“The RoseBouquet”

Have you ever had a streak of good things happen and then suddenly something bad happens? Life just seems to grind to a halt, doesn’t it? Well, that’s my spot right now. Lots of positive and encouraging things have been happening to me, to give me a cozy loved feeling.

In fact, last week Thursday a pen pal and her brother from Alberta showed up and sort of kidnapped me to take me shopping and shower me with gifts. (Just wait until I can do that for others!) Another friend brought over some potatoes from his farm on Friday, and I bought an SBI site. I made major progress on my unpacking, this time all my sewing stuff, on Saturday. Sunday was good too. Someone slipped me some money in church. Things were just coming along tickity-boo.

But yesterday morning when I called the government RRAP program to see how much longer I would have to wait for the inspector who is to okay some renovation projects around here that they will pay for - I learned they are backlogged for three months!

When I left for my 3 times a week exercise/walk to the Western Tract Mission office to have lunch with the staff, who are also my friends, I was all excited because I’d had a call about Elsie’s stereo and these people were going to meet me there. I’d only gone less than ten minutes into that 30 minute walk when SPLAT! I found myself on my face on the sidewalk. My runner must have caught an up-raised crack in the cement, and before I knew I was falling I was connected with the hard cement!

I managed to roll over to a sitting position and whimpered aloud, “Oh Lord Jesus, come help me! Help me!” My left knee was feeling really bruised and raw, so I hugged it. My glasses were bent out of shape, but I managed to look at them and put them back on. Not broken. My nose felt scrounched into my face.

In moments a strong young man showed up and asked how I was. I realized that the worst was probably the shock, but if I continued to walk to WTM, by the time I got there or wanted to head home, my knee might be too swollen. So I just asked him to help me get to my feet, and then I went home. On the way I felt better already and decided that I could take the car and still keep my appointment. I grabbed a small pair of pliers to bend the left arm of my glasses with Joe’s help, if I couldn’t do it. Took a look into a mirror and saw that I had a bit of blood in my left eyebrow and my nose was getting a thick bridge, but otherwise I was whole. The worst damage was the scratches on my left lens of my glasses. I washed them, and still they seemed dirty. The cement had done a number on the left one.

I showed that couple the stereo, and received a mid-month support check from Helen, (which had extra in it!) so I headed out to do my banking and then went to an optician whom I’ve seen in the past, who is able to order in my special prescription lens and get it inserted in a local lab, so I will only have to be without my glasses for about 10-20 minutes next week.

Today I’m counting my blessings again, and realize that it could have been much worse. The one lens alone cost me $237. If my glasses had been irrepairably broken, it would have cost me over $500! I might have had broken bones too. Now I’m just going to have a colourful face for about a week or two. I’m able to carry on and feel blessed and watched over.

However, I am seriously considering asking the Lord each time I set out to send me an angel as a walking companion. One who can grab me quick before I go down! Have you ever tried that? Does it work?

What’s that? You’re worried about me and need to see my face?

Oh, all right. I can be that humble…

last night’s coloration - and improved this morning.