The day begins in a hectic fashion, more in my heart than anywhere else. Though I readily admit that pushing a child into the school day—I said put your pants on!—can be a lesson in patience. I feel the stress of the coming move acutely and keep trying to remember that God doesn’t want me to worry. Why do I forget that so easily? It’s all in his hands. Remember, remember, remember.
I grab my camera and greet the sunlit roses, orange with blushes of pink. Some are bright in the morning light, others tucked back deep in shadow. The clematis likes to use them as a trellis. After attempting to train them elsewhere, I let the flowers intermingle and make friends. A few minutes of fresh air, practicing my craft gives me years of life. The stress begins to dissipate and I recall who I am and, more importantly, Who has created me.
Today is a day for beauty, a day for praise. There’s nothing to fear. And a lot to remember.
World, this is my nephew Tafari. He is unbelievably precious and adorable and wonderful and delightfully drooly and I love him with great love. He has a dimple. I’ll show it to you soon.
We celebrated our last holiday in the Prairie Box yesterday. Amid moving boxes—some packed and others waiting with open lids—we ate ice cream cake and cheered the new eight year old in our company.
Over a decade of life was spent in these walls. Am I getting a bit sentimental now that we’re leaving? Definitely.
Happy birthday to my big kid! Dad and I love you like crazy, Liv. We are so proud of you and are thrilled to get to celebrate you today.
… Age 7
… Age 6
… Age 5
… Age 4
… Age 3
… Age 2
… Age 1
… Obligatory cute baby pics
When the sun starts to dip towards the western horizon its rays filter through the trees in the park across the street. It is the most beautiful and magical moment of the day for me. Long trunk shadows reach across the grass, little dandelion puffs become nature’s own disco balls. All of creation worships the One who made it.
I’ve been blessed by this view for ten and a half years now. A new view awaits me next month, one that involves cottonwoods that rustle gently in the evening breezes.
For those who are interested in such things, my own little creative space on the world wide web will remain the View from the Prairie Box. The title has become as much a part of me as my own name, and really, fields of corn and prairie grasses are never too far away when you live in this city. The Box itself will change in order to accommodate a growing family with growing needs. Oh goodness, changes are afoot. I’m a girl who enjoys routine and the safety of a known life, but God is calling us to something new and different. Here we go.
In January 2012 I go see my rheumatologist for an RA appointment. I have new insurance but forget to bring them the card, however I give them the information they need. Within a few weeks I bring an actual insurance card. They copy it.
In April I receive a call from this particular office. My insurance needs more information from me before they will pay the bill. Needless to say, the doctor’s office wants this settled ASAP.
I call my insurance company and apparently there’s some sort of waiver/policy/what-have-you on my plan regarding preexisting conditions. They MUST HAVE proof these conditions were covered for at least 12 months under a previous plan. A phone call is not good enough; they need a letter.
Okay.
I call the old insurance company and go through the rigamarole to have them send a letter of credible coverage to the new insurance company. They won’t do it. It MUST be sent to me first.
Yes, please. This is what we need more of in this world. Why not start using the Pony Express while you’re at it? 3-5 business days for the letter to get to me. Probably another 3-5 days for a photocopy to get to the new insurance company. Then I don’t know how long until my doctor’s office gets paid for my visit *four months ago*.
Is this annoying? Absolutely yes.
Dealing with insurance makes me think it’s not long until I have another condition to add to my list: high blood pressure.
I’ve heard we’ll be changing insurance companies again in 2013. Guess who’s excited about that? This girl!
**Brief but important note: I am incredibly grateful for God’s provisions for me via insurance. I’m a walking-talking example of someone who benefits from good benefits. Still, I reserve the right to complain when they become ridiculous and taxing.
The New Year started out right with a photo shoot of the Kluver family on January 1st. Why yes, now that I write that I realize that I’m a little behind with this blog post. I love the results from our shoot, though, so this definitely falls under the better-late-than-never clause. And man, do I miss my friends Jenni, Kirk and Kyree. A few weeks after our session they moved right on down to Birmingham, Alabama, where sweet tea reigns and the dogwoods bloom. Lincoln’s loss is Birmingham’s gain! I hope the folks down there realize what an amazing family they get to enjoy.
The rest of the shoot will show up in the next post as I have a packing party to prepare for. Unlike the Kluvers I’m just moving across town. My tea will remain unsweetened. But I will totally be planting a dogwood in the new place…
Selling a house.
Buying another three days later.
Signing lots of paperwork and
Scheduling two home inspections.
Holding my breath ’til those are complete.
Asking for boxes and
Receiving many from kind friends.
Praying while my dad has back surgery, then
Cringing as my husband suffers from the same problem.
Hanging out in waiting rooms during doctor’s appointments and
Thinking of how to arrange furniture in our next home.
Attempting to have faith that God, the very God who has provided so much, will take care of the details, including Jeremy’s back.
Wondering how everything’s going to work out and
Reminding myself, over and over, that God will take care of us.
Drinking hot coffee and
Taking bites of cake and
Feeling glad to put a little something down on the blog this morning.
Our world changed fast in Lincoln this spring. We went from mild winter weather to summer-like temps overnight and the grass and trees and flowers bloomed really quickly.
I don’t want to take this beauty for granted though. I want to remember that just a few short weeks ago it looked like someone had sucked all the color out of our neighborhood, and every neighborhood. I’d be driving around town looking at houses for sale and feeling absolutely uninspired as I looked at bare trees and shrubs and yellowed grass. Bo-ring. But now, everything is alive and begging to be enjoyed. The sun is warm, less summer-like than before actually, and we can play in the park in short sleeves. We sit on the porch to eat dinner and we bend in the grass to pick weeds from the garden. We see the little blue flowers that spill over walls and sidewalks and admire the way the branches are layered and lovely on the burning bushes out front.
It’s the best free therapy on the planet, this world of green, growing things. And I’m thoroughly enjoying it.