My something new since I began this blog has been nearly four weeks off from writing. It has been a media fast of sorts, but not of my own making. Life just happened to fill my brain and heart with other priorities, thoughts, and tasks. Thank goodness I am no longer keeping a daily blog which would have been nearly impossible to catch up from being behind so many days. However, following through on four weekly late posts seems doable. Still, I started asking myself "Why do I need to catch up?" Already I am often feeling behind with this or that so why add pressure; thus, I chose to combine four weeks into one post.
Here are my four take-aways from this insanely exhausting four weeks:
1. Get to work
When unwanted pesky things happen, such as one or two bed bugs taking up residence in your cabin in Tahoe, you just have to roll up your sleeves and do whatever it takes to clean, wash, dry, spray (by a pest control service), and put back together. With the source, a Pac & Play, eliminated which brought them into our cabin in the first place, things got back to normal after a grueling week of hard work.
Ironically, choosing what to keep and throw away was made easier by this unwanted guest: 3 trips to the laundromat besides running my own washer and dryer non-stop, 1 trip to the Target in Reno for linens, 2 trips to Ace for plastic containers to organize and protect the linens I would keep, and 3 trips to the dump with 15 plus bags of old linens, pillows, sleeping bags, and junk discarded all while dealing with snow and icy roads. I had no idea that after 11 years since the cabin was built that we had brought so many unnecessary items there. I feel brighter, lighter and freer after this initial undesirable cleaning experience. The saying that my Granddaddy Brown often told me at bedtime, "Good night, sleep tight, and don't let the bed bugs bite" takes on a whole new meaning.
2. Practice patience
When problems are not resolved and I prefer they were, I tend to dwell on them way too much. This obsession causes me to not sleep well and then to act like a two-year-old when awake with my stubborn attitude to have everything be wrapped up and tied with a bow. Certain circumstances beyond our control are going to exist for a lot longer than we would like: weeks, months, even years. Learning to be accepting and encouraging rather than demanding and discouraging takes patience which I am a work in progress and a whole lot of love which I have in abundance.
3. Show gratitude for family and friends
From friends walking and talking or lunching and talking to those who baked bread or texted me while my heart was troubled and my body was sick with a bad cold to family who cheered me up and gave me hugs, I want to tell them thank you for always being there for me.
4. Lean on the Lord more
Learning to have more faith instead of fear so the Spirit can consistently dwell in my heart and guide me in my life is something I desire. When I am nearer to God, I am able to handle challenges better and appreciate the good. As Rick says, "See the cup full!"
Winter was still very much in Tahoe February 17-22 when I became snowed in the first full day I was at the cabin. This is what it looked like out the front door when I foolishly thought I might be able to get my car out of the garage.
On the other hand, spring cleaning came early!
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