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?

Tea Kettle

I saw a tea kettle hanging from a tree - the top of a wind chime pouring air into the cups dangling below. I first saw it years ago in a Copper Kitchen store and picked it up. There was a good friend who had a birthday coming up that loved tea. She may enjoy this wind chime, I thought to myself. She did like it - and liked me remembering her.
Our friendship was born out of pain. We were neighbors, but when her husband battled cancer followed by my husband's battle, we were drawn really close. It is kind of interesting that fighting similar battles can give you a sweet closeness to another.
God did a remarkable thing in bringing us together. Over the years, He filled many empty places in my heart with His love through her.
As I walked the streets with grandchildren and saw the tea kettle this week, I was reminded of His faithfulness. Even though she has moved, it still remains in the tree, chiming a song of His love given to each of us through friends and neighbors. It is a sweet sound.
I am eternally grateful.

Full Head

Really? Can our heads be so busy with so many thoughts that it is full?
I think so - mine is right now - and has been all day.
It seems that we have a certain number of things we can handle -
and then, the thoughts spin around so much that we get dizzy - and our head feels full.
And, when our heads start to spin, we can do some things without thinking them through.
At least, I can.
You see, in order to not drink in front of her (as she couldn't drink before surgery) I "hid" my green drink in my purse. Now, those cups with lids are supposed to keep the beverage from spilling, right? This thoughtful gesture backfired.
The green drink did not fully close on the top like I thought (or did I?).
I had green on my wallet, notepad, a book and many other things, but guess what it missed - the package of kleenex in the same area.
How did that happen? The kleenex would have "drunk" it up!!
So, I stop - take a deep breath - and there it is - God's love in the form of a laugh.
She asked why my shirt was green on the way home from the hospital.
I remember turning away from her so she wouldn't see me sip the part of the drink that escaped the bottom of my purse, and as I did, it spilled on my clothes. I didn't realize how green they were until she noticed.
I laughed.
I guess the drink missed the kleenex, but found avenues to a lot more.
Well, when our heads are full, I guess we have to look on the bright side.
The surgery turned out well - that is all that matters - even if I come home green.
Enjoy your life when your head gets full - and try not to carry opened beverages with you :)