Mon.-Did a few things today. Exercised. Went to the Dr. for tests to see if there is a reason I don't feel good and if it has to do with Thailand. Got a few groceries. Made pureed vegetable soup. Went to bed soon after six. The end. Oh! And Naomi called and she walked to the mailbox while we were talking and the package I sent her came and she loved the cards from Nantucket. That was fun.
Tues.-Slept from 7 last night until 7 this morning and then off and on all day. The end.
Wed.-Blood work negative. Was up more. Resting on chair. Watching Columbo. Talked with Mom. Dad's still in rehab.
Thurs.-Read the news on face book that Michael made the Dean's List! Congratulations! Took car to Bailey's to check brakes. Judy came and got me and I rested at her place. She served me lunch in Tom's chair. Incredible potato soup, chicken soup, and bruschetta. Then we watched Calendar Girl's which is a great girl movie only for those 50 and older. We cried. We laughed. She said that her sister Debby would lay an egg watching this and that she wishes she could get a copy for all of her friends. Susan picked me up and took me to Bailey's on her way to basketball practice. Brakes will be good until inspection. Got a few groceries. Came home. Folded wash. Michael's at school. Phil's taking Susan out for a date to Lynchburg. I'm hitting the sack soon. Oh, Erma Wenger passed away this morning. Was relieved for her and saddened for her family. I am sure she and mother are reveling with each other about the wonders of heaven's air. Both were using oxygen when they took their last breath here. Philip may be working on his house tonight. Not sure yet.
Fri.-A shout out to my Lindsay Lou. I still can't believe we missed them at Christmas. We were in Thailand and they were here and slept in our bed and were beloved by my boys and Alli and Nathan. I am still finding sweet notes in different places. What a fun thing to do for someone. Feeling a little better today. Dusted and vacuumed. Helped Susan with a toilety problem over at HV. Went to her basketball game tonight. They really won. We were all there. She played well and wisely with her sprained back. I love those girls on her team. And her coach. Coaches. Oh, I also put together Susan's report card for all four high school years. She has a 96% grade average for her five main courses. It will be even higher when I add in some extracurricular activities. Way to go Suz. Saw Nathan at the game tonight. Dear little guy was not excited about all the yelling and screaming and his little teeth need to appear so he's not in so much pain. So precious is he, I can hardly stand it. Uncle Ed was there tonight with Marv. Phil and I stopped at Tractor Supply on the way home and got chicken pellets and dog food. Phil's talking to his Dad on the phone. He's still in rehab. Hopefully, he'll get home soon.
Sat.-I like getting my cleaning done Monday through Friday-splitting up the chores a little bit here and a little bit there. Then, on Sat. morning, I can visit with my family, knitting, while Michael plays guitar and Susan makes breakfast. I also started a little drawing textbook because I want to paint. Everything in me wants to paint beautiful clouds right after dawn and right before dusk. Susan worked over at HV for a little today. Phil worked at the Lawler's and put a bid together. Michael studied. Philip worked on his house. Freeman and Alli had a visit from Justin and Elizabeth Weaver and their four children. Alli, Nathan, and I, went to Michelle's baby shower this afternoon at Calvary Chapel and I got to see some friends I miss. I ate cake. During my fast. But I need to forgive myself and move on. Someone else was there from our church and weighs half my weight and is also fasting and she didn't give in except to eat part of the scone her daughter couldn't finish. I excuse myself by saying that I want to celebrate Michelle's baby by eating cake so that's my excuse and I'm sticking with it. God isn't disappointed with me. I'm just a little disappointed in me. Mostly because I am just starting to feel better and now I put all that back in my body. Oh well, I ate enough desserts for the next two weeks so I'm good to go. Alli and Freeman may be bringing Nathan over for awhile so they can prepare for SS class. There was a bag of apples and lots of apple cider on our front porch when I got home. Thank you Ed! Susan's spending the eve. with Jenny, Claire, Molly, and Mary. They went to a Longwood basketball game, then to Uptown for a live show. We had a nice evening with Nathan- the uncles, Phil, and I.
