Saturday: Ups and Downs, and Back Up Again!

Just in case you are not yet to the age of retirement, let me give you a little secret.  The weekends are not always relaxing when you are retired.  Sometimes they are as busy or busier than the week days!

I had a great start to my day with more readings in "The Word," a daily devotional.  I read twenty more pages this morning, feeling as if the Lord were talking to me in every one.  Remember that, please.  I was spirit filled, rearing to go.

At 9:20 am I met my carpool to go to Hot Springs ("town," to the locals) to help make 140 sandwiches, a mission called "Love Lunches" that are passed out at The Master's Table on Sunday after church.

On the way down, my words were positive.  I felt as if the Lord had spoken to me through the scriptures that I read (as indeed, He had!).

As we pulled into the parking lot where we were to make the sandwiches, my cellphone rang.  It was the lady who had promised their three bedroom house for our family members, due to start arriving next week and staying through the 24.  Her husband had also promised the house to someone!  I couldn't believe it.  We had waited a solid week after her offer, with me calling her again for confirmation of the offer, before we cancelled our other rental. 

How do you spell p-a-n-i-c???  I was not a happy camper.

But on with the sandwiches.  We entered the church and found that we had more volunteers than our last trip down.

We began cleaning the counter and prepping our things for the assembly line of sandwiches.  Suddenly we realized that we had run out of plastic baggies for the sandwiches.  No more were to be located, so our "directing" volunteer left to go get some more.  While she was out securing more of the sandwich baggies, we realized that our supply of cheese was short, and indeed, even our bread ran out.  So as soon as the sweet lady returned from the baggie run, she was off and on the go again for bread and cheese.  Despite these two little bumps in the road, we finished 30 minutes ahead of schedule.

I had ridden down with two of the ladies, meeting a third one at the church.  I stayed with the third lady, because we both had errands to run.

After a quick lunch, we set off (Lesley to Lowes, me to Petsco or Pets something or other).  It was pet adoption day.   The store smelled of icky dogs.  I love dogs, but prefer mine clean.  The smell was a bit too doggy for even this old gal.  I had to backtrack to find my way around the four legged critters for adoption to get to the ones with fins.    I "adopted" and paid for 4 goldfish (which are red) and two catfish (bottom feeders) to clean the algae in our new water feature.  I bought food for them and more sunflower seeds for our cardinal friends.

At home when we discussed our dilemma of the housing situation, my husband called to see if we could still get the rental that we had let go when we thought that we had obtained the other home....  When he had rented it, it was one of two left for that time period.

But, as my friend, Lesley had said, "God just has something better for you."  Thank you God, for positive friends who remind me to stay that way when I start to get negative.  We soon received a call back that the rental was still available and that we could have it!  God, thank you for rescuing me once again!  Forgive me for depending on my own worldly powers, which are few.

With that huge hurdle behind us, we began the process of washing my car for the first time since moving to The Village 6 months ago.  One thing that I really miss here is a full-service car wash.  I vacuumed my car, went over the leather seats with conditioners, then both Hubby and I washed the sweet little Edge.  It has taken a beating since moving here.  We both noticed numerous little chips out of the paint from all of the debris that appears to be abundant on the country roads and lanes.

Next stop: golf course.  We purchased a bucket of balls and proceeded to work on our various clubs and techniques.  Dear Hubby is much more devoted than I.  He hit most of them, as I took a lot of time lining up, cleaning out my golf bag, and drinking iced water.

Back home, Hubby person worked outside around the water feature, while I put together one of our favorite dishes, mini-meat loaves.  I make it with bison, so that it is lower in fat.  We had a delicious meal of organic bison meatloaves, organic peaches, organic peas, and organic homemade bread from the Amish.  We ate on the patio so that we could enjoy the water feature.

Fish are floating in the water in their bag, acclimating to the temperature of the water in their new home. 

 

It sounds as if it should all be so wonderful, so perfect.  But no life is that way. We have our worries, our struggles, our challenges.  We all do.  Life always looks greener on the other side.  I think that it seldom is.

God bless you as you head into His day, the Sabbath.