Saturday October 24 2015   AND AGAIN TOMORROW…

AND AGAIN TOMORROW…

By Kathleen Martens

October 24, 2015

How busy can I be?

It always surprises me.

Many are my plans,

Yet, I lack command.

A mile long is my list

Upon which I insist.

And daily it is my hope

With this list I will cope.

But, if my short day

Won’t go my way,

I’ll just do what I can do.

And again tomorrow, I will ensue.

As I sat down to write, my mind went back over my day looking for a point of interest on about which to write.  I like writing about the day which makes my blog a current update of my life for my future reference.  As I ponder all that happened today what pops into my mind is that it didn’t go exactly as I planned.  But that’s okay because it never bothers me if I don’t accomplish all I intend to do.  I just always try to do the most important urgent needs first.  I don’t use the word “urgent” in a serious manner, rather meaning those things that are pressing or have a time related importance.  I check my calendar at night for tomorrow and then again in the morning as a refresher of what is coming such as a doctor visit, child care for my grandkids, or other places I may need to be that day.  Even with all these measures, believe it or not I can still forget or miss an appointment.  After I do my double checking I then plan out my schedule for what must be done and what I would like to accomplish if I have time.  The “what must be done” items usually happen, but sometimes that which I would like to accomplish gets pushed aside for a myriad of reasons.  Life happens. 

Today was one of those days that I was not able to accomplish all I would have liked to accomplish.  It takes a bit longer to achieve my goals when I have extra duties, or prescription pharmacy runs, or preparing ahead for meals, or making soup to use up some of the provisions from our farm box.  And as such, I had a prescription run to do.  When I go into town it is about 7 miles away, all country roads so the traveling is pleasant.  It is so beautiful outside right now that I enjoy any excuse to get in the car and make a run into town.  There are three ways to enter into town so I have three different venues on which to gaze.  I had an interesting time at the pharmacy as I waited for Dave’s pain meds to be filled.  Sitting at a table off to the left in “Home Town Pharmacy” were four attractive young ladies all poised to offer me (and anyone else who would come in) an assessment as to whether or not I was a risk for diabetes.  I had a score of zero which they said was good.  I weighed below what my height level said I should weigh, I am physically active, my family history was good, and I don’t remember if I was given the fourth question.  I had a blood sugar test done and it was 96.  The test was about 3:00 p.m.  I had eaten breakfast at 9:00 a.m. and about 11:30 a.m.or so I had a teaspoon of peanut butter and slice of watermelon before I headed to the gym to workout.  I hadn’t actually eaten lunch yet so my number was fine.  Whew!!  We do not need two diabetics in the family.  And I am firmly believing that in approximately two years Dave will no longer have it either.  If you are interested in finding out why I believe that, read the book “THE END OF DIABETES” (I think it was written by Doctor Fuhrman).  Our long time doctor is working with us to follow the plan in the book.  A lot depends upon the next few weeks as Dave is weaned from his diabetic medicine.  The doctor wanted to wait until after the surgery so everything could be the same during this time of his recovery. Once he is off all meds he must have a two year track record of showing no symptoms of diabetes through his daily blood sugar tests.  So far he is doing excellent but he is still on meds.  There may need to be some adjustments in his diet intake after he is off the meds. 

While I was at the table talking with the young ladies, who by the way were all pharmaceutical students, I had the opportunity to ask them what their wisdom for the world would be.  I will write their answers below.  I thought they were all unique and interesting.  I had to fill out my age on one of the forms for the test.  I asked each lady to guess my age first.  I was guessed to be 60, 56, 82, and 62.  Hmmm…I don’t know about that 82!  I sit here smiling as I think about how old someone my age must look to those so young.

Alissa guessed 60:  “Most people are good people”.

Sin guessed 56:  “When you are making a hard decision make one you won’t regret”.

Joanna guessed 82:  “Say yes to as many opportunities as you can”.

Megan guessed 62:  “Take every opportunity even if you do not think you will enjoy it.  You may surprise yourself”.

If I were to guess their age I would estimate them to be 22 to 25 years old.  They all looked so young and fresh and beautiful.  I wish them all well in their studies and pray that they will have a wonderful life ahead of them.  And what I most hope for is that they know or will someday know God in a personal way.