Sun.-Great church service. Relaxing afternoon of rest, movies, and popcorn. Philip at Prayer and Praise in eve.
Monday, January 12, 2015
Monday, January 5, 2015
Hertzler Doings~Jan. 5-11, 2015
Mon.-Today is the first day that I felt alive in the U.S. And it's the 13th day. And they said to allow one day of recovery for each hour time difference and there were 13 hours difference between Va and Thailand. So I should have trusted the statistics instead of thinking I was sick with something foreign. Thought I was going to be a hermit forever. But today I met Jenny for lunch at Uptown, ran errands, visited Judy, and had dinner with Candi at La Parota. Came home and froze turkey special meat-having bought all 12 packages on sale. Heard a lot about the flu today and how the hospital is full. The New Life basketball team is selling donuts as a fund raiser right in the midst of the New Life fast. Maybe we should sell vegetable soup instead. Or salad. Happy Eleventh Birthday to Micah! He and Janelle will be home here Friday night.
Tues.-Went out to Appomattox and visited Walmart, Kroger, Lisa at Baine's, Village Print Shop to get my Nantucket photo cards, B and L, and Salvation Army. Kept Nathan for a little while in the afternoon. I love that little guy. I bought a little seat for him at Carousels yesterday and put it on top of the card table in front of the door window and he watched the birds. He drank water from a little sippy cup and ate a whole container of pears. I wanted to eat them but I fed him instead. Made potato soup and chicken vegetable soup and chicken drumsticks and we took some potato soup over to Travis M. They can put it in a blender since he's not supposed to chew for a month. Michael and Susan are watching old movies-Animated Peter Pan and then, Annie. Philip's been trapping. It's getting cold. Nearly freezing. Snowing in Pa and Culpepper.
Wed.-Today I caught up on M-W job list. Then I went to see Nathan. He was in a high mood, talking and yelling loudly and happily. He's begun his army crawl. He gets a little toy, tosses it about a foot away, and army crawls over to it. He loves to watch his mommy cook. In the evening, Phil and I went to church for family night. The rest of our family had other plans. (Susan went to Lynchburg Goodwilling with Shorty and then to the gym.) The church leaders lined the middle aisle and anointed and prayed and blessed families/individuals as they walked through. Then the leaders walked through. It was incredible. I was so happy that I hardly slept. Ran the water tonight to keep the pipes from freezing.
Thurs.-Nearly 0 degrees. Michael is cutting firewood. Guys are over at Lawlers. Phil is going to check out a job about 2 hours away with his cousin's son-D. Susan will go out this afternoon and meet her team and go for a game in Richmond. (They won again. 8-0 wins/losses now. Lady Lions Unbeaten.) Danny F. brought her home after midnight. Guys game afterwards. Janelle and Micah are flying home. Will get here tomorrow eve. She's hoping the snow in NY doesn't cause a delay. Guys went over to Bethany's for a little get together for her while she's home from the ministry in Georgia.
Fri.-So tired today. Perhaps I shouldn't have eaten that bag of chocolate yesterday. I knew it would be a temptation during the fast coming up so I eliminated the temptation. Why do I do things like that? Did wash, looked up some stuff on-line-(Hoagies/Gifted Information)-a lady who teaches the gifted sat next to Phil on a flight and she gave him the hoagie website, exercised and watched a Columbo with Susan before heading out to get her car at Bailey's. It let her sit on her way to New Life yesterday. It needed a new radiator, etc. She then went to basketball practice while I went to the PO to send some packages, stopped in at Carousel-the new and great thrift store in Farmville-went to Judy's and snuggled with Logan because he was so snuggly after his nap. Tom and Sammy Jo both got home while I was there. Had some more chocolate to help Judy get rid of her temptation. Went to Walmart and bought fruit and vegetables. Came home. Got in the tub and talked with Lindsay for awhile. Always so good to talk with someone from our side of the family. Susan got her warm up suit today. Her initials are embroidered on the suit and she looks sharp in navy blue. She seems to have a cold. Philip, Michael, and Jordan, headed to Pa for Eric Weaver's wedding tomorrow afternoon. Jordan is going to stay and visit with Travis while the guys are with family. They left around 5:30 and should be there by midnight. I think they're staying with Aunt Karen, bless her heart, and are hoping to have breakfast with Grandma tomorrow morning. I talked with Phil's dad Wed. night. He was still in the hospital but he sounded wonderful and I've stopped being so weepy about him. He's going for some physical therapy and then will be home. Thank God. It was in the 40's today. Felt like I could get a tan compared to the frostbite I could have gotten yesterday.
