progress theme. The project is just a fun thing at this stage. I expect it to become burdensome and inspiring at the same time over the next few years. Such is a project of its nature.

I’m still trying to solve the water in the basement problem. It has me stumped. Maybe the Japanese garden project will also result in a better water solution. I confess that my cries to God for help seem unheard.

Thoughts upon waking: (you know those thoughts before fully awake?) Why do some people with huge messes in their lives end up apparently good-to-go with great outlooks, and other people (like me) with smooth paths meet seasons of chaos and disappointment, grief, with no happy end in sight?

I confess to being downhearted and depressed about things.
I know God is good.

He defines Himself as good. He defines Himself as Love. I accept His definition. I may have trouble understanding His ultimate plan. I certainly don’t see my significance, yet I know He loves me. I simply must accept His control of my life, my future, my everything.

I guess that is the safest place to be, even if it doesn’t appear safe. It doesn’t appear good. It looks scary, even.

As we watch the world descend into the New World Order orchestrated by the puppet masters and their diabolical spiritual head we can rest in God’s plan. That is true hope.

I learned that two people in Kiev who are literally sleeping in a bathtub are praying for me. They are my friends, but I am humbled by their concern, as I should be prostrate before God lifting them in prayer for His protection. I am floored by their sweet interest.

Will you pray for V and V with me? Pray for their protection and their ministry there.

Who is on your snatch list? Jude 23

I am going to keep asking this until the Rapture of the church in Christ. We need to be praying daily for the salvation of many, of the world!

MARANATHA

Corgi Hollows reactivated on Facebook. It was time. The time of the singing of birds has come. The winter has past, and the rains have sprung. Come Away! Come Away!

There is a theme in both George MacDonald’s and Tolkien’s works that crops up. It has to do with beautiful youth in age.

Think of all the characters that are “ancient” yet appear youthful.

As we all age, day by day, we see the effects of a fallen world. Death is just the end, but daily our existence reminds us that the good fades away. We are in a spiral towards the end.

God chooses to give us hope, though. He promises eternal health and joy. Anyone that has experienced that indescribable place called Heaven can attest to that eternal bliss.

As I grow older that promise of perfection becomes more dear. I hate seeing the effects of decay and death. It must be endured, but I still hate it.

I’m seeing the decay of winter outside my front door. Spring is nosing in after this bitter, deathly cold we’ve endured. The temps are nudging above freezing.

I’m recovering from a slight cold, headaches, all the ominous symptoms. I took my horse medicine and my tonic water. I’m fine. I’m just a little sad and tired, nursing my red nose.

I guess I’m feeling my old age.

We are still loved, we are still valued. We are still here.

We are waiting for the return of our eternal King, and it cannot be long now.

Endure to the end. Eternity promises to be worth the pain of now.

Life has been flying by here at Corgi Hollows.

My new job takes up most of my mental energy, and I’m still striving for balance with my two paying jobs, my school, and my new position. I’ve been subbing like a crazy woman. It seems I am in high demand. Since I enjoy it I find it hard to say no to some of my favorite teachers.

My Chinese language learning is soaring, with a new language partner in China. We have met in person, many years ago, but we are about to embark on a real partnership—with her learning English and me learning Chinese. My Chinese “son” is her real son, and so we are now his “moms.” 🙂 So cute.

It seems that in a heartbeat everything can change, a chance comment, encounter or thought can change the course of life. I feel this way lately.

I’ve got a lot of reading to do. A lot.

This winter has been super-cold, too. I don’t remember a recent winter where we woke up to below zero so many mornings!

It makes me extremely grateful that God has provided a working furnace, cozy fireplaces, and cars that start up quickly.

What else am I grateful for? A good friend that has been helping me with the persistent problem in my basement: dampness. He will soon have repaired all the damage. I am thrilled. I’m hoping that the entire construction project can be all finished SOON.

I’m grateful for good friends who step in and help us troubleshoot our mechanical issues! Thanks, Dave!!!

So with this new course in life I’ve pared down my social media, too. Some of you may have missed Corgi Hollows on Facebook. I don’t miss it as much as I thought I would.

I’ll write here to keep in touch.