Category: Stray Gifts

The Oil of Hope

Published on by Rebecca Gilbreath2 Comments

The oil of hope makes life’s machinery run smoothly.

James L. Basford

In my last blog entry, I shared a bit about John’s health and the need to move from Waco, Texas back to El Paso. We have been in El Paso for a month now and it is great to be with Jonathan and my dad again. We thought that within a few weeks, John would be feeling better due to the drier climate. The migraines are finally calming some. Since we have moved back, John’s new VA doctor took him off the pain medication that has been helping with his arthritic joints and wants to try something new. John has been on this medicine off and on for about ten years and this has been the best medicine that has been used for the joint pain. Without this medicine, his fibromyalgia pain is also out of control, although he is on a different medicine to assist with that. Pain medication helps one issue, but affects other areas of the body in negative ways. The overall pain with little beneficial medicine in his system to help landed John in the ER. He wasn’t sure if it was a pinched nerve from lower back problems, a fibromyalgia outbreak, or the back/hips out of ‘whack’. Not much was done other than to prescribe him some other medication. John’s rheumatologist (outside the VA) is not happy about the VA doctor’s decision and there is some communication between them as to how to proceed with John’s healthcare. He is waiting now for an appointment with the orthopedic surgeon who replaced both his hips. John has been in a lot of pain and is using crutches to help walk. We are hopeful the three doctors (the primary care doctor at the VA, the rheumatologist, and the surgeon) can help and that he eventually can go back to work. Maybe physical therapy will help. Maybe a pain management doctor is the answer. Or maybe different types of treatment will be beneficial. In the meantime, we do look for and try natural remedies and ways to heal that do not include more medication.

From John: Since about 2003, I have been suffering from many things that also resemble other veterans who served in the Persian Gulf. I did not serve during war time, but I served two tours in the Gulf in ’95 and ’97. Some of those are things like GI pain (in 2004 I was checked for a hernia and no cause was found) and chronic headaches (which I had already been diagnosed with migraines while in service). Other symptoms have occurred since then such as chronic fatigue, joint pain all over the body, even/including fibromyalgia. I also had my thyroid removed a few years back and many Persian Gulf veterans have had thyroid problems too. At one time, it was called Gulf War Syndrome. One did not have to serve during war time -the service member just had be in the Gulf in a time period since Aug 2, 1990 with symptoms being expressed before Dec 31, 2021. Pray for me and for my doctors in this situation as I desire to work again in the future.

In other news, Jonathan is getting closer to college graduation. As part of his Museum Studies course, he is an intern for one of the local museums. His job is to look through collections of old photos that were donated years ago which have been sitting in storage. These photos have little documentation and Jonathan works to organize them and to transcribe the locations where they were taken. He is finding this task very interesting and loves learning more about the history of El Paso. He will be graduating with honors and we are so proud of him! So far, it seems the college plans to have a traditional graduation ceremony. Due to COVID outbreak precautions, only two people are allowed to attend per graduate, though, so far.

I am glad to be back working in the yard again. Jonathan and I have been working to clean up the yard. John helps as he can on ‘good days’. Rose bushes have leaves and tiny little blooms, the honeysuckles are thriving yet again, and we have been preparing the ground to do some planting.

Here are the latest stray gifts!

On the Left (Top) I highly recommend watching Back to Eden Gardening Documentary! John and I have watched it a few times. We loved the gardening concepts so much, we bought a wood chipper to make our own mulch out of our branches and such from pruning. We had always thrown the clippings in the trash, not realizing all the nutrients we could have used to nourish the yard. (Middle) It has been nice enough most days for a walk and Jonathan and I are spotting new blooms in the neighborhood. (Bottom) Yellow blooms are showing up on one of our Lady Banks rose bush.

In the Middle: (Top) The Texas blue sky mixed with the colors of sunset…and a layer of dust. It was an interesting view. (Bottom) Moody blue skies, the scent of spring in the air, and blooming trees. Others must have felt the change in the air too because neighbors were waving ‘hello’ as we walked by with our dog one day. Everyone seemed extra friendly!