Sat.-Guys are in Pa for Eric's outdoor wedding. Lots of bonfires all around. They went to see Grandpa H. at rehab. Susan is fighting a cold. She went to the gym to work it off and then later to Noel's birthday party. I made Philip's camouflage fleece blanket, vacuumed and washed the floors, and wrapped myself in a blanket and sat in a chair out in the sun. I think I am ready to go to the doctor next week and whip whatever smuggled themselves back within me from Thailand. Phil and I drove to a mile up the road to babysit Nathan while his parents went out to eat. We watched a high action movie and Phil worked his charm on Nathan and he was happy in his arms as he danced about during any movie music. He is just adorable. There is nobody like him. Nobody eats sweet potatoes and applesauce like him. Nobody looks at my face like he does. Nobody says, "Numnumnum" while he eats like he does. Nobody smiles at his mommy and daddy like he does. Nobody throws his toys with the quickness and strength that he does. There is nobody like him and I am in love.
Sun.-Rode with Alli and Freeman to church this morning. Nathan fell asleep on the way and he was all cuddly with me during the SS hour. His parents are teaching a class from the book 'Anonymous,' and Philip and I will be watching the little guy. Church was great. We redboxed some movies and both were really strange. The first one was 'Transcendence' and the second one was 'Noah.' I kept thinking that Noah couldn't get any worse but it did. The guys got home from Pa. They had a nice time at Eric's wedding.
Tues.-Went out to Appomattox and visited Walmart, Kroger, Lisa at Baine's, Village Print Shop to get my Nantucket photo cards, B and L, and Salvation Army. Kept Nathan for a little while in the afternoon. I love that little guy. I bought a little seat for him at Carousels yesterday and put it on top of the card table in front of the door window and he watched the birds. He drank water from a little sippy cup and ate a whole container of pears. I wanted to eat them but I fed him instead. Made potato soup and chicken vegetable soup and chicken drumsticks and we took some potato soup over to Travis M. They can put it in a blender since he's not supposed to chew for a month. Michael and Susan are watching old movies-Animated Peter Pan and then, Annie. Philip's been trapping. It's getting cold. Nearly freezing. Snowing in Pa and Culpepper.
Wed.-Today I caught up on M-W job list. Then I went to see Nathan. He was in a high mood, talking and yelling loudly and happily. He's begun his army crawl. He gets a little toy, tosses it about a foot away, and army crawls over to it. He loves to watch his mommy cook. In the evening, Phil and I went to church for family night. The rest of our family had other plans. (Susan went to Lynchburg Goodwilling with Shorty and then to the gym.) The church leaders lined the middle aisle and anointed and prayed and blessed families/individuals as they walked through. Then the leaders walked through. It was incredible. I was so happy that I hardly slept. Ran the water tonight to keep the pipes from freezing.
Thurs.-Nearly 0 degrees. Michael is cutting firewood. Guys are over at Lawlers. Phil is going to check out a job about 2 hours away with his cousin's son-D. Susan will go out this afternoon and meet her team and go for a game in Richmond. (They won again. 8-0 wins/losses now. Lady Lions Unbeaten.) Danny F. brought her home after midnight. Guys game afterwards. Janelle and Micah are flying home. Will get here tomorrow eve. She's hoping the snow in NY doesn't cause a delay. Guys went over to Bethany's for a little get together for her while she's home from the ministry in Georgia.
