I have a little friend that visits me when I sit at my desk. His mother built her nest in the hurricane shutter outside my window. I have a ‘thing’ about birds. It started with J.M. Barrie’s book, “The Little White Bird,” published in 1901. I found a copy in a bookstore in England when I was there for the Wheaton in England program. The middle chapters of the book introduce the wonderful Peter Pan.
Birds fly in many chapters of the Bible. The dove descends on Jesus at his baptism. A picture of the Holy Spirit. Whenever I see a bird in flight, or standing near me on my porch railing, I think, “God is here.” Good news these days.
What have Duane and I been doing these days? On March 2, we bought a 2 bedroom villa in Countryside, to be nearer to work and church. We’re keeping the beach condo. Here’s a picture of our new bedroom. Duane just got the mirror I found at a consignment store hung. Outside the window you can see our deck that overlooks a small retention pond.
Days after we bought the villa, our world began shutting down. The lady we bought it from left most of her furnishings, so we had beds and chairs. I’ve painted almost every room in my favorite color, Benjamin Moore’s OC-19, which sounds eerily like the virus. It’s name is ‘Seapearl,’ a warm white.
With a new place, we’ve been making frequent trips to Home Depot, staying, as we say in Florida, “an alligator’s distance” from each other.
The owner also left four filing cabinets, and etc., in the garage. Her move was overwhelming her; she was moving into a senior living facility. We told her to leave whatever. Over the last year of 3 or 4 moves we have become adept at Salvation Army, Facebook marketplace, etc. This picture is after we cleared out, with our friend Dustin McCanse’s help, most of the stuff.
A clean garage, Duane’s pride and joy, because now he has a spot for our bikes. He has hung my bike on a unique pulley system in the left corner. Our recumbent tandem is not shown, or Duane’s other bike for riding to work.
We’ve been blessed with 2 of our 4 grandkids being in town. Last week, Elizabeth and Mike were still in their offices working, so we tried valiantly to oversee Ethan and Sophie’s schoolwork, with schools closed. Some mornings we had three computers juggling different Zoom meetings.
Then you have to make sure everyone gets lunch. Sophie counts out the number of Pringles to go with the sandwiches.
After lunch Elizabeth picked up the kids. We resume the continual small projects of moving, like cleaning dust out of the chandelier from when the popcorn ceilings were removed. Going to the food store, doing the wash, getting ready for Zoom Bible study, Zoom men’s group, Zoom Adult Bible Fellowship, and church online.
Duane is still working, more part time than ever. He’s busy with frequent physician telephone meetings to figure out how to best serve their patients. Things change; another phone meeting.
And we make exercise a priority every day. At the condo we bike or walk the beach or the neighborhood. Officially the beach is closed however supposedly if you are in the water you can walk along the shoreline. It’s pretty deserted but still beautiful.
And we bike. It’s been easy putting our recumbent tandem, that we’ve had for over 20 years, in the van to transport it between the condo and the villa. We are thankful we can get outdoors and see God’s beautiful world. I took this picture because ahead of us is a guy on a bike with a giant front wheel, in the style of the original bikes.
I love this blue flower, a delphinium, in front of the pink geranium. It won’t last in the Florida heat. But I’m enjoying it for now. One of Mother’s favorite questions was, “What are you looking forward to this week?”
If I read the newspaper or watch the news (I’m definitely stopping all news/press conferences as of today) it feels like there’s not much to look forward to. The government’s idea of ‘soon’ things are opening up, and my definition of ‘soon’ are different! Not accidentally, I hugged a friend I ran into on an essential trip to Target yesterday.
Each day, the good things prevail .
“Be strong and courageous, do not be terrified, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9
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