And Then...

                                                                                                                             March 23, 2026

Dear Friends,                                                                                                                 

My husband passed away yesterday, March 22, 2026, at 7:09 officially, but it was really about 7:00 pm.  It was unexpected and while the weekend behind is still fresh in my mind, I am writing this post.  It will stand alone for the final post of March and then I will go on with life as per usual, because that is what I need to do, what he would want me to do.  But life will be forever changed.  There is no denying that.

John didn't feel well Saturday.  Not well enough to go lead worship which he considered a privilege as well as a duty.  He didn't shun duty.  But he didn't feel well enough to go so he called and cancelled at the last minute which he loathed doing.  

John didn't believe in 'giving in' to being ill.  That was his approach for all of the years I knew him and it remained strong on Saturday.  But very quietly Saturday evening he asked me if I'd take him to the hospital.  "I think it's going to be a long night, and I might as well be there."

Daylight Savings and Other False Springs

 

March 1:  It's not spring by any means but this morning when we went outdoors the birds were fairly screeching their heads off in busy homemaking joy.  It made me smile to hear them.  I'd watched an especially eager bird begin the nest last week in the Faith tree.  He even caught Isaac's attention.  "What is that bird doing?"  

I looked at the weather app once we'd settled in the car.  Sure enough, the day and nighttime temperatures are far more in keeping with spring than with the last three weeks of winter.

Along with the warming weather, comes my impatience with the last of winter.  I want to plant flowers, and dress in lighter things and see a flush of green.  I'm completely unreasonable, because if I don't dress in layers I'll either burn up or freeze.  About the only flowers I'm going to see are the bouquets I'll buy.

The Rest of February Going by Fast

 

February 17:  All that smoke that hung in the air on Friday afternoon and Saturday, was washed away on Sunday with heavy rains.  No complaints from us.  The smoky smell was still in our house ductwork and every time the heat came on it smelled like woodsmoke.  John was experiencing some dizziness, so we stayed home from church.  Later, I turned my head to speak to him and felt the world spin.  I think now it might have been allergies, but we thought we'd picked up a virus.

Not that I complained over staying home.  As I said, the rain was heavy and it was nice to be home out of the weather, but it did rather spoil my plans for the week ahead, because I'd meant to go grocery shopping after church.

February Follies and Fun

 

Sunday, February 1:  What a cold and blustery day it was on Saturday.  The kids came in half frozen from their fast run across the field to my house.

I'd planned a Waffle lunch.  I'd told the kids I was having a waffle lunch. I told Sam on Friday I was making a waffle lunch when he asked if it would mess up my plans if he took Isaac for a haircut on Saturday morning.  

When Millie came in the door about lunchtime yesterday, she had a full-sized family pack of chips and a bottled drink.  She proceeded to open the chips and I said, "Whoa...Hold on.  I'm making lunch right now."  "Dad said I could have them."  "But we're about to have lunch...."  "But I want my chips!"  "Then wait and have them with lunch."  "I don't want them with lunch.  I want them now.  Dad said..."  And then the boys came in with the same, a full-sized bag of chips and a soda each.  And then Isaac said, "Dad took me to Waffle House for breakfast."

January from Middle to End

 

January 16:  While I'm not much of one for perfection, I am one to want to do things nicely, even if I am just learning.  On Thursday, I'd played about with a new junk journal, as a practice piece.  It was incredibly sloppy.  It bothered me no end that it looked so messy even if it was meant for practice.  I realized that some things I need to analyze and if I'm not just being perfectionistic, give myself permission to start over, make it nicer...If only to know how I could do better.  

So, this afternoon, I tore down the original work I did and went back through, refining what I'd done, straightening lines, thinking carefully about what I wanted to accomplish with it.   In the end, I have nice, neat pages.  No decorations of any kind but the pages are nicer.  Now I can begin again, perhaps with more inspiration.

January Journal: The First Half of the Month

January 1:  We are not party people.  We don't purposely stay up on New Year's Eve to see the old year out and the new one in except by accident.   This year wasn't one of those rare events.  I went to bed at 10 p.m. with plans to watch a couple of videos while relaxing in bed.  John came in right behind, crawled into bed and barely got prayers said before falling asleep.  No good night kiss for me...and at midnight when the clock ticked over, I when I woke, I said to the room, "Happy New Year."  Then I put down my phone and went right to sleep.

I woke in a fabulous mood this morning.  That didn't last.  When I came out, I said cheerily "GoodMorningHappyNewYearILoveYouthereI'mthefirsttosayit".  John went "Mmmm." I should have taken my hint right then.  

What put him in such a grim mood?  The same blame thing that makes him grim at least once a month: he went to review our bank account and didn't like the balance.  The same balance we have every month when payday is still two weeks away and I've already told him twice, "No more spending!"   

Coffee Chat: All About December 2025

 

Well, I promised I'd return in January, so here I am.  I thought I'd share with you what December was like in our home. Thrift, splurge, family and all.  I'm going to recount a bit of November because Thanksgiving is the start of the Christmas season for me.

Thanksgiving week and weekend:  Katie made dinner the day before Thanksgiving and invited the whole family.  Sam didn't go.  I picked up his kids and took them with us.  JD and his kids came. 

Katie did an excellent job. She served 20 folks (including kids) and it was all lovely and delicious.