Looking for Gratitude

Wow,
What a day Monday was for me and the family! A great weekend with kids and grand kids home. Stephen, his Mom and Richard even were able to take Bruster's ice cream to "Gammy" on Saturday night at her apartment in town. She really enjoyed that and Stephen has had a special bond with her since he was very little. For those with kids and grand kids, if you know someone or are related to a senior citizen in a senior living arrangement, please take little ones by as often as you are able. As my dear sister in law says, it is usually "gray haired people going to see older, more gray people". Our little cutester has developed a reputation over there and can even melt the most disagreeable.

Worship Sunday after teaching Visionary Parenting was followed by dinner at one of our favorite restaurants before the kids spread for their home destinations. Ah, another weekend of blessings. Including the blessing of quiet after all the grace filled noise.

Then the Monday from battery hell.....

First the car battery was as dead as a post. Richard coming to save me (he saves me from myself often) by jump starting the battery. Experience has taught me to let it run, drive a bit longer than the plan had been and end up at the Auto repair store. You guessed it. As soon as I turned the car off and tried to start it again...nada, nix, nothing. Ninety-five dollars later, and armed with a new battery, I made my way to AT and T to get a new battery for my Blackberry. It had also lost its will to serve.

My favorite two ladies weren't there, so I relented for the new guy. Didn't have a lot of time. Oh, did I tell you that I had a hot date for lunch and cavity fillings with my favorite 89 year old in town..."Gammy". She dislikes dental appointments with a renewed passion. I knew she'd be oh so glad to reschedule if I "needed to". So, when Junior told me my Blackberry was "so old" they didn't carry or make my battery anymore, I knew it was a message from God.
For twenty dollars more than a new BB, I now am learning to use an IPhone.

By now, I was within 3 minutes of late to pick up my mother in law. So off I sped to Monarch. We had a great lunch...how she does love a cup of soup and a grilled cheese at a neighborhood deli! And the infamous dental appointment went off without a hitch. Dr. Rearden knows she is deaf, doesn't wear her hearing aids, has become adverse to dental work and sitting still that long in the chair terrorizes her back. He is a saint among us as he bellowed how well she was doing over and over again. I wrote the check for the repairs as she was in need of a better chair for a moment. Writing checks that expensive also attacks her frugal mind. We had a great talk on the way home as she is most appreciative of the smallest of our gifts of time and energy.

And then it hit. "It" was gratitude. She mentioned being grateful for all the times her dear husband did extra so she'd be "OK, if he left first". From the grave, my father-in-law was continuing to be the consummate teacher, husband and family man. The Chemist and the Librarian who raised four kids in Oak Ridge, Tenn., took in her Mom and step dad when living in Maine was too expensive and loved everyone God gave them to love as best anyone is able still passes on a legacy of love, commitment and joy in small and large things.

At that moment, 'it" made me laugh out loud. Not wanting my dear mother in law to think I'd gone mad, I quickly shared my epiphany......"Thank God I don't have a pacemaker!!!!" With all the batteries that had died in the last day, "thank God I don't have to wear a pacemaker". As I write this on Wednesday afternoon, I am still smiling as I write this. Naturally, more gratitude crept in, so the list now includes:
"things" broke not people;
we had the money to make to repairs;
the car didn't die with Mom or one of the grand babies in the car;
my sons are all jealous now that (their)Mom has an iPhone;
I was able to go to the (paid, mileage reimbursement, lunch and free Continuing Educ. Units for my social work license) meeting in Montgomery Tuesday and the car started like it had a brand new battery:
Richard is still one of the loveliest gifts God has ever given me;
and
I don't wear a pacemaker.

Blessings,
k+
j