I’ve gotten a lot better about handing things over to God as I age. I just get tired and lose patience and turn it over later than I should. I told you about giving Him the taxes to handle. The rest of the story happened yesterday.

When I went to bed Thursday night, I told God I was just going to leave this folder on His desk and I’d look for his report in the morning. Well, when I got up yesterday, I went into the office and sat down. After going through that whole rigamarole over the printer and printing everything out, I still wasn’t comfortable sending it in that way. Mainly because I would have to send all those 1099’s and such, and I just wanted to keep it simple. I wanted to e-file.

I found the AGI. I even made an account on the IRS website to look at my past tax transcripts to make double sure. My main problem was, I couldn’t for the life of me remember what PIN I used last year and that was key. So that’s what I left God to work out for me while I slept. When I sat down at my desk…I kid you not…those two PINs popped in my head as clear as if I’d made them up on the spot. Now, I can’t tell you if I’ve eaten at a certain restaurant, every if I’ve been there five times in the last five years. Between grief, PTSD, the COVID year, a closed head injury from my truck accident, and my parathyroid issues…my memory is pretty bad. But God helped me remember! I put the items in their proper places and hit send. Within an hour or so, I received texts that our returns had been accepted! What a blessed relief. I may have to keep doing my taxes so I have more stories to tell…blog fodder, you know! lol

I emptied the load I brought back from the farm and put it downstairs. I left Mr. FixIt mowing and I headed out to the farm. When I got here, I could feel the changes in my bones. Not melancholy, exactly. But…I’ve been thinking a lot about this as “my last stay at my grandma’s house”. I’d be lying if I said it doesn’t hurt. I fixed a quick meal and came in and stretched out on Grandma’s bed. As I lay there, I felt the wind brush across me from the open window. I listened to the birds as they flitted through the bushes lining the creek. I got drowsy and just drifted off when there was a loud knock on the front door.

I seldom get company here, and family would come to the back door. I got up and peeked out through the curtain. There was a man on the porch.

“Hello?” I said through the closed door.

“We’re your neighbors!” The man smiled warmly and his wife said hello.

I opened the door and met the lovely couple who bought the place where my grandma got my jelly cupboard at an auction when I was around three years old. They had been on a four-wheeler ride around the back side of the farm and wanted to know if that was the property line. I got my iPad out and looked at the satellite imagery on Google maps. They showed me where they are building a cabin. I showed them where the old home place was. We talked about some of the history of the people who had lived here before me. We laughed at the rack you can’t throw a rock up this way without hitting someone we’re related to. They were delightful and we had the best conversation. 

When they left, I crawled back under the covers and ended up falling asleep. When I woke up, I went looking for Charlotte…my 2nd cousin’s wife. I thought she might be at the barn, but she was at their son’s place, enjoying a cookout. I turned around and went back. There’s a steep drive and when you get to the bottom, it goes right in the creek. I stopped and looked at the water. It didn’t think it was too deep but I wasn’t sure. Then I heard Charlotte yell, “Come on down. You just drive right through that!” So, that’s what I did…holding my breath.

We had a lovely visit and just before dark, I moseyed back up to Grandma’s. There’s more to the story of today’s events, but that’s to be left for another day. This day was good enough on its own merit. It just goes to show, you can ask for God’s help with anything…large or small. He wants to be involved in every little part of your life. And by golly…thanks to Him, those taxes are done for another year! 

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“give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.””

Luke 6:38 ESV