Had a bit of selfish and lovely bench time last Friday. How fun! Bent over, sawing, hammering, the hands remembering the skills to take sheet brass and copper and fashion a funny little pendant for myself. It's been forever.
This year has been a life-changer. We now have five grandchildren: age 8, 2, 20 months, 18 months and 5 months with another baby boy in a few weeks. What an overwhelming blessing! Every minute with them, in person or on Skype or Facebook, is a privilege of joy covering my "mature person" tiredness.
My Dad passed away suddenly July 5. He was 80 and blessedly didn't have to suffer for a long time. We never had a good relationship, but I am grateful to him for the example of hard work and duty.
We are left with Mom. Mom is fading mentally and still lives by herself for now. It is so very hard for me to witness her diminishment. Since I am the child who lives the closest, I see her frequently and my husband and I help her in every way we can. My wonderful siblings travel here when they can. For that I am so grateful!
My husband and I both still have our "day jobs" and do not want to give up grandchildren time. So we balance it all as best we can, which frequently leaves us so burnt out we must fall into each other's arms with exhausted chuckles. We pray. We thank God for what we have and ask for strength for what we must do. Sometimes I just cry, then wipe my eyes and get over it.
I don't know if I will get back to the bench this year. I don't know what the future will allow. I do know that I will do my best to follow Christ, loving God with all my heart, soul, strength and mind. And I will strive to love others as I love myself.
So I send love and the wish of Shalom to you all~~my precious readers.
