June 2025 - God's Protection Amid Chaos

June has been another difficult month. While I cannot unload much of the stress or pains, I am grateful for God's provision and protection amid the many challenges we have faced. We had several minor health scares in June. After eating a bowl of chili (something soft, not hard), I detected a hole or chip in one of my back molars. I made a frantic call to the dentist office, but they could not get me in until the following Tuesday (4 days later). Catastrophizer that I am, I immediately went to worst-case scenarios. I'm a medical-intervention-wimp! The mere thought of what they might have to do sent me into a tizzy. What if it got infected? What if I needed a root canal? I had John try to take a photo of the tooth.

I took great care, brushing carefully and often. I swished salt water around my mouth for a minute three times each day. When I ate, I used the other side of my mouth and avoided both hot and cold foods ("Sorry, no you cannot take me to Dairy Queen! I have to baby my tooth.") When Tuesday finally dawned, I thanked the Lord profusely because it was a quick and painless fix. The dental assistant took a photo of the spot.

The dentist explained that the tooth had a filling and part of the filling simply broke off. After a quick bonding (I'm guessing that's what it was), I was on my way home, free to eat ice cream to my heart's content.

John had his own mouth issues to tackle. He had oral surgery to remove a fibroma. While it was painful the first few days, he is so grateful it is gone and he, too, can eat more freely.

Now, we're facing another mouth issue, this time for Sean. I don't know if his wisdom teeth are just now growing in, but he is experiencing pain in a wisdom tooth and has a dentist appointment scheduled for early July. Hopefully, he will not have to have all four wisdom teeth removed (quite possible, and yet another expense).

Finally, I'm praising God for his protection in a close call. I walk on the treadmill every morning. Perhaps I was paying more attention to the audio book blaring in my headphones. Perhaps I was merely clumsy. For whatever reason, I stumbled on the treadmill. Thankfully, I was wearing the safety clip and as soon as I began to fall, it pulled out of the safety slot and the treadmill came to a stop. Otherwise, I might have experienced the friction Trevor had during his treadmill accident years ago. Another praise is that we had placed a recliner in the guest room, squeezed in between the treadmill and the book bar near the door to the garage. As I fell, the left side of my back landed hard on the soft arm of the chair and I slumped in a heap on the (now motionless, praise God) treadmill.

Now that I'm in my 60s, I need to learn to be more careful. Plus, I'll keep petitioning God for his protection and provision. When I think of what could have happened if the chair hadn't been there (my head, likely would have hit the book bar* and that would not have cushioned my fall at all), I'm so very grateful to still be in one piece. Now, to get myself to step back on the treadmill again. That might take some doing. Perhaps it is safer (though hotter) to walk outside. Hope your June was uneventful and good!

* My husband has always called that shelf area, just inside the garage door, a "book bar." I cannot find any such term or label on the internet, so I guess it is a term his family made up, ha!

Book Review: The Miracle Morning

With a bright yellow cover emblazoned with a sun, The Miracle Morning promises to change your life. I noticed the buzz surrounding this book (#804 in Books on Amazon and #29 in Motivational Self-help Books on the day I wrote this review). It begins with the author's incredible story of change implemented in his own life. His first challenge occurred when he was involved in a devastating car accident. It was such a harrowing description I read it aloud to my husband and youngest son. The extensive damage Hal Elrod faced when he was 20 is astounding. Yet, this near-death experience wasn't the lowest point in his life.

Elrod's second rock-bottom came with the financial devastation brought on by the Great Recession in 2008. Drowning in despair and feeling helpless to climb out of the hole, Elrod wanted to give up. Then a friend challenged him to go for a run, something he despised doing. The positive result led Elrod to research the practices and rituals of highly successful individuals. In the end, he came up with his Miracle Morning routine. Over time it took off and people joined the Miracle Morning Community, sharing their successes found through using these strategies. The number of book endorsements is staggering!

The author breaks 7 practices down into the acronym SAVERS. I love how you can personalize the plan. Observe these elements for as short or as long as you desire, in whatever order works best for you. SAVERS stands for Silence, Affirmation, Visualization, Exercise, Reading, and Scribing. I wasn't expecting anything earth-shattering or new. 

I already have an extensive morning routine. After I wake between 4:30 and 6, I drink a black coffee with a small spoonful of coconut oil (this, together with a word puzzle, gets my brain charged and my body further into ketosis). Then I head to my basement desk. I begin with my prayer time (both for my Facebook friends and a list I keep in a prayer journal). Next, I spend some time studying God's Word and read daily passages from 2 devotional books. After I complete my daily BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) homework (heartwork) and pray for the women in my group, I write my "morning pages." (I learned this from Julia Cameron's book, The Artist's Way, many years ago. If you're curious about morning pages, take a few minutes to watch this video by Martin Sketchley - I love his videos because he incorporates doodles into his explanations and talks about the writing process.)

