Hello Lamppost what'ca knowing...

Last year in July I was living pretty carefree in my friend's house while she was in France. Then at the end of 2019 I posted my New Year's look.

Simpson College profile pix

 I feel like I have lived years since that day in late December as I prepared to return to full time university studies and my school job in January as well a part-time at Pier One Imports.

I thought I took life seriously and after changing back to my maiden name and getting a passport I had hope to travel this summer out of the USA for the first time in my life. I did not have a clue that I would be spending more time than ever in my apartment and adopting a cat!

Last August 2nd, on my 60th birthday a group of girlfriends and I had a great evening at Kelly's Pub celebrating me. The live band had an attracted elbow to elbow crowd and I made new friends that night. Old friends popped in and out through the night and a great time was had by all.

Billy and The Jets at Kelly's Pub

Kelly's Pub along with the rest of California is closed to inside dinning and drinking. The band is playing at the Food Trucks on September 10th, but they have not gotten to play at the Mosquito Serenade that we usually have in the park. Music has been one of the things I have missed the most from the Shelter in Place and State closures. 

My 2018 birthday wish was to have my passport and name change by August 2019. ✔

My 2019 birthday wish was to use the passport and name change.....no check mark.

Instead...

I have a cat sleeping in my Pier One Imports basket on top of my Pier One Imports throw collection.

I also have a Purr-Pillow that sits on my lap...

We watch the hummingbirds together

She has a piece of fur that fell off something at work. It is her little mouse and we play fetch with it for hours....then she honors me by sitting on my lap for a spell.

Today was the first time I had gone to Orchard Nutrition in 6 months

August 2020

This meme sizes up how I feel about August 2020. July was a month that wasn't there. I went through the motions, but my grandbabies in central California were sick most of the month with an awful tummy bug. It was terrible for the Mama and Daddy that had sick babies and the littles didn't call Grammie a lot, cuz they just weren't feeling good. 

Our little guy on the coast learned to walk and is clapping his hands. He did have a video visit with his Great-Grandpa and that was pretty fun.

My Dad had surgery for blood clots on his brain and miraculously has no side effects from a scary time. He is home and doing very well in his recovery, but staples and holes drilled in your head will take a toll on anyone. 

We resume our school schedule on August 10th. I have been working at Pier 1 all summer trying to figure out how to wear a mask and/or shield.

This seems to be the hybrid for the 20-21 school year. At least it is what I will start with in August.

I'm looking tired and getting a hair cut, just seems pointless. It is hot and putting my hair up seems to be the best option. Our apartment pool is open for Therapy Swimming and at least 5 days a week I have been enjoying a morning swim. 

Molly and I would appreciate prayer as we head into August. My educator friends would appreciate prayers too. My retail friends need pray and my Fire Fighter son and his colleagues need pray. Two years ago we entered the school year wearing masks to protect us from smoke.

We made it Through the Smoke and Fire of 2018

And...

Snowmegedon 2019

We will shine in 2020-21 School Year and tell the tale.

There may not be live music in the bars or parks, but there is always live music in my head.

This morning I woke up with this song stuck in my head. Feeling Groovy 

....I come to watch your flowers growing...Feeling Groovy. 🌻🦋

How Should We Then Live?

The statement that is the title of this book has been going through my mind a lot in the past four or five months. Four months ago we closed schools. School, Pier 1, Church and every little thing that would be considered "my normal" was gone. In Francis A. Schaeffer's book on page 252 Mr. Schaeffer concludes his discussion in western philosophy of "immediate peace and affluence." He wrote this book in the 1970's and many churches offered viewing of the video series. My own understand of this series was the need to adjust our world view.

  How better to adjust your world view than have a World Wide Shelter in Place order. I spent the first two months watching Rick Steves' Europe travel series on YouTube. The following months I have been following up on all those European countries that rely on American Tourism for their economy. These countries are hurting financially, but their air is fresh and locals are getting to see the sites in uncrowded conditions.

  Universally, our globe is having the least pollution of decades. Family values have been regained. Parents had to stay home with their children and eat around the table. I have heard of so many families that adjusted priorities and the children are thriving. We can focus on media controversies or the good things that are coming out of this summer.

  When we come out on the other side of Covid-19/summer 2020 I hope personal peace and affluence are not my personal goals. My peace needs to come from serving my LORD and loving my neighbor as myself.

Confirmation

This past Sunday I was blessed to have our Bishop come through Redding and lay hands on me in The Order of Confirmation. If I had been raised in the Anglican tradition this would have happened during my high school years. Fittingly, I feel like I have revisited my late teen years. This season has allowed me the time to reflect on Deena of the 1970's and what my goals and aspirations were before being married and having children. My faith journey has been solid all these years with many people who have showed God's love to my family. I currently am thankful for my Anglican Church and the wonderful people that celebrate and serve our Savior with me at Saint Luke's.

  Since returning to my university studies in January I have been able to study: World History, Art History, Church History and exam my own history.  Confirmation was a public step to let the folks at Saint Luke's know that I am serious about serving with them. May the gifts given to all believers through the Holy Spirit dwelling in me: Wisdom, Knowledge, Understanding, Courage, Discernment, Piety and the Fear of GOD. The closing hymn was Onward Christian Soldiers.

 

So How Will I Live?

