Back to Remodeling!

We are getting a good start to our year. Dennis started on the living room this week. He has moved the furniture out and removed the ceiling beams. We have moved all of our “stuff” out (from the bookshelves and entertainment shelves). I’m sorting through my books as we go to donate ones that I don’t really want to reread and keep. (I have A LOT of books.) I also have some more (more recent) photo albums that I’ll need to go through and get rid of pictures that aren’t particularly good or meaningful. It feels good to start working on the house again! (Of course that means that our home will not be suitable for company for a while!)

 I’m also getting back into the routine of working a CASA case. We had our second hearing on the case last week, which opened up some very interesting opportunities. It feels good to “get back in the saddle.”

We had our Vietnamese dinner last Friday night with the kids. The eggrolls were a big hit! The pho garnered mixed reviews…as did the almond cookies. It was fun regardless! Then Nam spent the night with us. It was a short visit, since his parents had already planned to take him to Asia Square the next day to celebrate Tet (the Lunar New Year that is the major holiday in Vietnam). Nam really enjoys going to that every year!

Sunday we had our monthly guest speaker and potluck. Bobby Womble was our speaker. We really enjoyed visiting with him and Becky. Even though I’ve known them for decades, I’ve never really spent any time visiting with them. It was good to change that oversight!

Dad is doing about the same. He’s eating pretty well (sometimes) and getting nutritional supplements, so he has gained back a little of the weight that he had lost. He still mostly just eats and sleeps. He likes me to stay for 5-10 minutes, then is ready for me to leave, so he can go back to sleep. If any of you decide to visit him, you can expect the same. He won’t really act like he’s enjoying your visit, but he does. He doesn’t smile anymore…ever. Sometimes I can get a little “chuckle” out of him and one corner of his mouth moves a little, but I think he is incapable of actually smiling anymore. He also doesn’t speak much, if any. He says more to me than he does most people, and I mostly get just “yes” or “no” from him.

Gwen had her lumpectomy yesterday. The surgeon also removed 3 lymph nodes. She won’t get the biopsy results until next week. She is doing great! She told me that she isn’t having to take anything for pain. Please continue your prayers for her that she doesn’t have to have any more treatments, other than radiation!

Dennis and I joined the gym at the hospital’s cardiac rehab center. Dennis has trouble walking because his feet are worn out from being a mailman; and he can’t ride a bike now, because it elevates his PSA. So our doctor recommended that he work out on an elliptical. The gym has everything we need to get a good workout. I look forward to using their weight machines to increase my upper body strength and flexibility. I also want to try out the rowing machines and elliptical. My plan is to ride my bike 3-4 times a week and then go to the gym on the days in between. The gym will be convenient to go to when we go check on Dad. It is right down the road from the nursing home.

Well, I guess I’d better get back to work. I hope you all have a great week!

New Journal

For the past several years I have kept a Thanksgiving Journal, which has been helpful to center my thoughts on gratitude. However, I decided to try something else this year. As most of you know, and as the title of this blog implies, Phil. 4:8 is my anchor verse. It helps me to focus on the positive in life. However, being the weak creature that I am, I needed something to sharpen that focus on a day to day basis. This is the outcome of that. Each day, I hope to PAY ATTENTION and look for examples of the good things listed in the passage. I don't intend to share them all or even most of them, but from time to time I will probably drop one on Facebook, if I think it might inspire someone else. It is my desire that we can all benefit from thinking on these thing.

Php 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy--meditate on these things.



1/6/20 – Lovely – Today is a beautiful, clear winter day! Stepping outside makes me want to just stop and breathe in the cool, crisp air and spread my arms in joyfulness.

            True – Sherry posted a beautiful beach scene today with Phil. 4:6 on it. That lead me to turn to the chapter and read the whole passage, which lead me to creating this journal. It is, and has been my goal for years to incorporate the title verse into my life. This offers me a way to do so that focuses my attention more and provides some accountability. My aim is to look for true, noble, just, pure, lovely, good, virtuous and praiseworthy things to journal about every day.

            

1/7/20 – Noble – I love this passage from a book that Sheila bought for me: If we take a step back and evaluate the world we live in, we’ll realize that we are deeply imbedded in a culture that constantly lunges for the mic. We value making our voices heard and getting our points across. But if our goal is healthy community and loving our neighbors, we need to rethink our approach. Before we can learn from each other, before we can truly grow into a clearer picture of God’s good kingdom, we have to fall in love with listening.Martin, Shannan. The Ministry of Ordinary Places (p. 27).