iona's blog 10/16 - 10/22/2005

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Sunday, October 16, 2005

Home again, Home Again, Jiggedy Jig
It was especially good to be back in church and Sunday School today. Having missed the past two weeks for two weddings and a funeral, I was homesick and hungry. It's a blessing to have such a wonderful church home and family. I was welcomed back and spiritually fed this morning... I was home again!

But now it's time to pack the car again. Tomorrow, I take my niece Donna for her two day treatment cycle at Stanford. It always blesses me to do that... but I am about traveled out, and hope to go no where after I get back home Tuesday night.

I am supposed to be writing a book. No, not my life story, although I have made several starts at that in the past, this one is a book for traumatic brain injury (TBI) survivors, their families, caregivers and therapists. My doctors and therapists have strongly urged me to do this and after considerable prayer, I have committed to doing it.

Of course, to undertake writing a book, one must stay in one place long enough to work consistently at the project.... and if the author is brain injured, the need for routine is tripled at least!

I will work on the book outline over the next two days on my Stanford trip. I have a fair idea of sequence already but it needs to be put on paper and beefed out so as I write, I can stay focused.

But for now I have a kitchen to clean, a car to pack and some sleep to catch up on.

Monday, October 17, 2005

Dateline: Palo Alto, CA
It is a pleasant evening. Donna's treatment went well. I cat-napped through a lot of it between bits and snatches of the food channel. Paula Dean made macho nachos, I dozed some more. Rachel Ray whipped out a 30-minute meal, I snoozed for 10 of those minutes.

We came to our motel and heated the food I had cooked yesterday... chicken and leeks cooked in white wine and cream, risotto and sugar snap peas. Not to worry, the alcohol all cooks away and leaves a great delicate flavor backdrop for the chicken, leeks and spring onions... See, I told you I was learning to cook. Now, I can even write like a cook!

We are staying at the Sky Ranch Motel with free internet! Ah, the wonders of modern technology. The longer I own this new laptop, the more thankful I am for it. Here I am writing my blog and able to do some other cyber-housekeeping even though I am far from home.

I can even play checkers or Gin with my honey over the internet and chat with him at the same time... We each have memberships at http://pogo.com they also have free games, but we like all the member games and the fact that they are cheaper than buying computer games. Even at home we play against each other online. He beats me at checkers, but I am better at Gin.

Tomorrow, Donna will have her second treatment and we will head back home. We repeat the cycle every two weeks and throughout that time pray for healing... and know that God is hearing and answering those prayers.

Tuesday, October 18, 2005

Late Getting Home
We left Palo Alto later today because they had to re-start Donna's treatment after it had proceeded for some time. Then on the way home, I missed the turnoff for highway 84. Neither of us realized this right away but when we did I pulled over onto the shoulder to check the map. We hadn't been there more than a minute or two when a van pulled up behind us.

I watched in my mirror as the uniformed highway assistance worker walked up to the car. We had already found ourselves on the map and decided on an alternate route, but I didn't want to just drive away from one who had stopped to help. He soon bid us a cheery farewell and we were on our way, sort of...

Traveling in the bay area during "rush hour" is not really traveling at all. We had lots of time to look at the folks in other cars around us. I always think of Eva when I do that. She doesn't like people looking into her car. I can understand that... people don't like it if other look into the windows of their homes.

Well, I love people; I love to look at folks and pray for them. I love catching their eye and flashing a big smile at them... and it's true I can see that not all of them are having as much fun with that as I am. But it's also true that many of them smile back, some look surprised, then smile. Sometimes, when traffic is just plain stopped, I roll down my window and visit with my freeway neighbors.

Time for sleep... I had a bad headache last night and am really exhausted. Richard has done laundry. "The things on top of the dresser are yours," I hear him drone from far away as I drift into the soft darkness of slumber.

Wednesday, October 19, 2005

Folded Panties
I obviously added the last few words of yesterday's blog this morning. I did that because they had significance to my discovery on top of the dresser. But first a bit of history.

I'm a pretty good detective. When I get back from being away a few days, one quick look at the kitchen tells me what he ate. I usually leave food for his dinners, but he's on his own for everything else. There were six knives in the sink, four with peanut butter on them, a teaspoon, a fork and an ice cream scoop; the mini George Foreman grill was on the counter. He had eaten the food I left, and (from the evidence) a cheeseburger, four peanut butter sandwiches, two of them on bagels (two bagels were gone from the bag) and a bowl of ice cream... the bowl was on the coffee table. He had read the handwritten Love Note I left by the coffee pot. It said, among other things, "Thanks for taking such good care of me."

I can usually tell how he spent his time, too, and one of the things he did this trip was the laundry. Richard began doing our laundry shortly after the accident. I am doing most of it by now, but laundry has been difficult for me since my injury. I forget it needs doing, for one. I have a ton of clothes, I could probably go a month or two and not run out. Richard has lots of some clothes but not that many uniforms for his bus driving job, so he runs out every week. I need to put laundry in my planner.... and I need to USE that puppy! (I am not always good about using my planner).

