Sunday, January 18, 2026

We are Home and I am in a Reflective Mood......

 We decided to leave earlier than planned due to the freezing temps scheduled to arrive on Saturday night.


Better to pack up and drive home with the temps in the 40's on Saturday afternoon rather than in the 20's on Sunday morning.


We left the ranch at 1:00 and stopped for lunch at Whataburger...
Our favorite!




We had a good few days in the country but since it was cold and getting colder - there's not much for Louis Dean to do in the way of projects.

Home on Saturday and enjoyed the fireplace in the den...
Today has been a rest and recovery day for both of us.
We ate the potato soup I made at the ranch and now I'm putting the turkey we brought back from the ranch in the oven! Using Deanna Rabe's recipe....
This is the only way I cook turkey now!

Tomorrow I will be making dressing and sides for a Thanksgiving style meal that will be enough to eat the next few days and to share with friends.

We are home and we are safe.
As good as it is to get away, it's just as good to come home.
Louis Dean doesn't do well away from his music room here.
It is his happy place and he can do pretty much whatever he wants to do in there.
Gorilla glue, duct tape, drills, and other sundry things.....

Life is changing for me.....and I admit I am struggling with things.
My primary purpose is taking care of Louis Dean and I am grateful to be able to do that.

That doesn't mean that I do not grieve a bit over what we used to do in taking care of others....
as in all those Fridays in Fort Worth to take Mother to the beauty shop and then lunch afterwards.
After Mother passsed, we still took care of Lillian and other residents at the nursing home.

After that, we were there for Reaoma and Louis Dean played the guitar and sang songs to her.
I loved her and I still miss her but I am thankful for Pamela -her daughter who is like a daughter to me now. God is good.

Then our dear friend June died. This was so hard as she was such a huge part of my life and that of all four of my children. Her daughter, Kimmy, is in my prayers and I regret that I cannot be there for her as I was for her mom.

I am facing the fact that, while we were a major support to Amber and Mike when Amber was in the hospital for 52 days with the quad pregnancy and the birth of these four amazing children and the next several years before they started school....and the book fairs and all the times we stayed with them while the parents took a break......

Life doesn't stay the same and changes are hard to process.
I'm working my way through the life changes and trying to find my balance...
It's not easy but we have to embrace our 'now.'
Because 'now' is all we have....











3 comments:

Susie said...

My dear friend, I truly understand. Our lives we once had and enjoyed has change or is changing and not always is a good way. We have to roll with it or struggle. I never give up, keep on keeping on , is what I tell friends who have issues of bad health or care giving. Prayer is one of the best go to's. Blessings to all , love you guys so much, xoxo,Susie

Pamela M. Steiner said...

Yes, I do understand this. Life is always changing as we age and our children age and people around us get sick and die. We just had a dear lady in our church pass away after fighting COPD and other complications for a long time. We have several others fighting cancer, and it just hurts to see what people are going through. I am so thankful that we know this world is not our final home and we have heaven to look forward too, where people don't get old and sick and die anymore. But yes, meanwhile we deal with changes in our own bodies and minds and abilities as well, and that isn't always easy to accept. But yes, we have today, and we commit each day to the Lord and let Him be our guide and our comfort and fortress. He will take care of the rest. (((HUGS)))

Chatty Crone said...

I totally understand. You have given you life for others and it continues. There is a good book to read - Sacred Fire by Ronald Rolheiser you might like to read.