Thank you kindly

Dear Driver of the Maroon Pickup Truck,
Thank you for putting your snowplow blade down to bust through the drifts and heaps o’snow from the street plow at the bottom of my driveway. I tried to walk out and say, “Thank You” in person, but that’s when you started up the snowblower motor and we couldn’t hear each other. I headed back indoors through the cloud of snow dust you were making.
I watched you work from the front window, with one hand resting upon Blue. My big hearted, protector dog was window watching too. I was waiting for another chance to say, “Thanks. A LOT!”
Instead, my youngest son came upstairs asking about bacon to eat, round two. (It’s since been cooked and devoured now.) While in the moment still, I replied lightning fast to two messages on my phone, singing the praises of you, my unknown snow removal guy. Really?! Wow.
I made it back to the front window in time to see you back inside your truck, about to drive away. You’d left it running, for a quick getaway. Glad we exchanged that brief wave. Me, hanging out the front door with my winter coat on, still hoping to catch your name. You, already back in the driver’s seat, ready to roll. More snow to clear, before you called it a day. Your wave was as chivalrous as an old time, white hatted cowboy. Felt like I heard you say as you drove away, “You’re welcome. My pleasure, Ma’am.” So what if the dialogue is imagined, the sentiment is real. Thank you kindly in reply.
In one of those two texts, sent at 1:15pm today, I wrote, “Let me share a praise: A maroon pick up truck just came and plowed my drive. Then a man got out and is snow blowing the rest. I don’t know who but am thankful. Yesterday Jake the dog’s “dad” snow blew it some. Good people out there. Thankful here. God is so good. I’ve already been weepy today. What’s a few more tears? Joy kind. :)”
Just now, at 2:23pm Marilyn replied, “That is so neat Janean. God’s provision for you.”
I simply replied, “Yes. I know. Thankful, humbled and blessed. Amen”
I just want you to know I noticed and appreciate YOU!
Sincerely,
Janean M. Baird

P.S. For the record, the temperature at this moment, according to The Weather Channel app: -11*F (Feels like -35*F) Yep. Still Crazy Cold.
P.S.S. The weirdest part is your timing is that just moments before I’d been outside with Blue. He “went” fast and wanted to play, but I threw him back inside. I was going to go back out and shovel a bit. Cold schmold. I love being outside. I’d just closed the front door to unhook the dog’s leash when the house phone rang. It was my father in law, checking in. He joked about thinking he’d miss me, because I’d be outside shoveling. Told him honestly, I nearly was. We talked a bit before the call dropped and we switched to text, just a little after 1pm. So, if you read to the bottom of my note, “Thank you” once again.

January 6, 2014

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now it is today

Wednesday today
All day
July 31, 2013
I have to do that
Say it aloud
Because now I’m on today
4-H judging at the fair
Living one day at a time
We have enough
We have each other
We are thankful, blessed and loved
We are buoyed by all your prayers
Thank you

July 31, 2013

HE LIVES

the sun is shining
as we celebrate
the Son rising
…and then
the sun is covered
by a big gray cloud
the clouds are ever changing
yet Heaven is a constant
there is one sky above
home to a never changing
all knowing
ever present God
who sent His Son to die
that we may believe in Him
and have the gift
of everlasting eternal life
in Heaven
when our time on Earth
is through
Thank you, God
for sending Your Son to die
and bear our sins
today, on Easter Sunday
we celebrate and say,
“HE LIVES”

March 31, 2013

not always

I saw someone at church today

whom I haven’t seen in years

from opposites ends of the hallway

we met in the middle

as I drew within earshot

he said of me, ”She’s always smiling.”

I shook me head “no”

and said aloud, “not always”

he stated, “It’s not your husband with cancer.”

I countered with, “Yes. It is.”

him: “It’s pretty bad. Isn’t it?!”

me: “Stage 4. Two surgeries. Chemo now.”

him: “Is he bedridden?”

me: “Last summer for awhile,

with chemo and radiation simultaneously.

Workin’ light duty at a desk right now.”

him: “We’ve been praying, but we’ll pray harder”

me: “Thank you.

We know that’s what’s gettin’ us through.”

then we parted ways

he and his wife went one way

I went another

they are headed back to Michigan

to the church he’s senior pastor of

it was good to see him

on this Sunday morn

reality check

The reality of life in my house is that the dog has goo poo. Again. And the mad as hell about having a dog in HER house cat has decided to pee wherever she wants. I. Don’t. Need. This. Animal. Drama. I. Have. Enough. People. Drama. Did I also mention my 6th grade son had a HUGE president’s report due tomorrow AND my sister and her three children are visiting for a week that will go by way too fast?! Thank you for listening. I just had to say that aloud. TMI Grossness and all.

because I do

I say, “I love you” with the clothes I clean

I say, “I love you” with the groceries I buy

I say, “I love you” with the food I prepare

I hear you say it too

when you say, “Thank you”

I say, “I love you” when you seem blue

I say, “I love you” before I leave the house

I murmur, “I love you” as we fall asleep at night

sometimes you say, “I love you too”

I hear you say it

in other ways

I probably say it too much

just know

I do

© 2011 Turquoise Tangles

the gift

my gift came quietly

in the glow of morning light

as a huge pink cloud

hovered and glowed from within

outside my kitchen window

suspended in a sea of blue

just waiting

for me to notice

the best gift ever

one that renews

with each new day

we’re given

the gift

of sunrise

Thank you, God

for today

Written on December 1, 2011, my fortieth birthday. 

© 2011 Turquoise Tangles