The Lost Week

If you know me, you know that I'm a planner. I write down everything:  "to do" lists, daily and weekly goals, I even commit our meals and menus to paper. I go so far as to mark up my planner with different color inks to signify levels of priority and importance. These pages, ordinarily, appear as a veritable text rainbow, filled to overflowing with scribbled tasks and notes.

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Here's my planner page from last week. Nothing. Zip. These stark pages will bear witness to what's now known (to me) as the lost week. So, what did I do all week? Where was I? I was right here, on the sofa by the fireplace under a quilt with a book! Doesn't that sound cozy? It really wasn't, the stomach bug plagued me for five solid days. So, that's really not all that blog-worthy, really; but what I'm struggling with this week is the fact that it's impossible to make up for lost time. Intellectually, I know that, of course; it's the emotional realization of this fact that cuts deep. My "to do" lists have migrated over to this week, Mr. G reminds me that it's okay to let it go.

 

He's right. I'm reminded of this long-ago poem that I cross stitched and hung in our infant son's nursery. Priorities are dictated by the situation at hand. I suppose that I can/should scrawl RECOVERING across those blank pages, that would satisfy my need for a written record of productivity. I wonder what color ink that would require? I could assign a sickly green, I suppose. 🤢 All kidding aside, I have trouble being side-lined, it's not in my nature. But, what would I say to my own family and friends who needed to give themselves time to heal? I'd strongly encourage that, I'd reassure them that a recovery period was necessary for a full recovery. Why, then, am I so hard on myself, why do I have trouble self-granting that very same grace? I don't know, but I am trying. I'm grateful today for restored health, believe me; I have a whole new respect for how quickly that can turn around! 

I'm healthy again, Mr. G. and I both are,

blessings abound,

life marches on...

and it is Good!

Lifted On Wings

The Bluebirds are growing feathers at the speed of light; their daily growth and development is startling in its rapid progress! Before long those six little beaks will be clamoring for worms and bugs in a cacophony of frantic chirps and that nest will grow ever smaller and smaller. Soon Mama and Papa will beckon their bluebird babies to fly, to test out those God-given wings and set out on their own; it all happens so fast. This morning I am asking you to lift up prayers, as if on wings. I ask that you pray for my husband's sweet cousin, Kathy. Kathy has faced life changing illness head-on over the past few years and fought like a warrior; her road back to health has been littered by complications and obstacles every single step of the way. Kathy loves fiercely, she has the sweetest spirit, and unfaltering faith. She and my husband have always claimed, unashamedly, to be each other's "favorite"; they have a life-long history of being just that for each other.

Mr. Goodneedle with his sister (left) and his three cousins in July 2014, Kathy is wearing green, in the center.

While its always appropriate to pray to God for health and healing, our prayer now for Kathy and her family is for peace and comfort, if you're a praying person I ask that you join me in that prayer today; please lift those prayers up, as if on wings-- but not the faltering wings of a baby Bluebird this time; lift your prayers up on strong wings so that they will soar with strength and confidence, like those of an Eagle. Go ahead; God's strong, He is ready for the prayer bombardment. We love you, Kathy!

Thank you.
Life is Good!

Random Musings... From My Mind To Yours

Please bear with me, I have a few assorted topics to discuss, question and marvel over. First: these Hydrangeas. Aren't they pretty? We haven't had nary a bloom on these bushes for at least five years. We were beginning to think that they needed to be pulled out and planted somewhere else. We have not done one. thing. extra. to encourage or promote blooming. All of a sudden, last month, I noticed a profusion of buds forming! Hallelujah! Does anyone know why this may be? Knowing that the blossoms come on old wood we haven't cut them back; but then, we hadn't cut them back in at least five years. It's all mysterious and wonderful as far as we are concerned, but if anyone might know the reason, please share!