Another problem is that laundry, believe it or not, has lots of steps and is done with time intervals between the steps. Plenty of places for the brain injured person to mess up! I've done loads of water with no clothes, or with clothes and no soap... I have left loads in the washer for a week, you name it, I've goofed it up. With the help of my therapists, I now use a laundry list and a laundry light. The first load I did, start to finish (putting away) took three and a half weeks!

But back to Richard. The only thing that doesn't bless me about his doing laundry is the folding... or lack thereof. He throws his clean undies in the drawer unfolded. I fold everything, even rags. I like closets and drawers to be neat and tidy. He says it's wasted work. He leaves my clothes for me to fold since he knows I will not like how he does it. When I have time, I go in and fold his undies... he doesn't mind, just laughs at me. It's never been a point of contention, it's just a family joke and we laugh about it often.

This morning, as I tidied the house, I recalled his last words about my laundry on the dresser. When I picked them up, I was shocked. Panties folded neatly as could be! Sox folded just like I do (not with cuffs rolled over, but folded together)... a LOVE NOTE from my honey! You cannot know how deeply that touched me. God sends me Love Notes all the time, and Richard shows his love a million ways... but this was a Love Note of monumental proportion. Folded Panties!!! I will never forget that.

Now I must think up a very special Love Note for him... something to totally blow him away like he did me. How about you? Have you "written" any Love Notes lately?

More about Love Notes tomorrow.

Thursday, October 20, 2005

Love Notes
I call little kindnesses and favors Love Notes. They can be actual, written notes, or anything to demonstrate love. In yesterday's blog, I spoke of a special Love Note from my husband. God often sends His children Love Notes, but I wonder how many times we don't recognize them. Some of them are wrapped in the smile of a child when we are lost in worry, or weary at heart. Or they might be more "spectacular," such an unexpected financial blessing just when things seem hopeless.

Once on a hot Texas day, God sent me a Love Note in the form of an out-and-out miracle that I almost didn't even notice. I was driving truck again trying to keep up with our son's medical expenses-his injuries occurred the day after our health insurance expired due to a job move. Richard was a public school principal and we used his income to live on. I had left teaching to drive truck because I made so much more money doing that - isn't that sad.

Kenny Monfort ex-owner of Monfort meats and transportation of Greeley, Colorado, had financed a truck for me and allowed me to run under his rights (before the days of extensive owner-operator leasing). I ran hard and cheap, squeezing every penny twice, so had no air conditioning in the truck.

I had driven all night and delivered in Ft. Worth early that morning, then picked up a return load... hand stacked 40-pound boxes. It was almost two in the afternoon when I pulled into the Denton 76 truck stop for a nap. Tired and sore, I crawled back into the sleeper and was immediately dead to the world.

I woke up three hours later, drenched in sweat and nauseous from the heat... and late. My load was to deliver the next day in Denver. I hurried into the truck stop to use the rest room, splash my face with water and grab a quick bite to eat.

Thirty minutes later, I stepped out into the baking sun. The heat was so intense, it seemed to sear my face. I ducked my head to shield my eyes from the sun. "Please, Lord," I prayed, "Give me the energy to go on. I am so very hot and tired." I began to wonder how long I could work like this. Of course, God already knew how miserable I was and He had a special encouragement waiting for me.

Soon, almost right away, there was shade. I looked up and saw a cloud. One... single... dark grey cloud... directly above... ME. And it began to rain! Big, cold drops splattered on my face and outstretched arms. I danced for joy in its refreshing coolness. Others may have been equally exultant... I didn't notice.

Looking around, I saw no other clouds in the area. Away from the truck stop, the sky was as hard and as hot as it had been right here just a few moments before... but it was raining a glorious, miraculous rain on the Denton Union 76 on that most memorable August day!

The rain ended only minutes later and I wiped down the wet driver's seat and readied to head north. Then I stopped, realizing I had just been the recipient of one of God's most special Love Notes. In those refreshing raindrops, the King of the Universe had said to me, "Yes, my child, I know what it is to be that tired, but I want you to know I care about your burden and share it... indeed I take the burden for you. I come along side you to bear you up and see you through all things. And through it all, I want you to know how deeply I love you. Now, take heart and keep on keeping on for I am with you, even unto the end."

The fatigue was gone and I couldn't wait to share the story with others... Many didn't believe, some said it does that all the time in Texas... But I know from whence came my Denton rain. That's when I started calling God's many acts of love toward me Love Notes.

Today, I shared time with the Women of Grace who meet every Thursday morning at the First Baptist Church fellowship hall. One of these dear ladies had made me an apron... a Love Note from God forwarded through His servant Rosie. She didn't know the significance of aprons for me... But we'll talk about that tomorrow.

How about you? Have you received any Love Notes lately? Or forwarded any of God's Love Notes to someone else? As for me, I am still trying to think of a Love Note to blow away my dear Richard like he did me yesterday.

