Passing Time

We were locked out of our car, waiting in the parking lot of Market Basket for the AAA dude. Took this picture to help pass the time. Or, maybe I wanted to mark the time.

We were on our way to my sister’s house, the Historian. It was a very impromptu family gathering. People changed plans and food was thrown together – hence, Market Basket.

One of the things I’d purchased at Market Basket was an apple pie. The Historian had been very sick the past two weeks, not eating much. I knew she would reject apple pie, if I offered it to her. So, I almost didn’t buy it.

Yet, something in me said, “Get it, anyway.”

So much time was passing, I almost thought we should just skip going. I had work to do. She was going to get to see the littles, and that was really what the day was about, I thought.

AAA dude showed up. Cracked our window, but we got the keys and headed to Maine.

That was the last time I would see my sister alive. I look at this picture and the silly spontaneity in it is gone for me. Now, it’s just the last picture of me on the last day I got to see her alive.

I’m so thankful for that day. So thankful everyone came together. God was so kind to us. The last thing my sisters and I did together was pray. I still don’t like God’s answer, but Psalm 116:15 is a good verse to keep in my heart:

His loved ones are very precious to Him, and He does not lightly let them die.
Psalm 116:15

While it is still hard to believe she is gone, it was six months ago this week. Time passes.

As I sat with my sister that afternoon, she said she had a taste for something. “What can I bring you? I’ll bring you anything you like.” “You know, I wish we had some apple pie. That’s what I’d like. A little piece of apple pie.”

God is good.

Companions

I have been keeping company with Sadness today.

Sadness was a frequent guest last year. When the new year brought new loss, he set-up camp. I did not invite him, but he does not leave.

Most of the time, I find his company bearable. He is not usually oppressive. Present, but only passively imposing himself. Most days, I hold my focus on Happiness, and Sadness lurks in the shadows. I can almost convince myself he isn’t even there.

Then I turn a corner just a moment too soon, and come face-to-face with my old enemy. A painful confrontation. I am suddenly reminded of all that is lost, and Happiness is unseated.

Happiness is always fleeting.

01b36825406aa7b3453c493779a5139749df00e436

Ah, but I have learned not to depend on Happiness. She is my fickle friend. Hope is my true and steady friend; always near. I take her hand and face Sadness down.

From the blog

Stay up to date with the latest from our blog.

  • Today’s Journal: 4/27/18

    Outside my window it is grey and damp. We have had some Spring showers this week, so all week long I’ve been saying to myself, “April…

  • Saturday Evening Post: 4/21/18

    Saturday Evening Post: 4/21/18

    Day started well: slept late. Did the usual morning stuff; started coffee. Let the Saxophone Player know I’d be in the spare room, working on…

  • Trust Him Now

    Trust Him Now

    Suffering serves a purpose. It is not for us to predict or understand that purpose in the midst of our pain, but to learn to…

  • 10 Very Good Reasons to Shower Her with Flowers

    10 Very Good Reasons to Shower Her with Flowers

    The new Bride observed the beautiful flowers the Saxophone Player brought me at Christmastime. “Tell my husband to buy me flowers, too,” she said. I…

  • The Mystery of the Rapture

    Do you believe in the Rapture? If you do, it might surprise you to learn that many Christians do not. And, an increasing number of Believers who do believe in the Rapture do not believe in a Pre-Tribulation (or, pre-wrath) Rapture. There is also a whole category of Christians who just can’t decide what they…

  • 10 Fast Facts about Faith

    Faith is not reasonable. Hebrews 11 Faith is a gift of God. Romans 12:3 Faith should grow. 2 Thessalonians 1:3 | Romans 4:20 Faith can die. James 2:17 Faith is precious. 1 Peter 1:7 Faith protects us. Ephesians 6:16 Faith must be guarded. 2 Timothy 4:7 Faith is defeated by Fear. Mark 4:35-41 Faith and…

  • TBT: The Question That Changed My Life

    It’s Throwback Thursday, so I am sharing a post from April 4, 2016. It is about a question I was asked at a critical time in my life in April 2001. It literally did change my life. It was the beginning of the end of me. Click here to read  “Self-Examinations Are Always Graded On…

Blog

Welcome to a world of limitless possibilities, where the journey is as exhilarating as the destination, and where every moment is an opportunity to make your mark on the canvas of existence. The only limit is the extent of your imagination.

  • Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies That Taste Like REAL Cookies!

    Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies That Taste Like REAL Cookies!

    Eureka! The Saxophone Player doesn’t like many sweets, but he loves chocolate chip cookies. Tonight, I have found the best gluten free, chocolate chip cookie recipe, yet.  They taste like real cookies with that wonderful “chew” of gluten, but without the awful side effects. The recipe was inspired by a recipe from this terrific recipe…

  • What Else Matters, Really?

    What Else Matters, Really?

    This song just started playing, and it hit me deep in my spirit. Does that ever happen to you? Music is so visceral, but some music is anointed. I believe this is one of the latter, because I hardly know this song, yet as it began to play I had to stop my work to…

  • “A Woman of No Importance”

    A video recommendation for you. This is such fine acting and story telling. It is a monologue, told over a period of months. The piece was written by Alan Bennett, from a series called “Talking Heads.” It is performed by Patricia Routledge—known best in America for the role of Hyacinth in “Keeping Up Appearances” on PBS.…

  • 7 Questions to Ask Your Church

    While children’s safety from sexual predators in church is always on the forefront of my mind, having a grandchild has made this issue very personal for me once again. So, I thought I would remind us all of some very important questions. This is a revised version of an article I wrote about two years…

  • The Notorious Blue Sleeper

    Going through mementos last Autumn, I found something that made me laugh. It is my list of things to pack for the hospital for my delivery. However, if you will notice, there isn’t even one thing on that list for the highly-anticipated baby!  That made me laugh. I guess it explains how my little girl…

Blog

Welcome to a world of limitless possibilities, where the journey is as exhilarating as the destination, and where every moment is an opportunity to make your mark on the canvas of existence. The only limit is the extent of your imagination.

Latest episodes

Our latest, ready for you to listen

  • The Mystery of the Rapture

    Do you believe in the Rapture? If you do, it might surprise you to learn that many Christians do not. And, an increasing number of Believers who do believe in the Rapture do not believe in a Pre-Tribulation (or, pre-wrath) Rapture. There is also a whole category of Christians who just can’t decide what they…

  • 10 Fast Facts about Faith

    Faith is not reasonable. Hebrews 11 Faith is a gift of God. Romans 12:3 Faith should grow. 2 Thessalonians 1:3 | Romans 4:20 Faith can die. James 2:17 Faith is precious. 1 Peter 1:7 Faith protects us. Ephesians 6:16 Faith must be guarded. 2 Timothy 4:7 Faith is defeated by Fear. Mark 4:35-41 Faith and…

  • TBT: The Question That Changed My Life

    It’s Throwback Thursday, so I am sharing a post from April 4, 2016. It is about a question I was asked at a critical time in my life in April 2001. It literally did change my life. It was the beginning of the end of me. Click here to read  “Self-Examinations Are Always Graded On…

Blog

Welcome to a world of limitless possibilities, where the journey is as exhilarating as the destination, and where every moment is an opportunity to make your mark on the canvas of existence. The only limit is the extent of your imagination.

Blog

Welcome to a world of limitless possibilities, where the journey is as exhilarating as the destination, and where every moment is an opportunity to make your mark on the canvas of existence. The only limit is the extent of your imagination.

  • Is Your Tinsel in a Tangle?

    A bit of Mary’s wisdom from my refrigerator for us all today. (By the way, I only just remembered to update my calendar today!) Pretty good advice, right? I don’t know about you, but here in New England it’s unseasonably warm—not a flake of a white Christmas to be found in our 70 degree weather.…

  • For This Child I Prayed

    Riding home on the train the day I learned I was expecting, I began to pray for my baby’s future spouse. That first day I had no idea if I was praying for a husband or a wife, but I knew God knew, and I wanted to be sure I didn’t miss a single opportunity…

