Trying to look up

How are you?  It's been awhile since I sat down for a little chat.  I hope you are doing ok!

How am I you ask? (well that's presumptuous of me to say that)  I'm just kind of melancholy.  Blue.  Sad.

Maybe it has to do with the fact that my stomach has been rumbly for a couple days and I feel a bit achy.  But it more so has to do with the sad news of several untimely deaths.  More sickness.  And other little bits of news that don't cheer the spirit.

My family is not very large.  I never had 1st cousins.  And so my aunts/uncles were quite limited.  Recently, we had a wonderful privilege of having someone special come to the area for just a few days.  It was as wonderful as we anticipated.  But then when someone you love is near after being away for years, you really miss them.  I know that sounds strange, but the sadness was genuine and real after he left.  But he's not just my uncle, he is an uncle to many, many others.  I saw him hug my mama goodbye and I keenly realized again he's not just her brother - he's a brother to many, many others.  It is a dear privilege to have him in our family.  But with all that privilege there's a sense of loss too.

I think of so many that are in 'distant lands'.  I think of them but I also try to remember the mothers and fathers and sisters and brothers and nieces and nephews.  There's a tremendous cost, but thankfully beyond that there's bountiful blessing beyond my understanding.

So as Eeyore said in one book, "I was so upset I forgot to be happy".   So once my belly stops rumbling and my body stops aching I want to look beyond myself.  I want to avail myself of the Comforter.  I want to count my blessings.  I want to be thankful for health.  I want to be thankful for my dear family and dear friends.  And I want to think about how maybe I could cheer or encourage another through a note or a visit.  That's the best way to get out of the doldrums - to think of others before yourself.

So here's a few pictures from my camera roll.

So that's enough from here.  I've got some 'funnies' that I'll share next time!  By then I won't have my head so deep in the sand.