Wednesday August 5 2015  A COME DOWN DAY.

 

I have been home for a little over one month now.  This time has absolutely flown by as every single moment of every single day has been full to overflowing…until today.

I have had a few moments of rest here and there since I’ve returned but for some reason today seemed like the first day of real rest.  Maybe it’s because I didn’t do much.  Even right after surgery I was feeling so energized that I didn’t seem to stay down for very long at a time.  Since I have been home one thing after the other has taken place, Dave’s illness, carpet cleaning, window washer, house cleaner, all of which took a lot of work on our part to get ready with furniture moving, decluttering, and working right along with the workers.  And then my friend Betts arrived.  That’s one reason I wanted to have the house cleaned so readily.  It also needed it desperately!

My time with Betts was worth every moment.  Never enough time, never enough words.  There was so much more visiting I wanted to do but we literally did not have the time to do so.  Betts is a very intriguing person.  She has lived a long life, acts like she is about 30 and walks so fast I can barely keep up with her.  Her mind is sharp and she is very pragmatic, and well-travelled.  She has published her Memoirs, “SHADOW OF MY FOOTSTEPS” by Betts Rivet PhD.  I have the book but have not read it yet.  I suppose I will find out all the little details when I read her book.  I asked her if there was any place in the world where she has not been.  She thought a moment and then said, “a few places is South Africa”.  She taught at a University in China for twenty something years after she retired from working as a psychologist.  She came back to the states during the summer and for the past nine years she has come up to Wisconsin to visit with us.  It has been our pleasure to get to know her more each year.  I feel honored that she puts us on her list to visit.  We were reunited 9 years ago when we found Rebecca’s birth mother through Betts.  It is an amazing story.  I asked her why she came to see us each year.  She simply looked at me and said “Well, you’re family”.  And that was that.  Her statement said it all.  And that is how we feel too.

Betts left today.  She is on her summer journey.  She will be in Wisconsin awhile yet as she plans to visit friends and family before heading east.  We stood out in the driveway and waved as she drove away in her rented car which she drove from Chicago.  Betts has inspired me since the first time she came to see us.  I was so amazed with her stamina, her mental sharpness, and her activity and constant go power.  She works out with me at the gym when she comes.  When I was in California I worked out with her for about two weeks when I was in her area.  She has an awesome gym to workout at.  I was so impressed.  She currently lives in Orange County California.  I was actually so inspired by a woman heading toward 90 and living like she lived that I decided I too wanted that kind of stamina and vitality when I was her age.  Because of my health issues three years ago I had some major decisions to make about my future.  I would think of Betts and decided that I too wanted that kind of a lifestyle as I aged.  I know it was God who taught me what to do and helped me achieve my goals, but it was Betts who inspired me by the walk she walks.  We all need people like that in our lives.  Betts didn’t even know she was inspiring me.  I have since told her.

After Betts left Dave and I went to the gym, came home and had lunch.  Dave left for a doctor appointment and rested (went to sleep for about 90 minutes).  Just thought  you’d like to know that cousin Joyce!  The only problem, it took me about 4 hours to get rid of the groggy feeling that hung over me.  So I guess I really needed a come down day today.  So thus, I label this day as “A COME DOWN DAY”.  My first day when I am not expecting or preparing for something to happen.  All the months of travel and hectic lifestyle since returning all just went down the drain today.  It was like someone pulled a plug on me and let all my “spinach drain out”!  But now I am awake and it is 10:37 p.m.

Dave was gone for the evening and so I have had a time of beautiful solitude.  Worked on the computer, answered as many emails as I had time for (only have about 5,000 to go (literally).  And now I am writing when I don’t really have a lot to write about.  I am hesitant to delve deeper in my brain because I know there is lots I’d like to talk about, discuss, hash out in my mind, but tonight I will not do it.  I would like to write a poem and give you some wisdom from one of the books on my desk.  I am still going through Proverbs.  Today I re-listened to what I listened to yesterday.  It’s as if I can’t retain all I want to retain.  I like listening over and over.  Remember, you can find this study at Calvary Chapel Modesto.  Go to Media and then to “THROUGH THE BIBLE”.  It is so worth it.

Zig Ziglar’s “INSPIRATION”:   “Well done is better than well said” (August 5) quote by Ben Franklin.

And two quotes from “LIFE, Living Intentionally for Excellence”:  “Character is doing what is right regardless of what you want.”

And: “Don’t squander your difficulties; wring every possible lesson out of them.”

 

WHAT IF I COULD LIVE ALL OVER AGAIN?

By Kathleen Martens

August 5, 2015

 

Once around seems not enough

Except that life is really touch.

If I could, would I live again

A new life from beginning to end?

 

What if I could live all over

And live to be much, much older?

Would I live it all the same,

Or would I start a whole new game?

 

Just exactly how would it be

If the future I could see?

How would that change my world

If the future was unfurled.

 

Would it take the joy away

Of my living just for today?

Would the freshness be all done?

Would my life be any fun?

 

Perhaps my contentment should be,

To live now, to live free.

And anticipate the unknown,

As to me each moment shown.

 

I like my life and don’t intend

Even one moment to expend

Worrying about when it ends

Because then I’ll be with my friend!

 

So once around is just enough

For my energy to be tough.

I will be thankful for each day

And in God’s presence choose to stay.

 

Well, I think right now I am content to live the life I have.  But sometimes I think it would be fun if I could be born a baby and know all that I know now.  I think I would do a few things differently and some I would do the same.  I would hope for three things.  I would hope that God would  again instill enthusiasm, awe, and wonder in me once again. For those traits I am grateful.  I can’t imagine how life would be without them.

Good night to all.

10:56 p.m.