Life didn’t happen today like I thought it would but that is okay. I will have all the days that God has planned for me and I do not wish for one day more. 

It is comforting to know I had one person read yesterday’s blog because I received a very nice email commenting on it. I have copied part of it right from the email as I think I shall take it as wisdom.  (Just as a point of reference I always sign my emails WKM to those I correspond with as those are my true initials.  I hear her words and hope to abide by them.

Comment from the email: I loved the poem. I am so thankful to the Lord that all went well today for Dave.  Enjoy the recuperation time at home – be lazy Dave – do your walking – watch the Baseball World Series and football.  WKM do your projects, read your books and have your quite time with The Lord.  Don’t let Dave over-do anything at least for six weeks.

It is even more comforting knowing that the email came from my beloved sister and I take it as an expression of love.  It is so good when you receive little “love notes” even when the writer might not be aware that that is how it is received.  Thank you Velma for loving me.

If this blog is a bit disconcerting today it is because I have been up and down a dozen times to stir my pot of soup cooking in my NESCO COOKER.  Remember, Thursday is Farm Box Day!  Yesterday was actually the last box of the normal season.  I also ordered a winter share which will be delivered in two weeks and another delivery two weeks after that.  The number of boxes I will receive varies each year.  I’ve had as many as 6 full boxes each winter delivery down to 3 full boxes each winter delivery.  It depends on the season, how many sign up for the program, and the weather.  Some years are prolific (like this one) and some are a bit sparser.  One thing our farm owners have is an irrigation system, which help tremendously if we have a dry spell.  Most farms rely strictly on rain for irrigation.  Produce fresh from the farm tastes so much different than the same vegetables purchased in the store.  I think it is probably because it is picked one day, and delivered the next, and is not refrigerated or stored for days or weeks before it gets to the table.  I am so thankful and feel so fortunate that we have the opportunity to take part in this endeavor.  We are now literally eating the bounty from the last two seasons.  We must do a lot of eating so as to get the freezers emptied out by spring for defrosting before the new crops come in.  Every day I go out and pick out a different homemade soup.  Yesterday I picked out Cabbage bean soup.  It was delicious!  We have enough left for tomorrow since Dave does not yet have his appetite back following surgery.

Update on Dave.  The pain finally got to him.  A friend of mine who is a nurse suggested we get the meds and have him take just a half pill to cut the edge off the incision pain.  His incision is quite large and in a very sensitive area.  He is suffering, but he suffers without complaint.  I can see it in his face and eyes.  I know it is believed that healing is quicker if the body is not under so much stress from the pain.  I hope he has a better night tonight.  He is still his sweet self to me.  He is getting up and walking faithfully every hour and breathing deep and coughing to lessen the chance of developing pneumonia.  My mother died from a strangulated bowel caught in her hernia and I had a cousin who died from pneumonia following a hip replacement.  We take Dave’s recovery and the Doctor’s orders very seriously in regards to this surgery.  Thanks again to all of you who have prayed for him. 

Dave wears a “fitbit” and it records the steps he takes and a lot of other data as well.  Today he has walked 3,100 steps.  His goal on his normal day is to walk 5,000 steps, and at times he walks over 10,000 steps.  When he goes to the gym part of his workout is walking on the treadmill with inclines up to ten percent which builds up his count.  He is not allowed (Doctor’s orders) to go to the gym for 8 weeks.  He can walk all he is able on flat surfaces only, but no gym exercise.  Since we have a treadmill here at home he will walk on ours and his gym membership will be on hiatus and extended two months past his renewal date.  That is a nice benefit.

Must close as Dave is waiting to help me proofread.

Good night and God bless all of you.   

