Hello!
Summer
has arrived with its hot and humid weather after a spring that burst more with
color this year than in the past. It seemed like the flowers were bigger, more
vibrant, and lasted longer with all the rain and storms that we got- and still
are getting here in the TN Mountains. My views of the weigela (pink and
pink/white), white mock orange (that was my mother's favorite scent), and the
multi-colored azalea bushes ranging from white, pale pink, dark pink, to
lavender, standing on the front porch and looking out the windows were
breathtaking. Every week, Dwight brought
in blooming flower bouquets for me to enjoy. Now Dwight is bringing in roses
that are blooming and smell so heavenly.
I just noticed from my porch this morning that the lilies are beginning
to bloom. I'm sure there are others flowers I'm unable to see.
This
year we were plagued with thousands of noisy cicadas/locusts that come out
every seventeen years and swarmed everywhere on the trees and bushes leaving
holes in the ground. They have made quite the racket and have killed some of
the leaves on the trees. Thankfully, they only are around for about a month.
I
lost two aunts this spring as well. My mother's only sister, Auntie Mae- that
has been like a second mother to us after losing our mom years ago, and
recently my father's youngest sister, Aunt Dorothy both up in PA. It's sad to
see so many of the older generation of friends and family leave, but I am so
thankful for the blessed hope that one day we will be reunited with them again
forever.
My
life is still up and down with my hip. Next month will make a year that I have
been down. Just as I begin walking
without the walker and try doing something light like: walking too much too
soon without the walker, getting my pocketbook down from the closet shelf,
trying to water my plants, and last week losing
my balance getting out of the shower and twisting my hip
(thankfully my walker was close so I
didn't hit the floor) set me back- because I am weaker than I like to admit-
and I have to start all over again being able to put weight on my left foot. I
haven't given up! I'm still determined to get back up on my feet again. Dwight
keeps telling me that I have to use the turtle mindset instead of a rabbit. So,
once again, I am inching along doing shorter walks with the walker to build up my
strength under Dwight's eagle eye. I told him that after all this he could hang
up his shingle as a physical therapist. I'm very thankful to feel more like
myself, not to be in pain so, I don't have to be popping pail pills, and able
to sleep at night
I
finished crocheting a soft gray/sliver shawl for Dawn that I made up with my
own pattern and ended up being quite complicated- you know me. I also finished hand-sewing three small
quilts together that I am now quilting by hand. I have one more to go, have
been writing on my books, researching, and reading to keep my brain cells
active. I can't stand sitting around doing nothing.
Meanwhile
dear Dwight has stays busy keeping the house going, taking care of the animals,
and me. He has been able to slowly get back to working on some of his knives.
The
biggest news though is of my daughter and grandchildren. Dawn, Randy, William,
and Katie had quite the time coming back home almost three weeks ago from the
Philippines. After getting up at 1 am to travel four hours to the island’s
airport, they found that all flights were canceled due to a volcano erupting in
the flight path. They were able to reschedule a flight out the next afternoon-
not an easy task for four. They got another overseas flight that evening and
landed in CA around 10:30 pm. They were
hoping to catch a flight to Nashville but weren’t able to by the time they got
through customs and to the gate way across the huge international airport. They
ended up spending eleven hrs. in the airport, on the floor with their luggage, until
they could get a flight to Nashville the next afternoon, only to discover in
the delay of flights that their entire luggage was missing. Is my daughter
related to me or what? Thankfully, it happened here in the US and not over in
the Philippines. The airline routed
their luggage through Atlanta, GA, since there wasn’t another Nashville flight
until the next day and brought their luggage to them by 11 pm that night.
Instead of a quick two-day flight, it turned out to be four days total. The
first thing they did was jump into the shower after having to wear the same
clothes for four days straight. Talk about completely worn out!
They
are only here for a month before they fly back. So, Dawn, Randy, William, and
Katie plus Annette, Curtis, and little eighteen-month-old Ellie came up for a
visit. It was great having all my children and grandchildren back home together
after three years. My house was filled with lots of chatter and laughter. They
could only come for a quick visit because…
The
very next week, they all packed up Randy’s 82-year-old mother’s house and moved
her up to OH to Randy’s brother’s place, so she wouldn’t be alone because…
This
past week, they moved all of Dawn & Randy’s things in storage up to PA
along with Annette and Curtis’ stuff to PA close to Curtis’ parent’s place, so
he can help his dad take care of his mother. Curtis and Annette, after much
prayer, resigned the home church to help his folks. This is quite a big adjustment for all of
them moving out of state, but it worked out to do this while Dawn and Randy
were home to help as Randy’s name was on his mother’s house, which is getting
sold, etc. And we also found out that Annette is expecting a little boy close
to Thanksgiving this year! I told Annette that she takes after me too much.
We
never know what twists and turns life will bring. Little did I dream forty-five
years ago, when I moved with a week-old newborn from PA to NC to pastor a
little church in the south that one day my daughter and granddaughter would end
up moving back up to PA, only thirty minutes west of my sister. Talk about my
family making a complete circle! Ironically, now I and Dwight are the only ones
left of the family here in TN. I’m just so glad it was all of them moving and
not me. I’m blessed to have my little house here in the mountains where I plan
to stay.
Say
a prayer for Dawn and her family as they fly back to the Philippines the 16th
of this month for a safe journey back to their island.
Until next time~
Dorcas
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