Shut Up Tight
I woke up this morning in my usual way. Our bedroom seemed really snug and warm, and, I reasoned that it must've been because it didn't get as cold last night. Tossing the thought aside, I donned my robe and slippers, called the dog, and opened the bedroom door. BAM. Freezing air hit me. We keep our house pretty cool at night, but this was crazy-cold. Something was amiss. I could hear the heater running, and I knew we'd just had a propane fill, so that couldn't be the problem. Then I stepped into the den. The slider was wide open. Because I'd left it that way. Yesterday was so beautiful, that I'd opened up the slider to the delicious air while I did some work at the desk, then I...
Mixed Up
Getting a late start this morning, I walked into our den/office, and had momentarily forgotten that I'd been doing tax prep in there yesterday, while our leak was being addressed. (Good news! NOT the floor, but the washer hook-up! The wall was wet behind the washer/dryer, but it's a small area and easily repairable/replaceable.) Hot tea in hand, I stopped and looked at all the sorted stacks of paper and receipts, feeling a sense of despondency. Oh, how I hate this time of year! But, it was kind of funny, too, because (and very oddly) I woke up thinking about a book I read as a child: From the Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler. I loved that book, but am convinced that the...
Slow Leak
I pulled into the garage, yesterday, with a car full of groceries, and, since Kevin's car was gone, had a clear view of the opposite wall. Our house sits on a slab, and the garage is sunken, requiring steps to walk down into it from the house. Because of that, there is about 3-4 feet of exposed concrete from the floor, before the drywall starts. It was on that concrete that I saw wet spots, no pooling water, but water seeping from the concrete itself. Great. I went inside and couldn't see any visible problem from the bathroom, or laundry room, that share that common wall. So, I unloaded my groceries, and called a plumber. Since it was already late in the day, the plumber couldn't...
Canine Wisdom
Last night our little dog, Riley, seemed agitated. He kept circling me in the kitchen, and, at first, I thought he was begging for food. He can't have any table scraps, or human food tidbits, with his very sensitive stomach, so I shooed him out. He kept coming back, however, seemingly trying to get my attention about something else. Finally, I picked him up, took him into the living room and sat on the sofa with him, giving him a thorough once over. It turned out that he had a burr in his armpit. I'd be agitated, too. Once it was removed, he completely relaxed. I was wrapped up in my Snuggie by then, and he circled his usual 27, or so, times, found his perfect spot, then laid down....
Clarity
You know what? God is real. Seems an odd and obvious statement, I know. But sometimes you're just clicking along in your life, settled into your long-held beliefs, and, like so many other things, they become "normal." They're like the air you breathe, and you sort of take them for granted. I'm speaking for myself, of course, but I think it's a pretty common thing. Until something unexpected happens. In the midst of big decisions, you fervently pray, and it's answered in grand fashion. Or, maybe tragedy strikes, and when the rug's ripped out from under you, you frantically reach out to grab hold of His robe and, with a fistful of cotton, realize He's right where He's always been. But...