Providential Pajamas

This month as I once again pulled out my grey winter pajamas, I was reminded of God's perfect timing... and reminded that what looks like a mistake can actually be His working out the details in a better (though less "convenient") way than I ever could have imagined. 

After heading out an hour from home for a doctor's appointment in January of 2015, I took the opportunity to shop for a new pair of pj's. "Unfortunately", while trying them on I missed an unexpected call from my doctor's office. A delay of 15 minutes until finding the message meant that I was too late to drive across town and get the needed ultrasound performed on my neck to check a lump on my thyroid.

I was disappointed, because that meant I had to schedule an ultrasound appointment on another day. And it was no easy matter to get out with all the symptoms of Lyme disease raging.

At least I found some good pajamas on sale...

- Because of the missed phone call, I had my ultrasound done in a different town nearer home.
- Because that clinic was not connected with the more distant one, the results didn't get through in time for my first appointment with my endocrinologist.
- Because of the missing results, I had to have an ultrasound on the spot at that appointment.
- Because I was already on the table in the correct room, they went ahead with a biopsy of the nodule, even though it was really "too small" to be concerned about.
- Because of the biopsy that almost didn't happen, my cancer was caught very early.
- Because of a pair of grey pajamas, I am in remission with clear scans after 2 years. (At 5 years, they can call it cancer-free.)
- And because I know the One who can guide all the seemingly insignificant details of His creation, I know none of this was chance. Instead I call it grace. A gift!

But it took much time to see all these "little problems" in the right light. That gives me hope that even all the big problems will one day make sense. That they will also be used in His grand plan to produce something good - better than I can possibly imagine now - at the perfect time.

(For more of the story, click here)

Our Turkey Family

In July the show began!

A wild turkey hen and her six poults started grazing our lawn. She was very alert and protective when they were so small. This little flock was well traveled - regularly making the circuit between our acreage and those of our neighbors, all about half a mile apart.

As the summer progressed, our poults grew into jakes and jennys. And one of their number disappeared. Did our big, local fox get it?

At a certain point, their father started tagging along. Now mother had a bigger job - keeping him from picking on the young ones. She was aggressive!

When their offspring were big enough, the hen no longer worried about protecting them.

But they still run as a flock. There is rarely a day where we don't see this parade at least once. And some days we see them nearly every time we glance outdoors - in all different directions!

No, that is not road-kill! But in September we noticed the number dropped by one more. A week later I found it out beyond our shed. Since it hadn't been eaten by whatever killed it, we are guessing it was the weakest of the flock and had been picked off by its own family. Sad...

It was great having these free tick-eaters given to us the very summer that Dad had his first bull's eye rashes and was being treated for acute Lyme disease. Now our turkey family is eating well from the crab tree and grape arbor.

Marshmallow Frost

Chilly days, freezing nights, and frosty mornings...

... indicate that it is time to make honey-marshmallows for Elsa and me again.

And it's time for a cosy fire in our fireplace again!

I Shall Arrive

This seems a fitting time to post the following poem as we begin to hear the geese moving away from the oncoming cold and watch flocks of smaller birds stop by our "bed and breakfast" in their autumn journeys. 

I see my way as birds their trackless way -
I shall arrive! what time, what curcuit first,
I ask not: but unless God send his hail
Or blinding fire-balls, sleet, or stifling snow,
In some time - His good time -
I shall arrive;
He guides me and the bird.
In His good time!

Browning's Paracelsus. 

I am not familiar with "Browning's" works, but this bit, quoted in Elizabeth Gaskell's North and South, hits home. Life is a trackless journey in many ways. We don't know what the next day, or even the next hour will bring. Often the path ahead is unclear. Sometimes we just seem to be wandering in circles. 

We want a clear map and step by step directions. We don't like surprises or "detours." 

But, though rarely given the specifics we crave, those who know the Author of life are blessed with His roadmap: the Bible. It never grows out of date or needs an "upgrade."

We are also given a Guide: His Spirit, to help us understand more and more of the directions in the map and how to use them to navigate each day.

And in fact, we do have a set of perfect footprints to follow: those of Jesus, our Good Shepherd.

What gifts! And when at times we still feel like we are flying blind, let's remember Who guides the birds... and that we are worth so much more to Him than even they. And we will arrive in His good time!

"If the world was full of perplexing problems she would trust, and only ask to see the one step needful for the hour." (Chapter V of North and South)

Super Powers

"Sometimes I feel like a super hero.  I can smell a cigarette across the street and detect mold spores the moment I walk into a room. 

In some ways it's a gift to be a canary and sensitive to unnatural things like chemicals, industrial noises, violent images in the media etc.  But... it's a curse when it becomes debilitating and difficult to live in the world."

- Dana, with Chronic Lyme disease

People are still surprised when they hear how much chemical sensitivities can affect us. One reason so many people have not encountered it before is that those of us who get ill from all kinds of chemicals and fragrances are simply not in public. You won't see us in clothing stores (online shopping and our sister, Maren, have had to take over that job for us) or hair salons (our hair-cutter graciously comes to our home). Weddings and showers are full of perfumes and can only be braved for the closest of relatives and friends. Church gatherings and concerts, likewise -- even if they weren't already harmful due to decibel levels.

Since our chemical sensitivities usually outweigh our typical environmental allergies, outdoor gatherings are the best way for us to be with people. There the chemicals have room to dilute. But even that is not foolproof. 

Loon flapping and calling nearby on the lake

Elsa and I had to laugh over our "super-powers" this summer while enjoying a quiet afternoon at the lake. Suddenly our chests tightened into coughs and we looked around for the source of the cigarette smoke. Aha! Three docks down to the left. Other times we held our breath and started itching when hit by the sting of dryer sheets. The source was walking by many yards away or draped over the neighboring fence as beach towels dried.

So... home is the safest place for us these years.

Autumn Sunshine

Sunshine has been rare for some weeks as we have been well watered with five inches of rain or more. (This detail is very important living in a farming community!) But a couple of days have glowed with the gift of sunshine again. The blue sky and white clouds just laughed for joy on my way home from teaching a few students last week!

More Early Apples - 2017

Once we started picking the Red Barons, it was time to replace our old, worn-out dehydrator and start making dried apple rings to enjoy this winter. 

At the recommendation of a friend at our chiropractor's office, we even sprinkled some with cinnamon before drying. Yum!