By this time, my husband is up and has brewed the "good coffee." I fire up my computer to tend to emails and often waste too much time on Facebook. Eventually, I pull myself away to exercise for a half hour. While I cool down, I clean the kitchen, play Wordle and Connections, then shower and begin my day officially. So, I've already had a routine that hits many of the words in Elrod's acronym (all but affirmation and visualization). 

I hesitate to believe adding those activities could lead out of mediocrity and into passionate purpose fulfillment. Yet, I wouldn't say this was a wasted read. He is highly motivational. Indeed, I may purchase this book for Bryce. I encouraged my husband to read the brief section on night routines. The author dealt with a similar bout of insomnia, like my husband's lengthy foray into sleeplessness. I suppose I even liked the book enough to consider purchasing it (despite my current purging goals), if I ever see it on the cheap at a thrift store or garage sale. It was a worthwhile and life-affirming read, full of inspiration for living a life without regrets.

Ah, Fall!

This has been a tough week. Interest in my prodigal parenting book is tapering off and I've exhausted most of the avenues for securing more exposure. My now-adult son asserted his status and independence in two disappointing ways. Good thing my book doesn't claim to provide parenting wisdom. I have none for parenting teens/adults who are intent on making ruinous choices. My book simply expresses the heart cries of a parent leaning into God amid the journey.

Yesterday morning, I came across someone who mentioned a book about walking as a spiritual practice. This is something I've embraced for a long time. So, instead of my usual time on the recumbent bike and treadmill, I braved the cold (32 degrees) and took a walk. It provided exercise and a great time for prayer and reflection. Thanking God that He's not finished with me yet and not finished with my sons yet, either.

As I approached home, I snapped some photos of the beautiful fall foliage. 

(A photo of our long-time neighbor's property - their trees are resplendent!)

(Our house - I love the orange display behind the house - initially blocked by the front yard tree in the first picture.)

How blessed I am to live on a property with such vibrant colors and soul-stirring transformation. It may be fall. I may feel like I'm in the middle of a drought. But perhaps, as in the story of Elijah (see 1 Kings 17 and 18), God is sending the drought to prepare for a magnificent confirmation of His vast power and purpose. Without the drought, the people of Israel might not have been ready for the heart transformation when they realized (after Elijah's showdown with the prophets of Baal and against incredible odds) that the Lord is the one true God. Elijah had to endure the drought, too. Yet, God was with him every step of the way and met his every need. I'm claiming that for myself and allowing the healing power of nature to soothe my heart and soul.

Will I Have Enough Resolve?

In December 2013, I posted about a marvelous purchase that has brought tremendous benefits over the years since. My treadmill was a godsend. Although I enjoy walking outdoors, my routine was always sporadic, diminished by cold or wet weather. The only time I remained disciplined was during the month of November when I needed the morning walk to process what I would write about for my National Novel Writing Month task. Once I had the treadmill, my routine solidified to walking 5 or 6 mornings each week.

Sadly, my brisk pace has slowed and my endurance flagged because of knee pain. Enter my newest purchase. I noticed an ad on NextDoor for an Exerpeutic recumbent bike (same brand as my faithful treadmill) for $100. The owner explained that after knee replacement surgery she intended to use it but seldom did (indeed, the accrued mileage was at 240 miles). 

I think my husband fears my intentions will go awry as well. We placed it next to the treadmill so I can still listen to my books on CD while working out. I told him my plan: As long as the knee pain isn't too debilitating, I will continue to walk between 20 and 40 minutes every morning. I will add bike time in the afternoons or evenings. So far, I've only managed 5 minutes increments. Groan. I hope to increase that to ten, fifteen, then twenty. Will my resolve for the bike be the same as for the treadmill? We shall see.

Of course, when spring comes I may want to take to the walking trail they positioned just across from our front meadow (indeed, they plowed through our grass and extended the trail a good 5 or 6 feet into what we thought was our property, but have since figured it must actually be along the accurate property line). 

My husband tells me they plan to curve the path and extend it along our meadow and woods.

One of these days, we'll have people walking directly across from our front door - oh joy! I doubt we'll be able to keep people from trespassing in our woods. So much for our little home oasis being isolated (see About Me).