Somewhere now holds my mail ?!

So I slowly walked into the garage perusing the mail. As I bent down to place some of it in the recycle bin, I remember deciding to keep three pieces - a card addressed to Aunt Mary, a bank statement and a pottery barn Christmas present brochure.
That was three hours ago. I know I walked into the house with them, yet I have searched the garage three times. There are two usual places inside where I put mail - both are empty.
Since I now live in a smaller home, there are less places they can be.
But, the question is "Where are they?"
How can I possibly lose three pieces of mail just walking them into the home?
Now, do not blame it on age - I do agree that I am older, but I blame it on moving. My head is so full of so many thoughts since moving - so many things trying to find new places in my home - and so many places trying to claim their right to retain furniture!
I remember getting a phone call as I walked in - but which call was it? So, I checked the time on my phone calls this afternoon - there were two in the time frame that would have handled the mail. But which call took me somewhere - and that somewhere now holds my mail?! I remember putting a bed together after the mail delivery - but have checked everywhere around the bed - even under the covers!
So, the dilema continues - oh - that is not how you spell dilema - okay I checked - love these computers - it is dilemma -
So, the dilemma continues - will the pieces of mail show up?
Well, I know the Holy Spirit knows where they are, but He has not revealed it to me yet. I have asked. We will see when He decides to tell me.
In the meantime, whatever niece sent me a card - I hope to find it someday. The bank statement can wait and pottery barn has seen me enough this year.
Here is to your mail today - may you know where you put it :)
Love to you!

My Defender

Have you ever had someone defend you? Does it get any better than having something going on and a person steps in and defends your position or your character?
The feeling of being understood and defended is one of the best. It does not battle with feelings of pride for it is a feeling dependent on another - not yourself.
To be understood, accepted completely and loved in a way that you feel secure is a great gift I have experienced.
God has blessed me with many friends and these relationships are priceless. A few of them would defend me and I pray I would defend them.
For today, I am remembering the first time my car broke down after I met David. I called him and he and Ken were at the side of my car in a flash. I remember, after being a single Mom for the previous 7 years, liking the feeling of someone caring enough to drop whatever they were doing when I was in trouble and arriving in minutes. It was new for me to have someone so caring to "come to my aid".
And, I think the best part of it was that there was no condemnation. I had often been condemned when I was in tough situations with things going wrong.
So, this different feeling - of being taken care of without condemnation - was brought into my life and I devoured it. I welcomed it like my dry tongue would welcome water in a desert.
And, I felt defended and taken care of - all in a single act of friendship. Through the grace of God, an uncountable number of events have taken place since that day, all allowing me the same feeling - defended and taken care of without condemnation.

God offers us that - and I receive it. I love when He defends us, takes care of us and, Romans 8:1 "Therefore, there is now, no condemnation, for those who are in Christ Jesus." I receive Christ's gift of no condemnation.
I got used to David being my special human example of God's defense at my side every minute. I accept God's Word will continue to give me the defense and love I long for.
Fill any empty places in us, Lord.
For Jesus' Glory.

There he was and There he is :)

Memories can be so sweet! Getting ready to move - my last day in this home - and "There he was!" Can you see him? Maybe not like I can, so let me share.
There he was - standing on the back porch - waiting for me to come along with other women golfers - he would be golfing later in the day, but always waited to see me come around the bend and ask how my round was going. There he was - stepping up the ladder to fix something up high - he loved ladders. There he was - leaning on the counter in a Chicago Bears costume with his buddies as we got ready for a party. There he was - sitting in his office on the phone - motioning for me to take a seat to talk. There he was - sitting at the table while looking outside - his favorite view - this wonderful golf course. There he was - sitting cross-legged - he had great flexibility - playing with Macy on the floor. There he was - running downstairs to see if the sump pump was working on a rainy night. There he was - head bowed, praying before meals or sleep. There he was - walking around outside finding something to dig up. There he was - talking to one of the kids on the phone as he paced. There he was - practicing his golf swing in the back yard. There he was - putting tape on the wall before putting a nail in it to hang a picture.
And, one of my favorites - there he was - all dressed up to go to dinner or church. He told me he loved to dress up for church because he was going to God's house and that was a special place to go.
I can see him - all dressed up and laughing in God's House - can you picture it?
There he is :)
Love to you!
Mary