Fri.-So tired today. Perhaps I shouldn't have eaten that bag of chocolate yesterday. I knew it would be a temptation during the fast coming up so I eliminated the temptation. Why do I do things like that? Did wash, looked up some stuff on-line-(Hoagies/Gifted Information)-a lady who teaches the gifted sat next to Phil on a flight and she gave him the hoagie website, exercised and watched a Columbo with Susan before heading out to get her car at Bailey's. It let her sit on her way to New Life yesterday. It needed a new radiator, etc. She then went to basketball practice while I went to the PO to send some packages, stopped in at Carousel-the new and great thrift store in Farmville-went to Judy's and snuggled with Logan because he was so snuggly after his nap. Tom and Sammy Jo both got home while I was there. Had some more chocolate to help Judy get rid of her temptation. Went to Walmart and bought fruit and vegetables. Came home. Got in the tub and talked with Lindsay for awhile. Always so good to talk with someone from our side of the family. Susan got her warm up suit today. Her initials are embroidered on the suit and she looks sharp in navy blue. She seems to have a cold. Philip, Michael, and Jordan, headed to Pa for Eric Weaver's wedding tomorrow afternoon. Jordan is going to stay and visit with Travis while the guys are with family. They left around 5:30 and should be there by midnight. I think they're staying with Aunt Karen, bless her heart, and are hoping to have breakfast with Grandma tomorrow morning. I talked with Phil's dad Wed. night. He was still in the hospital but he sounded wonderful and I've stopped being so weepy about him. He's going for some physical therapy and then will be home. Thank God. It was in the 40's today. Felt like I could get a tan compared to the frostbite I could have gotten yesterday.
Sat.-Guys are in Pa for Eric's outdoor wedding. Lots of bonfires all around. They went to see Grandpa H. at rehab. Susan is fighting a cold. She went to the gym to work it off and then later to Noel's birthday party. I made Philip's camouflage fleece blanket, vacuumed and washed the floors, and wrapped myself in a blanket and sat in a chair out in the sun. I think I am ready to go to the doctor next week and whip whatever smuggled themselves back within me from Thailand. Phil and I drove to a mile up the road to babysit Nathan while his parents went out to eat. We watched a high action movie and Phil worked his charm on Nathan and he was happy in his arms as he danced about during any movie music. He is just adorable. There is nobody like him. Nobody eats sweet potatoes and applesauce like him. Nobody looks at my face like he does. Nobody says, "Numnumnum" while he eats like he does. Nobody smiles at his mommy and daddy like he does. Nobody throws his toys with the quickness and strength that he does. There is nobody like him and I am in love.
Sun.-Rode with Alli and Freeman to church this morning. Nathan fell asleep on the way and he was all cuddly with me during the SS hour. His parents are teaching a class from the book 'Anonymous,' and Philip and I will be watching the little guy. Church was great. We redboxed some movies and both were really strange. The first one was 'Transcendence' and the second one was 'Noah.' I kept thinking that Noah couldn't get any worse but it did. The guys got home from Pa. They had a nice time at Eric's wedding.
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Nathan's Pavilion
Nathan has taken a nap on my bed for two days in a row.
I gently touch him and say in a slow soothing rhyme,
"Nose....toes. Lips...hips. Eyes...thighs.
Chin...shin. Ears...hear. Sweet...feet."
He may even be crying and as soon as I start stroking his little nose
he stops mid-wail,
and in a minute or two,
he is sound asleep in my arms.
We stay like that for awhile because there is nothing like snuggling
with your very own grandbaby.
Then, duty calls, and I gently disengage my arm from his sweaty sleeping head.
I put pillows all around, leaving plenty of space for him to breathe and roll over.
He is secure in the little pavilion I've made him;
able to look out but not able to fall off.
I leave my bedroom door open so I can hear his little call when he wakes up.
I thought about Nathan's bed nest when I read Psalms 27:5 today.
"For in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock."
A week or so ago,
I was in Thailand
visiting a group of church people
along with my husband, daughter, sister-in-law, and nephew.
We met in a pavilion, sitting in a circle on mats on the concrete floor.
I had been in this same pavilion over nine years ago.
It was under this shelter that I gave a letter of forgiveness to the man
who had killed Phil's brother in a drunk driving accident
on a Sunday morning in July.
Johnny had been riding his motorcycle to preach his first sermon in Thai
to these same believers gathered under this same shelter
who were anxiously waiting for him to show up
with a simple explanation for his tardiness.
