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.