Our son has been sick: stomach distress, back pain and abdominal discomfort. This past Saturday he surprised everyone (he never gets sick and if he does, he never complains; so, the fact that he went to this extreme, both warned and worried us) and went to the Emergency Department, he feared he had appendicitis. A scan revealed a kidney stone. The stone was small so he was sent home with pain medications and other drugs; the waiting game began. He did not improve. Days dragged, he was miserable and suffering. He went back to the Dr. yesterday and was sent to the hospital for emergency surgery to remove the stone where a blockage had occurred. All went well and he was home last evening again with his family. He is "battle worn" from the ordeal but feeling much, much better and returned to work bright and early this morning. I woke up feeling like a weight had been lifted off of my mind and heart. As mothers they never get too old, do they? We worry the same way that we did when they were three and running a fever through the night or when they broke a bone; the same, exact, way as when they have ever suffered distress! They might be too big to scoop up in our laps and rock them to sleep in our arms anymore, but our hearts and minds revert to that behavior as we rejoice in their recovery; thanks be to God!

How often do you go bra shopping? If you're at all like me it is one of the most agonizing of all shopping excursions (second only to selecting a swimsuit). Whenever I find a style that fits well, and is comfortable, I buy as many as I can find in my size; because, don't you know, the next time you go shopping for one again that style is always discontinued! ALWAYS! Okay, yesterday was the day. I had put it off for as long as I possibly could. Yes, it was agonizingly painful an experience as I thought it would be; but, this time there was a new reality: the image of an old lady's body reflected back at me from the fitting room's mirror. Where did she come from? I found a few styles that met my basic criteria and skee-daddled out of there as fast as I could; far, far away from that old lady's scrutinizing eyes. I should be good for awhile; I bought four, (buy one get a second at 50% off!) maybe that old lady will be gone whenever I return-- a long time from now! Am I alone in this experience? Do any of you encounter "visitors" in those fitting room mirrors? 

These are last year's Easter lilies carried home from Easter Sunday service and plated in the ground. I really forgot about them until they emerged this spring and have, quite simply, burst forth! They have been holding onto these buds for weeks on end. We have had nothing but rain for the longest time but this week the sun has broken through once again and one bud has finally begun to loosen its tight grip. Will these burst forth in bloom today or tomorrow? What a glorious surprise these have been to witness their progress! I planted this year's lilies just behind these plants; next year we should have double the glory! What surprises are you experiencing in your life right now? Who knows, yours might be as close as a glance out the window; whatever it is, I hope that you are wrapped in the wonder of God's gift of glory all around you. Today I give thanks for all that He has so abundantly provided, revealed in blessings of every shape and form. 

Life is Good!

Under The Weather...

Forced "down time" today is leaving me with a depleted energy level but ample opportunity to skip around and visit blogs that I've been missing. I have no idea what hit me but it was swift and complete. What started off with a raging sore throat and cold-like symptoms quickly escalated into something akin to food poisoning with a case of severe chills thrown in for good measure! All of this occurred in a 24 hour time period and I am happy to find myself greatly improved today, just wrung out. Bummer.

Lots of fun things have been going on around here. Remember that storm that wiped out trees and tore up the woods surrounding our home back in June? Mr. Goodneedle finally got the big  logs separated out from all the debris and hired a man with a portable sawmill to come out last Saturday and cut them up into boards. This is a new twist on making lemonade from the lemons we were dealt. We got approximately 1,600 board feet of oak and cherry; that's a whole LOT of lemonade!

This photo gives some good perspective to the size of the logs to be cut as they lie-in-wait, just outside the garage door.

Hannes, helping.

These two photos, above, capture the set-up and the workings of the sawmill. It was fast and efficient!

Once cut, the boards are stacked where they will remain in our garage while they dry. Our basement smells like a lumber yard; no complaints, I do enjoy the fragrance of fresh-cut wood... good thing!

