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Most of my mother’s days during her illness (and health) were filled with this type of fun. She loved to sanctify time and celebrated the people God placed in her days—even my grandfather. Her birth father’s plane was rammed in World War II by a kamikaze pilot, killing him. Her mother remarried, and my mom got Glen, or he got her.
He was so cranky and mean. He never said he loved her or asked how she was doing after her diagnosis. Yet my mother leaned in. She believed God gave him to her as a gift, and she was faithful to the end.
I would get so mad at him on her behalf. Why would he want to be around someone so mean or rude to her? It frustrated me to no end. In my mind, Glen squandered the best things my mom could give him. Yet, in her way, she demonstrated the mercy of Jesus. Dane Ortlund, in his book Gentle and Lowly, writes:
“Whether we have been sinned against or have sinned ourselves into misery, the Bible says God is not tightfisted with mercy but openhanded, not frugal but lavish, not poor but rich.”
Thus, Glen made it into her Fun Times blog. Go figure!
–Tricia
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Cliff and I always manage to have a good time. Thankfully we enjoy each other’s company (we do, don’t we, Cliff?). If you know Cliff, you know once he gets into a routine, which I call a rut and he calls a groove, the routine seldom varies. So with that in mind, a routine/rut/groove we have gotten into is breakfast every morning. Even though I am not a “groove” person, this is one routine I have come to enjoy for a couple of reasons. First, we always are in good company. Second, it is a great motivation for me to get up and move around in the mornings.
Many mornings you can find us at the local Carmichael Waffle Barn with good friends Dave and Arlene Powers. Occasionally, we break that routine and meet other friends in other places. For example, we met with the Collins, Collins, and Parkers at Tower Cafe this week for a late breakfast. We had a great time sitting outside on their garden patio. I love the setting.
Tomorrow, we meet my dad and sister for breakfast. It is a little frustrating that my 92-year-old father is doing better physically than I am. He sneaks off to drive, still lives alone, and cooks for himself. I can’t do any of those things. However, I am not as grouchy as he is.
This week Cliff had business in Fairfield. He keeps trying to retire to no avail. He says this is one of his last projects, but we will see. It was a great day for a ride, so I accompanied him. Usually, when I ride with him, I wait in Starbucks while he confers with whoever he is conferring with. This time, he found a Barnes and Nobel Bookstore with a Starbucks…what a treat. You must know I am an iPad fanatic, I read books, and magazines, watch movies, send emails, etc…on my iPad, but I had forgotten how much I love books.
I had the best time perusing the aisles of books. I touched them, smelled them, and coveted them. Fortunately, using some restraint, I only purchased one that I didn’t need and could have downloaded on my iPad for less money, but it felt good to have a book in my hand.
Then to highlight the week, which was only Wednesday, I was the guest speaker for ITT Technical Institutes’ graduation. What an honor to be invited back to a place where I had worked for ten years. It was awesome being with good friends. I talked about “Finding Wisdom.” I told them they had to listen to me because I was in a wheelchair/scooter and had ALS. Therefore, they should listen to me and remember my words of wisdom.
A gift Cliff has given to me is his patience. He knows I love people and meeting friends for coffee, breakfast, lunch, or whatever…knowing I can’t drive, and I am totally dependent on him…he drives me to meet friends and waits either outside, inside, or someplace else in the restaurant to give me a sense of independence. How blessed I am.
There are so many good things in life, ramps from my back door to my garden, grandsons always willing to be taken to lunch, a daughter that often brings us dinner because she knows Cliff can only do microwave, and the list goes on and on. As much as I miss working, I am thankful I retired when I did. Cliff and I really do have a good time. I think we are heading to the movies this afternoon. What fun.
This is the day the Lord has made. I will rejoice and be glad in it.
–Susan
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