Monday, April 30, 2007
Thursday, April 26, 2007
Psychos and fear....
I've been lurking on your blogs to avoid posting any negative posts here. Recovering from a nasty bit of bronchitis as well.
My new neighbor is scaring me. I'm unable at this time to love him as Jesus would have me love him. He raged, insulted, and bullied and frightened me into hacking my tree straight up his property line--up some 40+ feet. This all started because stupid me offered to take the lower branches over his property while having the rest of my trees trimmed. No good deed goes unpunished, as they say. Legally, I have to get permission to remove anything over his property because those branches were his property...and not my responsibility. We agreed on the lower ones, but when the time came he became wildly unreasonable. The tree trimmers were aghast, and said they'd never seen anything like this. They did an admirable job, didn't charge me for the extra work, and then fed my tree in front for free. They told me my trees were beautiful, healthy, and it pained them to hack the one back. The norm is to go 12-15 feet up.
He scares me. I know I'm supposed to fear nothing in Christ Jesus, but this happened during the VT tragedy...and when someone is screaming at you on the phone, it sort of takes the joy of life out of you....and you wonder what HE is capable of. Everyone is telling me to not give this guy "power" over me, but they didn't have to deal with him. I never resorted to insulting, yelling at him...I stayed calm (praying all the time for calm) and he tells me he's sick of my condescending attitude.
I realized that I now get anxious instead of happy when heading home. I don't want to go outside. I can't go out in the back now if it's a sunny day because there is no shade (lupus) and I have to avoid direct sunlight. All of my plants are shade plants back there. In the 22 years we've lived here, I've never encountered anyone like this. We've had some neighbors that have caused us many problems....dogs barking at our bedroom window, we've had to fix fences and AC units because of their stuff...but that's that, and we've always let it go.
If this is a test, I'm failing miserably.
My new neighbor is scaring me. I'm unable at this time to love him as Jesus would have me love him. He raged, insulted, and bullied and frightened me into hacking my tree straight up his property line--up some 40+ feet. This all started because stupid me offered to take the lower branches over his property while having the rest of my trees trimmed. No good deed goes unpunished, as they say. Legally, I have to get permission to remove anything over his property because those branches were his property...and not my responsibility. We agreed on the lower ones, but when the time came he became wildly unreasonable. The tree trimmers were aghast, and said they'd never seen anything like this. They did an admirable job, didn't charge me for the extra work, and then fed my tree in front for free. They told me my trees were beautiful, healthy, and it pained them to hack the one back. The norm is to go 12-15 feet up.
He scares me. I know I'm supposed to fear nothing in Christ Jesus, but this happened during the VT tragedy...and when someone is screaming at you on the phone, it sort of takes the joy of life out of you....and you wonder what HE is capable of. Everyone is telling me to not give this guy "power" over me, but they didn't have to deal with him. I never resorted to insulting, yelling at him...I stayed calm (praying all the time for calm) and he tells me he's sick of my condescending attitude.
I realized that I now get anxious instead of happy when heading home. I don't want to go outside. I can't go out in the back now if it's a sunny day because there is no shade (lupus) and I have to avoid direct sunlight. All of my plants are shade plants back there. In the 22 years we've lived here, I've never encountered anyone like this. We've had some neighbors that have caused us many problems....dogs barking at our bedroom window, we've had to fix fences and AC units because of their stuff...but that's that, and we've always let it go.
If this is a test, I'm failing miserably.
Sunday, April 22, 2007
Wednesday, April 18, 2007
Still love this...
Note: This is from Fiddler on the Roof (1971) and this is pretty much the end of the fun, as I remember!!
Saw this the other morning, and that dust kickin' still gives me the goosebumps....
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Besides this earth.....