Speaking of sawmills... I've been watching back-to-back episodes of "The Waltons" on the Hallmark Channel when I'm home in the afternoons sewing or quilting; I was really surprised to learn that on the later episodes John Boy was portrayed by a different actor than Richard Thomas... did you know that? Did you also know that in those same later episodes Olivia's character went to a sanitaruim in Arizona to receive treatment for tuberculosis? Her cousin, Rose (played by Peggy Rea), moved into the farmhouse to help John care for the family. I don't know where I was in the early 1980's when those major TV family changes happened... oh, I suppose I was too busy caring for my own family back then to even notice! 

Our daughter-in-law had a birthday on Sunday; we took her, and the family, to Firehouse Subs for a birthday lunch after church. On the way out to the car Gregory spotted this relic and, of course, asked the normal Gregory questions: "what's that?"..."how works?"... which begs an even greater question: "how many of these are still in existence?" He'll be able to count on one hand the number of these he sees in his lifetime!

Life is Good!

 

Table With A View

I met Clara in 2002, she had recently moved to town to be closer to her daughter; she joined our church, and our Quilt Ministry. She was 84 at the time. We became quick friends and, eventually, I began picking her up at her apartment, and taking her back home, on Thursdays for our weekly quilting sessions at church; I enjoyed those times and I believe that Clara did too. I learned a lot from Clara, especially not to count on spring arriving and staying even though the daffodils might be blooming.  "No, she'd explain, we've not been through Blackberry winter (or Dogwood winter or Redbud winter) yet, there's more cold yet to come" she would caution. One time she invited me to visit her so that she could show me her quilt collection. She had prepared delicious little orange cookies and sweet tea for us to enjoy while she entertained me with wonderful stories about growing up in Tennessee, and about being a schoolteacher there. She told me all about her husband and how he was paid in quilts for some sort of job he did when they were newlyweds and about the adventures that she and her husband had enjoyed while searching out antiques from estate sales all over the East coast after he had retired. They bought, and ultimately sold, specific antiques to customers who would use them in their homes or places of business; she loved the hunt, and the travel. She told me about a day that they had driven to Maine to pick up a load of items and, as was her habit, she had asked the man  ahead of time, over the phone, if he happened to have any pieces of certain antique china pattern. This was her own personal request; she some pieces from that collection and she wanted to complete her place settings. He told her that he did and she asked if he would lay them back for her. When they arrived at this man's place they made short work of loading up the goods that they had driven up there for and Clara inquired about the china. The man looked pleased with himself and asked them to follow him; he walked back behind his barn and started off across a field, they kept right up with him. Clara told me that she was somewhat perplexed until she looked off in the distance and caught sight of the most beautiful ocean view extending beneath the bluff where they stood; and there, right in front of them, was a table spread with a cloth and set with all of the dishes she'd ever imagined in that pattern!  She could scarcely believe the sight before her. When she told me the story her eyes sparkled and her face beamed with joy. She wanted very much to communicate the very same joy to me that she'd felt on that day; at that was she most successful! We laughed together when she related how, her husband realized he'd just met a very skilled salesman and had little other choice but to buy every bit of that china right then and there!

Clara's health began to fail a few years back; she no longer joined us at quilting; and, over time, I didn't see her anymore at church for worship. She passed away early last Friday morning. When I received the phonecall from a friend at church informing me of Clara's death all I could think about was that story of the china being set out on a table with an ocean view and Clara's beaming, joy-filled face. I know that is how she looks now, in His kingdom, free from pain and suffering and joined together once again with her beloved husband; I imagine that they're sitting together at a table... one with an absolutely spectacular view!

Life is Good!

With Gratitude...

 ... for all your prayers! Leigh Anna is home again, right where she belongs! There is nothing sweeter than knowing that this little family is once again reunited and all sleeping under the same roof. The blood pressure issues are being treated with medicine and the headache is slowly abating, the neck and shoulder pain have gone away completely, thanks be to God! I'll be back soon with more posts, I may even get in some stitching/quilting as soon as life calms down... and it looks like that might just happen one of these days.

For those of you who were wondering about Gregory and his
reaction to being a big brother... he's been just great!
Lynnleigh is one lucky little sister.

Life is Good!

