Another early morning here at Marshmallow Ranch. Mr. FixIt and I headed to town in separate vehicles in order to leave Frieda the Ford at the truck doctor for a little engine work. She needed a new water pump. Mr. FixIt took her in last week to diagnose the problem then shopped around for the best price. He had a business card with the price written by the owner of the shop. When we went back in the afternoon to pick it up, he went back in with me just to make sure the price was what they agreed to. Not so much. He handed me the bill and it was over $100 more. I was glad he was with me, because I wouldn’t have known and would have just forked over the money. The guy didn’t like it but he ended up charging the right amount. I’m not a pushover with people. But, Mr. FixIt’s love language is service and taking care of these things is one of the many ways he tells me he loves me.

While we were waiting for the truck, we went out for breakfast then over to our friend’s house to try not to get overheated. Again…late nights and early mornings caught up with me and I ended up stretching out and taking a nap. Mr. FixIt watches the house for his friend so we can come and go as needed as long as no one’s there. It’s come in handy many times. When I woke up, I suggested we run up to Sam’s. 

Once we picked up the truck, we went our separate ways. I ran over to the big bougie Kroger store in Belpre to pick up a few things and he had a few stops of his own. While I was getting gas at Walmart, Mr. FixIt called and asked me to meet him at the McDonald’s down the road. His tailpipe fell apart. I took him to the hardware store for some wire then he hooked the tailpipe back up as a temporary fix. He has to go to town today for an appointment so he’ll take it into the muffler shop to get it fixed.

It’s always something, isn’t it?

One of my dearest childhood friends has been very ill and you all have been praying for her. I anxiously watch for updates from her daughter every day and there wasn’t anything posted on Monday. That worried me. Then yesterday, the news came that the family had made the very difficult decision to call in hospice and palliative care to help support their mom as she transitions. This just breaks my heart. She and I have been through so much together and I know she has gone through some really hard stuff in her life. She has done the work and healed from the demons that haunted her. She deserves peace. But…it’s just so hard to let our loved ones go. 

I was just thinking the other day how so many of our contemporaries are passing away. I mean, here we are…preparing to drive across the country for a month long visit with family. And at the same time, people we know and love are in a very different place in their lives…in their journey. This is where we have to chalk it up to “God’s Plan.” We do not know the number of our days. But God does. He counts the hair on our heads and the names of the stars.

I do not want to lose my friend. I do not want her children and grandchildren to have to say goodbye to their beloved. But if it is God’s will that this is her time to Home? Well, then…I pray her transition is gentle, peaceful, and all together glorious as she takes her last breath here and her first breath in heaven. And that all the angels will wrap her family in their silken wings.

🙏🏼

“But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”—”

1 Corinthians 2:9 ESV