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

(II Timothy 2:7 KJV) 

There is so much fear in our world right now. This season of Novel Corona Virus is something that most people have no realm of experience to draw on to help cope. On CBS Sunday Morning program there was an interview of Melissa Gilbert who stared as Laura in "Little House on the Praise." History does tell us that schools have been closed before to stop spread of diseases. People have worn face coverings before to stop spreading diseases. There has been economic decline when the world seemed to stand still during plaques, wars and natural catastrophe.

  I will not live in fear as my hope is in the name of my LORD, Jesus. My earthly life may be in danger, but my eternal life is secure under the blood of Jesus and the resurrection of the dead in the Day of the LORD.  My niece asked me if I had a saint that I claim. I would choose Saint Therese of the Flowers. She wrote, "What matters in life is not great deeds, but great love." I am here today possibly from the prayers of a woman who pinned a metal of St Therese on the pillow of a little boy and the prayers said over that fella in the late 1930's. (A story for another day.)

  For today, I choose to show love and grace in all situations. Until my perfection I will continue to ask for forgiveness and walk in my faith with hope.

  

  

July 2020

Five Year Recap

If you have ever read my blog, you know I am a creature of reflection. 

However, setting a Five Year Goal in 2015 was not part of my life system and now I am really thankful that I didn't take the time.

In 2015 my July blog post was being written in a Starbucks in Redding. My life as it was would be changing radically as my 28 year marriage was ending and my son and I would be moving to Redding in August. As always, self-care was the theme. Ian was in EMT classes and I was driving him the 25 miles from Cottonwood to Redding for class while I worked the summer for the YMCA camps. 

In 2016 I was working 40 hour weeks for YMCA camps. Abbie was having my first Grandchild in August and my skin was tired of sun. I sewed and crafted all my free hours. I had worked so hard the past year to live in a nice apartment. I was tired and lonely.

In 2017 we lost Taylor. They say that the loss of a child is the worst experience a mother can have... I don't dispute that, but watching my son loose the love of his life in a medical procedure that was going to save her life...well that was the hardest experience I have every had to endure. My mother died 30 years before Taylor and I did not feel as helpless as I did on July 4th 2017. 

In 2018 I embraced my artwork.  An eclectic collection of the journey I had been on for the past 59 years. I was no long with YMCA and had been enjoying a year at Pier 1 Imports for my second job. 

My heart was releasing pain, heart ache, joy and hopefulness in all kinds of art. Even at Pier One I got to express my talents.

Last July I had just finished my last book review. In the past decade I have reviewed a dozen  newly released books for authors in the women's self discovery genre. The Middle Matters by Lisa-Jo Baker was the last book I reviewed. At the beginning of June I had gone to San Francisco for one of my niece's wedding. Then at the end of June Abbie and I had gone to the coast with her girls for Johanna's baby shower. I was in the middle of changing my name back to my maiden name and getting all the Real ID so that I could travel this year. I even got my passport. Pier 1 was still my main summer job and I looked forward to the school year at my new site which I had transferred to in March.

Enter 2020

We just did not see it coming. Six month into 2020 and I still can't believe how my world is different than past years. For most of my life I worked full time and until my sister, Elaine, took me on a vacation a few years ago up the Oregon Coast I had never gone on a vacation. Last year I vacationed vicariously through my friends. They traveled the world and I house sat for them. Then I got my passport and considered using it this fall.

Enter COVID-19 Quarantine. Nearly three months of this year I spent in my apartment with my cat. 

Molly inspection her grass

My daily view in The Nest

Once Pier 1 was able to open in early June, we had a "Going Out of Business" sign on the front of the store. My second job has become, my summer job. In about three months we will close the doors for good.

Still an Optimist

Dawning my Face Shield

Social Distancing

I did sneak over to the coast to see my Grand-baby boy last weekend.

His bid says: Of Course I'm Cute! Haven't you seen my Mommy?

Grammie loves this Gig

And down in the Valley:

Ellie talking to Molly on Facebook Chat

4th of July Photo shoot

I'm so glad I snagged this off the clearance rack from Pier 1 last year

My landlady of 2015 was correct. I do have a great view of the fireworks from my balcony. Redding closed off the Civic Center where normally thousands of people would celebrate the 4th of July before settling in to watch the Fireworks. In 2015 Ian and I went down to watch. In 2016 we watched them off my balcony together. 2017, he was with friends who helped him through the worst day of his life. 2018 we had no fireworks until October,because Redding was on fire. 2019 I walked over to Hilltop Drive to watch with the crowd that had parked along the road. This year I just stayed in The Nest. After working at Pier One I rested my feet until dark. We are thankful that Redding still chose to have Fireworks this year. 

In these uncertain times, I have a lot to be grateful for: my health, my home, Molly, my family, financial stability, a great church family and my school that plans to reopen in August. I wont be using my passport to travel, but my oldest sister and I will be having a mini vacation when her youngest gets married in August. I also get to see all the grand-babies that weekend for a joint birthday party.

Three months of Staycation/Shelter in Place helped me accept my own skin. Molly and I have a routine. My main goal is to be the healthiest and most balanced as an adult to help my colleagues and students in August. We aren't out of the woods...but God is on the throne of Heaven and HE cares for me.

Inspiration Water Bottle, Who thought this up?

My best Fireworks shots

🦋