On the Right: (Top) Our other Lady Banks rose bush is now changing day by day with more green leaves and white roses on the way. (Bottom) I tried a new way of cooking cabbage by slicing it and roasting the pieces in the oven with a bit of olive oil and seasoning. The guys loved it.

Feature image from top of blog post: The photo of the tulips was taken by my friend Jonna. I love when friends send me their stray gifts photos!!

Easy in Imagination

Published on by Rebecca Gilbreath4 Comments

What had seemed easy in imagination was rather hard in reality.

Lucy M. Montgomery

We had imagined our move to Waco would have been an easy one. It was easy in the beginning when John started working for the VA here. But as the weather changed in the fall and winter, John’s migraines increased. For years, John has struggled with migraines due to changes in barometric pressure. Medication never completely helped. Once his doctor put him on Vitamin B2 a few years ago, the frequency and intensity decreased. It was a huge relief! In El Paso, the air pressure stays mostly the same year ’round and his migraine ‘situation’ seemed better. After moving here, though, where air pressure changes due to more rain, some snow, and cooler weather in the fall and winter, it became a different story.

Another issue with our move here is that his job, while a great one, involves being on the phone and computer all day sitting down. After his two hip replacement surgeries almost two years ago, he really needs to be up and moving around. The positive side of this is that he is getting his ‘foot in the door’ in the work field again. We were in the ministry full time for fifteen years, he went back to college and graduated during that time, and now we are moving forward in a different direction.

So what’s the plan? We know that a drier climate is a must for John to feel less head pressure, so we are moving back to El Paso where Jonathan is in his last semester of college before he graduates in May. My dad, too, is still there. John has applied for several jobs within the VA and has had one interview so far. Our lease at the apartment here in Waco ends the last day of February. Sometime between today and then, we will be packing and moving back. We enjoyed being here for the most part with all the grass, trees, the lakes and rivers, but it is, in reality, not a place where John feels is best for him. We are at peace and know that God has something in mind. We just need to trust and take one step at a time.

Here is the continued stray gifts list from December and the beginning of January (description below photo collage).

Top Row: Stray gifts in a well working iron skillet. I’ve had trouble treating it correctly, even though I’ve followed directions. I guess with frequent uses and oiling consistently after each use has helped because I was able to cook scrambled eggs in it with minimal cleanup afterwards. I’ve never been able to do that before. Usually the pan is a mess with eggs stuck to it making the cleaning difficult.

While the Christmas tree was up, I had a great view of a glass ornament a friend sent me last year. It was such a surprise to receive the gift in the mail. The poinsettia ornament means a lot to me.

John surprised me with flowers when he came to visit me while I was in El Paso.

Middle Row: A long time friend of ours makes quilts and quillows. A quillow is a quilt that has a pocket to tuck your feet in. Also, you can fold the blanket up a certain way and tuck it in the pocket so it is in the shape of a pillow. Carolyn made Jonathan one when he was two years old and he wore it out through the years. John and I each received one years later and John wore his out. She made Jonathan and John new ones in the last year since both blankets were in shreds. Mine is still in good condition! We love them and use them often in the cold months!

On the way back from El Paso to Waco after Christmas, we saw snow! After living in the desert for fifteen years, I thought it might be nice to live in a place where I could experience all four seasons. After feeling the bone chilling freezing temperatures closer to Waco and the snow, I’ve changed my mind. El Paso gets cold, but it never sticks around for very long. We saw many deer out in the snow which was a pretty site.

Speaking of snow, I have a friend in Pennsylvania who sees snow every winter. She often sends me snow photos and I like that I can look at it, but not feel the below freezing temps!!

Bottom Row: While I was in El Paso helping my dad and Jonathan reorganize after the September flooding in the house, my dad made me a pegboard for my craft room. I love it and it will help keep stuff off the work space for when I make my greeting cards.

My banana succulent was reaching for the winter sun. It’s always nice to see a bit of green in the winter.

