Today marked my annual wellness evaluation. Actually, it was my first wellness evaluation. It was scheduled — and cancelled — last August. It was scheduled — and cancelled — in January. It was scheduled — and cancelled, thanks to covid — in April when I was sheltering in place in Kentucky. It was scheduled — and cancelled — for July. It was scheduled for September — and moved forward to today. Hooray!
The bottom line is I am apparently cognitively and physically and socially doing very well. Take that Joe. Take that Donald.
The wellness evaluation is about an hour long conversation about life in general and with specifics. There were about 100 leading questions ranging from living conditions to personal well being, from support systems to hobbies and interests.
Nurse Kerry went beyond the numbers (glucose numbers, blood pressure, pulse, O2), pulling out answers why I felt the not too bad numbers were the numbers. She explored lifestyle, affirming such decisions like walks with the pup, gently chiding me on some of my dietary choices. We discussed such mundane topics as advanced directives, functional ability, level of safety, and cognitive functions through word repetition, word association, simple number problems, problem solving, date and time recognition … even a few drawing exercises. I felt like I was back in kindergarten … and that was a long, long, LONG time ago!
In the impression column, she noted, based on my answers, I was “pleasant” and “takative”who tries to stay active with a good support system with family and friends. So, thank you, friends. As followers you are part of that support system.
In our off the record conversation, she said I appeared to have life under control, especially for my age. She said many retirees see their stress levels increase because of boredom, illness, or mental/financial constraints, but I do not appear to be anywhere near that. In fact, as she scanned older records, she said the opposite is true.
I told her I left the stress at the bridge, referring to the entry point from New Hampshire at the Piscataqua Bridge. A Mainer herself, she smiled (I could see it in her eyes since the entire visit was muffled through mandatory masks). “That’s a great way to put it.”
See you next year.
All is well. All is well with my soul …
THOUGHT TO REMEMBER: Refuse to be average, let your heart soar as high as it will. — A.W. Tozer
The Getaways
The audiobook formally dropped late last night and just gives you — the audience — another way to enjoy this first person, Christian themed fictional memoir of “just a free-willed suburban Jersey girl trying to figure out this journey called life.”
Kirsten has been involved in the arts 
At a Nazi death camp during WWII a Jewish prisoner noticed another praying. “What are you praying for?” he asked. 
This is perhaps one of the most commonly overlooked, yet one of the most important, spiritual disciplines among modern day Christians.
Approach the throne room and respond with faith and not fear, knowing the promises of God and His mighty hand will hold us through any situation! Sometimes, all it takes is just one prayer to change everything. Something extraordinary happens when two or more agree together in prayer.
There were also quite a few requests for students and the new school year. We ask, Lord, You bless the students, teachers, and administrators as they face new learning/teaching challenges this year. Keep them safe.
Ken is still fighting the effects of his stroke. His left side is partially numb and tingling. Please add to your prayer list.
Prayer asked for Liam to stay strong while fighting off whatever is raising his fever.
Catalina is battling cancer and could use prayer.
Back in May, James was diagnosed with liver cancer which had metastasized to his spine. He underwent radiation treatment in June and July. He doesn’t yet know how successful that has been but does know a “dot” was found in his lungs. The oncologist is waiting to see if more spots develop before further treatment takes place. James suffered terribly with post-radiation fatigue, which was exacerbated by a chronic condition myasthenia gravis, characterized by muscle weakness. He developed anxiety and fear about his future which is holding back his healing. Please pray for James to be strengthened, healed and restored to be the man God created him to be.
Kathy received the results of her heart MRI which uncovered a couple of issues. She is being referred to a specialist who deals with adults with heart malformation due to issues at birth. Scary uncharted territory. Prayers appreciated.
We come to You, Lord, because prayer is the least yet the greatest thing we can do for each other. When two or more are gathered in Your name, we confidently know You are with us. What better company can we have? You reign and we trust You! We may be broken and battered but know You heal and quiet the soul. You are the source for all that happens in our lives. We thank You for the progress being made. We thank You for the many blessings we have received this week. Some we unfortunately didn’t notice. Nonetheless, those blessings are ever-present in our lives. We thank You for healing. We thank You for slowing us down. We thank You for providing us our daily needs — no more and no less. We thank You for being with us, listening to us, walking with us on this journey. We thank You for the support of our family and friends … for seeing the extraordinary in the ordinary — sunrises, sunsets, flowers, kids laughing, adventures, good news amid the bad news. We know we can come to You with our concerns and they will be heard. Through Christ all things are possible. We lift up those family members and friends who are battling various physical, emotional, financial, career or spiritual issues and ask not for Your guidance and healing (although that would be welcomed) but to keep reminding us we are not alone in our battles. Specifically we lift up Maurice, Rose, Andrew, Sarah, Jim, Sue, Ken, Dave, Michael, Marie, Knox, Doug, Caylie, Beatriz, Liam, Sam, Lee, Ricky, Linda, Rick, Catalina, Anna, Tammy, Severino, Wyatt, Emily, Emma, Kay, James, Derek, John, Olena, Shalini, Kathy, Michelle, Betty, Shar, and all those needing Your healing and guiding touch. We pray for the families of all those You have called home. We grieve … You celebrate. We pray for obedience to Your Will so Your “Son” Light shines through us through the power of the Spirit. And we come to You through the confidence of the words taught by Your Son Jesus. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
I cherish this exercise. which gives me a chance to shut off the world and focus on a specific word prompt. It gives my mind a chance to ponder the word and send the thoughts cascading through my fingers onto the screen for all to see. But the best part is visiting the community at 
God of power and might, we recognized Your authority, yet we often usurp that authority and put ourselves in control. Kyrie eleison (Lord have mercy).
… demand justice while acting unjustly; when we seek reparations from old hurts and disappointments; when we slide into stereotyping by refusing to acknowledge Your creations as just that, Your unique creations; when we make ourselves gods (lower case) and ignoring God (upper case); when we fail to speak and act from Your love. Kyrie eleison. Christie Eleison.
Of course it helps when my way typically is in line with His way. And I have been blessed. I was privileged enough to get a good foundation that led to education and a fulfilling career yet repressed enough to value hard work and struggle.
Fourths?
If ignorance is bliss, why aren’t most people in a better mood?
Janel asked, “Do you find you have aspects of your own story in your novels or do your characters develop apart from your own story?”
Of course, my characters embodied real life characters — me, my wife, friends, family — the best parts (I hope), even if idealized. Yet, once they started talking, once they started moving through the story from point A to point B, they journeyed entirely from my imagination. I was often surprised with the directions they took and their reactions along the journey. My role as author was simply to thread the pieces together, to give it continuity, to move it along, to bring it to a reasonable conclusion.
Nancy noted t
The Light 