Saying Goodbye

Well - farewell to a home. Saying goodbye is never easy but is necessary sometimes. A home is so much more than a building - it is the richness of the memories of people together inside the walls. It is the voices, words spoken or sung, that bounce back and forth in our minds as we enter a room. It is the celebrations of life days or the simple day in and day out days racing across our thoughts as we enter a doorway. It is the faces of those we love smiling back at us as we remember encounters. It is the meals shared, the special holidays spent together here.
And it is the love - oh our homes are filled with love.
So, farewell to a home that has been well loved and loved us back. But, more importantly, farewell to a home that has shaped our family.
We were naive' when we moved here - we had no knowledge of a golf community, or all the fun that is involved in living in one. We had no grandchildren and did not realize how quiet our life had been until our family was blessed with little ones and then marriages. OH - We had a lot of love and shared it well - and realized the extreme depths of pain in losing contact with one we love.
On the second day living here, David was unpacking in the garage and I asked what he thought of our move. "My next step is heaven." was his reply. He was right.
So, with him in heaven, it is time. Time to say goodbye to a wonderful home in a golf course community.
And, saying goodbye is never easy - but it can be a step forward. I hope this move is.
Thanks for loving this home along with me.

Dreams can be wonderful!

I was walking down a hall in my final dream early this morning. I was with someone, but didn't notice who. What I did notice was that I was passing three people - one neighbor, David and another man were standing with bowed heads in prayer. As I passed them, I turned around, realizing it was David and I waited.
As the prayer ended, the neighbor walked one way and the other man the other and I approached David. No words were spoken, but his blue eyes, hair style and smile were of a younger David. We kissed. I told him I remembered his kisses and we both smiled.
Then, I woke up.
I think I visited heaven in my dream :)
Sweet!
Have a blessed weekend!

Memories Alone Will Get Us Through

I woke up singing "You and Me Against The World" and smiled.
Because the words "When one of us is gone and one of us is left to carry on - then remembering will have to do - our memories alone will get us through" brought back a flood of memories.
Walking the beach, removing wall paper with steamers, golfing, laughing, driving, his napping on Sundays - so many wonderful memories bring warmth to my heart.
Now, unlike the song, it never was just "David and me against the world". We always had Jesus Christ, our strength, our provider, our comforter - and we always will.
But, I did enjoy sitting here remembering and thanking God for each memory.
Then, I asked God to give David a wonderful day in heaven - doing whatever he is called to do up there. And, I ask God to bless what He has in mind for me to do today here on earth. May it bring Him honor and glory.
Now - as much as it is fun to "think about the days of me and you (David)", like in the song, it is also exciting to think about what God has in store for each of us today with whoever is in our world.
Can you imagine what He has planned for you today?
When we focus on Him and not on ourselves, He can bring unimaginable joy - fun we never expected - into an ordinary Friday.
I love that about Him.
So, enjoy today - this wonderful present God created you for and gave you breath to unwrap!
This is the day The Lord has made - we will rejoice and be glad in it!!
Thank you, Lord :)

Radon gas - really?

I was told my home indicated an unhealthy level of radon gas. I only know this because I had an inspection to sell the home.
So, I received quotes from companies to "mitigate" the radon gas to an acceptable level. Now, this process was full of interesting people and I needed to choose one. Really? How do I choose?
I decided to choose the company that talked the most about what they were going to do - instead of what the other companies would not do.
The discussions reminded me of politicians. I never like to vote for people who tell me what someone else does wrong - just tell me what you are going to do right.
So, I hired the company that didn't talk about the other companies - and they did a good job with the "mitigation process". Now, after the second test, my home has low levels of radon gas present. That is a sigh of relief!
However, how long have I been sleeping while inhaling unacceptable levels? When did my home go from "passing" to "failing" in the radon department? Somewhere between 2003 and 2011.
Now, the testing company said we should get our homes tested every 2 years - really?
As a homeowner, I have never thought of radon gas - never.
And, finally, do I inhale unacceptable levels of radon every time I am outside?
I don't want to minimize the truth that radon gas can cause lung cancer - but, if it comes up from the ground - and is bad to have in our homes while we sleep, how do we live without breathing it in when we are outside?
If you have more education on this than I do - please share :)
Radon gas - really?