Fly Away

Hello,

Leroy and I are flying away to Utah in just two hours. Rather we get on the bus in an hour and a half. Looking forward to seeing some of the family again.

Last night when I came home, long faced Leroy very seriously said, “I need to talk to you. Starting January 1 my job will be just half time. Besides that, health insurance will be eliminated in February. My coworker will also be half time. ”

The situation will not be as serious for her as her husband has a good job and her insurance is covered through his job.

We are starting on that old path again. What to do next?  Leroy is looking at library jobs and church jobs. My salary pays the rent and utilities, but that is all. I am now sorry that I did not apply for a job at the Cedar Rapids library that is also only half time, however, it pays much more than what I am paid now plus I would not have far to go to get to work and I could ride my bike or use the bus. One of the hazards of liking a job is not grabbing at improvements.

God wants us to trust him and not jobs or situations. Why are we being brought to the edge once again? I am going back to living in the moment or trying to. Guess I have more to learn about the trust and not worry part of life. It will come. Thank you God for the care we have had and continue to have.

Paula

More Snow

Hello,

Again I noticed that it was quite light in the apartment when I went to the bathroom in the night. I thought, “Surely it has not snowed again.”

Leroy looked outside almost immediately when he woke and announced, “It snowed again and it looks like more this time.”

The sidewalks were indeed coated even though blades of grass could be seen poking through on the lawn. It has been so much colder so not much melted when it touched down. Instead of a morning walk I swept and Leroy shoveled. I am grateful for a broom that works well on cement and the wood floor of the deck. We are also blessed with excessive shovels so picking and choosing is possible.

Now three hours later the sidewalk is once again covered. I will try to get the way to the garage cleaned before I walk on it. Seems to me slippery is kept at bay if I clear first.

Leroy, who rode the bus this morning, called to tell me that it was a bit late. We plan to take the bus to the airport tomorrow. I asked what will happen if our bus is late. Leroy told me that the other buses were there waiting for that one to come in so people could transfer. It will be fine. He also told me that people who use the interstate said it was not good and traffic was very slow. I figure that by the time I leave for work the interstate will be fine, but I am concerned about the Ely blacktop which seems to be the last to be cleared. There will have been 100’s of cars driving on it and packing it down making it resemble a bumpy skating rink. I am trying to focus on the moment and let the future take care of its self. I will leave a bit early so I can go slower and still arrive on time.

It is very beautiful. I do like snow and I am not ready to be in a place where it does not come.

Paula

Joy in the Morning

Hello,

The sun is streaming in the window and the color satisfies my soul. Leroy and I went to church last night thus giving us a feeling of disorientation this morning. Looking at this beauty settles me and helps gratitude to fill me. Isn’t that what worship is to be about?

We did take a short walk this morning in the five degrees with no wind so it did not feel as bad as it did last night when the temperature was higher, but then a wind blew into our faces much of the way.

Waffles with fresh applesauce were the breakfast fare. The applesauce took longer than I planned to take so I had to use the microwave to get it finished on time. I do not take off the peels, consequently we had some large chucks of peel. That does not bother me as my goal is health and not looks or texture. Love these organic or almost organic apples that hardly have a worm in them. Actually I have yet to see a worm.

Leroy has been working on his Sunday School lesson for the Sunday we return from Utah. I have been reading magazines. At the library, I delete the magazines that are older, but usually only about six months old. Before I delete them I decided to check them out one last time because some of them do look interesting. I have learned a lot that I did not know before. Especially in Scientific American, The Atlantic Monthly, The Smithsonian, and Acres. If I could just keep the knowledge in my head for the rest of my life I would be one smart woman. As it is most of the information is just passing through and entertaining me as it goes.

Paula

I have inserted a photo of my shamrock, primrose, and small 88 cent poinsettia from Wal-mart. Such joy in such small packages.

Bad Start?

Hello,

We slept until after 6, surprising, but not a bad start to the day. Although because of that I did not go out and take my usual short walk to let the day know I am coming.

After my shower I opened the medicine cabinet to find my cleanser which is in a container that is stored with the top down had flowed over a good portion of the shelf it is on and continued to ooze down the side and onto the bottom shelf. At that moment I decided I could not deal with it until after breakfast.

Then after breakfast we called Logan who had sent us a postcard. We had a nice chat with him, his sister, and his dad. His mom might have been in bed yet. So it is not all bad there is good to be treasured.

The phone rang once more and the line was loaded with the voice of those Utah girls wanted to know what we would like for Thanksgiving dinner. Again we had a nice conversation. Their dad is in Dubai so we have no idea if he is awake or asleep or just a zombie.

