The pace is picking up again

The pace is picking up again, which stretches us again.

Sue’s mom improved enough in the past week that the doctor released her to go home. So she’s at home now, with 24-hour a day in-home care. It’s costly, but a long-term care facility isn’t really an option in her mind. It seems that the move has stirred up a fair bit of gossip, most of which targets Sue. That’s hard, so we pray for Sue’s strength and for the end of the gossip.

Regarding Charlie’s estate, things are coming to a head. We’ve been counting on help from his friends in California, which isn’t working out nearly as well as we wanted. One or both of us will probably have to travel to LA shortly; since I have the vacation time, it’ll probably be me. We’re finding the Pasadena police to be very helpful, though there are some other organizations to be far less helpful. We’re praying for advocates at the mini-storage and at the impound lot where his car is. Please also pray for our finances: this is cleaning us out fast!

The tree in our back yard is on the ground; we’re putting in what time we can every day to cut it into firewood lengths (that seems the best way to dispose of it: give away the firewood), and pile up the branches. We’ve put in about 50 hours (we’re keeping track) and I’m thinking we’re halfway done. The (small) hole in the roof is fixed; we’re working on fence and gutters. And we have yet to finalize arrangements with the insurance company.

Overall, our spirits are doing well, though things go up and down in waves. Right now, TJ is feeling the heat the most; we’re praying for strength in her.

We’re celebrating Christmas early this year: this weekend. Corrie will be heading back to Germany (on a one-way ticket L) shortly, and we wanted to share the holiday with her. So we took a piece of the tree from the roof, mounted it in a chunk of firewood, and we’re calling it our “Christmas tree”. I refer to it also as our “Lemonade tree” (“When life gives you lemons…”).

Thanks for your prayers!