My elderly mom has pneumonia. She started getting sick on the Monday after Thanksgiving. It appeared to be a cold that would run its course. A week ago, I asked my prayer team to please pray that I would know if/when it was time for her to see the doctor. On Monday, I felt it was time to take her to see him, but she refused. (Hey, when your 93, you’ve earned the right to be a bit stubborn.) She said she was getting a little better each day. Not. Finally on Thursday she agreed that she needed to see him. He only had to listen to her lungs for a second or two to know it was pneumonia. He still had an x-ray taken but it just confirmed the obvious. Two days and about 10 pills and numerous swallows of prescription strength cough syrup later, there has been some improvement. Thank God. It’s so hard to see a loved one ill, but extra hard for the very young and the very old. She still has a ways to go, so I’d appreciate your prayers for her. At her age, this is no minor matter.
Nonetheless, Mom was well enough for me to get out for a few hours to attend my local RWA chapter’s annual Christmas party. This has been a crazy year, and I haven’t made it to many meetings so it was nice to be with my longtime writing friends. We played the take away game (open a gift and it can be stolen twice before it is safe). I came home with a lovely jewelry box. Funny thing was, I drew the #1 so got to go first. I opened that gift and no one stole it. I really liked that box and was sure I would lose it. But I didn’t. Yea!
My last post about taking up knitting again brought lots of knitters out of the woodwork. Thanks for the comments and for the private emails. I even got an offer to help me with the crocheting, should I like to try it again. I love the Internet when it brings people together in a good way.
I’m more than halfway done with my scarf. Looks like I’ll finish it in about a week. And as I’ve been working on it, I’ve wondered what I will do with this new (renewed) hobby of mine. I don’t wear hats very often, and even this scarf won’t be used a lot. (I work at home, after all.) My younger daughter knits herself. Grandkids can be mighty fussy about what they wear. Who will I make things for? And that made me think of those who are out in the cold a lot – the homeless. So then I wondered how many hats I could knit to give to the local shelters. So I’m giving myself a challenge for 2008. The year to knit for others. It’s a little scary to type that. What if I totally fizzle out? Hmm. What’s the worst than can happen? I only make two hats instead of ten? It’s still two the shelter wouldn’t have.
I’ll be working for about another week on my rewrites of my 2008 Christmas novel, Bundle of Joy. I’m so glad I got to do the rewrite during the Christmas season. I’ve done Christmas edits in May before, and it just doesn’t feel the same. This book will be the last contemporary novel I work on for a while. I’ve got a number of historical stories in the pipeline which I’m really looking forward to writing.
And since December is already one-fourth over, I guess it is time for me to be asking God what my word is for 2008. For 2007, God gave me two words: Peace and Simplicity. As I look back over the year, I can see so many ways He brought those words to fruition in my life. I look forward with anticipation to what the Lord has for me next.
Have you asked God for a word for you for 2008?
In the grip of His grace,
Robin
