Whew!

Daphne flowers

And we're done for another year.  Hopefully.  Our annual physicals were this morning.  We're both in good shape.  Went fasting for our blood labs and got that taken care of before we left the hospital.  So glad things are ok so far.   We'll see what the labs show, and of course we still have a couple tests to have (some of which the insurance will likely refuse to cover) but that's ok.  Fingers crossed we're good until 2027. 

We don't take much medicine (there's only one rx for The Husband and so far none for me),  we try hard to eat fairly healthy and even though we're both overweight it's not by a huge amount.  I know I've said before I want to age as gracefully as possible (though grace isn't really in my genetic makeup) and we need to be healthy enough to take care of each other.  That's a decent goal, right?

I have been feeling guilty about not journaling here more often lately.  But it's fine.  This is really just for me to remember certain things.   

I've loved our spring.  Our daphne bushes have been so pretty.  We were warned when we bought them (with a lovely gift card) that they are tricky to grow.  It's been several years and they've done so well.  The whole bush is usually more upright than the picture shows - that one was taken the morning after an overnight rainfall.  Still, though, they are lovely.  The sargent crabapple out front is beginning to lose the blossoms but frankly, this has been it's best year.  The new little maple is also leafing out beautifully.  We are supposed to have some rain tomorrow and on Friday will have the winter we missed out on through December and January:  actual snow here on the valley floor. I'm so grateful to have been able to enjoy the spring that came at the appropriate time.  😊

Spent the afternoon chatting with my friend - she's off tomorrow for her Dad's funeral on Friday.  She and a couple siblings are speaking.  This loss has been hard for her.  As a cherished one's death is always hard.  I really struggle with funerals - come home just completely wrung out.

So, it's been a busy day - annual physical exam this morning, lunch and chat this afternoon.  The other day we managed to acquire some new rugs - a couple washable ones for the kitchen to replace the cushioned ones that threaten to break one of my ankles every time I prepare a meal - the up and down is hard on me.  And a new rug for inside the front door.  I'm so glad we did that, we rarely spend money on extras.  And we have a new runner to install down the staircase - the current runners are worn-out / tacky and need to be replaced.  I'm glad we'll be able to get that little project done, it'll feel better. We also managed to get some more seasonally appropriate seed for the birds.  Within a short while of putting the new seed out on the feeder we already had a little birdie eating it.  I'm thinking about getting a second feeder, I think The Husband would really enjoy it.

I just had a treat - was gifted a couple cans of root beer. These cute little roughly one cup size.  The perfect size for me.  On the rare occasion I need something different than water this is the best solution.  I so enjoyed it.

Today I'm grateful for being done with the medical stuff for a bit - and for the fact that it didn't take over an hour for the lab person to find and utilize the right vein on The Husband, like last year.  He's historically been problematic with that.  I'm grateful for the kindness of people treating us like we are valued.  Grateful for discussions that include hope and encouragement and friendship as we (hopefully) walk the path toward discipleship.  

Odd Day

 Church conference over the weekend was great.  There were so many things I heard that lifted my soul.  A few things that made me mentally squirm a bit about things I need to improve on.  But that's what this life is about, right?  Learning, growing, finding the path back toward our Creator.  Anyway, the weekend was great.  Monday felt blah.  Kind of a mental let-down after the weekend.  And we were busy yesterday doing laundry, vacuuming, cleaning up. 

Aren't they lovely?

Today we decided to switch up the order of things:  errands in the morning, home stuff in the afternoon.  I enjoyed it - I am definitely a natural morning person, my energy levels are higher in the morning than the afternoon.  So, here I am, catching up on bills and computer stuff.  I finished the last ten pages of a book that I simply couldn't finish last night.  Our walk this morning was lovely.  No deer sightings, though we've seen quite a few recently.  I did stop and take a video - in a spot where we've been before and been astonished at the loud music from the birds singing the day into being.  There had to have been several dozen birds in the couple trees.  I love hearing the birds.  Winter means there are fewer songs to hear but today it was sweet sounding.

The lilacs are about done, as are the tulips.  The trees are still blooming beautifully though as I mentioned before, some are losing their flowers. 

Our snail mail must have arrived very late yesterday - the Husband checked it around dusk and still no mail.  But it was in our box just at seven on our return from our walk.  And sheesh - I need a "minder".  Received a past due notice (what is it about that that is so alarming to me?) for our garbage pick-up.  Apparently I forgot to pay it last month.  Sigh...Got that done first thing this morning, but now am wondering what else I've forgotten to do?  Seriously can't even recall getting a past due notice before.  I know it must have happened but truly I try to stay on top of things.

