Unrealize Blessings.

 Unrealized Blessings.

 

Sometimes things happen in our lives that make us look back and realize just how very blessed we have been in what took place. The decisions we might have made and didn’t can be looked on with either regret or a smile because of what happened because we did NOT make those decisions. When Jennifer and Gary were married, a lady geneticist sat down at our table and visited with me. Asked about her work, she smiled and told me how much satisfaction she felt in what she had accomplished and just a little bit about what she had done. Mentioning that my regrets included not finishing my education before having children and not actually going on for the degree that had been my goal once upon a time, she looked at me and shook her head. “But look at the accomplishments in your life.” She turned and looked at Jennifer. Then she spoke of missing out on having a family as her only regret when completing her goals.

 

Sitting here thinking about some of the things learned shortly after our marriage, and it makes me surprised that our marriage turned out as good as it was. Not perfect by a naval mile! Lewis used the same tone of voice as his daddy had used with his family. He eventually changed both the tone and his attitude, but it took a while. My attitude changed right along with his. But no matter if he did shout about things when he was feeling frustrated and beleaguered, Lewis was always loving toward me and the children. Oh, he shouted at them, too! They did not talk back or do any of the stupid things kids do today. They knew better! And they grew up with a good work ethic and a sense of responsibility. But our family was blessed. Faithfulness, compassion, empathy, sobriety, honesty, and determination marked our lives. Lewis never gave me any reason to doubt him—and vice versa. Not every family has that blessing.

 

Looking around at some of the situations today with young women being abused and their children assaulted, it makes me want to give them some backbone. Once. Only once could a man hit a woman. Once would be the last time. A cast iron frying pan would work. Only once would take care of it.

 

Some situations are the reverse. Some women don’t know how to love a man or how to treat him. No man has to be a slave or otherwise “serve” only his mate. It is a mutual situation of caring and sharing. Both men and women should be faithful and honest. No woman should take advantage of her husband by demanding that he support her or otherwise take care of her unless she is also doing her part to keep their situation to the best of her ability. All the “things” in the world cannot satisfy some people—men or women. But if a person realizes what is really important in life, satisfaction comes through working together to accomplish what you both have chosen to do—build a life together.

 

Sliding my soap box back under my desk. Watching these silly dogs enjoying the couch and the AC. It is not THAT hot outside, but both dogs have pretty much been happy to stay in the house today. They barked a few times about cars going by, and they announced two visitors today. Cindy came and brought a box of assorted veggies and an entire sack of turnips! We got in a good visit, too! Then Loran came to clean my house and fight off the dust bunnies for a bit. Meant to send a few turnips home with Loran, but forgot. She might have let me know how she felt about them the next time she would see me. Some people just don’t like turnips. Think Cindy feels that way about okra. Simply can’t imagine! But then, some people think scrimp are the best in the West. Personally, the last one was both the first and the last. Not crazy about lobster, think calamari is a lot like the tubing for catheters, feel like oysters were meant to clean water, and believe that sharks and assorted weird fish belong to the seas and not to meas. [Those two words—seas and meas—are meant to rhyme.] Now it might be ok to eat kelp and mushrooms, but those don’t usually bite back unless one picks up the poison kind of toadstools. Not sure about kinds of kelp. But they have been using it in cow feed, so maybe it is good stuff?

 

Washed and dried the drapes that Michelle Malay brought to me. Hoping that dowel rods and metal hooks will take care of the weight of these drapes. The only one that is going to be a little difficult is the one that goes over the AC unit. That particular one may have to be divided so that the part that goes over that window can be pinned up to about half of the window. It may also be interesting to find two dowel rods that long. Eighty inches is almost seven feet long. The last time Sutherlands had a certain old woman walking down that aisle, they had very few dowel rods of any length and certainly none thick enough to hold up this kind of weight. Hmm. Guess Lowe’s might be a possibility. They might even have the strong and pretty metal holders for the rods. Know this is what Sutherlands furnished for the kitchen, but that has been a while. They suffered from lack of products and shipping problems during their renovations and remodeling. Maybe eventually Sutherlands will get back to the top of the heap when things settle down—if that ever happens. They would not be the first company to have shipping and supply problems.

 

Finding it difficult to sit still this evening. My days start so early that most of the stuff that needs to be done is accomplished before nine, but my mind and body are not ready to be still until much later. It could be that a certain person needs to cut way back on coffee. Hmm. Maybe tomorrow only one cup?

 

Have some things that could stand to be done early tomorrow. Some of the glass work brought home from the Zone still needs to have the sealer poured onto its surface. It would dry well and quickly in this heat, so it needs to be done now. Guess that is a good project for tomorrow. Then maybe getting out the sewing machine would inspire me to split that one section of the drapes. Would still need to go to Lowe’s, but that could wait until evening or the next day maybe. We will see. Something always needs to be done. Never a dull moment.

 

Connie told me this morning that she has another sinus infection. The poor woman has a deviated septum that prevents her from using a Neti pot or something like that. She uses saline solution to clean her nose out, but can’t pour that in like one can using a Neti pot. Never have had a really bad sinus infection that couldn’t be helped by using saline solution. But allergies are so bad right now, it is a wonder that just about everyone hasn’t got some kind of problem. The scale goes up to twelve. Here is what Google said: “Our pollen levels are on a scale of 12. Low is 0-2.4, Low-Medium is 2.5-4.8, Medium is 4.9-7.2, High-Medium is 7.3-9.6, and High is 9.7-12.0. These levels take into account how much pollen the allergy sufferer is likely to be exposed to for that given period.” Currently our scale is at nearly ten. Such fun. Please remember to pray for folks like Connie who are having such a time just breathing. It is not only Covid that is causing problems.

 

Honestly don’t know much. Have already gathered five eggs today, so maybe a few more will show up before it is time to put the hens up. They seemed pretty happy this morning, but Athena was front and center and squawking her head off when it was “time” to put out their scratch! Boy! Who knew hens could be so demanding?

 

Let us remember to pray for our soldiers, our police, and all the ones in our world who care for and help us. And let our teachers—all of them—be blessed in the best way for both them and their students.

 

Rest well, my friends, and know that you are loved.