Friday October 23 2016  IT IS FINISHED

Is there anything more beautiful than Wisconsin in autumn?  It is like a piece of paradise that is so fleeting.  When I left Wisconsin on March 7^th I waved goodbye to my husband standing in the snow.  When I returned July 1^st it was midsummer.  When we left to go to Branson it was autumn on the calendar but not yet in color.  When we returned this week it was full-fledged autumn at its finest.  This year has been so disjointed for me as far as the seasons.  As I left the snow behind earlier in the season I was soon into early spring.  From then on for the next three and half months it seemed to be perpetually spring.  Only when I drove back into the states from Canada did I feel true summer days, hot and dry.  And then when I drove into Wisconsin everything was so green and lush I knew I was home.  Summer is supposed to be green.  Autumn is supposed to be brilliant colors.  Winter is…well…winter is just white.  So in bits and pieces I have now tasted a little bit of each season.  Even though they were all mixed up I still enjoyed a little of summer and autumn and a lot of spring.  Tomorrow is the day I would chose to get in my car and just drive out into the country that is all around me just so I could view the beauty of God’s canvas in the making.  There are some events that just cannot be postponed for the open window is so short.  This month I will just fill my pockets with the beauty that surrounds me locally.  I will travel neighborhood streets lined with gold and rusts and orange.  I will imagine the hills displaying their finery in all their glory for God to see.  It’s as if this is a time when the trees offer their praise to God.  Unless you have witnessed this for yourself it is impossible to imagine.  No picture can do it justice.  It is like living in a three dimensional snow globe, but instead of snow coming down it is leaves that swirl around you. 

Dave’s surgery went well and he was patched up.  His rehab for this week is to walk around the house every little while, breath deep, cough, and keep ice on the reinforced area.  He is also instructed to place warm compresses on his upper chest to help the carbon dioxide dissipate that was pumped into him for the surgery.  We arrived at the hospital at 5:30 a.m. and he was taken directly back to the prep room.  After several mini consultations with the surgeon, anesthetist, pharmacist and the ever present nurses he was taken away at 8:00 a.m.  He was back in the post-surgical area a little after 9:00 a.m.  Then he was transferred to the recovery area and I was allowed to again be with him.  That was at about 10:15 a.m..  We were home by noon.  He ate his breakfast. I ate my lunch.  We both dozed in the living room for the next couple of hours off and on in the pretense of trying to watch a show.  We both had to keep moving the show back so we could see what we missed.  I roused myself and convinced him to get up and walk around and breathe and cough.  Now he is back in his favorite chair and I am in my favorite chair. His sits in front of the TV and mine sits in front of my blog.  Fortunately, I have nothing monumental to discourse about.  IT IS FINISHED!  The surgery is over.  All’s well and I feel relieved.  Autumn will come again next year and we can go out and drive and drive and see all the beauty God’s beautiful earth has to offer.  This year we will practice being retired, stay at home and heal. 

I have one goal left for the day.  My goal is go to bed very early.  I had about 4 hours sleep last night.  That is not enough for me and I can feel it.  I fight sleep during the day because it messes with my night sleep.  I slept such little snatches this afternoon that perhaps it won’t cause problems tonight. 

WE SHOULD ALWAYS REMEMBER

By Kathleen Martens

October 23, 2015

We should always remember

To thank God for the simple things.

Like seasons in their finery

And all the joy they bring.

Spring comes in on little cat feet

Tiptoeing through the snow.

Whispering melody in the wind,

Telling the secrets it knows.

And then comes summer in brilliant light,

Long days and warm afternoons,

Green and lush from seasonal rain

That makes the flowers bloom.

It keeps hold as long as it can

Against the sharp autumn wind

That lowers the temperature and the light,

Fighting what summer lends.

Alas, Mr. Frost rears his sleeping head,

Bringing with him gales of snow

And ever present frigid air.

More than we’d like to know.

It seems that winter lasts the longest,

Its blanket covering the land.

And when it seems to be unbearable

Spring again makes its stand.

The world once more starts singing

As music fills our heart,

And ever so softly on little cat feet,

Once again spring will start.

I am happy to have no more news to depart.  My husband is safe at home and each day will bring him closer to full recovery.  Thanks to all of you who have sent encouraging emails and prayer promises.  The older I become, the more I realize how tenuous life is and how much more precious my husband is to me.  I thank God for this day.  And especially I thank God because it is finished.

Good night.  Thank you again for reading my blog.

My word of wisdom for today:  NEVER TAKE FOR GRANTED THOSE YOU LOVE.  TELL THEM EVERY DAY HOW MUCH YOU LOVE THEM!

