A few years ago I posted a blog, Sitting Beside the Still Waters, published on August 13, 2018, about the things I wanted but had never managed to attain. I strongly desired to see my children and grandchildren more often. I hoped for things like a certain type of patio or deck and various other elements in a house that I hoped to have someday.
One thing has changed; While my sons still live in two other states, I do see my daughter and grandchildren often, because I moved to the town where they live after I retired in the summer of 2021. I'm thankful to be in their lives so much more. My sons and I Facetime and talk and text a whole lot more often than we did pre-pandemic. So, while I still am not physically with them, we are in touch a lot more and that's a definite improvement. The rest of the items on that list are still out of my grasp, but they are just things. It's my family that really matters.
I now live in a duplex in a good neighborhood, and I like it here. While it doesn't have the specific elements I was hoping for (and still hope to have eventually), I have to admit it is a good place for me to live in this season I'm in right now. I was sitting on the patio one morning last week, and it sort of hit me like a ton of bricks that this is as good as it gets for a while. The other things I wanted aren't happening right now. So I decided I would embrace the season in which I find myself now, which includes accepting this duplex as where God wants me to be. I believe He has placed me here.
I have a garage, something I have never before had, and I'm loving it! This home has everything else I need, really; an adequate kitchen with a dishwasher, a washer and dryer closet, and a patio. All these things are comparable to what I had in my house I sold, and some are better. I'm really learning to be content here.
The patio is the part I want to focus on for a minute. I had great plans to have my prayer time and coffee out there several times a week this past summer, but it was too blazing hot. It was hottest summer in probably at least 10 years! Also, the patio faces east. Yes, that's right; I have to race the sun and get out there early, before it peeks up over the tops of the fairly dense stand of trees behind my house and bathes everything in my backyard in its brightness.
It wasn't happening in the summer; the sun comes up too early. But it's starting to happen now that fall is nearly here and the sun comes up a little later every day. The first picture I included, with the steaming coffee cup (don't know if you can see the steam, but it was there!) was taken just about 8:00 am.
The second picture was 30 minutes later and the picture doesn't do it justice. I couldn't see anything for the glare on the patio table. So I got up and went inside, LOL!
Before the sun made it to the tops of the trees, I had prayer and coffee out there this morning, and it was so nice out. I love fall! It was 57 degrees when I first went out just before 8 am.
So...I'm trying something different with this blog. For at least a little while, in an attempt to embrace where God has placed me in this season and revitalize my blog of 13 years, I'm going to be posting "from the patio." The pictures I take that morning may not actually end up in a blog until later in the day, but it's all a work in progress.
As always, it is my hope to encourage and inspire, while showing you a glimpse of my real life, not sugar-coated at all, as you will see below:
I'm a 67-year-old retiree who moved halfway across the state after retirement to be near family. I won't lie: it's been hard getting used to a different town, and truthfully, I have shed many tears over the town and friends I left behind. The trade off, however, makes it worth it. I am with my grandkids a lot.
Also, I'll admit it; I don't like getting up early. Never have, though I did it my whole working life before retirement. It's not super early, and I'm not looking for approval or expecting any praise. I just find that getting up around 7:30 am seems to be what my body clock likes.
Finally, I don't consider myself super spiritual; I'm not trying to impress anyone. I love Jesus and I really like my morning coffee. I enjoy having my coffee and talking to Him outside. I don't know what it is about being in nature that makes me feel closer to Him, and I don't go outside every morning. Some mornings I'm just drawn out there, though, and it's proving to be a wonderful start to my day when I make the effort to get outside.
It's just a little patio, nothing fancy at all, but I'm learning to accept with grace what the Lord has blessed me with. Come along with me and maybe you'll be encouraged, maybe you'll have a laugh or two. Maybe you'll just see it's ok to be yourself, like I've decided to do. It's my hope to post weekly some little snippet of encouragement or something to laugh about.
Embrace where God has placed you. He has great plans for you!
Love and hugs, friends! <3
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
