As today winds down and I count my blessings I am reminded of Luke 6:38, “Give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” I don’t know what I’ve done to deserve today, but it has certainly been full and running over with joy.
The day began with the neighbors gathering in their hay. I don’t know what it is about hay season that brings me joy, but it makes me smile every year. It brings back memories of my childhood when we lived on a dairy. It reminds me of the years when my father and brothers cut hay. I learned to drive in the hay fields. I was nine years old and drove our old car and pulled a trailer that Dad piled high with hay bales. We played in the hay when I was a kid. Our cat had kittens in the stacks of hay bales in the barn. Hay just makes me smile!
My next blessing this morning came when I was watering the flowerbeds, and of course didn’t have the camera with me. The squirrel scampered down from the tree, got a drink from the nearly empty bird bath on the west side of the house, and then sprawled out flat on her stomach right in the middle of it! She actually stretched her front paws over the edge in front of her and her back paws straight out behind her, with her tail dangled over the back. Her little stomach was directly over the spot where the last drop of water had been a few seconds before. I don’t know what she was trying to do, but I laughed out loud!
After I finished watering I drove north to our old home place to spend some time with a woman I have known all of my life. We were next-door neighbors and gardening buddies for thirteen years. She is 91 years old and still wise and witty and in relatively good health. Still drives, still plays canasta with friends. I remember eating cookies at her house when I was a very little girl. My grandparents were her neighbors then, and I think I was often as excited to see her as I was to see my grandparents! I played dolls with her girls. I remember thinking she was the nicest person I had ever met. She still is! She has been an example of strong Christian faith for many, many young people. We spent the morning talking and laughing and looking at her flowers.
I took the “long way home” and drove past my aunt’s old home place, the canyon where we used to play, another aunt’s house, and my uncle’s old home. Good memories!
I actually cooked lunch for Gary today! He is working the 2-11 shift so I thought I might be nice and fix him a real lunch. We had pork chops and rice and okra. It was good to sit and talk and enjoy our food before he went off to work. I didn’t mind eating dinner alone tonight.
I spent the afternoon working on research. I’m working on my book and also doing some family work for several other people. I love genealogy research so much! I find it fascinating and fulfilling to help people locate their ancestors and discover how and why they settled here. I’m also working on our family tree again and scanning some old photos and documents.
I mowed about a third of the lawn, and yes, even that was a blessing. I’m able to mow it- that’s good. It has been wet enough for it to grow and need to be mowed- that’s good. And it looks so nice when it is finally done, that it makes me smile!
Finished the evening with a little raccoon entertainment. I’m not sure how much longer the family will stay together. I guess I need to read a little more about the dynamics of raccoon families. Anyway, I still enjoy watching them!
And if that wasn’t enough excitement, joy, and blessing for a day, Babe decided to add a little wackiness by sleeping right up against the front door this evening, just like one of those “draft stoppers” you buy in the winter. Do you think I can convince her to do that in December?? LOL NOT!
Count your blessings and sleep well!
Eula is certainly a super person. I have known her as long as I can remember and was a true joy to serve a church where she was a faithful member. Glad you all got to visit. Can you tell me anything about Hatsene and Orgel? She and my sister Holland are buddies from way back when and she had asked me about their health and I really don't know. Thanks!
Posted by: Houstine | July 22, 2010 at 09:38 PM