Thursday October 22 2015  THE STORM BEFORE THE CALM

I asked my husband for a title suggestion for today’s blog.  He said, “THE CALM BEFORE THE STORM”.  Immediately I responded, “No I don’t think that is appropriate.  I think it is THE STORM BEFORE THE CALM”.  He agreed.  Today it was stormy around this place.  Not literally in the way of weather, but in our feverish attempt to get everything battened down so that after his surgery we will not be in the midst of the storm of preparing for winter.  Did we get it all done?  Of course not.  There is always more for us to do, regardless how much we have already done.  Anyway, that is how it seems around here. 

While we were having lunch Dave made a statement that made me realize just how difficult this year has been for him.  He always takes such pride in the yard, working every weekend attending its needs, mowing, weeding, tilling, planting, and weed whacking.  He said “This has been the year of yard neglect”.  And so it has.  He was under so much pressure the last few months of employment, working long hours trying to get everything finished on his plate before he retired.  Then when I returned home he became so ill with the infection in his leg.  This all took place during the time most necessary for Wisconsin’s garden season.  If it hadn’t been for our neighbors mowing for us during his hospitalization and recovery you might not even be able to see our house from the street. 

Courtland volunteered to bring his riding lawnmower over and mow and mulch the leaves that have fallen.  Our son-in-law volunteered to fly up next month and take care of the yard and do other jobs that need to be done.  And then, our neighbors came over and informed us that Sam will clean our gutters and Karen will blow our leaves that fall later in the year.  Dave’s on the phone now informing Neil of the kind offers of son and neighbors so that he knows that he will not need to fly up next month.  We were overwhelmed when so many offered to do so much.  We are at the mercy of the weather, how cold it becomes, when the leaves decide to fall, and how soon we receive our first snow storm.  Just knowing that we have help coming at important times makes going into tomorrow a bit easier.  I was at the computer looking up yard services to call when Dave came in and informed me of all the offers.  Slowly the storm started to abate and we began feeling the calm.  I thank God for our children, son in law and our wonderful neighbors for volunteering.  I believe TIME is the greatest gift anyone can give.  We are fortunate to live in such a great neighborhood.  The neighborhood is small, only four houses on our street, but I think that is what makes it work so well.  All total there are about 20 to 25 houses in our development. We are also blessed by wonderful children and their spouses!  We look forward to when Zach and Xander are old enough to mow lawns!!!

The patio furniture is put away but yet to be covered.  It is in an interior shop that is below our house and garage.  Due to salt erosion there are leaks that come into a limited area of the shop so we must cover what we store in that area.  That is something I can do after Dave’s surgery.  We just simply ran out of time today.

Tomorrow begins at 4:00 a.m. for us.  Dave is scheduled to be in the hospital by 5:30 a.m.  We do not know what time he will be home.  We do know that if all goes well he will be released tomorrow.  The sheets are clean, the fridge is stocked, but the bathtub is not yet scrubbed.  Oh well, it will get done…eventually.

Tomorrow is the beginning of our sabbatical (our “time out” in the hectic pace of life).  I’ve decided to join Dave and have as little on my schedule as possible.  There are a few events that we hope to attend but we will take into consideration Dave’s situation first and foremost.  I choose the word “sabbatical” with the dictionary’s definitions: “leave, retreat, time off, time out”.  All those pertain to what we want to do.  If you are given a bowl of lemons you might as well make lemonade!  I will take any situation that comes our way and turn it to the best of our advantage.  This situation with Dave is not a hardship for me.  It is a time when I can be there to help him, lavish him with love, help him get well, AND BE QUIET WHEN HE NO LONGER NEEDS TO HEAR ME TALK!  I can do that!

A little “time out” of life might be just what we need!   The idea of having time to spend studying God’s Word is also a great enticement. 

Before I become a hermit I better quit writing the blog.  I don’t want to write something I can’t live up to. 

HE KNOWS THE BEGINNING AND THE END

By Kathleen Martens

October 22, 2015

Man makes his plans,

But God directs his steps.

We know not what is ahead,

Our path by God is kept.

If we follow in His way

He is faithful to guide.

Through His Holy Spirit

Is how He does confide.

So we need not worry

About what tomorrow brings,

But rather trust in God’s wisdom

For every little thing.

He has a plan that is good

Designed to give us hope.

No matter the circumstance

He will always help us cope.

He gives comfort when it’s needed

And strength to get us through.

He knows the beginning and the end,

And we’re always in His view.

Good night and God bless you.