Prayer Request

This morning I'm requesting prayer for my daughter-in-law, Leigh Anna! She was readmitted to the hospital yesterday after giving birth one week ago with a severe headache, high blood pressure and neck and shoulder pain. Please join me in prayer for a swift and accurate diagnosis and prompt treatment for a full and rapid recovery. Thank you.

Life is Good!

Hit And Run Christmas

Christmas: 1  Mrs. Goodneedle: 0

Yes, it's true. Christmas is stronger than I am, I was felled by its might. I should have realized that I was coming down with something on Christmas Eve when we were visiting with Lucy Ann and Mason in the Capital City and I never made even one move for my camera. We attended their Christmas Eve Children's Service with them and then drove home to attend our own 11 PM Christmas Eve Service here. We didn't see Santa on our way home from church, but we did see eight deer in our neighborhood! We crawled into bed a little after 1 AM on Christmas morning and were at Gregory's home promptly at 8 AM for breakfast! I was dragging but still upright at that point... and oblivious to what was coming. Back home we came by noontime and I started preparations for dinner. I put the cider on to warm and preheated the oven; my mother-in-law arrived with extended family who were visiting her. I slid the first round of goodies into the oven and felt it creeping up from behind... an achey back and a sore throat. I drank some cider and tried to ignore it. By late afternoon I was under heavy attack. Our guests left around 6 PM and I had the dishes done and was in bed by 7:30 PM; I stayed there for thirty-six hours straight! I slept through an entire day. I admit it, I'm weak; Christmas is stronger than I am, it hit and ran. I guess it's just a bad cold... most likely compounded by lack of sleep. I'm much better today and made the most of yesterday; the garlands and trees are down and the ornaments stowed, the window candles are put away too, all until next year.

On another note: Hannes has been checked out after three weeks of non-activity and pronounced 100%! We are adding back some moderate activity and exercise for him, and he's one happy boy. So are we!

Life is Good!

Prayer Request

When I went on Blogger break a few weeks ago it was for a specific reason... between keeping my 17 month old grandson that week and having my parents here visiting it was all that I could do to keep up with day to day life. Well, since that time I am sad to report that there hasn't been a dull moment, and I don't mean in a good way. My mother became ill and made an ER visit where she was diagnosed with Acute Bronchitis. She received a breathing treatment, some O2 and an arsenal of drugs before being released. This past Sunday my Dad went to that same ER and was diagnosed with a touch of Pneumonia. He was also treated and released, he is getting stronger every day. This morning my mother took a sharp turn for the worse; finding herself with increased breathing difficulty, and close to blacking out, we called for an ambulance. She was treated in that same ER, once again, and admitted to the Critical Care Unit with a combination of Bronchitis, Pneumonia and an unstable blood pressure. Please pray for health and healing for my parents, if you would; they are far from their NH home and, although they are with family and receiving excellent care, I know they feel unsettled and out of place; like they'll never get back home where they belong. I am deeply grateful for your prayers, thank you.

Life is Good!

The Road To Recovery

The journey is a little longer than I thought it would be, not a day trip at all; but we're getting there, one step at a time. Thanks one and all for your well-wishes. The nasty stomach bug has effectively, methodically, run through the entire family. The weekend's looking promising though; I am reemerging as a stronger and healthier version of my former self, and the destination is in my sights!

Life is Good! 

Confinement

It was a vicious attack, I didn't see it coming. A violent stomach bug crept up on me Tuesday afternoon; leaving a path of devastation, and a wrung-out me, in its wake. According the the CDC, assuming this is Norovirus, I'm contagious for at least three days following the attack. I spent yesterday disinfecting every hard surface in the house with a solution of bleach and water, anything I may have touched. As far as soft goods are concerned all sheets, blankets, towels and quilts were washed in boiling water and dried on high heat. Despite all of my best efforts Mr. Goodneedle came down with it during the night.  I'm strong enough today to take care of him. But, for the meantime, our house is under quarantine.

Stay healthy, y'all...

Life is Good!