Blessed with friends

Nothing dramatic has happened lately, and that's good. We are not bored. We have plenty of routine things to do. 

We have seen signs of God’s love in small ways:  

• cinnamon rolls left on our porch, 
• an elderly neighbor bringing us flowers and a sweet card,
• friends calling to see how they can help or just to say “hi”. 
• Friends stopping by to show us their new dog. Our dog Nikko was sure it was an intruder and sounded the alarm rudely. 
• Muffins and soup brought to us by a friend. 
• Books to read. In Doug’s case audiobooks from the library. 
• The rain we have had lately! I didn’t have to water, and the plants enjoyed the rain. 
• Friends bringing fresh veggies from their garden. 
• We have a volunteer blue spruce coming up. This is its third year. The first year I almost pulled it up but then decided to wait and watch to see if it would survive. Looks like it will grow up. 
• Our Pastor Tom and his visits and prayers.

We appreciate everyone. God has blessed us so richly with friends. 

I have been able to leave the house to go grocery shopping, walk the dogs and enjoy the sunshine. Doug is able to get in the car by going out the front door, but he says he’s not interested in going anywhere. I know that can be a sign of depression, and he is taking an antidepressant. But he is content to stay home. He’s not having much pain at all, just the intestinal issues. He sleeps later and takes a nap after lunch. 

Hospice has been active - one week we had four hospice visits. Nurse, chaplain, social worker, and an aide who just dropped off an item. The dogs are sure that everyone is coming just to see them! Three out of four hospice workers we’ve met so far are dog lovers. At one visit the chaplain spent most of her time petting Nikko. Maybe good for both of them. 

Thanks to hospice, we now have a toilet seat with arms that makes it easier to get up. Very helpful. 

Doug has been using the walker a bit less. He still gets dizzy if he bends over or gets out of bed too fast but he’s careful. 

Doug has, for a long time, been showing me things I will need to know how to do. 

A couple days ago I changed the lightbulb in the shower. I had to use the stepladder. Not my favorite thing to do but it went okay. Next time I use the ladder maybe I will go beyond two rungs, ha ha. 

Love to all. 

This is from Jesus Calling by Sarah Young:

“Hope is a golden cord connecting you to heaven. This cord helps you hold your head up high, even when multiple trials are buffeting you. I never leave your side, and I never let go of your hand. But without the cord of hope, your head may slump and your feet may shuffle as you journey uphill with Me. Hope lifts your perspective from your weary feet to the glorious view you can see from the high road. 

You are reminded that the road we’re traveling together is ultimately a highway to heaven. When you consider this radiant destination, the roughness or smoothness of the road becomes much less significant. I am training you to hold in your heart a dual focus: My continual presence and the hope of heaven.”

Thankfulness for ordinary

Nothing special has been going on, just the ordinary business of living - for which we are so thankful. It is the crises of life that make us appreciate these ordinary days; nothing to be taken for granted.

Doug had a severe stiff neck and pain the past few days. For a day or two he was thinking the cancer had attacked his cervical vertebrae. I really didn't think so. Now his range of movement is much better and the pain is less. It is just an ordinary stiff neck from sleeping in the wrong position. What a glorious word: ordinary.

I have been following a lovely blog written by Kara, a courageous young mother of four small children. She has advanced cancer. The blog is Mundane Faithfulness. You can read the blog and subscribe by clicking here: mundanefaithfulness.com.
In today's post she has a prayer I want to quote:

"Thank you Jesus, thank you. I take hold of this peace with utter gratitude. It feels like such a gift. I'm not panicked, but only have moments, small moments of anxiety. You have met me this week, you have met my man, my children, my moments and waking hours. You have given me work to do today. You have given me thoughts to think and wonder to observe. You have been my companion, my constant companion. You hear my begging: help, oh help, please help. You have helped. This is the greatest gift of all. Peace. Meet me in that small room with peace. Help me to show that unexplainable peace to my doctor. Help me to extend him your peace when he meets the end of his options to save this young mama. Help him not to despair, or to think I'm despairing. Help him not to carry the tears that will come. Help us to love him. Thank you Jesus for all those that are in constant prayer. Thank you for sleep. Thank you." 

What a beautiful compassionate thing, to pray for her doctor, that he won't despair when he can't save her life. I look forward to reading Kara's blog each day. 

Thank you Jesus, for this ordinary day. 
Love to all.