Every week seems to have up and down weather lately, but we hit extremes of 80s one day and 30s the next this week. I’m glad we can adjust heating and air conditioning inside so easily, but I am really ready for cold weather to be done til next fall. We’ll get there eventually.
Meanwhile, it helps to stop and count one’s blessings. That doesn’t usually happen unless we deliberately look for them, so I make it a point to do so on Fridays with Susanne and friends at Living to Tell the Story.
1. Easter. I enjoyed meditating on Christ’s death and resurrection the past few weeks by rereading Jesus, Keep Me Near the Cross: Experiencing the Passion and Power of Easter complied by Nancy Guthrie. We had a good church service, great dinner with the family, and a fun Easter egg hunt.
2. Camping. Jim, Jason, Mittu, and Timothy camped out a few days at a state park about half an hour from here. Jesse and I drove up to join them for lunch and dinner Friday. Mittu had made these neat foil packets with fish and vegetables, and Jim grilled his yummy burgers.
3. Time alone. If you’ve read here for long, you know I love my family. But I do love time alone sometimes as well. Camping is not my favorite thing for a number of reasons, some of them due to physical issues. Going for a few hours one afternoon gave me some of the camping experience while getting to sleep in my own bed at night. 🙂 While everyone was away, I got Mexican food take-out one night, watched a movie, and got a good chunk of writing done.
4. April Fool’s Day is not something we’ve ever done much with as a family. But I was amused to hear that Timothy pulled his first April Fool’s Day prank. Jason opened the egg carton one morning to find that Timothy had replaced the eggs with confetti eggs he had gotten for Easter. Jason said Timothy was pretty proud of himself. 🙂
I also smiled, after some initial confusion, when the Connections word game showed pictures that day instead of words.
5. Getting an appointment over with. I have mild sleep apnea. The only reason I sought treatment for it was that one doctor told me sleep apnea could cause atrial fibrillation (which I have, even after having an ablation), and any number of ablations wouldn’t help unless the sleep apnea was treated. Using the CPAP machine requires a once-a-year in-person visit to the sleep center. That visit really could be phoned in. In fact, one year they had a telehealth visit on the phone because they were moving to a new office the day of my appointment. I asked if we couldn’t do that all the time–it only took about ten minutes whereas the in-person appointment takes about an hour by the time I drive there and back. They said no, insurance requires that it be in-person unless they have extenuating circumstances like they did that year. This year it had to be rescheduled a couple of times. So it was good to be done with it for another year. Also, as appointments go, it wasn’t bad: the people were very pleasant, their new building was much more spacious than the cramped, maze-like building they used to have. Their bathrooms were right outside the waiting area instead of being back in the maze somewhere. My only problem with it was the hour it took. But since I have to do it, I need to have a better attitude about it.
I hope you’ve had a good week as well.
Stray Thoughts 
I’m with you on the camping thing… We do have a camper so it is kind of like dragging your home around. I understand the alone time now and then. Lately I have had more than my fair share of it though. LOL! I bet Timothy was pretty proud!
I had no idea that sleep apnea causes atrial fib! Glad you got that out of the way! 🙂
Have a blessed weekend my friend! 🙂
I’m glad you were able to enjoy the camping experience and then go home to your comfortable bed! I’m with you on that deal!
Funny prank about the eggs. Timothy must have really enjoyed that.
I’m glad you have the appointment over with. At least the office is easier to maneuver around now.
I can certainly understand the desire to have alone time. The camping trip gave you some time to just do what you wanted.
Take care. See you next week!
Oh i used to LOVE camping with our pop up camper. But then my late 40s hit and I said…ok, I’m done. Hahaha so we sold it and now rent cottages. I need a real bed with these neck and back issues I have.
I love that you had an evening to your self to enjoy some writing, a movie and yummy mexican food!
How funny that Timothy did that egg prank!! That’s a good one. We never did April Fools day either although one year I pretended the girls had a snow day…..they knew it wasn’t true because I wouldn’t have woken them up if it was real hahahaha
I hope you have a wonderful weekend!
My poor thermostat has been getting a workout. I’ll switch back and forth between heat and air day after day.
I liked to camp when I was young, but I don’t think I would enjoy it so much now either. I love coming back home to my own bathroom and bedroom. 🙂
Oh! I am just now seeing the connection on Connections with April Fools’ Day. I didn’t know why they used pictures that day, but now it makes sense. lol. Thanks!
You are so right about deliberately meditating on the blessings. It’s what I love about FFFs.
Wow, those 50 degree swings must feel so wild! We have had some rainy 60s weather but are headed to 87F by next Thursday. I’m not ready to relinquish the 70s…
I like the idea of joining your camping family for a meal or two without having to do the whole actual camping part 🙂
How lovely that you got some alone time as well as family time. Glad you had time to write!
Now that’s a cute April Fool’s prank!
We have always been great campers and hikers. But now we appreciate our camper van. I remember that when we would camp with the kids, my parents would rent a motel nearby and spend the days and evenings with us and then drive back and sleep in comfort.
Spending some alone time is a recharging and restful interlude. I’m glad you had that this week.
Way to go, Timothy, on that April 1st prank!
Willow
I used to love camping but now I want the comfort of a proper bed and knowing if it rains I’ll be kept dry lol. Nice to visit with the family though and I know what you mean about having some time alone. We’ve had a week with family staying here but yesterday they went home and hubby went out so I had the house to myself – bliss. I’m glad you finally got your sleep apnea appointment done – my husband also uses a CPAP machine and also has to have an in person appointment annually but our hospital is not too far away so not too difficult for him. Have a good week Barbara.
How nice to have that little bit of time alone! Glad you got that dreaded appointment done for another year. Good joke, Timothy! I’ve never really enjoyed April Fool’s but that is a cute joke that took some thought on his part.