Stopped at a bookstore - was quite interested in a little "gratitude" journal I came across. Each page contained a few prompts such as:  name three people today who helped you, or who you are grateful for.  I loved that concept.  I try diligently to find gratitude in every single day, but often it's the same sort of things.  Nothing wrong with being grateful for the same things, but I need to be more inclusive and aware.

So today, I am grateful (again and always) for The Husband.  I probably don't tell him enough.  And life can be stressful with the issues we both have.  But I cannot imagine traveling through life without him.  Would have been bereft of so much joy.  (And I stand by my statement that a lot of people today equate fun and joy - not the same thing at all!!)  The children that have come to us have also provided joy.  I am also so grateful for spring.  I truly treasure the hope this new season brings.

From Conference Yesterday

"And it is never too late for miracles"  Taniela B. Wakolo

Also said by Jeffrey R. Holland (conference is not the same without him) in the past.

Good to hear it again.  

I hope for even a single small miracle in my life. 

Spring

I remarked today as we were driving along that I have loved the "greening" of our little area of the world. It has been eye candy for me whenever I'm out and see the trees, bushes, grass all turning that beautiful shade of spring green - such a refreshing change from the dull brown of winter.  I am a big fan of winter (though I wish we'd had one this year) as well as spring and fall.  Summer?  Not a fan at all.  But spring this year for some reason feels especially pretty.  And I need some pretty. I took a couple pictures.  

falling flowers

The one is just to illustrate how odd the seasons are this year.  It is barely March, I took that picture a few days ago on my morning walk a couple streets away to show how many of the trees are already losing their blooms.  W-a-y early.  I'd rather the blooms stay on the trees for a few more days - even better a few more weeks - so we can enjoy their loveliness a bit longer.  It even feels strange to drive down the street and see the spent blooms drifting like snow down to the ground. Again, w-a-y too early.

Our little sargent crabapple in the front will be in full bloom soon, I love how the buds start out pink then turn white as they open.  I love that little tree.  The newest maple in the front only has very tight buds, but the mature maples in the back are beginning to sprout leaves.  I love that proof they weathered the "winter" and are ready to provide beauty and shade to our back yard. If they get enough leaves we'll be able to leave the light blocking devices out of our windows at night - the streetlight from the next street over shines right at our bedroom window keeping me awake when I want to be sleeping, I've become aware I need it pretty dark to sleep well.  All this is to say I'm loving the spring.  I've joked in the past that our spring needs to last longer than two weeks.  We'll see what happens this year since we already experienced two weeks of summer in March.  The world is changing for sure.

crabapple blooms

Went to lunch today with a friend.  Had such a good laugh.  Her face turned beet red when she told me this, while laughing at herself.  We all do such dumb things.  She'd taken her garage door opener out when she was with friends to easily access the house on her return.  Had tossed it back in the car.  Went out next day to run some errands, hit the wall mounted garage door button to open the door while she got in,  started the car and began to back out.  Only to run smack into the garage door.  She had sat on the opener which triggered the door to close as she was exiting the garage.  Big repair bill there.  She's such a sweetheart and cute and funny.  Just a delightful 79 year old to spend time with today and commiserate about spending all our money on only two things:  our bodies and our homes. 

maple leaves

FedEx lost our blind.  The company rushed through another blind build and it arrived the other day.  Soonest install date was a week out.  Then a cancellation occurred so they're coming tomorrow to replace the broken blind.  Took just shy of a month.  I think I've mentioned before that if I ever have a choice I will never ship FedEx.  They just lose too many items.  It has happened to us on multiple occasions.  Am anxious to see how the new faux wood (he wouldn't even quote me a price for a wood blind, it would have been so high) blind looks next to our original real wood blinds.  Hopefully it won't be so bad that having a working blind will outweigh any aesthetic concern. I'm also hoping that I've matured some.  I remember a time when all the fuss and delays would have cost me much frustration and maybe even a bit of anger.  This time I was able to just laugh it off.  Wow, that's quite an accomplishment for me.  Tightly wound is my natural state.  :^)

I'm so grateful for our good furnaces that can be turned on with just a touch of a button when the world can't decide if it's time for heat or air conditioning.  I'm grateful for a kind friend who wanted to go to lunch with me.  I'm grateful for good books to read.  I'm hoping for something fun to look forward to, grateful for hope.