P.S.  Dave just took his night shower with hospital antiseptic (he has to take another one in the morning using more antiseptic wash and another clean towel).  Just wanted you to know he cleaned the tub and shower first.  He must sleep in all clean clothes and clean sheets!  All’s well!

Wednesday October 21 2015  GOD ONLY PAINTS ORIGINALS

Regardless of what I do I just cannot keep up with the hours.  They pass too quickly and then the days seems to fly by.  But it is a good feeling getting things accomplished.  There is just always more to do.  After arriving home last evening I spent the evening unpacking.  I finished today.  Now I am washing laundry.  I don’t really feel as if I am finished until I get all the clothes clean, ironed, and put away.  I only iron a few of my things so that doesn’t take very long.  Ironing is one thing I really enjoy doing.  It is such instantaneous satisfaction.  I started ironing when I was eleven years old.  My mom gave me exact lessons on how it should be done.  If you remember back to the fifties and sixties most garments were made out of cotton and had to be ironed, if you were respectable that is.  The pastor’s wife at our church actually hired me to do all her little girl’s fancy, flouncy dresses AND PETTICOATS, all their pillow cases, and her husband’s shirts.  So I must have done it well in order to be hired repeatedly.  I made the grand sum of $.50 per hour.  I usually had about 4 to 6 hours of ironing each week.  Those dresses took a long time with all their ruffles and frills.  I sometimes became tired, but I never got tired of ironing.  And…I still like to do it.  An ironing board and iron stands in our dressing room at all times, with the iron just waiting to be plugged in, and used when needed.  I actually still like to hang clothes out on a line too, but no longer have a line outside since it wore out.  Nothing better than sun-dried towels, stiff and crisp when you dry off after a shower. 

I accomplished my goal of making certain Dave did not do much more than walking today.  He is supposed to keep walking as much as possible so we went to the gym.  He walked on a flat treadmill and I did my first REAL workout in over two weeks.  I’ve done little ones here and there on the road but not like today.  It was exhausting.  Afterward we had several stops to make.  We needed fresh produce since our fridge was empty, there were gifts to buy, school order forms to drop off at the school I’ll be photographing next week, plus a few other errands.  Dave did help carry in light little bags but that is about it.  He is out tonight with his weekly Wednesday night meeting as a Stephen Minister.  It is volunteer work that he does.  I no longer do it as I stepped down from Stephen Ministry and several other volunteer ministries I did before I left on my trip this year.  Other than doing volunteer photos for NOW I LAY ME DOWN TO SLEEP at the hospitals, I am retired at present. 

We have one more day before his surgery, and tomorrow I intend to do what Dave had hoped to do before he is laid up.  He will point and direct. (And Dave is inserting this comment, “GOOD LUCK WITH THAT”)*  I am so thankful that I have the strength to do some physical labor.  It feels so good to feel good.  And I must admit, work almost always makes me feel better.  I would rather be up on my feet working at physical jobs than sitting down typing a blog.  I love to write but it is more of a discipline I do because I so crave doing it.  However, my body feels better up and moving around.  I think that is why I do not watch television much.  I actually borrowed a movie to watch on our Branson trip but could not sit still to watch it.  I tried and only watched a few minutes of it before I was up doing something else.  One cottage we stayed in actually had six televisions.  One in each bedroom, one in the living room, and one in the lower level family room.  I did not even turn one on in that cottage.  It was in the smaller cottage when we were alone that I tried to watch the movie.  Dave watched parts of a couple of football games in rooms where I wasn’t, and I think that is all that the time any T.V. was on. 

And now I am home and have not time to watch anything anyway.  I think I am going to turn off life in the outside fast lane for the six weeks that Dave is recuperating.  However, I will exercise and volunteer for my photo job.  I am obligated to do the photos next week for the school because I forgot to tell them last year that I was retiring.  I won’t forget this year.  I intend this to be my last session (especially for schools).  It takes a lot of time in post-production.  I am one step closer to finalizing everything.  When I have every single thing done, I will tell the world and you can celebrate with me as you read my blog!  Then, I will begin my photo work for my projects.  The first being hand-made  (not electronic) albums I am doing for my sister.  I have already put hours of work in removal of all old photos from albums as well as organizing and sorting scores of old photos for mounting in the albums.  These will be done with a creative touch known as scrapbooking.  It has been a while since I have worked with fine motor skills doing the cutting and such, so it will be interesting to see how all goes with my crippled hands.  I look forward to the end product.  I already have all the papers and doo-dads I need to create beautiful albums.  I have three albums waiting to be filled, but I don’t yet know exactly how many will be used.  I am making these albums for my sister Faith.

