Pictures

Yesterday afternoon beauty.

I had signed up to visit with a sister in the ward. We were invited to sit with her - she'll soon breathe her last on this earth.  Her husband isn't well and has doctor's appointments, etc. But she needs someone with her at all times. Yesterday afternoon was my turn.  I was happy to visit with her, until her first stroke she was my visiting teacher. I went armed with my needlework, expecting to be able to sit quietly with her for an hour.

Sweet potato yumminess.

But, no. Life had other plans.  Her son and his wife were there, he's apparently taken the week off work to spend the time with his Mom who he obviously dearly loves, he's taking such good care of her.  They had invited their daughter's best friend (with ulterior motives) to visit.  (Their daughter is on a mission in Japan and is greatly missed.)  Then the hospice nurse arrived to check my friend.  The sister who was taking the next shift arrived and then another hospice nurse who came to bathe - which caused much discussion and dithering. Instead of the quiet simple hour I expected to spend with my friend, it seemed like a house full of busy people - didn't really feel calm to me.

And it was awkward.  I thought I was going to be there to help free up her husband for his appointments, and serve my friend in that small way.  Instead I ended up feeling so extraneous, and almost intrusive. I kept wondering why the heck I was there, why were we asked to go when we clearly weren't needed?  I was near tears when I left.  Instead of the quiet little goodbye that I anticipated, I had to speak those words to my friend amidst bustle.  It wasn't the feeling that I had hoped for.

Love the asters.

My poor husband - he was unloaded on with all that suppressed emotion when I finally arrived home. But overnight I've thought a lot about that situation.  And I finally decided it's just fine.  I was asked to do some service, which I did wholeheartedly. What other people think about how I did it doesn't matter.  I want to think my friend knew I was there and that I went with a heart of love. I want my efforts to always be acceptable to Heavenly Father.

We went next door with a loaf of bread and jar of honey for the new family. I'm sure they'll be fine neighbors. But my heart will always retain a spot for the previous family that nothing will change. I miss them.

Perfect morning beauty across the valley.

I've lots of pictures today.  Yesterday's skies were the beautiful blue that only comes with clear air, I took this picture from my car window as I headed to the grocery. Overnight we had a storm that made for the most stunning skies this morning. I picked up a couple little acorns that just begged for their picture to be taken.  The yellow discs?  Those are my lunch of leftover baked sweet potato. These must be the freshest sweet potatoes I've ever eaten and they are totally scrumptious.  And finally the flowers: asters, the September flower that I love.

I'm grateful for the chance I had to say goodbye to a friend. I haven't often had that kind of opportunity - it seems the usual way is that I've heard someone has already passed.  I'm grateful for a fresh harvest of sweet potatoes.  I'm grateful for rainstorms that are just the right kind/amount of rain (not so much rain that it's scary).  For the beauty of flowers in this world.  For cooler weather.  And I'm grateful for love in my life.