  • In Praise of Coconut Oil

    Over the summer, I developed a case of eczema (contact dermatitis?) on my hands. It was not improving, no matter what I did. Instead, I was getting a taste—a small taste, but a bitter taste nonetheless—of what the Saxophone Player has lived with his entire of life. My hands were always in pain. Water made…

  • A Love Story, So Far

    “I have for the first time found what I can truly love–I have found you.” Charlotte Bronte Our daughter has written about her new relationship, and I wanted to share her posts with you. She has a lovely writing style, so I think you will enjoy reading her love story (well, her love story, so…

  • Sometimes, A Mess Is Joan of Arc

    You were twelve, and you were very serious. Over the years, I realized the reason for your decision was more unction of the Holy Spirit than you understood at the time. Your passion for purity wasn’t a passing fad or a piece of jewelry. Others took those vows alongside of you, but so many left…

  • (Leach) Field of Dreams

    Well, this week our landlord delivered the sad news that the yard is a leach field, and therefore not suited for growing edibles.  Not such happy news, but we are not giving up our garden dreams. I’ve planted in containers the past two years, and we can do it again. Except, this year will be…

Subscribe

Enter your email below to receive updates.

  • Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies That Taste Like REAL Cookies!

    Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies That Taste Like REAL Cookies!

    Eureka! The Saxophone Player doesn’t like many sweets, but he loves chocolate chip cookies. Tonight, I have found the best gluten free, chocolate chip cookie recipe, yet.  They taste like real cookies with that wonderful “chew” of gluten, but without the awful side effects. The recipe was inspired by a recipe from this terrific recipe…

  • What Else Matters, Really?

    What Else Matters, Really?

    This song just started playing, and it hit me deep in my spirit. Does that ever happen to you? Music is so visceral, but some music is anointed. I believe this is one of the latter, because I hardly know this song, yet as it began to play I had to stop my work to…

  • “A Woman of No Importance”

    A video recommendation for you. This is such fine acting and story telling. It is a monologue, told over a period of months. The piece was written by Alan Bennett, from a series called “Talking Heads.” It is performed by Patricia Routledge—known best in America for the role of Hyacinth in “Keeping Up Appearances” on PBS.…

  • 7 Questions to Ask Your Church

    While children’s safety from sexual predators in church is always on the forefront of my mind, having a grandchild has made this issue very personal for me once again. So, I thought I would remind us all of some very important questions. This is a revised version of an article I wrote about two years…

  • The Notorious Blue Sleeper

    Going through mementos last Autumn, I found something that made me laugh. It is my list of things to pack for the hospital for my delivery. However, if you will notice, there isn’t even one thing on that list for the highly-anticipated baby!  That made me laugh. I guess it explains how my little girl…

  • Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies That Taste Like REAL Cookies!

    Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Cookies That Taste Like REAL Cookies!

    Eureka! The Saxophone Player doesn’t like many sweets, but he loves chocolate chip cookies. Tonight, I have found the best gluten free, chocolate chip cookie recipe, yet.  They taste like real cookies with that wonderful “chew” of gluten, but without the awful side effects. The recipe was inspired by a recipe from this terrific recipe…

  • What Else Matters, Really?

    What Else Matters, Really?

    This song just started playing, and it hit me deep in my spirit. Does that ever happen to you? Music is so visceral, but some music is anointed. I believe this is one of the latter, because I hardly know this song, yet as it began to play I had to stop my work to…

  • “A Woman of No Importance”

    A video recommendation for you. This is such fine acting and story telling. It is a monologue, told over a period of months. The piece was written by Alan Bennett, from a series called “Talking Heads.” It is performed by Patricia Routledge—known best in America for the role of Hyacinth in “Keeping Up Appearances” on PBS.…

  • 7 Questions to Ask Your Church

    While children’s safety from sexual predators in church is always on the forefront of my mind, having a grandchild has made this issue very personal for me once again. So, I thought I would remind us all of some very important questions. This is a revised version of an article I wrote about two years…

  • The Notorious Blue Sleeper

    Going through mementos last Autumn, I found something that made me laugh. It is my list of things to pack for the hospital for my delivery. However, if you will notice, there isn’t even one thing on that list for the highly-anticipated baby!  That made me laugh. I guess it explains how my little girl…