After that Leroy stared looking for his email confirming our ticket purchase for the Utah trip. It was not to be found in his in box. Apparently he checked the airline flyer miles web site and found no mention of it there either. Then he tried unsuccessfully to access the credit card account to learn if it had been charged. I was able to get into the account, but did not see the flights, while my stomach dropped to my knees and adrenaline flowed, I tried not to feel too upset. “It is not an accident it is just unhappiness if we do not go, terrible sadness. I still have all my body parts and my family is ok.”

Our friend from Slovakia called while Leroy was on the computer but I could not handle talking casually right then so we did not answer. Oops, feeling a bit guilty about that.

Leroy kept looking around on the computer for some answers and he finally found that we had indeed paid for these tickets and I had just missed that in the account. He then called the airline to learn flight confirmation and copied that information down.

We are going and at the times we had thought. Such upset for something that was not real.

Life will get better and more organized, right?

Paula

Today's amazing things

Hello,

I opened my eyes to more light than usual coming through the blinds. “It must have snowed,” I thought as I just lay there waiting for Leroy to wake.

When I opened the door in preparation for heading out for my walk I saw it had indeed snowed. I was pleased as I always like the first snow I see, especially when I am not going to be driving to work at some early hour. On my walk I greeted a neighbor who lives on the street behind us. I gave him the gift of a smile and hopes for a great day.

Later in the morning I was sitting at the kitchen table when I happened to look out and see a squirrel making its way, tail first down the rather large tree next door. At one point the trunk curved away from it. This squirrel just let go with its hind feet as its lower body swung back and forth before it grabbed once again with the back legs and proceeded down the tree.

I walked to the local grocery, bought my items, and went home only to realize that I still had my store coupon stuck in my pocket. Looking over the receipt I saw that the coupon amount had been subtracted so I did not need to go back. Instead I could head off to the garden to harvest more broccoli leaves and kale. It is obviously not growing much, but brushing bits of snow aside, I got a nice amount for supper.

While there a man came walking through the area. I told him that I had been picking greens and welcomed him to pick some as well. He told me that it was to get very cold in the next two days. I then urged him to take everything I had left as this will be the end. We then walked part of the way home before he veered off in another direction. Nice to greet another neighbor. Again I gave that gift of a smile and my attention. I believe that blesses the neighborhood.

I had my stocking cap on with my hood up. This guy had on a worn leather jacket with no hood and no hat. He also had bare hands. He told me he was trying to adjust to the weather. I hope it is not lack of funds which keeps him dressed so lightly.

Paula

Changes

Hello,

Just when I think things have settled into a groove, perhaps a rut, something changes. I really thought we would not be adding many new patrons to our supply at work. Last night/yesterday I think there about five people or families came in for library cards. It seems that frequently people have lived in town for a year before they come to the library. Three of those new people were single men in their 20’s who had just moved to town. What a deal! They all perused the collection carefully and found some books to check out. Shoots down my idea that younger people, especially guys, are not reading very much. I am glad for that to happen.

The abandoned house across the street was demolished yesterday by the city. The general neighborhood feeling is that it will improve the neighborhood. The house was getting so unsafe that the inspector said he did not want to go in it. A large machine with a bucket on a crane attacked it and finished the job this morning.

The neighborhood will look different now. Another neighbor across the street said that raccoons and cats were living in that space. I wonder where they will end up creating a new home. I have not seen a raccoon since we have been here, perhaps they used the back door of that house which I could not see. I do see cats from time to time including one that is surely someone’s pet. At least it was happy to rub against my leg, arch against my hand for petting, and purr loudly.

Leroy road the bike to work today, but he might ride the bus home if it is still raining when he is done. He will leave his bike in the garage at work and ride it home tomorrow.

Paula

Leroy at home

Hello,

Leroy misses me in the evenings as I work on Monday and Tuesday nights. However, when I came home last night he was talking on the phone to son Brian. Later he told me that he had a video chat with the “girls” in DC. They had expected me to be home too. Two year old Natalie wanted to know where I was because she missed me. How sweet to be missed. Is that the biggest declaration of affection that can be made? To be special enough in someone’s life that they miss you when you are not there?

Leroy also watches a particular TV program on Monday nights. It is the only night the TV is turned on, on a regular basis. He learned last night that the program has been moved to Friday evening. So he was a bit out of sorts about that. I have learned that a certain age of young person does not watch much TV because they want to watch when they want to watch so they use their computers. Leroy apparently would agree with that group.

I also learned that the younger crowd does not use email or Facebook much, preferring to text. They also are not buying cars or maybe even learning to drive as they, if given the choice, will take public transportation because they can use their portable electronic devices and text to their hearts content. We did notice in DC on the Metro that we were some of the few who were not using some type of device. There is even a lot of walking and using. The world is changing. I thought I was almost keeping up, but forget that.

The other social media sites do not really appeal to me. I really do not want to spend much more time at the computer, ignoring life around me.

Paula