These days, I’m easily distracted by puzzles. Crosswords, jigsaws, Wordle, word searches & others.
I’ve often thought it would be great if I could channel that tenacious focus to tasks I’d like to get done.
It occurred to me this morning that I like the puzzles I do because, while challenging, I can almost always solve them & get the satisfaction that comes from completion.
I seldom get that feeling from completing a task or chore. I’m not sure why. I want to see if I can change that.
I’m not sure what to think about how fast this month is passing. I think it’s because we are going through years of accumulated things at the old farmhouse, in preparation for an October estate sale. We’re doing a lot of travel back & forth between Gainesville & Norman.
I went almost 2 whole months without fishing as we try to prioritize getting this work done. It was good to finally make it to Leeper June 21, the first full day of summer.
That’s not to say I haven’t been to a lake. We were at Lake Fork in May & Lake Tenkiller earlier this month for Gene to work. Today we went to Moss Lake, but no fishing.
Transitions at both churches I’m invested in also have contributed to the different kind of summer pace.
My final week of May did NOT go as planned. Because who plans to test positive for Covid?
I did not think I had Covid, but after I tested positive Friday, it seemed like it should have been obvious. I WAS SO TIRED!!! It didn’t really hit me until after I drove 2 hours to the farm in Texas on Wednesday to help Gene with some things. Instead of helping him, yes, I probably spread Covid. Fortunately for Mom & other Texas relatives, I felt too miserable to come see them. Even feeling sick & tired, I enjoyed a Texas sunset & a farm bunny!! I also enjoyed a top-down sunshine ride Tuesday, before sickness settled in.
A throwback to pre-1968. I’m calling this Mom’s first family, the 5 kids born in a 7-year span (if my math is correct). Amy, who came along 7 years later, might call it something different. This may be the first time ever we were all together at Whaley except for Amy. We continued the celebration afterward at Danny & Brandi’s house. Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!!
I was grateful to sing “My Mother’s Faith,” even though the recorded accompaniment was too low for my voice. Just very grateful to celebrate my Mom.
Somehow I made it to mid-May without posting anything on my blog. It’s no surprise, really, because the transition from April to May was a bit of a whirlwind. The first full week included time at Lake Fork — including singing The Anthem at the Day 1 launch — before returning to Oklahoma on Friday to attend this special event:
Love & congratulations to my amazing friend Ellie Sutter on being inducted into the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame! We experienced so many things together after we met on my first day at The Oklahoman in September 1982. She was my mentor, encourager & accomplice(!), & our friendship stayed strong after her retirement. Five years since her death, there’s still a great void in my life. I felt her lively presence as I spent time with her son Doug & granddaughter Maribeth at Friday’s induction banquet. I’m grateful her life & legacy will endure at the OKJHOF! ❤️🙌🙏❤️
For some reason I’ve been at a loss for words to describe my Easter Sunday. OK, maybe they are coming now …
I’m blessed to know & worship the Risen Christ! I’m grateful for the Goodrich UMC family, choir & leadership. Pastor Stephen’s focus on God’s message of love in every season — Christmas, Easter, joy, grief, tragedy, new life, whatever comes — is changing lives. May we all know that God’s love is for each & every one of us — & that we experience heaven on earth & into eternity as we share His love with others, however we can. No act of kindness is too small. And yet, I’m grateful for the reminders that none of us can do it all. God loves & accepts us exactly as we are — even if we don’t accept ourselves or can’t imagine that God or anyone else can truly love & accept us exactly as we are. Nothing can separate us from His love.
(And how cool it is for me when He sends special friends & purring angels along the way!!!
#theheartofresurrectionislove #eastersunday #heisrisen #lovewins #friendship #catangels
I’m grateful for each step of faith & progress, no matter how large or small. I didn’t go to Good Friday service altho I listened to some online. I did a load of laundry & walked 20 min on treadmill, slowly due to knee pain. I tried to work on clutter; it seems like I just moved things; tiniest bits of progress.
It’s Good Friday & the eve of 30th anniversary of the Murrah bombing. God, please grant me serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; & wisdom to know the difference.
I need help. I want to get this living area cleaned up. I want to vacuum. I want to not feel guilty about not calling or texting Pam today. I want to believe I don’t have to be perfect. I want to let go of things I don’t need. I want to be free of the bondage of clutter & self & self. Help me, Lord, I pray.