Finish Every Day

Published on by Rebecca Gilbreath2 Comments

Finish every day and be done with it. You have done what you could.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

As some of you know, when I was in El Paso last September, a part broke behind the refrigerator and water gushed out of the pipe flooding almost half of the bottom floor. Water had poured from the kitchen to the living room and under the walls to the other side of the house where my craft room and laundry room floors were soaked. The baseboards were sopping wet and it was a huge mess! Workers came to help clean up and to dry the walls out. A contractor came out to assess the damage, but nothing could be done about the cleanup because El Paso had another surge of the virus. Stuff from the pantry, laundry room, and craft room floors were packed into the guest room for the time being. Since there was nothing else I could do, I returned to Waco to be with John. The house stayed a mess until December when the crew could come to fix the walls and the carpet. I went back to El Paso in December to visit my dad, Jonathan, and my niece, Breanna, (who was going to spend Christmas with us). All that stuff in the guest room needed to be moved out to make room for Breanna. John stayed in Waco working and came for Christmas. There was so much cleaning up to do and putting things back where they belonged. I had a running to-do list every day of things that I wanted to accomplish while there. Jonathan and Breanna were a HUGE help in getting the house back to normal. At the end of every day, I had to be satisfied with what we could do and know that the tasks would be finished in due-time. It felt good to leave the house all put together this time before I left for Waco again. Even through all the crazy busy days of cleaning and organizing, I still was able to spot a few stray gifts! Here are a few I noticed while in El Paso (to be continued in the next blog post). A photo collage is at the bottom of the page.

Left photos- top and bottom: This is the guest room. And it did NOT look like this right before Breanna showed up. The bed was covered with boxes, kitchen items, and craft supplies due to the flooding. I was so glad some of the damage had been repaired right before she arrived so I could make the room ready for her.

While Breanna was with us, she made her family’s recipe for salted caramel popcorn. The hole in the middle of the pan is where we couldn’t keep our hands out of this delicious snack when it came out of the oven. It was so good!

Middle photos- top to bottom: During the post-flood cleanup, I dusted all the blinds, and while were at it, we cleaned the downstairs windows. One day, Breanna and I just stood at the clear living room window and watched the birds for quite some time. We were fascinated to watch them eat, play, fight, and rest. If you feed the birds, they will come.

There were a few really nice days outside, so Jonathan, Breanna, and I took our dog for a walk around the neighborhood. I sure do love the blue skies of Texas.

The photo of the pinecones was taken on another walk. Pinecones always make me think of my friend Carolyn who loves them.

Right photos- top to bottom: You don’t have to go searching for gold to find treasure. Sometimes riches are there in your own backyard. I saw this view out the back window that had been newly cleaned as well. The windows were like picture frames that day. The gold leaves on the tree were stunning as the sun shone right through them.

Ahhh….flowers from Jonathan. We had always prayed that our son would be, above all, humble and kind. His heart is big and his generosity is a blessing. These are flowers he bought me when I was visiting in December.

You wouldn’t know that this living room was a mess a few weeks ago. The carpet had been torn out and this area was not organized at all after the flooding. When the new carpet was being installed, we all agreed the room felt light and airy. We liked not having so many things in there to clutter up the space. We used to have a nice coffee table in the middle of the room, but we all saw the area looked better without it. You can see a bit of my dad in the photo relaxing and enjoying the peaceful surroundings. As the sun sets, we like to finish the day with the bright lights off, lamps turned on, and candles lit.

(P.S. I see the upside down horse shoe on the wall in the living room. Yes, I know right-side-up is the proper way to display it. I will put it on my to-do list. 🙂 )

Silent Gratitude

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Silent gratitude isn’t very much use to anyone who has done a lot for you. 

G. B. Stern, Robert Louis Stevenson: The Man Who Wrote ‘Treasure Island,’ 1954

Two years ago, I starting looking for what I call “stray gifts” in a day. Stray gifts can be anything- a surprise note in the mail from a friend or family member, a beautiful day in which I just feel really good and alive, or quiet moments to rest, read, and relax. Every day, there is something new to discover that causes me to feel grateful and to say, “Thank you, Lord.” I hope these entries reach someone else who will engage more in life and who will choose to participate in God’s treasure hunt for all the good things He gives. Here is the most recent record of graces. (Photo collage below)

Gifts Written: Three cards for me in the mail in the last few weeks and a cross-stitched bookmark made by a friend with my favorite Bible verse.

