Out And About Again

Thank you for your kind messages and prayers for my recovery. Although I still have a ways to go to be 'back to normal' I am up and around and will be out and about a bit today. My sweetheart has been amazing - as always - a man with a true loving, servant heart. He has made many trips to the store for renewed supplies of juice, clear soda and 'gentle' soups. While his culinary efforts were wonderful in the soup department nothing compares quite to my dear little mother's chicken noodle soup which she has promised to make soon. I can't wait!

I have been doing laundry and 'puttering' around the house since my sweetheart left for work early this morning. Renewed interest in my surroundings is a good sign - I'm getting better! A few signs of Christmas remain in the house since I suddenly couldn't deal with them. Today they will go to their resting places until next December when they will re-appear to grace our home once again.

My sweetheart recently brought two tubs of home decorating things down from the attic. They had been placed there when we began to do some major projects and make big changes around our home. Each time I asked my sweetheart to bring them down he told me there were NO tubs marked 'Home Decorating' as I requested. He was right! They weren't marked at all. How would he know? On a recent excursion to the top of the attic ladder I spied them and he brought them down. I peeked inside and saw all kinds of goodies but didn't have time then to deal with them. Early this morning - before daylight - I ventured to the garage and began to see what I could find. One tub has been completely emptied and is already filled with things waiting to be stored until summer. It was like opening Christmas presents all over again. And what fond memories! Precious things my now-grown children bought for me when they were young. Wonderful secrets and surprises they carefully planned for birthday and holiday gifts. Everything I found is special and I know I smiled as I unwrapped each piece. It was as if I was unwrapping them for the first time - I could see my children young again and recall the looks of anticipation, joy and pleasure on their faces as I opened their special gifts. Some have already found their places around our home and others are in the 'thinking' process. I'll share them with you soon.

Artwork: "Chicken Noodle Soup"
By Catherine Jones
Available on art.com