It was under this shelter, that as I drank the communion juice
from a little glass, the YES team member next to me whispered,
"These are shot glasses from WW11."
"How do you know?" I whispered back.
"There are red swastika's etched on the bottom."
And sure enough, there were.
And it was in this pavilion that I experienced the miracle.
I felt God's love spread all through
my heart towards the man who killed Johnny.
I was afraid I would attack him; hit at him blindly.
But then, there was this miracle.
This complete surprise.
And the letter I had struggled so hard to write
was sticking white and rectangular out of his jean shirt pocket
as he later stood by the bank of the pond
watching the baptism.
This pavilion in Thailand,
and Nathan's pavilion on my bed,
and the pavilion of God,
serve as protection from the sun, the heat, the elements,
and our own propensity to wander,
but allows freedom to see all around.
Freedom to feel warmth and breezes.
Freedom to hear voices nearby and beyond.
Freedom to be the cared-for-one
in the refuge of someone stronger.
And what is this 'secret place of His tabernacle'
where He hides me?
Every place in the tabernacle is accessible to others' eyes
with the exception of the Holy of Holies, where God dwells.
He hides me in His Holy Place;
in His holiness;
in Himself.
How wonderful this place of freedom and security.
This open pavilion.
This holy secret place.
This resting nest of God.
I gently touch him and say in a slow soothing rhyme,
"Nose....toes. Lips...hips. Eyes...thighs.
Chin...shin. Ears...hear. Sweet...feet."
He may even be crying and as soon as I start stroking his little nose
he stops mid-wail,
and in a minute or two,
he is sound asleep in my arms.
We stay like that for awhile because there is nothing like snuggling
with your very own grandbaby.
Then, duty calls, and I gently disengage my arm from his sweaty sleeping head.
I put pillows all around, leaving plenty of space for him to breathe and roll over.
He is secure in the little pavilion I've made him;
able to look out but not able to fall off.
I leave my bedroom door open so I can hear his little call when he wakes up.
I thought about Nathan's bed nest when I read Psalms 27:5 today.
"For in the time of trouble
He shall hide me in His pavilion;
In the secret place of His tabernacle
He shall hide me;
He shall set me high upon a rock."
A week or so ago,
I was in Thailand
visiting a group of church people
along with my husband, daughter, sister-in-law, and nephew.
We met in a pavilion, sitting in a circle on mats on the concrete floor.
I had been in this same pavilion over nine years ago.
It was under this shelter that I gave a letter of forgiveness to the man
who had killed Phil's brother in a drunk driving accident
on a Sunday morning in July.
Johnny had been riding his motorcycle to preach his first sermon in Thai
to these same believers gathered under this same shelter
who were anxiously waiting for him to show up
with a simple explanation for his tardiness.
It was under this shelter, that as I drank the communion juice
from a little glass, the YES team member next to me whispered,
"These are shot glasses from WW11."
"How do you know?" I whispered back.
"There are red swastika's etched on the bottom."
And sure enough, there were.
And it was in this pavilion that I experienced the miracle.
I felt God's love spread all through
my heart towards the man who killed Johnny.
I was afraid I would attack him; hit at him blindly.
But then, there was this miracle.
This complete surprise.
And the letter I had struggled so hard to write
was sticking white and rectangular out of his jean shirt pocket
as he later stood by the bank of the pond
watching the baptism.
This pavilion in Thailand,
and Nathan's pavilion on my bed,
and the pavilion of God,
serve as protection from the sun, the heat, the elements,
and our own propensity to wander,
but allows freedom to see all around.
Freedom to feel warmth and breezes.
Freedom to hear voices nearby and beyond.
Freedom to be the cared-for-one
in the refuge of someone stronger.
And what is this 'secret place of His tabernacle'
where He hides me?
Every place in the tabernacle is accessible to others' eyes
with the exception of the Holy of Holies, where God dwells.
He hides me in His Holy Place;
in His holiness;
in Himself.
How wonderful this place of freedom and security.
This open pavilion.
This holy secret place.
This resting nest of God.
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