An Element of Calm Has Descended Upon the Land
July 10th, 2007 at 7:38 am by Dee O'Neil Andrews
I'm tired of thinking about and even writing about plumbing, so I won't. As of yesterday, it's presumably (do I sound a bit skeptical here in my cynical years?) fixed.
So, an element of calm has descended upon the land.
I say element of calm because that elusive peace is still to be completely captured, but then I've been in a state of semi-depression now for several weeks, so am not surprised. I'm doing as well as can be expected, I would say, after a very difficult move and in dealing with downsizing to a large extent.
Our house still has "stuff" lying around everywhere that still doesn't have a proper place to be put away, which is typical of moves, I suppose, at best. In our case, it's a major dilemma because with each succeeding box that is opened, less and less of the contents have a place to be put.
I'm taking more and more and more boxes to the two local thrift stories and charities and it looks like the parade will continue for some time.
Meanwhile, I'm suffering from anxiety attacks about it all because I like calm and order and feel completely overwhelmed with the small spaces I have to work with and lack of major storage areas for many of my beloved belongings that I really don't want to give away.
You know - things like years of family photographs and albums. Kids' mementos kept for years and years to give to each of the kids some day and today would be a good day to do that, but two of them live way too far away and I haven't even begun to get up into the two closets jammed packed with boxes where those things are to give Mark his.
I mean - he just lives in town, but has a house full of little girls and way too much stuff, himself, so I don't know where he would put all of his childhood things. I guess he and Lynn can work it out. I'm sure they'll want them. I just need to find the box, which I, in my organized way, of course, have plainly labeled. It's just a matter of moving boxes outside the closet in front of it over to be able to get to the right one.
So . . . to calm myself and to keep a measure of what I call sanity, I sit and read blogs, although I've been too down and out to even comment much of late, which I need to work on, don't I guys?
Once again, then, I come to you all to say I am a weak and frail person sometimes in this life these days, after being a very strong woman my entire life from a very young age. I don't know. Have I fallen so far, or is this the human condition?
I've been talking with my blessed mom and she says I sound perfectly normal and "human" to hear given the circumstances we've been in, having been in transition now for a year and a half and all. And the three years before that were full of physical traumas with my open heart surgery and five by-passes with all of the ensuing complications. On and on from there it went, ending with an emergency appendectomy and then all the foot problems.
In fact - did you realize that it's just been less than a year ago I was still confined and fighting the lack of healing of my broken foot?! No wonder I'm having such a hard time now with all of the latest trials and tribulations.
Maybe I am too hard on myself, do you suppose? I need to lighten up a bit and listen to Tom a lot more. He's the most optimistic generally positive outlook person I know who nearly always sees the good in every situation and handles them well. I need such a one.
Please pray for me in these things today as I pray for each of you, my readers. You know, since we've moved into the house, I go out every evening and sit on the back porch even in the stressful heat under the ceiling fan and just sit and pray and think and thank God for our back porch. That is my favorite place.
Tom and I go out there and sit and just be quiet and it is a peaceful place. Tom really loves it out here and it's growing on me. Much better than that little apartment was for sure, and Tom likes to go hang over the back deck and look at the woods behind. He came in last night before bed excitedly telling me that he saw fireflies!
So, an element of calm has descended upon the land. Pray for me that it will descend upon my heart. Dee
Seeing fireflies at night will bring one peace. There is something about that experience that brings me back to a more “care-free” time.
Dee, you don’t have to comment to know that all of us love you and Tom. How about that, a little blog love. O.K. folks, lets all pile on Dee and Tom. We love you guys.
Been reading via bloglines but haven’t had time to drop a comment lately. The plumbing sounds like the old Picayune Promise.
So just sit back, relax and watch a good movie with Tom on that big TV. Oh and eat some of the chowder for me…I still need the recipe.
We loved to catch fire flies! When I was a kid, the air around the house would be filled with them. These days, to see just a few here and there is the norm.
When we started the process of moving I informed our two kids they needed to get their stuff because I was not going to move it with me. I took a van load of Josh’s stuff to him and it’s all sitting (unopened) in the garage to the mortuary. Jessica went through her stuff one Sunday afternoon / evening and got it down to just a couple of boxes for us to keep for her until she gets sort of settled into her new place. It’s OUR stuff that’s in the way! I still have a garage, a storage room in the church, and a ton of sound gear to move over here! I, too, am tired of it all.
Don’t overdo it health wise … it isn’t worth it. Take your time and spend as much as you need on that back porch with Tom.
Anyway you can get away from the house for a little while. Maybe go have a picnic with your grandaughters or go to a movie. Just anything that gets you out of the house and lets you forget the boxes for awhile. They aren’t going anywhere, they will still be waiting for you whenever you feel like tackling them again!
Blessings my friend!
Duncan isn’t the only one going through The Crucible. All of us have them in our lives. You have faced yours and, now that the test is over, you are struggling with readjusting. That’s normal. You’re sane. All is well.
Besides, being married to someone who is excited about fireflies has to be cool.
I am so happy for you and Tom that you are finally in your new home. I’ve been fighting the urge to move - I would like to move every three years, although we were in our house in Garden Grove for 18 years. Tom does not agree with me, luckily. I don’t know what it is about moving that I like. Tom thinks its because I will finally sort through the junk - but he says it would just go with us. Anyway I will be praying for you to have less anxiety.
I think it is wonderful when life is crazy then finally we find the calm that God provides. I am so thankful that God has sent caml and peace in my life. I mean real calm is found in Him and Him alone. Thanks for this post today. I know I needed to be reminded of it again and again.
I’m glad things are settling down a bit for you. I’m still digging out from under a few things here, but at least everything we need for daily life at this point is unpacked and has a place to go.
I hafta ask, though…. what kind of sewer system do you have? Is it a septic tank? Brian is looking for land to build on back in NE right now and much of it is in areas where we would have to have one. I am quite apprehensive about it!
May God grant you the “peace that passeth understanding” as you sort through the memories and momentoesof a rich life — and may he grant you many,manymore years tobuildnew memories — I’m back on the “Nike” kick - just do it. As Dr.Phil says we need to act to create the behavior that produces the feelings of contentment and I think that is a Biblical principle as well — even though I likeyou amoften “semi-depressed”in dealing with the transitions in my life.
Your sharing enriches me and moves me to put my thinking into action.
God Bless
Charlie