"Besides this earth, and besides the race of men, there is an invisible world and a kingdom of spirits: that world is 'round us, for it is everywhere; and those spirits watch us, for they are commissioned to guard us; and if we were dying in pain and shame, if scorn smote us on all sides, and hatred crushed us, angels see our tortures, recognise our innocence (if innocent we be: .......), and God waits only the separation of spirit from flesh to crown us with a full reward. Why, then, should we ever sink overwhelmed with distress, when life is so soon over, and death is so certain an entrance to happiness-- to glory?"
...from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
My Mom-in-law passed away last Wednesday; we had a memorial service for her yesterday. We're kind of tired and worn out. She was my other mother; sweet and loving. Thankfully, we got lots of time with her. My sisters-in-law are not like us. They looked so puzzled when I would come over and climb onto the bed with Dena and hold her and tell her why I loved her. Dena certainly had no problem with it. My husband's sisters are more concerned with appearances....is the house completely clean and together? Is everything everywhere FOLDED?? ;-)
Then, we came home to a neighbor grousing about a tree branch overhanging his yard, sniping at me because I had asked him if he wanted it removed a few weeks ago. That project unfortunately stalled with Dena's hospitalization, re-hospitalization and death. Legally, he has always had the right to remove the branch from his property line....and I'm not responsible for it, nor liable for any debris, etc., from a healthy tree. I was planning on having it removed as a neighborly thing...and at our expense. He really didn't give a damn that we'd had a rough month. He just cared about his pool. I let all of that drench me with more guilt....my house needs a good cleaning; I'm behind in my work because of my MIL, the big mural and a hanging-on case of bronchitis; our yard needs work, etc. I'm trying not to get down about it all. Oh. Too late.
But then, this morning, a friend sent me this quote from Jane Eyre. She had just picked up the book and read it again this last week. This passage jumped out at her. I'd never really paid attention to it til now...and I know she sent it because it was for the both of us at this time. It's wonderful. Maybe it's for you, too, as well. Thank you all for your sweet prayers and comments! :-)
...from Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
My Mom-in-law passed away last Wednesday; we had a memorial service for her yesterday. We're kind of tired and worn out. She was my other mother; sweet and loving. Thankfully, we got lots of time with her. My sisters-in-law are not like us. They looked so puzzled when I would come over and climb onto the bed with Dena and hold her and tell her why I loved her. Dena certainly had no problem with it. My husband's sisters are more concerned with appearances....is the house completely clean and together? Is everything everywhere FOLDED?? ;-)
Then, we came home to a neighbor grousing about a tree branch overhanging his yard, sniping at me because I had asked him if he wanted it removed a few weeks ago. That project unfortunately stalled with Dena's hospitalization, re-hospitalization and death. Legally, he has always had the right to remove the branch from his property line....and I'm not responsible for it, nor liable for any debris, etc., from a healthy tree. I was planning on having it removed as a neighborly thing...and at our expense. He really didn't give a damn that we'd had a rough month. He just cared about his pool. I let all of that drench me with more guilt....my house needs a good cleaning; I'm behind in my work because of my MIL, the big mural and a hanging-on case of bronchitis; our yard needs work, etc. I'm trying not to get down about it all. Oh. Too late.
But then, this morning, a friend sent me this quote from Jane Eyre. She had just picked up the book and read it again this last week. This passage jumped out at her. I'd never really paid attention to it til now...and I know she sent it because it was for the both of us at this time. It's wonderful. Maybe it's for you, too, as well. Thank you all for your sweet prayers and comments! :-)
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Blog break...not by choice!
I shall return....
My mother-in-law, whom I adore, has been in and out of the hospital 3 times in as many weeks. We finally got her home, and she was pretty perky, but suddenly took a turn for the worst yesterday. I've suspected that she has been "shutting down" and hospice came out and pretty much confirmed that. It's been one year since my husband's dad passed away. She has been a tough fighter, breast cancer survivor (they did a mastectomy 10 years ago and sent her home the same day; she refused chemo and radiation and has had no return of any cancer), she has broken a hip and come through, she has COPD and is on oxygen 24/7 and breathing treatments (long time smoker who stopped with all the inlaws with the birth of our kids), has lived on a really bad diet for years. Youngest of ten kids, all of whom lived long lives well into 80's and 90's. She and a sister remain. Katherine Hepburn lookalike, tall, slender, spry, and almost 83 years old.
