Status Report: November

Sitting…on the couch in the living room.

Drinking…an after supper cup of Lady Grey tea.

Watching…the Raptors game. When the game is over, I’ll switch over to American election results. You see my priorities.

Thanking…God that the gum surgery I had yesterday went well, that I have no pain or swelling. This was minor surgery to take away a bit of gum tissue so I can have a crown fitted on a tooth that broke off, but still, I expected to feel things more than I have. 

Feeling…pleased that acetaminophen works so well as a painkiller for me. I discovered recently that I’m allergic to ibuprofen, and it’s nice to know that there’s an adequate substitute for me. (My little grandson had a bad reaction to ibuprofen a few weeks ago, too. I just get rash, he got rash and a swollen lip, too. So the Advil allergy might be genetic.) 

Getting...used to snow on the ground. Yes, winter is here and won’t be leaving until April or May.

Sharing…my thanksgiving this month at Out of the Ordinary. Read the details here.

Reading…The Intolerance of Tolerance by D. A. Carson and Seeing Beauty and Saying Beautifully: The Power of Poetic Effort in the Work of George Herbert, George Whitefield, and C. S. Lewis by John Piper. I’m reminded that these are both men that I enjoy more as speakers than writers. 

Anticipating…the birth of my fourth grandchild in one month. I’m thinking it’s time to start freezing dinners for the family to use during the early days with the new baby. But they have to be dairy-free, nut and peanut-free, with no onions, peppers or cooked veggies except spinach, carrots and tomatoes. These limitation make the task much more difficult. Any suggestions? 

Wishing…you a November filled with thanksgiving to our heavenly Father.

Status Report: October

Sitting…on the couch in the living room.

Drinking…an after supper cup of Earl Grey tea.

Watching…the sun get lower and the days get shorter.

Waiting…for bedtime. I had a full day with the grandchildren after a night with insufficient sleep. I am tired. 

Feeling…sad that yesterday’s snowstorm and winds took down a big section of my May day tree. My son says it’s time to take down the whole tree and I agree—reluctantly. Last summer another big section came down, and I don’t want to live my life waiting for the next branch to fall. Still, I can’t bear to think of my front yard without that beautiful tree.

(Yes, we really did have snow. Four or five inches of heavy wet stuff. It was very hard on the trees that still have leaves.)

Also feeling…happy to have all the garden carrots harvested. I scraped the snow away and dug the rest this morning while the grandkids played in the back yard. 

Laughing…at this: Two-year-old granddaughter to three-year-old granddaughter, “Let’s go have privacy in the bathroom.”

And this, too: Three-year-old to two-year-old (who had just had a potty accident): “That happens to me, too … (long pause) … when I was really little.”

Thanking…God for my oldest granddaughter, who turned three today. This time three years ago she was on a medevac plane to a children’s hospital, so I am especially thankful that she is here and healthy and bringing me joy.

Still reading…Taking God Seriously: Vital Things We Need to Know by J. I. Packer, but almost finished.

Finished reading…The House of Wittgenstein: A Family at War by Alexander Waugh. I loved this history of the family of philosopher Ludwig Wittgenstein. Strange story (suicides, world wars, wealth), compellingly written.

Thinking…I need another historical book to read. Any suggestions?

Complaining…that I need more quiet in my life. Still, I know that my life, with people in and out daily, interrupting my plans and muddling my focus, is the life I’ve been given, and most of the time, I love it. I never get bored or lonely, and that’s a blessing, isn’t it?

Wishing…you an October filled with service to God and the people you love.

Status Report: September

Sitting…at my desk, aka, the kitchen table.

Drinking…my morning coffee.

Waiting…for the grandchildren to arrive. Wednesday is when all three spend the day at my home. My house will be busy and (mostly) happy today. 

Wondering…where summer went. I’m not sure we ever had summer this year. And yesterday morning there was frost on the ground, fog in the air, and snow on the mountain. It is chilly, chilly, chilly already. 

Also wondering…where my ESV Study Bible went. I left it under the pew while I stayed in the toddler room during the service last Sunday and when I returned to retrieve it, it was gone. I’m sure someone thought it had been left behind accidentally and took it to return it, but it hasn’t shown up yet. If I never get it back, at least I’ll be able to tell people about the time someone stole my Bible in church.

Anticipating…picking cranberries. They’re ready, but I’m waiting for the forest floor to dry out a little before I kneel to pick.

Planning…to go back to planting a big garden next year so one hungry gopher won’t be able to eat half of everything. If you follow me on Twitter, you may already know about the back yard rodent that ate three heads of cauliflower, one whole broccoli plant, head and all, and lots of kale leaves. He likes the brassicas, I guess.

Feeling…a bit stressed because of all the nasty stuff happening in the world. I can’t shake the feeling that something somewhere will blow up, so to speak. I’m tempted to stop reading or watching to the news—or at least listening to the news on the radio before I get up in the morning.

Reading…Taking God Seriously: Vital Things We Need to Know by J. I. Packer, and The House of Wittgenstein: A Family at War by Alexander Waugh. Progress is slow. I’m hoping to get back to regular reading again once the berry picking season is over and what’s left in the garden is in. 

Studying…Ephesians—slowly, two or three verses a day. I’ve made it half-way through the fifth chapter. Unfortunately, all my notes are in my lost (stolen?) Bible.

Thanking…God that he rules the universe and is in control of the history of the world. 

Wishing…you a colorful September. May your autumn be a long one. 

Greeting…the grandkids.