Gifts in a Whistle: We used to buy electric kettles to heat water for hot chocolate, tea, or instant coffee. We’ve had to replace a few over the years because they just quit working. This time, I decided to buy an ‘old fashioned’ kettle with the whistle to heat water. It should last a long time! With the electric kettle shutting off automatically when ready, I would walk away from it and do other things. Usually, I forget about the water because I get busy. With this one, I need to be more mindful of what I do since the water is heated on the stove. I stay around the kitchen and do some tidying while waiting.

Gifts of Time: We spent one day last week with some friends we hadn’t seen in a long time. We enjoyed a good meal out together and a leisurely walk around the town square, poking around some of the shops there. I stopped to take a photo of the courthouse clock because I wanted to pay attention to the time – the time we are never guaranteed. Back at their house, we enjoyed coffee and talked for more hours, then stood outside to quietly watch the sun set. On the way home, the moon was bright and our hearts full and grateful for the day.

Gifts of Life: It has been very sobering to realize especially this year that life is fragile. With many lives lost to the virus, we are more aware of the gift of today. In the photo below, I am with our church ladies in Mexico. Two of these women have lost their husbands this year – one to COVID and the other to years of illness. Our lives are better for having known these women and their husbands who were part our church family for years.

Gifts of Encouragement: One of the best things I hear almost every day is John encouraging an elderly veteran who struggles with the online VA health websites, “That’s ok, sir. You know a thousand different things that the younger generation will never know.” (John works from home helping other veterans navigate the VA health website.)

Gifts Welcoming: I love a pretty wreath on the front door. I found this Boxwood Wreath for 50% off at Hobby Lobby and I had a 40% coupon for the ribbon!

Making Amends

Published on by Rebecca Gilbreath1 Comment

Fear not November’s challenge bold—We’ve books and friends, And hearths that never can grow cold: These make amends!

Alexander L. Fraser (1870–1954), “November,” c.1918

Amend: to make better, to improve

While looking up inspirational quotes for a blog title, I noticed that November quotes seemed dark and dismal. The trees will be bare soon and the cold winds are coming. Darkness falls early and the nights seem longer. I did find one quote that was positive that I used. Of course, in my stray gifts scavenger hunt, making amends with the season appealed to me. “We’ve books and friends”, wrote Fraser. There are other gifts of the season which can help improve the overall mood for the coming months. Here is my latest record of graces. Photos added in a collage below.

Gifts in a Park: John and I went to a local park last week and found a walking trail. I’m thankful he can get out and walk – especially on uneven surfaces such as a nature trail. Last year at this time, he was recovering from two hip replacement surgeries. The view of the rock and the trees from the road was what made us want to park and explore. I love to see the changes in leaves every week.

Gifts Fascinating: I was bent over trying to get a good photo of a spider on the side of the path when a lady walking by stopped and asked if I was trying to identify a plant. I pointed out the spider web and told her I thought it was really interesting. I had never seen one like this before. “Oh wow”, she said. “I would have never noticed that!” As far as I can tell, this is a garden spider or “zipper spider” and is harmless – but I still don’t want to get too close. It’s huge!!!

Gifts Big: They say everything is big in Texas and I believe it- especially after seeing that garden spider and a large bee during our walk! It was pretty buzzing around the flowers.

Gifts in Perfect Days: Last Sunday was a perfect fall day. Little by little, colder weather is creeping in. We have had a few days cold and rainy, but that’s ok. Everything is cyclical and warm days will be here again. In the meantime, I can enjoy comforting soups and homemade bread, hot cocoa – rich and chocolaty, and cozy blankets to wrap up in when I’m cold.

Gifts Simple Pleasures: Things that feed the soul: fresh air, blue skies, peaceful days and pathways, simple activities like fishing, bike riding, frisbee golf, walking dogs. Many people were out enjoying the day as well.

Conscious of Our Treasures

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We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.