I think she's just tired and ready to move on.
My mother-in-law, whom I adore, has been in and out of the hospital 3 times in as many weeks. We finally got her home, and she was pretty perky, but suddenly took a turn for the worst yesterday. I've suspected that she has been "shutting down" and hospice came out and pretty much confirmed that. It's been one year since my husband's dad passed away. She has been a tough fighter, breast cancer survivor (they did a mastectomy 10 years ago and sent her home the same day; she refused chemo and radiation and has had no return of any cancer), she has broken a hip and come through, she has COPD and is on oxygen 24/7 and breathing treatments (long time smoker who stopped with all the inlaws with the birth of our kids), has lived on a really bad diet for years. Youngest of ten kids, all of whom lived long lives well into 80's and 90's. She and a sister remain. Katherine Hepburn lookalike, tall, slender, spry, and almost 83 years old.
I think she's just tired and ready to move on.
Wednesday, April 04, 2007
Thinking blogs....
Kansas Bob awarded me the "Thinking Blog" award....I'm honored! I'm not doing this the way I'm supposed to, but I will list a few blogs that get me thinking....I'm trying to get the ones that haven't already been picked in our lil' circle. You ALL make me think!! I love it.
Here are 5 that make my head spin for one reason or another:
Chris Ledgerwood --transparency, honesty, mucho talent
SocietyVS --complete honesty with his faith and struggles with Christians
Larry's Last Exit Before Oblivion --pure, brutal, transparency and faith
Becky's In the Quiet --again, a transparent and honest approach to our walk
Don R --poses great questions and honesty
A common thread here...transparency and honesty...but I could say that about all of yours! Paige, Pearlie, Missy, Milly, Milette, Barbara, Kevin, Judy, Joe, Michael, Matt, Mark, Brian, Dave, Helen, Bob, Trace, Bruce (s), Christine, Lori, ....geez, who have I missed??
Here are 5 that make my head spin for one reason or another:
Chris Ledgerwood --transparency, honesty, mucho talent
SocietyVS --complete honesty with his faith and struggles with Christians
Larry's Last Exit Before Oblivion --pure, brutal, transparency and faith
Becky's In the Quiet --again, a transparent and honest approach to our walk
Don R --poses great questions and honesty
A common thread here...transparency and honesty...but I could say that about all of yours! Paige, Pearlie, Missy, Milly, Milette, Barbara, Kevin, Judy, Joe, Michael, Matt, Mark, Brian, Dave, Helen, Bob, Trace, Bruce (s), Christine, Lori, ....geez, who have I missed??
Monday, April 02, 2007
Snippets...
Robert called tonight. Hearing "Hi, Mom" made me both happy and sad. He'll be leaving for Germany (so far as we know now) after his AIT. Then, 2 months later, Iraq. He has come so far and grown so much. He has had such hard luck in the past. I can't express to you, unless you've had or have a son or daughter over there, how this feels. I know KB knows. I've been disenchanted with this war for some time now, and now even more so. I love this kid--this young man. I'm so proud of him for stepping up and taking care of his wife and son. He turns 21 at the end of the month. He's thriving on the routine and discipline. He thanked me again tonight for making him write "I will not defy authority" 500 times after a particular incident at school when he was 15 (started out at 100 times but his mouth got him in trouble). He sees when to rebel and when not to rebel. He gets it.
Had Michael Sunday morning for a few hours. I needed a "baby fix" after the week. Gracie decided to hunker down with him for a snooze. He has 2 speeds: fast forward and stop!
Here is my teenager, caught in an Uncle moment. He thinks babies are hilarious.
A friend gave me this mug a few years ago. It says, "Coffee Break with God" on one side; "Lord, I know that no matter what happens today, You and I can handle it together. Amen" on the other.
Think I'll be having coffee out of this one for a while....
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