I am very, very thankful that my friend D has made time in her very busy schedule to come by for a few hours for the last two days to bring her gifts of joy, enthusiasm, energy and hope. Such incredible blessings for someone who has been struggling as I have been for such a long, long time.
D is the "retired" County Clerk who has been in charge of elections in the County for the last 12 years. The new County Clerk was her assistant, but never was the one who had full responsibility until this election. D has been coming in part time to help her. By "coming in", I mean that D lives higher up in the back country and has been coming into town to help the new County Clerk.
This not the time for D to take time out to help a friend in need, but she has made the time. Is that not incredible ? There are no words for me to tell you all how much that means to me.
None of the things I needed to get accomplished are complete ...
In fact, the chaos inside the house is much, much worse ...
, but it is OK. What was stressing me out so much was that I needed to get everything done before true winter hit to avoid the winter driving down the mountain for the eye surgery and winter shopping. D doesn't mind winter driving and said we will handle that after the elections. So, in spite of the mess, and it is a mess, other than protecting plants, there now is no time limit. That reduces my stress level a LOT.
Our first frost generally doesn't hit until the end of November, so I have time to winter protect plants.
The deck still leaks ...
, but it's raining, so there is nothing I can do right now about that.
Every single room looks like it has been turned upside down. I had torn the kitchen and laundry room apart to figure out how I could create more pantry room storage, then when the furnace was installed, they tore everything out of the office closet and linen closet to install parts for the furnace, which is still all over the office floor. Now, my bedroom is covered with summer and winter clothing which is in the process of being switched out.
Chaos reigns all over the house. Since everything was pulled out of all of the cupboards and closets, the great purge has also been taking place. I've already taken things to the soup kitchen. D has taken two carloads of stuff with her to the church for their garage sales scheduled for Saturday, saving me two trips, and we will do the major dump run next week .. she thinks.
Most of all, she walks in smiling and laughing and filled with joy which is catching. I am not struggling alone.
I still have too much to do, but now there is no time limit, so I am not nearly as stressed out. I can keep on keeping on knowing the work will be done. Whether or not I can see an end in sight doesn't matter any more.
I am ever so thankful that I have been gifted with friends who can share their joy.