Friday, October 21, 2005

My Own Apron
Yesterday, I told you about a special Love Note Rosie made for me... a colorful, cheery apron. I wore it last night as I cooked. It brought me warmth and joy and I think it even made my Bacon and Whole Egg Pies taste better.

When I was growing up, both my mother and her mother (Grandma Iona) tried to teach me to cook. I resisted with a vengeance, doing all I could to be obnoxious. They would abandon their efforts in a matter of minutes only to try again in a few months... with equal lack of success.

I wanted to be out of doors with animals and trucks... I wanted to follow my dad around, to go fishing, or just hang out with him and his friends. He was always doing something exciting and telling outrageously exaggerated stories.

Mama hung out in her kitchen when she was able, and she always wore an apron. I thought she was boring. I loved her but had no interest in being like her. I vowed never to wear an apron.

So, I never really learned to cook. After I got married and had children, I learned enough to put filling but bland food on the table, but I never wore an apron!

God has a unique sense of humor and irony. After my head injury, some of the tasks my therapists worked with me on were using a recipe and safety in the kitchen (I tend to leave burners and water on). Following a recipe requires certain cognitive and attention levels and I had trouble with it (still do) so we kept at it for several weeks.

I had to make a weekly menu from my newly acquired cookbooks and a shopping list of needed items, then follow the menu each day. I was learning to love cooking and was thrilled to be in the kitchen... but I was still leaving burners on, forgetting I was cooking and going for a walk, etc. It was not a good thing!

I was praying about it one day and had a brain storm - a bit of enlightenment from the Lord - I could wear an apron while cooking as a reminder not to leave. What!! Me in an apron!! Heaven forbid... no, Lord forgive. My stubborn pride so long ago and the Lord's reminder of how thoughtless I had been to my sweet mother brought bitter tears of regret.

I dug out my mother's aprons. I had kept them all these years, and had displayed them on my kitchen wall in Alabama as a tribute to her. I laundered them and began wearing them. Mama would be proud, but she always said an apron was a personal thing and should reflect your personality. All her aprons were hand made, some by friends and a few by her own hand.

I didn't have an apron of my own. I had looked in a few stores but never found anything close to what I would wear... mostly they were for men to grill in. I thought of making one for myself, but I haven't sewn in years.

Then came Rosie with the perfect "Iona's apron." The fabric is just like what I would have chosen, the style is ideal for me and it even has a pocket... I am so thrilled. Rosie knew exactly what I would most want because she hears from the Holy Spirit... and she follows His lead.

How do you "hear" from the Holy Spirit? How do you know the voice of God? You set your heart on doing anything and everything He would want you to. You seek Him always. You communicate with Him, both talking and listening. Then you walk in the freedom we all have in Christ. If you feel led, but are unsure, seek Godly council, but do not be afraid to step out. God redeems your efforts and promises to knit it all together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28-9)

Rosie felt God's leading to send me a Love Note in the form of an apron. She followed her heart as she chose the fabric and style. She wanted to bless me and knew that is what God wanted, too. That's how she could "hear" Him. That's why it was so perfect. Rosie didn't tell me all this, but I know it is true because I know Rosie loves God.

Saturday, October 22, 2005

Feedback
I've been getting some Love Notes from my blog readers, and my daughter Athena (the internet whiz) wants to know why I don't have a "comments" or "feedback" area so visitors can see what other visitors said. Well, I told her I wasn't that high tech yet, but took the basis of her idea to heart. I have an E-mail link to the right, and I get comments on my blogs from time to time (I just love that) so have decided to set up a page and post the e-mail comments I get. I don't have them all (wish I had saved them) but I do have some. I will preserve the privacy of the senders.

One person asked how I decide what to write. The truth is, I don't... I just start off with whatever hits my head as I pray about doing the blog, trying always to let God do the leading. I have some of my best conversations with the Lord while doing the blog. I am so thankful Pastor Rob led into doing this!

Not long ago, I said I didn't care about the numbers... and in a sense that is still true, but after reading some of the comments, I do care that people make it to the blog and are blessed, encouraged or uplifted. So, I have placed links to the blog on some of my other pages. I'll be curious to see if my "numbers" go up.

Several readers have asked me to repost the link for Christians and Halloween which was on a previous blog. I tastelessly add another timely link which is popular among the more sophomoric of us. It is a recipe for Cat Poop Cookies found on one of my truly crass Cat Humor pages. Now, these are genuine, edible cookies... which just happen to look like cat poop. I suspect the e-mail comments I receive in the next few days will not be as complimentary as those of the past. LOL

As you can tell, my mind is wandering today. I have worked on web pages almost non-stop for three days. I am not really getting any redesigning done, but am getting links cleaned up, etc. Some of my web sites have had little or no attention in over two years. But God has led me back to a point where I can devote the time, and we are trusting Him for the mental capacity, strength and money to resume the internet ministry full swing.

So, I ask for your prayers, encouragements, smiles, e-mails, whatever God may put on your heart, for they are all sorely needed and highly appreciated Love Notes.

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