A brighter perspective

I won't know for sure until tomorrow, but I'm optimistic I finally have a pair of lenses in my new eyeglasses that allow me to see distances, midrange and up-close clearly and without double vision.

Dare I get my hopes up? Yes, I dare!

It's been a relief these past two weeks to be able to see clearly, even as my eyes continue to adjust to the more precise focus required with trifocals. This is either my fifth or set of lenses as the optometrist and optician have tried to figure out what I need. A new set with one more tweak should be available for me to try tomorrow, along with the sunglasses, all of which I paid for in early August.

I'm grateful I didn't give up on the process when I was so discouraged earlier this month, even after the optometrist and optician both assured me they wanted to continue working with me -- with no further charge -- until I was satisfied. I felt strangely guilty that with each new set of lenses before this one, I still couldn't see clearly, without excessive strain. I can truthfully say that in past situations I have given up on such a process. I hope I'll be able to file this as a positive learning experience.

A September to remember?

When the month started, I was thinking about how many Septembers have had many memorable moments. That doesn't seem as true this year, but maybe my memory's just not as good as it used to be!

I do know that this past week -- the final week of September -- has included happenings that triggered less-than-pleasant memories. Fortunately, those occurrences also brought me back around to the attitude of gratitude and continued awareness and faith that no matter happens in my own little sphere or the world at large, God is sovereign and working all things for good.

36 years and counting: Grateful. Loved. Blessed.

My niece, Brandi, resumed her Facebook "Question of the Day" this morning with this: "Fill in the blank: When I think of September, I think of ______."

Even before I saw what she was asking, I had thought I might play along this round. In the past, I have enjoyed reading other people's responses but very rarely added my own.


Of course, when I got ready to respond, I remembered why I typically decided against doing so. I have trouble limiting my response to one thing.

These are the ones that came to readily to mind: Anniversaries, fall, football, sadness that summer's almost over, dread that cold weather is getting closer.

This is what I wrote:  "As I turn the page to September, I’m grateful to take time to remember, Rich blessings of family, faith and spirit: Sweet music of life — To hear it! To share it!!" Because that truly is one of the first things that comes to my mind when I think of September, as well as November and December.

Today, my theme verse is very much tied to my husband's and my 36th wedding anniversary. 

While we didn't exchange specific gifts, I feel we celebrated each other's moving forward with projects that are important to us, individually and as a couple. 

Gene got two major pieces of material needed for rigging up a jon boat he bought earlier this year to replace the one with a leak that caused the second angler (sometimes me) to have to bail water after more than a couple of hours on the lake.

I was able to move forward on a little charitable venture that really doesn't change much how I support worthy causes yet somehow inspires me to feel even more grateful. And it fully embodies the rich blessings of family, faith and spirit, making my heart sing with sweet music!

As with many friends and family members I'm aware of, Gene and I seem to be at a place in our relationship where we've learned to appreciate simple pleasures and to celebrate the things that make each other feel grateful, happy and blessed. 

It's a priceless treasure.

A September song of hope

I started and ended August pulling weeds out of the lawn, and now I've started September the same way! The big ones are almost gone, although I'm sure I'll see more between the next rain and the next round of mowing.

I'm determined to move from just pulling the weeds outside to weeding out the clutter that spoils my interior living space. I've followed through with some action today. It will take consistent, focused effort to get this project done. Supposedly, it's been my priority the two years since I quit working for pay, outside the home. It's amazing how many things come up each day to distract me from the task.

Picking up on a theme I tried to return to at the end of July, I hope and pray that as I weed out the clutter, there will be more room for the sweet music of life inside and outside of my home.

Of course, that brought back to mind my September, November and December refrain (plug in the month that fits), first written probably in the mid-1990s but always a fresh reminder of things I hold dear:

As I turn the page to September
I'm grateful to take time to remember 
Rich blessings of family, friendship and spirit
Sweet music of life: To hear it! To share it!

It continues to resonate.

Shortly after I started this blog in November 2009, I wrote about the "spirit" referenced in the blog name as well as the verse:

* The spirit is definitely God: God's love; His mercy, love, grace, graciousness, creativity, compassion, omnipotence and so many more things than I could ever write. 
* It is definitely the spirit of Christ, Who gave all that I may be in relationship with God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit and all of creation. 
* The spirit is family: My parents, grandparents, brothers and sisters and extended family of other relatives as well as church. It seems as if more each day, I see how their lives -- breathing (spirit) on Earth and beyond -- help me look for and find the good in my life and the lives of others.
* The spirit is friendship. I've been blessed with some great ones.
* The spirit is fellowship. As hard as it is sometimes for me to write, it's usually easier for me to write than to relate directly with people. Awkward is me! And still I am loved and accepted. I need not be afraid to spend time relating with people.
* The spirit is love.
* The spirit is compassion.
* The spirit is music.
* The spirit is gratitude.

Today, I'll add that the spirit is hope, which springs eternal because of God's mercies, which spring afresh each day.

Rich blessings of family, friendship and spirit
Sweet music of life:
To hear it!
To share it!