Thornton Wilder

This week’s Stray Gifts:

Gifts of Respect: I hear John every day on the phone guiding other veterans through the government health computer system. Some are sons and daughters calling on behalf of their father. Some are wives calling for their husbands. Some are elderly veterans who do not want to even bother with the internet but are being forced to through the changes from paperwork to updated technology. Some veterans call needing to set up a way to renew their medicines or to contact their doctor through the veteran’s health site. John is tech support, yet he gets calls for all types of reasons. Many times, he is on the phone listening to a widow wanting to know what is the next step. Some are frustrated veterans who are upset and need to check up on a complaint filed. Some are veterans trying to go back to school or who need to know where to file for disability compensation. By the end of the day, John is mentally tired. So many people need help – and not just with tech support. He does the best he can to listen and help or to transfer the veteran to someone who can. Each veteran who calls or family member who calls for a veteran, he shows them respect and always says, “Thank you for your service to your dad” or “I appreciate the care you show your husband in helping him with this issue” or “Thank you for your service to this country”. Respect. It is a small word, but has the potential to change someone’s day from a hurting one to a hopeful one.

Gifts in Reading: With all of John’s joint issues (ankle, hips, and shoulder), I’ve been doing more research on the benefits of collagen rich bone broth. I’ve been making my own broth for years, but I might learn something new here. The local grocery store sells packages of just bones. He wasn’t ready to add chicken feet to the broth making, 🤣 (even though I’ve read they are good for it). I’ve always used bones leftover from rotisserie chicken. Thankful for research and guidance in health and wellness.

Gifts in New (to me) Music: One of my New Year’s resolutions was to explore new Christian music. I came across the group Southern Raised and have been enjoying this talented family, their bluegrass style, and the encouragement they share. One of the songs, “Ravens Still Fly” is about how God took care of Elijah by the brook Cherith (I Kings 17). This powerful song is one of my favorites.

“Are you deep in despair? You feel like nobody cares? You can’t find your way or the words to even pray. Just hold on, He’s not gone. Rest by the brook. Take another look. Lift your eyes to the sky – ravens still fly.”

Gifts in Work: With John working for the Department of Veteran’s Affairs, it is nice that they work with his disabilities. He worked half a day today fighting a migraine. After lunch, he was able to call in sick, take some medicine, and go to bed.

Gifts from Others: I have a few friends who text me their beautiful gifts often. Just this week, three friends shared something that caught their attention. The cover photo was shared by a friend in New Mexico. She and her husband had gone for a ride out in the Zuni Mountains (near Ojo Redondo Campground) and enjoyed the beautiful day. What a striking site with the bright yellow leaves of the Aspens, the deep green of the Ponderosa Pines, and the very blue sky. “‘Nothing like the beautiful blue skies of the Southwest,” she said. The photo of the deer was shared by a friend in Pennsylvania. The acorn photo was sent by a friend in Texas. She liked the acorn’s really big hat! Sometimes, when maybe it’s difficult to find a “stray gift” myself, I look through photos that were shared with me. A flower shared earlier in the year by a friend is currently my laptop background photo because its beauty took my breath away. I like to put reminders in my sightline around the house. Even if I don’t step outdoors some days, I still am surrounded by nature that nurtures.

Tonic for the Soul

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Wouldn’t it be an exhilarating tonic for the soul to take a moment to appreciate the simple, good things in life which are so bountiful…? 

Author unknown, c.1949

Tonic (definition): a medicine that invigorates or strengthens: anything invigorating physically, mentally, or morally

Finding stray gifts in a day is exactly like taking a dose of medicine. There are so many aches and pains which ail us in a day – and I don’t mean just physically. Our souls feel battered by watching too much news, or by having to work too hard, or by just taking care of all the life-things. When do we get a break?

When I take time to appreciate the simple and the good, right there is when I get a break. It stops my thoughts from going down the path of the Prodigal Son and the “Why not me, Lord?” All along, I have my very own gifts lovingly placed in front of me, strengthening me, causing me to keep looking for more of God.

Here is this week’s compilation of stray gifts. (Photo collage below)

Gifts Shared: 1) Quietness as John was in bed one day with a migraine. It may not sound like much, but we were together, at least, in our shared apartment. 2) Time shared watching a few movies after he woke up and then walking to the mailbox tonight. 3) It always brings joy when others share their #straygifts throughout the week – a deer in the yard, a beautiful tree against an October sky, a freshened up flower box, gentle music from a neighbor’s wind chimes, a pumpkin pie made for a hard working husband…and more. What a blessing to me to receive these messages from those who are looking too.

