e whose lives were torn apart, turned upside down, and tossed as many as 150 miles away by an F-5 tornado on Sunday, just 20 miles away from us. The pictures and stories of survival that are emerging are simply amazing. I'm sure many of these people are wondering WHY?, while many of them just forge ahead and do what needs to be done. Homes and trees that flourshed for decades were stripped from 
the land, leaving piles of matchsticks and sheer destruction. To those who have lost everything, I say, have faith in God who has given you the strength to rebuild, to carry on. May 25, 2008 was planned by Him long before you were on this earth. He will be there with you as you forge ahead - more resilient and hopefully more faithful than ever.
gangly spearmint - wandering far from it's original home. Who knew (certainly I never considered) that these once-welcomed signs of spring could undo months of faithful stretching, strengthening, and coddling to an allegedly healing back? Blades of grass, thin, but seemingly stronger than the nerves that cause the knee-buckling pain that shoots and numbs and throws one's gait off balance enough to cruelly remind me that I am not the same person who once attacked these misguided sprouts with reckless abandon and put them into submission. They used to fear me. Now they mock me into feeling as broken and useless and beaten as I must have once made them feel. It's as if every time another birdseed fell to take up residence in a once pristine bed of river rock, an osteophyte grew on those vertebrae. Jagged edges of bone, 
refusing to give way to the bending, twisting, squatting that in years past left behind only gentle reminders of forgotten muscles. It's time. I've heard the message loud and clear - "Move on to simpler and less, while there's still time." Quickly now, don't "dilly-dally," as Dad used to say. Be ready for the unexpected. I'm intent on viewing this not as a punishment or a burden, but an opportunity to stay faithful. I must. For in faith is our only hope. And not everything that is broken must remain that way.
it was my Father's presence. Whatever, we were all there together. The night was chilly, and as my aching knees fell on the cold wet grass, I couldn't deny the comfort in the fact that after 11 years, the sod and seed have finally blended in nicely with Dad's neighbors. That pleases him, I'm sure. He was always so picky like that, and I'm sure the crab grass that had been there the past couple of years drove him crazy. As do the flowers that now adorn his headstone - "Weeds!" he always called them, no matter how beautiful. It's a surreal experience that never changes - reading your dad's name on the granite stone, with Mom's name right next to his, no date of her death. I love and miss you, Dad. Say hi to Buddy for me. I really hope you two are friends by now.
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
~Jeremiah 29:11
Tonight, just a simple prayer.Tea tonight: Tazo Zen
always basking in Christ's love. On Mother's Day they took her off the vent and it was week before she landed safely in God's arms. Back to where she belongs. As I looked around the church and visited with so many people I hadn't seen in a very long time, I was reminded me of how disconnected I've become in the last couple of years with so many people I enjoy and who bring joy. Old friends, really old friends, and old "forever" friends. When I took my salad to the kitchen, I thought to myself "This is where I want to be...in the church kitchen, communing and cooking with some of the most delightful, selfless, and giving women I know." There is so much therapy in a church kitchen. Something sacred and promising about stirring a roaster full of scalloped potatoes and ham.
...but it won't be here long :-( It's morel mushroom time and the crop is beautiful! Mom brought me two big bags from her hunting expedition. We did the traditional "fry 'em up" this weekend, but tonight I had a wonderful morel cream sauce with wine over my tilapia. Yes, it's possible to make a healthy "cream" sauce with skim milk. You just have to be creative, patient, and know when to stop (eating). It was tough tonight, but since I was dining alone I only made enough for me.
as only Caroline can do, and a funny, uplifting song. Good thing, or I'd have been in tears all the way home from the gym. Some people just inspire the tears right out of me. It was the only way to end a week that was far from normal, far from fulfilling, and far from pleasant. But listening to God's word is the only way to end (or begin,... or sustain) any week. 
Nor am I a brain surgeon, a computer programmer, a plumber, or a forklift driver. Therefore, I would never be so arrogant to tell these people how to do their jobs or what they need to do their jobs effectively. So after 9 years of college, 35 years of experience, thousands of patients, and the hard-earned accumulation of alphabet soup after my name, am I really an idiot? Or just the garden-variety idiot savant? Happy Hump Day. It's apparently my day for the pity pot. Hey job, have I told you lately that I love you? I think not.
Reflectons of a Mother
and my husband and of course, on this special day, my own mother, and it's no wonder I'm up all night asking Him to make the Plan clear. Like that's going to happen. I can still ask, can't I? The intent is that I trust Him that His plan is better, faith will get me up in the morning and His grace will see me through one more day. One at a time. It's worked for me for almost 57 years - and a lot longer than that for others. 3 John 1:4
and dreams. The smell of the grass triggers all three.
to hide, only the occasional goofy random thought.This will get very boring very fast, so I'm sure my following is short-lived, except for you old faithful friends out there. Here's a shout out to all of you. I thank each of you for the time we spent together this weekend, and can't wait to see you again. I'm so proud of each and every one of you - for persevering, for believing, and for loving each other. Treat each other well, take care of each other, watch out for each other - all of you. God is smiling, as am I. But He's not doing it through tears...or maybe He is. If so, they are happy ones.
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