I Have Been Thinking

I have been thinking about Mrs. Williams a lot lately. She is my now 95(?) year old former neighbor. She moved in with her daughter last fall after she fell and broke her arm. I talk to her every now and then on the phone. She doesn't really like talking on the phone. Her congestive heart failure makes it difficult to catch a breath sometimes. I also do my best to remember to drop a card in the mail to her every so often. I know that it means the world to her. 

I spoke with her this last week. I had called to ask her daughter something about the house and ended the conversation talking to Mrs. Williams. Oh, how I miss her. I know that she misses us too. She asked about the chickens, the yard, the house, Lleulu and my mom and dad. She seems to be doing well there. Thank you God. 

Her great grandson never did move in next door. That leaves us to take care of the yard again this summer and it is almost grass cutting season. But right now, spring has sprung. Her forsythia has bloomed it's little heart out. The flowering quince is beautiful and her daffodil bed which my momma planted many moons ago is a sight to behold. This is when I miss Mrs. Williams so. She loves to work outside in the yard. And she loves when everything is in bloom. I know that she is missing her house.

Her other daughter has decided to renovate the house and move in. The renovation has begun. I am kind of nervous again about someone else living there. Mrs. Williams oldest daughter is nothing like her. We'll see how this goes!!

I printed out the above picture of us this week so that I can hang it in our house and send one to her. She is so dear to my heart. Hopefully this summer I can make the trip to Mobile to go visit her. It will be a blessing to sit and rock with her again. To speak of the Lord and the good things that He has done. To see her Bible open on the table beside her. To enjoy silent moments together. I can hardly wait! 

Neighbors

Saturday our neighbor called and told me that she has left some goodies in our door. Here is what I found:

Delicious oatmeal raisin. I ate two. Dave ate the rest of the bag.

Later in the day she called out from her porch and said that she had something for me. 

Here they are!

Some lovely tulips! How nice. How thoughtful. I have been wanting some flowers but have been working hard to stick to our budget. God must have heard my heart. Then he nudged hers. Thanks God! Thanks Cathy!

Mixed Emotions

Tonight I sit here with mixed emotions. Ok, mostly sad. I have been waiting to address it, but tonight is the night. I have spoken of my 94 year old neighbor on here many times before. I love her with all of my heart. She has been there my whole life. She saw my Momma's belly swollen with me, my first steps, scraped knees, and waved across the fence to me on my wedding day. We often sat and rocked and talked about food, the neighborhood and what God was up to. Her bible was always open- always. She is the most amazing prayer warrior that I know. If you need prayer you call her!

Two weeks ago Mrs. Williams took the plunge and moved outside of Mobile with her youngest daughter. To see the boxes packed up broke my heart. When I hugged her neck and she said, " I love you" just like she always does I almost lost it. We didn't say goodbye, but that we'd talk soon. Well, now I am losing it. I miss her terribly. We are watching over her house. And it is SO empty without her there.

She is doing well at her daughter's, eating more and gaining strength. I am so glad. I have called three times to check on her and just might call her every night from here on out. It just seems right. She has so much wisdom to share- she never drove, still wears only dresses, picked cotton for much of her life, hated to clean and cook but loved to eat and work outside. Oh, how I miss that woman! God be with her.

My emotions are mixed tonight because her great grandson and his wife will be moving into her house for awhile. They will fix it up a bit in exchange for staying there while they look for a place to buy. They are very nice, young, seem hard working. But they are not Mrs. Williams.

Change is good. It will be good to have someone next door. But will they pray for me? Check to see if we are at home? Ask me to come fix the t.v. or stove? Bake Dave a cake for mowing the lawn? Or shove $2 in your hand for taking her to the store or the doctor? Oh, what fond memories I have. I know that the new neighbors will be good too.

For goodness sakes Kara! She hasn't gone to heaven just to Alabama! It sure does feel like I have lost her though. Kind of like a big chunk of my heart is missing and aching still in place all at the same time. I miss her. I think that a trip to Alabama will be coming along here soon. We'll see how long I can wait.

For now it is off to bed with a book, some prayers for my friends and a special one for Mrs. Williams, thanking God to have her in my life.

no rest for the weary and the weary never rest

Things have been very busy! Painting at Dave's school every day plus the trip to Athens this weekend and I am pooped! Sorry for no new pics of the chicky babies. They are trying to fly and are getting all kinds of preteen trouble! They knock over their food, rip up the paper lining the brooder and fly at each other. It is all that I can to to keep the brooder clean and them fed and watered!

I have also visited with the neighbors the last two nights. We found out that our neighbor two doors down passed away Saturday. I took some flowers to his widow today. She talked my ear off, was the nicest that she has ever been to me and convinced me that she is indeed a wee bit off the rocker. I can see me over there quite a bit=) Our other neighbors are good. I just spent some time visiting and doing little things for them. Poor Dave now has 3 neighbors lawns to mow plus ours. What a trooper. I guess that we love being the neighbor! It is wearing me out this week. Maybe it is simply the paint fumes. On that note, excuse any typos, please.

Ok, enough typing. I have to go to bed so that I can paint up a storm tomorrow. Okay, paint up a hallway or two. I need a day relaxing by the pool. Anyone want to join me?