Gifts Country Rodeo: 1) Respect for God, the flag, and our country 2) Families spending time together having fun 3) Fresh air and freedom (Oh, and funnel cake!)

Gifts in Animals: 1) A frog in the same spot every night on our walk around the apartment complex 2) Friendly neighborhood dogs out with their humans 3) A cute little rabbit hopping across the lawn

Gifts Blooming: Jonathan sent me a photo of some of the roses blooming in our yard back in El Paso.

Gifts in Imagination: John and I were driving around Waco last weekend and spotted this house on the corner of a busy street. I can’t imagine that someone built this house in the current state of traffic here. Maybe it was built when the area was farm lands, I don’t know – but it was ‘swoon-worthy’. This house, all fixed up and in the country, would be a dream house for me. I imagine roses around the perimeter of the house, maybe hanging ferns and a swing on the front porch, fresh paint. It’s fun to dream. I wonder what the inside looks like! I love to see beautiful old homes and their architecture.

Gifts of Change: Cooler weather calling for cozy soups and comfy sweaters

A Gentle Grace

Published on by Rebecca Gilbreath2 Comments

Beauty is such a gentle grace. Like God, it rarely shouts, rarely intrudes. Rather it woos, soothes, invites; it romances and caresses. We often sigh in the presence of beauty as it begins to minister to us – a good, deep soul-sigh.

John Eldredge, Get Your Life Back, Everyday Practices for a World Gone Mad

I go through phases of posting my #straygifts on social media and other times when I am quiet. I have been posting a bit more, so thought I would share the most recent collection here on the blog. A collage of photos (in random order) will be at the bottom of this entry.

Gifts Sunset: 1) Transition from the day’s work into night’s rest 2) Layers of color spread over the horizon 3) As the sun was setting on one side of the road, the moon was rising on the other. The view was breathtaking.

Gifts Fresh: 1) Crisp apples with breakfast 2) Autumn air on our face and arms as we ate breakfast on the porch 3) The sound of children laughing on the playground behind our apartment

Gifts Seasonal: 1) Fall craft paper – my favorite 2) I don’t always have the time to make greeting cards, but I was able to while in El Paso for a few weeks. 3) My creativity is seasonal because sometimes, I just have no idea what kinds of cards I want to make. Other times, like in these cards, I made them one right after another and the creative “juices” were flowing. I made 28 cards within a few days.

Gifts Hopeful: 1) John’s appointment with the surgeon last week went well. The shoulder looks like it is healing. If it continues to hurt, though, an MRI will be done in a few months to see what’s what. 2) Gradual cooling temperatures that make it actually feel like Autumn. 3) We live closer to our Dallas area friends now (less than 2 hours) and we may be venturing out to visit a few here and there in the coming months.

Gifts Conversation: 1) Talk of plans for the future and what God may have in store for us 2) Texts setting up a visit at the end of the month with friends 3) A phone call from my niece who is in college in TN

Gifts Outside: 1) John and I went to the Riverwalk here in Waco yesterday. It was a beautiful day to be outside and to take a walk. He could not have done this a year ago before his first hip replacement surgery. 2) Fresh breeze surrounding us with scents of grass and of the water off the river 3) Huge old oak trees with branches growing in all directions

Thank You, Jesus

Published on by Rebecca Gilbreath2 Comments

“Thank you, Jesus”, says my aunt every time something good happens; a nice jacket goes on sale, a close parking spot becomes available, her bill was lower than she thought it would be. It can be easy to raise eyebrows because she isn’t shy about saying Thank You out loud, but I think she may be on to something. How often do I not give credit to God for something that goes on sale or for a close parking spot? Everything good that happens in life surely cannot be all coincidence, right? The more hectic my life is becoming, the more I am mindful of the handfuls of grace that come along and the more I say, “Thank you, Jesus”- out loud!

