Lemons, Lemonade and Life

I’ve been gone for a bit and I know you understand.  Life has been filled with things that needed my attention.  Family needs always come first and the routines of daily life must continue if we are to survive at home. 

Someone once said, ‘When life gives you lemons, make lemonade’.  Maybe some of what we’ve been doing lately has been like making lemonade.  Tough times can tear us apart or they can make us stronger.  As you know, our family recently had to deal with the loss of our little born-too-early grandson.  We have held each other close.  We have grieved and we have cried – but we are healing.  Our daughter is moving forward in the middle of her loss and we are very proud of the way she faces each day.  Thank you to each of you for your kind words, your prayers and the cards we’ve received.  You have encouraged our hearts more than you know with your love.

In the middle of the ‘lemons’ of life, my dear, little ninety-two-year-old mother fell again.  She fell backwards in her kitchen and landed hard on her tiny backside.  The amazing thing is – and this is a miracle – she didn’t break anything.  She is so tiny and frail.  She has no padding on her little bones but she got herself up, went to the phone and called us.  She was quite bruised and extremely shaken up by the fall but able to go on with life as before.  At first my sweetheart and I thought this would be a major turning point in her living at home, but we have come to realize that she is where she belongs.  For now.  Even though she didn’t break anything, this fall was a wake-up call for all of us, including her.  We are at a new place in her situation, but we’re not sure what that means.  It may be that there needs to be more involvement in some of her daily activities.  We don’t know, so we are praying for wisdom and direction. 

Not long after she fell her doctor of many years retired and it was necessary for her to find a new doctor.  She chose to see my doctor – and my sweet mother loves her!  She is very glad with the choice she made.  The process has been time consuming.  We had to be sure we had everything in place without a moment of lapse in her medical situation.  To exit one doctor at the same time you enter another required many phone calls and much paperwork.  I had to be sure there was nothing left undone incase she needed the services of the new doctor soon.   It was a big relief when everything went smoothly and the task was accomplished.

My sweetheart and I were able to go out of town for his fiftieth (ooh, that sounds like a long time!) high school reunion.  As we arrived at the venue for the first activity, one of my sweetheart's high school buddies saw us and gave advice:  'Don't go in there - that room is full of old people!'  It was a wonderful weekend.  To watch him enjoy his long-ago friends and listen to their reminiscences of past doings brought such joy to my heart.  And - in the middle of it all - I was able to have lunch and do a bit of antiquing with a dear friend who lives near where we stayed.  She and her husband met us for lunch after church on Sunday just before we headed home again.  Our time away was relaxing and we realized we need to do that more often.  

During a routine appointment with my doctor this week she gave me, shall I say, an assignment!  Walk twenty minutes every day!  So, I have been up and out early these last mornings because we’re having a hot spell and I like to breathe while I walk!  My sweetheart decided he would walk with me and we enjoy that time together.  It's good for both of us!  We have walked in different directions from our home each day and it’s amazing what we see when we’re walking.  Early yesterday morning we weren’t far from home when I rounded the corner – and stopped!  Couldn’t go on.  Had to take photos to share this darling sight with you. What stopped me in my tracks?  The cutest, little lemonade stand I ever saw.  Somebody’s daddy or grandpa must love Savannah very much!  What a work of art.  And it’s yellow, of course!

She has two choices – regular or berry.  Isn’t that cute? 
She wasn’t open for business.  It was quite early and I wouldn't be surprised if she was still sleeping.   I think she must be quite the business 'woman' - she wanted to be sure passers-by would know that she would return - with lemonade – soon.I found this cute sign on Pinterest.  It’s something to remember when life hands us 'lemons'. 

source

It’s a cute sign but when hard times come the answer for me isn’t lemonade – although it’s a good idea to take a break and stay calm.  Through these past weeks a Scripture verse has come to mind many times.  The words of King Solomon are true:

‘Don’t brag about tomorrow,
since you don’t know what the day will bring.’
Proverbs 27:1 NLT

I’m not afraid of the days ahead.  Whatever life brings, my faith will remain strong.  I will be calm because God has done good things in the past.  And I know He will do it again!