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Do Something

Posted by eph21920 on August 11, 2018 in Answer, Family, Hope, Job, Life, Struggles

Sometimes I can feel overwhelmed trying to care for my parents. The daily attention that needs to be paid to trying to keep everyone safe and healthy, not to mention appointments, and issues that pop up. I often feel like there is no way I can do everything, every day. Today’s reflection from Dynamic Catholic really hit home:

“You cannot do everything, but you can do something. Do what you can, and you will find that hope has become a powerful force in your life.” Fr. Mick Schmitz taken from Beautiful Hope.

I Found God today in a reminder that I cannot do everything, and to be content doing what I can.

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Eating Outside

Posted by eph21920 on August 10, 2018 in Creation, Family, Weather

The past couple of days, the weather has just been wonderful. We have been able to enjoy eating outside on the porch using the new chairs we bought. They are the perfect height to use with the table we got a few years ago. It is a nice change of scenery. We watch the people walking by, the dogs, and the birds. In particular, we have been paying attention to the finches. The baby birds in the nest on our porch are getting bigger and just about ready to fly out of the nest. This evening during dinner, we watched them go to the edge of the nest and flap their wings a little. It has been very nice to spend the time outside.

I Found God today enjoying the outdoors.

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Vocal Vet

Posted by eph21920 on August 9, 2018 in Answer, Life, Sacrifice, Stranger

I went to the post office today to mail some packages. I guess I went at just the right time, as there was only 1 person in line in front of me. As I waited, though, the line grew behind me. A woman struck up a conversation with the man behind me and it was hard not to listen as I wrote the information on the boxes. The man was an Army veteran. He walked with a cane, had a limp, and wore a brace on his arm. I didn’t hear exactly how he received those injuries, but he had been deployed to Iran 4 times over several years. Without going into detail, he said that his job was to go so that others could get out. He said he suffered from PTSD as well. The woman asked him several questions and repeatedly thanked him for his service and for his sacrifice. She was very exuberant and he seemed willing to talk a little about his experience. It was an interesting exchange that made me more aware of the pain and suffering that our military members sustain and the impact that their lives have on others.

I Found God today in a military veteran.

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Story of a Close Call

Posted by eph21920 on August 8, 2018 in Doctor, Friends, Grateful, Healing, Life

We enjoyed having one of our neighbors over this afternoon. Before they moved here last year, they went to their final doctors’ visits. The husband saw his cardiologist who found that his heart was basically in distress and he had emergency surgery. He and his wife talked about the surgery in detail. The doctors basically froze him on the operating table as they removed and replaced sections of his heart. There was a period of time in which his heart was not beating at all. He was technically no longer alive. I asked if he remembered anything during that time, but he did not. Once they finished working on his heart, they had to get the blood back flowing and warm him up again. When he was in the recovery room, his wife and daughter kept talking to him and asking questions to see if there had been any damage to his brain during that time. It was quite a story to hear. The doctors said that his heart was in such bad shape, that the physical stress from the move would likely have killed him. Our friends were so grateful for the doctors, amazing technology, and for a full recovery. They figured that he hadn’t quite finished the life that God gave him to live.

I Found God today in a story of surgery and healing.

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Better Beater

Posted by eph21920 on August 7, 2018 in Answer, Doctor, Family, Happiness, Healing, Life

Last month, my mom woke in the middle of the night with pains in her chest. We ended up spending a couple of hours in the emergency room, but they didn’t find any problems, so we went home. Luckily, the pains never returned. We have been following up with her doctors, including having an echo cardio gram. Today we went to the cardiologist to get the results. The doctor compared the results of the test with the one taken 2 years ago after my mom’s heart attack and surgery. We were elated to hear that according to the test, my mom’s heart is functioning better now than it was 2 years ago. We talked about how hard my mom works to keep herself going. Even on the days when she doesn’t feel like exercising or doing anything, she does it anyway as she knows it is really better for her. Now, we have actual proof of how much she has improved. It was such great news.

I Found God today hearing how my mom’s hard work has helped her to improve her heart health.

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Live Laugh Love Scrap

Posted by eph21920 on August 6, 2018 in Family, Laughter, Life, Love

When we were talking to my brother yesterday, somehow we got on the topic of the saying, “Live, Laugh, Love’. We knew there were additional descriptions added to each word, but couldn’t think of them, so we made up our own. “Live long and prosper, Laugh loud, Love life . . .  Live a good life, Laugh every day, Love always . . . “and more. We thought we did pretty good. This morning my mom put on her t-shirt that she got when she used to go to scrapbooking events with my sister. It said, “Live, Laugh, Love, Scrap.” We all thought that was pretty funny.

I Found God today reflecting on the meaning of the phrase, “Live, Laugh, Love”.

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The Magic Refrigerator

Posted by eph21920 on August 5, 2018 in Family, Food, Generosity

We have a magic refrigerator. We went up to the cabin a few days ago and pretty much emptied it out, bringing the food with us. When we returned this evening, the refrigerator was completely full of fresh fruits and vegetables. My brother has purchased a subscription for each of my parent’s to receive a box of goodies each month. Both boxes arrived while we were gone and our neighbor was kind enough to put them in the fridge. One box has plums, peaches, and nectarines and the other box is just full of peaches. Also, my sister who has the farm delivered fresh vegetables while we were away and filled up the remaining fridge space with carrots, zuchinni, beans, beets, peppers, and more. It was truly a sight to behold when we got home and opened up the refrigerator.

I Found God today in generous siblings and look forward to the amazing food.

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Passing Clouds

Posted by eph21920 on August 4, 2018 in Creation, Opportunity, Present, Weather

I took some time today to just sit on a rock, breathe in fresh mountain air, and watch the passing clouds. I didn’t try to make objects out of the shapes, but just watched them move. There were large white clouds that would billow in some places getting larger and puffier. Others were thin and almost see through as they gently floated by. As I watched certain spots, the incredibly blue sky was visible, then covered, then peeking out again. I didn’t ponder, didn’t plan, didn’t think much at all. I just enjoyed being, watching, breathing.

I Found God today just being present.

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Driving Grandson

Posted by eph21920 on August 3, 2018 in Car, Children, Connected, Family, Grateful, Relationship

Yesterday my son shared a picture of him riding along side of his teenage son in the car as his son is learning to drive. I could empathize with him. It didn’t seem like that long ago when I was teaching HIM how to drive. Today my daughter-in-law shared a picture of the same grandson when he was barely a year old as she contemplates the passing of time. It is hard to believe he is at this age already. My mom said the time flies in the blink of an eye. So true. I’m so happy that I started such a great relationship with my grandkids and can continue that even living so far away.

I Found God today realizing how my grandson has grown and being grateful for being a part of his life.

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Starving Fear

Posted by eph21920 on August 2, 2018 in Answer, Faith

The daily reflection from Dynamic Catholic that I read this morning really struck me and I tried to think of it often during the day:

“Feed your faith and your fear will starve to death.”

I Found God today in a great thought that struck my heart.

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