First, I have to say that I am beyond thrilled that my baby is having a baby!! Daughter Kristen and her hubby have announced to everyone that a little girl is on the way!! Kristen has gotten through her first trimester so she felt it was now okay, and safe, to let the family, their friends, and work know. It won’t be too long before she will start showing so it was time to tell – before people wonder “has Kristen put on weight?” Ha! I have known about the baby since the 4th of July weekend because they were visiting here, and right before arriving she took a pregnancy test (and then another one – ha) and both were positive. So, keeping it sort-of quiet was hard. (I told a few people. I’m bad at keeping secrets.) These two will be great parents, and everyone will shower this little one with lots of pink! Jeff is one of three boys and this is the first grandchild for his parents. Our family has 4 boys in this generation so far – the twins Logan and Roman, and Ohio cousins Luke and Daniel. The newest family member is to make her arrival sometime around the beginning of March. So, this Mimi is excited – and hopes to be helpful however I can.
Last week I pulled my back out. I started the day very enthusiastic about getting outdoors and doing yard work. I decided to cut the reeds up and down the dock that were falling on it, and I decided to do it manually With clippers – to get a little arm exercise. Then I got out the battery operated hedge trimmer and started in to shaping some bushes In the yard. Reaching, stretching, twisting. Then *yank* – and there it went. If you have back issues you know how it feels. You have no support, and Even taking steps is hard to do without shooting pain. I had to get myself into the house, and then immediately put ice on it. I did. Then heat… then ice again. I have done everything right to heal it. But, back injuries take time to heal. I need to give it a week and I need to be careful with moving and lifting. Physical ailments are not good for the brain. It is the hardest part. Feeling old, and feeling useless, and feeling unproductive. Struggling with simple tasks. I’ve been here before, so I know I will heal. But, in the meantime it’s hard.
So, as I sit and heal I continue to watch too much TV. So much is going on now!! The natural disasters…. the wildfires and the huge hurricane! Our country is reeling from them now. I pray for so many in their paths, and for those who will have to rebuild, and start over. And, then of course we have other disasters… the pandemic continues, another white cop killing a black man followed by protests In Wisconsin. And, locally we had a senseless shooting in our little town. A man, who obviously must have been mentally sick, with a gun, created a minor traffic accident and then got out of his car and shot into the other car killing a dad and his step-daughter. Seriously injuring another person in the car. He did not know them.
I continue to shake my head about the lack of mental health awareness – and the freedom of guns in America. We can do so much better. We need to do so much better.
I know there is always violence and there is always suffering, but it seems we have seen our share of it lately.
I continue to support the Black Lives Matter movement and I feel so bad for how it has been twisted, and has been blamed for so much that it has had nothing to do with… including the Wisconsin shooting, and the local shooting.
I hate how political it all is too. It shouldn’t be. And, now due to inactivity from leaders and from others in denial, it seems professional sports figures have had to take a stand. How many years ago was it that Colin Kaepernick tried to make people aware of the systematic racism and the injustices in our country? And here we are now. I continue to pray that people see beyond themselves and their own lives, and feel the heartache of others. A little sympathy can go a long way.
Yesterday was National Dog day. So, here’s an update on our Honeybee. She continues to be on two meds each day which seems to help keep her going. Some days she has more energy, some days not as much. Her vision isn’t good. But, she is hanging in there. Miss Daisy still has weird moments of attacking her and I know it has to do with jealousy and maybe wanting to be the alpha dog. It continues to frighten me.
Babies and pets keep life balanced. Thank God for them. During these hard times babies are still coming in to the world, bringing joy to families. Pets bring unconditional love to their owners.
Other positives… to end this post with…
beautiful sunsets, special online music events, a stack of books still to get through, and safe-distanced live worship.
Marla’s Musings 