When our mom died five years ago one of her greatest desires was that none of her children would fight or argue over anything of hers that was left to share.  My oldest sister used great wisdom when she gave each of us a piece of paper (5 sisters, 4 present), and asked that we each write down what the first item we would want if we could have it.  If no one else wrote that item down then we were able to keep what we requested.  One sister present had instructions for the absent sister to request certain items for her in her absence.  We did turn after turn, and until the very end, when it was just little inconsequential items left, did anyone ask for the same thing in the same round.  And even then there were no fights or hard feelings. Instead of one sister always having first choice, everyone had first choice over and over.  One of my sisters did not ask for anything.   My mother’s wish was fulfilled.  There were no arguments and to my knowledge no hurt feelings.  The treasure I asked for was for all of my mom’s correspondence and all her journals.  She had a lot of journals.  Maybe I inherited the love of writing in journals from her.  They are still yet to be read.

My sister Faith asked for the photo albums.  When I look at the photos I could see that the albums were not archival quality and the photos were slowing being destroyed over time.  I asked her if I could take them out of the albums and make them into a heritage album for her.  So that is what I will be doing.  And as you can see, five years later the project is not yet finished.  It is my goal that it will not be long before I can again get started on it.  It will be fun for me to see it blossom.  First, I must close my business down.  And that is getting closer.

Well, I guess I did a little reminiscing today.  Maybe being with my Aunt Esther has set my “REMEMBER-ER” to remembering.  I loved hearing her reminisce and watch her going through her photos.  I will have the pleasure of doing all that and even the greater pleasure of not having to store them on my shelves when I am finished.  It will be my gift to future generations.

The other “behind the scenes project” I want to finish are the books I hope to have published, some written, some partially written, some scattered throughout my journals that will need to be gathered and edited, and some are still ideas in my head.  And some I haven’t even lived yet.  No matter how old I become, I always hope I am dreaming of the next thing I plan to do.  It may not even be important if everything gets accomplished.  I just don’t ever want to arrive at the destination in my life, that what I have dreamed about doing, is no longer important for me to do.  In the meantime, I will live in the present and do what I enjoy and accomplish as much as it is possible.

Tonight it is important for me to get to bed on time so I can rise at first light.  Who knows what tomorrow’s sunrise will look like?  I know one thing for certain, God only paints originals.  Every day is new.

GOD ONLY PAINTS ORIGINALS

By Kathleen Martens

October 21 2015

Every day is new when I arise at dawn.

The sunrise that I see

Will not be like yesterday’s,

Nor tomorrow will it be.

God only paints originals.

His sky is but a canvas.

What joy he must have

As He decorates just for us.

There is always something special

That He has written in the sky,

Clouds and colors, the miracle of light,

Are always flitting by.

So behold and lift your eyes

To see creation at its best.

Look east to see the sunrise.

And for sunset, remember, to look west.

Sun has set.  It is time for bed.  Remember to behold the creation of God each day.  Remember that you are part of His creation.  And remember, that you too are one of his “ORIGINALS”.  (My wisdom for this day).  I hope you are smiling.

Good night and may God bless you with many more sunrises!  Never take one for granted!

P.S.  The inspiration to write the above poem came from the lines in my blog that I wrote just before I wrote the poem.  It doesn’t take much to inspire me. 

P.S.S.  Just a post note to tell you that Dave accomplished his goal (I did not) to arrive back home weighing no more than when he left for vacation.  Well, he did more than he thought he would.  While he was on vacation eating very heartily (but portion control in action), he came home weighing 8 pounds less than when he left.  So far, since July, he has lost 56 pounds.  And the best part is, his blood sugars have all been EXCELLENT!   He takes his blood sugar test every single day (and sometimes more than once a day).  He has been spot on.  Just thought you might like to know. 

*  I asked Dave what he meant by “Good luck with that”?  Here is his comment back to me, “How much luck have I had in the past trying to direct you?”  Oh well, at least I am making myself available.  I just have my own ideas!