Loud yellow

In the stillness of the spring afternoon, birds resting, frogs yet to start their evening song, I find her in the yard loud in her brightness: the first yellow crocus of spring. She is catching raindrops with her swaying body, dancing with them and then returning them to the earth.

She chugs the coconut smoothie down with a loud gulp, fingers on yellow glass as beautiful in their curvature as a violinist dancing bow over strings.

I grab the joy in the yellow afternoon with both arms. It's been a long soul drought, this working on writing, the dry, technical words parching my eyes. One yellow crocus, and they dance with tears.

You will show me the path of life: in your presence is fullness of joy; at your right hand there are pleasures forevermore. (Psalm 16:11)

Linked to Lisa-Jo's prompt, Loud

Simply thankful

I get so sick of being depressed, I decided to do a yellow post.

Nothing dark, nothing dreary, no cries for help.

The truth is there have been more and more good days lately.

(minus the pneumonia)

Today I began a new medication regimen nicknamed the "California Rocket Bomb" by psychiatrists who have see the synergistic effect of these two particular drugs together.

While the word "bomb" related to my health care does not endear me to the treatment, I am hoping it does just what it is supposed and depression really gets under control.

Thank God for yellow houses with blue shutters and sea spray crust.

Praise Him for every bit of yellow that peppers my melancholy days.

Praise Him for waking up happy some mornings.

Praise Him for friends that really last.

Praise Him for life.

Things I never noticed

Our "burning bush" - she is first to open her leaves to the sun,
and the sun echoes back in astounding beauty.

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,

And sorry I could not travel both

And be one traveler, long I stood

And looked down one as far as I could

To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,

And having perhaps the better claim,

Because it was grassy and wanted wear;

Though as for that the passing there

Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay

In leaves no step had trodden black.

Oh, I kept the first for another day!

Yet knowing how way leads on to way,

I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh

Somewhere ages and ages hence:

Two roads diverged in a wood, and I--

I took the one less traveled by,

And that has made all the difference.

~Robert Frost, The Road Not Taken, 1910~

Bends in the road. Ah, yes. How frequent they have been these past three years. Cancer.Child on the brink of death. Immersing myself in special needs culture. Food poisoning nearly makes me a widow. We no longer look at the bend in the road, avoiding it as long as possible before going around the corner to discover what trial God has planned for us next.

I've passed it thousands of times, I'm sure. And somehow never spied the yellow barn with the pale yellow tin roof. My soul breaths in the yellow barn, and I am sated, for a few minutes, bathed in unexpected beauty.

Counting, counting, hoping the counting builds me a raft.
Gratitude Journal #661-673:

661. Hummingbirds

662. New porch swing

663. Linda Heil

664. Auntie Rose

665. Anti-inflammatory meds

667. All 4 kids on one t-ball team

668. Ipad = instant happiness for any fussy child

670. Being able to do a kindness for some dear friends.

673. Sorting through thoughts.

Parents trapped in the hospital

We are on our way home today, so I am re-posting something from the archives! Of course, I've added a few touches from the added experience of the past week. As well as photos. This yellow wheelchair has been in the hallway our entire stay, and as I hurriedly rush out to get water or milk for Amy, I have seriously wondered if an angel can impersonate a wheelchair. Even in my darkest moments here, this wheelchair has brought a smile to my face. If I ever become an invalid, I am ordering myself one of these!

Ever have a friend whose child is hospitalized? I found an excellent resource online shortly after my son Caleb was unexpectedly hospitalized for a week last April. This list of things to put in a gift basket for a parent whose child is in the hospital is just about perfect. My friend Heather rescued me several times with items on this list when a day in the hospital turned into a week. It would greatly bless any friend of yours facing similar difficulty, and may be a good idea for hospitals or even church small groups to provide as a service to those thrust suddenly into need. I've put the items I most requested in bold.

Survival items

• phone card for long distance
• tooth brush/tooth paste
• shampoo and hand cream
• small box tissues
• Tylenol & Ibuprofen (adult)
• sanitary pads
• razor (there are never ANY in the hospital, for whatever reason)
• mints, gum, instant breakfast, calming herbal tea, chocolate
• Starbucks VIA is an instant rescue for coffee-drinking parents walking the floors
• digital thermometer (paranoid parents always double check)
• a journal for parents to record experiences or medical information

Special touches

• pillow from home
• crayons/coloring book/drawing pad/stickers/book/small kids games
• blanket/tee shirt/hat/underwear
• slippers/soft socks
• coffee mug
• wonderful body refreshing spray - purse size (lemon/citrus is the most universal scent)
• cash, cafeteria gift card and/or parking tickets, gift certificate from hospital gift shop
• a list of nearby restaurants that deliver to the hospital

Services

• Pick up, launder and drop off laundry
• Babysitting of other children
• Offer to organize or pay bills, bring bills to the hospital, or contact service providers such as phone, power, cable, garbage, post office to alert them to the family emergency
• Mow lawn/shovel snow/weed gardens/feed pets
• Make meals for those stuck at home
• Offer to sit with the sick child in the hospital so the parent can run an errand, go outdoors for a few minutes, make phone calls, or get food out of sight of their child, who may be unable or not allowed to eat

Thanks to Ped-Onc Resource Center for the great list! My number one favorite pick from this list is:

• Bring homecooked food to your friend who is stuck in the hospital (Eric & Renee's Buffalo Chicken pizza and the meals my aunts have brought me will seriously NEVER be forgotten. They are in the permanent mental record of incredible blessings I've been privy to in my lifetime. Seriously. Of course, scroll down to see Rosalie's corn casserole and Shera's dessert - my meal last night after 4 days of cafeteria food - and you may understand why!)