Here are a few stray gifts from September that I am thankful for:

  • My husband and I were out to eat one day and I noticed a young man reaching down to pick up a set of keys off the floor. A woman had just dropped her keys and hadn’t noticed. It was great to see some kindness spread.
  • Flowers from my dad!
  • Green lights all the way down Montana Avenue. I am not quite sure how that happened, but if you knew just how long that road is, you would be amazed too. I wasn’t in a hurry, but it was nice.
  • My husband had his right hip replaced in July. He has been able to help with dishes again after dinner in the last few weeks.
  • Speaking of hip replacement surgery, we thought he would have to wait until next year to have his left one done. The surgeon told him a few weeks ago that he felt John was strong enough to have the left one done soon. The date is set for October 21 and paperwork is going through much quicker this time between the VA and the surgeon’s office.
  • A tiny black and yellow bee in the yard. All I have seen are the big black carpenter bees, so the little one was nice to see since I am working to attract bees, butterflies, and birds through various plants.
  • A friend sent me a text with her very own stray gift through an unexpected healthcare rebate that will significantly help her financial needs. I love that she shared this with me and that she used the specific words, “stray gift”.
  • Other friends send me stray gift photos of their flowers, of sewing projects which turn out well, and of their surrounding scenery in a day which cause them to stop and say, “Thank you, Jesus”.

Pleasure is spread through the earth in stray gifts to be claimed by whoever shall find.

William Wordsworth, 1806

Image Not Available

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Remember the days when we went through a whole day without taking a photo? In this social media age, we can feel pressured to document every minute of our day and post it to Facebook, Instagram, and any other form of social sharing media. I thought I would share a few ‘stray gifts’ from the last few weeks without photos.

The last few weeks have been trying, to say the least. With my husband recovering from hip replacement surgery and my dad needing an impromptu knee surgery, life has been BUSY for me. I have been on the go every day taking either my husband or my dad to doctor appointments, sitting in waiting rooms, keeping the home together and dinner on the table. Because I was in the habit of looking for stray gifts, I was able to still notice the unexpected blessings in my days. It’s like the game of, “I spy with my little eye…”. Here is a list of some of the gifts I have ‘spied’ in the last few weeks:

  • A pretty little ladybug that landed on the car windshield after a long day. Seeing it made me stop and say, “Oh look!” to my son who was with me. Such cute little bugs, aren’t they?
  • We have had triple-digit temperatures here lately, but one morning I was up early and working in the yard. I remember the nice cool breeze, the windchimes gently chiming, and the peace of feeling comfortable for a bit outside.
  • One morning, I was RUSHED to get ready as an opportunity for a doctor appointment became available that day (for my dad’s knee/MRI). In my mad dash to shower and get ready, my son made me breakfast (and coffee!) and brought it upstairs so I could eat and prepare for the day at the same time. It’s tricky but doable. We had wanted to try a new recipe that morning and had already done the prep work the night before. He just finished making the French toast muffins by himself while I was getting ready for the day. Another morning, my husband cooked eggs for me while I was again hurrying to get out the door. Teamwork!
  • Rain! Twice in one week. That, truly, is a stray gift in these parts.
  • Did I mention I have been busy? One night, I slept for nine hours STRAIGHT! A miracle.
  • My son is home full time on break from college classes and for his twenty-third birthday, he and I did one of the things he loves best…we worked together in the kitchen making some of his favorite foods – breakfast pizza, homemade potato soup, and homemade crescent rolls.
  • When the MRI results came in for my dad that he did, indeed, need surgery on his left knee, surgery was able to be scheduled in one day. We quickly left the house for the hospital to register and the next day, he was on the operating table. The operation went well and now for the hard work of healing. No knee replacement was needed, but some repair work was in order. The surgery was this past Friday (August 16).
  • The afternoon of the surgery, after we came home from a long day, I was so tired. I went to bed around 5:00 PM (thinking I was just going to close my eyes for about an hour) and did not wake up until 1:00 AM. My husband and son thought to make me a sandwich ahead of time knowing I would wake up sometime feeling hungry. I was touched by their thoughtfulness.
  • I am thankful for butterflies, dragonflies, and bees spotted in our yard. For the scent of my basil in the breeze, for honeysuckle blooms, for yellow bells and climbing morning glories.
  • I am amazed at what wonderful meals can be made in a crockpot for busy days with just a few ingredients and a bit of creativity. There is nothing like a hot homemade meal, especially during the extra full seasons of life.

Pleasure is spread through the earth in stray gifts to be claimed by whoever shall find.

William Wordsworth, 1806